Chapter three: Journey to Dras-Leona
Hey everyone, thank you guys again for reading this story. It means a lot to me. But please comment, I want to know how I can write better. This chapter is really just about the trip to Dras-Leona, but it also is supposed to build tension between Eragon and Arya. So enjoy!
The air rushed by Eragon as Saphira dived towards the ground, at the very last moment she pulled out of her dive and spread her wings. She landed heavily jogging Eragon forward and nearly impaling him on spike. He quickly cast a ward to make sure that he would not actually impale himself on a spike next time. He jumped off and patted Saphira on the side "just wait out here until I am done."
Saphira snorted and retorted Sarcastically "I am not going anywhere Eragon." He walked to his tent and entered, he briefly looked over his few belongings. This is not going to take a long time he noted. He decided to pack some spare changes of clothes and his blankets. He left Domia abr Wyrda because he was afraid that it would get damaged during his travels. Eragon exited the ten and squinted, the sun was above the horizon.
The Varden was slowly starting to wake up, a few soldiers had gathered around Saphira and the elves. They separated before Eragon as he approached Saphira. He tied his bag to her saddle.
"I am ready, lets go," he said briefly to Saphira. He mounted her and then saluted the Varden surrounding Saphira. They cheered enthusiastically as they took off and headed toward Feinster.
"I think we will be there a little late," Saphira noted. Eragon quickly looked at the sun and used his hands to measure the time and found that she was right.
"Well, it couldn't be helped, I doubt if Arya and Blodgarm are there yet anyway. Remember what Orik said about Arya?" He smiled a little at the memory of the days spent with Arya traveling and of his training at Ellesmera.
"She will probably will be on time on this mission, time is of the essence Eragon. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if she was there early". Eragon grimaced, he had hoped for a better start to their journey.
"I hope not, she might think that I don't understand the importance of this mission," Eragon said bitterly.
Saphira snorted, "I doubt it, it understandable that we would take longer. The elves had to cast their spells and it took longer then we excepted."
He brightened a little at the thought "your probably right Saphira" he said. She dipped into a shallow dive and Eragon noted that they were close to the northern gate.
"When have I ever been wrong?" Saphira asked smugly. "You've been wrong plenty of times" he retorted.
"Oh, anytime that you would care to share" she said coyly. Eragon struggled to think of anytime that she had been wrong.
"There was that time when…when" he thought franticly, trying to prove her wrong. "Agh! Just because it has never happened before doesn't mean it won't happen Saphira!" he said frustrated
Eragon could feel her satisfaction emanating from her, but she did not press her victory. He looked at the ground and saw two figures by the gate. One of them was slightly blue removing all doubt that they were anyone but Arya and Blodgarm. He groaned as he realized that, as always, Saphira was right.
She was smiling in triumph, but she did not say anything as she descended towards the ground. She landed with a thud and Eragon quickly jumped off.
Arya was a little off the road shouldering a large pack. Blodgarm stood a little way off pacing back and forth under the shade of two willow trees. They looked up when Saphira landed and Arya was walking towards him.
Eragon initiated the traditional Elvin greeting ritual, showing his respect for her by speaking first. "Atra du evarinya ono varda"
She touched her fingers to her lips and responded "Atra esterni ono thelduin, Eragon". Blodgarm strode over and the ceremony repeated.
Arya brushed away a lock of hair that had fallen over her face and then said "I
Trust that you are ready Eragon?" He swallowed nervously. He tried to catch any tones of sarcasm. She seemed sincere so he dismissed his apprehension as paranoia.
"We are both ready" He untied his bag and slung it over his shoulders. They would be running to Dras-Leona, riding Saphira was too conspicuous. Besides she couldn't carry all three of them all the way to Dras-Leona. It shouldn't long take because of the speed at which he and the elves could run.
Arya started to walk towards the road and Eragon followed her. "Then lets go, we've wasted too much time already". He quickly nodded in agreement. They reached the road and started running, he grimly thought that they would only stop for a rest tomorrow afternoon.
