Chapter 43 – A dream of winter
A/C: Many thanks go to my Beta, BEST OC MAKER, for reading through this chapter and making some changes. Hope you enjoy!
Kayla turned around to face Aiedail, who appeared to be in perfect condition after their landing. Angry smoke was rising from the dragon's nostrils and Kayla took in a breath of air as both terror and fury clouded her thoughts.
It had been a long time since she had faced a dragon.
The dragon roared at her in a dangerous manner and walked forward towards her direction.
Kayla took a step back.
What do you want from me? Why won't you leave me alone? She shouted in the dragon's head with all her power and she saw Aiedail momentarily closing her eyes in pain.
You know full well why. Why won't you accept me? Why won't you accept our bond!?
'Leave me alone! Just let me go!'
No. I have left you alone for far too long. I won't leave you until you answer my question. I have a right to know, The dragon said and walked closer, while Kayla took further steps back.
She could feel Aiedail trying to drill into her mind and break her boundaries. It was something the dragon had never done before and it was painful. Instinctively she put her hands around her head and tried to build higher walls around her mind.
Without realizing exactly what she was doing she did something that felt almost natural to her, Kayla let out a blast of energy from her right hand but Aiedail dodged it just in time. The Gedwey Ignasia symbol glowed in her palm, exactly as it had done when she had faced the dragon for the first time. Aiedail narrowed her eyes at her.
Is this how you want to do this? Fight me then! The dragon demanded and let out such a loud roar that Kayla was certain the riders in Dis Atilan must have heard it.
Aiedail's lips curled upwards to reveal a set of razor sharp teeth. Kayla's right palm tingled and glowed brighter. She had only used a small part of energy when she had attacked Aiedail. There was still plenty of magic left to defend herself and cause serious injuries to the deadly creature across her, even after the exhaustive training with Maud. If Aiedail wanted a fight she was going to give her one.
"Remember you chose this," Kayla said as she felt the air around her charging with power. Her hair flowed around her and she felt powerful, so powerful. Every part of her existence came to life and the energy that usually resided only in her mind now flowed freely in her veins.
You made me! Aiedail screamed and jumped in the air, rushing to her direction. The dragon swung her purple long tail to her direction and Kayla dodged her attack, falling on the ground. She winced as the earth scraped her skin and then faced the dragon again.
Kayla whispered words in the ancient language that made the earth tremble and a pillar rose to Aideail's direction. The sharp edge scratched the dragon's wing and Aiedail screamed in pain. She quickly flew upwards and Kayla smiled in pleasure.
But then the dragon turned around and started descending again. Determination was evident in Aiedail's eyes as she opened her jaws to release a jet of flames. Kayla screamed and tried to run away.
She was certain that the flames would consume her but at the last minute she whispered some words and the air around her formed a barrier and a shield from the flames. Her knees trembled from the energy use and Aiedail snorted. The dragon flew towards her direction and attacked her from above again.
"Risa!" Kayla screamed and a giant rock flew to Aiedail's direction and hit her on the shoulder, the dragon crumbled to the earth, roaring, and Kayla let out a breath of air. Her body felt weak.
"I told you, leave me alone!" She screamed annoyed but the dragon simply looked at her, the hate evident in her gaze.
Aiedail breathed deep, smoke rising from her nostrils. Kayla pressed her lips together, preparing herself for another attack and soon another jet of flames rushed to her direction.
Instead of running away or creating a shield around herself Kayla responded with her own jet of energy. A current of blue-silver energy rushed from her fingertips and met Aiedail's flames before they reached her, Kayla tried to control the energy flow as the jet of flames appeared to be increasing instead of decreasing. She could feel the heat from the fire and sweat was running down her forehead shoulders.
Cold shivers were also rushing through her but she kept her hold on the magic and the flames started decreasing, her blue-silver energy gaining an advantage and descending towards Aiedail. The dragon looked irritated and tried to blow more fire again but she seemed to be just as exhausted as the human.
Fire and blue-silver energy were battling each other, each trying to overcome the other.
Kayla, stop! You are going to kill yourself if you continue! Aiedail screamed into her mind as she tried to break the girl's concentration.
"So will you," Kayla whispered, feeling once again the flame biting her skin and she saw Aiedail screaming in pain as the gusts of energy were tightening around her body.
She did not know who was the first to give up was but suddenly Kayla found herself on the ground, feeling both her own and her dragon's pain. Tears were running down her eyes and she was trembling.
