Disclaimer: I do not own The Inheritance Cycle. I only own the OC Michael Draven/Ancalagon.
Time seemed to pass by quickly when living in a mountain. Before Ancalagon or his companions knew it, a few days had passed and most things had gone in the same way that they had in the book, though Ancalagin did keep careful watch for any changes. Murtagh wasn't imprisoned, so he was allowed to explore and went by the name 'Tornac' to avoid revealing who he really is to everyone, as they'd have less than stellar reactions and opinions compared to Ajihad.
Eragon's test in weapons went the same as it did in the book, only the Twins didn't test him in magic given that Ancalagon scared them away after they tried his patience too much. Arya showed up, briefly staring at Ancalagon with curiosity, before doing her test with Eragon. When Eragon went off to speak with her, Ancalagon stuck around with Murtagh and watched the young man train and simply spoke with him to know how he was doing.
"It's a relief to not be confined to a cell." Murtagh had said while leaning against Ancalagon's side after the silver dragon invited him to rest against him, neither of them caring for the stares that they got. "My room is nice, has a lot of books for me to read. I'll end up like some fat scholar by the time I'm done!"
They both shared a laugh at that and continued their conversation before Murtagh mentioned that he had met a young woman named Nasuada, Ajihad's daughter. Ancalagon had given him a teasing look when he described the woman, making Murtagh's cheeks flush.
With all this good mood, relaxing, and watching his companions finally have a chance to feel almost normal, it had taken Ancalagon's mind off what is to come and feel like nothing was happening.
But of course, the Universe saw fit to remind him that the peace wouldn't hold forever, as such when Ancalagon woke up that night upon hearing someone enter the bedchamber. Upon seeing that it was a dwarf, and remembering the book, Ancalagon froze with startling realisation.
The battle is coming now.
Quickly, Ancalagon nudged Saphira. Wake up, Saphira. There's a dwarf here, scared out of his mind.
Saphira grumbled as she awoke before seeing the dwarf he mentioned, and she was wide awake now. She nudged Eragon out of bed, giving him a rough tumble that woke him up and he made to speak but saw the dwarf himself.
"You must come, Argetlam! Great trouble—Ajihad summons you. There is no time!" The dwarf barked.
"What's wrong?" asked Eragon.
The dwarf only shook his head, beard wagging. "Go, you must! Carkna bragha! Now!"
Eragon belted on Zar'roc, grabbed his bow and arrows, then strapped the saddle onto Saphira. So much for a good night's sleep, she groused, crouching low to the floor so he could clamber onto her back.
The days of peace were not to last, I'm afraid. Ancalagon said, clenching and unclenching his claws before he launched himself from the cave, soon followed by Saphirs.
Orik was waiting for them with a grim expression when they landed at Tronjheim's gates. "Come, the others are waiting." He led them through Tronjheim to Ajihad's study. On the way, Eragon plied him with questions, but Orik would only say, "I don't know enough myself—wait until you hear Ajihad."
The large study door was opened by a pair of burly guards. Ajihad stood behind his desk, bleakly inspecting a map. Arya, Murtagh and Jörmundur were there.
Ajihad looked up. "Good, you're here. I roused all of you because we are all in grave danger. About half an hour ago a dwarf ran out of an abandoned tunnel under Tronjheim. He was bleeding and nearly incoherent, but he had enough sense left to tell the dwarves what was pursuing him: an army of Urgals, maybe a day's march from here."
Shocked silence filled the study. Then Jörmundur swore explosively and began asking questions at the same time Orik did. Arya and Murtagh remained silent. Ajihad raised his hands. "Quiet! There is more. The Urgals aren't approaching over land, but under it. They're in the tunnels... we're going to be attacked from below."
Eragon raised his voice in the din that followed. "Why didn't the dwarves know about this sooner? How did the Urgals find the tunnels?"
"We're lucky to know about it this early!" bellowed Orik. Everyone stopped talking to hear him. "There are hundreds of tunnels throughout the Beor Mountains, uninhabited since the day they were mined. The only dwarves who go in them are eccentrics who don't want contact with anyone. We could have just as easily received no warning at all."
Ajihad pointed at the map, and Eragon moved closer. The map depicted the southern half of Alagaësia, but unlike Eragon's, it showed the entire Beor Mountain range in detail. Ajihad's finger was on the section of the Beor Mountains that touched Surda's eastern border. "This," he said, "is where the dwarf claimed to have come from."
"Orthíad!" exclaimed Orik. At Jörmundur's puzzled inquiry, he explained, "It's an ancient dwelling of ours that was deserted when Tronjheim was completed. During its time it was the greatest of our cities. But no one's lived there for centuries."
