Chapter 25

I groaned as I collapsed in the artificial cave I chose in the dragonhold at the top of the dwarven city. Not that I had much of a choice, there weren't many options for a dragon my size. I could hear Saphira's claws clicking on the stone as she chose a higher, smaller hold across from me. One good thing about telepathy, no need to shout to chat. While I was tired it wasn't exactly from physical workout. No, it was all mental. I gave a relieved sigh, closing my eyes as my mind replayed the day.

Earlier that day

As we walked down the tunnel towards the dwarven city, I drilled both Eragon and Saphira in politics with Murtagh chiming in a few tips and the soldiers interrupting ever so often to ask questions about us. Really I shouldn't be surprised but apparently news of our band had quickly reached the Varden. The Dras Leona escape and the utter destruction of Gil'ead being chief amongst the rumors flowing from the Empire. For most part I left the answering to Eragon, letting them get familiar with each other even if they kept their distance from Saphira and I. artfully hewn stone gave way to a vast marble hall lined with ruby and amethyst laced pillars leading up to arches with carvings of ravens. My charges were awestruck. Well, so was I but I did well not to show it. It helped being distracted by the surge of people just beyond the great gates that were made of black stone and engraved by silver in the pattern of a seven-pointed crown. Oh great, it seems we won't be able to avoid the walk of judgment. I grumbled to myself before stopping and calling the rest to do so as well.

"What is it now, dragon? Not having second thoughts, are ye?" Orik chuckled, coming over to where I sat. I grinned at him, letting my teeth show, He was just as likable as he was in the books.

"Not at all, little dwarf. However, it seems the guards who carried Arya off had loose tongues. I sense a great number of people on the other side of the door. I felt it necessary to stop and perhaps give our rider a chance to make a good first impression."

Orik said several dwarven curses and Eragon had a look of despair on his face that got me chuckling in the back of my mind.

"Well, nothing we can do about the situation now, what do you have in mind, dragon?"

I snorted and gestured Eragon and Saphira over to me and once they got close. "I suggest Eragon ride Saphira with an escort first, let your people see them first while I hold back and only go once they're more than halfway. My appearance is a bit more intimidating, afterall, none of you noticed them when I came into the tunnel. This will let everyone get a good look."

I kept my eyes on Eragon as I went about explaining, the shades of green coloring his face was amusing.

"Breathe Eragon. I'm not asking you to give a speech, only to smile and look friendly."

To be honest, I was nervous as hell too to have what accounts to a whole city staring at me but I had to hold my nervousness back for his sake. Watching him steadying his breathing, my eyes locked with Saphira's and gave a smirk.

"Show them the pride of our kind." I rumbled, giving her a private message before focusing back on Eragon without giving her time to respond.

"Have you collected yourself?" With a nod which I returned, I then nudged him towards Saphira and gestured to the men. As I watched him mount his partner and join them I turned my attention back to Orik. Upon seeing my eyes looking in his direction, he spoke up again. "I wasn't aware dragons understood politics."

I gave a deep chuckle. "My duty is to them, to protect and guide them. Whether it be battles of swords or wits dwarf. My mentors were… thoroughly brutal in my lessons."

I could feel Fiori's satisfaction and amusement ebbing from her Eldunarí at that statement.

"Good, good. Let's get going shall we?" Orik hurried back to the lead at a nod from me. Both Eragon and Saphira looked back at me and I nudged my head in the direction of the opening gates. Taking the unspoken command, they followed their escorts out and into the sea of faces and the clamoring voices. While I stood there watching their progress I felt a hand on my leg and upon glancing on that side, saw a nervous Murtagh.

"Be calm, everyone will be too busy looking at me to notice you."

Murtagh swallowed nervously and looked out at the crowd then back at me. "If you say so and… thank you for not telling them my real name."

I simply snorted a stream of smoke and nodded my head before returning my attention to our friends, they were almost to the city and the edge of the crowd. With a mental sigh to myself I made my way to the gates and my portion of guards.

"Well, let's see if we can awe our hosts."