They ran for the rest of the day, stopping briefly at afternoon to eat and relieve themselves. Then they ran for the whole night, soon Eragon could see the sun rising. His eyelids were drooping as the sun rose above the horizon, but he pressed on. By nightfall his strength was flagging, and he kept tripping over rocks.
Finally they stopped, too tired to go any further they set up camp and ate a quick meal. Eragon sat on the end of a log, he tugged off his boot and grimaced as his blisters were exposed. He muttered "waise heill" and the blisters disappeared, he sighed as the spell took effect and the pain faded. He quickly repeated the spell with his other foot. The magic tired him further and he felt the need to sleep, just because he was immortal did not mean didn't have to sleep. Saphira had not yet caught up with them as she had to hunt.
They said not a single word as they prepared their blankets and then lay on them. He purposely chose the spot farthest from Arya. His companions fell asleep and Eragon took the opportunity to look at Arya with an openness that would offensive if she were awake. She was very beautiful, with her midnight hair and shapely form. His love for her was tarnished by her rejections. Being in her presence again was both painful and joyous, he knew that they never could be together. But his heart refused to listen to logic, however much he loved her.
There a sudden gust of air as Saphira landed next to him, he was not surprised. He had felt her coming from a mile away. He suppressed his tumultuous thoughts for the moment and said "Saphira! It good to see you again!" He not seen her for the past two days and the terrible feeling of emptiness was just setting in. His joy at seeing her was only overwhelmed by her joy at seeing him.
"Little one" She said drowsily, she was also very tired. She hummed contently as he hugged.
"Eragon, we are both tired and you have along day of traveling ahead of you. We should get as much rest as possible." She sank to the ground sleepily. He smiled, Saphira was right he was exhausted. He lay down again on his blankets, Saphira curled around him and drooped a wing over him.
Eragon snuggled against her side, content as he fell into the dreamless trance that had replaced sleep for him.
Eragon woke up slowly, he did not want to leave anytime soon. However Saphira raised her wing and the leg Eragon was using as a pillow disappeared and his head stuck the hard cold ground.
"Wake up Eragon, its time to go". He just closed his eyes and pulled his blanket tighter around him. Saphira snorted and then grabbed his blanket with her teeth and pulled it off him.
"Saphira!" he objected leaping to his feet. He glared at her, she let go of his blanket. It now had a couple holes in its corner.
"Good! Your finally up" Arya said startling him. She had been standing behind him the whole time. He blushed and looked at the ground.
"Now come, we should arrive at Dras-Leona this afternoon" She said briskly. She turned around and walked to where she slept. She picked her pack off the ground and strode towards the road.
Eragon hurriedly stuff all of his belongs into his own pack, it was a tight fit but he managed to get everything in it. He hurried to the road and saw Arya and Boldgarm already a couple miles down the road. He cursed and ran as fast as he could, it took him a little to catch up with them. He was breathing hard, but he soon fell into the steady rhythm of running.
They ran for hours, Eragon doubt that they would reach the city before sunset. But just as the sunlight was fading they reached the crest of a hill and beheld the city. The fading beams of sunlight lent the city an ethereal feel. But it made Helgrind seem more sinister, the blacks stone of the spire seemed to absorb light. As he looked down upon the valley a sense of certainty came upon him, he knew that this is where his destiny would be decided. He look at Helgrind again and a felt dread, there could not be a worse place for his future to be decided.
I just love writing the grim sentimental endings of my stories, don't worry guys there will be some happy moments. The next chapter is going to take a little longer then previous ones. It is one of the most important chapters of this story and it actually might have the most important event in the whole book. I am going to take extra time to make it even better, besides it is also going to be bigger. Can you plz help me by telling me everything that you guys think I could improve, every detail no matter how small. Also the praise you guys give me is appreciated and I will mention you in the next author note. Enjoy the remainder off you day!
Thanks to Unseen, Elemental Drago Slayer, HelloTheir- you guys encouraged me to continue, thank you for you advice and encouragement. Thank you it means a lot to me.
