A Second Rider? (Eragon X Reader) [Book 1]

Chapter 39 (pt2)

(Y/N) POV

   Orik said something in a foreign language (probably the dwarven language) to a red haired dwarf, that quickly handed us stoneplates filled with hot mushrooms and fish. We then made our way up a lot of stairs until we arrived to a hole in the wall where we sat down to eat. Orik let out a sigh when we had eaten up. "Not a bad meal, but it should have had the brewer's best mead along too." I looked at Eragon as he looked at the ground below us. "Do you grow anything in Farthen Dûr?" "No, the sunshine is only good for moss, mushrooms and mold. Tronjheim can't survive without the deliveries from the close valleys, which is the reason a lot of us prefer to live in other places than the Beor Mountains." "Then there are more dwarven cities?" "Not as many as we wish there were. And Tronjheim is the biggest." Orik steadied himself on his elbows. "The two of you has only seen the lowest floors, so you haven't discovered the fact that Tronjheim is mostly deserted. The higher up you go, the more empty it becomes. There are whole floors that no one has visited in centuries. A lot of the dwarves prefer to be below Tronjheim and Farthen Dûr in the caves and tunnels that goes through the mountain. During centuries we did huge excavations below the Beor Mountains. You can make your way from one side of the mountains to the other without stepping above underground." "But isn't it a waste with everything standing empty then?" I asked. Orik nodded at the question. "Some think that we should leave this place since we can't make our own recourses, but Tronjheim has an invaluable purpose." "What is it?" "In case of calamity it could fit our whole nation. Through our whole history it have only happened three times that we have been forced to make that choice, but every time it has saved us from total extinction. Therefore there is always a people here ready to defend Tronjheim." "I have never seen anything as magnificent as Tronjheim", Eragon conceded. I nodded since there was no hesitation that I agreed with him. Orik gave us a smile in return. "I'm glad that you think so. It took generations to build Tronjheim - even if we live far longer than humans. But because of that damn Empire there sadly aren't that many that gets to see Tronjheim in it's full glory."
"How many of the Varden are here?" "Dwarves or humans?" "Humans - I what to know how many that has escaped from the Empire." Orik let out a loud breath. "There are about four thousand of you kind here. But that is not a good measuring for what you are asking. Only the ones who wants to fight come here. The rest enjoys king Orrin's protection in Surda." Eragon's eyebrows furrowed and I knew what crushing thoughts he thought. There are too few people. There are sixteen thousand soldiers in the kings army alone, not counting the urgals. "Why doesn't king Orrin fight himself against the Empire?" Eragon asked. "Galbatorix would crush him", Orik said, "if he openly showed hostility. As it is now, Galbatorix doesn't destroy him because he wrongly doesn't see Surda as a threat. The Varden get most of their equipment and weapons from Surda. Without him, the Empire wouldn't have any resistance.
   Do not despair over the low number of humans in Tronjheim. There are a lot of dwarves here - more than you have seen - and everyone will fight when the time comes. Orrin has also promised us troops for the fight against Galbatorix. Even the elves has promised to help."
   We sat quietly for a while until Eragon started to speak. "What does that mean?" he asked and pointed to the hammer and the stars that was engraved in Orik's helmet. "I also saw it on the floor in Tronjheim." Orik took off his helmet and stroke his finger over the engravement. "It's the symbol of my clan. We are Ingeitum, the metall workers and master smiths. The hammer and the stars are in the floor of Tronjheim because it is the personal mark of our founder Korgan. A ruler clan and twelve that surround it. King Hrothgar is also Dûrgrimst Ingeitum and has shrouded my house in much luxury and glory."
   We passed by a dwarf in the hallway when we were on our way to give back our plates to the cook. He stopped in front of Eragon, bowed and said with respect: "Argetlam". The dwarf left and Eragon was in a loss of words, as his face became slightly red. "What did he say?" he asked and leaned closer to Orik.
   Orik shrugged his shoulders. "It's a word in elvish that was used for the Riders. It means "silverhand"." Eragon looked towards the hand where he had gedwëy ignasia. "Will the two of you return to Saphira?" "Is there anywhere where I can take a bath first? I haven't been able to wash myself for a long time. And my shirt is also stained with blood and full of holes and it stinks as well. I would like to change it, but I don't have any money to buy a new one. Is there any way that I can work to get one?" "Do you want to insult Hrothgar's hospitality, Eragon?" Orik boomed. "As long as you are in Tronjheim, you will not need to buy anything. You'll probably get to pay it back one way or another - that will Ajihad and Hrothgar probably make sure of. I will show the two of you where you can take a bath - not together of course, and I'll find new clothes for you."
   We started to walk down some stairs as we followed Orik.

^Hello guys!! How are you?! How do you feel now when 2018 will be here soon?! (But if it already is 2018 for you so Happy New Year!!) I hope that the new year will be great for you!! See you guys next time!!^