Ivren never thought he'd end up like this, in a mad dash across Alagaësia. Far too close to the Helgrind laid Urû'baen, the forsaken place he'd never willingly visit, and home to the Betrayer. On a dragon as huge as they spoke of this Shruikan it would take but a heartbeat to be here. An enraged dragon rider was a great danger and nothing quite ignited one's heart like a stolen dragon egg. So he did the only thing he could do: He ran like Death was on his heels.
Perhaps she was. Ivren avoided the Lethrblaka only by cunning and trickery. He drew more power from Eous and cast a complex layers of spells around to prevent any tracking, magical or not. A spell to hide his smell, a spell to hide him from Dreamsight, a spell against Bloodsearch and other dark arts.
Nainar had been projecting his discontent at Ivren for hours now, grumpy about the danger and disturbance. To Ivren, it did not matter. If Nainar wished to leave, he could. The dragon only grumbled "Need my Hunt-Partner."
It warmed his heart. "I missed you too" "Hmp." Nainar became silent.
He'd gone southwards, to Feinster and then westwards towards the sea. Despite the lack of connection, he knew that Nainar followed alongside the coast, diving deep into the waters and living off fish and the occasional squid or mussel. Once Ivren reached the coast, he sprang onto his friends back and flew eastwards along the coastline.
Soon they had to leave the sea. Nainar ate well one last time and then vanished into the clouds. They flew so high it became harder and harder to breathe. Ivren clung to Nainar and whispered heat spells over the egg, then protection against all elements and magic and whatever came to mind.
Finally! The southmost edge of the Hadarac Desert was behind them. Somewhere around the Beor Mountains Eragon and Saphira were rumoured to be. Something about a battle. Ivren was not sure to trust the information. All hearsay and 'my uncle's long lost cousin's sister's fiancée' heard this or that. Either a cruel monster burned down a town or the Empire's stalwart defenders got hurt by that or Urgal invasion's. Whatever. He'd find out the truth soon enough.
They had to split up. A huge dragon would scare the people too much and Nainar was not keen on revealing himself. Ivren understood. They were visitors, not soldiers. Despite it, his friend would follow in the cloud high up.
The cool water was a relief. He drank greedily from the river and washed his face. The green egg felt scared. Ivren stroked the shell. "I will protect you, little one." He added "We will protect you. All of us, even if Eous is not here bodily. You'll know other dragons and I am sure your fellow rider-dragon will protect you as well."
Ivren sensed the little dragon's mind reach towards him. "Yes, that is my mind. You'll have a rider and they'll look after you and you after them. Nice, huh? A friend just for you, dear one. You'll have to wait a bit though. You can't hatch for me, hear me? Not me. Someone is waiting for you, I know it."
The dragon calmed at his words. The Ancient language promised no lies and even unhatched the little dragon understood the sentiment. Ivren put the egg back and strengthened the wards again. Now how should he do this? The egg belonged to the dragon riders, but there was no order. Only Saphira and Eragon. Yes, they would give the egg to them. Let them make to choices.
Hm, rabbit. Tasty, but not as good as fish. He could go fishing later, for provisions. And the water had to be refilled, he might be able to summon some anytime but it would be a waste.
"Sibling-Friend! There she is – Saphira – look out!"
What! Ivren snapped out of his thoughts. He – This had not been the plan – sure, he'd wanted to give the egg to the only other dragon around here, but not like this. Fuck. He ducked into the shrubbery. Please, do not see him, do not see him. It was so seductive to just cast a spell, but immediately hundreds of ways this could go wrong shot through his mind.
"Eous-father and I will not let her harm you." Nainar's presence calmed him. He basked in the protective feelings. Nainar was bigger and older than her, and he doubted she knew of the Eldunarí. Good.
Wings rushed over his head, a rustle and then – blessed silence. Ivren waited. The silence continued. Ah, good. He stood up.
Crack!
He stilled. Ivren suppressed a sigh. Not too far off for a dragon sat Saphira in the morning sun. Her scales threw shards of light on nearby trees and her rider. He leant against her strong flank, eyes closed.
