A/N : Hey guys, before you start reading this new chapter of 'A God in Alagaësia', I have some things to tell you.
-First of all, thank you for the people who recently commented on my story and I also want to thank you for following and/or favoring it. It warm my heart to see that you are liking it.
-Secondly, sorry if I take some times between chapters : work is a really hard… and I have many personal problems to deal with.
-Thirdly, if you don't like my story then don't read it !
Now that everything was said, I will leave you alone so you can read this story in peace. GOOD EVERYONE AND ENJOY THE STORY !
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(Previously in 'A God in Alagaësia':)
"BRISINGR !"
The crimson blade in his hand blazed with a bloody light with heat-less flames running along it as he lunged forward with a battle cry. Before the Shade could understand what was going on, Eragon stabbed him in the heart !
Frozen in shock, Durza looked down with wide eyes at the blade coming out of his torso. His mouth opened, probably to say something, but instead
of words, an unholy howl came out from him. His sword dropped from his hand while he used the other one to grasp Zar'roc in an attempt to pull it out, but the blade was firmly lodged into him.
Then, much to Eragon's shock, Durza's pale skin turned transparent… to the point you could see THROUGH him and under it was swirling patterns of darkness. The Shade shrieked louder as say darkness pulsated and split his skin. With another loud cry (and probably his last), Durza was torn apart from head to toe, releasing the darkness within him who flew through Tronjheim's walls and out of Farthen Dûr.
Eragon stared at the spot Durza once stood with shock and awe but soon, realization entered him and he smiled in triumph : Durza the Shade was dead.
But then, he groaned as he felt dizzy again, exhaustion taking its toll on him. Soon, Eragon fell back with arms outstretched as above him, Saphira and Arya nearly reached the floor. Slowly, his sight faded and the last thing he saw before loosing consciousness was Saphira and Arya stopping falling, hang motionlessly in the air instead.
00/(Present Time)/00
Erik was pacing back and forth in concern as he, Murtagh, Arya (who had an arm bandaged) and Saphira all waited outside a chamber where Eragon was being treated by Angela, the herbologist his friend had met during their quest. The brown haired woman had been pretty talkative during their meeting but the White Bear wasn't annoyed by it.
After the battle and after shrinking back to his normal size, Erik also got to meet another interesting individual : the werecat, Solembum. Solembum, ever since they met, had treated him with nothing but respect and deference, saying that it was a great honor to meet a being such as he and ,while Erik had appreciated the words, he felt cautious around the feline.
But then, his mind returned to something Angela told him while using those Dragon bones of hers :
"Your fate will be to leave this land forever… A land of cold and ice you will head, and you will never again stand in Alagaësia except during times of need... This fate is unavoidable … no matter your attempt to avoid it..."
So, like Eragon and Saphira, he was fated to leave Alagaësia… but contrary to his friends, he will head toward the far North.
His lie about him coming from there will turn true after all…
Fate was definitely tricky…
Internally, he was conflicted : he had promised before to return to his home near Carvalhall after this whole thing but now, he had to rethink everything. A part of him was looking forward to see the ice land of this world but the other was thinking about staying close to the area he once lived in.
As if it wasn't enough, Erik received two other 'prophecies' from Angela… even more intriguing than the precedent :
"A legendary romance is in your future, extraordinary, as the moon indicates… One strong enough to outlast empires… I cannot say if this passion will end happily, but your love is of the same caliber than you… She is, like you, a force to be reckoned, wise, and possess a kindness beyond compare!"
The words were similar to the ones she said to Eragon concerning Arya but also completely different. Thankfully, it was easy to understand : he will fell in love with a goddess (a being of the same caliber than him) but like Eragon, the relationship might not end up happily.
But who could be this mysterious goddess ?
From what he knew of the cultures of Alagaësia, the number of goddesses was short : Kílf the goddess of water, Sindri the goddess of the earth, Rahna the mother goddess and Gokukara, the mantis goddess.
It was hard to imagine that one of them would descend from their pantheon to mingle with mortals… but he couldn't think of any other goddesses than them. The Elves don't believed in gods and deities so they didn't have a pantheon.
Feeling a headache, the White Bear changed subject to instead think of the last prophecy given to him by Angela
"I foresee a great battle ahead… a being of great darkness and power will be born… Lightning and Shadow will oppose each other and this fight will decide the fate of Alagaësia !"
