Hey guys. Sorry I haven't updated in a while, I was having computer problems, but hopefully its alright now. I hope you enjoy the chapter.
Zyana! We're flying! Ohrana called excitedly as she created a large gust of wind at their backs sending them lurching forward unexpectedly, earning her small growls from Thorn and Saphira who were thrown slightly off course at its suddenness. Zyana laughed at her eagerness.
I know Ohrana, I just can't wait until we will ride together properly. She smiled, her arms wrapped tightly around Murtagh in an attempt not to fall off Thorn. Ohrana was sitting around her riders neck uncomfortably, constantly adjusting herself awkwardly trying in vain to get into a satisfactory position much to Zyana's distaste.
Ohrana, please don't move around so much. You're hurting my shoulders. She grumbled half-heartedly, with a small smile making its way onto her lips.
Sorry Zyana. You're just getting too small. Maybe I should try flying.
"No you don't" Zyana exclaimed out loud as well as in her mind worriedly. "Don't even think about it! You're still too young to be even thinking about that at such a height!" Murtagh looked over his shoulder, an eyebrow raised at the half elf behind him. "Is there something wrong?" He asked her. She shook her head but Murtagh was unconvinced and turned around so he was sitting backwards in the saddle staring at her amazed expression. "Murtagh! What..." Zyana started but he raised a hand silencing her. "It is second nature. What's troubling you?"
"Nothing." She said shaking her head again. "Ohrana is just trying to find her wings." Murtagh smiled and shrugged.
"You know, it might not be such a bad idea to let her and Ilian fly for a while. Saphira and Thorn are right here if they get tired and it will give them some experience." Zyana opened her mouth in protest, but Murtagh ignored her and continued. "They are going to have to learn eventually, why not now when they are safe and have the space before we are trapped by the trees."
Zyana wanted to disagree but couldn't find a valid reason for her not to try. She looked at her dragon who was staring at her pleadingly with excitement in her eyes and could not find the heart to say no. She lowered her head in defeat and before she could raise it, Ohrana had already leapt off Thorns side and was soon gliding slowly beside them, her light pink wings flapping wildly.
Ilian! Come and fly!! So fun! She projected her thoughts to all. Ilian poked his head out of Arya's bag and before asking permission he was beside Ohrana flying excitedly. Thorn and Saphira looked at each other quickly and chuckled quietly, not taking their eyes from the excited hatchlings.
The pair glided beside the larger dragons for a few short minutes before they grew too tired to continue and began to slowly descend. Sensing their fatigue, Thorn and Saphira lowered themselves beneath the hatchlings who landed in their saddles gratefully.
That was amazing Zyana! Ohrana said to her rider as she made herself comfortable in her lap. You should really try it sometime.
Zyana smiled and wrapped her hands around Ohrana, pulling her closer. Sure Ohrana. The second I grow wings and get used to them I'll definitely give it a go.
You know what I mean. Ohrana replied rolling her amethyst eyes at her rider before tucking her head under her wings. I'm going to sleep I think. Wake me when we get to camp alright?
Ok Ohrana, but you've never been the type to wake up when I tell you to. Zyana laughed. The small dragon ignored her, curling tighter and nestled deeper into her rider's skirts.
"What did she think?" Murtagh yelled over the wind, a small smile on his lips. Zyana laughed and told him how much Ohrana enjoyed her first flight. "I never thought I'd say this, but I think you were right for once." She teased. Murtagh turned in the saddle again, his eyes dancing with humour. "Oh really? For once?"
"Aye, for once. You're not right very often Murtagh." Zyana retorted, her bright blue eyes full of laughter. "Ah, Zyana. I think you will find that I am always right, no matter what you may think." Thorn coughed underneath them.
I'm sorry Murtagh, but I have to agree with Zyana on this one. You're not right very often. It seems that I am always the one telling you what the best plans would be and how to carry them out. Whenever you do we end up in some form of trouble. Thorn chuckled with Zyana as Murtagh positioned himself to glare at his dragon. "What is this? Two against one! This is not fair. Eragon!" Murtagh looked over at his brother who was too involved in a conversation with Arya to notice he was being called. "Eragon! Look at me!" He yelled again pulling Eragon reluctantly from his conversation.
"What is it Murtagh?" He asked slightly irritated at being disturbed. "Thorn and Zyana both think I'm never right about anything. Tell them that they're wrong." Murtagh demanded. Eragon rolled his eyes and said, "Murtagh, listen to them for once. They're right and you're wrong, just accept that."
Murtagh opened his mouth to argue, but Eragon had begun talking to Arya again and was too absorbed by what she was saying to notice his brother.
