Mother will be especially irritated when she realizes I've wandered about without telling her again, Ismira thought to herself. She looked back at her 10 year old brother poking at a bug. Even more so when she finds out I brought Elious with me. She pushed the vines that concealed the entrance to the cave out of the way and tentatively way her way inside.
" Come along little bear," Ismira called to Elious.
" You know Izzy, soon I won't be a little bear anymore..." Elious pointed out with a proud smile, showing off his missing teeth. Ismira ruffled his hair.
" Oh I know, soon you'll be as big and strong as Papa." Her dear papa, Roran Stronghammer, cousin of Eragon Shadeslayer the Dragon Rider. Talk about a name to live up to. Ismira continued to side step large stalagmites and kept walking through the shadowy cave.
" Izzy we don't need a torch if we've got your hair!" Elious giggled. Ismira reached down and picked Elious up. It was true. She had flaming red hair with streaks of gold just like her mother. Her father called her his morning sun.
" I guess you'll just have to stay close then." She said as she kissed his nose. When she turned around they were at the edge of a chasm. That's weird, I could've sworn there was more of a path just here.... Ismira put Eli down and leaned over the edge.
" Be careful not to fall," Eli teased yet there was a note of concern in his voice.
" I will be Eli, besides I do stuff like this all the time!" She did. When she wasn't sparring in the armory with her father or in town with her best friend Hope, she was exploring the Spine and dreaming of adventure.
Ismira had never understood why some of the townspeople of Carvahall were afraid of the woods they called the Spine. They said it held terrible dangers and monsters but if there were Ismira had yet to experience anything but the occasional wolf or mountain lion. She had heard many account of how her father had bravely led the villagers through the Spine to escape the the king and his pet monsters, the Ra'zac. She lay flat on her stomach and leaned over the edge, bringing her back to the present. At first all she saw was darkness but then she spotted a ledge.
Suddenly everything grew still.
No longer could she hear her brothers breathing or the insects all around her chirping. All she could hear was a clear commanding voice in her mind, Ismira! It called her name again and again. Ismira no longer had control over her body. The voice had taken her over. She found herself climbing down the cliff and dropping down onto the ledge below. Her head had started to throb. All at once the fog around her mind cleared leaving her scared and confused. Ismira remembered her dad telling her about magicians who would try to impel themselves into a person's conscious and how to block them out. " Build a wall, protect your thoughts." He had said. So that's what Ismira did. She envisioned a thick line of sturdy, impenetrable trees, concealing her from danger.
" Izzy? Are you ok? Please come back, I'm scared!" Elious pleaded.
" Uh... I'm, um, fine little bear. I think I'll just explore down here for a bit. Sit tight and I promise I'll be right back up." Ismira knew she probably shouldn't but something told her she needed to find something.
Ismira! The voice was back and it had torn down her walls as if they were piles of sand. She tried to collect her thoughts and recreate the trees but they were just torn down again. Do not try and fight me little one, I seek only to help. The voice said in a kinder tone. Yeah right, thought Ismira. A light was lit suddenly before her, pulsing a white glow. It gave her a strange feeling and she resisted the urge to touch it. The light guided her into a dark tunnel that opened up before her.
She walked for what felt like hours. Finally she came to a cave where the glowing orb had stopped. Ismira looked inside and was completely awed. The whole room seemed to glow and shimmer, the reason was all the crystals that covered the walls, floor and ceiling. Gemstones of all colors were embedded in the walls.
" This...," Ismira gasped " This is amazing!" She'd never seen so many gems in one place at the same time. Heat radiated from the jewels. They gave her the same strange feeling the light had. Look around young one this is where your great destiny begins! She could here the words echo in her mind. Destiny, Ismira thought, and what in the hell is that to mean? Destiny was the kind of thing Hope rambled on about. True love, fate, that was the stuff of story books. Sure Ismira believed in a greater power and having a purpose but destiny was a stretch.
As if reading her mind the voice said:
It may sound absurd in the present, but do not be so cynical Ismira. Allow me to show you something that will change your view.