"And it's old enough for some of the tunnels to have collapsed," said Ajihad. "That's how we surmise it was discovered from the surface. I suspect that Orthíad is now being called Ithrö Zhâda. That's where the Urgal column that was chasing Eragon, Ancalagon and Saphira was supposed to go, and I'm sure it's where the Urgals have been migrating all year. From Ithrö Zhâda they can travel anywhere they want in the Beor Mountains. They have the power to destroy both the Varden and the dwarves."
Jörmundur bent over the map, eyeing it carefully. "Do you know how many Urgals there are? Are Galbatorix's troops with them? We can't plan a defense without knowing how large their army is."
Ajihad replied unhappily, "We're unsure about both those things, yet our survival rests on that last question. If Galbatorix has augmented the Urgals' ranks with his own men, we don't stand a chance. But if he hasn't—because he still doesn't want his alliance with the Urgals revealed, or for some other reason—it's possible we can win. Neither Orrin nor the elves can help us at this late hour. Even so, I sent runners to both of them with news of our plight. At the very least they won't be caught by surprise if we fall."
He drew a hand across his coal-black brow. "I've already talked with Hrothgar, and we've decided on a course of action. Our only hope is to contain the Urgals in three of the larger tunnels and channel them into Farthen Dûr so they don't swarm inside Tronjheim like locusts.
"I need you, Eragon and Arya, to help the dwarves collapse extraneous tunnels. The job is too big for normal means. Two groups of dwarves are already working on it: one outside Tronjheim, the other beneath it. Eragon, you're to work with the group outside. Arya, you'll be with the one underground; Orik will guide you to them. Ancalagon-"
I will do what I can. Ancalagon nodded, then looked at Murtagh. You'll be with me.
Murtagh nodded in response.
"Why not collapse all the tunnels instead of leaving the large ones untouched?" asked Eragon.
"Because," said Orik, "that would force the Urgals to clear away the rubble, and they might decide to go in a direction we don't want them to. Plus, if we cut ourselves off, they could attack other dwarf cities—which we wouldn't be able to assist in time."
"There's also another reason," said Ajihad. "Hrothgar warned me that Tronjheim sits on such a dense network of tunnels that if too many are weakened, sections of the city will sink into the ground under their own weight. We can't risk that."
Jörmundur listened intently, then asked, "So there won't be any fighting inside Tronjheim? You said the Urgals would be channeled outside the city, into Farthen Dûr."
Ajihad responded quickly, "That's right. We can't defend Tronjheim's entire perimeter—it's too big for our forces—so we're going to seal all the passageways and gates leading into it. That will force the Urgals out onto the flats surrounding Tronjheim, where there's plenty of maneuvering room for our armies. Since the Urgals have access to the tunnels, we cannot risk an extended battle. As long as they are here, we will be in constant danger of them quarrying up through Tronjheim's floor. If that happens, we'll be trapped, attacked from both the outside and inside. We have to prevent the Urgals from taking Tronjheim. If they secure it, it's doubtful we will have the strength to roust them."
"And what of our families?" asked Jörmundur. "I won't see my wife and son murdered by Urgals."
The lines deepened on Ajihad's face. "All the women and children are being evacuated into the surrounding valleys. If we are defeated, they have guides who will take them to Surda. That's all I can do, under the circumstances."
Jörmundur struggled to hide his relief. Murtagh then asked while trying to hide his concern. "Sir, is Nasuada going as well?"
"She is not pleased, but yes." All eyes were on Ajihad as he squared his shoulders and announced, "The Urgals will arrive in a matter of hours. We know their numbers are great, but we must hold Farthen Dûr. Failure will mean the dwarves' downfall, death to the Varden—and eventual defeat for Surda and the elves. This is one battle we cannot lose. Now go and complete your tasks! Jörmundur, ready the men to fight."
"So, this is it." Murtagh asked as Ancalagon tore down one of the tunnels. "War."
Ancalagon snorted as he turned to him. The war has been going on since the Varden's first attack on the Empire, this is just another battle in that war. One that we'll all be involved in.
The two walked away, having done anything that they could to give a further fighting chance to the Varden. As they walked, Murtagh glanced at Ancalagon and could tell that he was troubled. "You seem troubled by something. I thought one such as you wouldn't be easily troubled by a battle."
I am not immune to fear or the troubles of the mind, Murtagh. Ancalagon said softly. No, what I am troubled by concerns you.
"Me?" Murtagh blinked, stopping which brought Ancalagon to a stop. "What do you mean?"
Ancalagon looked around and then brought his wing up to cover Murtagh and give them some form of privacy. I... had a vision, about you. He said, going with a sort-of truth. Murtagh was surprised but nodded for him to continue. In that vision... you were taken by Galbatorix's spies, brought before the King himself, and a red dragon egg hatched for you... and you both became unwilling servants of the King.
