Disclaimer: If you've seen it elsewhere, it doesn't belong to me.
A/N: Sorry about the long wait, adding in a few extra college classes in addition to an already full high school schedule and you don't get a lot of time to type around here. I will have to say that my updates will be slower over the next month or so, after that it should pick back up again Thanks for your patience!
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As the sun finally revealed itself in its totality to the world to mark the beginning of yet another day Samanya found herself high among the clouds, hunting to make up for the meal she had missed due to her Rider's injury. The sky sported puffy white clouds evenly scattered across its blue face. The wind blew gently across the ground as Samanya soared above, her body hunting while her thoughts drifted among her troubles and doubts. She consistently checked her sleeping Rider's mind, as if worried that he might be taken from her at any moment.
Her troubled thoughts certainly didn't help her hunting as she flew along. She was a dragon, the strongest and eldest race in Alagëasia and yet she couldn't even keep her own Rider out of trouble. He had almost been killed twice under her watch, while she could only helplessly yell in his mind.
Not much longer. Samanya thought with a smirk, her residual anger over what had occurred to her Rider simmering to the surface. Even though in reality she was only a little over a month old, her body had grown to resemble that of a six month old. Samanya only hoped that that it would mean what she thought it would, only time would tell.
Her Rider had changed as well, although Samanya was not sure if he recognized it. He had begun to grow hardened to the horrors of war. His body had become as physically capable as any human could be. Yet the greatest changes were not to what appeared to one at first glance, it was to what lied underneath. Samanya remember the first time she had touched Ryan's mind, full of sorrow as it was at the time, yet she also remembered the sense of wildness that she sensed. The feeling was not obvious and, at the time, was dormant, but as time had passed Samanya had felt that side of him begin to grow stronger and more noticeable. That side of him had given him the strength to not only survive the first Imperial ambush but also the blades of poison that had embedded themselves in his back. Samanya knew that, soon, her and Ryan's might combined would send any fool with a death wish to their end, which was the one thing of which she was certain.
With a roar of challenge and a new, overwhelming feeling of confidence Samanya flew on. After all none would dare challenge her and her Rider, except for the king and the Red Rider and his dragon, once their training had been completed. No one in Alagëasia could defeat her and her other half. None could stand against their might when together. A flash of brown and white darted across her vision from far below…
Samanya's eyes jerked downward to find a small group of deer darting among the trees, running for the safety of the thicker tree canopy that lie deeper in the forest, startled by her loud roars. With a snort of amusement the sage green dragoness drew her wings inward and dove down, her target: a young buck only a year or two old. She approached the ground in a flash and started to straighten out of her dive, her claws outstretched and hungry for blood. The world flashed….
The deer before her transformed itself into a eight-foot tall abomination of flesh, shield-like arms taking the place of normal appendages and two thick, heavy legs. Three, small, red tipped sensory tentacles sprouted from its massive chest. The land around her was marked by the smell of blood and death. Fire and ash covered it. Short beams of light traveled from behind her as they struck several other, smaller figures around her target, sending them to their deaths. An infernal rage dwelled up in her as her head darted forward, deadly fangs bared at the abomination as they readied themselves to kill…
Samanya's mind snapped back to awareness as the smell and taste of deer blood made itself known in her consciousness. She felt the animals neck bones snap between her jaws, silencing the creature's fearful cries. Her powerful wings unfurled and beat upward as she took to the sky with her catch, mentally checking to make sure that the event hadn't managed to wake her partner's slumber. She gave a mental sigh of relief when the still dormant feel of her Rider's mind answered her query. The young dragoness quickly found a secluded spot on the ground with a small stream by it and landed nearby with a soft thud. No sooner was she on the ground then she started tearing into her meal, her hunger over her missing a meal over the past couple days growling at her for attention. Only after little more than broken bones and small strips of flesh remained did she relent. Her attention soon turned to her scales, where small splashes of blood marred their otherwise pristine surface.
