Chapter 2: Arrival in Alagaesia
A elderly elven couple strode through the forest of Du WeldenVarden on their morning walk, the pair could feel the could embrace of death approaching them and they knew that they had few years left before death embraced them but before the died they both wished for a chance of family and their wish was answered in the form of a flash of white an a young elven boy of around 5 years appeared.
He had jet black hair which was short and barely covered a strange scar on his forehead, he had bright emerald green eye's that sparkled with knowledge and power, subtle but still their. He was dressed in a assortment of clothes that the couple were unaware of, the material was so unlike their own.
Rushing forward they were relieved to find a pulse abet slightly weak but that was not a surprise considering they didn't know what kind of magic had been used to get the boy here. Carefully picking up the young boy the two accompanied by the boy returned to their house that lay on the edge of the elven town of Lithisail.
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Harry awoke to find himself lying on a soft bed, groaning at the lingering pain he opened his eye's only to blink in surprise when he realised he was not in his room at potter manor. Rolling over he staggered to his feet, swaying slightly he glanced at the mirror only to freeze in shock.
He first noticed that his ears were pointed much like that of a house elf he silently mused that he would fit in with the house elves much better. Breaking himself from his musing he exclaimed the rest of his body noting that his cheekbones were higher giving him an aristocratic appeal along with the slanting of the eye's and cat like pupils.
He also noticed he felt stronger and more alive than before, a casual test found that his reflects had improved remarkably along with his stamina after he jogged on the spot for five minutes, however he was disappointed to find that his agility and grace hadn't improved 'well at least there's something to improve on' Harry though amusedly.
He was drawn from his thoughts by the arrival of an elderly elf lady "are your awake good, my husband and I were worried when you appeared in the forest, we were luck to find you". The lady was dressed in a basic cotton tunic and dress of a light green, her face showed the worry that she felt and Harry felt strangely drawn to her.
"know can you remember how you came to be in du WeldenVarden and your name" she asked kindly. Harry's mood darkened slightly "no the last thing i remember was wishing for somewhere that i was love, i can't remember anything before" Harry said, a lie but he didn't want to return to the potters as they had shown that he was never welcomed besides he wasn't sure he knew how to get back home even if he wanted to.
Gathiela sighed, the poor boy it sounded like he'd had a bad home, elves for the most part adored their children but their were a few that weren't thought their was little anyone could do about them. "well seeing as you don't have anywhere to go might I suggest that you stay with me an my husband Hamard".
Harry's ears pecked up at this, someone was willing to look after him and love him, "can I have a name please" he asked timidly. Gathiela looked down at the boy and smiled kindly "yes you shall be known as Eragon which means 'man destined for greatness', Harry smiled contently, somehow the name suited him.
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A 16 year old elf hiked through the dense forest of Du WeldenVarden, his name Eragon Vanduril. After being found by his parents little Harry renamed Eragon had progressed at an astonishing pace. He'd mastered the language of the elves also known as the ancient language in under to years, another year and he was a master with the bow and blade.
Though for all his training Eragon's liked to spend time with his family and had a incredible big heart. However it could not last and as Eragon's sixteenth birthday approached his mother could feel her strength failing, she along with her husband bid Eragon farewell before passing into the void though not before Gathiela asked Eragon to do one thing and that was to stop the war between the elves and Dragons that had been raging for the year.
He still remembered he words 'son you must stop this war else both races will be doomed, the answer to the riddle lies to the north, salvation shall come the white unborn'. Eragon had hardly heard her words as he held her close as she slowly faded and passed into the void only minutes after her husband.
Eragon had cried himself to sleep that night grieving over the lose of those who had loved him. Next morning Eragon rose completing the twin graves before proceeding with the burial ritual adding from his limited ability wards to the graves to deter anyone with evil intentions.
So it was that after packing his belongings he shouldered his pack and headed north in search of this 'salvation' his mother spoke of. For the past month he'd been travelling north living rough though he found something calming about sleeping under the stars, this particular morning he was in a good mood as he could hear the rushing of water.