"No!" Murtagh's eyes widened and he shook his head frantically. "No! No! No! I won't become like my father!"
You are not your father! Ancalagon said, gripping Murtagh in his claws to keep him restrained. You are better than your father. but not only did I see you be a servant of the King in my vision... I also saw you side with Eragon. I did not know whether to keep my silence on this matter, but I couldn't allow you to become a servant of the man you hate as much as you hate your father, a man that would make you the same, if not worse, than your father. But there is a dragon out there destined to be bound to you. I want to see my kin free, not servants of a mad king.
Ancalagon watched as Murtagh slumped against him, staring aimlessly ahead. Ancalagon let the silence stretch on, knowing he'll talk when he's read. He looked around to make certain that they were alone, extending his senses to make certain no one was nearby and eavesdropping. Finally, Murtagh broke the silence.
"I always dreamt of having a dragon of my own, to have a partner I could trust completely, to go wherever I wished and wield power to bring justice." He said quietly. "Despite my father's moods he would never lash out at his dragon, and watching how Eragon and Saphira behaved made me jealous at what they had. I felt the world was cruel, shoving everything I wanted in my face but not letting me grasp it. I-I don't want to be a slave to get it."
You won't. Ancalagon promised. I will help you as best as I can, to liberate my kin from the King's grasp in order to unite the two of you. But we can plan that after the battle is over, we should focus fully on that.
Murtagh nodded and got to his feet, putting aside what he had been told for now. Once this battle is over, then they can figure out a plan.
When they joined Eragon and Saphira, they had already been given their respective armours, and Ancalagon couldn't help but stare at Saphira in her armour, his eyes trailing up and down, seeing how it snuggly fit against her body. Who would've thought a dragon in armour could appear attractive?
"i think Ancalagon likes the look, Saphira." Murtagh said jokingly, snapping Ancalagon from his stare as he saw Saphira lift her head up proudly, yet looking quite flattered. Snorting, Ancalagon smacked Murtagh light with his tail, sending the laughing young man to the floor while Eragon snickered.
After getting their last few orders from Ajihad, Eragon hunkered next to Saphira, leaning his shield against his knees. Murtagh and Orik sat nearby, Ancalagon next to Saphira. He had forgone dragon armour, as there had only been one set but Ancalagon assured them that he wouldn't need armour for now... although he wouldn't mind some being forged from his own scales, something which made Orik excited and he offered to take some after the battle, if they survive it that is.
They waited in silence like the hundreds of warriors around them. Light from Farthen Dûr's opening waned as the sun crept below the crater rim.
Eragon turned to scan the encampment and froze, heart jolting. About thirty feet away sat Arya with her bow in her lap. He was about to go to her when Ancalagon's voice stopped him. Don't.
But she-
She is an experienced warrior who has killed many. She can handle herself well, Eragon. She'd be angry if she figured you'd go easy on her because she's a woman.
Reluctantly, Eragon knew he had a point and stayed where he was.
Wrapped in their own thoughts, the defenders sank into a brooding silence as the hours crawled by. Farthen Dûr's crater again grew black, except for the sanguine lantern glow and the fires heating the pitch.
Saphira, who had been laying her head down on the ground, lifted it to look at Ancalagon. Are you scared? She asked quietly.
...I'm terrified, Saphira. Ancalagon admitted, and she could hear the fear in his tone. Terrified that something could go wrong, that someone could get hurt. Eragon, Murtagh... you.
Saphira snorted softly. I'm not a defenceless hatchling who can't defend herself.
I know. Boldly, Ancalagon leaned forward and ran his tongue across Saphira's snout, making her stiffen in shock. But I can't accept the thought of someone harming you, trying to kill you. he growled and his eyes narrowed. they'd have to go through me first to get to you.
He turned his gaze forward while Saphira stared at him, still in shock from his affectionate action. It almost made her blurt out her feelings for him, to tell him that she loved him and wanted to be with him forever, but she he;d back the urge. She didn't want to add that onto his troubles, as she knew he'd go to any lengths to protect her, and finding out that she loved him would distract him.
No, she would tell him after they survived this battle. They had to survive... they just had to.
Sleep Saphira. Ancalagon rumbled gently, brushing his snout against her brow as his tail coiled around hers tightly, his wing draping over her like a blanket.
As long as you are with me in the realm of dreams. Saphira murmured, getting a hum of agreement befpre he laid his head down and Saphira placed hers on top of his head, the two of them closing their eyes to drift off into a shared slumbering dream.
Eragon couldn't help but smile as he watched them, the same as Murtagh and Arya. It wasn't long before Eragon drifted off to a short slumber as well.
When he eventually woke up, along with Saphira and Ancalagon, it was just in time to hear Arya's grim words.
"It has begun."
The battle shall be in the next chapter.