As her tongue slowly returned her scales to their former splendor Samanya mulled over the mental flash that had overcome her senses. It wasn't the first time it had occurred either. The flashes had started shortly after those wretched Imperial blades had entered her Rider's back. They had occurred four times since then, including the one that she just saw, each time the land around her had changed to one of devastation. War dominated the visions, destruction on a scale that she could never have imagined. Whole cities reduced to nothing but ash. Forests reduced to a mere pile of cinders. The blood of millions stained the ground. It was obvious to her that they were somehow linked to the Neomorph's final days…but what were they for? More importantly…why was she seeing them? Why was her Rider? Samanya only huffed in frustration at the entire dilemma. She had seen Ryan's vision, and while it had intrigued her, it also raised far more questions that it did answer. She had been content with the pace at which their questions were being answered while Ryan had not, until recently. The more oddities piled onto their lives and the more Samanya thought about them, the more frustrated she became. She needed to talk to her Rider about these things soon so she could at least stop dwelling on it…
Her thoughts suddenly ground to a halt as she felt her other half slowly begin to wake up. She quickly composed herself, hiding her thoughts and feelings, before speaking to him.
"Good morning, little one.", she said with a contentment she didn't really feel.
"Good morning, Samanya. How are you feeling today?", her Rider responded, obviously still a bit groggy from just waking up.
"Much better after a hunt, I hadn't eaten since you were injured so I thought it would be a good idea. After all, I don't think it would be a good idea for me to meet Oromis and Glaedr on an empty stomach.", Samanya said absentmindedly. She could feel her Rider give a short chuckle at the other end of their link.
"I do believe that that was a good idea. Well, I better start getting ready. Oromis and Glaedr are expected at any moment. Where's Istarli?"
"I had Yamula put him in your duffle bag."
"Alright then…come on back as soon as your done.", Ryan finished, his tone sounding much more awake than before. Samanya strolled over to the nearby stream after he had finished, taking several gulps of the cool forest water before raising her head and taking to the sky. A few moments again found her soaring above the trees in the realm that every dragon from first to last called home. Samanya gracefully turned her body in the air until it started on the path back to where her Rider lay. Her eyes then closed and her mind stilled, reveling in the illusion of peace that the land held. She cast her mind outwards, touching everything from the smallest ant to the tallest tree, doing something that both she and Ryan had mastered at Eragon and Saphira's suggestion. She lost herself in the life of the forest, briefly checking every once in a while to make sure that she remained on course.
Suddenly a massive gold orb made itself known to her above all the creatures in the forest. The orb, marking the mind behind it, flew in the same direction as she. It remained far enough away not to disturb her, yet close enough to observe what she was doing. The minds behind the gold lights were as obvious as the color.
Glaedr. Samanya whispered to herself. She gave a small smile as she opened her eyes and rolled her body towards them to catch a glimpse of them. Glaedr certainly was as large as Samanya imagined and Ryan described, his massive form dwarfing Samanya's six-month-old body. She spotted Oromis as well, the elf's gray eyes watching her as she pulled up so she could fly abreast the gold-scaled dragon. As she drew close to the elder dragon she leveled out, she didn't have to wait long before a mental probe touched her consciousness, she let it through.
"It is nice to finally meet you, Samanya. Glaedr and I have heard much about both your Rider and yourself.", said a male elven voice, undoubtedly Oromis'. Samanya almost forgot that she and Ryan weren't supposed to know who their trainers are as she reflexively started to respond. She caught herself before saying anything, luckily, and composed her thoughts before responding.
"And who might you be?", she asked, feigning ignorance.
"I am Oromis.", came the elven voice once more.
"And I am Glaedr.", said a deep, male, draconic voice after Oromis spoke.
"It is a pleasure to meet you both.", Samanya said with a small dip of her head. "It's also nice to see another living dragon that has not fallen into Galbatorix's hands."
