A warning and the first night of the festival.
#4 of A New Age!
This chapter was a a bit of a pain to make. Mainly becouse of how I wanted to pace it. I didn't want it to just be filler but I also didn't want to rush things too much. What do you think about the pacing and please let me know so I can improve. As always rate and comment.
"See, this is what happens when you forget to bring a map." Nevre said as he pulled an arrow out of his leg before throwing it to the ground. "Last time bandits didn't target this road." Eragon replied sheathing Brisingr before walking back to the wagon "Is everyone alright?" Eragon asked. "The little ones are a little shaken but otherwise we're fine." Saphira said leaving the charred corpse behind her. Eragon approached one of the men who still lived before grabbing him by the collar of his tunic. "Why did you attack us?" Eragon yelled at the man "You think everyone's happy with that bitch on the throne? Some of us liked Galbatorix's way of doing things. We, his loyal solders got everything we could want, gold, power, women. And then you came and took everything from us. You and that dragon whore." The man answered. Trying to hold back his anger Eragon looked into the mans eyes "I'd choose my next words carefully if I were you.." Eragon warned
"You think I care about your threats? Venrik knows where you're going. And when he catches up he'll take everything from you. Perhaps he'll let the men have some 'fun' with your dragon, before he rips the heart from her breast." The man said laughing only to be silenced by Eragon who unsheathed Brisingr and stabbing the man through the chest. Wiping the blood off his sword Eragon was left with worry in his mind, although it was true he had become a powerful rider he was still mortal. He could't help but fear the mans warning even if the fear was small.
When night fell Eragon set up a tent for Himself and Saphira to sleep in while Nevre did the same for himself, Olera and the other hatchlings slept in a makeshift nest in the back of the wagon. Eragon guessed that it wouldn't be until near sundown tomorrow when they would reach Elesmera, and that was if they didn't need to restock traveling supplies on the way or had to fight more of Galbatorix's men who had become bandits. Eragon patrolled the camp the fear in his mind having grown in the past few hours. Hearing a twig snap Eragon quickly turned around and saw Saphira coming towards him. "Eragon it's late, come you need to rest." Saphira said holding her hand out to him. "I'm sorry Saphira, but I can't, not after what that man said." Eragon answered trying to keep up the facade that he was wide awake while in truth he had been very tired from traveling. "Eragon you're tired and as your mate I think you need to listen to me and get some sleep. If you are as awake as you say however I think I'll just have to drag you back to our tent and rip those clothes of your body." Saphira said with a wink. Knowing that Saphira had put him between a rock and a hard place Eragon nodded and walked to their tent before almost immediately falling asleep, not even bothering to change into his sleeping attire.
The rest of the trip was uneventful and by sundown the next day they had reached Elesmera. The entire city had been decorated in blue and the entire city bustled with men, elves, and dwarfs who had come for the celebration. "Eragon, so glad you could make it." Islanzadi said as she approached Eragon "I must admit I'm impressed." Eragon replied "Well blue is the colour of your mate and your sword." Islanzadi explained as she motioned for Eragon and Saphira to follow. Nevre moved to follow but was stopped by an elf. "We got the report about you from princess Arya, if you so much as think about causing trouble you'll have an entire quiver worth of arrows in your heart." The elf threatened. Nevre simply nodded before moving to catch up with Eragon and Saphira not wanting to lose his head like the last time he had encountered an elf.
"We have tidied and refurnished the home you two stayed in during your time here during the war." Islanzadi said as she opened the door to the large treehouse and reveal a living room fit for royalty. "Incredible." Eragon said as he walked into the large room "I do hope it's to your liking." Islanzadi said "It's wonderful, thank you." Saphira replied. After Isnanzadi said her goodbyes to the trio and left to help prepare for the festival Eragon sat down and took off his boots deciding to simply relax after a full day of travel while Saphira went to make some tea which she had taken a liking to. Hearing a knock at the door, Eragon got up and opened it and was greeted by the sight of Murtagh, his half-brother. "Eragon it's good to see you." Murtagh said only for the two to overhear a loud 'humph' coming the large red dragon behind Murtagh. "I sure you remember Thorn." Murtagh said nervously "When a dragon sets fire to your pants you tend to remember them." Eragon answered recalling when Thorn found out about his relationship with Saphira. "Hello Murtagh, Thorn." Saphira greeted "You reek of human Saphira." Thorn said "Thorn I've already told you, I love Eragon. I'm not interested in you." Saphira replied "You betray your race by choosing him." Thorn argued. Seeing that the arguement could get heated very quickly, Eragon and Murtagh led the two away. "Well it was nice catching up with you." Eragon said "Likewise." Murtagh replied before shutting the door on his way out.
