For Alagaesia: 32. Reunion

The pleasant melody in the air woke Eragon up. He flickered his eyes open expecting to see the dark and damp interiors of the prison cell. Instead he was greeted by a glorious blossom of flowers hanging just above his head. A shadow moved away from him and bright sunlight hit his face.

'Good morning, Little one', Saphira said and he realised that it was Saphira's wings that had given him shade. He turned his head around to see a group of elves gathered around somebody or something, he couldn't see.

'Good morning, Saphira... um, how long was I asleep? Where are we now?', Eragon asked afraid that he had overslept due to his tiredness.

'Oh, not much. You have been asleep only from yesterday evening. Just after you had fallen asleep, we reached the elven camp under Blodhgarm. Nobody wished to wake you. So we left you to sleep for a while'

Eragon peered at the sky taking his eyes away from the beautiful bunch of flowers that hid the sky from his eyes. The sun was almost at its zenith which meant it was nearly noon. He had slept nearly one full day and because of him they had made no further advance than the elf camp. He loathed himself for being weak.

'Oh, little one. Don't feel bad. I and Arya were also tired after this emotionally and physically draining week.', Saphira said. Eragon felt like she was trying to rise his dampened spirit. He got up on his feet expecting his body to hurt. Instead all he felt was the warmth of Saphira and the cool breeze of the winter morning. Instinctively he felt with his hands the injuries he remembered having. None remained. He was as perfect as the day when the dragons had cured him. But he had no time to revel in his health for somebody from the gathered crowd called, "Eragon?"

He turned towards the gathering to see Arya peering at him from the centre of the gathering. It seemed to him like he was interrupting their meeting. "Sorry. You can continue.", he said. He was met with confused faces.

'That wasn't a elven council meeting, little one. They are discussing how to safely take you to the Varden.', Saphira said to him in private.

"What?", he voiced looking Saphira, but then realising that it would be rude to comment on the elves in front of them especially after they had risked their lives to save him, he continued mentally, 'Take me safely? I am not a child.'

"We know you are not, Eragon. But the circumstances force us to treat you as one.", Arya said from behind him. Eragon realised that Saphira had let Arya hear their conversation. He glared at Saphira although he didn't feel angry but rather embarrassed.

"I understand Arya svit-kona", he said to her calling her using a formal honorific in case any of the elves were offended for calling their princess by her name. "But I don't think huge arrangements are needed now that Galbatorix is away and Murtagh is incapable of doing anything other than treat his own body."

"Perhaps. But I have learned to be cautious at all times, Eragon-vor", Arya replied curtly. Eragon was a bit surprised. Arya had called him by the title 'vor' which meant she was publicly announcing that she considered him a close friend. It may be a small matter for the others, but knowing the elves and particularly Arya, Eragon knew it meant a whole lot more. Happy at this thought, he decided to let the matter lay and he nodded his head in acceptance of his words.

"Um, I wanted to thank you all for coming here to help me. It means a lot. I know what you have risked in doing so.", Eragon said after clearing his throat to get everybody's attention to him. The elves nodded in appreciation of his words.

"Welcome back, Shur'tugal. Your gratitude means a lot to us", Blodhgarm said. Eragon nodded at him and smiled a little which the wolf-elf returned his eyes gleaming with happiness.

"Shur'tugal, I am glad to meet you again", somebody said from the back of the gathering. Soon an elf emerged from the gathering and Eragon saw that it was Vanir his sparing companion at Ellesmera.

"Vanir-vodhr, a surprise indeed.", Eragon said and they clasped arms in a sign that they were companions in war now. "My people, let us concentrate on the next step", Arya's voice came sharply towards them. Eragon knew more than to disobey her order and so he nodded to the elves who were watching him and they all turned to listen to her briefing.

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Eragon was leaning against Saphira looking at the bright sun playing hide-and-seek with the leaves of the tree under which they rested. Arya came walking towards him.

"Are we ready to move on?", he asked her.

"We are. But before that..", Arya trailed off without finishing what she started eying him curiously.

"What?", Eragon asked slightly impatient.

'Its your clothes, little one', Saphira said lazily. Eragon was surprised by the fact that Saphira spoke for Arya. But more than that he really didn't understand what his clothes had to do at this time.