Would there ever be a better opportunity? Alone, outside, just the three of them.
"Skulblaka, eka malabra ono un onr Shur'tugal né haina. I mean you and your rider no harm."
Saphira's head snapped towards him. Ivren stayed still. Eragon stood up, eye's wide.
"What – It's you!" He opened his mouth to continue. Ivren interrupted him: "I have a gift. It will not harm you or yours. Eka thorta du ilumëo."
He saw the flicker in his eyes that spoke of a mental conversation with his bonded. Ivren placed the pouch with the egg on the ground.
Nainar whispered to him: "Tell them."
Eragon looked at him, licked his lips and then said: "You open it."
Good. His bonded advised him well.
Ivren pulled the pouch of the egg and nearly laughed out loud at their expression. Saphira's wings flared out wide, a rumble escaped her chest and then he had a face-full of dragon. "How?!"
"Helgrind! I found it there behind strong wards – I had no one what was hidden, I just wanted to steal the Ra'zac's treasure -"
"Ra'zac? How -" Eragon shook his head. "I-"
"Let's say, I am not from around here. I hunt Ra'zac. I killed them. I found the egg. It is a dragon rider egg so it should be with you."
"You killed Ra'zac? How?" "You stole an egg from the tyrant?"
"Yes. I can tell you. I can tell you the whole story – under one condition. I need a promise-oath, that as long as the information I share will not cause or be cause for harm against you or those under protection, you will not share this information without my permission. I ask this not for myself but for one under my protection." He repeated the whole speech in the Ancient Language.
Eragon wrinkled his brow. Ivren let them think.
After a long pause, with some agitated hand motions from Eragon, they made their decision. Saphira would swear first, Ivren would share the information with her and then if Saphira thought it important, Eragon would swear as well.
Eragon shut himself out of the mental conversation, assured with a few words in the Ancient Language and then -
"Eka thorta du ilumëo. I am Ivren and my friend is Nainar. It is a pleasure to meet you, Skulblaka Saphira. My home is beyond Alagaësia and so is his hatchplace-" Her pupils widened. "Yes, he is a dragon. We knew not of what happened here. I followed the Ra'zac to their lair and killed them. The lethrblaka are still alive - sensitive to sound and light, in case you need it. I found a well-warded chamber and within, the little one.
I might not be born here, but he is traitor and betrayer to all my kin, forsaken and cursed. Never shall he have our service willingly! One day Nainar will be ready with fire and fury. But not yet. Our scars are old and ache still.
Eka thorta du ilumëo."
Saphira stared into his eyes. Her bonded looked at her with deep concern.
"Eragon, please promise him."
"Alright." he swallowed and spoke the oath.
"You have my permission to share the subject of the oath with Eragon."
The boy – man swayed. "We are not alone? Please – come with us."
Ivren hesitated. He felt a strong need to look after those tree, but . . "I doubt you travel alone."
"We will tell them you are my friend – and Arya, she knows the Ancient Language - "
"Alright. I'll try."
The dwarves looked shocked when a third person dropped of Saphira's back. The elf's – Arya's – eyes slightly widened.
"He is a friend!" shouted Eragon before anyone got a chance to speak.
Ivren took the opportunity to greet this Arya. She relaxed once he promised to be a friend of Eragon and Saphira, an enemy of Galbatorix and listed his intention: He only was here because Eragon asked him to, he knew him before all of this, he only wants to protect the boy and so on. It was littered with half-truths and creative interpretations, but it worked. He meet Eragon once before, Eragon called him his friend and they really wanted Galbatorix dead.
Soon they were poked and prodded with questions, ever careful about dancing around the truth. Eragon let him speak. Whenever someone, Arya in particular, tried to question the stranger travelling with them, Saphira let out a growl. It stopped any debates.
They reached Hedarth, a dwarven tradepost, and changed from rafts to donkeys. After three days they reached the edge of Du Weldenvarden. Four elves greeted them and prepared a feast. Ivren stayed with Eragon and Saphira. They sat in the moonlight, her glimmering blue scales reminded him of Nainar.
