Chapter 2 - Welcome to Alagaesia

Alagaesia, home of the Dragons, elves dwaves and men. For thousands of years the lands of Alagaesia had been peaceful and prosperous until the war of the Dragons and elves for decades the two races fought until a young elf by the name of Eragon found a dragon egg, raising the yound dragon the two travelled the land convincing elves and dragons.

Peace was re-established in the form of the Dragon riders who goverened over Alagaesia for generations, until a young human by the name of Galbatorix lost his dragon. Blaming the dragon Riders he sought revenge and after convincing 12 to join his group they set about destroying the order.

The Dragon riders fought hard but were defeated causing the elves and Dwarves to retreat hiding away in the forest of Du WeldenVarden and Farthern Dur. Men fought back creating the country of Surda but some went further and created the Varden, a group dedicated to bringing down Galbatorix and his tyrant reign.

Eventually one of their spys was able to steal one of the three legendary Dragon Eggs that had survived the purge, a decade later and the egg was making its way back to Du Weldenvarden from Trohjem Capital of the Dwarves.

Durza stood hidden behind a bush staring intently at the road, sniffing he caught the wisp of an elf "they were correct, spread out kill the to guards" the shade said address 12 urgals, tall creatures with broad shoulders and large muscles, two horns sat atop their heads, the urgals spread out nervously twiddling their weapons or pulling on bow strings.

Durza observed his soldiers "Quiet" he hissed through pointed fangs 'honestly they made more noise than a dragon and beside the plan counted on the element of surprise. Returning his attention to the path his enhanced eye's caught sight of three horses prancing up the path.

A elf sat upon each horse, the front most a tall silver haired elf, helmed carrying a spear. The middle elf was the only woman of the Trio she kept patting the bag round her waist as though she was afraid of losing it. The final elf was unhelmed his golden hair falling over his shoulders he carried a bow almost as long as himself, a quiver of arrows set on one side of the horse.

The first two horses passed several of the Urgals before the wind changed and the horses caught the scent of the hidden Urgals. Cursing Durza raised his had signalling for the urgals to fire, the urgals let loose a torrent of arrows, the first five impacted against the spear-carrying elf who gasped in pain as he was thrown from his steed, hitting the hard ground and remaining unmoved.

The middle elf was luckier as she was able to dodge the lethal projections, bounding of her steed as it was hit by more arrows, ducking and diving she was able to avoid the pursuing arrows and made it into the forest.

The third elf was just as unlucky as the helmed elf and got several arrows into the rib-cage and thighs. Curses flew from Durza's lips as he saw the she-elf flee, ignoring the roaring Urgals he swiftly climbed the hill gazing out over the moor. A flash of movement caught his attention, jumped down he landing in front of the elf, a wave of his hand later and they were both surrounded by a ring of fire.

"give me the eggs"

"never" the elf spat back reaching for the sack at her waist. Pulling the two eggs from the sack she waved her hand over them reciting a sentence in the ancient language, Durza realising what she was doing screamed in fury and sent a ball of magic at her.

It arrived a fraction to late as the eggs vanished milliseconds before she was hit, knocking her unconscious. Screaming in fury Durza released several bolts of magic at the surrounding, blasting rocks and obliterating tree trunk, the urgals who had helped in the ambush were not spared.

Regaining control of his emotions he checked to make sure she didn't have the eggs before carrying her to his nearby horse, climbing up behind her he prodded the horses sides causing it to break into a trot.

At the same time in another part of Alagaesia a young man was striding carefully through a forest hunting a pack of deer, catching sight of the herd he crouched down knocking one of his arrows to the string. Sighting up the flank of the deer he released the arrow, a flash of light and the smell of burning caused the deer to bolt and the arrow to fly through the air were it had been seconds before, logging in a tree.

As Eragon started forwards to see what the disturbance was the air seemed to stir and a split of gold appeared in the middle of the clearing rapidly expanding, Eragon staggered back in shock and fear, after all many a tell he had been told when he was a child had been about the mystery and horrors of the spine

As the disturbance reached the ground the rift began to flicker more violently before spitting out several objects, the first a battered trunk, second a metal cage containing a snow white bird of some sort, the third a body of a short man, fourth a broom of some sort and fifth and final a trunk of amazing craftsmanship.