Hearing Murtagh grumble as he took position close to the right side of my tail, I forced my thoughts and emotions to calm, Fiori whispering assurances helped immensely in that. Standing up to my full height, I arched my neck and kept my head level with my body in a dignified stance then settled into a smooth, flowing walk. I allowed my eyes to flare brightly with the power I held and made sure to activate the runes on my body. The mass of people were cheering for Eragon and Saphira, but the moment I came out of the darkness and onto the cobblestone path, silence fell like a thick, suppressive blanket. Everyone was staring with gaping mouths at the sudden appearance of a much larger and terrifying dragon suddenly amongst them. The scattered children in the crowd hid or clinged to their parents and many men fidgeted, gripping the swords at their hips. I kept my gaze forward and my muzzle stoic, watching my friends who had turned to see why everyone was quiet. Internally I was a nervous wreck. This was the first group of people where it mattered what they thought. We were placing our safety in their hands and I thanked Umaroth in a tiny, private part of my mind for his tutoring and insights. I reached Saphira and Eragon then Orik ushered us to the city proper. I tried looking everywhere and take in all the sights without moving my head, trying my hardest to keep my facade up amidst all these strangers and inside I was ecstatic. The books described the city amazingly but no words could describe the real deal. The city itself looked like a terraced mountain of white marble, the countless lights making the city glow like a torch. The two massive gold griffins flanking the impressive timber gate gleamed with the lights and loomed over everyone. The walls leading to the gate had pillars of red jasper that gave an eerie light from the lamps in the small round window dotting the marble walls, and between those pillars were sculptures of strange creatures in such fine detail, you'd expect them to come alive. After we stepped past the open gate into a four story passageway, our group came to the center of Tronjheim. The massive chamber looked incredible, banners depicting various battles and notable events hanging from the second story railings and a rosy tint suffusing everything from the breathtaking Star Sapphire. Unfortunately, this world decided to throw another curveball at me, keeping our group from taking in the sights… save for Fiori, the amazement and wonder emanating from her was quite distracting. I couldn't blame her though, this was her first time seeing this city with her own senses, and the curveball? Three men stood in the center of the chamber, on the hammer inlaid in the floor. Two had skins of ebony, and while both stood with a regal air, only one seemed to flow with command. The third man was an exact copy of the one being carried by the soldiers bringing up the rear and judginging by the baleful glare he was sending my way, his bound brother telepathically communicated with him. I ignored him for the time being, moving to stand behind Saphira and Eragon who'd dismounted when she stopped. Ajihad stepped forth and spread his hands out and to each of his sides in a welcoming gesture, the masses lining the walls and crowding the upper levels falling silent.

"Welcome rider Eragon and dragoness Saphira! Welcome also to you, Wrathion! To Tronjheim, the greatest city of the dwarves and the home of the Varden. I am Ajihad, leader of the Varden, the man to my left is Jörmundur, my second in command." He paused when his eyes found Mutagh standing in the shadow of my left wing, having dismounted and followed us on foot at the city's gate, but continued on. "As such, I must apologize for the welcome you received and I thank you for showing restraint in correcting the situation." Ajihad was facing Eragon now, an expectant expression on his face. "I am sure he is sorry as well, so I ask for you to release him from your spell."

As he spoke, the men carrying the bound pest at the end of our procession brought him forth and held him up on his feet in front of us. Eragon, however, looked confused between the struggling man and the Varden's leader.

"I'm sorry sir but I cannot, for I never casted any spells." Eragon hesitantly replied.

Now it was Ajihad's turn to look confused, the crowd breaking into hushed mutters. I decided it was time to set the record straight and move things along. Broadening my mental voice, to the shocked gasps of the masses, I spoke up.

"Indeed, Twas I who bound the vermin, Ajihad, leader of the Varden. I do feel sorry you have to rely on brainless beings like him for your safety but since you wish it I'll set him free. Granted he and his look alike remain silent."

Ajihad had a brief look of surprise before schooling his features back into a neutral calm. With a telling stare to the twins and respectful nod towards me, I set about letting the rat free. I simply tapped the stone bindings on his chest and it all began to crumble to dust. I made sure the one covering his mouth was last.. and directed some of it into said mouth making him grimace and glare even more at me. I ignored them, giving the leader my attention when he clasped his hands behind his back and spoke again, the crowd going quiet. "Excellent, now I'd invite you to my study but unfortunately you are too big to fit, Wrathion. To that end, we'll be using an empty room that I had cleaned and furnished the moment the soldiers who brought us Arya reported your presence."