Ismira felt her muscles melt and her body go numb. Her body didn't belong to her, again. She saw herself being guided towards one of the particularly brighter crystals. Her hand reached out.
What am I doing, she thought. As soon as her fingertips brushed the crystal the voice returned her body and everything went black.
• • • • • • • • • • •
There was a blinding flash of gold, then Ismira saw fire. It was all around her, people were laying on the ground in every direction. At first Ismira was confused then she realized; these weren't people, they were corpses. She heard the sound of steel against steel and quickly gathered that this battle was not yet over. She hid behind a large boulder and looked up at the hill where the noise was coming from. She couldn't make out their faces but there appeared to be a man clutching a woman to his side. The mans sword lay a few feet away, apparently knocked out of his hand. In front of the two was another figure.
This one was different. It seemed to glow and appeared almost... transparent. The figure was advancing towards the couple sword in hand, the first man was clearly searching for something to fight with, when from the heavens came a tremendous battle cry not unlike Ismira's. A 4th figure came barreling out of the sky, a flaming sword in his hand, and landed upright behind the transparent figure. The figure spun and stabbed at the man but he easily blocked it. Watching them fight one could see that both were truly gifted swordsman and experienced fighters, the difference was the one with the flaming blade clearly had something to fight for.
Finally the warrior with sword ablaze barrel rolled underneath the transparent swordsman and stabbed his flaming blade through the others heart. The figure dissolved with a blinding flash. The warrior mumbled something and his sword was extinguished. All 3 just stood there staring at each other for more than a few seconds then the couple rushed forward and wrapped the warrior in a tight embrace. When they pulled away he stood for a couple seconds longer than collapsed to the ground.
• • • • • • • • • • • •
When Ismira next opened her eyes she was in the open field behind her family's manor. What... how did I get here? I was just in the ... she thought confusedly. The moon was full and giving the night an eerie look. Something sparkling caught her eye. She sat on her knees to get a better look. It appeared to be some kind of gem, a topaz maybe. It was round and oddly egg shaped. It looked like there was a small crack in it, as if someone had struck it with a chisel.
Ismira heard a sound and then the stone split more. Like the ground breaking, she watched as a part of the stone chipped off and something emerged. It was a small glistening wing. Is this... no it cannot be, Ismira thought, but just possibly this is what I think. She looked up and saw the dawn rising. She stared at it for a few moments, finding beauty in it every time she saw it, then looked back down only to find she was no longer in the field. Instead she was staring at a hard stone floor.
" Well, well look what the cat dragged in..." said a sarcastic voice. Ismira glanced up. In front of her was an extremely beautiful woman with long, wavy, ebony black hair. She had a full bust and an hourglass figure. The woman was dressed in a purple velvet gown with gold trim, the kind of thing only a person of high status would wear. But what Ismira found truly unsettling was the woman's round violet eyes flecked with green and gold.
For a minute Ismira thought the woman was talking to her. Then another woman, who must have been right behind her, step out of the shadows. She had hair like polished copper, broad shoulders and was rather tiny. In fact she looked just like...
" It's nice to see you too Esmerelda."
Me, that's me! That's my voice! Ismira thought shouted to herself. But if that's me, and I'm me than how...? Ezmerelda reached out and stroked the second Ismira's cheek.
" Such a pretty face... it's a shame you've got man shoulders. " Esmerelda smirked.
" You know I've got this gorgeous dress, red satin with gold trim on the bodice. " Esmerelda said scrutinizing the second Ismira. " It's to short on me but on your littl-"
" That is a generous offer, but I don't think either one of us is here for girl talk. " The second Ismira said agitatedly. Looking at her now the first Ismira could see that the second was not her exact copy. She seemed tired and her shoulders drooped just slightly. She did not look physically older but in her eyes the first Ismira could see a very weary soul. As if she had seen things a person her age should never have seen.
