this one's slightly longer than normal, but whatever.
claimer: same to all the others..
enjoy!
41.-Homes of ancients
Oromis slid down the uninjured side of his dragon, landing silently on the leaf-strewn earth, Faolan following suit, landing heavier but still gracefully, for a werewolf anyway.
They both bowed to the elven queen, Dorran, Saphira and I inclining our heads out of respect even though we knew that dragons were looked up to almost as much as the queen.
The queen's voice echoed around the hall with so much power that the entire forest seemed to suddenly grow silent, even though her words were as gentile as a flowing brook.
"Rise, you need not pay homage to me dragons and riders. Oromis, what is the purpose of your visit other than to present these new riders," she looked at me closely and corrected her question, "or rider and dragon of the wild? I thought you had promised never to leave the safety of your home city." Her eyes bore into the old rider's and I noticed for the first time that there was a pure white bird perched on an upright rod, its beady black eyes staring into mine as if trying to regard my very soul…or souls.
"Alas, my queen, the need was urgent for I sensed that trouble was near, and as usual I was correct for Eragon has been poisoned by some foul creature, and by chance I found these three traveling with Saphira, so I brought them here in hopes that they may help and perhaps train with me."
The old elf cast his eyes downwards as if he had committed some crime and was preparing to be punished, but to our astonishment the queen gave a slight hint of a smile, but not a complete one for her eyes were full of sorrow and her face was drawn and gaunt.
Do you think Eragon had managed to tell her of Arya's death? I asked Dorran, sadness clutching at my heart as I thought of what loosing a loved one feels like.
I wouldn't doubt it, Arya's body is no longer with Saphira and Eragon, so they either lost her or her corpse resides here in her city. His deep voice echoed in my mind and I nodded inconspicuously so that only he saw.
But what are we going to do about the fact that they think that Faolan is your rider? Shall we tell the truth or just go along with it? I asked him as the queen was busy examining Eragon's practically lifeless body with a slight look of interest on her forlorn face.
I think we should go along with it, I mean, who are we to tell elves that they are wrong? Faolan cut into our conversation, his voice desperate and slightly pleading.
Dorran stared at his older brother, are you sure you're not just saying that because you like the idea of power? He asked him, humor in his voice because he knew that that was the reason why.
Faolan gave him a look and snorted softly, his sapphire eyes sparkling slightly, of course not…
I grinned and turned back to watch what was going on, Saphira was now following a group of elves out of the hall, presumably to a place where they could heal her rider, and Islanzadi was now approaching us, her eyes curious.
"Forgive my rudeness for not asking sooner, but what are your names?" her pained yet beautiful voice asked us.
I looked her in the eyes; I am Kalanie, Your Majesty, I sent to her mentally, after seeing Saphira do the same.
She nodded, "And you are a free dragon, am I right?"
All dragons not under the influence of the Traitor King are free.
A ghost of a smile drifted across her lips but it vanished as quick as it had come, "I see, but you are without a rider, yes?"
I am.
She nodded and turned to Dorran, "And you, son of the night?" she asked, directing her question to Dorran.
I am Dorran; he projected to her, saying no more.
She nodded again, knowing he would say nothing else, and turned to his brother, "And you, rider?"
"I'm Faolan, Your Highness." He replied sitting tall atop his brother's shoulders.
"Welcome to Ellesmèra, friends, I hope your stay is comfortable and that as Oromis mentioned, you will train yourselves in the ways of the riders and dragons of old. Your mentor will escort you to the place where you may sleep while you reside here, but other than that you are free to wonder the city as you see fit. Good afternoon to you all." She dismissed us and we followed Glaedr from the hall and along one of the many concealed pathways.
I sighed happily, I could live here, it's just so peaceful, as if it's another world, one where the empire doesn't exist along with war and death.
Dorran's deep, soft voice resounded in my head, look around, war still resides in this place, they are readying themselves to fight.
My eyes swooped across the many homes of the residents and I noticed that what Dorran said was true. From the little shops that they had clanged the repetitive sound of hammer against metal, elves were hurrying about, gathering supplies. I recognized the scene from when my village caught wind that one of our neighboring villages, Ceunon, had been attacked by the king's soldiers so all the men in our village had started preparing to ward them off if they came near us.
With a feeling of dread I though about what had become of my village, had they been attacked after all and completely burnt down, all the people slaughtered and the land dry and unworkable from the ashes? Or were they still waiting for the day the metal-clad troops would come pouring in, swords raised high and battle-cries sounding in the night?
