Empire: The Final Battle
Chapter Four:
Two days later, Eragon and his other male companions were sitting on logs around a recently lit campfire. They ate dinner whilst discussing things quietly.
"…What should we do?" Asked Orik quietly. They sat silently. Ever since Eragon had intruded on her privacy, Arya had not said a word to anyone, nor had she eaten, or to Eragon's reckoning, slept. All three, and now Saphira, through Eragon's mental link, were worried.
"We need to get her to eat." Said Roran. "She shall be no use half starved."
Roran stood up. "I'm going up there." He said. He reached for a leftover bowl of soup, and waded through water over to where Arya was sitting, up on one of the low cliffs. The others watched intensely from below, as Roran clambered up the cliff, using one hand to climb, and one to hold the bowl.
Roran silently cursed himself. What was he doing, climbing towards a homicidal elf with a temper, who clearly did not want interaction with the world outside a three inch radius? He knew little about this woman, except that she was not one to be trifled with, yet she seemed utterly fragile, like her trust could break any moment. He had no doubt Eragon's already had. Still, Roran had grown attached to her, and was concerned for her well being, even if she was not. He finally reached the top, and stumbled away from the edge.
Arya sat with her back facing him, looking over the plains. She was slightly hunched over, and her hair obscured her face. Roran grimaced and stepped slightly towards her. He noticed Arya's shoulder's trembled slightly, alarming him. He wondered what Eragon had seen to make her this upset.
"Arya?" He croaked, reaching towards her shoulder. She shied out of the way of his hand, then resumed normal position when he drew it back. Roran walked past her and knelt in front of her. She lowered her head so her face was shadowed.
He placed the bowl before her, slightly touching her knee. "Eat, Arya. We are concerned for your well being." She did not move. Roran looked to the ground. Suddenly, Arya's hand swept out and hit the bowl, sending it flying over the edge of the cliff, into the water below. Below them, Eragon and Orik winced.
When she had knocked the bowl, Roran had stood in alarm. Arya turned her eyes up to meet his. He gasped. Her face no longer tried to conceal her emotions, but let anger, terrible anger show through. Her eyes glinted dangerously. Roran backed away. Then her eyes softened, tears suddenly welled up in her eyes. She lowered her head again, and Roran rushed to her side, holding her on the shoulders. When she did not react, he gingerly brought her close, hugging her tightly. She sobbed silently into his chest, as Roran comforted her the best he could.
Suddenly she pushed away from him and stood, jumping back down the cliff with the agility and precision of the most flexible cat. She landed slightly in the water below, before climbing out and finding refuge high up in a nearby tree, leaving Roran alone on the cliff.
Not long after they had set off the next day when the tall point of Helgrind became visible, winding its way through the sky. Roran shivered as he saw it, with anticipation and fear. Somewhere in there was Katrina, dead or alive.
The next hour the party gazed up at the mountain, until they reached somewhere near the base of the mountain. The party had agreed to stay together that day because of the dangers, much to Arya's silent displeasure. She had not talked to anyone the entire trip, yet stayed closer to Roran than anyone, though even he came no closer than four meters.
"Right, there seems to be nothing at the bottom of the mountain, which leaves the lair in only one other place; the top." Eragon directed the team.
"Eragon please, we know what to do, and how to do it." Said Roran impatiently, and strode past Eragon towards Helgrind. Eragon glared angrily after him.
"Give him some sympathy, he only wishes to rescue his fiancé." Said Orik. Eragon nodded, and followed Roran.
Climbing the mountain was harder than Eragon expected. Instead of climbing straight up, they had to jump in and out of bushes to avoid being seen, and twice had hide as they heard a sound of the Ra'zac. Eventually Arya discovered a beaten path, obviously used for the slaves to carry the Seithr Oil and other provisions to the lair. They followed the track until they reached a ledge, within which was a hole, no bigger than something Snowfire could fit through, yet probably big enough for the Ra'zac and parents.
Quietly, Eragon beckoned for the others to follow. They slipped in through the hole, quietly skirting the walls. The hole led them into the mountain, down a dark path with a floor of moist dirt. The lower they descended, the more prominent the smell of decaying flesh became. By the time the party reached the bottom of the slope, the air was thick with the smell, making everyone gag.
