Disclaimer: I am sorry for how much I had to put into the last chapter, but I did warn that there would be a time skip.
Trinity stared, wide-eyed at the mark left on her hand by Shruikan. She gaped up at him as disbelief flooded through her. "You—you—I—we—" She could not seem to produce the words that conveyed how she felt about being forever connected to the black dragon that had looked after her since she had joined the war four years ago.
We are now bound…our fates intertwined, murmured Shruikan.
Vrael and Braim landed on the cliff top. Vrael looked horrorstruck and angry beyond reason. He dismounted Braim and stormed toward Shruikan. "How could you?!" he bellowed. Braim snarled behind his Rider.
I only did what was necessary, Vrael, replied Shruikan calmly. Regardless of his calm voice, he arched his neck and stepped in front of Trinity protectively. You know full well that us dragons do not always know why we do things!
Silence, Shruikan, snapped Braim. I should put you out for heresy! The girl cannot be trained fast enough!
Then train her in private while the war progresses…at least that way if the Shur'tugal here fail, we will have at least two other Shur'tugal as backup.
We will hold council and decide your fate, grumbled Vrael.
Shruikan, what does that mean? Trinity asked.
I do not know, answered Shruikan softly. No dragon before has willingly become bound to anyone that is as old as I am. I was only a few weeks old when Galbatorix used his black magic to bind me to him.
The rest of the Shur'tugal landed in a circle, surrounding Trinity and Shruikan. Trinity noticed her parents had dark expressions. She reached out her senses as she had been taught to do since early childhood…during the few times that she had seen her parents in the castle. She found nothing on their emotions of the situation.
Mother…father…Shruikan and I…we had no idea…or at least I didn't…and dragons do things that are unexplainable. Her whole body shook.
Trinity, you need not worry about your fate…or Shruikan's…your father and I will protect you no matter what, murmured Arya. And your grandfather and Oromis-elda.
Your mother is right, agreed Eragon. He placed a hand on his mate's shoulder and squeezed it reassuringly. She has grown up, he commented to Arya.
She has, murmured Arya. "Vrael-elda, might I ask you why we have been summoned here…? And it cannot be just because Trinity and Shruikan have become joined." She frowned.
Careful, Arya, warned Galzra.
I know what I am doing, replied Arya.
What were you thinking Shruikan? Thorn asked, appalled.
I just wanted to comfort the girl, rumbled Shruikan. But if any of you so much as threaten her, you will have to get through me. He curled himself protectively around Trinity.
"Vrael, we have no jurisdiction to condemn either of them," murmured Anurin. "I do not like Shruikan any more than you do for his crimes, regardless if he was bound to Galbatorix when he committed them…but Trinity and Shruikan are now one of us…it is our duty to provide proper training."
"Anurin is right, Vrael," agreed Irnstad.
And Trinity is Arya's and Eragon's daughter, added Valinor.
Shruikan's record is against him, snarled Braim.
He has worked hard to redeem himself! Thorn snapped his jowls loudly.
"Peace, Thorn…we cannot afford a fight," murmured Murtagh 1. "We need to work fast to train Trinity…it is pointless to stand here arguing. The enemy could attack at any moment. And incase you have not noticed, Vrael-ebrithil, our army has slowly dwindled down…we must stay on guard." He stared down the old Rider.
"Murtagh is right," said Brom. "I will train Trinity in Ellesméra. Also…Arya and Eragon are in much need to return to their home."
"We cannot afford to lose three Shur'tugal!" rumbled Vrael.
Four! Saphira 2 snapped.
This was not supposed to happen! Braim roared. It is an abomination!
The last word hit Eragon hard. That was the word Arya used when she had denied him in the forest after the Blood-Oath Celebration. He flinched. Arya quickly grabbed his hand and squeezed it reassuringly. "Vrael-ebrithil…with respect…maybe this was meant to happen. I have made an observation that when a Rider has children, that they become Shur'tugal."
"What about Murtagh's son?" snapped Vrael.
"There is not another dragon or egg," replied Eragon evenly. "However, once there is…it is easy to assume that the egg may hatch for him…or for Elvira…as she is your daughter."
The boy has a point, growled Braim.
He was trained by Brom and Oromis…and then us, glowered Vrael. "Fine…Eragon, you have passed your training with me. Brom will train Trinity in Ellesméra. May the stars watch over us all."