The rift calmed before slowly fading disappearing in a burst of compressed wind which blew pleasantly against Eragon ruffling his blond hair.

Cautiously entering the clearing his cautiously was dulled slightly when he caught sight of the man, on closer inspection he appeared to be a young boy of around 14 winters, judging by his height. He was clothed in a type of material that he didn't recognise. Upon his face sat a set of metal frames holding a see-through materail of some sorts, a lightning bolt calved into his forehead.

Shaking the boy he was slightly concerned when their was little response "well what are we going to do with you" Eragon mused to himself. Lifting the boy who was surprisingly light he lay him under the eves of one of the trees at the edge of the clearing, returning twice to the centre of the clearing to collect the assortment of items that were littered throughout the clearing.

Only once he had completed the task did he allow his mind to return to the first disturbance. The ground round the flash of light was burnt a by-product of the flash, in the centre of the burnt ground was a slight indent, two stone laying the indent. The left one was a brilliant sapphire colour with a white vein of sorts criss-crossing the outer shell, the right egg was a deep emerald colour with similar white veins on it.

Carefully picking up the two stone he placed them next to the other assortment of objects before reaching into his pack and withdrawing his tent. Pitching the small one man tent proved to be quite a challenge on the rocky and uneven ground.

Placing his pack in the tent his curiously overrode his tiredness and he returned his attention to the mans belongings. The battered trunk opened without a problem revealing a collection of more of those were material clothes along with an assortment of books, being unable to read they proved to useless and unhelpful to him.

Hoping the second trunk would be of more help he tried opening the lid only to find it shut tight, exaimining the trunk he was surprised and curious when he could find no key-hole 'so whats holding it shut'. His mind buzzing with the nights activities he entered his small canvas tent, laying down his mind slowly drifted of into the land of dreams.

Eragon POV

Eragon awoke next morning to find the sun was shining through the many leaves of the forest, crawling out of the tent it took the prone form of the mystery boy to remember the events of the previous day.

Staggering to his feet he found the boy unmoved from where he had laid him the previous evening, checking the boy he was relieved that the boy was alive but worried that he hadn't moved. Feeling helpless he decided that doing something elevated the feeling slightly, so he set about gathering wood for the fire.

Harry POV

Harry felt himself returning to the world of the living, the previous 12 hours had been torture far worst than the curituas curse 'well I guess that's what happens when you travel to another world'. Blearily he opened his eyelids and found himself gazing up at the underside of a tree.

Groaning he rolled over, his muscles screaming in pain stopping sharply when he heard a gasp of surprise.

Eragon turned in surprise when he heard a groan and the sound of movement from the direction of the tree he had laid the stranger under. Turning he saw a pair of bright Emerald Green eye's gazing back at him

the two surveyed each other before Eragon summoned up the courage to speak

"your awake I was get worried"

"how long was I out"

"12 hours, you appeared through a ribbon of light"

Harry noted the boys clothing "oh just what a need a medival Muggle" he mumbled.

Harry turned over raising himself onto all fours swaying before trying to stand only to wobble and fall to the ground his legs not supporting his weight "great this is what dimesion travelling does to you" he admonished

"De-men-sion Travelling" Eragon asked stumbling over the word. Thinking quickly Harry blurted out the first plausible answer the boy would understand "it's what this form of travel is called, its rather painful to" Harry added rubbing the back of his neck.

"were am I anyway" he asked glancing around at the forest "The spine" Eragon answered confused when the boy didn't shuddered at the name, after all everyone knew the name even those who lived in the southern country Surda.

"oh well its...pleasant" Harry mused not noticing the shocked look Eragon shot at him "Pleasant, this mountain range is feared throughout Alagaesia as Galbatorix lost half his army" "Galbatorix, who's he". Eragon's incredulity shot through the roof "Galbatorix is the ruler of the empire, the stories go that he throw over the Dragon Riders and created the Empire"

Harry held his head as he heard the answer "Great just what I need a wannabe Dark Lord, a dragon bound to serve him and an evil empire" Eragon stared at the man, if that sentence had been heard by anyone loyal to the king this boy would have been dead before you could say 'Varden' "Shhh, don't speak like that Galbatorix has a whole army of spy's and if anyone speaks out of line of the king their instantly sentence to death" "What no trail"

"No. now we might as well stay together whilst in the spine as you obviously have no clue about the dangers of the mountain, so make yourself useful and gather firewood". Grumbling Harry headed off into the woodland to find dead wood.