"To you as well, Samanya, both Oromis and I were quite surprised when we heard of you and your Rider. We had thought all the other remaining eggs to be in Galbatorix's possession.", Glaedr said, his tone giving an unspoken question.
"Neither Ryan nor I really know where I came from, however we will tell you as much as we can.", Samanya replied respectfully as she glanced down to find the small group of tree houses that marked the elven outpost appearing below. "It will not be much, however, we do have much to tell you and…a friend…about other things."
"Might I inquire as to who this friend is?", Oromis asked. Samanya knowingly chuckled at the Gold Rider's question before responding.
"You'll meet him soon enough. He does have a bit of a…disability…though.", Samanya said, amusement creeping into her voice.
"If that is what you wish, we shall not press the matter.", Glaedr finished for both him and Oromis. There the conversation ended as the two dragons dove towards the ground, flaring their wings in preparation for landing.
"Ryan! Our teachers are here!", Samanya mentally yelled through their link with as childish a voice as possible. She felt a sharp jab of pain from her Rider as surprise startled him before he responded with a slew of curses. She chuckled at her Rider's antics as he opened up his mind fully to her.
"Out of all the times to come back, it just had to be when I was going down the stairs!", Ryan yelled, irritation evident in his mental voice. Samanya only laughed harder at his words. "I'll be out in a minute.", he finished before silence reigned over their link once more. A much smaller thump sounded out from Samanya's right as Oromis dropped from his saddle with a grace that spoke of his years of practice.
"Atra esterní ono thelduin, Togira Ikonoka.", said an all to familiar voice from nearby.
"Mor'ranr lífa unin hjarta onr, Yamula elda.", Oromis replied.
"Un du evarínya ono varda.", Yamula said, finishing the traditional elven greeting.
"It is good to see that you made it, Yamula elda. Glaedr and I have watched your progress as much as possible and we have seen many of the difficulties you encountered. You have certainly earned your rest. Now, where is Ryan, for we will need every moment we have to teach him everything he needs to learn."
"He was getting ready when I started back and he was coming down the stairs earlier when we arrived. He should be here at any moment.", Samanya answered. No sooner had she said this than the door to the dwelling Ryan had been residing in flew open, to reveal the young Rider in the doorway rubbing a growing bump on his forehead with his hand.
"Glad to see you made it.", Samanya said sarcastically, "I was beginning to wonder whether we should start sending in search parties."
"How about I shove you down a flight of stairs and see how you like it.", Ryan retorted, his irritation still quite evident. Ryan quickly strode over to the others, weapons belted around his hip and duffle bag hanging over his shoulder.
"Atra esterní ono thelduin, Oromis elda.", Ryan said as he got closer, two fingers raised to his lips as tradition demanded, wanting to make a good first impression.
"Mor'ranr lífa unin hjarta onr, Ryan Williamsson.", Oromis replied.
"Un du evarínya ono varda.", Ryan finished with a small sigh afterwards. "You are Glaedr as well I assume?", he said, turning his gaze to the large golden dragon. "I also presume that you are the teachers Eragon and Saphira spoke of?", he added quickly and respectfully, feigning ignorance just like Samanya had earlier.
"That would be correct, Ryan Rider of Samanya. It is good to see that Eragon and Saphira were able to teach you somewhat during your stay at the Varden, that will make our task much easier.", Oromis responded as he studied the Sage Rider from head to toe.
"When to we start?", Ryan asked with a small smile.
"As soon as we return to Ellesméra. We shall leave immediately…if you are prepared?"
"I already had my stuff packed. I am ready to leave when you are.", Ryan responded with a nod.
"Good," the elf then turned to Yamula, "watch over the other two that remain of your group. Ensure that they return safely to the Varden when they are healed enough to make the journey." He turned back to Ryan and beckoned with his hand, "Now come, time is of the essence." Ryan wordlessly followed Oromis' command, moving to walk next to the elder Rider, until he realized that Oromis was leading him to Glaedr…and not to Samanya or another horse, although he secretly was thanking God that there wasn't another horse.
