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Necros The Saiyan knight: When I can. I'm trying to work on ten-twenty chapters for each story, and I'm taking my time.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Inheritance Cycle. I only own the OC Michael/Ancalagon.
From the moment she hatched, Saphira felt a sense of destiny and the instant she bonded to Eragon, her partner-of-her-mind-and-heart, she too knew that no matter what would come, she wouldn't be alone. Her early days were full of wonder about the world. Everything was so big. The trees like mountains, the air cold, the love from her partner was warm and calming. In the following days, she grew and as she did, so did she become more aware of her surroundings.
Her partner-of-her-heart-and-mind spent many hours with her and from him she learned. He spoke of the wildlife, the fauna, his family and what he did or planned to do that day. Others he'd simply spoke of completely random things and she paid attention to it all. She grew more and more competent in hunting the more she practiced. She learned of her limits. And she learned that even though she had Eragon, she was alone.
Growing up in the forest near his home, she couldn't rid herself of the feeling that she was being watched. When she was higher than her Rider's knees, she gained the freedom she wanted to wander. When she took to the skies for the first time, she felt empowered, unbeatable, free. The skies was an empire and she it's empress. No other creature had more of a right to it than she.
And the day she learned of the arrival of those accursed beasts, everything changed.
Fear, Anger, dread. These and many other emotions had whirled within her mind. She wanted to fight! To run! To kill. To hide! She had felt the monsters reach the village, felt her other half's fear when he came across them and his panic as he rushed to the farm then came as he called. After listening to what happened, she lost control of herself.
Memories flooded her mind from somewhere, all with the atrocities these monsters caused. When she felt something clamber upon her back she immediately took off, turning and seeking out a familiar, secluded place to hide. By the time she reached a blasted portion in the Spine that turned out to be the place she arrived here, she had wrested control from her instincts.
Instantly she became aware of her Rider's state and his anger. Her fear slowly gave way to regret. She didn't mean to hurt him. And she was glad when he stopped asking her why she did what she did. She didn't want to admit she was terrified. She razed the ground clear of snow at his request then since he couldn't move, had to help him by lending her long neck for him to hold while moving him. Once he had settled, she laid a wing over him, hoping all will be ok in the morning.
That hope died when she spotted the smoke of the ruined farm and the dead animals in the burnt remains of the barn. After quickly landing, her Rider stumbled off of her. It pained her feeling the grief the place was causing her partner-of-her-heart-and-mind. Timidly, she agreed to help him search after he directed his anger towards her. First, they dug through the remains of the house, but there wasn't any sign of his uncle. Next was the barn, it wasn't hard to search for it was an open structure.
But nothing. There was nothing.
Eragon assumed the monsters had either destroyed the body to the point it couldn't be found, or had taken him, or even devoured him.
Saphira felt her Rider's emotions, along with her own. Depressed, dejected and ashamed. It wasn't long after that Eragon collapsed, causing Saphira to panic until the arrival of the old man, named Brom, who reassured her he was not a threat to her Rider. She watched as the old man took her Rider to the village, and she knew she could not follow for risk of being spotted even though she didn't care at that moment. But Eragon needed help, and if the villagers could do so then she would not hinder them.
After watching until they were out of sight, Saphira flew off to be with her thoughts and also to hunt, anything to get her mind off of what had happened, what they had found.
As she flew through the air, she came across a clearing in the forest and saw something that caused shock to jolt through her like a storm.
It was a dragon!
A black-scaled dragon!
Saphira couldn't believe it at first, and then she started making her own assumptions. There was only one black dragon in the world... the one that served the King.
And judging from the destruction of the farm... this dragon had to have been the cause of it!
Consumed by her anger and rage, she flew straight towards the black beast who did not see her coming until she had slammed into him. They rolled across the ground, her snapping and snarling while her soon-to-be dead opponent fought her off.
When the fight was ready to continue, Saphira heard someone shout for them to stop and both she and the black beast did so, their gazes snapping down to the one resposible.
And Saphira stared at a still-alive Garrow. Her Rider's uncle, alive and well. Not dead as they assumed.
She looked at him, then at the black dragon who didn't appear hostile despite being attacked, then back at Garrow, then back to the dragon, and then... everything went black.
"She's waking." Garrow called over to Ancalagon, who had laid down and waited along with the human for the dragoness to wake up. The black-scaled dragon got to his feet as the dragoness let out groaning rumbles, slowly getting to her feet.
Saphira groaned. Whatever bad water she drank she'd need to avoid later, It made her dream a deceased Garrow was protecting his killer, the King's black dragon, from her. Oh how her head hurt, did she hit it on something in her slumber?
"Feeling alright there?" She heard someone ask her and snapped her gaze to the source of it, her eyes widening.
It was indeed Garrow! Alive and well! The black dragon he protected from her laying not too far away, watching with a look of amusement in his orange-yellow eyes.
Y-You... b-but... the farm! Y-You're dead! Saphira stammered, unable to speak properly due to her shock, as well as wondering if she was still dreaming.
So shocked was she, she didn't register the man closing the distance until she felt his warm and very much living hand on her nose. The contact snapped her out of her shock and she pressed her head against the man, tears of relief flowing from her eyes while her cries of anguish echoed in the heads of Garrow and Ancalagon.