'The state at which your clothes are, they show how much you suffered', Saphira answered his unasked question anger laced in her voice. Eragon blinked unable to comprehend what this was all about because everybody in the group knew how much he would have suffered.

"Its the people of the Varden. They can't see you in these clothes. It will...affect their confidence.", Arya explained seeing his confused look.

"Is it that bad?", Eragon asked and looked closely at himself for the first time since his freedom. He had a large and uneven beard that was dusty and filthy when touched. His shirt could barely be called one. It was tattered and torn with numerous burns and holes. Wherever there was cloth remaining it looked blackish what with all the blood, slime and pus from the wounds. His pants were in no better shape. Eragon felt a sudden sense of nausea. To take his attention from his clothing he fixed his eyes on the sun.

Arya sighed, an angry sigh, Eragon was sure, but when he looked down at her she got up and walked to Saphira's saddle bags and pulled out a set of elven lamarae tunics from one of the bags.

"Here take these. There is a brook a little way ahead. Clean yourself there and wear these. Then we will move on", she said.

Eragon was sure he should have heard the sound of running water if atall there was a brook near the area. He stretched to his limits. Only then could he hear the sound mildly. 'I am that tired?', he asked to himself and got up to move. Only then did he remember that there was no talk about the dragon egg atall.

"What about the egg Arya?", he asked casually.

"Shhh... Eragon. Be calm. It is a secret. Don't speak of it.", Arya said urgently in a low voice. Eragon was a little surprised that Arya would hide the egg from even her own people, the elves and that too from the ones who had come to help her without the queen's knowledge.

'She is afraid, little one.', Saphira said.

"Afraid?", Eragon asked aloud bewildered. Arya stared at him blankly but then following his sight, turned her attention to Saphira and glared at her.

'There you go. You have got her angry at me now.', Saphira said to him as she proceeded to face Arya's glare. Eragon composed himself enough to phrase his question in private to Saphira, 'What would she be afraid of, Saphira?'

'She is afraid about the safety of the egg, Eragon. Don't you know why?', she asked but then closed her mind to him without waiting for his reply. Eragon didn't need to think about it, because he knew so well, what it was that Arya was afraid of. In fact, he felt the same fear in the depths of his mind.

'What if...', he thought but then forcibly pushed the thought away. He felt that he knew Arya better now. It wasn't clear when she said to him about how she felt like doom was always near. It wasn't clear when she said that was why she had closed herself off to the world. He had only felt the need to comfort her then, when they had fled the empire. But now he knew what she had meant: a fear had settled in the recesses of his mind always asking him to be cautious. It asked him to expect danger at every turn. He felt a cold shiver run through him and he shuddered. He was glad that Saphira had closed her mind to him. If she knew how weak he was...

'I was a fool trying to woo Arya just after she had got over her tortures and losses....', he thought as he silently moved towards the brook to get himself cleaned up. But that thought only made his love for Arya stronger. But he resolved that he would never force her to accept his love. 'No matter what happens, I will always love her', he said to himself as he dipped himself into the brook, the cold water washing away the filth from his body and making his mind sharper.

Once he was clean shaved and washed, he dressed in the tunics that Arya had given him. The tunics were of the finest quality of elven lamarae and they fit him so well. He looked at himself again and thought, 'At last, I am myself..... on the outside atleast' He reached out to Saphira and said 'Ready to go?'

'Aye, little one. Rested and ready.', Saphira said enthusiastically. Eragon was happy too because after long they were going to fly together in the air without worrying about anything. Suddenly wanting to get himself seated in Saphira's saddle, Eragon broke into a steady run. He reveled in his new found strength and freshness.

'Little one?', Saphira asked when he was seated in her saddle. 'What?', he said absentmindedly scratching his hands on the sides of Saphira's neck affectionately.

'You haven't shown all that happened in Uru'baen to me. Have you?', she asked a little hesitantly. Eragon felt all his enthusiasm drain away. Of course, he hadn't shown all that he went through in Uru'baen to Saphira. How could he when those revelations would reveal his fears and show how weak he was on the inside? No. He was not going to tell them to her. They were his secrets. Why should he divulge them?

