For Alagaesia: 23. Her breaking point

Saphira sniffed at the ground. It had rained just hours ago and the soil was wet. She moved her feet from one position to another. Then she laid her eye on the huge footprints made by her legs. She was angry at herself. Angry that she was so big that moving around without being noticed was almost impossible for her. Angry that her size was stopping her from going to rescue the-partner-of-her-mind-and-heart.

Ever since she and Arya had visited Jeod three days ago, she had not had any rest. She felt as if she would break into tears if provoked a little. So she kept away from everybody. Even from Arya and Glaedr. Arya too left her to her own devices never disturbing her for trivial matters like meetings with Nasuada. She was grateful to Arya for that. But she never wanted to thank her. Why should she when it was Arya and the blasted promise Saphira made her were the only things stopping her from flying towards Uru'baen to rescue her Eragon?

Jeod had said that it was almost impossible to enter Uru'baen. According to him, the route he found was the only one that remained of the old passages. Even that led to the treasure room and not the dungeons where Eragon was kept. "There may be more ways. But none that I know. Further, I doubt Galbatorix still has the ways open. After your egg's loss, I heard from Brom that Galbatorix made extensive arrangements to safeguard the remaining passages. With a old city like Uru'baen, there may still be ways even he doesn't know. I am sure there are. But the problem is that they are too secretive for anybody to know", Jeod had said. It was dithering. He was trying to explain that there was no way into the castle.

'What are you doing Saphira?', Glaedr's calm presence entered her mind. She thought about what she was doing. It felt too bad now. She was doing nothing. She stared into the sky. Dark-clouds-with-rain were still hovering above the ground, giving a gloomy feeling to the surroundings. 'Nothing', she said.

'Oh, Hatchling!! You shouldn't be alone. Dark thoughts would enter your mind then', Glaedr said kindly.

'But I want to be alone. I can't speak about him to anyone now. I will break'

'I understand, Saphira. It is hard. But don't you remember the lessons we gave you-me and Oromis', his voice was a bit strangled when he spoke about Oromis, 'You should learn to work alone with as much success as you will do when working together.'

Saphira felt that they had had this conversation already. But how could he expect me to be normal when Eragon is imprisoned by the usurper. 'I do remember, master. But knowing that Eragon is in trouble, how can I work peacefully?', she asked.

'You should. Because that is the only way to save Eragon.', Glaedr said, his countenance sad yet frank.

'Fine. What do you wish of me?', Saphira almost snapped at Glaedr.

'Nothing for now, Saphira. Learn to control your emotions better.' A lightning illuminated the land. It was followed by a thunder so loud that it seemed like the roar of an angry dragon. It started raining again. Saphira stood under the raging clouds looking at her own reflection in a small temporary pool of water.

It continued to rain heavily and now little droplets of water fell from the trees under which Saphira stood distorting her reflection in the pool. Saphira extended her mind towards Glaedr and when she established contact, she asked, 'Where are you?'

'How am I to know?', came the prompt reply. Saphira was stunned. 'Yes. How does he know where he is? How cruel life has been to Glaedr. He has lost Oromis and he can't even know where he is. And here I am thinking I have lost everything' Soon, Glaedr contacted her again and sent a picture of a well sheltered glade by the east side of the city. Saphira took off towards the glade.

As she was flying she heard the mild voice of Eragon say, "Saphira... Please forgive me...." She panicked. 'Eragon?....Eragon!!! where are you?', she broadcast her words all around the area and without her will torrents of fires came out of her jaws. 'What happened Saphira?', Glaedr's urgent voice filled her mind.

'I heard Eragon speak to me', she said desperately. 'He... he.asked my forgiveness'

'Come to us, Saphira. We will discuss it here.'

'Yes, Saphira. Don't stop for anything. Come to us. Whatever you see control yourself and come to us', Arya said entering the conversation for the first time. Soon the glade came into view and Saphira descended fast towards it.

Arya ran to her as soon as she landed. "What happened Saphira? What did you see?"

'No. It wasn't a vision. It was more like he spoke to me directly.', Saphira said with rising despair at not knowing what was going on with Eragon. Nobody spoke for a time. Rain pelted on the treetops of the glade creating a rumbling noise. Then: "What did he say?", Arya asked.

'He said - Saphira, please forgive me', Saphira said instantly.

"Nothing else?"

'Nothing' Even as she was finishing her answer, a chilling feeling entered her bones and she shivered. 'Something is terribly wrong with him', She said to both Arya and Glaedr.