As soon as their eyes adjusted to the gloom of the cave, they could see they had emerged into a circular, high ceiling room. A quick inspection of the room revealed no threats. At the furthest side, chains dotted the wall, occasionally holding a bony arm or leg of the dead. But on one of the chains hung a tattered and dirty Katrina, seemingly asleep.
"Katrina!" Called out Roran, rushing to her side.
"Roran!" she shrieked in disbelief. He hugged her and kissed her forehead. Eragon joined him and tore the chains from her body. Arya stood guard in the door, whilst Orik inspected, with slight disgust, a half eaten body of an obvious peasant. Eragon noticed this, and silently thanked the gods he and Brom had not gone along with their plan of taking the roll of the slaves.
A slight moan stopped everyone in their tracks, until they found the source of the noise. Sloan hung against the wall, further away from Katrina. Eragon sighed and heade to free him of the bonds.
"Who are you?" Asked Sloan, squinting at Eragon. "Get away from me! Leave my daughter alone, you filthy-"
"QUIET!" hissed Arya, the first word she had said in a long while. She gestured towards the archway, where slight noises could be heard.
Eragon, Roran, Arya and Orik quickly ran into an advantaged position, as the a foul stench grew closer, almost knocking Roran out cold. He swayed on his feet and grasped Arya to steady himself. Sloan and Katrina, huddled in a shadow.
Finally, the Ra'zac had descended and was now in plain view of the attack. They sprang forward, but they didn't seem to have the element of surprise at all. The Ra'zac and their parents (whoever they are) parried their blows with ease, all except the ones Eragon and Arya had been attacked by. So the fights began.
Eragon swished his blade towards the Ra'zac, twisting and turning out of its way when it struck. The Ra'zac fought hard, but not hard enough, and Eragon and Orik had decapitated it a few minutes after the beginning of the fight, yet it had been no easy feat. He and Orik hurried over to Roran, who was struggling with one of the parents. No one realized that one of the adults had crept over to Sloan and Katrina and were now keeping them backed against the wall.
Many minutes later, Eragon, Orik and Roran had managed to bring down the adult, Roran stabbing through the heart. He spat on its dead body and said "That is for my Katrina."
They turned their attention to the other fights. Their breath caught in their chests at what they saw. The remaining Ra'zac had Arya pinned against the wall, holding her arms and legs, rendering them useless. She flailed desperately, trying to free herself.
"Arya!" Yelled Eragon, running towards her. The Ra'zac pulled his sword up ad put it against her neck.
"Do not come any closssser, or sssshe diesssss." It hissed. Eragon stopped dead in his tracks, and a panting Arya stopped struggling and stood still, eyes closed.
"Yessss, that issss it." He said in a sneering voice. He turned to Arya. "You, you reek of pain, and ssssuffering. Your life is more horrifying than the otherssss." It stated. It turned to the adult and addressed it in its of language of clicks and snaps. It growled, then moved aside for Katrina and Sloan to leave, as they scampered towards Roran, Katrina hugging up close to him, much to Sloan's obvious distaste.
"You are of little value compared to thisssss one." The Ra'zac said to Sloan and Katina, who cowered, whilst gesturing to Arya. "You sssshal leave and sssshe will take your place."
"Never!" Eragon yelled, rushing to Arya. The Ra'zac added pressure to his blade, coaxing a thick line of blood to run down Arya's neck, stopping Eragon in his tracks.
The Ra'zac lifted his blade from her neck and pulled her away from the wall, still holding her securely. It brought her so she was facing the group, staring with a blank expression at the other's looks of horror. The Ra'zac slashed Arya across the back with his blade.
She moaned softly, before collapsing silently.
"No!" Screeched Eragon. Trying again to reach her, but the Ra'zac pulled himself and the elf onto the winged adult, and they flew out of the cave, leaving the others alone.
"Arya!" yelled Eragon, running after them. But by the time he reached the outdoors and his eyes had adjusted to the glow of the setting sun, they were gone.
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Authors note:
THIS IS NOT A RORANxARYA FANFIC! So what did you think? Tell me your opinion! C'mon! you know u want to!