'No. I haven't', he said shortly.

Saphira didn't compel him anymore. Instead she took off from the ground and shot up straight as an arrow towards the skies. When she was high enough that Eragon could not see the elves waiting on the ground, she tugged at his mind urging him to give her control. After a great deal of complaining Eragon complied. He was both glad and guilty when he saw that she didn't try to look into his memories at Uru'baen when she could have done so easily. Tears welled in his eyes, tears of love.

'Oh, little one.... Enjoy the moment. Don't think of anything else', Saphira ordered him and sent feelings of warmth and love to him. Finally, Eragon relaxed and started enjoying his ride. Saphira circled and flipped, dived and rose... she did all that she knew Eragon would love to experience. Eragon laughed aloud when a attempted back-flip by Saphira went awfully wrong and they plummeted towards the ground for a few seconds.

'How many days have I waited to hear you laugh that way, Eragon?', Saphira asked and Eragon realised that she had purposefully faked the slip and fall just to amuse him.

'What did I do to get you, Saphira?', Eragon choked out in Saphira's mind with overflowing love.

'It is I who is lucky to have you as my rider, Eragon', Saphira replied back with as much love. After a few more minutes of silent flying during which they both just enjoyed each other's presence, Saphira said, 'Time to go, Eragon.'

Eragon nodded his head in acceptance and Saphira dived down towards the ground folding both of her wings to her body balancing only by the swish of her tail. Soon, they were on the ground, Eragon feeling much lighter than when they had taken off.

"Why did you go without even informing us?", Arya asked as soon as they landed. Eragon tried to form some coherent answer, but Saphira asked him to be silent and she spoke to Arya privately. Arya nodded her head somberly after hearing Saphira's explanation. Eragon wanted to know what they spoke because he knew it was something about him. But he didn't ask anything to either of them because he also knew that they weren't going to tell him anything.

Arya moved away from them to give orders to the elves and so they were left alone. Eragon tentatively tried to reach out to the dragon egg.

'I wouldn't do that', Glaedr's voice said urgently in his mind. 'What? Why?', Eragon asked shocked at the sudden intervention by the elder dragon not even caring to greet Glaedr formally.

'Because he is still in search of the ONE', Glaedr replied. Something about the way Glaedr said the word 'One' made Eragon think that Glaedr was frustrated with the dragon in the egg.

'Master, What if.... he ...he..isn't...', Eragon didn't want to complete his question. The mere implications it posed made him sick with worry.

'What if he doesn't find the One at all?', Glaedr said as if it was a fact. 'Yes, it has been a fact for Glaedr for centuries, hasn't it?', he thought. Another thought occurred to him when he thought of the centuries upon centuries wait of the dragon.

'Who could have affected the dragon this much that the dragon isn't willing to take anybody else as its partner?'

'Whoever it was... the person must have been noble and kind even more so than the greatest of riders.', Saphira said. Although Eragon didn't say anything in return he silently approved her thoughts. 'Who might it be/', he thought again.

"My people will follow us by land. You will have to fly a little slower and higher Saphira. Arrangements have been made for effective scouting of our route. We won't have to face anymore surprises in this journey.", Arya announced bringing Eragon out of his thoughts.

Eragon nodded his acknowledgement while Saphira huffed her agreement.

"How long will it take for us to reach Belatona?", Eragon asked. He had asked about what all had happened to the Varden in his absence to Saphira last evening just before he had fallen asleep. She had shortly explained that Orik had joined them and that the relationship between the humans and Urgals was very much improved thanks to his cousin, Roran. He had asked eagerly about how Katrina was doing and she had said that they were all fine: Roran, Katrina, Nasuada, Orik, Angela and the others at the Varden. But her tone had not been that much enthusiastic when she said that and so he had pressed her for more information.

'They are worried Eragon.', she had burst out, 'The whole Varden is low on spirit without you. Roran looks like a caged animal nowadays. The usual merriness in Orik's voice is gone. We were all worried.' Eragon had been sure that she had wanted to tell more to him but had restrained herself.