Grabbing his water-skin he dived through the forest arriving in a clearing of sorts with a stream running through it, kneeling down he began to fill the water-skin when his eye's caught sight of something glittering to one side, turning he dropped the water-skin in shock, before him half buried in dirt was a pure white dragon egg.
Stumbling to his feet he jumped the stream landing next to the egg, carefully he picked the egg up only for it squeak and begin to crack, placing the egg on the ground he backed away slightly watching in fascination. The egg cracked down the middle before exploding outwards, shards flying everywhere to reveal a small snow white dragon fangs bared in a pretence of being dangerous though its squeaks gave it away.
Smiling Eragon cautiously approached the young dragon and by some sense placed his hand on the dragon's snout whilst muttering a phrase in the ancient language, at the same time a spike of his earth magic bonded the two. Eragon fell back screaming as ice cold pain flooded through him distorting his senses yet as sense of peace and power accompanied the pain.
The pain finally stopped and wincing Eragon glanced at the young dragon which was nudging his arm in concern, Eragon chuckled as he watched the young creature bounded around him before jumping on his chest and nudging his chin with his scaly snout, the ticklish feeling caused Eragon to chuckle again gently removing the young dragon from his chest.
"now what are we going to call you" Eragon asked stroking the young dragon under the chin making his growl in pleasure "I don't even know if your male or female" a distinct feeling came back along the bond, Eragon smiled "Male it is" he said laughing lightly "how about Bid'daum" Eragon queried, the young dragon seemed to consider before letting out a squeak accompanied by several sparks "I'll take that as a yes then"Eragon said rubbing Bid'daum head affectionately.
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A 20 year old Eragon Vanduril stood outside the throne room in the elven capital of Ellesmera. For the last three years he along with his faithful partner of his heart Bid'daum had been trying to stop the war.
After finding the egg and then newly born and bonded dragon the two had spent many months in the clearing study magic and improving their skills in battle. At six months Bid'daum had grown enormously and had even began to breath fire although it would be a while before he perfected it.
A year after discovering the egg and the two left their sanctuary and began travelling the land trying to persuade the fighting to stop. A year into there attempt and he was summoned by the queen, the two had met and discussed, Eragon was pleased to see that she was considering peace and was slightly surprised when the queen requested he took a message to the leader of the dragons.
Eragon seeing this as a chance to end the war had gone to the dragon breeding ground and after much persuasion he had been allowed to speak with the leader, a gigantic white dragon of incredible age judging by his size and wise expression.
Eragon had dutiful relayed the message and so the two had begun negotiating culminating in the event of today, the joining of dragons and elves. The doors opened and he was met by the queen who was accompanied by the elven nobility, she looked stunning in the emerald green dress she wore.
"ready Eragon" the queen asked as she lead the group into the clearing beneath the Meona tree, "Elves and Dragons, we are gathered her this night to complete the signing of the treaty of peace between the Dragon's and elves. We have Master Eragon and his bonded dragon Bid'daum to thank for this chance of peace, without it we would doom our two races to extinction".
The queen stepped back as two dragons strode forward depositing 12 dragon eggs. Returning to the folds Eragon and Bid'daum stepped forward and began chanting the phrase needed for the birth of the bonded Dragon's and Elves.
As he spoke the last word magic glowed around the two before seeping towards the eggs which began pulsating with light. The glow final fade and Eragon collapsed to the floor, the spell had taken a lot out of him. Rising to his feet he wobbly stepped forwards pleased to see that the spell had worked, staggering over to Bid'daum he lent against his scaley side "one satisfied customer" Eragon mumbled before falling unconscious.
The elder white dragon slowly approached the fallen man before touching him on the forehead and breathing on him, the combination gave Eragon the strength and speed of two elves, the magic of a dozen dragons and the wisdom of the white dragon along with a number of other skills which Eragon would discover in time.
