I'm going to be honest... I didn't have time to do all the proper research to make sure this is accurate. So it's not going to be booktastically proper. But it should make sense. And when I do have time (haha! Like I'll have time till Winter break...) I will fix it, and make it right. I'd like to give a shout out to those who DID review – you know who you are – this last chapter is dedicated to you, because you took twenty seconds and told me you valued the story. I hope it ends satisfactorily! And thus... enjoy! :)
It took all of two minutes to find the Queen and relay the information, but the rest of the night to prepare the elves for escape. Messengers were sent to inform the general population of the predicament, and the sick and wounded were going to start evacuating as soon as the messengers reached them.
Eragon's heart was somewhat put to rest by these decisions, and by the time the stars were slowly disappearing his stomach couldn't complain and his mind had been rested. He sat on the edge of the riverbank, gazing blindly into the mists of morning and wondering what today's fate would be.
A disturbance behind Eragon told him he was not alone this morning. He cast a glance over his shoulder to see what was up but was soon on his feet in astonishment.
"Eliana, what in the world are you doing here?"
"Being rebellious because I hate running away when something interesting is just about to happen." She smirked at him. "And no matter what you or Bid'Daum or the Queen say, I am not leaving."
Eragon's stupefied expression did not quite leave him before the Queen could catch sight of it, and the Queen's stupefied expression lasted but a moment longer than his after she caught sight of Eliana.
"Eliana, are you mad! What on earth are you doing here?"
Eliana just laughed and repeated what she had told Eragon, the same determined smirk etched into her face. "Besides – you might need my expertise in understanding dragon."
"I'm sure we will need your expertise," Eragon admitted. "You just... shouldn't be standing in front of me right now."
"You got squashed by a dragon, or so I heard," the Queen huffed. "Squished by a dragon is no fit condition to be running around in."
Eliana cast a meaningful glare at Eragon who turned quite red and hurriedly explained to the Queen that his healing spell must have been much more potent than he had anticipated and (with a mental prod from Eliana) added that she was probably in a very good condition to be negotiating with dragons and that all she had really needed most was a little bit of sleep, which seemed to have done her plenty of good seeing as she had clearly gotten enough of it.
The Queen glared suspiciously at the two of them for a long moment before she sighed and nodded.
"All right. I didn't realize you spoke dragon, but we can definitely use your abilities today. We're also probably going down today, but in the unlikely event that we all survive, I suppose I'll have to thank you and make you explain how you came to speak dragon so fluently that you impose yourself upon our only known dragonese speaker," the Queen had much more to say, but neither Eliana nor Eragon were listening anymore, because they had both been greeted by Bid'Daum.
Eliana! It is good to know Eragon is so much more proficient at healing spells than he expected. Bid'Daum chuckled and Eliana smirked as Eragon turned bright red again. Listen, the dragons would like two elvish representatives to come and discuss terms. Not that we'll agree to them or anything, but at this point we're willing to discuss.
All right. We'll be right over, Eliana responded, ending the conversation.
Hey! Shouldn't we ask the Queen first? And mightn't she want to come along?
Eliana rolled her eyes, and sidled up next to Eragon, slowly pulling him away as the Queen rambled on.
"We'll just be across the river negotiating if you need us," she told the Queen. This news set the Queen off on a rather surprised rant that Eliana dragged Eragon from quite hastily.
She might want to come along, but we can't allow that. She's too valuable.
And we aren't? Eragon asked indignantly.
We can take care of ourselves. Well, at least you can, Eliana shook her head with a playful grin and she pushed Eragon into a canoe. I kinda got squashed by a dragon last time I was left to take care of myself.
Hmm. Yeah, I can see where some of your self-doubts might come from. Eragon grabbed a paddle and with a sigh, they set off across the river. It was only about three-hundred meters across, so their trip was a quick one. I'm more worried about the dragons deciding to attack the elves and nobody being ready.