"Oromis elda?", he asked uncertainly.
"Yes, Ryan?", the elf responded without looking back.
"Am I going with you…or…I don't want to intrude…", Ryan said, uncertainty running rampant in his mind over the idea that he may be riding on Glaedr's back. Oromis turned back and gave him a knowing smile.
"You didn't think that the most efficient way to get to Ellesméra was by horse did you? A horse may be fast, but nothing can outrun a dragon.", he answered. He turned back to face forwards as Glaedr lied down to allow his passengers onto his back. Oromis vaulted himself up into Glaedr's saddle before turning back to smile at the young Rider still on the ground. "And Samanya and yourself do not have your own saddle yet, something we will rectify once we reach our destination, however, until then, this will have to do." Ryan only gave Oromis a small nod before clumsily climbing up towards him, unused to the ordeal. As he got close to his destination Oromis held out his hand, which Ryan swiftly grabbed, and pulled the Sage Rider into the saddle behind him.
"See you in the sky, little one!", came Samanya's voice before Ryan jerked his head towards her. With only a single heavy pump of her wings she was airborne, climbing higher and higher until she decided it was enough and began circling over them, anxious to be off.
"Hang on, Ryan!", Oromis warned before Glaedr gave out a short roar and jumped into the air, pumping his massive wings to gain altitude. Ryan's eyes were wide with anxiety and…a little fear.
Flying in a plane is one thing, Ryan thought as he uncomfortably looked down towards the rapidly shrinking ground, but flying on a dragon, it's something else. Ryan mused over his previous statement for a moment before laughing at himself. Man that was cheesy! he thought.
Soon enough Glaedr began to level out, Samanya quickly appearing beside him. Ryan held out his hands, feeling the wind as it caught them. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, forgetting the anxiety he had previously felt and rekindling the love of the sky that he possessed when he was younger. He had never felt so alive and free. The entire experience amazed him.
"Enjoying yourself back there?", Oromis yelled, twisted around in his seat and trying to be heard over the roar of the wind.
"Never better!", Ryan responded, his eyes finally opening to enjoy the landscape as it passed below.
"Good!", Oromis said before turning back forward.
"Is it everything you thought it would be, Ryan?", Samanya asked.
"No,", Ryan with a smirk and a chuckle, "it's so much better."
"If you're enjoying it now, then you'll love it when we get a saddle. I'll really show you what flying is like then.", Samanya added happily.
"I'd love that.", Ryan said as he felt Samanya happily humming through their link. The joy and happiness permeated through both Rider and dragon, their minds lost in the moment. Their feelings even flowed over into their other companion, who lay resting inside Ryan's duffle bag.
"Now what's going on out here?", came Istarli's easily identifiable tone. "…It seems that no one can take a rest these days.", Istarli finished with an amused sigh, who would have been smirking were it not for his lack of a body.
"Not today you're not.", Ryan responded jokingly. "Today you're going to enjoy this just like the rest of us.", he finished before opening up his mind enough that the elder dragon could sense both the Rider's and Samanya's surroundings.
"Ah," Istarli said after a moment with a contented sigh, "the sky…I almost forgot what it feels like."
"Everything alright back there, Ryan?", Oromis suddenly yelled, startling the young Rider. Ryan nearly panicked for a minute, debating what to do before Istarli answered his question for him.
"It's better that they know now, besides it be nice to talk with them again.", he said, assuring the Sage Rider. "Oh, everything's fine here, Oromis elda," he said, turning his attention to the Gold Rider and dragon, "it's nice to finally be able to be in the air once again, especially after all this time."
"And who might you be?", Glaedr responded, his tone suspicious of the new draconic voice that seemed to appear out of nowhere.
"Now don't tell me that you've forgotten me, but both you and Oromis did have a…", the elder dragon chuckled as if privy to some inside joke, "…tendency to forget things when Timur and I were concerned." Glaedr's head snapped towards Ryan as Oromis stared at the young Rider, his eyes wide in surprise.