30 minutes later he returned to find Eragon sitting besides a roaring fire, stirring a pot. "Ah you back excellent this should be enough firewood for breakfast, by the way when you came through a variety of other things did to their over their by the tree you slept under", Harry perched up at this and hurried over to the tree.

"Hedwig!!" he exclaimed happily as he stopped the ruffled owl "hello girl" he said opening the cage the snowy owl hopped out settling on his forearm "now that is a handy skill" a voice behind him commented, Eragon had snuck up on them. "their were also these" Eragon said pulling out the trunks and broom "of you go Hedwig" Harry said, the snowy owl took of in to graceful flaps soaring graceful up over the tops of the tree's and out of sight.

"The first Trunk I was easily able to open but the second refused to budge" "you searched through my stuff" Harry asked one eyebrow raised "yes..well....you just appeared and besides I didn't know if their would be something to help you" Eragon said in defence.

Checking his old school trunk he was pleased to see that he had all his clothes plus the marauders map and his fathers old invisibility cloak. Shutting the trunk he turned his attention to the second trunk, marvelling at the craftsmanship displayed he tried opening the trunk only to find in firmly shut.

Harry tried for several minutes,opening the stubborn trunk but eventually had to admit defeat, leaning against the trunk he absent-mindedly tapping the symbol and was dislodged from his sitting position when the trunk shrunk causing him to lose balance, Eragon had been tending to the fire after becoming bored, turned as he heard the platoon of swear-words erupt from Harry as he rigted himself

"where's the trunk" Eragon asked noticing the trunks disappearance

"don't know" Harry grumbled rising and brushing himself off, Eragon stared at him before returning to the fire, not seeing Harry quick a small box off the ground.

"Food's ready" Eragon's said, Eragon split the meat into portions handing half to Harry "we haven't been introduced my names Eragon"

"Harold" Harold replied not wanting to remember his past life filled with abuse, death and betrayal. The meal although small was very fulfilling and 15 minutes later they were striking camp, Harold covertly un-shrunk his trunk strapping his school trunk, Hedwig's Cage and his Firebolt to the outside of the trunk.

Praying he whooped for joy when the Trunk and its extra's shrunk, he knew it would be impractical for more than a few days but for now it would do.

"Ready Eragon asked grabbing his walking stick

"yes" Harold replied checking the trunk was still in his pocket

"well lets before off" Eragon said leading Harold into the heart of the Forest.

Three days later they arrived back in Eragon's home town of Carvahall, the past three days the two had shared stories of their lives, Harold had carefully answered each question changing it slightly so he didn't give anything away about his home, though he did give some of his adventure.

In return Eragon had told him of his life as a child with no parents and so the two found their first connection. He had also told him vaguely about the history of Alagaesia, myths and Legends, interestingly Harold found that Eragon knew most of the stories from the town story-teller Brom, Harold made a mental note to ask him when he met him.

The two after a quick spat in the butchers with a man named Sloan who had some grievance against Eragon though Harold could not fathom what it was they left the small though charming village and made the last leg back to Eragon's farm where his uncle although Eragon felt as him as 'Father ' and his cousin Roran.

Harold's first view of the farm reminded him of a picture out of one of his old school books on the middle ages. The farm's wall was made out of stone of some sort with wooden beans running through the wall and up the ceiling holding the thatch roofing in place.

Two men stood out the front watching their approach, the one on the right was tall in his 40's with slightly greying hair and a short beard, the one on the left was shorter, bearing a slight resemblance to his father, he like Eragon had brood shoulders no doubt due to his hours worked on the field.

Eragon you back, I see you brought a visitor"

"yes uncle I met him in the spine I was wondering if he could stay with us for a little while

"look I don't want..."

"Nonsense boy your welcome. Now Eragon how was your trip"

"it went well but I still had to buy some meat from Sloan luckily Harold was able to help (thanks to a gold Galleon he had upon his person) I met Horst on the way back and he said the traders may be late this year.

The two talked for another five minutes before Eragon pleaded tiredness and they proceeded indoors, Harold was given a small room, though he didn't mind and after a quick cup of something that tasted something like tee he proceeded to bed.