Eragon. Since when have elves been ready for a dragon attack?
Since last night! They're ready to escape!
Then they'll escape. Relax. What's the worst that could happen?
We could die a gruesome death. Bid'Daum could eat you. The dragons could tie us up and make us watch the elvish nation get annihilated...
I'M NOT GOING TO EAT ANYBODY, Bid'Daum roared. Now hurry up. You're almost there...
Thanks Bid'Daum, I think we can make it on our own, Eliana snorted. Her smirk had vanished though, and Eragon saw the slightest tilt of worry in her eyebrows. Eragon pulled the boat up the bank, tossed in the paddle and grabbed her hand as he gently dragged her behind him.
They entered a clearing where Bid'Daum, Hunter-of-Mighty-Prey and a mighty golden dragon were seated. They had passed several earthier-hued dragons hiding in the trees, and Eragon thought he could see more of them hiding behind the three visible ones in the clearing.
Eragon, Eliana, this is our leader, Hunter-of-Mighty-Prey rumbled. You may call him Enemy-Crusher.
"Intimidating names these dragons have," Eliana whispered, squeezing Eragon's hand before dropping her hand to her side. "Makes me wonder if they only will allow us to call them by the most frightening thing they can come up with."
"No kidding." Eragon took a deep breath.
Greetings, Enemy-Crusher. We have come to determine terms on which a peace agreement can be made. I am Eragon.
And I am Eliana.
Enemy-Crusher nodded his great big golden head, and blinked twice. It is good that you have come. I did not think it possible that elves were clever enough to speak, let alone to us, but Bid'Daum and Hunter-of-Mighty-Prey tell me otherwise.
I hope we can communicate well enough to bring about peace for our races, Eragon said.
We're not exactly fluent with this form of speaking, but will try our best, Eliana affirmed.
Why don't you begin by describing your side of this war, and why you think our races can live in peace...
Eliana and Eragon spent the better half of the next four hours explaining, with some help from Bid'Daum from time to time, what the war had been like for the elves. Eliana described the shame and dismay the elves had had when they discovered the dragons were sentient, Eragon the dread of war and the failure to find a way to communicate, Eliana the desperation to survive and surprisingly enough it was Bid'Daum who presented the most compelling argument as to how and why the two species should co-exist. When they had finished, Eragon inquired for the dragon's side of the story.
Very well, elf. I shall share my memories... Eliana and Eragon exchanged glances, then braced their minds for an onslaught of information.
A barrage of emotion and senses came crashing in, flashing so quickly in front of their eyes that they could hardly recognize one image before the next one appeared. A flight over the forest. A blue dragon setting half the forest on fire. Anguish, despair, rage, elvish faces being crushed by golden talons, flaming huts, dying dragons. Plots, plans, pleasures, pains all whipped through their minds at incomprehensible speed. The last image lasted only a half-second longer, but burned itself in Eragons mind – a night when the moon had turned blood red, and a battlefield filled with dead and dying dragons and elves. A chill ran down his spine and his throat went dry as he recognized the battlefield.
Oh. I guess I can see why you're not incredibly interested in making peace... Eliana rubbed her temples, eyes closed, and a small thought about a light headache coming through.
It seems that we have underestimated your race. If all elves are as well adapted as you two are... Enemy-Crusher closed his eyes and a low rumbling filled the forest. It does not then seem wise to continue our battle.
All elves at this point in time may not be as... tolerant as we are, Eliana grimaced. But as a representative of the race, I assure you that our current mentality can and will be changed.
Perhaps we can discuss more on this topic tomorrow. I'd like to meet your leader to finalize most of our terms of peace. I speak for our whole race as a whole when I say that it would take but one mistake to reignite our fury, Enemy-Crusher opened his eyes again and glared at Eragon and Eliana. And that would be most unfortunate for all of us.
Indeed. We shall meet again soon, then, Eragon bowed, and turned to march out of the forest. Eliana followed suit, and trotted to keep up with him.
