AN: I know, I know, it took ages. But I had a very good reason for it, on my profile, so I don't think I can be blamed. Especially because there's a very good chance that I've actually passed my exams now. Anyway, on with the show. Which was a bit of a challenge, actually, because I'd completely forgotten where I was, and where I was going, but I think I'm back on track. Hopefully you can all get back into the swing of things too...
Katharean!
Obsidian's frantic calling woke me from my uneasy slumber and I sat bolt upright, stifling a yell of surprise when I almost collided foreheads with the anxious dragon hovering over me.
"What's wrong?" I asked aloud, the heavy silence lingering in the air making me uncomfortable. "It's still, dark...what time is it?"
Hush! There is someone nearby!
What? Well, why are we still here? Let's go! I urged, jumping to my feet, any trace of fatigue evaporating instantly.
Before he could answer, the forest around us sprang to life, and several things happened at once.
As I spun around to face our attackers, I was forced backwards by a painful pressure around my neck, causing me to yell out in agony and surprise as I fell back into a prison of strong arms. Obsidian roared his fury and charged towards my captor, but before he could reach us, he was pinned to the ground by a very large and very powerful looking dragon. It was almost twice the size of Obsidian, and he did not stand a chance against the great beast.
"NO!" I cried, struggling against the impossibly strong grip that I was being held in. "Let me go! Obsidian! Don't hurt him!" I pleaded, feeling tears sting my eyes. The fear that was rising in my chest was unlike any I had ever felt before, and somehow I knew that it had nothing to do with my own situation.
I fought and kicked, but I could not free myself. In my desperation, I did not even realise that the man holding me was speaking.
"Who are you? Why did you come here? Explain yourselves." He demanded in a deep, commanding voice that, had I not been so utterly frantic in my attempt to aid Obsidian, would have sent shivers running down my spine.
"Let go of me!" I yelled, but he tightened his grip around my upper arms and shook me, slightly. I tried one more time to break free but my attempt was cut short by the whisper of a blade being drawn and I tensed as I felt the cold, sharp edge of my captor's sword kiss my neck, warningly.
"Answer me." He replied, calmly.
"My name is Katharean Athem." I answered, sensing that lies would not be well received.
"Athem? Are you a relative of Lord Athem?" He asked, suspiciously, and I gulped, wincing as the muscles in my neck tensed, pressing dangerously against the waiting metal of the sword.
"Yes. I am his daughter." I replied, quietly.
"What manner of business brings the daughter of the Empire's richest nobleman to the edge of the Beor mountains? Unaccompanied, save for a dragon?" He asked, and there was genuine curiosity in his voice, though it was well masked by the obvious sneer.
"It's a long story, perhaps if you let me go, I will feel obliged to recount it for you, good sir." I replied, mockingly. He smirked, audibly, at my retort, and I felt his grip loosen slightly.
Are you all right? I asked Obsidian, when the man started to speak again.
All except my pride.
Well, wounded pride we can deal with. I replied, gravely, but feeling infinitely more relieved that he had not sustained any real damage.
"You know, it is the height of bad manners to converse with one's dragon when engaged in conversation with someone." The man remarked, amusedly, lowering his sword.
"Well, I must apologise, my gedwey ignasia did not come with an etiquette guide." I drawled, growing tired of this man's implied superiority, which was easier to express with the absence of his blade at my throat. "Now, who are you? I have given you my name, it is only 'manners' that you return the favour."
"Have you not guessed by now?" He asked, with mock incredulity.
"Well, if I were to guess, basing my assumption on nothing more than your colourful companion, I would say you are Eragon Shadeslayer. However, it seems that dragons are hatching for just anybody in these dark times." I muttered, forcing the image of Murtagh from my mind with no small amount of effort.
"So it would seem." He released me and I fell forwards and hit the hard ground with a small, involuntary grunt. I jumped to my feet and spun to face him, but his face was hidden in the shadow of the trees. "But your assumption was correct. I am Eragon." He extended a hand in greeting, but let it fall, warily, when I did not take it. I stood facing him for a few moments, trying to gather my thoughts. On the one hand, he and Saphira had just attacked us, and Obsidian still lay pinned to the floor of the forest. On the other hand, however, I had expected some form of pre-emptive strike when the Varden learned of our presence, and I could not be sure that I would not have done the same in his situation. I also remembered exactly who this boy was. He was Eragon, the Shadeslayer, the first dragon rider for as long as the known world could remember, and the leader of the resistance against the very thing which I hated the most.
