Answers to reviews:
Spedyalarm: I'm not gonna show off everything he may be able to do now that he's a dragon. And I think the Thu'um is a fitting thing to replace having Alagaësia magic. Long as he knows stuff like the ancient language and whatnot, I'd say he'll be fine. As for his dragon appearance... well, he's the four-legged type rather than the Dovah from Skyrim.
ItsDaKoolaidDude: Would've taken a bit too long. Needed to happen a lot earlier.
Guest: You'll just have to find out.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Elder Scrolls or The Inheritance Cycle.
Eragon's eyes were wide as he stared at the sleeping dragon that was laying where his best friend had been just hours ago. Thankful that it was sleeping, Eragon exained the creature. It's scales where a silvery-grey, but upon closer inspection one could see the edges had an icy blue coloration to them. The wing membranes folded on its back were definitely more blue than silver, and it's various spikes and horns were bone white.
However, that was all he could make out of the dragon because Saphira, who had awoken at her Rider's cry and saw what startled him, acted on her protective instincts and pounced on the intruder (And possible threat)
Daemon had been awakening, coming back from being unconscious. His headache had gone away, though there was faint traces of it remaining but not as much as before. Before he could comprehend anything else, he was fully awakened when a weight slammed into him and pinned him down hard. He looked up, only to find a certain sapphire-scaled dragoness's teeth inches from his head, snarling.
Who are you? Saphira demanded. What are you doing here?
Daemon tried to reply, but what came out shocked him. Instead of speech, what came out of his mouth were growls. Freezing like a statue, he moved his head enough to glance down at his body, only for his eyes to widen as he saw four legs, scales, wings, a tail.
He was a dragon!
Knowing he had to settle this before Saphira really did mistake him for a threat, he reached out with his mind and shouted. Saphira, stop! It's me!
Saphira jerked back as if struck, staring at him in shock as she, along with two others, shouted. "Daemon?!"
Yes, it's me!
Quickly, Saphira got off him and allowed him to get up. Although, not used to the body he was in right now, Daemon stumbled as he tried to get on all fours before just plopping down onto his haunches. He swung his head left and right, wildly examining his body with disbelief before he looked at his companions.
Would someone like to explain what has happened to me?!
Shaking himself out of his stupor, Brom coughed and said, "We could ask you the same question!" Eragon could do nothing but stare at what had become of his friend, his mind at a loss for words. "Do you remember anything? What happened?
I... I... we were in Yazuac. Daemon said, frowning as he recalled. We saw the pile of bodies... then we were attacked by Urgals. Next thing I know, I'm waking up as a dragon with Saphira ready to tear my head off.
Sorry. The dragoness apologized.
Daemon took several deep breaths, trying to calm down as he could think of no logical explanation for his transformation. He didn't want to lash out at his friends because he couldn't explain what had happened to him, it wasn't their fault he was like this. Please tell me something like this is common here.
"Not exactly." Brom shook his head. "Give me a few minutes, I'm trying to think about... how this has occurred."
Daemon nodded and continued with his tactics to keep calm, inhaling deeply then exhaling. Multiple emotions raged through him and were felt by Eragon and Saphira. He was scared, worried, in shock and disbelief because of his situation.
Concerned for her friend. Saphira came closer to him and asked softly. Daemon, are you alright?
Daemon looked at her and shook his head. I... I'm scared, Saphira. I don't know how this has happened to me, and I'm so scared because of it.
Saphira leaned forward and gave his neck a comforting and reassuring nuzzle. Don't worry. we'll try and figure out how this has happened. Remember, we're here for you.
Thank you, Saphira. Daemon said softly after a moment, getting another nuzzle from Saphira.
"Bah! I can't figure this out!" Brom shouted, gaining their attention as he paced. "This... this is something that's never happened before. There's no way a person can simply transform into a dragon, it's impossible! No magic could result in this, the strain it would cause on the body would kill the caster. Not even the Riders dared to try experimenting in such a thing."
"So... this is something new." Eragon said, looking to the dragon form of his friend. "Nothing like this has ever happened before?"
"No." Brom shook his head. He examined Daemon's dragon form more closely and noticed something on the right foreleg. "The cut you sustained two nights ago, do you remember anything then?"
Daemon looked down at it, then closed his eyes in recollection. Yes, Eragon and I tried to help Saphira... I suffered this cut... and then I collided with Saphira. My cut came into contact with one of hers and her blood entered my cut, then that's when I started experiencing these symptoms.
"That's how it happened then!" Brom's eyes widened. "Daemon, you told me being Dragonborn gives you the blood and soul of a dragon, yes? Essentially a dragon but in the body of a mortal?"
Yes. Daemon nodded.
"Then that explains it." Brom said with awe. "Saphira's blood must've awakened the dragon within you, and allowed it to take a physical form of it's own. No longer bound in the body of a mortal You're the first of something new, Daemon. But whether you're stuck like this forever or not... I cannot answer that for I do not have the answer."
Daemon was silent. unsure how to contemplate being a dragon for the rest of his life. But he had to admit... it felt right, it felt good. It felt... like freedom.
After a few moments of silence passed, Eragon spoke. "So what do we do now? Do we continue travelling or stay here?" He looked skyward as he said this, finding that the sun was now high overhead. Morning had come and gone, in fact it was nearly noon; they had been talking for hours.
Brom rose and dusted the hem of his robes. He then began to gather his things. "I don't see any reason to waste a day. As...unexpected...as this turn of events is, it doesn't change the fact that we still have a mission to accomplish. Unless you wish the Ra'zac to get a further ahead than they already are?" As he finished, he tied his things to Snowfire and climbed into the saddle.
Eragon leaped to his feet. "No, of course not!" Admittedly, finding out your best friend had been turned into a dragon was a great cause for distraction, but the memory of who they were chasing and why snapped him back to his cold reality. Daemon being a dragon or not, he still needed to hunt down the Ra'zac for the death of his uncle. That's why they were out here, and it's the reason things had turned out the way they did. Receiving a comforting conformation from Daemon that it was the right thing to do, he quickly set about packing his and Daemon's things into Cadoc's and Shadowmere's saddlebags respectively. He then mounted his horse, and followed Brom as he started south toward the trail.
Daemon was startled from his thoughts when Saphira nudged him. Come on. She said and started walking in a direction that Eragon and Brom weren't going in.
Um, Saphira, shouldn't we be following Eragon and Brom? Daemon asked, getting to his feet and following her. Although he stumbled at first, he soon got the hang of walking in this body.
And we will. But you are not used to the body of a dragon, so we'll be working on you getting adjusted to it. Saphira said, looking back at him and he saw a mischievous gleam in her eyes as she nodded at his wings. And we'll start with flying lessons.
Daemon glanced at his wings and gulped. Oh no...
Nice knowing you, Daemon.
By the way, if you want to know what Daemon's dragon form looks like better, think of a smaller, silver-scaled version of Smaug from the Hobbit movies but with four legs rather than just two.
Now just because Daemon is a dragon now, doesn't mean he and Saphira are immediately gonna want to get it on. the romance between them needs to build and develop, but things will start to change between them on account of Daemon's dragon form now free and unlocked.