Good work, little ones, Bid'Daum called out as he turned to the rest of the dragons. This might work after all.
Eragon cast a tired glance at Eliana. She looked like he felt – worn out. Her feet dragged and her shoulders were slumped. It took a joint effort to get the boat into the river, and for a moment Eragon contemplated just floating with it; let the waters decide their fate. But he did no such thing, and instead plopped his paddle in and forced his muscles to function.
They were greeted solemnly by the Queen and a couple of troops, who had the sense to keep all questions at bay until the two dragon-speakers were on land.
"We've sent most of the force away in twos and threes, so that if it comes to worst, few will fall," the Queen explained. "I trust it went well?"
"Quite well, actually," Eragon grinned despite his tiredness.
"I have some misgivings... the dragon leader has requested your presence in the meetings tomorrow, your majesty," Eliana's half-hearted smile was in greater response to Eragon's optimism than to her understanding of the day's proceedings. "We're allowed to call him Enemy-Crusher."
The Queen raised an eyebrow.
"He's a giant golden dragon, quite an understanding fellow." Eragon faded out the rest of the conversation and set to pondering the day's events. He wanted a moment to talk it over with Eliana, but she was busy talking to the Queen.
"They're a very volatile species. I think any of our conventional ideals of peace wouldn't really be effective at all with them. We need to think of a stronger pact than an ordinary treaty." Eliana sighed. "I am of the impression that anything written is meaningless... blood will be needed to seal anything of lasting importance."
The Queen's eyes looked on Eliana with a sad resignation. Eliana's eyes did not meet the Queen's, not even after the group had decided to eat and rest up in a tree top. Eliana sat, pulling her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them in a giant hug. The Queen patted Eliana's back, and sat down across from her. Eragon watched without understanding as the silent conversation went on between Eliana and the Queen.
"Eragon, why don't you describe what happened?"
So he did.
Eventually the escort left the three of them alone with a plateful of berries, bread and mushrooms. Eliana rested her chin upon her knees and sat gazing into space while Eragon talked, and even after the conversation had melted into silence her focus did not return and neither did she say anything.
"Eragon do you agree with Eliana's summary of the dragons? Are they as volatile as she suggests?" the Queen asked after a long interval.
"They're wild, your majesty. What can we expect?"
"More wars?" the Queen muttered. "Let me rephrase: can we negotiate a lasting peace with them? Preferably without any more bloodshed."
Eragon thought for a long minute. After reviewing Enemy-Crusher's memories, he could only come to the same conclusion Eliana must have – any peace that they could negotiate wouldn't be long lasting. The dragons would not be very forgiving of the elves, and the elves, it had to be admitted, were extremely prejudiced against the creatures. One misunderstanding, and the whole war could be repeated with even greater consequences.
"At our current understanding of them... I don't think so. But I am not going to let that be the final answer, we can coexist with them, we can trust them."
"You and I can, Eragon," Eliana whispered. "I don't think the general population can."
"Then what do you suggest we do?" Eragon asked irritably.
For the longest moment, Eliana made no reply.
"I don't know how to explain it, Eragon," she began. Then with a sigh, "As Logan's brother though, I think I have to die."
Eragon sat, dumbstruck.
"What?" he whispered. Eliana's eyes were staring into space again.
That can't be the answer, he told her.
Then what do you suggest we do! She growled, eyes flashing.
Something else. Anything else. They stared at one another, and now Eragon understood the silent signals. Eliana, you shouldn't have to pay the price for what someone else did. Even if that someone else is related to you.
What if I was the one that challenged him to do it?
Eragon faltered, his mind whirring.
I didn't actually, if that helps any. But if my sacrifice buys peace, then that's all I need to know. I'll do it. I'm not... I'm not afraid of dying.
Eragon steeled his voice at the lie.
We can find another way before the elves do something stupid again. I will find another way.