In the end, reason won over rage and I forced a friendly smile onto my face.
"Eragon. I have heard a lot about you."
"And I have heard nothing of you, Katharean Athem. How is it that you came to be a dragon rider?"
He approached me, slowly, and as he did so a beam of silver moonlight illuminated his face. I forced myself to stifle the gasp that threatened to escape. He was attractive, of course, but that was not what struck me. His features were soft, and there was something of him that reminded me of old paintings of the elves that my father was so fond of acquiring. But it was his eyes which knocked the breath from my lungs and the reason from my head, for I had seen them before.
They were Murtagh's eyes. And they were looking at me, questioningly. I started, realising that he had asked me a question, and I quickly recovered from my mental lapse, gathering my thoughts.
"I think it was just an accident." I smiled, looking fondly over to Obsidian, who's expressionless face masked his indignance.
"There are no accidents."
"Well, then, perhaps the Fates have simply developed a sense of humour that I do not quite understand."
"Hmm...nor I." He agreed, and Obsidian growled angrily from behind me. Eragon ignored this, and frowned. "What brings you so far from home?"
"You, actually." I admitted, unashamedly. He nodded, understandingly.
"So you wish to join us?"
"Just as soon as Saphira releases Obsidian." I said, pointedly. Eragon flashed her a look of reluctant resignation and she snorted and released him almost immediately. Obsidian drew himself up, proudly and paced towards me, and I gave him a half-nod of encouragement as he reached my side and I turned back to face Eragon, whose visage had softened somewhat, perhaps due to my sudden change of attitude.
"Well, I cannot pretend I am not pleased to have another dragon rider join our ranks. This is the best news we have had in a while."
"Yes, I heard that you were defeated in battle recently." I offered, hoping to show him that I had been keeping informed of the recent activities of the Varden.
"What? Where did you hear that? I was not under the impression that that was common knowledge." He stepped towards me, suspiciously.
I bit my lip, wondering whether or not I should tell him about Murtagh.
In this case, I think the truth might be your best option. We do not want to start off lying to our new allies. Obsidian reasoned, and I agreed, silently.
"I had an...encounter...with your brother." I said, darkly.
"You fought Murtagh?" He asked, taken-aback.
"Fought? Well...there was some degree of fighting, but no. He was my travelling companion. He pretended to be my friend, and then he betrayed me. So I left him in Ceris and I haven't seen him since."
"You...he let you go? But how? And why? I thought he had sworn fealty to Galbatorix."
"Oh, yes, he's the Empire's lackey in chief, make no mistake. But he, and Galbatorix apparently, are not the brightest stars in the heavens. I found a loophole in his pledge to the king, and escaped with Obsidian before he could stop me."
"Well...I must say, I am impressed. My brother has become our most powerful and dangerous foe, save for Galbatorix himself. That you have escaped him alive will put you in favourable standing with the Varden."
"I am glad." I smiled, grateful that it was too dark in the clearing to see the blush rising in my cheeks.
"Come. I shall introduce to Nasuada, our Queen. To join the Varden, she must accept you as one of us."
My uncertainty must have been written all over my face, because he flashed me a reassuring smile.
"Do not worry. She is a great leader, and warrior, but she is also fair. I predict that your arrival will be most welcome."
I returned his smile and he allowed me a half-nod of encouragement before sweeping past me and mounting Saphira with enviable skill. I turned to Obsidian and did my best to emulate him, but my moves were somewhat clumsier and more laboured. Before I had time to adjust myself in the natural saddle between Obsidian's shoulder-blades, Saphira took off into the air with a single beat of her magnificent wings.
Hold on tight, little heart. Obsidian grumbled as he unfolded his own wings and took off without another word's warning. I let out a small, involuntary yelp which I prayed that had not reached Eragon's ears.
It was an incredible rush. Flying with Obsidian, alone, was a sacred experience, but flying side by side with Eragon and Saphira was almost other-worldly. I looked over at Eragon, and met his eyes, and I knew that he could feel it too. There was something ancient and powerful that touched me at the most basic levels of my being, and I knew that this was how the dragon riders of old had felt, all those many years ago.
AN: Well that's sufficiently long, now, I think I'll leave it there. Review please, because I don't have a clue what I'm doing anymore so, as always, you're thoughts will be most welcome.
Tehe. Most welcome. I'm almost Edwardian these days. I've been reading too much John Donne, methinks.