The Age of the Dragon 4: On Silver Wings

Chapter 26

Fallyn came to, feeling for the first time in decades as if she had been drinking far too much. She felt her body float for a moment before her head came to rest on a shoulder. Eyes opening a crack, she could just make out that it was Murtagh who had lifted her. Too tired to speak, she brushed her mind against his.

"Is he dead?" she asked.

"He is," Murtagh answered. "Hold on, we're getting out of here. Stay awake, you hear?"

She struggled, even as Murtagh carried her to Thorn. She could feel him struggling.

"Your wounds..." she said.

"I'll manage," he answered.

One hand pressed to his chest, she summoned the last of her mana. He groaned, as the wound knit itself shut, and her vision blurred.

"Don't be so reckless!" he admonished.

"Ir abelas, vhenan," she answered, a slight smile on her face.

Her consciousness swam for a moment, and when she was able to focus again, she was in Thorn's saddle, with Murtagh behind her.

"This is familiar," she hummed as Thorn followed Saphira out of the ruined building.

"Like our long flight from Gil'ead," he agreed, and she could feel his chest rumble slightly with a small chuckle.

When daylight fell upon her face, Fallyn smiled to see the dragons circling in the air.

"Vhenan!" she managed to cry, with both mind and voice.

The black dragon dipped, roaring in response.

"Little one!" Fang's mind was a rush of emotions as the dragon descended towards them.

She landed nearby, and though Thorn tensed at her approach, Fang ignored him as she brought her head as near to Fallyn as she could. Fallyn lay her head upon the dragon's nose, basking in the warmth of the love Fang sent towards her, along with a steady stream of energy.

Eventually, Fang pulled away and with a puff of air from her nostrils, tousled Murtagh's hair. The dragon swung her head to Thorn at last, and she hummed happily as she nuzzled his face. Then the black dragon turned away from the wreckage and spread her wings slightly, looking back in askance.

Murtagh climbed down from Thorn, then helped Fallyn down afterwards. Thanks to Fang, strength had returned to her limbs, but she was still weak - using the lyrium in her skin had left her body feeling raw and her muscles trembled. Once on the ground, her knees gave way, and she collapsed against him.

Fang made a sound of concerned warbling, turning a little more towards them.

"Are you hurt anywhere?" Murtagh's voice hitched with concern.

"All over," she admitted. "I may have overdone my exertions, and now I must pay the price."

"Can I heal you?"

"No," she answered, then to Fang she said, "send for Alrahd. He has the gift and can ease my suffering. Ask Shehar to retrieve my things."

Fang hummed, then leapt into the air, wings beating mightily.

"There must be something I can do," Murtagh pressed.

"You've already done it," she smiled at him tiredly. "You set me free."

His forehead came to rest against hers, a sadness in his eyes. "Can you ever forgive me?"

"You were never to blame, Murtagh," she whispered. "I have never once cursed you or Thorn for my sufferings."

"You are stronger than we," he whispered.

Her eyes searched his for a moment.

"You said that once we were free, I should tell you what I said," she said, inferring the time she had spoken to him in elvhen.

"I did," he whispered. "I think I know... but..."

"Ar lath ma, vhenan," she repeated. "I love you, my heart."

Joy and sadness mixed in his eyes in equal measure.

"You do not know the happiness it gives me to hear those words," he said in a low voice, thick with emotion. "Nor do you know the pain."

The ground rumbled as Revas landed.

"I will linger in Alagaesia for six months," she said softly. "At the end of that time, I will wait upon the tallest hill near Teirm for a day. If you do not come before the highest point of midnight, then I shall depart for Thedas, where I may not return from my work for many years. If this is to be goodbye, then I would say it with no regrets in my heart."

She felt his hands tighten around her waist, numerous emotions passing in his eyes before gratitude and deep love filled those eyes.

Slowly, with hesitation and question, Murtagh lowered his head until his lips brushed hers. She responded in kind, slowly because of the pain in her body. When he pulled away, he looked past her. She turned her head to see Alrahd regarding them with silent, golden eyes.

"Aneth ara, sister," he said, a smile pulling at his lips. "You look to have battled an Archdemon with you bare hands."

She chuckled, as he reached out to support her, and Murtagh stepped back.

"I pray this is not goodbye," she said, touching his mind.

After a moment, he looked at her with a strength in his eyes.

"No, not goodbye," he agreed. "Until we meet again..."

"Ar lath ma, vhenan," they said in unison.

Then he climbed up onto Thorn's saddle. Before the dragon could take off, Fallyn touched his mind.

"Well met, Thorn," she said. "I have long wished to speak with you, and glad I am that I can now, with you and Murtagh free of your shackles."

"I thank you, little one, for the part you played in our freedom," the dragon responded, his mind strangely musical to Fallyn's tired mind.

She hummed in response, and the two left after Murtagh removed saddlebags containing Eldunari.

Once they had departed, Alrahd set about using his magic to ease the suffering of her body. Then he helped her onto Revas's back.

Before she could leave, however, Eragon ran over and asked where Murtagh had gone.

"Away," she said.

Before he also left, he reached out with his mind to them and told them about dragon eggs that had been found with the Eldunari he had.

Fallyn felt tears of joy wash down her cheeks, while Revas and Fang threw back their heads and released a bugle of joy.

Then Revas leapt into the sky, and with Fang close by, they flew towards Ellesmera, where Fallyn would rest and recover.