"Well Zyana, if you are always right, then how long will it be before we reach the Beors?" He asked slightly deflated. Zyana smiled in response before saying, "At the rate we're going now, we should see them before sunset. I'd say it would be a good idea to camp at the base of them where we will be sheltered and have access to food and water and there will be plenty of space for the dragons to hunt."
"You seem pretty confident for someone who hasn't seen them before." Murtagh stated. Zyana raised an eyebrow at him. "I have been here before, it has just been a while."
"Hmm, we shall see." Murtagh said unconvinced.
Little more then a few hours later, just as the sun was creeping under the horizon, the Beor Mountain ranges came into view. Zyana smiled at Murtagh triumphantly who tried to avert her gaze by studying Thorn's scales closely. Eragon yelled out to them and pointed towards a small clearing with a water hole in the middle saying that would be a good place to camp for the evening.
Murtagh nodded in agreement as Thorn began to slowly descend beside Saphira.
"Ohrana, we're here." Zyana said to her dragon trying to rouse her from sleep in vain. "Ohrana, you told me to wake you up, now rise." She said again poking the dragon in the side roughly. She growled slightly, a small burst of smoke arising from her nostrils but still did not budge. Giving up, Zyana wrapped her arms tightly around Murtagh in preparation for the landing she knew was going to be uncomfortable, letting Ohrana out of her grasp. Thorns wing beats steadied and grew more frequent as he etched closer to the ground, creating a small gust of wind that was just enough to knock the small dragon out of his saddle.
She gave a loud squeak of surprise as she hit the ground roughly and looked around, her amethyst eyes wide, for her rider. When Thorn finally came into contact with the ground, Zyana leapt from his back, miscalculating the distance from the ground and landed awkwardly, stumbling to the ground.
Murtagh offered her his arm which she took gratefully, then made her way to her dragon who was glaring at her angrily.
You did not wake me. She said matter of factly not taking her eyes off her rider. I tried to, but you wouldn't budge. Are you alright?
Yes, I am fine. Just... try harder to wake me next time.
Zyana laughed pulling her into her arms. I will try, but I'm still not sure if it would work, you being the stubborn dragon you are.
Ohrana gave her a look of astonishment and looked like she was about to say something when Murtagh and Thorn came and stood beside them. Zyana smiled at her who gave her a look of defiance in return. "Are you alright? That was a pretty bad fall Ohrana." Murtagh asked with concern.
The small dragon nodded her head then jumped from her riders arms and walked passed Thorn towards the water hole. Zyana watched her go shaking her head.
"What is it?" Murtagh asked, his brown eyes searching her face.
"Nothing, just Ohrana. I wonder about her sometimes." Murtagh smiled at her warmly.
"I know, dragons are a complete mystery. It doesn't get any easier to understand them." He turned towards Thorn who was splashing around in the lake like a hatchling with Ohrana and Ilian cooing to him from the bank. "Believe me."
He turned to her again smiling. The setting sun had turned the sky a mix of bright pinks and purples which, he noticed, illuminated Zyana's blue eyes even more than usual. The sun had hidden itself behind her head giving her a crown like halo of fiery orange against her raven coloured hair which was swaying softly in the breeze.
Murtagh blushed slightly and was glad when the breeze pushed his hair in front of his face so she couldn't see. "Er, we should probably begin to set up camp before it gets too dark. It has been a long day of flying." He said nodding towards Saphira who had made herself comfortable on the grass, curling herself into a ball. Zyana smiled in response and made her way towards the large sapphire dragon and undid her saddle, pulling it off her. Saphira nudged her gratefully then closed her eyes after she had adjusted herself more comfortably.
"I'm going to find us some wood for a fire. I will be back soon." Murtagh yelled out to them.
"Alright, I'll go see if I can find some berries to cook. The ones we have are not going to last very long and I want to stock up before we enter the desert." Eragon said before he disappeared into the trees on the other side of the lake.
Murtagh exchanged a small smile with Zyana before heading towards the trees that aligned the lake. As he passed the water he caught sight of his reflection and groaned quietly. His hair was poking out at every angle and he had dirt smeared all over his face. Telling himself the fire could wait a few minutes he pulled his tunic off and made his way into the water and washed his face and hair vigorously. When he was relatively satisfied he looked at his reflection again, but there was still something amiss. He stood there staring at himself for a few more minutes before his jaw dropped. How could he not notice his ears. They were becoming slightly pointed at the tips, not as pointed as Arya's or Zyana's, but enough for him to be astonished how he had missed it before, and as he looked at himself closer, he noticed his eyes were becoming slightly more slanted as well.
