Eragon stood on the top floor balcony, clad in casual and simple attire, one he had grown accustomed too as he spent time in his new home. The hall they had built was modeled after Doru Araeba; it was 3 stories tall, large enough for two dragons the size of Saphira to fly in side by side. They had everything they needed, food, shelter, a place for elf and dragon to live, and fertile forest land for farming and for wild dragons. Eragon had stashed the Eldunari in a chamber in the first floor, gilded, padded cushions for each one. The eggs that they had transported with them sat beneath the ground, where they had found another molten river, which they used to keep the eggs warm. A number of wards and spells protected the eggs and the hall. Saphira laid inside, asleep, as Eragon stared up at the starry sky. The sky is clearer here He thought as he continued to examine the heavens.
As he did, his thoughts drifted to his old home, Alagaësia. The first thing that came to mind was Arya, he wondered how she was doing, he had only contacted her twice since they landed, but each time only deepened the hole in his heart. Before he could stop himself, drunk in the emotions coursing through him, he whispered Arya's true name as low as he could. It was the last thing she had given him, a long time has past since then, he wondered if the name was still hers. His thoughts then drifted to Roran, if his memory served, Roran and Katrina would be old or dead by now, but he had no way of knowing. The mirrors only allowed brief moments of contact, some unknown interference, only allowing him to speak of important matters in that brief span. For some reason, the mirrors only worked once every three weeks, for around 5 minutes; and only he could contact them, not the other way around. When he had finally finished construction of the hall and released some of the eggs into the wild to hatch, many years had passed and when he had attempted to contact Nasuada through the mirror, colors appeared on the surface, but then vanished. He tried again a few days later, same result. Heartbroken, he had continued his work. After some dragons had hatched for the elves, and many generations of wild dragons flew through the forest, he tried again. This time, it worked, revealing the interior of a room he realized must be Nasuada's personal quarters.
He peered through the mirror, the image seemed so surreal, as if he could reach out and touch it, there in front of him was, home. As he grew homesick and it was evident that no one was going to appear, he went to end the spell, but then a figure peered into the mirror from the right side. A dark skinned woman with long straight black hair appeared. With a shock, he realized it could be no one other than Nasuada. Her eyes widened, "Eragon?!" Her voice sent a warm wave of relief through him, as it sent a wave of cold chill through him; the ice cold bite of reality. He dipped his head, "It is I." She hurried and sat down in the chair and they spoke, she had brought him up to speed since the war, but as Eragon made to speak, the mirror's colors blotted and distorted, then vanished. Eragon was saddened, but he was happy she had been well, but he was slightly worried, more time had passed than he thought, she must be deep into her adult years, thought Eragon to Saphira. Time passes when we have work to be done. She said. Yes, but how much?
He succeeded in contacting Arya some time later, before focusing on his work. It was only when two students of him and Saphira had begun advancing into their studies, that he wanted to ferry some eggs back to Alagaësia. Arya had requested it, insisting that they could use the Dragon Riders. He sent his two students with a total of 5 eggs, and they had yet to return.
An unknown amount of time passed since then, Eragon often lost track. He also often wondered if this is how the elves felt in their forest. Eragon continued his own training with Saphira, and as they built the hall and raised dragons; he found the elves viewing him with a level of respect they had not before. He was unmistakably their leader and they answered to him without question. He had not wanted a seat of power, nor did he think he fully had one, but he had come to accept it.
As he was heading out with Saphira to check on some of the newly hatched dragons, an elf ran up to him, an elf by the name Olin, a dragon had just hatched for him, he was still in the beginning of his training. "Shadeslayer!" He shouted, "A ship approaches from the west!" Eragon scowled. "What do you mean, 'a ship'?" The elf bowed. "Just as I meant it. It's our ship." Eragon's brow deepened. For them to have returned so early, something must have happened. Eragon said to Saphira. "Let's go greet them."
Eragon and Saphira, as well as the other elves, stood on the shore as the boat was getting closer. It anchored a ways off shore due to the beach, they had nearly run aground the first time. Two large figures rose from the boat, glittering green and gold, the two dragons rose into the sky and lazily glided towards them. Saphira reared and roared at them in greeting, two harmonious roars came from the two dragons flying towards them. They landed, shaking the very Earth beneath their feet, one of the elves, Gao, as he was named, stared into Eragon's eyes. "What brings you back so early?" Asked Eragon. Gao looked at the other elf on the golden dragon's back, then back at Eragon. "Eragon-Elda," He said finally, "You.. may need to sit down."