Eragon, you've spent a year finding Bid'Daum. We don't have the time or resources for anything else.
Mother necessity breeds brilliant solutions. We'll find a way. Have you given up so quickly?
Eliana's eyes softened.
Well, I do have some other ideas, but they're impossible.
I don't believe in impossible, Eragon snapped. Share. Now.
Eliana shook her head and a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.
Don't tempt me, dragon-boy.
That's one of your ideas, isn't it? Merging us with them? Eragon imagined himself with scales and wings, flying over the forest like a dragon, but walking on two legs. Okay, that is impossible.
Thought you didn't believe in impossible.
But what if -
"I'm sure something very important is going on between the two of you, but I am afraid I have to demand that you divulge. I am not going to let you have the reins this time, Eragon. I get the final say on your ideas," the Queen interrupted Eragon's thought with a raised eyebrow and folded arms.
Now Eliana was smirking at Eragon, who took a look at the Queen and then decided to ignore her.
What if we merged minds? What if we magically made our species bound to one another, so that we needed one another? What if -
"Eragon!" the Queen snapped. "Stop that!"
"It would take the strength of ten-thousand elves to accomplish that." Eliana cut Eragon off before he repeated his mistake. "Plus there's no guarantee that the dragons would consent."
The Queen forced a casual expression, satisfied that at least Eliana was obeying her.
"If we could have done it on our own we would have – but we need the dragon's strength to sustain the spell – it would be like singing to the trees, except we sing to ourselves!" Eragon's excitement was starting to show. "We could select an elite group of elves and dragons that would keep the peace between the two races after we merged, just to be on the safe side. A symbiotic empire could emerge, and we would - "
"Have saved the day," Eliana smiled now, a grateful smile.
"Not to mention a bunch of – but specifically one – individuals," Eragon was grinning elatedly.
"All right. What's the plan?" the Queen interjected before Eragon could launch into more visions of his planned future.
Eliana further interrupted Eragon by explaining the whole idea, and Eragon finally burst in to describe what the Queen, and all of the elves for that matter, would need to do.
"Eragon, are you crazy!" the Queen asked when he was finished.
"Absolutely. I thought we'd already established that."
Eliana stifled a snicker as the Queen glared furiously at Eragon. He said nothing, and neither did she, and the more the Queen thought about it, the more she came to realize that despite the obviously insanity of the venture, it might be the best way. Especially considering that the proposition was coming from the only two experts in the field.
"Look at me. Both of you," she said at length. "Do you honestly think this is the best we can come up with?"
Eragon and Eliana both nodded in unison, Eliana hardly able to contain a smile.
"May all the gods known and unknown help me, I can't believe I'm agreeing to this," the Queen muttered to herself. "Very well. I will ask Enemy-Crusher tomorrow. If they agree, I will summon the elves here to participate. Eragon, if this turns out to be a mistake I can assure your name will go down in infamy. You two are dismissed."
Eragon leaped up and bounded over to the door, only to wait while Eliana untangled herself and lightly stepped to the exit. They left together, Eragon practically bursting with energy.
"Hah! My name will go down in infamy!" he laughed, leaping off of the stairs and landing with a roll into the grass. He sat under a tree and pondered that for a moment as Eliana made it down the rest of the stairs. "Wait... infamy is being famous for a bad thing, isn't it?"
"Hate to break it to you, bird-brain, but yes. Yes it is." Eliana smiled gently. Eragon leaned back against the tree with a smile.
"Oh well, at least they'll remember me!" he laughed some more, eliciting a greater grin to crack Eliana's face.
"I'm glad you're in such a good mood," she came to a stop next to the tree Eragon was leaning against. "But remember," she wagged a finger. "It's not over yet."
"Imagine how barmy I will be when it is over!" Eragon giggled. Eliana cocked her head and gave him a one-over. Then she too laughed, and tousled his hair.
"C'mon, you maniac. Let's give the Queen's tree some peace."