What is happening? He asked himself amazed and confused. I must speak to Arya. She should know what it is. He made his way back to the bank and dried himself with magic then dressed himself quickly before collecting the wood.
By the time he returned to the camp, the sun had disappeared altogether, leaving behind only the faintest pink glow on the horizon. "Murtagh, where have you been? We were beginning to fear you had been caught." Eragon said relieved when he saw his brother.
"I'm sorry, I was slightly distracted. Where do you want the fire?" Murtagh asked him, his hair falling over his eyes. Eragon pointed to the centre of the clearing where there several logs set up in a circle with an eyebrow raised. Murtagh placed them in the middle and muttered "Brisingr," creating a large jet of bright red flames that matched Thorns scales perfectly. Arya and Zyana brought some berries and water from the lake and began preparing them, and not long after all four riders were contented with full stomachs.
"Where did you find those berries Eragon? We should probably collect more for the rest of the journey." Arya asked.
"Just through those trees. There was plenty there so we could take our share and then some." He answered happily. "I'll go and collect some." Eragon stood and disappeared through the trees.
"Arya, I... Have a question." Murtagh began, staring into the fire. Arya exchanged a confused expression with Zyana before saying, "What is it Murtagh?"
He turned and faced her and pulled his hair behind his ears, showing them how they had become slightly pointed. Zyana looked at Arya then back at Murtagh, a smile etched on her lips.
"Why are my ears becoming pointed, and my eyes slanted? What's happening?"
"Its nothing to be scared of Murtagh," Arya answered. "I'm surprised it didn't happen long ago."
"What do you mean?" He asked letting his hair fall back into place studying her closely.
"It is because of Thorn. Haven't you been told the tales of the old riders?" Arya asked slightly astonished when Murtagh looked at her blankly. "I was told the old riders were nothing but fat, lazy, arrogant, power corrupted menaces who wreaked havoc on the old Alagaesia. They all fought for power and this is what killed them."
Arya's eyes widened in astonishment. "Well, it seems you may need to be re-educated on that matter because not a single word of that is true unless you are describing the Forsworn. The reason your ears are becoming pointed is because you are a rider. You know how the riders came to be?" Murtagh nodded.
"Good, then you would know that when the alliances were made, humans weren't a part of it until a few years after it had been made with the elves?" He nodded again, seemingly pleasing the elf. "Well, when the humans did become a part of the treaty and dragons began hatching for them, there were certain changes that they underwent as a result. They became more agile, quick footed, stronger and faster in battle and they took on the appearance of an elf, although it wasn't the appearance of a full elf. I just wonder why the changes are only occurring now."
She looked at Zyana who shrugged. "Now you mention it, Galbatorix doesn't have pointed ears or slanted eyes. He still looks human in every way." She said turning to look at Murtagh closely. He shifted slightly, self conscious about her staring at him so intently, but she didn't seem to notice. "I think it could have something to do with the magic he uses, or the fact that he killed all the other riders. What say you Arya?"
"I'm not sure, it is possible. And now that Murtagh is no longer bound to the King, the changes can finally take place."
"But what of Eragon? He is more elf then human." Murtagh pointed out. Arya nodded in agreement. "Yes, that is because the elves changed him when he first came to Ellesmera at the festival. It was important for the change to happen, with him being the only free rider at the time. It was powerful magic that was never used before and probably won't be used again."
Murtagh nodded and lifted his fingers to his ears again before turning to Zyana. "I don't think I'll ever be able to understand dragons."
They both started to chuckle and when they saw Arya's confused expression, they began howling with laughter. "I don't think I'll ever understand you two." Arya muttered as Eragon returned with an armful of berries.
"Enough to get us to Ellesmera. Where do you want them?" He asked Arya, raising an eyebrow at Zyana and Murtagh. "Don't ask. Just put them straight into the saddlebags so we don't have to worry about it in the morning."
"Alright." He said making his way towards Saphira and her saddle. Once they were packed away securely, he lay next to his dragons stomach and bid them all a good night. Murtagh did the same and covered himself with one of Thorns wings while Arya and Zyana made themselves comfortable by the fire, their own dragons curling up next to them.
Zyana lay with Ohrana beside her listening to the cracking of the fire and the hooting of an owl nearby and let her mind wonder to the knowledge that within a few days she would be sleeping in the bed she had longed to lay on for so many years, and not only that, she would see her home, her friends, her mother. Ohrana began to hum softly at her riders contentment and it was to this sound that Zyana fell asleep to.
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