The Awakening
I woke up, my head throbbing like the stomping feet of an army. I try to get up but I am too weak, I look around … it is a smelly, dark place with musty air. Where am I? How did I get here? Then, with a gasp, I remembered, the ambush, the fire, and the egg … atleast the egg got to Brom and out of the shades hands … a shade, the king has a shade! I need to get out of here. With a mighty heave, the figure sat up; in the slight sunlight through the barred window her beauty was revealed. Her sculpted face was as perfect as a painting. Her round chin, high cheekbones and long eyelashes gave her an exotic look, and then there were her ears, she has pointed ears, she was an elf! She tried her magic to break open the door but with no response, she gave up. As she heard the latch on the door as it was opened to reveal a figure hidden by the shadows. As the figure came into view, the elf gasped, it was like gazing into the eyes of a death mask or a polished skull with skin pulled over it, his maroon eyes alight with uncontrolled menace, seemed to be staring into the elf’s soul. As he sat with a flourish of his coat, he asked in a hypnotic voice, “Where are your people?” With no response, he slammed his fists on the table and quietly whispered, “Now Ayra, You have probably realised by now that you have been poisoned by the Silkna Bragh and it would be such a tragedy if you didn’t receive your daily antidote,” And with that he walked out of the room. Over the next couple of hours, Ayra put herself in a deep sleep; it brings you so close to death that it slows the poisons speed but slowly, very slowly the poison was still spreading through her body.
The Reveal of the Rider
A weird probing aroused me from my sleep, as he nearly accessed my memories I responded with 82 years of learning how to prevent this, then he screamed an oath, Eka ai fricai un Shur’tugal! I am a rider and a friend! Could it be, it can’t, he couldn’t have lied in the ancient language, What is your name, I asked, my voice weary and filled with quiet despair, Eragon, and yours, The boy replied, his voice broke on his parched throat, ... Ayra, I replied, why have you contacted me in this manner? Am I still captive of the Empire? No! You are free, replied Eragon, he seemed to only know scattered words in the ancient language but he managed to convey: I was imprisoned in Gil’ead, like you, but I escaped and rescued you. In the five days since then we have crossed the edge of the Hadarac Desert and are now camped by the Beor Mountains. You have not stirred or said a word in all that time. Ah, so it was Gil’ead, I paused; I know that my wounds were healed. At the time I did not understand why -preparation for some new torture, I was certain. Now I realise, it was you. Softly I added, Even so, I have not risen, are you confused? Yes. During my captivity, a rare poison, the Skilna Bragh, was given to me, along with a drug to suppress my power. Every morning the antidote for yesterday’s poison was administered to me, by force if I refused to take it, I would die within hours. That is why I lie in this trance - it slows the poisons progress, though it doesn’t stop it … I contemplated waking for the purpose of ending my life and denying the Evil Overlord, Galbatorix, but I refrained from doing so out of hope that you might be an ally … My voice dwindled off weakly. How long can you remain like this? asked Eragon For weeks, but I’m afraid I haven’t that much time. This dormancy cannot restrain death forever … I can feel it in my veins even now. Unless I receive the antidote, I will succumb to the poison in three to four days. Where can the antidote be found? asked Eragon It exists in only two places outside the empire: with my own people and with the Varden. However, my home is beyond reach of Dragon back. What about the Varden? We would have taken you straight to them, but we don’t know where they are. I will tell you - if you give me your word that you will never reveal their location to Galbatorix or to anyone that serves him. In addition you must swear that you have not deceived me in some manner and that you intend no harm to the elves, dwarves, Varden, or the race of dragons. This would have been easy for Eragon to answer if they were not conversing in the ancient language. Eragon knew Ayra wanted oaths more binding than life itself. Once made, they could never be broken, that weighed heavily on him as he gravely pledged his word. It is understood … Ayra sent a series of vertigo-inducing images flashing through Eragon's mind. He found himself riding along the Beor Mountain range, travelling eastward many leagues. Eragon did his best to remember the route as craggy mountains and hills flashed past. He was heading south now, still following the mountains. Then everything wheeled abruptly, and he entered a narrow, winding valley, it snaked through the valley to the base of a frothy waterfall that pounded into a deep lake. The images stopped, it is far, said Ayra but don’t let the distance dissuade you. When you arrive, take a rock and bang on the cliff next to the waterfall, call out, Aí Varden abr du Shur’tugalar gata vanta. You will be admitted. What should they give you for the poison? He asked. My voice quavered, but I regained her strength. Tell them-to give me Túvinor’s Nectar. You must leave me now … I have expended too much energy already. Do not talk with me again unless there is no hope in reaching the Varden. If it is the case, there is information I must impart you so the Varden will survive. Farewell, Eragon, rider of dragons … my life is in your hands. Slowly Ayra withdrew contact and went back into her deep sleep.