"Ooookay," he sighed with a grin, and hopped to his feet. "We might as well, seeing as I have plenty of questions for you."
"Wonderful," Eliana groaned. But Eragon's contagious mood did not, even the slightest, lessen, and soon Eliana found herself grinning in spite of everything. Eragon led them to the bank of the river, where he took off his shoes and dipped his feet into the water. Eliana kept her shoes on and sat cross-legged next to him. A moment of silence passed before Eragon quietly inquired,
"What did happen to start this war?"
He then said nothing as Eliana reluctantly began narrating a tale of a brother and a sister who were inseparably incredible at getting themselves into trouble. The brother would have an idea, the sister would plan a way to fulfill the idea, and together they would flesh out pranks of all shapes and sizes.
Then one day the brother had the idea to hunt down a dragon – surely the thrill of the chase would be as exhilarating as any prank, he said. But the sister rejected this idea, because it was not a harmless prank – this was actually taking a life, even if at that time it was "just" the life of a dragon. The brother then rejected the sister and began plotting out a plan on his own.
The sister watched anxiously as the plan took form, but stayed at home when the brother invited her along. Angrily, the brother set out and his plan became a reality – a day later he had come home carrying blue scales, white talons and dozens of white teeth. The brother bragged heavily of his accomplishment, while the sister grew more anxious by the hour, almost to the point of sickness.
And that was when some elvish scouts chanced to pass through the village, warning the villagers that there was strange dragon activity and that they recommended everybody leave for the capital, just to be safe. The sister begged and pleaded for the family to go, but they all just laughed at her.
So she had gone alone.
"And the rest... is history."
Eliana closed her eyes and pulled her knees up to her chest again, and Eragon watched the river for a long moment. The sound of cascading water framed the harsh picture Eliana had painted with serenity that seemed out of place. Doubt wormed into Eragon's mind, causing him to question the plan to unite the species. What if they failed, and his name went down in history alongside Logan's?
"Did anyone else know about this?" he asked eventually, pulling his feet up from the blue liquid below.
"The Queen is the only one left. My first regiment... they knew. But they all fell in Do or Die."
"I see," Eragon sat for a moment, staring into space. "I'm sorry."
"Thank you," Eliana murmured. Then she sighed. "For listening, I mean. And... and not judging."
Eragon put his arm around her shoulders.
"Yeah," was all he said.
X X X X X X X X X X X
He didn't sleep well that night. There was too much that had gone on, too much at stake, Eragon couldn't pinpoint it, but he just couldn't find rest.
I'm losing my mind, he reflected, tossing and turning. No good. He contemplated going back down to the river, but he'd sat along its banks so much already. Then there was the matter of Eliana's relations. It had never ever occurred to him that she could possibly, not even remotely be related. But there you had it. Family had ceased to be important to him the day they had died, which had been relatively early on in the war. But...
It meant so much more now.
He got up early, just to save himself the bother of lying in bed, and ate a hearty breakfast, hoping the sugars would keep his mind functioning fairly enough to keep the peace talks smooth. And he hoped, more than anything else, that today peace was found.
Bid'Daum? He reached out, sighing tiredly.
Hello, little one. What's the matter?
A couple of things. Eragon wasn't sure if he had the rights to share Eliana's past, and thus pushed into the other bother in his head. We came up with an idea last night, something that would unite our species to the point where war would be most ridiculous.
Oh?
Eragon explained. While he did, the few elves that were around awoke and came out to join him in the clearing. When he was done, Bid'Daum's mind was also buzzing.
So the Queen is going to propose this to Enemy-Crusher today?
Yes.
Eragon, all I can say is that this plan is insane. So much so, that it might just work...