I debated flying back there right then, maybe I could save them from a fate that was not their fault.
That wouldn't be wise, Dorran thought into my head, if even one of those soldiers got away and told Galbatorix of our existence the whole plan would be ruined and he would just find a way of conjuring up some demon that could defeat us.
I will make sure none survive then, I thought back, but I could see the sense in his words. As much as I hated to admit it, we were the rebellion's greatest hope, and if one village had to suffer to save the rest of the land, then it was a sacrifice that was needed to be made. I still wished I could do something about it though.
Dorran's wing brushed against my side and I knew that he wished he could do the same for his village, even though they stood a better chance of surviving than any other, with being werewolves and everything.
Glaedr suddenly stopped in front of us and I looked around, but all I could see were trees, the gnarled bark strewn with various assortments of moss and wild mushrooms.
Angela would have a field day if she saw these, I thought into the brother's heads and I caught the upturning of both their mouths as they imagined the witch surrounded by the toadstools.
"These are the houses that the rider's used to live in while they stayed here, you may choose any one you want, and just as a reminder you are not allowed to consume any meat while in the city, but you can hunt in the rest of Du Weldenvarden, just don't bring whatever you catch back here. That is all, you may wonder the city tomorrow too, but after that you will need to report to my home, I will send an elf to escort you when the time comes. We hope you enjoy your stay here."
With that Glaedr crouched down, his severed foot sticking out to the side awkwardly, and launched himself into the air, his gigantic wing beats seeming to make the air itself vibrate. He soon disappeared into the clouds and I turned to the two standing beside me, "What did he mean by Du Weldenvarden?" I had never heard that name in my life and hoped the others knew what it meant.
"I think it's another name for Grimshaw, but I'm not completely sure, we'll just have to ask when we see him again." Faolan replied, then vaulted off Dorran's back and made his way to one of the tree trunks, inspecting the rough bark for a way to enter.
"Maybe there's an entrance further up," I suggested, and leapt into the sky, circling around the tree, my eyes scanning the trunk for a way to get in.
Then suddenly I saw a huge gaping hole in the side of the branches, as if some great animal had eaten half the tree. I drifted closer and hovered, steadying my flight and advancing slowly. When the sides were too close for my wings to flap anymore I landed, my claws scraping across a polished wooden floor.
Wow, come see this! I exclaimed into their minds and ventured further into the tree house, my amazement growing with each step. I entered into a circular room carved out of the inside of the tree, there was a large dining room off to the right of it and a curved statue stood in the middle. There were also three other doorways leading from the center area.
The sound of flapping and then the scratching of claws against wood came from behind me and Dorran soon emerged with his 'rider' astride him, his onyx eyes wide in amazement.
"How do you think they did this, there aren't even any visible carving marks, it's as if the tree just grew into this shape." Dorran said, his eyes scanning the great and mysterious expanse.
I shrugged and padded towards one of the doors carved into the side of the wall. I morphed into my human form and turned the handle, the movement was fluent and the door opened on oiled hinges. There were steps that led upwards and I mounted them, emerging into a study complete with a quill, ink, paper and a mahogany desk that seemed to grow out from the floor.
I descended and went over to join Dorran, now in his human form, and Faolan who were examining the side of the tree in the bedroom that was open to the elements and I noticed that there was a hinge and a small rut in the wood. I walked over to the other side of the tear-drop shaped hole and ran my hand over it, noticing that there was a piece of wood that stuck out of it. I pulled and it came away easily revealing a screen of cloth attached to it. I slide it across and clipped it into the rut on the other side and turned around to smile at the astonished faces of the two brothers behind me.
"And that is why women are in charge of all the work around a house, because without them nothing would ever get done because the men are always too busy starting wars." I grinned at them, and then looked around the bedroom seeing a huge bowl indented into the floor and a bed opposite it.
"So what now, are we going to explore a bit of the city or just sleep?" Dorran asked, his face tired after the hectic night, but his gleaming eyes bright with excitement.
I was tired, but I wasn't going to admit it, I mean, we were in a forgotten city that hardly anyone other than an elf ever got to see, just thinking about the concept of that made me realize that there was no way I would be able to sleep anyway.
I smiled and morphed, jumping out of one of the entrances and spiraling down a few feet and then soaring up again, let's go get something to eat, I'm so hungry I could eat a dragon, and yes the pun, however bad that was, was intended.
i have to admit, that pun was just terrible, but my brain isnt working too well right now so just bare with it:D
PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!-PLEASE PEOPLE???
-Firesilk:D
