For Alagaesia: 10. Heartbroken

Silence and peace ruled the meadow. The night air was calming and cool. A lone figure sat in meditation in these condition seemingly oblivious to the surroundings. A loud crash filled the air accompanied by roiling blue light which gave an eerie feeling. The meditating figure stood up as if stung by some poisonous snake with wide eyes.

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Blue-light-fire was everywhere. But all she wanted was partner-of-her-mind-and-body Eragon. Eragon who had sent her away. Eragon who was in trouble. Anger and sorrow fought for control over her mind. She had never ever been worried this way all her life. She roared her misery out to the world. The Blue-light was going. But Saphira did not care where she was. She couldn't touch the mind of her partner. And it was like suffering in hell. Her anger came to the fore-front of her mind and urged her to search stunted-thoughts-Thorn and tear that runt to pieces. But she didn't know where to find him. Eragon had sent her somewhere where she couldn't help him. He had sacrificed himself to ensure her safety. The anguish she felt was overwhelming. It would have burned her to ashes if that presence hadn't entered her mind right then. It tried to soothe her misery. She tried to ignore it. But it wouldn't go. It asked her to be calm. Slowly, Saphira started realising what was around her. Her vision registered the shocked-silent Arya standing there with widened eyes and a pale face. So it was where the partner-of-her-mind-and-heart, Eragon had sent her. To Arya. To complete protection.

Once again, though the thought of Eragon came to her mind and she started panicking. "Saphira....What? How?", Arya seemed to have come out of her shock. But Saphira was in no mood to explain anything to anyone so acted as if she didn't hear Arya. "Saphira..?", Arya's hesitant voice came again. Once again Glaedr tried to calm her down. 'Saphira. Don't be agitated. It will be of no use to Eragon. Tell Arya. She can help.' Saphira growled. But she knew that being angry will get her nowhere. She knew Eragon was not dead. 'Atleast not yet', she thought to herself. If only he was dead, then there won't be any meaning to live, she would tear those traitors Murtagh and Thorn to pieces and die herself. But she knew Eragon wasn't dead; which meant she had to help him. She couldn't do it herself. She needed somebody's help. She needed somebody to share her misery with. 'Arya', suggested something which was part of her but yet separate from her.

"Where is Eragon, Saphira?", Arya's concerned voice filled her mind. This time she did not ignore Arya. She turned her head towards Arya and looked deep into her emerald eyes. Arya's eyes showed how truly she was concerned about Saphira and Eragon. She kept her gaze fixed on Arya for a while for Arya's face seemed to reduce the misery she felt. But Arya might have noticed Saphira's listless appearance for she gently prodded Saphira's mind with her own. Saphira quickly tried to push away the misery that was threatening to overwhelm her so as to hide the misery she was in; but wasn't entirely successful in her attempt because Arya flinched from the contact. 'What is wrong?', Arya's melodic presence filled Saphira's consciousness in a motherly way.

'Eragon. He is fighting Murtagh', said Saphira not wanting to accept the fact that Eragon would probably be captured by then. Her voice contained all the anguish she felt over the fact that Eragon was alone pitted against an enemy who was unnaturally strong. Arya stiffened. Her demeanor taut and stiff, she asked, 'What?' But Saphira didn't answer her choosing to silently gaze into Arya's face. 'We were ambushed. Eragon sent us here with energy from Aren.', Glaedr answered unexpectedly. Arya left Saphira's mind in a rush. She seemed to be deep in thought. But her eyes betrayed the terror looming within her.

After a period in which Arya's facial expression changed rapidly showing fear to hopelessness, she picked herself up and looked directly into Saphira's eyes and said, "He will be fine. He is strong." Her words felt as if she was saying them to assure herself rather than to comfort Saphira. Then, in her own unique way of dealing with problems she addressed as if to a meeting, "We have to inform the Queen. If Eragon is captured then you have to promise Saphira to not act out of instinct and put yourself under trouble." She faltered then seemingly remembering that it was Eragon who was in trouble and not some random important person "He..", her voice sounded in a high-pitch "He has risked his life to send you here to safety. Promise me Saphira...", she said picking herself up again.

