AN: Chapter 22 and I have NO idea what I'm doing. This should be interesting.
Oh, and this one's back to a third person narrative, so try and keep up.
She wondered absent-mindedly if the air was thinner there than it was above the clouds. She had flown over mountains more times than she could count, but she could never remember breathing being such a challenge before. Sitting astride her dragon had never felt so awkward or uncomfortable as it did in those moments, as they all waited for the first of Galbatorix's soldiers to appear on the horizon. A distant cry, heard only by the dragons, riders and elves among them, told her that they were close. He was close. She fought with the clashing emotions within her, wondering at the absurdity of it all. How could one person evoke such feelings within her? All at once she felt terror and joy, love and hatred, anger and tenderness for this man who, she recognised, was barely more than a stranger to her.
How long had she really known him for? How well? Had she seen his true self at all? Or was it all an act?
This again? Kate, you have to focus! Murtagh will be here in mere moments and it will not be to sweep you into his arms and propose! He and Thorn are bringing an army over that hill with the single purpose of destroying us all. Obsidian growled, his harsh words a reflection of the fear rising in his iron chest, not for himself, but for the fragile little human he carried on his back. If she lost her head now, there was no time for recovery, and the Varden needed them both.
Don't worry, Obsidian. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere. I'm just...anxious. That's all. Anxious. It was the most neutral word she could think of and she tried to ignore her brain as it hurled more appropriate suggestions at her. Scared. Terrified. Furious. Distraught. Paralysed with the fear that someone she loved would get hurt. No, she decided, anxious would have to do.
"Katharean." Eragon's beautifully familiar voice whispered from her left. She did not turn to look at him for fear that she would be unable to handle those gentle brown eyes on hers: Murtagh's eyes, her brain supplied of its own volition.
"Yes?" She whispered back, focusing determinedly on the as yet clear horizon.
"I just want to say thank you. For everything."
She struggled not to look at him then, but her gaze held.
"I don't understand. I haven't done anything deserving of gratitude."
You have made these last few weeks bearable. I would have been lost without you, if truth be told. And I know that we...we joke a lot and we're not always as nice to each other as we could be but...I feel I've found a sister in you. So thank you, for reminding me what family can feel like.
His internal voice echoed in her mind long after he had finished speaking and her hand moved reflexively to the ring hanging around her neck, and she nodded, blinking back silent tears. She couldn't find her voice to reply, but she was sure he understood. Her heart thudded painfully in her chest. He wasn't really saying thank you, she knew. He was saying goodbye.
"Won't you look at me?" He whispered, his voice breaking slightly with some indefinable emotion. She shook her head ever so slightly.
"I can't." She managed to whisper. "It's too hard."
"It's okay. I understand. Just know that I'm here, I'll be by your side the whole time."
Thank you.
They sat in silence for what seemed to Katharean like hours but what could have been no more than a few minutes before a large black shape appeared on the horizon. No, not a black shape...the rays of the early morning sun bounced off of the beast's back and splintered into a million rubies as the fearsome red dragon soared effortlessly in their direction.
Thorn. Obsidian growled.
Murtagh. Katharean choked, steeling herself against the fear and hurt that was searing through her core and threatening to send her off the edge of reason. With a deep, steadying breath, she reached for her sword and allowed the whispering metal to comfort her. They drew closer, and soon after the dragon and rider appeared, the first wave of troops tumbled over the horizon and marched towards the valley between the two armies.
Before she knew what was happening, Obsidian and Saphira began stalking forward, and the air sang as a thousand suits of armour sprang to life behind her. Three words repeated themselves over and over in her mind.
This is it. The sword grew heavy in her hand and she panicked. What was she doing? She was a noblewoman! She was no warrior. The whole scene before her was like someone else's nightmare. Her whole life had been spent learning how to be a lady. How could she have even considered the possibility that the last few months would prepare her for this? Her own words echoed around her head: Completely out of my depth...
We can do this, Katharean. We can do it together. Obsidian assured her, allowing some of his own strength to bleed into her. She let out a deep breath and nodded. Now was not the time for second-thoughts. She was a dragon-rider, and she had an army to lead.
As one, Obsidian and Saphira took to the air in a single, fluid movement.
Murtagh is mine. Eragon growled, and Katharean nodded, ignoring the chill of fear running through her.
She veered away from him, slightly, keeping her eyes on Galbatorix's troops. At the sight of the dragons, their disciplined marching gave way to running. Most of them were running towards the battlefield, but for some the fear of seeing two large dragons hurtling through the air towards them was too much and they fled. She turned her head slightly, searching for Saphira. With wide eyes, she watched as Eragon and Murtagh slowed in front of one another, facing each other up, but they were too far away for her to see either of their faces or hear the exchanges between them.
Forget them! We have our own battle to fight! Obsidian commanded, as he swooped down upon the first wave of troops. From her perch behind his shoulder blades, she could not see the carnage that he wreaked below as he hurtled through the armoured bodies, biting, clawing and ripping until there was a considerable gap in the enemy's front line. With a roar, he propelled himself upwards and circled back, hurtling through the air like a black arrow. Katharean dug her knees in and held on as tightly as possible. They were completely upside down now, and although this had been an easy enough manoeuvre on the countless occasions they had flown together, the suit of armour made things more difficult. Before she knew it, they were upright again and tearing through the air towards Galbatorix's army once more. Obsidian sliced effortlessly through a sea of hard bodies, devastating all in his path. The air was filled with the screams of grown men as more and more soldiers grew wise to their fates and tried to flee.
But it was too late. By the time Obsidian had reached the end of his second attack, the men of the Varden were upon them. As they banked to the left, Katharean leaned back to look at the commencing battle. Passionate and bloodthirsty, their men threw themselves at the hired soldiers, cutting them down without mercy. The advantage that they now held in numbers almost looked unfair.
At the realisation that they had gained the upper hand, Katharean almost laughed out loud, until a roar from Obsidian made her whip her entire body around, away from the battlefield, where Eragon and Murtagh were locked furiously in a battle of their own. The exhilaration she felt moments before was immediately replaced by horror as she watched the great red dragon lock its powerful jaws around Saphira's slender neck.
Before she could think, Obsidian was racing through the air, abandoning the fight below them. All else was forgotten at the sight of his friend thrashing wildly and roaring in pain. Thorn turned and saw Obsidian hurtling towards him, and let out a vicious roar, which Obsidian returned with passionate fury. Gritting her teeth, Katharean reached behind her for her bow and swiftly nocked an arrow, poising the weapon readily in her hands. All fear and trepidation had evaporated long ago and she narrowed her eyes as Thorn dived towards them, exposing Murtagh to her.
She took a deep breath and pulled the string of her bow past her ear.
For Saphira, and all of good heart. Obsidian growled, fiercely.
For Eragon, and Alagaesia. Katharean vowed, aiming directly at the heart of the man she loved.
AN: Please review! And next chapter's going up straight after this, I wouldn't leave you in that kind of suspense. I'm quite nice like that.