Happy New Year everyone!
Wow. We really made it to 2025… I don't know if I should be impressed or concerned.
Regardless, here is the first chapter of the year! This is also a fifth chapter so you guys know what that means right?
Oh yeah.
Comment/review answering time babyyyy!
Answers to reviews are in order of appearance.
Bladewolf101 (Chapter 5): Yeah… he still won't trust our glassy boi, but he will respect him at least somewhat.
JadedSundragon (Chapter 7): Love you too dear. 3
Bladewolf101 (Chapter 7): Yes, he will lock his feelings away for a while. This is a 'slow burn' for a reason so I will not address the romance until the battle of the Burning Plains. Sorry fam.
Misab67 (Chapter 7): :3
Bladewolf101 (Chapter 8): He won't do anything to Brom now that they see eye to eye.
Bladewolf101 (Chapter 9): Thank you. That was what I was going for.
Now, with the comments and reviews out of the way, here comes a chapter filled with plenty of fun!
Enjoy!
Chapter Ten
Absolutely not.
But Stargazerrrrr… Saphira whined, giving the older dragon those sapphire 'hatchling eyes' as he put it.
No.
Awww… why not?
Stargazer rolled his eyes, but a small smirk was tugging at his muzzle. Because someone has to watch over you while you two play in the water.
The sapphire dragoness huffed. We have the old man, Brom, for that. She smugly retorted, her eyes gleaming with amusement.
The crystal male only stared, knowing she had won the argument, but still couldn't help but be impressed by her quick wit. Giving an amused exhale, Stargazer conceded with a smile. Alright. I will join you in the lake.
Saphira smirked in triumph before plodding over to Eragon and giving him a bump on the shoulder with her snout. See? I always win, Little One.
The boy grinned as he replied. "I'm sure you do, Saphira."
The male dragon behind them gave a snort of amusement. The female, feeling smug, responded with a smirk and a wink in his direction.
Stargazer nipped her hindquarters, earning a yelp of surprise before she suddenly found herself sailing through the air…
… and into the water.
FLOOOOOM!
A massive explosion of water came from where the dragoness had hit, giving everyone there a view of the impressive splash.
When she resurfaced, Saphira locked a withering glare onto her draconic companion, who was looking rather pleased with himself. Eragon was laying on the ground, curled into a fetal position as he cried with laughter. Brom was… well…
Brom was just Brom.
You'll pay for that underhanded cheap shot. Saphira growled playfully, giving the male a lighthearted glare as his form submerged itself into the water.
Probably. The crystal dragon agreed before swimming toward the female who was already rather far in. But it will not be today.
As the two met each other in the middle, Stargazer lured the sapphire female into deeper waters, dipping below the surface once he found a suitable depth.
What are you– Saphire was cut off as she was suddenly dragged beneath the water.
As her eyes adjusted to being beneath the waves, she stared, enamored, at the sight laid bare before her.
Stargazer was floating in front of her, eyes glowing with a soft purple color, as the rays from the sun danced across his glass-like scales. The different hues of the blue water served as an excellent backdrop to give him an almost divine appearance.
Gliding his way up to her, the male paused before grabbing her front paws and pulling her with him gently as they began to dance beneath the waves.
They twisted and turned through the cool water, the lower temperature not bothering the two dragons as their eyes never left each other, their movements fluid and one. They augered together, as two halves united into one whole, until Stargazer gripped the female tightly and launched the pair upward.
Breaching the surface, Eragon and Brom beheld the two dragons with wonder as Saphira lazed comfortably on the underside of the male who floated casually on his back.
Are you going to join us or continue staring, boy? Came the invite from Stargazer who hadn't opened his eyes.
The old man only smiled, knowing the two dragons would eventually become 'one', but the male would wait. He will wait until he knew she was his before claiming her. Brom had to hand it to Stargazer.
He was smart.
He knew how to play his cards.
Right now, Saphira was, as the dragon had told the human, rather clueless to the world and the importance her role will play in the future. Stargazer merely wanted to support the two on their journey, to be their guide, their friend. He did not want to become more just yet.
He knew his role.
And he would not deviate from it.
Coming out of his musings, Brom watched as the young Rider trudged into the lake, giving out a curse at how cold it was. Stargazer gave a rumbling chuckle that was cut short by his head being shoved beneath the water, courtesy of Saphira. The female then yelped as a crystal tail dragged her under, and then it was Eragon's turn to laugh as his partner was subjected to being tossed around the lake by the much stronger male dragon.
When Stargazer swam his way over to Eragon, the dragon gave the youth a mischievous look. Grinning, the boy clambered onto his back and hung on as Stargazer spread his magnificent wings…
… and proceeded to drench the dragoness with great deluges of water generated by the waves created with every impact of his wings upon the lake.
That's not fair! Saphira cried, spluttering with every wave that splashed into her face.
The boys laughed at her misfortune, with Stargazer replying. Life isn't fair, Saffy! And neither is war! You want me to stop?
Yes!
Then make me!
Growling, the sapphire dragoness dove beneath the surface, her scales camouflaging her perfectly under the water as she swam straight down. Coming to rest upon the sandy bottom of the lake, the female dragon aimed herself at the shadow of the large dragon above, and then propelled herself upward with her hind legs.
Seconds later, she crashed into her target, the male roaring with surprise as he and his unfortunate human passenger were flung into the air before crashing back into the lake with two splashes.
Albeit one was much larger than the other.
I win! Saphira crowed as the males groaned and conceded victory to her.
Dragging himself to the shore near their chosen campsite, Stargazer flopped onto the sand with a tired huff.
"Have fun?" Came the question from Brom as he looked down at the dragon.
Yes. Stargazer replied with a sigh. Now, I need a nap.
Grinning, the storyteller replied. "If Saphira joins you later, don't be upset."
The dragon rolled his eyes. I'll only be annoyed and toss her back into the lake if she tries to do anything.
"Fair enough."
-x-
"What?"
Those creatures are holed up in Helgrind.
Stargazer…?
Yes, Saphira?
How do you know this?
Sighing, the male dragon raised his head. Think about it. The Lethrblaka and Ra'zac are one in the same, yes?
Brom's eyebrows furrowed as he nodded in thought.
And where would they hide that has an unobstructed view of everything around them?
The storyteller actually facepalmed when he realized the answer had been in front of him the entire time. Glaring at the dragon, the old man said, "And you couldn't think of telling me this sooner?"
Stargazer merely smirked in response. No. I was hoping you'd figure it out on your own. Apparently I was wrong. Again.
Saphira gave a draconic laugh as Brom sighed in exasperation.
"I don't like being made a fool out of." The old man groaned.
Might as well get used to it. Stargazer replied with that smirk still on his face. Especially with me around.
Brom only groaned again, much to the amusement of the dragons as they all began joining Eragon in slumber.
Stargazer?
Said dragon glanced up at Saphira, who was standing above him rather nervously. What would you like, Saphira?
Playing with the grass under her paws, she replied while never making eye contact. Can I sleep beside you?
The male slowly blinked once.
Then twice.
And a third time.
As the silence amplified between the dragons, the female was tempted to just turn tail and walk away as he finally replied by lifting his left wing in invitation. Laying down next to him, Stargazer draped his wing over the smaller female and sighed.
Don't get used to this.
Those were the last words Saphira heard before she drifted off into the realm of dreams.
-x-
A bit of a shorter chapter, but I think it was a good chapter. Got some fun times in there, some funny times and some… feeling time. Whatever that means. Anyway, the normal update schedule is back, so this is the last of the weekly uploads. I hope you all enjoyed my gift to you, my readers, and I will see you in the next one.
Stryker out.