Eragon wanted to meet his friends and family and assure them that he was safe. He wanted to embrace Roran and tell him how much he missed him. He wanted to be bashed by Angela for being a blockhead. He wanted to hear Katrina say how childish and little he was. He wanted to argue with Nasuada about what to do next and contradict her well thought-out plans with his innocent reasons. He wanted to meet his king and brother Orik. He wanted to be back where he belonged.

The anxiety he felt leaked through his link with Saphira.

'Soon, little one. In mere hours....', Saphira said soothingly to him seeking to calm him down. With two quick graceful steps Eragon was seated in Saphira's saddle. Arya nimbly climbed into Saphira's saddle and seated herself behind Eragon. Blodhgarm came forward and bowed to them.

"Drottningu. As we discussed three people have been sent ahead and they will contact you on a hourly basis. And three will stay a little way behind to ensure that no one follows us. The rest of us shall accompany you by land and we will be in scouting formation and will let you know if anything is wrong.", he said and held out a mirror.

Arya took it from him and said, "Thank you, Blodhgarm. Your services are generous."

"The honour is mine, my princess.", the wolf-elf said.

Arya nodded her head formally. Blodhgarm bowed before Saphira and said, "Be stealthy, Bjartskular. We have lost two fine warriors already and we do not want to lose anymore."

Eragon felt like reeling. Two warriors lost? Dead? Because they had pledged themselves to save him? Had he forced them to leave their eternal lives? He was too shocked to talk for a moment. By the time he found his voice, Blodhgarm had finished his exchange with Saphira and had turned his attention to him.

"Shur'tugal..It has..", Blodhgarm started but Eragon couldn't control from bursting out his fury anymore.

"Why?", he asked.

Blodhgarm eyed him confused. "Why didn't anybody tell me that people died to save me?", Eragon continued harshly.

"Shur'tugal....", Blodhgarm started to say but Eragon cut him off, "Who were they?"

"Ellyssa of house Ithenrava and Amiron of house Thrándurin", Arya's voice came from behind. "How did they..die?", Eragon asked still angry at everybody for not telling him that two people had laid their lives for his sake.

"The dragon-rider, Murtagh was strong, my lord", Blodhgarm said. Eragon gritted his teeth in frustration and anger at the whole world for making him so helpless that two people had to die to save him. He was angry on Murtagh for killing them. He was angry at the elves for hiding it from him.

'We didn't want you to worry anymore than you already did, Eragon', Saphira said trying to calm him.

"I didn't even know them and they... they laid their lives for me... And I have not even seen their faces.... I am cruel", Eragon said pushing down a lump in his throat.

"No, my lord. They died in the services of the Lead rider of Alagaesia. They were proud to do so.", Arya said. Eragon was dumb-stuck. Arya had called him a lord and proclaimed him, the lead rider of Alagaesia. "They were given a proper cremation worthy of Kings.", Arya continued. Eragon was too tired emotionally to respond to her.

'Calm yourself, child. They all speak the truth. You are now the lead rider of Alagaesia, the only hope that dragons have for redemption. Do justice to the people who died for you by freeing this land of the rule of Galbatorix. Make their deaths meaningful. That way you could honour them.', Glaedr said to him.

Glaedr's words calmed Eragon down considerably. He turned to Arya and nodded to her as if accepting her explanation. Then he recited the final words spoken before the cremation of the greatest of warriors closing his eyes. When he opened his eyes, he saw Blodhgarm looking at him almost reverently. "We are blessed to have one as noble as you as the lead rider of Alagaesia, Eragon-elda", he said. Eragon nodded at him somberly.

'Stick to the plan, Blodhgarm. We are leaving.', Saphira said to Blodhgarm and rose into the skies. A measure of peace surrounded Eragon and he felt like a completely changed man from the one who left Belatona to attend Oromis's funeral.

'You are changed little one.... You know your true name and it has only increased your confidence rather than making you miserable...But...', Saphira trailed off.

'But what?', Eragon asked hesitantly already having a mild idea about what she was about to say.

'You have become closed, Eragon. You are keeping secrets even from me. Please let me help you Eragon. You know I can', Saphira said calmly and lovingly that made it even harder for Eragon to resist the temptation to tell her all  his fears and cry out his misery to her. With difficulty he controlled himself.