"Saphira!!!", somebody called her. Roran. 'Its Roran', Saphira said to Arya because she could only get out of the dense glade by flying and she was in no mood to do so. Arya nodded her head and went outside the glade. Saphira heard the conversation between Roran and Arya from inside the glade-that-was-large-enough-to-hide-her.

"Roran. What?", Arya sounded a little surprised. Saphira instantly became alert. Arya was not someone who could be surprised easily.

"Oh?!! Arya. I want to meet Saphira", Roran's voice held urgency.

"Come", Arya's calm and low voice reached Saphira. In another minute Roran came into view and Saphira knew why Arya was surprised at seeing him. He was a mess. His hair was splayed as if he had run wildly just after a long sleep. And he was wet. So wet that water dripped from his nose. Saphira knew Roran had come with something so much important. Katrina was never one to let him run in rain like this.

He stood panting for a few seconds but soon recovered and said, "Eragon is in danger" Saphira stiffened. Arya came to face Roran and pointing his ring asked, "Do you know what ails him?"

"I know not. But all I know is that his life was threatened moments ago"

Saphira stood still as though she were a statue on hearing Roran's voice. She didn't feel anything now. She knew she couldn't run off to try and save Eragon. She knew he was not yet dead. She would know if he was. Anything else, any discussion about Eragon's state just seemed a waste of time to her unless it was about Eragon's rescue. Arya turned to look at her. Saphira didn't react in any way. When Arya tried to contact her mind, Saphira withdrew into herself and shielded her mind.

"We have to be patient, Saphira.", Arya said. But Saphira didn't want to listen to such things anymore. All she cared about was rescuing Eragon. If there was something that related to it, she would listen, else she would seclude herself from everybody. Next, Glaedr tried to reach her but she didn't budge.

Then Arya walked up to her and said, "Take me to Nasuada's quarters, Saphira. I have things to discuss with her"

Saphira was really annoyed now. How dare she? How could she ask such a thing at this time? 'I am not your beast of burden to carry you around when Eragon is dying', she shot back. Arya moved away as if stung. Her face showed intense conflicting emotions. She looked hurt but pushed the look from her face the next second, "Very well. I shall go", her voice though gave her away-it was hoarse. She turned away swiftly and walked towards the city. Roran watched the occurrences in disbelief.

A huge force struck her defenses shattering it momentarily. Before she could bring up her defenses again, an angry voice shouted in her head, 'What have you done, hatchling? Why did you speak to her as such? Has she ever done you or your rider any misdeed? You know who she is!! She is the princess of the elves. Her position is much more high than yours. Yet she spends all her time with you, trying to protect you. And how do you repay her? By hurting her. She has lost so much on behalf of you. Apologise to her, hatchling. Else I won't speak to you anymore and I shall not accept you as my student.'

'Master. I know. I love Arya. She is my only friend besides Eragon. Those words were born out of frustration. I didn't mean to say any of it.', Saphira felt like killing herself for speaking like she did.

'Then apologise to her soon'

'I will, master' Saphira took off glancing at Roran who stood with a peculiar expression on his face. She said to him as she flew, 'I am sorry, you had to see this side of me, Roran'

'I can understand. You are just like him sometimes' Saphira looked back at him and silently thanked him for understanding her.

Arya was running near the city gates, wet from the rain when Saphira spotted her. Saphira didn't think of anything else except getting Arya's forgiveness and dived steeply down and reached the ground just before the city gates blocking Arya's way to the city.

Arya looked determinedly on the ground and searched for a way to circumvent Saphira into the city. Saphira tried to gain Arya's attention by blowing hot air into her or by shifting her legs when Arya neared her. But Arya wasn't ready to face or talk to Saphira. After a time, Saphira decided that she would forgo her pride for her words demanded it of her.

Saphira knelt before Arya and bending her neck, she touched the ground before Arya with her snout. Arya stopped moving and stood still. Obviously, she knew it was not always that a dragon bows this much courteously before anybody. Saphira then tried to feel Arya's mental music. Arya resisted at first, but slowly she allowed Saphira in. 'I am sorry, Arya Drottningu, for my words. I know the hurt it brought you can't be taken back. But I assure you that those words were unintentional and born only out of frustration.' She paused for a while when drops of tears formed in her eyes and then continued, 'I can't lose my best friend because of my stupid words. I shall accept whatever punishment you deem fit for me. But please don't keep anything I said in mind.'

Arya bent her back and touched Saphira on her snout. Both their eyes met and she said, "We are friends of seventeen years, Saphira. It was just a petty misunderstanding. You don't have to ask my forgiveness because I too spoke out of place. I didn't realise that my words would hurt you so"

"Then will you let me carry you to Nasuada, now?', Saphira asked bringing her head level with Arya's. "Oh, Saphira!!", Arya pressed her face to Saphira's snout tears leaking from her eyes.