"Thank you, Vrael-ebrithil," murmured Eragon, bowing.
"Make sure that you come back, Eragon-vor," replied Vrael.
Eragon, Arya, Trinity, and Brom mounted their dragons and took to the air. Trinity struggled to move with Shruikan. His scales cut into her skin. She winced in pain. Brom…we need to stop so that I can make a saddle, she complained.
Brom cursed mentally. Trinity…jump to Galzra…we cannot have the enemy know that you are connected to Shruikan. Shruikan…fall back and then meet us in the morning.
Understood, grumbled Shruikan. He pulled himself next to Galzra. Be careful, Trinity.
Yea yea yea, whatever, growled Trinity. She jumped through the air. Before she hit Galzra, a talon hand grappled her. She screamed in both fear and pain.
TRINITY! Everyone cried in unison.
Trinity looked up. A giant red dragon held her tightly. Thorn?
The dragon chuckled in her head. You think that I am that low?
"MORZAN!" snarled Brom.
Eragon looked into the eyes of his half-brother's father. He whipped Silbena mor'rana out of its sheath. Let him feel the pain of death again!
With pleasure! Saphira roared. She darted at the large red dragon. The dragon anticipated her move and looped up and dove down at her. Eragon! She spun so that Eragon would be protected. She caught Morzan's dragon with her talons and snapped at his neck.
Galzra bit the dragon's tail and clamped down. Arya, take them out!
Arya unsheathed Zar'roc and balanced herself on Galzra's saddle. Don't make any sudden movements, she ordered. She leaped for Morzan.
Morzan grabbed hold of Zar'roc's hilt. His face twisted into an evil smile. "I will be taking my sword back," he sneered. He twisted the sword out of Arya's hands and threw her off his dragon.
Arya! Galzra screamed.
Galzra, stay there! Saphira 1 ordered. She dove down and caught Arya in her claws. When she angled back up, Morzan and his dragon were gone…along with Trinity.
Eragon and Arya cried out into the empty air for their loss. Their cries were drowned out by Shruikan's bellow of agony.
We need to land, said Brom, deep sorrow in his voice.
They landed. Arya allowed Eragon to hold her close. Her body shook with fear and rage. "Morzan…I cannot believe that he is really back." She looked up at Brom.
"I know," he murmured. "It has been so long that we should have been able to sense him." He looked up at Shruikan. "We will get your Rider back."
Then let's go after them! Shruikan snapped his jaws loudly.
"Morzan has likely taken Trinity to Galbatorix as leverage," replied Brom.
"All the more reason to go after him!" yelled Eragon.
"Eragon, think this through rationally," growled Brom with full authority. "Galbatorix would want you to go after Trinity so that he can eliminate you and Arya." He sighed and closed his eyes. When he reopened them, they were haunted from what appeared to be a long forgotten past. "Eragon…son…there is a reason that Galbatorix would want to get rid of both you and Arya. He knows that one of you resurrected some of those that he had killed during the first war. If he kills you, all those that you brought back will die with you."
That hit Eragon like a ton of bricks. He looked away from everyone and shook as the realization of his actions washed over him. Why Trinity though? He hid his tears.
Eragon, whispered Saphira 2. She nudged him on the soldier. We will find a way around this.
Brom stood. "The Shur'tugal are in turmoil," he announced.
"Will they help us?" asked Eragon, hopeful for just that split second.
"They are obliged to," answered Brom. "Vrael has sent Erador, Islanzadi, Elvira, Murtagh 1, and Thorn to help."
"One Shur'tugal?" gasped Eragon, disgusted with his mentor.
"He seems to think that is all the reinforcement that we will need," replied Brom calmly. "This will be enough for us to prevail." He smiled, confident. "And I will finally be able to have my retribution with Morzan."
"You and Murtagh both," added Arya. "What's the plan?"
"We sit here and wait for our reinforcements and then go from there," instructed Brom.
I do not like this, grumbled Eragon.
Nor do I, little one, agreed Saphira 2. But we cannot take Morzan and the rest of the Forsworn by ourselves.
Disclaimer: I promise to have some flashbacks dealing with Trinity, especially now that she is held captive by Morzan. And Morzan is the only Forsworn that I have planned out to have been brought back. I own nothing…accept for the characters that I have created.