Saphira didn't respond to Arya but continued to gaze at her face. Glaedr intervened, 'Do it, Saphira. It is for the greater good.' 'But not for Eragon', burst out Saphira. The green-eyed-Eragon-beloved-elf turned her face away seemingly losing her resolve at Saphira's emotional response. After a while she let out a heavy breath and turned around to face Saphira. Arya brought her hand up and rested it on Saphira's face. She gently patted Saphira's face and said, "Your promise, Saphira. Eragon's act shouldn't go meaningless." Saphira saw the deep sadness in Arya's face and silently made up her mind with a great deal of difficulty and said in the ancient language, "I promise. I won't try to save Eragon without your permission."

Patting Saphira on her snout for a few more seconds, Arya contacted Lord Dathedr with her mind and informed him to summon the elven royal council. Arya made to go by running towards Gil'ead city but Saphira stopped her and asked her to get on her saddle. Arya obliged and Saphira soared into the city with tired wing-beats. Once they reached outside the mansion, Arya ran into it. The royal council comprising of the lords and ladies of the various elven houses and the queen was waiting when Arya reached there. She bowed before the queen in swift motion not caring to be more formal. Saphira extended her head into the hall from outside. Most members of the council were surprised to see Saphira but she didn't care to explain her presence. She just wanted to save Eragon; but she knew it wasn't going to happen that easily without Arya-mother-elf-queen Islanzadi's intervention. So she waited.

"Why have you summoned us in this night-time, Dröttningu? and what is Bjartskular doing here?", the elven queen asked. "Mother, it is grave news that Saphira has brought. Eragon and Saphira were ambushed by Murtagh and Thorn on their way back to the Varden. Eragon, due to the dire circumstances has sent Saphira to me." The queen didn't respond for a while. But her demeanor seemed to sag a little bit to Saphira's eyes. Then she said, "What... has happened to Eragon? Is there any news about him?" "No. And that is the problem. We will have to send help immediately.", Arya said a tad bit hastily. "But where to send help? Where were you when you were ambushed, Saphira?" Saphira lifted her head and said, 'Utgard.' 

"Barzul", Arya commented under her breath and Saphira who was near her heard it. Saphira kept her gaze fixed on the queen though expecting the queen's answer. "We can't reach there in time to help him. But I order the dispatch of a company of spell-casters to leave immediately to Utgard.", the queen said sounding a little withdrawn. 'It won't help him', Saphira said to Arya. Arya seemed to agree as she nodded her head in a dejected way.

The council started discussing the implications of the events and Saphira started getting annoyed. She kept silent not knowing what to do. Arya must have noticed Saphira's plight for she excused herself and Saphira from the council. Once they were out of the mansion, Saphira flew away out of the city wanting time alone. Glaedr spoke to her, 'Keep calm, Saphira. I know Eragon. He was one of the brightest students I have ever taught. I or Oromis may not have said this to you, but Eragon and you are among the best riders that have ever been. In the past, you both would have been considered an asset to the riders. But situations are now worse. Even if, Eragon is captured...' At this Saphira growled but didn't contradict her master '... I know full well that he will never succumb to Galbatorix'. Saphira took in the implications of the words of the elder dragon. They were kind words. But they seemed like poison to her. 'If Eragon was captured'-thinking about that was akin to drinking poison.

Saphira reached the meadow where the parter-of-her-mind-and-heart Eragon had sent her and looked at the charred ground gloomily. Her mind once again longed to be with Eragon in the fight she knew he was fighting. To tear any harm creating things out of Eragon's way. Why should he send her away in situations like this? She should be with him where she belonged be it prison or death. "Because he loves you enough to ensure that you don't have to go through those things", the only two-legged voice that she liked hearing other than Eragon's spoke. Arya came to stand before Saphira and asked, "Why did you come out alone in times like these?" in almost a motherly way. Saphira was glad she had atleast Arya by her side in these times for she wasn't comfortable with anyone else other than Eragon except for Arya and Glaedr. She knew that it was their presence that helped her calm down. Without them, she would have gone mad trying to save Eragon.

They had spent about five more minutes gazing at the night sky and thinking about what would happen to Eragon, when Saphira felt bad suddenly. She felt like the world was stretched thin. It was like the white-round-moon had disappeared out of the black-night-sky making everything darker. Something was wrong with Eragon; Terribly wrong. The last time she felt like this it was during the assassination attempt made on him in the dwarf-mountain-city-Tronjheim. She panicked. Then all of a sudden out of nowhere, an image of Eragon crawling without any semblance of energy in him came into her mind like a flash.

