Disclaimer: I do not own The Inheritance Cycle. I only own the OC Michael Draven/Ancalagon.
Ancalagon had wasted no time in getting his companions up and moving when morning came. With Gil'ead's destruction, Galbatorix would leave the safety of his palace to investigate it, and that means he and his dragon would be in the air. Ancalagon would rather be far away before the two were close to Gil'ead. He didn't want to think about his chances against a beast like Shruikan.
Eventually, they were three leagues into the desert, having passed over the Ramr River directly east of the former Gil'ead (Instead of traveling south and crossing after the city of Bullridge like the group did in the book). Crossing the river was easier with two dragons, with Saphira picking up Eragon and his horse while Ancalagon picked up Murtagh and his.
Once they had made it to the Hadroc Desert, the dragons basked in the heat while their human friends sweated and complained about it. Ancalagon had once been in that position, but with the sun bearing down on his scales? It was a very comforting feeling. To avoid getting sand in their eyes, Ancalagon advised Eragon and Murtagh to cover their faces, and it worked... for the most part. When nightfall came, they had turned more southward and reached a small rocky spur from the ground. It was big enough to give shade from the early sun so Ancalagon had them stop to rest while Ancalagon went to fetch dinner for himself and Saphira.
As Ancalagon chewed on the deer he had gotten, Saphira eating a doe, the silver dragon looked to Eragon. Eragon, tomorrow I want you to enter the elf's mind and ask for directions to the Varden.
Why can't you? Eragon asked.
I fear the shock of a dragon in her mind may be too much in her condition, so it has to be you. Ancalagon said with an almost tired sigh. He hadn't slept much following that nightmare that he had, and it was beginning to show but he shook it off less the others notice and speak up about it. He can rest properly when they've found the Varden. When you enter her mind, be focused. An elf's mind can be dangerous. Did Brom teach you the elven greeting?
Yes.
Good. Then tell her that you are a Rider and a friend, but make sure to speak in the ancient language. She'll have to trust you then. Now, get some sleep, the three of you. Ancalagon got up from where he was laying and went a little ways away to stand watch and keep vigil, his eyes staring ahead with an intense focus.
Behind him, his companions settle down and went to sleep, Saphira keeping her eyes on Ancalagon before they closed.
What's her condition? Ancalagon asked the next morning, seeing Eragon come out of his state after being mentally connected to Arya's mind.
"She isn't doing well, Ancalagon. Not counting the physical torture she endured, there were multiple attempts to forcibly break her mind and the the poisons." Eragon said, making the silver dragon's eyes widen at one particular part.
Poisons? As in, more than one?! Eragon nodded, and Ancalagon slammed his tail down with an agitated growl. this did not happen in the book, Arya was only infected with one poison. How bad?
"One meant to stop natural healing, another to make her blood flow more, a third that attacks the nerves making them burn, a fourth was something to make you see things mostly living nightmares, but the worst was a deadly poison called Skilna Bragh. She'll die if she doesn't get the antidote." Eragon said.
How long can she go before she needs treatment?
"Only a few, but she showed me the way to the Varden."
Ancalagon nodded at that. Then we must hurry. Show me what she showed you, and then strap her to me. I'm about to do something incredibly risky, but hopefully it works.
Hopefully? Saphira narrowed her eyes at him for that.
Ancalagon looked at her. At a guess.
Eragon then showed him the images that Arya showed him, the path to the Varden in the mountains. Ancalagon closed his eyes and kept the images at the forefront of his mind, deeply memorising them. When he was done, he nodded and then allowed Eragon and Murtagh to strap Arya to him.
"So now what?" Murtagh asked once they had finished with that.
Ancalagon inhaled deeply then exhaled. Stand close to me, all of you, and bring the horses near.
Sharing confused looks, Eragon and Murtagh did so while Saphira watched Ancalagon who was looking unsure but was resolved in... whatever he was planning to do. When the humans brought the horses closer, Ancalagon put his wing over Saphira's back, closed his eyes and focused.
Come on... please... whatever god that brought me here and gave me this body and power, give me strength for this... I just need to... Ancalagon muttered, focusing intently, trying to draw on the power that he accessed when he destroyed Gil'ead.
"Ancestors!" Murtagh's eyes widened as he saw their shadows growing larger, expanding enough to leave the group in it. Eragon and Saphira were equally shocked, and all of their eyes widened when they watched the shadows grow and come outward, beginning to form some kind of dome around them. And then, it felt like they were moving but... not? It was hard to explain in their perspective, but things became clearer when the shadow dome fell.
They had moved.
They weren't in the desert, but instead close to where the waterfall that hid the entrance to the Varden. They could faintly hear the roar of the waterfall.
Ancalagon had moved them through the shadows.