Aiedail was in no better shape as she had a huge gash across her lower body and breathing appeared to be an impossible feat for her. She too, was growling in pain.
Kayla tightened her fists, fresh salty tears running down her face until her eyes turned dry and her throat croaked. The sand felt so painful against her body's open wounds. That's why she was surprised when she felt someone else's skin against her own. She briefly opened her eyes to see Aiedail's silvery purple wing. She tried to retreat but a simple thought from the dragon made her realize that Aiedail no longer posed a threat or wished to continue fighting.
That's why I chose you… The dragon whispered in her mind but her voice felt weak, strained.
You are different than the others, you have always been different. You are strong, so strong but you rarely make good use of it, few have been able to stand against a dragon and have lived to tell the tale. I may have lost but I am proud to have lost against you, She said and the dragon's voice withered. Kayla felt the creature's consciousness slipping away from her mind and the girl tried to keep a strong hold to it.
Aiedail… Are you… Are you…? What is happening?, Kayla asked, alarmed.
The dragon let out a croaking noise.
Is that not what you wanted? To be left alone? Your wish has come true, you will be free to roam the earth without me, I assure you, the dragon said again and the spark inside Kayla's mind withered.
No! Don't you dare die!, Kayla screamed annoyed and tried to move.
Why? Do you care of what becomes of me?,the dragon said in melancholy.
Of course I do!, Kayla repeated.
Strange. You have never seemed to, before, The dragon added and the light of her consciousness flickered again.
Aiedail! Kayla screamed but this time the dragon did not reply. Kayla opened her eyes and realized that the dragon was still.
"No," she simply said.
"Don't you dare abandon me!" She shouted but there was no reply. A pain like no other ripped her heart and Kayla started whispering all the spells she knew of healing, directing what small parts of energy she still had left towards her dragon.
"Aiedail,"Kayla whispered and felt tears running down her eyes. The Gedwey Ignasia symbol was glowing on her palm again. The dragon's injuries were too great and her energy was not enough. There was a spell she remembered, something about tiny particles…
Her consciousness withered and she tried to concentrate.
The small particles, She repeated to herself and then the world started slipping away from her fingers.
…
Eragon silently watched his half-brother sleeping. Before he had visited Arya as well but her sleep had been a peaceful one brought by exhaustion while Murtagh was writhing on his bed, screaming in pain every so often.
It was disheartening to watch smoke rising from his flesh with no visible cause, burning it away to shreds and knowing there was nothing he could do to change it. Healing someone was never an easy task but with enough energy, most all injuries could be healed. The only injury Eragon had faced in his lifetime which could not be healed was the one delivered to him by the Shade, Durza, during the Uprising against Galbatorix.
"It is the dark magic that runs through his veins… It is so twisted and malformed that when I try to gaze into its inner workings I am left with excruciating pain," Idel said, gently rubbing her chin.
"Pain is pain, however, and I have attempted to withstand it, but… What makes matters worse is the darkness that clouds the vision and thoughts. Trying to figure out the way this magic operates becomes a maze, a puzzle. Every time you think you have figured it out, the darkness only sucks you further in until..." Idel stopped there, shivered and looked at the ground.
Eragon did not need any more information to assess the situation. He had attempted to look into Murtagh's wounds as well but with no success.
Maud was administering a white-silver paste atop his half-brother's wounds, her face tired and pale, paler than usual. Yet she continued this work with a determination that Eragon admired.
"Most creatures think that magic can only be beaten by magic but, we, werecats have reason to believe otherwise, there are other forces that determine what we are and what we are made out of. These plants may cure him or they may not. Whatever the case they are certain to relieve his suffering," She said and upon finishing she handed the small wooden bowl with the paste to Gwen who took it with trembling hands.
"Administer it on his wounds every two hours," The WereCat advised Gwen upon exiting the Eomhill building.
Eomhill was located in Glieonard, as most other buildings like the Grand Hall, the Library and the tall towers which housed the dragons riders. It took its name from the Ancient Language word "To Heal". It had big, wide windows which overlooked the forest and a constant gentle breeze entered through them.
Idel was the second person to exit Murtagh's chamber, casting one last look at the red rider's body with a mixture of feelings elves rarely displayed. Soon the only ones who remained in the room were him, Gwen and the human rider, Tristan. Even though Eragon had required little help to carry his half-brother's body to Eomhill, the two riders had insisted on accompanying him.
The reason behind Tristan's choice was most probably his affection for Gwen or an admiration he may have harbored for the red rider. Gwen's reasoning was far less complicated. Murtagh was her father, plain and simple.