The weeks went by in a blur after that. All of the pieces of the puzzle were clicking into place – Enemy-Crusher and the entire dragon assembly agreed to try Eragon's crazy idea. The Queen had her best magicians work on the lyrics for the spell. Dragons of all colors and sizes came up and introduced themselves to Eragon, and they started calling him First-One. Elves began trickling into the camp across the river, in all of the phases of a river – stream, brook, river, meandering river, delta, ocean. Their numbers dismayed Eragon; there were so few. Finally though, they had all arrived.
It was six years almost to the day since the war had begun when the elves and dragons met together on one side of the river. To Eragon, the air seemed thick with expectation, it was like swimming through choppy waters just by walking ten feet!
"Would you look at that," Eliana smirked. Two small elves cowered behind their mother as the dragons began landing on the outskirts of the camp, but soon they poked their heads out and slowly approached the reptiles. Mercifully the dragons were exceptionally patient on that day, and allowed their tails to be pulled and their scales to be ruffled.
Enemy-Crusher landed quite blatantly in the middle of the clearing, just in front of the Queen.
Today we make peace. He bowed his head. My people are ready.
As are ours. The Queen nodded to her head magician. The whole forest seemed to go silent as each member of the group focused their minds to meld with all. The mental chain grew, the dragons to provide the strength, the elves to provide the framework.
A lone voice began to chant. Then two. Then a chorus resounded, growing in speed and volume. Eragon closed his eyes, the words burned into his mind, and he added his voice to the group. Underneath the rhythmic cadence of the spell the dragons began rumbling with their rich baritones.
Eragon began to lose his sense of singleness, he was so completely focused on the words of the spell and the hundreds of minds brushing against his. Is this what it's like to be a cell of an organism? he wondered, struggling to do his part to the best of his ability.
Time passed unchecked, and on went the song of the species. With each syllable uttered, Eragon became more and more convinced that peace would be achieved, that the two groups really would become inseparable. Also, he began to notice a change in himself – not an emotional or spiritual change, but physical ones. And when he opened his eyes, he could literally see a slow metamorphosis of the elves around him. In his mind, he sensed a change in the dragon's intellects. He closed his eyes again after almost mispronouncing a word, and ignoring the changes going on around him he brought his all back into the soup of minds. But eventually the last words were spoken, and a hush fell upon the gathering. Eragon opened his eyes slowly, expectantly.
Almost everything looked the same, but somehow he felt different, as though the organic tissue inside of him had been regenerated. And he could even see a physical change in the elves, a most natural sense of grace and poise wafted invisibly off of his comrades, and he could just feel that he too, was more able to move fluidly. A murmur had begun rising through the crowd, and the dragons also started slowly becoming vocal.
Eragon had a suspicion, and looked up to see if he could find a way to test it. A branch, impossible to reach out here in the middle of a clearing, hung out an easy fifteen feet above him. Realizing that he couldn't perform his test in secret, he sighed, tensed his muscles, and leaped as high as he could with outstretched hands.
And caught the branch.
Now, if he had ran and jumped off of a stump, this would be nothing. But he didn't. And the whole elvish assembly knew that.
And the whole elvish assembly began testing their capabilities. Leaps, bounds, races; the whole clearing was filled with laughter. Some elves began talking animatedly with dragons, as though they could understand everything that Eragon had strived for a year to comprehend, and the dragons rumbled... happily.
Eragon dropped to the ground and went looking for the Queen, or maybe Eliana. He wasn't ready to talk to Bid'Daum yet, or Enemy-Crusher, or Hunter-of-Mighty-Prey, but... Yes, there she was! He surreptitiously snuck up behind Eliana, and grabbed her elbow, pulling her towards the trees where fewer elves were joyously exploring.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Nothing's wrong. I just want your thoughts on what just happened." Eragon shrugged. "And I'm thirsty." Eliana rolled her eyes.
"I'm not getting you a drink. But I think you successfully ended a war," she added with a small smirk.
"Yeah..." Eragon tried to let it sink in. But it wouldn't, it couldn't.
Eragon... where are you? It was Bid'Daum. A dragon called Older-Than-All wants to speak with you.