'I will tell you all, Saphira. Just give me time', he pleaded. Saphira snorted but didn't compel him. Eragon rubbed Saphira's neck scales affectionately.

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The city of Belatona loomed large on the ground. It was dusk time and the mild red glow of the sky was contrasted by the brightly lit city. It was clear that the whole city was in celebratory mood. Eragon was glad that he had changed into the neat clothes Arya had given him and that he was well rested and healed after the taxing escape from Uru'baen. He would look foolish if he stood before the people gathered to welcome him, tattered and broken. He was also glad that they didn't meet with any unfortunate events en route here because that would have exhibited how tired he was mentally. Now he was well rested and happy what with all the flying with Saphira. Not to mention that Arya had been close to him all the while. Arya had handed Brisingr over to him during the flight and he was amazed at the amount of energy Arya had stored in its pommel.

Eragon kept his hand on the belt of beloth the wise to which Brisingr was strapped and transferred the remaining vitality from Brisingr's pommel to his body. Instantly, he felt rejuvenated. He extended his mind cautiously out to his surroundings expecting his tiredness to overtake him. But not a bit of tiredness showed through and he felt as healthy as he had ever been. At that moment, he knew that he was completely healed from the physical effects of his time as a captive. He marvelled at how fast his body was able to revitalise itself. He hadn't noticed that part of having an elf's body till now. He healed much faster than any human could imagine to be healed.

With his mind extended he could listen to the thoughts of hope and happiness in the crowd below him. He searched for Roran's mind and with a little difficulty spotted him. Roran's mind was closed with strong mental barriers but waves of anxiety and happiness emanated from him.

'Roran?', he called a little cautiously not wanting to surprise his cousin. But Roran's reaction was one for which he had completely been unprepared.

"Eragon!!", Roran called out in return. Eragon was sure Roran had used his voice too. But more than that, the pure joy that radiated from his cousin's mind, was overwhelming. It showed how much Roran loved and cared for him.

Saphira started descending smoothly aligning herself almost parallel to the ground with a small inclination so that she could land just ahead of where the first line of the welcome party was waiting for them. Eragon could see the happy faces of Nasuada, Orik and Roran on the front line. Orrin and Garzhvog were there too. Katrina, Angela and other important members of the Varden were in the second line. The elves stood on the third line, their calm faces held high. And behind them the whole Varden stood. It was like the whole city was crammed near the entrance.

Even as Saphira reached near the ground, Blodhgarm and his company who had run with them by ground reached the gates of the city. Saphira landed gracefully just seconds after the elves had stopped and paid their respect to the waiting leaders. Eragon jumped off Saphira's saddle and felt Arya mimicking his action. He waited for Arya to draw level with him and they both walked towards the gathering together.

"They actually rescued him", Eragon heard Nasuada whisper. Roran stood like a statue, a gleam in his eyes. Within seconds he raced forward and hugged Eragon closely. "Welcome back", Roran whispered tears falling from his eyes wetting Eragon's shirt. Eragon clung back to his cousin, words failing him. As if on cue the whole Varden broke out into cheers when the cousins separated. Roran turned towards Arya and bowed to her. Eragon suspected that Roran knew Arya's heritage because Roran wasn't someone who would bow before others. Arya's emotionless mask fell away for a split-second, surprise colouring her expression, but before anybody could notice it she hid it and regained her composed look again and nodded at Roran. Eragon realised then that much more had happened between Roran and Arya than before his capture.

"Welcome back, Eragon. The Varden is happy to have you with us again", Nasuada welcomed him formally. Eragon took two steps towards her and bowed.

"I am happy to be back with the Varden too, my lady.", Eragon said. Nasuada nodded accepting his words. Then a little hesitantly she came forward and hugged him. Eragon returned the gesture and after a few moments Nasuada whispered in his ears, "Let us separate before the Varden makes us a couple" and withdrew from him. Eragon chuckled quietly marvelling at how lovable the environment at the Varden was than in Uru'baen. 'No wonder, Murtagh has become hard as a stone', he thought.

