The Home of the New Order…
Eragon sat; cross- legged – next to the brook, which flowed through a clearing that lay but a few minutes walk from the newly completed Stronghold of the Riders.
It was an imposing sight, even to him – despite his and Saphira's having been involved in every stage of both the planning and construction of the massive buildings…
Still, that it was imposing came as no surprise, of course: He had visited the island of Vroengard, and – even as they had begun their journey away from the land that was the only home he'd ever known, ideas had begun to form in his mind…
They had travelled for the better part of a year before they had found this island, and – almost before he and Saphira had set- down at the edge of one of its sandy beaches, they had a feeling that this was it… This was the place.
They had begun to set- up what had – at first, resembled a semi- permanent camp… or town. The better part of their first month had gone into scouting- out the island – locating areas suitable to quarry stone from, and made general preparations for the work that would follow…
It had been slow going, at first: Lifting even a few blocks – blocks big enough to be of any use, took an incredible amount of work…
Then – as their third week on the island was coming to a close, the first dozen of the wild- dragons' eggs had begun to hatch.
Once that had happened, and Saphira had had to start bringing- in food for the ravenous younglings, the work came to a complete standstill. –– There was no way they could continue without her – as the blocks would require far more energy to shift, much less move, than could be done practically with magic alone. (That being said, they continued to cut the blocks – so they would, at least, be making progress.)
It was just as well that they had: With prey as bountiful as it was, Saphira had no trouble finding food – and the wild- dragons were growing… very quickly.
Several months after their arrival, Saphira laid her first clutch of eggs – from when she and Firnen had mated, before they'd left Alagaesia…
In fact, by the end of their first year on the island, close to fifty wild- dragons had joined them in their work – including four from Saphira's clutch…
Eragon's thoughts returned to the present, as he sensed first Saphira's approach – and then the minds of the four dragons that accompanied her: Eager to finally meet their father…
It had been exactly seven days since he'd sent his invitation to Arya, and approximately six days, twenty- three hours, and thirty- seven minutes since he'd received her reply. – Buildings would have to be added as their numbers grew to what they had once been, but they could be added as the need arose.
Saphira appeared a few minutes later – landing just long enough for him to climb onto her back, and then they rose into the sky, and angled in the direction of the beach…
Arya, Firnen, and their new pupils should be arriving within the hour…
Reunion…
Arya and Firnen were the first to land, followed – seconds later, by two smallish- dragons: A purple, on which sat a human- boy, and a reddish- brown – on whose back sat an Urgal…
The Riders slid down from their saddles, and introductions were made…
From the looks of awe on their faces when they were introduced, Eragon knew that they had heard the tales of his and Saphira's deeds – and likely more than once…
The expression on the Urgal's face was one of such respect, Eragon could tell that – as Nar- Garzvog had promised; the Urgal Clans had begun teaching his and Saphira's names to their children – as well as how it was Eragon who had made it so that the Urgalgra could join the ranks of the Riders (… Either that, or Eragon had beheaded a hundred foes without realizing it, as he made his way towards them).
Ones the formalities had been observed, Eragon and Saphira's new- students were lead away by waiting elves – who would show them to their quarters, and give them a tour of the Stronghold.
The moment they were gone, the other dragons – who had been waiting next to Saphira, surged forward...
Firnen lowered his head to their level, and – for several minutes, Firnen's entire head vanished from view.
Finally, Saphira took pity on Firnen, and called them back, 'Come; we will hunt.'
Somewhat reluctantly, the young dragons backed away, and followed their mother into the air. After several deep breaths, Firnen – who'd been on the verge of being smothered to death by his own hatchlings, followed them into the air…
This left Eragon and Arya alone, together – For the first time in over five years. For several minutes, they simply stood there – taking in the others' appearance...
Finally, in a voice too low for anyone else to hear - even if there had anyone else been near- by, Eragon whispered Arya's True- Name… The familiar current flowed through Arya – as body and mind recognized all that she was in those words…
Arya smiled. Before Eragon could say anything more, she – in a voice as low as his had been, whispered what had once been Eragon's True Name… But the current of recognition did not come: Eragon's True Name had changed…
Arya's mind felt like it had frozen: The world around her seemed a little bit colder…
Before she could wrench her mind back to her immediate surroundings, Eragon brought his mouth to her ear, and whispered his new True Name…
The words flowed into Arya's mind… dissipating the cold feeling as though it was a light frost that was suddenly feeling the warmth of the sun: Then came the current of recognition, as Eragon's entire being reacted to the words…
Then came a new rush of comprehension: Eragon had begun to mend the flaws he had found in himself, when he had first discovered his True Name – and he had made respectable progress, given that only five years had passed… On top of that, he had finally adjusted to his new role as a Teacher – though she felt a shred of uncertainty that she was certain wouldn't last long…
Still feeling a touch of panic, Arya searched through Eragon's True Name – looking for the part that pertained to her…
What she found verified what she had learned from the memory that Roran had shared with her – of his and Eragon's conversation, near the base of Helgrind...
His feelings for her – on the whole, had not changed – though they were not quite the same: She realized then, that Eragon had spent a fair amount of time puzzling out just what her name meant… Then the truth hit her: Not only did Eragon now know 'who' she was; He understood her. Furthermore, she could sense a veritable river of respect that flowed alongside, around, and through his original feelings: All toward her…
Her earlier thoughts about Eragon being 'the most elf-like of humans', and herself as 'the most human-like of elves' were spot- on… But not even she had imagined the full implications of what that truly meant…
Just like that, the thought that had been tugging at the back of her mind – the one she couldn't seem to come to a decision on… ceased to trouble her: Just like that, she'd made her decision. –– But now was not the time to speak of it…
Her tension drained away - as though it had never been. She turned to face Eragon, smiling – easily, "I have heard much about this island – and the new Stronghold of Our Order, and I would very much like to see it."
Eragon grinned in return, "It would be an honour to show you." – They made their way up the one of the paths that leads up from the beach, and towards the inner- part of the island…
To be continued…