This prophecy sent shivers of anticipation passing through his entire being as he knew it meant nothing but trouble. From what it said, our white friend will face a powerful being… one strong enough to possibly match him in combat… and this battle will change Alagaësia.
"I don't know who or what is this 'being of great darkness and power' but I will fight to the end for my friends… I swear it on my name !" he had said to himself with determination.
No matter the danger ahead, Erik will keep fighting… because it was the right thing to do.
Shaking his head, the White Bear's attention shifted to Saphira when he felt her touching his shoulder.
'Brother ? Are you okay ?' she asked him in concern.
'I am fine Saphy… I'm sorry for not being there against Durza...' he said to her with a saddened tone.
'It was not your fault… you are busy with those beasts...' Saphira replied back in comfort while snarling the last words like a plague.
Erik nodded with a stern expression on his muzzle, but just as he opened his mouth to speak again, the bedroom door opened, revealing Angela... and an awakened Eragon ! A sigh of relief escaped Erik's lips at the sight of Eragon and he watched with a smile as Murtagh and Arya quickly entered the room.
Being too big to enter, Saphira had no choice but to snake her head into the room after them. Soon, Erik smirked slightly when he heard the Blue Dragoness purring in happiness and relief to see her rider safe and sound. The White Bear watched in apprehension as Dragon and Rider were taken into a short conversation and, judging by Saphira's proud look, Eragon must have complimented her… or simply told her something nice.
But then, he heard Murtagh's relieved voice echoing in the air "About time you were up ! We've been sitting in the hall for hours !"
"What... what happened ?" Eragon's curious question followed Murtagh's voice.
"We won ! It was incredible ! When the Shade's spirits flew across Farthen Dûr, the Urgals ceased fighting to watch them go alongside us ! It was as if they had been released from a spell but then, imagine our shock when their clans suddenly turned on each other's backs, ready to fight !" Murtagh's joyful tone echoed in the air before adding in the same tone
"They almost did but Valhir was faster : he roared and at the sight of him, the Urgals all fled ! We routed them after that !"
"Where are they now ?" Eragon asked his friend with curiosity.
"They escaped into the tunnels… The Vardens and the Dwarves are hunting them down to make sure they left for good… but it's going to take a while…" Murtagh answered with a sigh before adding with a bright smile.
"But at least there is a reason to be happy ! You're a hero ! Everyone's talking about how you killed Durza. ! If it hadn't been for you and Valhir, we would have lost !"
A short silence followed and Erik understood that Eragon was probably digesting those new informations
"Where were the Twins? They weren't where they were supposed to be...I couldn't contact them. I needed their help !"
The White Bear growled at the mention of the Twins : he hadn't seen nor hear of these two since the beginning of the battle and he knew that they were up no good.
However, he quickly brushed those thoughts aside to listen to the rest of the conversation.
"I was told they bravely fought off a group of Urgals that broke into Tronjheim somewhere else… They were probably too busy to talk with you..." Murtagh answered Eragon with a tone filled with suspicion.
Another short silence followed until Erik heard the young Rider speaking again.
"How come you didn't crash? You and Saphira were... "
The White Bear knew who he was talking to : Arya.
"When you warned Saphira of Durza, I was still trying to remove her damaged armor… By the time it was off, it was too late to slide down Vol Turin, you would have been captured before I
reached the bottom… Besides, Durza would have killed you before letting me rescue you…So I did the one thing I could to distract him: I broke the star sapphire."
Erik had instantly noticed the tone through Arya's words : regret. However, he didn't have the time to think about why as Eragon spoke again.
"But why didn't any of the pieces hit you or me?"
"I didn't allow them to… When we were almost to the floor, I held them in the air and then I slowly lowered them to the floor… If I didn't, they would have shattered into thousands of pieces and killed you..." Arya answered in a somber tone.
"Yes, and it almost killed you as well... It's taken all of my skill to keep the two of you alive..." that was Angela's voice and it sounded sour.
"How long have I been here?" Eragon then asked with trepidation and slight worry.
"Only a day and a half… You're lucky I was around, otherwise it would've taken you weeks to heal… that it if you had even lived..." Angela answered him bluntly.
"Eragon... you have to understand that my power is not like yours or Arya's… It depends on the use of herbs and potions… There are limits to what I can do, especially with such a large-"
However, the herbologist's voice was interrupted by something and despite not being able to see why, Erik knew the reason : Eragon was checking the 'gift' Durza left to him… aka a huge scar, stretching from his right shoulder to the opposite hip.