"Istarli?", Glaedr asked, his voice sounding like a mere whisper of wind.
"It is I, old friend, it is a pleasure to see both you and your Rider again. A pleasure that I had once thought to be an utter impossibility, yet here I am."
"But how? last we saw of you, Timur was dead and you were breathing your last!", Oromis exclaimed.
"You have Ryan and Samanya here to thank for that, although they may not have done it in a…intentional manner.", Istarli responded. Instantly Glaedr's large gold eyes bored into Ryan, their pupils alight with an unspoken question.
"We found him in the possession of one of the agents of Andlát Datia and were able to recover him. His mind was practically shattered when we found him, however, Samanya…somehow, managed to use her dragon magic to break his bonds and return him to normal.", Ryan said, staring right back into Glaedr's eyes.
"Thank you," Glaedr whispered to both Ryan and Samanya, "…Both of you…Istarli and I were nestmates, or at least would have been had our parents been wild dragons. I had thought him lost long ago, yet you have returned him to me. Thank you." Ryan only gave a small nod at Glaedr's words, keeping a straight face all the while. Then Istarli decided to speak up again as he turned his attention back to the Sage Rider and his dragon.
"Now, I do believe you both owe me, and by extension them, an explanation for all you told me a few days ago.", he said, his tone insisting on answers.
"What is he talking about, Ryan?", Oromis asked, Ryan turned his eyes to the elf while he could feel Glaedr ask Samanya the same question. Ryan sighed.
"It's a long story…and one better suited for when we're on the ground. The answers you seek are quite profound…and quite disturbing, at least to you anyway.", Ryan responded, his voice taking a more subdued tone.
"If that is what you wish…I can wait a few hours longer.", Istarli replied with a mental nod. Ryan breathed a small sigh of relief at the Eldunarí's words, at least he and Samanya would have some time to compose what they wished to say…
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The two Riders and dragons flew on for several hours until the sun began to set and Oromis decided it was time to make camp for the night. Istarli had continued to catch up with Oromis and Glaedr, who he apparently had been very close with during the days of the Riders and also had appeared to discuss some sensitive matters as well, as their minds had been sealed against the Sage pair for a short amount of time during the flight. Ryan and Samanya found their conversations, when they could listen, quite interesting, their knowledge of the Riders of old being rather spotty and, in Ryan's case, a natural sense of curiosity for history contributing to their attitude. They spoke rarely though, spending most of their time figuring out how they could inform their new teachers about their situation without giving them a heart attack. They had decided that it would be best if they informed them of some knowledge that they shouldn't possess at first, then move on from there. Ryan had originally wanted to just tell Oromis, Glaedr, and Istarli about where all of their knowledge came from, but after a particularly heated argument with Samanya, they had decided it best to see how the other three took the first bit of new first before deciding on whether to inform them as to the source of their knowledge or not. As the two dragons made to land Ryan anxiously went over the entire story in his head, trying his best to make sure he hadn't left anything out. Samanya tried to assure him that everything would work out alright, but her assurances fell on deaf ears after Ryan started to notice her own doubts creeping up on her.
They finally made landfall with a loud thud and a blast of wind. Ryan swiftly dismount, his awkwardness from having to fly on Glaedr instead of Samanya never really having left him during the flight. Oromis dropped down soon after, waiting until Glaedr had allowed him an easier path downward before climbing down. Ryan and Oromis then proceeded to make camp, an occurrence that now felt to Ryan like it had been burned into his brain. Suffice it to say, it didn't take the two long to get everything set for the night and for Oromis to start a blazing fire.
"So, Ryan,", Oromis began after they all had settled down, Istarli resting in his hands, "you must have quite the tale, considering that neither Glaedr nor I were aware there were any remaining dragon eggs in existence." He then casually pointed his finger towards Garjzla, "We also have never seen a Rider's blade of that name or design which tells us several things. First, Rhunön did not craft that sword, otherwise we would have known about it. Second, it is not of elven or human make, the appearance of the material and design of the blade suggests otherwise." Oromis drew his own sword, Naegling, to show Ryan the difference. Ryan took out Garjzla and compared its surface to that of Naegling and found it to be quite different.
