The Age of the Dragon 4: On Silver Wings

Chapter 27

Days after Galbatorix's death, Fallyn had recovered from her ordeal, though her markings still troubled her.

She took to wearing the finest clothing, so light and smooth it did not disturb her sensitive skin. Fang had seen off the others, who had stayed long enough to be sure that Fallyn would be alright, but after that, rarely did she leave Fallyn's side.

As for the green egg...

Not long after it arrived in Du Weldenvarden, it hatched for Arya. Fallyn found herself as the new mentor for a new Rider, though there was very little she needed to teach Arya. After all, most of the education required of new Riders, almost every elf had already experienced.

On the other hand, Fang got a taste for motherhood, raising the hatchling and teaching him how to be a dragon. After many months, Arya was named Queen, and she was to leave to meet with Nasuada.

Fírnen had yet to breathe fire, young as he was but was fond of Fang. Not only as his mentor but also as a motherly influence in his life.

The two departed, and Fallyn hummed her happiness as she brushed her fingers along Fang's jaw.

"Your kind will recover," she said. "There are more eggs, and see how they will be protected."

Fang hummed her own pleasure, her eyes half closing. "You still intend to return to Thedas?"

"I grow weary of the problems of the world," she said slowly. "They eat away at me a little more and bring to the fore things best left forgotten... I'd rather remain hidden away until Uthenera claims me... but I have oaths to fulfil."

She also wished to see him again and felt that going to the meeting place would be the only way she would be able to.

But before it was time, she would need to wait for the return of Fírnen and Arya. There was still much work to be done.

After Arya and Fírnen returned, Fallyn spent only long enough to congratulate Roran and Katrina on their daughter, and with their blessing, she blessed the child to be healthy and strong and beautiful, but most importantly, a blessing of wisdom was given to the child. The rest, she told them, would depend on them raising her to be a woman of great worth.

As a parting gift, she provided them with a blessing.

A strong lad, second born to a lineage as old as the land he hails from will come across the seas to join the families in love. No other will be half as worthy as he, born into prestige and power second only to the ruling monarchy, and he will be among the first outsider to roam the lands of Alagaesia since Fallyn was first brought to live in Ellesmera.

Then with only a parting message for Eragon, Fallyn and Fang took flight for where they had agreed to wait for Murtagh... for the day was fast approaching.

~~~~~~

Fang prepared to set off for her hunt, knowing that regardless of Murtagh and Thorn's appearance, she would need to be well-fed for the long flight, when she noticed a glittering shape in the sky. She paused, wings partially outstretched, gauging whether it was whom she suspected.

"Fallyn," the dragon said, drawing her Rider's attention back.

Fallyn raised her gaze, her hand held up to her eyes to shield them from the sun.

There, like a glittering ruby, Fallyn could just make out the shape of Thorn. Joy swelled in her heart, and she wondered how quickly she could saddle Fang so that she could meet them in the air, but instead, she chose to wait on the earth.

The thought of shifting into a winged shape and flying to meet them also crossed her mind, but as her skin had only recently begun to feel normal, she was not eager to use her mana and lyrium for such a spell.

Soon, Thorn had become a defined shape, and he issued a trumpeting roar. Fang threw back her head and released a jet of flame, responding with a bugling roar of her own. Slowly, the red dragon spiralled into a slow landing, but once his feet touched the ground, Fallyn was already bounding towards them.

Murtagh had scarcely loosened the straps on his legs when she was near enough to touch the jaw of the red dragon, who hummed in pleasure at the bright, open happiness with which she greeted him.

Barely had his feet hit the ground, than she had thrown her arms around him and embraced him close. So happy was she to see him, she scarcely thought that there was any other way to greet him, and the thought that he had come to refuse her offer never crossed her mind.

As well it didn't, for his arms clamped around her waist, the force of his embrace lifting her off her feet and knocking the breath from her lungs - proof of his own joy at seeing her.

Fang approached as well, and while Murtagh and Fallyn remained locked in their embrace, she and the red dragon communicated between themselves.

"I hoped you would come," she said breathlessly, her forehead resting against his.

"How could I not?" he answered. "The idea of you departing from here forever? Being separated from you for all these months was torture. I did not know where else to find you, so I waited for this day because it was the day when I would know that you would be here."

One hand moved from its place around his neck to touch his cheek, her thumb brushing across his lips.

"I have missed you, ma vhenan," she sighed.

"And I have missed you," he said, gently setting her down.

"Are you certain?" concern flitted into her golden eyes. "Where we go, there will only be more bloodshed and suffering... I do not want to cast you and Thorn into the fires again."

"It is precisely for that reason we will go with you," he said, a certain hardness to his voice. "If you go off to fight wars so soon after this one has ended, I would go with you. It was hard enough being by your side and powerless to help, but at least I was able to do something. If I am not there, how can I do anything to help you?"

She kissed his cheek, smiling gently. "Thank you, ma vhenan."

Fang hummed, nipping Thorn's jaw before swinging her head down.

"We'd best hunt now before it is too late and we grow hungry on the long journey," Fang said to all present.

An instinctive emotion passed through Fang, and Fallyn's cheeks flushed as her understanding became apparent. The saddle was removed from Thorn, and the two dragons took to the sky before going off to hunt.

"I never took Fang to be the jealous type," Fallyn murmured as she stood by Murtagh's side, watching the dragons disappear.

"What do you mean?"

She briefly told him how the last egg had hatched, and how Saphira had taken the now grown dragon as her mate. She also mentioned that Fang had basically raised the young green dragon, and so was more than a little put out that he had so quickly taken a mate.

Fallyn felt Murtagh's fingers brush against hers, as they stared out over the land, and she entwined her fingers in his, leaning her head against his shoulder.

"Ar lath ma," Murtagh said softly.

"Ar lath ma, vhenan," she answered, turning her face to his to meet his lips in a tender, gentle kiss.