Without further words, he turned and went down the hallway to our right with us following him. I watched the twins hurry off, no doubt to scheme while I went over all the changes that had happened just from my presence and not for the first time, worry slithered through my mind. I vaguely heard Ajihad mention his office was down a smaller corridor that we passed, other than that, the only sounds that permeated the large hall was the sounds of boots of the men and the claws of Saphira and me clicking on the marble. My attention snapped back to reality when the Varden's leader and his second stopped before a stone door adorned with the carvings of what I assumed to be the various animals that called the mountain home. By now only he, Jörmundur, Orik, and two soldiers remained of our escort. When Ajihad pushed the door open and went inside the brightly lit room, only my charges and I entered, with the rest of the escort standing guard outside. For a room that was rushed to be accommodating, it was quite cozy. There was a fireplace blazing against the back wall to chase the chill from the room, thick rugs covered the center and three plush high-backed chairs taking residence on them. The walls had banners decorating them, mainly of various dwarven clans. Ajihad went over to the sole chair facing the other two and and took it as his as he gestured to the other two chairs to Eragon and Murtagh. Our human friends hesitated to take the chairs and while Ajihad never took his eyes off of Murtagh, he didn't say a word until Saphira sat behind Eragon and I laid between the chairs.

"While I again welcome you to this city, you have placed me in a difficult position by not following our requests to search your minds for deceit. Yes I understand you, yourself didn't refuse Eragon and that your silver friend did on behalf of all of you but the point remains you did not go through the process. That means while you are here, there will be some of us who will not trust you. Eragon will be accepted because he is a rider and that extends to you Saphira and everyone will be wary of you Wrathion, but your other friend here.." He gestured to Murtagh.

Murtagh on his part, glowered at the floor and grumbled back. "No one would trust me anyway.."

I watched as Ajihad's expression darken but his sigh surprised me. He seemed to age as he rubbed his face with a hand. "Though it's been twenty-three years since I heard that voice, you sound just like your father Murtagh. Thankfully, your voice and looks are the only thing you share with him if the various spies we have are to be believed."

I blinked, my mind stalling at Ajihad's reaction. This isn't going like it did in the book. The words are similar, but not the tone. Here he seemed much more reasonable… and calmer.

Eragon and Saphira shared a glance then he spoke up.

"Alright, why does everyone keep mentioning his father? Why would anyone hate Murtagh? It seems everyone knew who he was except for us. Even Wrathion knew and he's not from our lands!"

Murtagh looked away from them, his fingernails digging into the arms of the chairs, his shoulders sagging. When he spoke his voice was heavy with defeat and fear. "You heard of him.. You're even carrying his blade since Brom took it from his corpse. My father was Morzan, the first and last of the Forsworn."

I heard Eragon take a sharp intake of breath and Saphira hissed. Before she moved, though, I draped a wing over her back, keeping her in place and earning a glare of my own from her.

Murtagh kept speaking regardless. As if he couldn't stop.

"The man was a monster. Cruel, selfish, greedy. He had no heart, even my mother was simply another tool for him and I was a weakness!"

He stood quickly and pulled his shirt off before turning his back to both of them, revealing a truly unsightly scar on his back. I winced in my mind but thankfully seeing such a sight had shocked the dragoness into silence.

"See that? I was only three when I was gifted this by my father by the very sword you carry. I never wanted this life, and I curse his name more than anyone!" Mutagh panted, then sank back into his chair with his eyes staring listlessly at nothing in particular. Silence prevailed for a moment then Ajihad spoke up and addressed me.

"I am curious what you thought of him, Wrathion. What were the thoughts of a dragon meeting the son of a dragon killer?"

Even the gentle rumble I gave reverberated in the room.

"The sins of the father belong only to the father. A shadow that forever hangs over the child. Murtagh is his own master, I judged him on who HE is instead of some rotting corpse. The weight of such a burden shouldn't be his."

Ajihad nodded. "Well said, a man should be judged by his actions, not those of others." I could see both Eragon and Saphira thinking over those words, no doubt remembering their time with Murtagh. I had laid my head down next to his chair when Eragon spoke up.