The first obvious difference was the fact that Garjzla's blade was made of two colors, sapphire and emerald, while Naegling was only golden bronze. Ryan's blade was curved, that was unusual as elves typically liked thinner, straight blades while some humans liked a straight broadsword or, in other cases, a blade with a slightly curved end, which he had learned speaking to both Istarli and Yamula. Another difference was the amount of decoration the blades had, Naegling was lavishly covered with inscriptions and designs that were easily seen all over its surface. Garjzla, however, had a much more subdued air about it, not to say that it didn't possess any decoration they were just less obvious at a casual glance and they looked completely different from Naegling's designs.
"Now, before I continue I must say that we and Istarli have conferred over what I am about to tell you both and if we are wrong, please correct us.", Oromis said, his eyes appearing colder to Ryan as they appeared to stare into his very soul. Ryan only could manage a nervous nod at his words.
"We have contemplated where you might have come from, Samanya." Oromis continued, his eyes drifting over to the young dragoness who was watching him cautiously. "And, judging from what Glaedr has told me and our memories of the Rider's downfall, there is only one place you could have come from. More specifically, we believe we know who your sire and dam are."
"Who? Who are they? How can you tell?", Samanya asked with a slight edge of anticipation and curiosity in her voice.
"Your scent is unmistakable, youngling. It is something that is unique to each dragon and also marks them as part of one family or another.", Glaedr said. "As for who they are…", Glaedr turned his head towards Oromis, silently asking him to continue.
"The names of your sire and dam were Eridor Könungr, who was a strong and powerful green dragon, and his mate, Survya Drottning, whose scales were as white as snow with a hint on royal purple on their edges. These two dragons were better known at the time of the Fall as the king and queen of the wild dragons.", Oromis answered, his tone leaving no room for doubt. Samanya's eyes instantly went as wide as saucers at the revelation
"But…that can't…how can that be?...", she asked, incredulous, her Rider along with her.
I managed to wind up with a dragon princess? What the hell? Ryan thought as his mind screeched to a halt, an amazing feat for him.
"In the few remaining weeks before the Fall of the Riders, many dragons, both wild and bonded alike, gathered on Vroengard to prepare for battle and…to try and preserve their future.", Oromis looked up to the other pair, unshed tears present in his eyes at the memory. "Many eggs came into being in those few remaining weeks. One of the clutches belonged to Eridor and his mate, Survya. The clutch had three eggs, a male turquoise egg, a male sky blue egg, and a female sage green egg. A few days before the final battle Eridor and Survya were forced to leave the cave for want of food, leaving their eggs in the protection of a few of their sons and daughters. When they returned, however, they found their children massacred…and their eggs smashed by what undoubtedly was a Forsworn attack. They searched frantically, hoping that one of their eggs had managed to escape the destruction. After they looked through their nest they noticed that there were no sage green egg fragments inside it. Imbibed with the hope that at least one of their eggs had survived they combed the area with a strength born of desperation.", Oromis's gaze hardened and bore into Ryan as he continued. "That egg, however, was never seen again and has remained lost…until now. So…Ryan, I do believe you have some explaining to do and be aware that we will not accept anything less than the truth." Ryan chuckled morosely at the elf's words while a low warning growl escaped from Samanya's throat.
"The truth?", Ryan said, his forced laughs dying down as a sullen look came over his features. "Very well then, if you believe you can handle it, I shall tell you the truth…I am not from around here.", Ryan continued, his face withdrawn as he stared at the ground.
"Then you are from where exactly?", Oromis asked calmly. Ryan slowly raised his head to meet the elf's gaze.
"I am from another world entirely.", Ryan closed his eyes as he waited for the explosion that was most certainly to come.
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R&R!