"You have paid a terrible price for your deed, Eragon Shadeslayer..." Angela's voice echoed again, one filled with pity and sympathy.
"Yes… Now you're just like me now..." Murtagh's voice filled with bitterness and sympathy echoed after the woman's.
A long silence followed as no one knew what to say next. Erik, him, wanted to comfort Eragon, telling him that scars were just marks of warriors but didn't know if he should. However, as if a deity caught wind of his hesitation, the silence was suddenly broken by Eragon's voice who asked in curiosity.
"Where is Valhir ?"
"I'm here, child..." Erik answered in a deep tone as Saphira pulled her head away so her rider could see the White Bear.
Eragon looked happy to see him, which warmed Erik's heart.
"Are you alright, boy ?" the White Bear asked him with concern.
"I feel sore…and disfigured… " was his answer.
"Understandable… You fought against not only Urgals, but a Shade as well…" Erik retorted calmly with a nod before adding
"As for your disfigurement... You are not... I have seen people with scars worse than yours... However, you should not be ashamed of your scar... Instead, you should be proud of it..."
"What do you mean ?" Eragon asked him curiously while everyone else silently listened, clearly intrigued by the White Bear's words.
"Scars mean you went through something tough, survived it and became stronger… As the saying goes 'What doesn't kill us makes us stronger' !" Erik retorted in a deep tone as he looked at the young rider in the eyes.
Angela, Saphira, Murtagh and Arya all stared at him with wide eyes of shock while Eragon looked just as stunned. However, Saphira, Murtagh and Eragon soon became thoughtful while Arya and Angela shared a glance.
"You are sure very wise, Lord Valhir…" Angela said with a nod of agreement, earning herself a small groan of annoyance from the White Bear.
"I had a good mentor..." Erik replied in an evasive tone as the image of his father passed through his mind.
But then his thoughts were interrupted by Eragon who was calling for him.
"What is it, boy ?" The White Bear asked curiously while turning his large furry head toward the young rider.
"When I faced Durza, he said something about a gift he sent you…What was it ?" Eragon asked him curiously.
Instantly, Saphira snarled in disgust and anger while Arya, Angela and Murtagh scowled darkly. Erik's face turned colder at the question and answered with a growl.
"When I saw the light coming from the Varden's headquarters, I tried to rush there… but my path was blocked by the Shade's 'gift'..."
"What was it ?" Eragon asked him again with a frown of intrigue.
"3 Lethrblakas..." was the young rider's answer.
"WHAT ?!" Eragon cried out in shock and stupor.
"It's true… I saw them myself… There were three of those disgusting beasts present and they all stopped Valhir to reach the headquarter..." Murtagh explained with a growl of disgust.
"Many had started to panic at the sight of them… But Valhir managed to defeat all three of them singlehandedly !" he added with some admiration.
"It was nothing really…" Erik began to say with a shrug of indifference before adding
"I fought one of them in the past, so what is three more ?"
"Regardless, after the Lethrblakas were defeated, Dwarves and Vardens alike all fought even harder, chanting Valhir' name !" Murtagh said with a bright expression on his face.
"If I remember correctly, they did it even before the arrivals of those abominations..." Erik grumbled to the son of Morzan while crossing his muscular arms over his chest.
"Wait, really ?" Eragon asked him with a stunned expression.
Erik opened his jaws to answer but couldn't, thanks to Murtagh who was faster.
"They did ! From what I heard, Valhir here took a spear to the chest but it didn't kill him even though the blade pierced his heart !"
Arya, Saphira and Eragon looked at the White Bear in shock and awe, their eyes shining.
"As if a mere spear will kill little old me… I am a god, remember ?" Erik said with a snort and a smirk.
"We do !" Eragon, Murtagh and Arya all replied at the same time, causing the three to look at each other in shock… before laughing in humor.
Well, the boys did while Arya allowed a tiny smile of amusement to appear on her face. Angela and Saphira both shook their heads in amusement as they listened to Eragon's and Murtagh's laughs. Erik, him, ended up joining them.
Until it was time for them to leave Eragon alone, they all acted like they never went to a terrible battle : laughing, joking, chatting…
But despite this, Erik was still thinking about Angela's prophecies and knew that this battle was only the beginning of a greater event : a worldwide-war with the Empire and Galbatorix… and possibly against something even worse than the Mad King.
(End of Part 1)