Saphira roared into the night sky and sent out a huge bout of fire from her mouth. Arya who was standing near her yelped surprised and moved away a little, instinctively. 'Calm yourself down, Saphira. Calm down. Your anger will take you nowhere, hatchling. Calm down.', Glaedr tried to fill her mind with his presence. His vast presence which had awed Eragon to no end, helped a little for her. Saphira became a little calm. But still she was uneasy and longed to fly away in search of her partner but the promise she had made to Arya held her back.

"What is it, Saphira? What happened?", Arya asked worry emanating from her voice. Saphira didn't answer her for a while, getting angry at her for making her promise never to go to her Eragon without her permission. But Glaedr's presence slowly cooled her down and she said, 'Eragon is in trouble. He lost so much energy and went near death.' Arya looked stunned. All three of them-Saphira, Glaedr and Arya-knew this meant only one thing: Eragon was defeated. They knew all along that it was what was going to happen. But they had a small bit of hope lingering in the corners of their mind. But now, it was too brushed aside by cruel fate.

"Let us go to Utgard.", said Arya. 'What? No. We can't go there. Not without a army', Glaedr objected. "It will take two days for an army to reach Utgard. We don't have to go openly. We will hide well and see what has happened. We may be able to save Eragon or else we may get some clue as to where he has been taken although most probably he will be taken to Uru'Baen", said Arya. Glaedr seemed to be in deep thought. But Saphira became excited and started flapping her wings even as they stood on the ground. After a while, Glaedr agreed although he suggested casting extensive spells so that they won't be spotted by empire-men. Under Glaedr's overview, spells were cast on the three of them and Saphira who was eager to go lifted into air even as Arya was settling into the saddle.

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Utgard stood alone. They had reached there in incredible time. It had taken only four hours. But to Saphira it seemed too much more. Along the way, Glaedr had insisted upon thorough checking of the surroundings. Arya had supported Glaedr on that part and spend the whole time in war-time vigil along with Glaedr. But she, Saphira had flown with only one thing on her mind: reaching Utgard as soon as possible. On their arrival at the Utgard mountain, they had taken painful precaution so as to remain undetected and looked around. There were corpses of the empire soldiers and more corpses of the empire soldiers. A patch of trees was burnt and dead.

It was nearly dawn and a red light filled the sky. At last, after about a hour's of careful searching, they spotted a lone figure resting on the trunk of a old tree. Arya extended her mind cautiously towards the figure although it wasn't wearing empire outfit. As her mind reached the figure, the person tried to put up barriers around his mind; but was too weak to do so. Even then a strong barrier was present and Saphira knew-from her connected mind with Arya-at first touch that it was elvish.

They carefully listened for any traps and started speaking with the elf. Soon it was established that it was Blodhgarm. Saphira was surprised that the elf still remained alive. It gave her a little hope about Eragon's plight; 'he may not be captured' - she thought although they had thoroughly checked and found him nowhere near that area. Arya established connection with Blodhgarm and Saphira was hearing the conversation through Arya's mind.

'Is it safe to come down, Blodhgarm?', Arya asked. 'Yes. Dröttningu, it is', said Blodhgarm the effort costing him too much. Not wanting to further discomfort the injured elf, Saphira landed quickly. Once she turned towards Blodhgarm, she saw that the elf had in his hand Brisingr and Aren. She now knew her Eragon was captive of the empire. The anguish she felt at the confirmation of Eragon's capture was too huge; Tears flowed from her eyes and her throat had become too parched-due to her fast flying-to let her misery show through in voice. Arya stood near her and stroked her flanks comfortingly. When Saphira turned to see Arya, she noticed tiny drops of tears on her eyes too.

Arya walked upto Blodhgarm and healed his more grievous wounds. Once he was able to speak, he said, "We don't have to worry about Shadeslayer. He will be fine. If not for him, I would now be dead. You have made a very good choice for your rider, Bjartskular. Very good. No one elf or human is more fit to be the only rider in the land." The tears from Arya's eyes started flowing. Saphira dipped her head in acceptance of his words tears still coming from her eyes.

Glaedr's presence filled their minds and he said that it wasn't right to linger. Heartbroken, they left the place where Vrael was killed and Eragon Shadeslayer was captured.

Author's Note:

Just for the record, the last three chapters: Heartbroken, The last steps and A cornered Tiger all occur simultaneously in different parts of Alagaesia. The meeting point: Eragon losing the last vestiges of his strength(Cornered tiger), Roran feeling Eragon's plight(last steps) and Saphira seeing Eragon's energy-deprived state(Heartbroken)