Reunion (An Eragon Spin off)

Chapter 6

"What?!" I shouted over the wind as Saphira barreled closer and closer.

"You heard me! Don't make me push you!" Murtagh shouted back, just as loudly. I swallowed and nodded, trying to force down my fear. "She's going to get as close as she can to Thorn, and they're both going to fold their wings so your transition will be easier! Also, so that you don't impale yourself on one of her spikes!" I felt my face get pale as Saphira passed us and banked around, leveling out with Thorn.

"Alright, as soon as she folds her wings, go! You'll have about fifteen seconds."

A small noise came from my mouth, "Okay." I said, just loudly enough to be heard.

Murtagh gave me a small, encouraging smile before tightening his leg straps. Thorn and Saphira closed their wings. Both dragons tilted towards the other, closing the space between them. "Go!" Murtagh shouted. I swallowed all my fear and crawled across Thorn's back and onto the sapphire dragon's.

I huffed out a breath of air I didn't even know I'd been holding in. Uhh . . . don't know if you can hear me, but thanks for not letting me die, Saphira. She snorted out a fume of smoke.

Do not thank me yet, hatchling. I'm still to probe your mind. We can do it now, or once we land, the choice is yours.

I swallowed, my slight fear returning. She would find out about Eragon, Brom, and me. She would learn everything. I didn't know what to do. I have — I have information I'm not to share with anyone, Great Dragon. I have sworn by the ancient language that I would not. Saphira snorted again and started banking down as we drew closer to the land.

That, She said straight into my mind. is not a problem I concern myself with. I will probe your mind, no matter how resilient you are in your resistance.

Yes, Dragon. I thought, a shiver running down my spine. I tried to relax against the saddle . . . only to have Saphira twist sharply, trying to catch an air current; the panic and sudden motion nearly resulted in my impalement on her spike.

Do you see the leg straps? Put them on your legs. Then rest. I'm flying you to the far end of the island. I gratefully did as she said, then leaned back in the seat, against the back, and drifted off.

***

By the time I awoke, we were flying over land. It was just a blur of blue and green, but it was familiar. Two days before I was sent to the Beyond, I had come to Vroenguard to meet Eragon. I couldn't tell him who I was, but I had hoped he would remember our time as children. He did not. I left soon after, quite broken-hearted. As soon as I had gotten to the mainland, the Shade found me and sent me to the Beyond.

Saphira had not spoken since she told me to rest, and I had not prompted.

With every thought of my past I felt Saphira push against a barrier I hadn't created. The magic from my oath to Brom would not allow her access. I would have to use my elven appearance as a bargain ticket. Otherwise, Saphira would push my unintentionally placed barrier until it drove me insane. Nar Garzhavog had told me stories of Elves who did that to the Urgals; drove them insane trying to breech their minds. Great dragon? I finally asked, hoping to use my made up affiliation with Arya as leeway.

Yes?

I swallowed and touched my ears again. I am the handmaiden of Arya Dröttning. I have made promises to an ally of the elven people not to speak of my affiliation with certain humans. I must consult with my queen before I have my mind breached.

Saphira snorted and I could nearly feel her rolling her large eyes. I will talk to Eragon about this, but only if you are able to repeat that in the ancient language. I tried to keep myself from gasping aloud as the dragon said this. Quick think! Almost instantly, I felt a comfortable presence in my head. It's Arya, repeat after me . . . Eka eddyr du handmaiden abr arya dröttning . . . —

— . . .  dröttning. Eka hávr made promises eom aí ally abr du elven people néiat eom thorta abr pömnuria affiliation oth certain humans.  Eka must consult oth pömnuria dröttning framvír eka hávr pömnuria hugr breached. I did as I was told, and I prayed I did it right.

Saphira was silent for a long while. So long, in fact, that I began to fear that I'd done something wrong. I waited, trying to act patient, but inside I was loosing all since of 'cool'. My heart was beating out of my chest, my cheeks were pale from fear, and my mind was going wild with all possibilities of Saphira's answer. Eragon has agreed to meet us. He will be accompanied by Arya and Fírnen. Try anything and you will be killed on the spot. The great dragon finally answered. I swallowed most of my fear, hopefully Arya would let nothing happen to me.

Of course, Saphira. Was the only way of a response I could think of.

The island continued to pass by in a scary hue of flashing greens and grays. I did not go back to sleep, but I relaxed into the saddle a bit as we continued to fly. I hadn't realized the island was this big when I had come last. We had come to the point that, if I were to be on the ground, I would no longer be able to see the sea. I continued to marvel at the wonder of landscape and perspective until Saphira began to angle herself towards the ground.

We were higher up than I'd realized, but, obviously the dragon had no problem getting to the ground quickly. Before long she landed with an impact that jostled my teeth. You are to wait on that boulder. The dragon flicked her tail at a large rock sticking out of the ground, shaded by a tree. You are being treated as a threat due to your obviously non-elvish entanglement and complete disregards to the elvish greeting and scarce knowledge of the ancient language. You have been lying and we do not know why, but Arya acts as though she knows you, that is the only reason you're not dead. The dragon had bent down to let me leap to the ground.

I shuddered as I walked over to the boulder and stood by it, not wanting to sit down. Sit. The dragon commanded taking a sudden step towards me. Out of instinct my hand shot to my sword. It wasn't there. All that was hanging on my belt was the scabbard. It must have fallen of when we'd blunged underwater with Thorn. I swallowed again in sheer terror and sat on the boulder.

Saphira?

Yes, hatchling?

Are you going to kill me?

Only if you make an attempt on the queen or on Eragon.

I nodded my head once more and drew my knees to my chest. Saphira?

Yes? She responded in exasperation.

When will Arya and Shadeslayer get here?

You will refer to Arya as Arya Dröttning, or Queen Arya, you will refer to Eragon as so or Shur'tugal. Also acceptable is sir. I nodded my head, finding it odd that I had to refer to my brother in such a way; then again, only Arya knew he was my brother. 

Of course, O Great Dragon. I replied, slightly sarcastically. When, then, will Arya Dröttning and Sir Eragon, I had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing at 'Sir Eragon' as I continued, be meeting us?

They will arrive when they arrive.

I sighed. I hated being patient.