Chapter Seven

Across The Vroengard Channel

Disclaimer: See Chapter Two

Teclian landed gracefully in a huge cave high on the slopes of the volcano that dominated the island of Vroengard.
A gigantic dragon of pure white already rested curled up beside an elf with black hair, who was studying an ancient scroll, with a frown on his face.
Teclian inclined his head to the old rider, and waited.

'Rise Teclian, it must've been a long flight from Tierm, and I will not keep you from your rest, but tell me, what of the coming of the Grey Rider?' Asked the old rider.
The egg hatched, for a street urchin called Jesse O'Malley, the boy has taken the name 'Aragon the Grey' though. However, I do not think he is the one you seek, master. Said Teclian slowly, giving his opinion on the boy as was his way.
The rider was silent for a moment, he turned and faced Teclian and examined him with dark eyes.
'No, she has made her choice after nearly a thousand years; Either she knows something I don't, or she saw something in this one, which I think is more likely, because I warned her against choosing a rider simply to escape the confines of her egg.' Said the rider gravely.
Does this mean…that the time of the Betrayal is nearly upon us? Asked Teclian with dread.
'Maybe, it's possible, but I'm no seer. I'll look into it, but how far away is Elmïra and her charges?' Asked the rider.
They shall be hear soon. Answered Teclian after a moment.

Aragon leaned on the railing at the bow of the Indomitable Spirit, and regretted that their short trip across the Vroengard Channel was nearly at it's end.
It had been fun, listening to Jarren, and his father, Bastion, give him and Sarah and Thelduin a detailed, and interesting rundown on how ships were run, then even more interesting accounts of stops at foreign ports, battling pirates on the high seas, and other adventures that were the province of seafarers and mariners.

'An interesting six hours, no?' Asked Elmïra as she came and leaned on the railing beside Aragon.
Aragon looked at the growing bulk of Vroengard. They'd just entered one of the many sheltered coves that adorned the island's coast. 'I'll say, Jarren's lucky to have such a great father, and I never knew how eventful life at sea could be.' Aragon said at last, not looking at Elmïra.

They stood there in silence for a moment, and Aragon, despite his best efforts to try and keep his mind off of the beautiful elven lady next to him, couldn't help casting an admiring eye on her.
The light of the full moon made her seem delicate as glass, but Aragon imagined that the truth was the exact opposite.
Elmïra gave a small chuckle. 'If you do end up as my apprentice Aragon, the first thing I'm going to teach you, is how to guard against mindbreakers. Otherwise, I'll either end up with an inflated opinion of myself, or having to give you a good smack across the back of the head.' She said, facing Aragon, with an amused smile.

Aragon shook his head in a vain attempt not to dwell on the she-elf dragon rider's, magic given grace and beauty.
In a more concerted effort to clear his head, Aragon asked: 'And what can I look forward to if I do end up your apprentice?'
Elmïra's smile grew wider, and the mischievous glint in her eye acquired a playful hint. 'Heaven's help me, but you'll probably get the crack across the skull anyway.' She teased.
Aragon returned to staring at the imposing bulk of Vroengard.

Thelduin drifted down onto Aragon's shoulder.
You're fighting a lost battle dear-soul. Noted Thelduin with amusement.
Trust me to get the hatchling that could think clearer than I can as soon as she hatched. Reflected Aragon darkly.
'That would be Eragon's fault.' Said Elmïra, obviously still hearing Aragon's thoughts.
'What do you mean? And can you please stay out of my head?' Asked Aragon.

One of the biggest advantages of staying inside an egg for a thousand years, fully aware of everything, is eventually, you learn to consciously touch the minds of others, without a rider, I learnt the skill a long time ago, and when Master Eragon found out, it was when he felt me brush his conscience. I think the surprise of it nearly killed him. Explained Thelduin.
'And so he figured he'd save some time and teach you things before you even hatched, right?' Queried Aragon.

'That's right,' confirmed Elmïra. 'And yes I can stay out of your head, but I can't help if I overhear things.' She added, answering Aragon's original question.
'How long ago was that?' Aragon asked Thelduin curiously.

Thelduin flicked her feather-like tail-mane lazily. About two hundred years ago, shortly before Eragon chose Elmïra to ferry my egg around. She said, yawning wide, and revealing needle sharp teeth, and long, serrated fangs.
Aragon blinked in surprise, but kept his peace, as the Spirit docked at a weathered port outpost near the shore.

An hour later, walking up a well worn track, the small group came to a large smooth area. Ahead was a arduous looking climb to the peak of the island.
'Please tell me we don't have to climb that.' Said Jarren faintly.
'You don't, but you can if you want to.' Said Elmïra unconcerned.
Aragon went to ask: 'what are we doing here?', But broke off as a large archway,-easily big enough for three dragons Teclian's size to fit through side by side,- seemed to flow out of the stone.
There was a loud crack! and a portal opened in the archway.

'Come on, its perfectly safe.' Said Elmïra to the three apprentice riders, who eyed the portal warily.
'You s-' Aragon began, but Thelduin wrapped her tail around his arm, and pulled him through, with surprising strength.

Aragon staggered as he came through the archway in the cave mouth, and pitched forward onto his chest.
When he sat up, he saw that the cave was comfortably furnished, without being luxurious, and a fire burnt brightly in an open fireplace.
Several halls burrowed deeper into the cave, most big enough for a large dragon to negotiate, while others were comparatively tiny, obviously meant for smaller beings.

Beside the fireplace, a figure sat, reading a delicate looking scroll.
As Sarah and Jarren stepped through the portal, he looked up, and the archway that contained the portal sank into the ground.
Thelduin flew lazily around Aragon's head a few times, then settled on his shoulder.
See? Perfectly safe. Quipped Thelduin calmly.

'What the hell just happened?' Asked Jarren, looking around and examining the cavern.
'All in good time, initiate Miles,' said Elmïra calmly, from the other side of the cavern.
She had a chalice of wine in her hand, and was completely at ease.
Aragon briefly wondered how she'd gotten there before them.

'Come over here, there's someone I'd like you all to meet.' Said Elmïra, taking a sip of wine, and taking a seat at a table near the fire.
Warily, the three approached the seated figure, who was regarding them over steepled fingers.
The figure was lithely built, but possessed an air of power that belied it.
He had a hooked nose, a narrow chin, black hair, and deep blue eyes.
His face was well tanned, and weather beaten, indications of a goodly amount of time on dragon-back.
A spider web collection of fine lines at the corners of his eyes were the only sign that he might be older than he looked.
And, Aragon noted, he was an elf.

A note on the portal: It isn't an entirely original idea.
It's halfway based on the 'Veil' in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and halfway on a scenery piece featured in White Dwarf Issue 367.

This hasn't really seen that heavy an edit.

Just some stuff to better get an idea of the scale of things, and some other minor errors.

No One-liners!