"Gwen you should rest, I will wake you when it's time to administer the paste," Tristan said to Gwen but the girl shook her head.
It was at this point that Eragon realized his brother was in good hands and that his presence may no longer have been required. He still wished to have one last conversation with his brother and laugh like they used to during their travels to Farthen Dur, before the responsibility of their roles had dawned on them. It was better, however, to let the rider rest and allow the paste to have an effect, whatever that may be.
He slipped by the two young riders easily, his footsteps more quiet than a cat's. Eragon could still hear their voices though. He heard Gwen admitting for the first time out loud that Murtagh was her father and that she had spent her whole life away from her parents in their attempt to protect her.
That even though they were her parents she had known very little about them, as she had been raised by a fishmonger. In this aspect her upbringing had not been any different from Eragon's. He as well had been raised by someone other than his own parents, knowing close to nothing about them.
Eragon remembered Gwen as a young girl when she had first arrived to Dis Atilan with her baby dragon in her arms. Gwen had known then that Murtagh had been her father as he had been the one to escort her to the island but for whatever reasons he had not wished to stay.
Eragon and Murtagh had exchanged little that day, other than a mental conversation explaining the situation to Eragon and asking him to protect the girl no matter the cost. This Eragon had sworn to do and since then he had not seen his brother in person again.
Conflicted by his many emotions Eragon sought solace in Saphira, who was waiting for him at the entrance doors of Eomhill. They said little that night. They both knew that war was coming, one way or another and that the losses of friends and family were only the beginning.
….
The first thing she heard was the crushing sound of waves.
The first thing she smelt was that of salty air and blood.
The first thing she felt was heat.
The first thing she saw was blackness.
The first thing she touched was rough scales.
Aiedail? She asked, probing both with her mind and fingers.
For a moment there was silence and then she felt the presence of another consciousness in her mind.
I am… Here
"You're alive!" Kayla screamed in delight and tried to move but it was hard.
Yes. You healed me.
There was another long pause as Kayla tried to move but every time she did so, she discovered another part of her body which was injured.
Why?
The question came from the dragon and Kayla stopped what she was doing to stare at the dragon in surprised.
Because I had to. I couldn't let you die.
You risked your own life in doing so. It was foolish. I thought you would have liked being alone
Yes. But not like this.
But you don't like me. You despise me with every ounce of your being.
'I…,' Kayla started and then paused. 'It is not you I despise.'
The silver-purple wing that was covering her unfolded to reveal two giant, perplexed, violet eyes.
Then who?
'I…,' Kayla begun again and the memories of cold and snow came back to her.
Blood. Crunch. Bones. Tasty humans.
Kayla shook her head.
'It's too painful,' She whispered to the dragon.
Aiedail's expression was gentle and understanding.
Please tell me. I need to understand how I can help you.
Did she trust the dragon? Could she… Could she possibly allow access to Aiedail even when she had managed to keep the memory hidden from both Eragon and Stoic?
It was a memory she had not shared with anyone else before. Maybe because this memory was so deep inside her that not even she could access it easily.
She looked at Aiedail, a proud, strong, fierce dragon who would do anything to protect her. It was obvious from the very beginning that the she-dragon would cause her no harm but it had taken her long to accept it.
With a sigh, she opened her mind and hoped she would not regret it. Aiedail was gentle, gentler than either Eragon or Stoic had been. Her touch did not feel uncomfortable.
Kayla swallowed hard, as the memory rose to the surface.
…
It was a cold winter night and the wind howled outside the window like wolves on a full moon. Her father had just exited the house and she run to her room, put a pillow under her blankets and slipped outside, out the window of her room. Silently she walked close to her father's mare and saw the big pouches he carried on the sides. Kayla was five years old, but very short for her age and thin as a stick as her mother likes to complain, so she easily managed to get inside, throwing some of her father's arrows on the side.
The mare mewed but her father didn't pay attention as the wind was too strong for him to hear. Kayla breathed silently and heard her father riding the horse. He started galloping towards the forest and thick snowflakes managed to slip inside the pouch, under her clothes and chill her to the bone but she kept thinking about the beautiful blue flowers that grew only when it snowed.
As the mare was galloping faster and faster she could feel the pouch jump up and down on the horse's sides and she winced at the contact. She had not heard her father's friends join them and she soon realized that her father had lied, probably so that her mother would not worry.