" No I suppose it isn't is it?" Esmerelda gave her that smirk again. I'm going to cut her tongue out if she keeps smiling like that, Ismira thought.
" Give up now Ezmerelda, whatever your planning won't work. You have the Dragon Riders and the whole of Alagäesia against you!" The second Ismira said. Esmerelda made a pretend pouty face.
" Aww, but you forgot one thing little Izzy; I don't like to lose." Esmerelda then threw her hands out in front of her and shouted what Ismira could only assume was a spell.
A blinding flash of light filled the cave, when it cleared the second Ismira was holding a golden shield with a star in the middle. Her face had taken on a determined and slightly annoyed expression. She whispered something and her shield compacted into a bracelet on her wrist.
" Ok," the second Ismira pulled 2 elegant blades out of their scabbards that had been strapped to her back.
" You want to play it that way, let's. Play." The next several minutes was a blur of swords, spells, and some kind of whip to Ismira. Neither one of women noticed her and she wasn't effected by their sorcery or weapons. Am I in the future...? That would be awesome! But maybe it's a vision... Even better! Ooh future vision... Du- du- duh! Wait till I tell Hope! Ismira screamed silently. Hehehe
After a long and grueling fight the second Ismira stuck her foot out as she cornered Ezmerelda. As Esmerelda fell Ismira backed up and shouted a spell. There was a loud cracking sound and several large rocks fell off the cave wall and directly towards Ezmerelda. Just as they were about to find their mark, they stopped. Ezmerelda stood up and laughed, holding her hand palm up.
" Oh stupid little Izzy," she said with an annoyed, tight lipped smile. " Every woman in my blood line since the time before the Riders, has been a high priestess of Helgrind! I was chosen at birth to speak for the Lethebarka and the Ra'zac! I am the most powerful sorceress to ever live!!" Esmerelda was practically smoking.
" And you! You cannot kill me like some puny. Mortal! Did you really think that would kill me?!" Esmerelda spat. She sent the fallen rocks flying at the wall behind Ismira.
Ismira ducked and gave a smirk of her own.
" No, but this might." In one swift moment Ismira was beside Esmerelda and had her two blades protruding from her stomach. The first Ismira went to stand beside the second. Both 1st and 2nd, present and future, spoke in unison:
" Oh, and I don't like being called little."
• • • • • • • • • • •
Ughhhh... my head... wait, what am I laying on? It's so sooooft.... Ismira thought with a groggy mind. She sat up and looked around.
She was in the woods somewhere. Definitely not the Spine, she thought. The moonlight piercing through the trees made everything glow and shimmer. A soft breeze ruffled the forest. Ismira got up and walked till she reached a meadow. A deer walked out of the woods and lay down, taking no notice of Ismira.
Wing beats drew Ismira's attention to the sky. The silhouettes of two dragons played in the moon's light. Amazing! Dragons, right here in front of me! I wish I could get a closer look. She thought, completely awed.
The sky was beginning to lighten with the first rays of dawn when she reached the crest of a hill. Two figures were sitting at the top. One male, the other female. Their weapons had been cast aside but they did not appear to be saying anything. It was simply peaceful. When Ismira turned back there was a pool at her feet. Crystal water shone and seemed to beckon her.
Well, maybe this is how I get out of here, Ismira thought. She took one last look around and waved at the couple. Good luck, whoever you are. Ismira dove head first into the pool just as the morning sun rose.
• • • • • • • • • • • •
Ismira emerged from the pool and stood up. Her first thought was, why am I not wet? All around her was white. Beams of light shone through but she couldn't figure out where they were coming from.
" Hello Ismira," said a kind voice. Ismira turned to see who had spoken. The voice belonged to a man with ruffled brown hair, highlighted from hours under the sun. He had intense dark brown, slightly slanted eyes but despite the rest of his body his eyes had a teenage mischief glint in them. He had a strong jaw line and lean muscles stretched tightly across his body. His ears were strangely pointed and had flawless tan skin. His ears, height, eyes and lean body said elf. Yet the stubble on his chin, thick hair on his arms, and warmer and not so sterile air to him suggested human.