Can I bring a friend? Eragon asked rhetorically, beckoning for Eliana to follow him. She cocked her head, and followed.
Whatever. We're waiting over here, Bid'Daum sent Eragon a picture, and Eragon adjusted his direction accordingly.
"Eragon...?"
"Sorry," Eragon turned while walking. "A dragon called Older-Than-All wants to talk with me."
"And I'm coming along because...?" Eliana increased her pace so that she was walking abreast to him.
"This is as much your doing as it is mine, I guess." Eragon paused. "Does there have to be a reason?" Eliana shrugged.
They saw Bid'Daum sitting next to a ginormous red dragon. Eragon's step wavered, but he moved forwards anyways. Eliana slowed until she was a half-step behind him.
Here I am, Eragon bowed his head.
Greetings, Eragon, a tired voice filled Eragon's head. The red dragon snaked out his head towards Eliana. Welcome, Hurt-but-Healing-One. Eragon tried to hide his surprise at the name, but he sensed that Eliana was every bit as surprised as he.
Before I pass into the void, Eragon, and Hurt-but-Healing-One, I wish to bestow upon you the blessing of the dragons. You are to pass the words to the rest of your people on our behalf.
Thank you, Older-Than-All. Eragon hesitated before he added an elda to the end of the title.
Older-Than-All nodded his head, closing his red eyes. A vibration pulsed through the forest, coming from his mighty chest.
May our peoples never repeat the bloodshed of these times. I bestow upon you understanding and wisdom, a fire in your belly and food fueling your steps together. May good fortune rule over you, peace live in your hearts, and the stars watch over you as you redeem this war-torn time. The eyes popped open. That is all.
Eliana nodded solemnly.
Thank you.
Bid'Daum fluttered his wings, and stepped in front of the two elves, lowering his head until he saw them eye-to-eye.
Well done, young-ones. I think your Queen is searching for you... Eliana stiffened, and Eragon whirled around. Not to reprimand you, silly!
Eragon and Eliana exchanged glances and started cracking up.
"Let's sneak up on her and try to scare the living daylights out of her!" Eliana suggested, eyes flashing dangerously.
"Are you – oh, yes, I suppose you are. Well – I guess she's only the Queen," Eragon laughed and beckoned for Eliana to lead the way.
"We can contact her like a dragon and then pop in front of her - "
"With a bucket of water!"
"Yes! And we can make her trip into some mud - "
"And tell her we were just testing her reflexes!"
"Which have clearly been dulled by a lack of involvement in the conflict!"
Eragon grinned, watching Eliana cautiously. There was something different now, something that didn't have anything to do with the magic of the dragons. It was something about her, about the way she smiled. Or maybe it was something about him, something inside that had just clicked. Could this be what real life was like? Where two rebellious friends spent all of their time together becoming best friends?
He hoped so.
Epilogue:
Eragon and Bid'Daum eventually convinced the rest of the dragons and elves of the validity of Eragon's 'ambassador of the species' idea, and the Riders were born. Each year the dragons would give the elves an egg or two, and the elves would line up, hoping the egg would choose them. To Eragon's delight, the first dragon hatchling hatched for Eliana. Together with the advice of the Queen and Enemy-Crusher (who later told them his name was Strong-Warrior,) the Riders played the ambassador less and became peace-keepers between all of the races, adding in the humans when they came. Some argued that was their biggest mistake, others said it was their greatest achievement.
Eragon cared not. Peace was restored to his home, and for all of the lives that had been lost, a new world grew to replace them. Time faded their memory, and time revealed that the magic of the dragons allowed elves now to live for centuries. A great celebration commenced every hundred years, known as the Agaeti Blodhren, commemorating the unification of the dragons and the elves. Thus, for centuries to come Eragon (with the help of Eliana and Bid'Daum) would tell little elflings and the few dragon hatchlings all about the great war, and why the Riders existed at each and every celebration.
~The End