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Eragon stood glancing out over the tree's of Du WeldenVarden to the training ground, a two hundred years old he'd seen a lot in his life but he always had his partner of his heart. The pact between the elves and dragons had been a success and the new created 'dragon riders' as they were dubbed had gone from strength to strength.
He had unwillingly accepted the position of head rider but was more than happy to pass on much of his knowledge to the young elven riders who graced the halls of the riders. One particular elf had caught his attention a young boy by the name of Oromis and his dragon Gleadr showed great promise and Eragon had taught him personally.
After peace had been asserted Eragon was keen to move the Dragon riders from the elven capital of Ellesmera instead basing them in the city of illeria, not only would it allow for easier access but it would also make them appear more neutral.
The past month had been a flurry of activity for the riders as they moved all their equipment and belongings, Eragon was one of the few remaining dragon riders but today he would be on his way to the city of Illirea. Reaching for his two swords, a gift from the blacksmith Rhunon who had presented the swords to him the day after the battle, usually she made only one blade per person but for some reason she had made him two.
A beautiful pearl white sword that matched is dragons scales and a deep emerald green which she said matched his eye's. Eragon fell in love with the swords, at their expert craftsmanship. He'd spent several weeks with the blacksmith and helped forge a set of armour for him as well as a set of dragon armour which made Bid'daum more fearsome if possible.
Today he was the day he'd planned to set out to Illeria, the satual and backpack containing 14 dragon eggs as well as a large quantity of brightsteel, the metal used to make the riders swords and Eldunari'a of past fallen dragon that fell during the war with the elves. With one last glance around the tree house that had been his home for the last six months he climbed into the saddle, strapping himself in, Bid'daum roared in joy before jumping into the sky unfurling his wings and speeding south.
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On the third day of the fight Eragon spotted a village being attacked, mentally nudging Bid'daum they descended landing in the middle of the village, men and woman were all around, piled high in places. Sliding out of the saddle Eragon checked several of the fallen, to be met with noting not beat of life.
Straightening he turned as he felt a presence behind him. A man stood in the gap between houses his face partially hidden though his maroon eye's were visible 'a shade' Eragon though in fear. His fears were heightened even more when two more cloaked figures appeared 'three shades this is going to hard if not impossible'
Drawing his sword he raised it in a defensive stance strengthening his mental defence. Bid'daum growled a warning before pouncing on the left most shade burying him under a nearby building. Raising his sword in a parry he blocked one attack before twisting and catching the second blade which was about to enter his thigh.
Jumping skywards he unleashed a barge of attacks, the weaker of the two shades seemed to falter and Eragon pounced slamming the blade into the shades chest making him scream in pain and the spirits cause the body to implode. Rolling to the side he narrowly missed the other shades attack.
Drawing his second sword he blocked the swipe at his head kicking the shade in the stomach. Back flipping away he tossed three daggers in mid-flight, one in each shoulder and the third in the stomach frustratingly below the heart.
Landing gracefully he charged forwards parrying the desperately lunge, rolling forward he came out of the roll behind the shade "die" he hissed thrusting the sword into the shades heart. Pulling his sword from the corpse he turned to face the third shade "why did you attack the village" Eragon asked his stance defensive.
"The plan was to kill you so that it will show that not even the riders are safe" The shade obviously the brains behind the attack hissed, his pointed teeth bared in a snarl. Both swords in hand Eragon attacked swinging high with E'doc sil (his emerald blade) whilst at the same time swinging Gathila (peace in the ancient language) at the shades legs.
The shade ducked the blow to the head whilst blocking the blowing to the legs before attacking with his mind and sword at the same time, caught by surprise and fatuigued Eragon was to slow in bringing his sword up to block him.
The sword entered his ribcage causing Eragon to gasp, falling to the ground he disappeared in a flash of gold which shot out like a shock-wave completely obliterating the shade and the surrounding mile. To the people of Alagaesia Eragon the first rider vanished, not to be seen in Alagaesia for over a thousand years.