Arya climbed into Saphira's saddle and soon they were headed towards Nasuada's room. Saphira landed on the roof of the castle near where Nasuada's room was located. Arya went into the castle when Saphira waited. After a few minutes, the window to Nasuada's room was opened and Arya stood behind it. Saphira extended her head into Nasuada's room through the window.

"Saphira", said Nasuada and bowed. Saphira didn't reply but just looked Nasuada in the eye accepting her greeting. "Now tell me, what may I attribute this visit to?", Nasuada asked. Saphira turned her head towards Arya. Nasuada followed Saphira and looked at Arya.

For a few moments Arya stood thinking and then as if confirming something she nodded her head and headed towards the mirror in Nasuada's room. She said the spells for scrying and speaking and soon the mirror revealed the elven queen. The queen had blood on the sides of her face. Arya quickly asked, "What happened mother?" forgoing every formal etiquette.

"Nothing to worry, Arya. Galbatorix apparently thought he could kill me using petty assassins"

"There was an attempt on your life?", Arya asked concerned.

"There was. But no more. Galbatorix is quite frustrated with the Varden and the elves, I think to send such a useless magician to kill me", the queen said in her own authority-filled voice. "Now tell me what did you call me for? I have duties here, urgent if I may add"

Arya didn't speak anything for sometime. Then she let out a heavy breath and said, "It is about Uru'baen that I need to speak with you, mother" Nasuada almost ran upto the mirror hearing Arya's words. For Saphira it was a shock. She hadn't expected Arya to discuss Eragon's rescue.

The queen furrowed her eye brows and asked cautiously, "What about Uru'baen?"

"I need ten of our people to go with me to go to Uru'baen", Arya said calmly. The queen's face showed instant disapproval and she said, "No. I can't allow any elf to go into that accursed place. It is too risky. Even if one elf is captured then we are at the risk of losing all our secrets."

"Your majesty. I have analysed various aspects about old Illeria and have taken counsel with Glaedr who has lived in Illeria for hundreds of years. I am sure I can take on this mission with success", Arya said in her own stoic and regal voice. Saphira knew Arya was simply exaggerating things. They didn't have any plan about sneaking into Uru'baen much less going into the dungeons to save Eragon. All they knew was bits of information that provided risky ways into the city. Nevertheless she was excited.

"I won't let you go, Arya. Our position is already precarious with the absence of the Shur'tugal. If any of the elf is captured then it will be our end", the queen said resolutely.

"I too don't think it is a good idea to go into Uru'baen, Arya", Nasuada said in a carefully guarded and low voice. Arya turned towards Nasuada sharply and glared at her. Nasuada held her scrutiny without flinching and then said, "It is dangerous Arya. You said it yourself the last time I spoke with you"

Saphira was getting frustrated with the meeting. She had known all along that the leaders wouldn't allow this mission to proceed. Glaedr contacted her and Arya and said, 'We will have to make further preparations, children. They are right. It isn't possible to rescue Eragon with the information we have now.'

"But what about Eragon. He..", Arya was cut-off by Islanzadi, "I forbid you Arya as your Queen from taking any such moves as going to Uru'baen."

Arya's countenance exuded intense anger. Her lips trembled. She turned towards Islanzadi and in a voice as regal as the queen said, "You speak as though I am trying to send myself into death, your majesty. But have you thought of Eragon atleast once?"

"Eragon Shur'tugal can manage. He hasn't yet been broken by Galbatorix. If he was, then, our cities will have been attacked by now. Or Eragon would be send to fight against us just to break our faith", the queen said.

"And he will never be broken!!", Arya yelled at the queen. The room became deathly quiet. Arya and her mother were glaring at each other venomously. Nasuada was watching the proceedings carefully, but didn't dare to interfere. Saphira didn't want to speak. If she spoke, she knew she would say something that she and Eragon would have to regret for their lives just as she had spoken to Arya before arriving for this meeting.

Arya turned her gaze towards the floor after sometime, but her eyes were wide and had a forlorn yet fierce look to them. Finally she looked up at Islanzadi and said in a low desperate whisper, "Do you have any idea what the empire would do to its prisoners?" And a drop of tear fell from Arya's eyes on the ground. Arya didn't wait for anybody's response; she turned swiftly and walked out of the room holding her head high. Saphira knew Arya was going to some lonely place to bury her misery within herself as was her custom.

Author's Note:

So, a new facet to Arya and Saphira. Arya-breaking down and Saphira-bowing completely. And their friendship has become even stronger. What did you think?