"Onr skul eru nuanen"
"Flatterer." Despite her words the dragon preened. The four elves gave him curious looks at his words. Ivren looked right back. They were more elegant than anyone, other than perhaps Aurora, and near as beautiful as starlight.
Saphira gave him a playful nudge. Ivren grinned at her. "Wait! Open your mouth again –" Ivren did as asked. Eragon laughed at him. Saphira was trying very heard to inspect his mouth. "Oh! You have proper teeth. Eragon, do you see? That is something you can bite with."
"Thank you, Saphira." Ivren smiled.
The elf with star-kin hair sang to the flute play of the other.
"Onr söngr er undligr."
The elf bowed his head. "elrun ono"
Later, Ivren pulled Eragon and Saphira aside.
"Let's tell her about the little one now."
Back then he'd suggested keeping the egg secret for a bit longer. It stayed with Saphira those last days, but so close to the Forest, it might be good to reveal it to her and her alone.
With shaking hands she stroked the egg once. A tear shone in her eyes, then she looked down again.
She touched her lips. " Atra esterní ono thelduin." Ivren remembered the formal elven greeting, thanks to Aurora. He answered: "Mor'ranr lifa unin hjarta onr."
"Un atra du evarínya ono varda. Ono eru aí Vinr-Alfakyn un vinr-skulblaka." her voice shook.
"Thäet er pömnuria förn un skylda."
Rain dripped through the canopy, one shower after another. While they waited under broad trees for the rain to pause Ivren smirked at Eragon. He was dry. The boy looked at him with bright curious eyes every other step, a hopeful look. Saphira streaked against his spirit with a silent request.
"Can you tell me more of your dragons?"
Her tone was so hopeful and with the recent pain of the Dagshelgr he could not deny her. Ivren connected their minds, ever careful of intruders, and asked her if there was anything in particular she wanted to know. "
Tell me of Nainar."
Ivren smiled. Already trying to change her lack of mate, huh? He understood.
"His name is a rougher version of He who makes bright, Eld Nainar. My brother hatched well over two centuries ago – he is older than me by fifty."
"He is older?" Her surprise was understandable. "Yes. We are not blödhren bound. His mother is a rider-dragon like you." Ivren felt her happiness. He smiled. "His mother? I am truly not alone."
"Yes. To me she is one of the most beautiful beings, like starlight spun into being, arget-dauth. It is her title. Vrangr arget-dauth."
"An impressive name. How old is she?" "Around four hundred."
Saphira quietened at that.
Deep in the heart of Du Weldenvarden Ivren watched the queen greet her daughter. "And afterwards I wish to hear of your mission, dwarf, and from you, Arya, I wish to hear of what adventures you have lived since the ambush in Du Weldenvarden."
Only now she saw Ivren. "And why are you here, human?"
Before he had a chance to react, Arya spoke: "He has done is a great service. Ivren er aí vinr abr älfakyn un skulblaka. " Her words were greeted with murmur in the rows of elves. The Queen blinked and turned towards him. "I wish to hear the story behind your words."
"It is not my place to share it."
Eragon and Arya shared a look. Saphira blew a cloud of smoke. "Show them!"
Everyone was staring wide eyed at the egg and shouted in joy. Within second celebrations escalated like a whirlwind.
Eka thorta du ilumëo - I speak the truth
kulblaka, eka malabra ono un onr Shur'tugal né haina - Dragon, I mean you and your rider no harm.
Onr skul eru nuanen - Your scales are beautiful
Onr söngr er undligr. - your song is wonderful/marvellous
elrun ono - thank you
Atra esterní ono thelduin. Mor'ranr lifa unin hjarta onr. Un atra du evarínya ono varda. - traditional elven greetings, lower ranking one starts!
Ono eru aí Vinr-Alfakyn un vinr-skulblaka - you are an elf-friend and dragon-friend.
Thäet er pömnuria förn un skylda. - It is my gift and duty. (Formal)
blödhren - Blood-Oath / Dragon-rider pact
vrangr arget-dauth - wandering silver-death
Ivren er aí vinr abr älfakyn un skulblaka - Ivren is a friend of elfkind and dragons