"I'd hoped to that I wouldn't have to deal with him so soon." Saphira said sitting down and pouring some tea into a cup. "I know Saphira, it must be difficult having to deal with it." Eragon replied sitting next to her. "I'll be fine Eragon. I'll get the message through his thick skull eventually." Saphira replied.
"What in the name of the gods was that for?" Murtagh asked angrily. "She has chosen a poor mate, how can she expect a simple farm boy to support her or her hatchlings? Not to mention it isn't natural." Thorn argued slamming his tail into the ground. "That 'farm boy' is my brother and friend not to mention a hero of the Varden. And as for their relationship being unnatural, we both know that our bond is also unnatural." Murtagh replied. "If she wants to be with Eragon then you need to respect her decision and move on."
"I will not, I care too much for her to just stand by and let her womb be defiled by human seed." Thorn replied. "I'm leaving to hunt." And with a mighty flap of his wings Thorn left the city and into distance above the dense forests below.
Eragon explored the many stalls that lined the streets as he browsed the wares that merchants had brought to sell during the celebration. He couldn't help but chuckle as he came to a stall that seemed to be selling wooden replicas of both himself and Saphira in her original form. "Lord Eragon, what a pleasure it is to meet you." The merchant greeted "Greetings merchant." Eragon replied as he browsed the many wooden sculptures. "I see you, noticed my little homage to you and your dragon. While not everyone accepts your choice to make her your lover, I for one wish to congratulate you." The merchant said "Thank you." Eragon said before he saw a peculiar pair of the wooden figurines, the pair seemed to be of himself and Saphira in her current form, however the figurine of himself see,ed to be dressed in a set of high class ceremonial clothing while Saphira was dressed in what could only be a wedding dress. "How much for those two?" Eragon asked "Ah a keen eye for quality. Just finished making those two. Each figurine here is worth about five copper but for this one of a kind set I'll sell for fifteen copper." The merchant said. Reaching into a pouch on his belt Eragon took out the fifteen copper coins and handed them to the merchant. The merchant wrapped the two figurines to keep them safe and gave them to Eragon who placed them securely in a separate pouch. Saphira was also looking through the many merchant stalls with her own pouch of coins, deciding that she would need a good dress to wear to the banquet the following night she searched for any salesmen that might be selling any dresses. Finding a large peculiar stall Saphira approached and saw the stall brimming with odd outfits, the key factor of them being that they left little to the imagination. A deep red set caught her eye. The outfit consisted of a low-cut bra, a pair of women undergarments that lacked anything to actually cover a woman's privates and was topped off by a pair of elbow length gloves and a pair of thigh high stockings. "See anything you like?" A young woman asked "Oh I'm sorry, I'm just looking for a dress for tomorrow nights feast." Saphira explained "Well if that's what you're looking for my sister has a stall just a little further down the path, but I encourage you to take a look here too. After all you might find something both you and your lover will like." The woman said "What do you mean?" Saphira asked confused "These clothes you see here are worn during... Intercourse. They spice things up in the bedroom to put it simply." The woman explained before taking the outfit Saphira had been looking at before. "Tell you what, I'll give you half off on this one, only one silver." The woman offered
"A-alright. Maybe it will be something Eragon will like." Saphira said reaching into the pouch she carried and taking out a single silver coin. "Pleasure doing business with you." The woman said taking the coin and putting the outfit into a small box. After thanking the merchant Saphira left to find herself a more formal outfit.
As the night came to a close Eragon and Saphira returned to their treehouse. Upon entering they found their children asleep each one of them matching Eragon in height if standing on their hind legs. Saphira walked over and gently kissed each one on the forehead before following Eragon to their room upstairs. Climbing into bed beside Eragon, Saphira looked over to him and gave him a quick kiss before drifting off to sleep with the soft sounds of the breeze and less soft sounds of Nevre talking to Shruikan's skull downstairs.
"Look I know it's crazy but if this works the crazy elves will trust me and stop pointing spears and swords at me." Nevre said to the former mad dragons skull. "Hey I'll be the first to admit that this is a stupid idea but it'll be worth it." And with that Nevre started writing down notes as he worked on his newest concoction.