"That was..." Murtagh breathed in shock and awe as he looked around. "Amazing!"
"Ancalagon, how did you-" Eragon stopped when the silver dragon slumped onto his belly.
Saphira was quickly at his side with a worried growl, nudging him. You idiot! What did you do? She demanded, her concern and worry radiating well. But that didn't mean she wouldn't tear him a new one for risking his own life if what he just did was dangerous to his life.
Ancalagon panted heavily, his body weak, energy half drained. That had taken a lot out of him. It was something that he had never done before, so of course there would be a price to doing such a thing. I...drew on... my power to... control the shadows. he said, getting his breath back and slowly trying to push himself up. His legs wobbled but he was able to stand. At Gil'ead, I was able to control the shadows, and figured that... maybe we could shadow travel and get there faster... but it clearly took a lot out of me.
Saphira let out an unamused growl and smacked him up the back of the head with her tail, sending the already weak dragon down before she pinned him down. Don't you ever do that again. Do you understand me? Why do something you've had no prior experience in doing? You could've died!
but... I didn't. The sapphire dragoness narrowed her eyes at him for that and Ancalagon relented. I'm sorry.
Saphira's growls eased up, but she gave him a sharp scratch on the shoulder with a claw. Don't you scare me like that again. You're putting too much on your shoulders. She said softly, having noticed that he had assumed the responsibility of leading and protecting them, pushing himself. Admirable as it was, she didn't want him to destroy himself in the process.
I won't. Ancalagon assured her, then gave her a nuzzle to further reassure her. Once he felt he had his strength back, he stood up and looked to his companions. Come. We're not that far now.
"Why would you risk your life like that?" Murtagh asked as they followed the silver dragon. "Doing something that you've not done?"
Ancalagon stopped at that and looked at him. To get Arya here quicker so she can be given the cure to the poisons in her veins. And the second is because of the legion of Urgals that were pursuing us. With what I did, we're way ahead of them now.
It didn't take them long to come to the thundering waterfall, and it looked just as it was described in the books. It was quite a sight to behold with one's own eyes rather than reading the words in a page. Eragon walked forward and spoke the phrase needed but after a long moment, nothing happened. Eragon looked devastated.
"Is… is this not the right one? It looks like the memories Arya gave me…" He said.
Ancalagon narrowed his eyes. No, it's the right one. I can smell them just beyond those stone doors.
"Then why haven't they opened them?" Murtagh asked tersely. He would've tried to find a way out of here as he didn't want to go to the Varden, but Ancalagon had silently assured him that no harm will come to him as long as he has a say in it. He knows who Murtagh is, who his father is, and doesn't believe in the whole 'sins of the father shall be visited upon the children'.
No child should have to suffer for the actions of their father.
They're scared. They see two dragons at their door, which is enough to terrify anyone. Ancalagon said, then spread his mental voice to those within the mountain. We have come seeking sanctuary in the Varden. We have an elf with us who is in need of aid. Open these doors or suffer the consequences of refusing a dragon.
No response.
Ancalagon growled, his fangs exposed. i'm going to count to three. There will not be a four. One...
Two...
Steadily, Ancalagon's chest was glowing as he built up the fire in his body, his claws digging into the ground underneath him.
Thr-
Finally, a response came as the sound of stone grating against the ground filled the air next to the roar of the waterfall, and the group watched as the stone doors opened to reveal a party of archers, men armed with swords and shields, and a certain bald-headed bastard that was no doubt going t get on Ancalagon's nerves.
"You dare threaten us?!" The bald-headed bastard stepped forward, glaring at the silver dragon who narrowed his eyes. "I should have you-"
Oh shut up. Ancalagon rolled his eyes, commanding shadowy hands to shoot out of the mage's shadow and grab him, restraining him. The silver dragon snapped his gaze to the armed men and gave them a warning growl. If any of you so much as make a move to attack my companions, you will die. It's as simple as that. We have come here for aid and shelter. Is there any among you more civilised than this pathetic vermin?
Not a word was said from the soldiers, but then a dwarf in armour stepped forward. Ancalagon realized that this must be Orik.
"Aye, dragon." He nodded. "What is it that you want?"
Ancalagon lowered his wing a little to show Arya strapped to his back, causing Orik's eyes to widen while mutters came up from the soldiers. Eragon and Murtagh took the elf from the silver dragon, and Orik assigned five of his guards to take her to the heals after Eragon explained the situation to them and Ancalagon let out a weary sigh, finally feeling a chance to properly relax and drop his guard, but not too much.
They had reached the Varden, a next of vipers waiting in the grass.
And that's it for this chapter. Yeah, I had Ancalagon basically shadow travel them close to the Varden's entrance, I figured it would make things easier and quicker.