"Well to Saphira and me, you're still our friend and if anyone wants to pick a fight with you then they'll have to face us as well."

Murtagh's reaction was worth it.

Present

I grumbled, we spent the next four hours discussing what was expected of Eragon and Saphira. Orik was brought in as a representative of Hrothgar while we told of our journey. When it came to what to do with Brom, I 'suggested' he remained with me until we went to the elves. Orik then asked to be assigned to be Eragon's guide during his stay, a request all three of us approved of. From there we left, Murtagh was given permission to go by Tornac while with the Varden and only Ajihad, Jörmundur, Orik, and Hrothgar would know who he was. After a hearty feast in Eragon and Saphira's honor, Murtagh was shown to his quarters and we were brought here to the dragon hold. I quickly slid Brom into one of the smaller holds, made two of my independent golems with the order to guard, then sealed the room before collapsing into my own hold.

I shook my head with a snort and called out to Eragon and Saphira across the hold. "Get plenty of rest you two. We have more lessons early in the morning and then our meetings with the dwarven king."

I heard groans from both of them, making me grin as I drifted into a dreamless slumber myself for the first time since Teirm.

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Saphira

We made it. That thought repeated in Saphira's mind while she watched Wrathion conversed with the only dwarf brave enough to approach him. Her eyes briefly went towards the bald man writhing on the floor, bound and silenced by Wrathion. The man's behavior made the idea of eating him a tempting prospect. Etch, he'd probably make me sick anyway. Her attention snapped back to the conversation as her name was mentioned, catching the tail end of him informing the dwarf of the elf strapped to her belly. The men the dwarf directed towards her reeked of fear as they cautiously approached to remove the elf. Good, they should fear me! She gave a low growl as the soldiers removed Arya from her. After her partner listed off the poisons, they rushed off into the darkness. Now free of her cargo, she scratched where the bindings were beginning to chafe her scales, her attention returning to Wrathion introducing them to the Varden but when he called Murtagh his beast's name, she became confused and she could see she wasn't the only one. She saw Eragon begin to open his mouth to correct him but Wrathion quickly sent a request to be silent on the matter. After sharing a glance with her rider and giving him a nod, the dwarf snapped her attention back to him when he mentioned the olde one's gem casket. Not being prepared for such a question, all the grief she managed to get control of rushed back to the forefront of her mind. Such pain quickly flowed from her in another mournful keen that echoed. Her sadness was lessened somewhat on watching the dwarf actually patting Wrathion. What confused her next was the names Wrathion used. Ajihad she knew from Eragon listened in on Brom's conversation with his friend in Teirm but this Hrothgar was an unknown. How did Wrath know his name? Was it from those who brought him here to protect her and her rider? She shook herself out of her thoughts when she felt Eragon touch her side before he mounted his horse and went to where the dwarf directed them to before everyone began to move forward.

It was hard for her to keep track of how long they've been walking and for the second time in her life, she was regretting not walking more. Her legs burned but she refused to show it in front of these strangers. Eragon chose to help distract her from the burning.

"Saphira?"

"Yes, little one?"

"Do you… Do you think that now that we are here, Wrathion will start acting more like himself?"

The question earned him a curious head tilt when she turned her head to look at him.

"Ever since… Gil'ead, his responses were short and he became sterner. Not to mention his lessons feel harsher than what you told me they were."

"He never laid with me either.. He's always on guard."

"He doesn't laugh or sing anymore either."

She let the silence take over while they thought of other changes, then.

"He… He reminds me of the old one.."

She felt her rider's agreement over their link.

"He must think he has to be like Brom to get us to safety.."

"Then we need to correct him."

She heard her rider chuckle. "You can correct him, He'd listen to you more than me."