"Good to see my brother again", Orik said bringing Eragon out of his dark thoughts. "Orik!", Eragon said and hugged his brother-by-law. "It's great to be back", he said more to himself than to the others. Eragon eyed Katrina who stood behind Nauada smiling at him and said, "You will be a mother soon!!" Katrina laughed brightly at his words. It amazed him that he would soon be a uncle. 'Can I be as good as Garrow?', he thought.

'You will be better, little one', Saphira said to him.

'You still trust me, don't you?', Eragon asked lightly. 'I will always', Saphira replied quite seriously.

"Well, now don't stand there blocking his way. I bet the man has seen too much and needs some rest. Let him in.", someone said from beside Katrina. Eragon smiled at the voice for he knew it was Angela. Only she could be this straightforward when things needed to be done in an obscure way and be confusing when things needed to be done forthrightly. Everybody on the first moved uncomfortably letting Eragon in.

When he came near Angela, she asked him, "Did you see Elva?" The thoughts of the witch-child brought the worst moments of Eragon's days as prisoner to Galbatorix to the forefront of his mind. His mind became blank and dark. Saphira growled at Angela baring her teeth. Angela ignored her and whispered, "Is it that bad? The poor child."

The next few hours went in a blur as Eragon met with his village friends, Jeod and other friends of his. The twelve elven guards resumed their duty flanking him always. They seemed more protective of him, never allowing anybody to reach near him or Saphira without examining them. Arya had gone with Nasuada to give her report to the leader of the Varden and the elven queen. She had also said that she would tell about the egg to Orik, Islanzadi and Nasuada together. Eragon found it to be the best idea to bring out the matter of the egg which was the most sensitive issue for the allies and so had agreed. But he had been dumbfounded when Arya had said, "Good, I needed your permission"

When he was alone at last, while leaving for his quarters from Roran's home where he was invited for supper, he mused about how Arya's day would have gone. Eragon could not even imagine the reaction of Islanzadi when she hears of Arya's actions. Eragon knew how protective of her daughter the queen was. Islanzadi would have launched a lengthy tirade at Arya for being irresponsible in her duties. It made Eragon happy and sad at the same time. Sad because Arya would be facing it because of him and happy because the thought of Arya being irresponsible made her more close to him. Like she was somebody like him.

'Eragon, snap out of it, you are blocking me', Saphira's irritated voice reached him. His turned slightly red because he had blocked even Saphira, although unintentionally, when thinking about Arya. The thoughts about the elven princess were that private to him.

'Yes, She is most beautiful, isn't she?', Saphira asked. Eragon blushed even more. 'Saphira?!', he said.

'What? And kind and brave and strong.', Saphira continued undeterred. Eragon felt his face becoming hotter.

He ran into somebody as he walked and hastily said, "Sorry, I wasn't watching my steps." without even looking at the person.

"Its fine, Eragon", Arya's beautiful voice said. Eragon's guts clenched. The fine smell of pine-cones and morning breeze reached him and he stuttered, "Arya... I... oh, Arya..."

"What is it Eragon? How was your day?", Arya asked casually. Eragon started sweating all over. Saphira chuckled happily from her lair. 'Don't do anything stupid, Eragon', Saphira said.

'You....!', Eragon shouted at her.

'Ha, now don't get all excited, little one. Arya will notice', Saphira said and became silent.

"Um, it was nicely spent, Arya.", Eragon said trying hard to ignore their proximity and solitude. "How was yours? I hope all went smoothly", he asked suddenly getting a purpose to speak to her.

"Most of it. We will have a meeting tomorrow, Eragon. Ask Saphira to be present early in the morning in the city.", she said and continued in a whisper, "The egg is with her" Eragon nodded.

"Rest well, Eragon. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow", she said. "You too, Arya", Eragon said. After a minor pause, he said, "Thank you, Arya", making eye-contact with her for the first time during this meeting. All the love that he kept hidden in the depths of his mind leapt out through his eyes, once he met the fascinating forest green orbs that were Arya's eyes. None of them, cut the eye-contact and both didn't seem capable of it. Finally, after a few moments, Arya nodded her head and walked away quite fast towards her quarters while Eragon stood watching her back disappear into the depths of the night.

Author's Note:

Eragon has finally returned to the Varden. And they have a major advantage over Galbatorix now. The Dragon Egg. But what do you think? Will it be a boon or a bane?