I.. I always imagined.. What it'd be like when Eragon finally introduced me to you and his cousin. T-then when we saw the farm, a-a-and the remains I was devastated and so ashamed. Devastated because I had lost the chance and guilty because it was all my fault, Eragon had pleaded to me to save you but I was.. Afraid. I fled like a coward to save my own tail! She cried.
The dragoness fell to her belly and covered her head with her paws as she cried. She ignore the bane of her grief for this human who approached her again and began to pet her neck.
Ancalagon watched from where he sat, his heart pulling at the sight. He remained silent, choosing to let Garrow speak with her. He remembered, from the book, how Saphira often thought of Garrow as her own father for the reason of him raising Eragon like a son, an emotion that Saphira felt and so she felt like Garrow was a father to her, and she carried the guilt of being unable to save him.
It made Ancalagon's decision to save Garrow completely worth it.
"There, there, While I would've appreciated Eragon telling me much sooner, I can understand why. I know anything dragon Is sure to draw the king's attention, and you, my dear, are very much worth protecting." Garrow said softly, hishing her like a father hushing his scared daughter after she had a nightmare... least that's what it looked like to the black dragon watching.
Saphira moved a paw to peek at him when he finished, sniffing while she searched his eyes for sincerity.
How did you get away? Saphira asked, calming down now.
Garrow chuckled and gestured to Ancalagon. "Thank the dragon over there. If it wasn't for him, I'd be dead. Snatched me up and carried me to his cave."
Saphira turned her attention to the silent dragon, who she now realized was indeed a male. He straightened when she looked at him and she reached out hesitantly to his mind, only to be met with an easy invite into his mind for communication.
You...
I am not Shuriken, who I assume you mistook me for and attacked me for that reason? The dragon asked, raising a scaly brow at her with a knowing look and Saphira couldn't help but look away sheepishly and with embarrassment. However, he chuckled. It's okay. I understand your reaction, as that beast is the only known dragon in the land, and has black scales. However, I doubt he has the mental capacity to think for himself anymore. My name is Ancalagon, and it's finally nice to meet another one of my kind.
Saphira inched towards him, hesitant on if this was somehow still a dream, that she would wake up and find she was still alone. She reached out, Ancalagon not stopping her, and she touched him with a talon, jerking it back when she felt he was real.
I... I'm not alone? Saphira whispered with shock, awe, even hope.
Ancalagon shook his head. No, you are not.
Saphira then took in his appearance slowly, from bottom to top. Her eyes roamed over his legs, noting the muscles in them, the sharpness of his claws that were perfect for ripping prey apart, his wings that were tucked in, tail swaying casually behind him, noting that he was bigger than her, her head only reaching his chest, meaning he must be a few months older than her.
This drake just radiated strength and power, and as her eyes met his orange-yellow eyes, she couldn't help but feel drawn into them. They were quite a sight and something unseen before. As she stared at him, a small private thought made itself known in her mind somewhere.
This dragon would be the perfect mate.
Ancalagon shifted, a little nervous at how intently Saphira was staring at him. He really hoped it was just because of the fact she discovered she wasn't alone and not... certain other reasons. While he may be a dragon, he was still a human at heart. And he didn't want this to be like when Saphira discovered Glaedr.
But she is quite beautiful. A part of him admitted and he admitted it to himself. Saphira was young and would grow up to be a fierce beauty, no doubt about that. But he was hoping things wouldn't cross that line.
It was you... Saphira whispered, confusing Ancalagon who tilted his head. Sometimes I felt like I was being watched, on the ground and in the air... it was you, wasn't it?
Ancalagon shifted again, more so to keep his limbs from feeling numb due to remaining still for too long. Yes. I have been watching since your Rider found your egg in the Spine. He had been hunting the same prey I had been. I watched from the shadows of the trees, and from my cave up in the mountains.
He jerked his head to said mountains, and Saphira casted them a glance before returning her gaze back to the male dragon.
I'm afraid you and your Rider will be unable to remain here anymore. We cannot afford the Black King to get his hands on you or your Rider, especially since he knows your here. When your Rider wakes, we will flee. I will not put innocents at risk. Ancalagon said firmly.
Garrow nodded, though his expression was pale as he imagined various scenarios of the King's forces coming, destroying anything in their path in search of Eragon and Saphira. "He's right. The King would show no mercy to get what he wants."
Ancalagon turned his gaze skyward and growled a little. It's getting dark. Come, we shall rest in my cave. It has a view of the village, if that please you. He directed that last part to Saphira, knowing how worried she must be about her Rider that she wouldn't want to be any further than necessary.
Saphira nodded her head and, after Ancalagon scooped Garrow into his paw, they took off with Ancalagon taking the lead.
As they flew, Saphira's eyes strayed back to Ancalagon, watching how he flew. He had clearly learned the art of flying and became a natural flyer with the way he flew, his wings giving powerful flaps every so often. She increased her speed a little so she was side-by-side with him causing him to glance at her but he said nothing and turned his gaze forward again.
And I'm just going to end it there. Sorry for the shortness, next chapter will be longer, I promise.