She snorted and shared in his amusement. Unfortunately that got the attention of the very dragon they were talking about and the moment his mind reached out to them, he schooled them in the ways of politics, even dragging Murtagh into it who turned out to know alot about the subject. Of course their lessons were only between them and so the soldiers and dwarfs unknowingly interrupted to ask questions. Wrathion didn't hesitate turning that into a lesson either, leaving her rider to answer the questions while Wrathion tested her on wind currents and various scenarios. He made it harder for Eragon, quizzing him on words of the ancient language while he also responded to the vocal queries, something he called multitasking. It did help pass the time though and before she knew it, they were in a massive marble tunnel and before another set of gates. The moment the group stopped, she eased herself to the floor to rest her legs and paws. A moment later, an immense amount of energy flowed into her and chased most of her fatigue away. Following it were feelings of warmth and pride. It was clear the source of it was from Wrathion. Looking back at the drake, she listened in on the conversation he was having with the dwarf named Orik and before she knew it, Her rider was on her back and they were staring at the opening gates and listening to the growing voices.

"Well, that all happened quickly."

She let loose a plume of smoke and rumbled in amusement at his statement, watching as Orik hurried into position behind her, then giving her a 'go on' gesture. Looking behind them, they saw Wrathion doing the same with his head. They both glanced at each other and straightening himself up in the saddle, her rider playfully asked. "Shall we?"

Saphira arched her neck and stepped forward. Upon exiting the tunnel, the sheer amount of people looking their way made her rider's heart race. Doing the best to calm him with soothing thoughts, she continued down the path.

"Breathe Eragon, and remember Wrathion's advice, just smile and wave."

She could sense her partner-of-her-heart doing just that, making the humans start cheering. Not the dwarves though she thought, Her sharp eyes picking out their stern faces. Her thoughts on the matter came to a halt whe she rounded a bend in the path and the distant glowing mountain became clearer.

"Little one! Look!"

She heard her rider's gasp when he saw the same thing. Orik chose then to speak up. "Look well, human, For no rider has set eyes upon our fair city for nigh over a hundred years. What you see is Tronjheim, our greatest achievement."

Saphira continued onward, keeping her attention on the countless people surrounding her. Hoping to get her rider's attention back on his surroundings.

"It seems not everyone is happy about our presence."

Her rider jolted upon her back and she could tell he was looking around by the shifting of his body.

"Yes, many are wary of us… too few children are here, a sign of very hard times."

She snorted her agreement, jets of smoke roiling out of her snout and incidentally making the cheers grow.

"So much for safety for us, feels like a nest of sand vipers. I hope their leader gets them to calm down, I rather not have to harm them for attacking you little one, they've been through enough already."

Eragon agreed and the rest of their trek was done in silence and it was only when they got to the gate of the city itself did the crowd grow eerily silent. Looking back the way they came revealed the reason why, Wrathion was now on the path. Seeing the large dragon move as if he was gliding towards them, got him to speak up to her.

"This is as safe as we will have, do you plan on confronting him about your feelings?"

Saphira narrowed her eyes at the distant drake. "Yes, and he will listen if he knows what's good for him."

Eragon stroked her neck, letting her know she had his support through the simple gesture. Once Wrathion rejoined them, the rest of the events were a blur to her. They were greeted by the leader of the Varden, Wrath had to released his prospective chew toy, her and Eragon finally learned Murtagh's secret, gained a guide, was given all she could eat, and now she was laying in her chosen cave in the dragonhold at the top of the mountain with her precious partner-of-her-heart-and-mind curled up against her side and under a wing. Tomorrow is going to be busy, if Wrath's last statement was true, which knowing him, it was. She looked in the direction of the drake and it took all her will to not laugh. Wrath hadn't bothered to climb the rest of the way in his cave, his lower barrel, hips, back legs, and tail spilling out the opening and laid on the gigantic gem that made up the floor. Well, She thought to herself, at least I have a nice view to follow me into the dream realm. Her eyes locked onto Wrath's rear end as they slowly drifted close.

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A/N: I've been a baaad drake in putting this off. Life just doesn't want to give me a break between disasters but I'm not going to bore you with my issues, just my poor posting schedule XD

The meeting of Ajihad was a struggle, soo many redos, ideas, and worries made me really not want to think about it for a bit. BUT! Here it is, I splashed an idea down, mopped up the excess, and watched how one idea ran. Due to the abysmal wait, i'll be posting this before my betas can read it and tidy it up then once they had a go, I'll update the fixed version on the site so bare with me folks!

Huge shout to betas Jordan and Undead, for cleaning up after me and having the patiences of a god.