She felt a presence press against her mind.
Yes, greetings slightly smaller human. The voice said. Ismira turned to the right of the man and there she saw the most majestic sight to ever grace her eyes. A sparkling blue dragon the size of 3/4 of her family's manor stood before her. The dragons eyes were the same sparkling blue as her scales and held the wisdom of a thousand years. Wait a minute, rider and dragon... Ismira studied the mans eyes and hair again almost matching to her father's. Standing in front of her was...
" As I'm sure you've guessed by now, this is Saphira Brightscales and I... am Eragon Bromson. Or Eragon Shadeslayer, Kingkiller, Argetlam, Shuturgal, but to you I believe I'm known as Uncle." The man said, confirming Ismira's thoughts. " To answer your question yes you did indeed have a vision of the future." I knew it! Ismira congratulated herself.
Pay attention young one, what we have to say is quite important, Saphira admonished.
" Ismira I have reason to believe that you are a very special girl. In 8 days you turn 18, correct?" Eragon asked.
" Yes Uncle," Ismira confirmed
" Now every year I send you a present. This year you will receive a very special gift. With the gift there will be a note and I need you to follow the instructions on that note exactly, ok Ismira?" She nodded. " The moment this gift is received you will be set on a path that you may never come off. Your life will be intertwined with other's and you will effect them and they will effect you. Make sure the effects are positive." Eragon told her.
" Ismira if you doubt yourself, do not. But I do need to know if you will accept this fate, for it is yours and yours alone..." He questioned her.
" I ... " Ismira felt his words weighing on her, do you accept? This was her moment. Ismira was never meant to be the butchers wife who sat at home watching the children. She wasn't born to die empty, wishing she had made something of herself and be buried in the Carvahall graveyard with everyone else. She was a special girl with a great destiny and whatever this gift was she would grit her teeth and deal with it.
" Yes, I accept my fate,whatever it shall be." Ismira said with confidence and determination. You are brave young one for this is no easy path. We will always be there to guide you and, in the near future, train you. Saphira said gently.
" Remember Ismira, you have a great destiny waiting for you, and when the time comes you will rise like the morning sun." Eragon said. " Now I do believe that you have reality to get back to. And do send my love to your parents, but you might not want to mention this..." he said gesturing around him.
You Ismira are an extraordinary person don't let anyone tell you different. Saphira assured. Then all around Ismira everything started to blur. She found herself falling into a giant whirlpool of light as the last glimpse of her uncle and his majestic dragon faded out.
• • • • • • • • • • • • •
When Ismira opened her eyes she was standing with her back to the edge of the chasm. She looked down and saw her little brother sitting on the ground with tear stains dried on his cheeks. Ismira's heart broke.
" Oh no, I'm so sorry Eli. It's ok now, I'm back. I won't leave again, I promise." She said cradling him in her arms.
" I was so scared Izzy! I know you were only gone for a few minutes but I hate being alone!" Eli sobbed into her shoulder.
" I know I'm sorry Eli" Ismira said soothingly. A few minutes? Ismira thought. I was gone for hours! But when she turned around there was no chasm, just a straight path leading through the rest of the cave.
Ismira picked Eli up and held him to her chest as she walked towards the entrance of the cave. They exited the cave Ismira found her stash of clothes hidden in a hollow tree trunk for when she went exploring and didn't want her mother to see her wearing pants. As she changed back into the dress she thought, maybe it was just a weird dream or hallucination. But it felt so real at the time.... I knew I shouldn't have eaten those mushrooms.
She took Eli's hand and started back to the manor. Ismira tried to forget but the memory of the light, the cave and the visions were burned into her mind.
YOU ARE READING
Morning Sun
Fanfic" Remember Ismira, you have a great destiny waiting for you, and when the time comes, you will rise like the morning sun..." Ismira is the daughter of Roran Stronghammer, niece of Eragon Shadeslayer, the Dragon Rider and has quite a name to live up...
