Alright folks, I suppose I'll answer a recent review.
Megatronus Uchiha asked how big Stargazer is in comparison to Saphira. The answer to that is about two and a half to three times larger than her. Remember he was given the body of a five year old dragon. Young dragons grow rapidly until they're about ten or fifteen years old. Then their bodies begin to slow down their growth, but they will continuously grow larger over time.
Hope that answers that.

Anyway, enough of me yapping. Enjoy the show.

A bit of a friendly warning, you will probably cry at the end of this chapter.

Chapter Twelve

Stargazer POV

Well this sucked.

Old man Brom was down for the count, Eragon was beside himself with grief, Murtagh was trying his hardest to keep himself distanced from us all and Saphira was right up there in the grief aisle with her Rider.

I was the outlier of the bunch.

Stargazer.

My head swivelled around to meet Saphira's eyes, seeing the moisture welling within her eyelids. Yes, Saphira?

The dragoness glanced in the direction of her partner before returning her sights to me. Brom asked for you.

Shit.

I only inclined my head toward her in response before padding my way to where Eragon was hunched over the old man. The boy started at my arrival, only to quickly recover and scowl at me.

As he opened his mouth, I cut him off with a sharp glare.

The old man is dying. He asked for me through Saphira and I am here to acknowledge his request. It is the least that I, a wild dragon, can do for one who has done much for us dragons throughout his life. Now, give us space, boy.

Nodding his head, Eragon left me alone with the dying human, whom I immediately turned my attention to. I laid down, completely curling my large body around his own before touching his mind and bringing him into mine.

Within Stargazer's Mindscape…

"Where… where am I?" The former Rider muttered in awe, looking around as he took in the scenery.

He was standing on an intimidating cliff face that faced an ocean of silver that stretched as far as the eye could see. The setting sun was a fiery red ball, the orange light that it cast upon the realm refracting off the waves that crashed upon the rocks below. To his left, Brom could see black storm clouds in the distance, purple and blue lightning bolts flickering within and thunder rumbling ominously.

"You are in a realm that only I have access to." Came the old man's answer from a familiar voice as he turned around…

And found himself facing another human.

This human was taller than the storyteller by a decent margin. His body was well built, but not overly so, and stood with his arms crossed as he leaned on one of the many massive trees that reached toward the sky above. His eyes were a stunning electric blue, yet he wore an extremely dark purple overcoat that went down to his knees.

"Who are you?" The storyteller cautiously asked, readying himself for anything.

The other human only gave him a soft smile before responding. "You know me, only by another name and with another form."

Brom was stunned. "I-is this some sort of trick? Why am I here? Where is this place?"

The other human's smile never faltered, looking sadly at the old man. "My human name was Justin Whitlock. You know me as a crystal dragon who quite literally rules the skies, named Stargazer. This is no trick either, for you are in my mind as your physical body withers away from internal bleeding. As for this place and why you are here…"

The young man walked forward until he was standing next to Brom. "You are here because I know of the upcoming events and the end results."

Brom was livid at this remark. "You mean to tell me that you know the future and yet–"

"Let you die? Yes. I can explain everything as there is a reason I allowed this and did not choose to interfere."

The old man's anger left him and was replaced with curiosity. "And that is what, exactly?"

Turning, Justin met Brom's eyes before waving his hand, two chairs appearing and gestured for them both to take a seat. Once seated and comfortable, the old man looked at the younger male expectantly.

"I chose to let you die because this is a major tipping point in the story. Eragon takes the reins for once, forcing him to become the leader he is meant to be. Nobody will be there to, and I quote, hold his hand so to speak. He will turn north toward Gil'ead, rescue Arya the egg courier, and make his way to the Varden. He will then–"

He was cut off as thunder rumbled directly overhead, causing him to look up toward the sky and sigh.

Brom, confused, decided to voice a question. "What–" he pointed up to the sky. "-was that about?"

"I am not permitted to share any future events with you apparently." Justin responded glumly. "I personally do not see the issue with it, since you are currently at Death's doorstep and knocking on his door."

"I see…" Brom replied, trailing off before looking at the slightly slouched human across from him. "So. Saphira. How will you handle her?"

Justin groaned, plonking his head down on the table with a thump. "I meant what I said before, although the… others removed the oath I had bound myself with. That aside, I morally cannot be her mate for… personal reasons."

Brom only raised an eyebrow in response, making the young man roll his eyes.

"I will not be romantically involved with a literal child, Brom. That's rather messed up."

The storyteller blinked before nodding in agreement. The young man was right, that would be rather foolish to do… that with a dragoness who would be no older than ten in human mental maturity.

"Brom, I do have one question for you before we end our little conversation here. I am already pushing the limits of what I am allowed, but then again, I don't exactly give a shit about rules. I break them all the time."

Lightning flashed overhead and thunder cracked violently, but the young man only turned his face skyward and raised his middle fingers on both hands, causing the sky to rumble as if in conceded defeat. Returning his attention to the old man once more, he continued.

"How about I give you one last flight on a dragon's back as you pass? You can rest, bathed in the warmth of your last sunrise."

Brom was floored. He did not expect this offer to be extended to him, and only nodded his head as he was left speechless.

Justin gave him a full grin, his white teeth flashing in the sunlight, and the scenery around them faded into the darkness that was the waning night time as the sun rose in the east.

Back in reality…

Saphira jumped as a gentle nudge from the male dragon's snout against her flank snapped her out of her thoughts. She gave him a head tilt.

Can you place Brom on my back where your saddle would normally sit on yours? He asked softly, as if afraid to wake a toddler.
Why?

Stargazer's eyes dimmed to a violet purple as he responded sadly. I am… giving him… one last… flight.

Now she understood, and without another word, the dragoness got to her feet. Padding over to the two, she scooped up Brom with a paw and gently laid him in the crook of where the male's neck met his torso. Leaning the old man against the back of the dragon's neck, she stepped away to give him space to spread those magnificent wings of his.

Opening his wings, Stargazer took to the sky, cutting through the air with ease and faced due east… toward the rising sun as it made its appearance on the horizon.

Brom, whose life force was fading rapidly, opened his eyes and smiled, laying his head against the dragon's neck as the sun rose. Weakly, he patted the male's neck in thanks, earning him a hum while they hovered on a thermal generated by Stargazer.

It was as the sun breached above the treeline, casting the world in its life-giving rays, that Brom passed into the void upon a dragon's back.

The place he was always meant to be.