Eragon, I prodded gently. My Rider turned towards me with a smile. "Saphira," he replied sadly. None of the Eldunarí were concerned with us at the moment, allowing us to converse privately. What is wrong? I asked. His feelings had been troubled over the past few days - it had only been a month since we left Alagaësia. He had had bouts of depression before.
I had respected his wish to be left alone during those times, but this was the longest period yet. Eragon, what's wrong? I asked him. He sighed, a sound filled with melancholy. "I… It's been so long since the eggs were found. None of them have hatched." I leaned down, staring at him. We're not alone, I told him. We still have the EldunarÍ while we wait for that to happen.
He shook his head. "They can't understand us! We are alone." I understood his grief, but if we immersed ourselves in it, we would only be hurt. I tried to cheer him up. I know. I feel the same way. My sincerity seemed to help him, a little. Let's fly. We haven't done it in a while, and I miss flying with you. I projected the first time we flew in harmony together. He smiled a little.
Arya inhaled as a second barrage of memories flooded her mind.
I woke from a dream, feeling uneasy. Slowly I lifted my head, blinking away sleep. I found my side empty. Reaching out, I sensed my Rider sitting high on a pillar. I recalled he had learned his True Name there. Slowly I roused myself fully, crawling out from the cave we slept in to stretch my wings. I flew over to him, landing below his perch since the pillar was too small to share.
"Saphira," he acknowledged me. His thoughts weren't sad, but they echoed in a way that reinforced my uneasiness. What are you doing? I asked. My Rider swung his legs. "My True Name… I learned how to change it." I tilted my head, an ominous feeling growing in my heart of hearts. How? I said. "By using the Name of Names," he said excitedly, looking down at me.
He sounded eager as he said, "I was experimenting, and I discovered I am able to change my True Name." He leapt down easily, using the niches of the aged pillar as handholds to climb down to me. He told me his new True Name through our mind link. I refrained from pulling back, but I couldn't resist asking, Why would you want to change your True Name?
Eragon shrugged. "I only changed one word," he said, laughing. I watched him uneasily. I knew which part he had altered - the part that longed for home. The part of him that longed for human contact, for being surrounded by friends and family. Instead, that part was gone. He simply erased it. Be careful, I warned him. Maybe you should return it to the way it had been before.
I felt irritation emanate from Eragon. "I'll be fine," he replied. "Come on, let's fly a little." He climbed onto my saddle. I shook myself, but he held on. "What's wrong?" he asked. Be careful, I repeated. His voice carried a tinge of guilt as he said, "Sorry. I will, Saphira." Satisfied, I raised my wings before pushing them down, launching us into the air. He whooped as we flew higher.
As they faded, Saphira sent another series of memories into Arya.
Eragon? Eragon? Eragon! I flew high, trying to catch a glimpse of my Rider. I could sense his shame and guilt, as well as an overwhelming presence that I didn't understand. I felt for him, reaching for him. Quickly I dove down, determined to find him. I landed before Eragon as he skidded to a stop, eyes wide. His breathing was ragged as I lowered my gaze to his own.
Eragon, I said firmly. Only moments before it felt as if the world had shifted - with my Rider at the center. I sensed his shame battling with that anger-ridden presence. "The Name… it's… changed," he said, straining. "It… I… it was him." Who? What happened? I asked, leaning forward. Eragon curled his lip. "That idiot! He just wants -" He cut himself off, coughing.
"Tell… Arya… a Name can… only be changed if it's known. Please, we need… to tell… her." I crouched down as he scrambled onto his back. As we soared into the air, I wondered about his shame. I brushed against his mind, searching. Something… about the Eldunarí. What happened? I asked sharply, as we began crossing the ocean. We made good time with a strong tailwind.
Eragon was silent, holding on. Then he muttered, "Please hurry." I complied, flapping harder. It was silent, the entire way across the ocean. We crossed over land. I angled towards Du Weldenvarden, crossing over the Spine. I felt a burst of sorrow as we passed just out of sight where his cousin was rebuilding Carvahall. Then the sorrow seemed to give the alien presence the upper hand.
The presence leapt out, engulfing his mind. Eragon! I cried. I twisted around to look back. His expression was blank as his hands loosened. Then he fell. Afraid, I flew down to catch him. A spell erected a barrier before me, though. No matter how I scratched and clawed, it held. My Rider's body fell into the lake below with a splash. I roared, trying to reach him. I joined my mind with his, but too late - my fear of his changes in personality would now cost me my Rider. He was drowning.