After a while, she felt her father reducing the pace and she leaned her head outside of the pouch to look for her blue flowers. She knew her father would be angry when he saw her but she was sure it would be resolved once they got back home, cooked the deer on top of the fire and she could make her flower necklaces. As they walked past some tall trees and hills she had not seen before, Kayla noticed there, on the side of a frozen lake, the blue flowers.
"Flowers!" She said in her small voice and slipped outside of the pouch, landing clumsily on the snow. She heard the horse come to a halt but she was already picking the plants out of the frozen earth.
"Kayla, what are you doing here? You should not have come, it's dangerous!" Her father bellowed, his towering figure looking deadly serious and slightly scared.
"But… Pretty flowers" she said in an even smaller voice than before. Her father angrily shook his head and cursed as the snowflakes landed on his beard.
"I cannot hunt now, not when having you with me, we are going to starve because of you!" Her father accused her in a harsh tone but just then Kayla heard a loud noise and turned around to see the frozen lake breaking into small pieces.
She took a few steps back, her father next to her, holding her by the shoulders.
"Stay back" He whispered to her and took an arrow out of its sheath. Kayla watched carefully as her father took further steps back, with her at his side in order to reach the mare.
A loud cracking noise sounded again and from the middle of the frozen lake Kayla could see something white emerging. She wanted to scream but her father put his large palm over her mouth and only a muffled sound came out.
She watched horrified as a large white head appeared from the lake, the size of 50 or more horses put together in size. Kayla could also see long, sharp, white teeth protruding from the creature's lips. A long, long neck started emerging from the lake and she felt her father's hand pushing her on top of the mare. His right leg was on the saddle, his left still on the snowy ground when they noticed the creature's eyes falling on them.
Kayla saw gigantic red eyes staring at her direction and once again she wanted to scream but instead she felt frozen in place, as if someone had made her limps his own and she was but the puppet and he, the puppet master.
Hunger. Bones. Blood. Crunch. Food. Humans…. Humans?
Humans….
Kayla could hear a voice in her head loudly but she could see no one talking and the voice was frightening, something that should only exist in children's nightmares and not in real life.
Come here, tasty humans….
"Kayla…" Her father gasped as if struggling to talk but not managing very well. He as well seemed to be frozen into place and she tried to turn and look at him but she noticed from the corner of her eye the white creature moving fast towards their direction.
Thoughts of blood, hunger, killing, maiming penetrated her mind and she wanted to shriek in horror but she could not, her lips were frozen.
Little human girl….,The creature said in an amused and creepy tone as if there was an inside joke.
"Run, Kayla! Run!" Her father suddenly shouted as if he had momentarily broken the spell and smacked the mare hard on its buttocks. With no further due the horse started galloping fast, away from the danger.
"Father, no!" Kayla screamed and tried to go back but the mare was running too fast, too scared of the impending danger. Kayla's head turned around to look at her father's towering figure which, compared to the creature looked like a fire match. Horrified, she watched the creature raising one of its legs and taking a single blow, which was enough, however, to shred her father into pieces. Blood, guts, skin and hair sprawled on the snowy ground, painting it red like a disturbed picture. She heard the creature speak into her mind again and she closed her eyes, willing it to go away but with no luck.
'Come out, come out, little girl,'
'You think I won't find you in the petrifying dark'
'Be careful that your feet aren't sticking out'
'Better not to risk another shout'
'Don't breathe, don't move, stay quiet'
'Hope in your blindness that I am moving further'
'You must be thinking that you are very clever'
'More puzzled you think I get, as I search in the hay'
'It seems a long time since they went away'
'Your legs are stiff, the cold bites through your coat'
'The dark damp smell of dirt moves in your throat'
'Come out, come out, wherever you are'
'You think you have won but nothing stirs'
'The bushes hold their breath, the sun is lost'
'Yes you are here, but your loved ones are gone'
The creature ended with an almost sadistic laugh into her mind and Kayla wanted to scream, her eyes filled with tears. She was getting further away, she knew, almost reaching the end of the Spine Mountains but she could still see its form and hear its silent trail of words although not as clearly as before. Large, white wings protruded from its sides and she saw it rising to the skies, flying as high as she could see.
The horse kept running, faster and faster and Kayla could no longer see the creature. She had just about reached her house when she heard its voice in her mind again.
Come out, come out, wherever you are, the dragon said and another sadistic laugh echoed in her consciousness.
…
A/C: Many thanks to BEST OC MAKER and DerbDcat for your reviews! Next chapter should be posted again in 2 weeks. Also was this chapter easier to read through with the editing?