Destiny (Volume I: Shur'tugalar)

Chapter One Part IX (ED)

The inn was oddly quiet; most of the chairs were toppled over, and ale from hastily dropped mugs seeped into the rough wooden floorboards. Of course the guests cleared out when they heard the fight, Eragon thought to himself. Only idiots or mages would stay to see what happened.

Eragon walked up the stairs, the timbers creaking with each step. When he got to the top, he looked around. Spying one door at the end of the corridor that looked burnt, Eragon headed towards it.

Opening the door slowly, he felt it thump against something. He looked in and saw the mage's dead corpse, the man's chest looking as though it had been compressed by a strong force. Stepping around the body, Eragon looked to the other end of the room. Just like the scene in the mirror, papers were strewn all across the floor. And lying amid them was Niaomi.

His chest felt as the dead man's looked, and he quickly made his way across the room. Dropping to Nia's side, he pushed the bangs out of her face, shocked when his actions revealed a silvery star that marked her brow. It looked exactly like the one that Saphira had graced Elva with, and glowed slightly at his touch, making him quickly withdraw his hand. The Rider stirred at the movement.

"Niaomi? Nia, can you hear me?" he asked, gently touching her neck for a pulse. Underneath her smooth skin, he felt it beating.

"Eragon?" whispered Nia, blinking as she looked at him. "Is this another vision?"

Eragon smiled slightly. "This is no vision," he told her as he leaned forwards to tuck his arms underneath her, lifting her up as he stood to his feet. She weighed less than he'd been expecting, light enough so that he didn't feel burdened with her in his arms. Or was that simply because of how she was gazing at him right now? "And you're not dead or dreaming, either. I came to get you."

"But...why did you come?" Niaomi asked quietly, her arms automatically wrapping around his neck for stability as he began moving towards the door. "Did Nasuada send you?"

"No," Eragon admitted, walking out of the rooms and down the stairs. He stopped before the threshold as he looked down at Nia. "I sent myself."

Her violet eyes widened further. "Why?"

As he looked at the woman in his arms, he did what came naturally. Leaning down, Eragon pressed a quick kiss to the star on her forehead and replied, "Because I wanted to."

Nia said nothing as he continued making his way to the pavillion, but her arms tightened around his neck as she pressed her face into his shoulder.

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As the red pavillion came into sight, Eragon told Niaomi, "We're here."

Niaomi looked forwards at the tent. Sighing, she removed her arms from his neck. "I suppose it's time for you to set me down."

"Not quite." Eragon strode through the tent flaps, and she gasped in surprise, quickly clutching his shirt to maintain her balance. He wondered if she could feel the racing beat of his heart beneath her fingertips. Questions and exclamations rose as the entered, and over them all he reassured the rest. "She's fine, she's alright."

He sat her down the free chair, hands lingering briefly before he stepped away. Looking up, he saw Arya peering at him, and quickly cast his gaze somewhere else. Why did he suddenly feel as though he'd just betrayed her?

"Niaomi, why in the name of the gods did you take on the leader of these mages when you were the one who was going solo?" demanded Nicholas.

Nia rolled her eyes at him. "And I'm glad you're doing well, too, thanks."

Nick sighed and started to get up, but Ren's hand shoved him back down. He glared at her before relenting. "Nia, that was a foolish thing to do."

"I know," she said, grinning at her brother. He looked away, grumbling about idiot sisters who were too noble for their own good.

"I'm glad you're okay," said Nate, squeezing his sister's shoulder.

She patted his hand in return and said, "Just a bit tired, that's all," echoing what Nicholas had voiced earlier. The emerald-eyed Rider caught onto what she was doing and looked up, giving her a pointed stare. Niaomi just smiled at him sweetly and asked, "Does anyone have something to eat?"

"I'll send for the food," said Nasuada. She called out a name, and a maid entered the tent and curtsied to her.

"My lady," the woman said, glancing at the newcomers.

"Farica, could you please fetch some food for our guests and ourselves," Nasuada said, phrasing the question as more of a command and gesturing at her company.

Farica curtsied again. "Of course, my lady."

As she left the tent, Nasuada turned to the Riders. "Now that the Black Hand has been dealt with, I think it is time to hear your story."

The others stopped fussing over Nia and stepped away, looking towards her. She looked up at Nasuada. "Of course it is. But in order to fully tell it, I will need to start at the beginning."

Nasuada smiled. "Please, start where ever you must."

The other woman sighed and was just opening her mouth to answer when a roar thundered from outside the tent. Screams and crashes were heard as the alarm sounded.

"It's a dragon," Nasuada said as she rose from her seat quickly.

"It's not just any dragon," Niaomi corrected grimly as she followed suit. "It's mine."

[Chapter Word Count: 9033]