Dragon Riders - IC

(**Please see OOC Thread for character openings and gist of this story! thanks!**)

He'd sent her away, but she didn't go far. She'd known that the creatures had come, were looking for him - wanted to kill him, and her. When Saphira saw him running towards the house at a deadman's pace, she'd known that to protect him she must carry him away... even though it meant his family and his home would suffer. It meant he wouldn't.
But Eragon didn't quite understand that, not quite yet. He was angry with her, and he'd sent her away, but she hadn't gone far. Instead, she hovered far above what used to be the farm, listening to his thoughts and waiting for him to realize that, as much as she needed him, he also needed her. She'd chosen him for his heart, and trusted that soon he'd find the most excellent way once again.

Saphira knew that someone had come into the barn with Eragon, though she couldn't quite tell who. Eragon's mind was full of anger, and full of questions for this stranger. He was convinced that this other man knew something... knew more than he'd revealed at an earlier meeting of some sort. The dragon stayed close, in case this stranger was not a friend. All she knew of him now was what Eragon thought of him, and the boy was mad right now and his thoughts couldn't be trusted as truth.

"Call her back." Brom said to Eragon, shaking him, trying to get him to pull himself together. "You are not safe here, neither is she. You must stick together. There is more at stake than just the life of your uncle. Do you hear me boy?" Brom asked still in the boy's face, making sure he was the only thing the young man saw or thought about. "Call her back." he repeated. "If the Ra'zak catch her she's dead. You know she's still young, United you are stronger. Now we must go." And with a quick smack of flint and steal he lit a brand and threw it on the house, the dry wood going up with a great woosh. "Burnin's a better fait for him, than bein' found by those Ra'zak again." he said as he took Eragon's elbow, beginning to lead him away.

Eragon... the young man had hardly realized what was happening before it had already begun. He had barely found the egg what was it.. a month... two months ago? Brom had been his mentor though recently... as the spies had closed in he had thought in his own stupid young ways that sending Saphira would be for the best, after all they needed to get out of there as it was! He nodded dimly to Brom though as he looked to what had once been his home and knew never more would it be.

"Call her back." The words rang through his head... even as he looked up to the dark grey skies... she was already halfway across to the horizon... but he knew she could hear him... he had a telepathic bond with her, though their skills had not honed at all yet, Brom was right of course, together... they were storng... seperated, they were weak, and would be overcome. Nodding dimly... he thought to his dragon... the moment having passed of his panicking. " Saphira, return to me, we must remain together... I am a fool... Saphira come back please." He had felt torn when he had had to send her away in the first place, but in the heat of the moment it had seemed the best thing to do!

He dimly felt himself being led away, but his eyes didn't see Brom, instead they watched... hoping Saphira would heed his call... he needed her, just as she needed him! He could feel the burning in his palm, the connection between them, the link that would never fade so long as they both lived... he knowing at once that what Brom had said was correct... he needed her. He still remembered the day... the day he had found her egg... What a fool he had been, thinking it a mere gem, and trying to sell it. He still remembered how he had felt flustered and angry when no one had wanted to buy it. It had started out as a horrible day, and ended up as one of the best of his life.

He still didn't know what would happen with them... Saphira and himself... he was still young, a mere 18 year old man, and he was being thrust into a world, he had never thought that he would. He was to become a dragon rider, or so Brom had told him. Eragon knew nothing of his parents, only that the egg had been teleported by someone to the Spine, and that he had found it. Now though, a lifetime seeming to have passed, he watched with sad, angry and furious eyes as he was dragged away from the burning home that had been his entire life until that point!

OOC: If anything doesn't sound right let me know via pm lol just trying to get into the moment.

Far to the north

The wind howled through the mountain peaks, a rush of snow torn loose whipping through the air. It rushed and twisted through the craggy peaks, careening over jagged rocks and smooth sheets of icy snow, whirling madly, seemingly at random through the heights. Yet there was purpose in it's movement, and it twisted to the will on one other than itself. Rushing madly down through a valley, it thundered up a sheer cliff face to rise up before a fire-lit cave. The cut in the rock was wide and deep, and though several thick furs had been lashed over the entrance, the yellow-orange light of the flame within leaked from the edges. Standing at the cliff's edge, covered in the warm hide of a great winter bear was a slender, fragile looking man with pale skin. His eyes were closed as he stood, his delicate features smooth and untroubled. A thick mane of red-gold tumbled down from his head, a bright splash of color against the white and black of the mountains.

His eyes snapped open, a glittering hard green, as the wind now whirled about him, ruffling his long hair and the fur he was wrapped in. "...Good." "He comes, as expected." "All is ready?" He paused for a moment, listening to the spirit of the wind as it whispered in his ear. "Good." "Do this and it will be your last service for me this time." "Fail, and I will bottle you in iron and let you sit in this cave until the end of days." The wind wailed and rushed away again, to make ready for it's role in what was to come. The pale man smiled, a mirthless expression on his cold face, "Now comes the test." He raised one hand, fingers wide for a moment before he closed it in a fist. "Then, the power of a dragon, in the palm of my hand."

The big white dragon laughed as he played with the wind - there was something special in it today, an unusual energy calling Glacier to fan his broad wings and use his corded muscles to whirl from updraft to downdraft and back again. There had been fresh snow the day before and now everything glittered with brilliant white. For most creatures it would have been bitter cold, but a dragon's flame was the color of its skin, and in between the white-hot flame that burned forever in his chest and the insulation of his nearly impenetrable pearl-like scales Glacier felt only exhilarating cool.

He had lived farther South when he was younger - he liked the colors there, the variety of prey, the fascinating but dangerous phenomenon of humans and their civilization. It was too cold for weak human skin or lungs here. Glacier felt a mixture of pity and contempt for the bonded dragons who would never see the beauty of this place, never know the amazing feeling of flying through the magical energies which made up the aurora, because from birth to death they never left the side of the weaker being they had been magically chained to. For all that they described their captivity as blissful, and Glacier could see the truth of it in their eyes, he loved his freedom and shuddered to imagine himself confined in such a way. Although it would have been nice to have someone to share the joy of the wind with...

As usual when his loneliness crept up on him the white dragon shook it off, pushing it to the back of his mind. Perhaps when it was spring again he would go South and look for a mate again; not that he would be any more likely to find a mate this year than any other year, there simply weren't that many dragons and it was just as unlikely that one of them would suddenly decide he was interested in males as it was that Glacier would suddenly decide he was interested in females. That was the reason he lived in the snowy lands now; it had hurt to much to be surrounded day after day by others courting and coupling and raising children, while he remained alone.

Fortunately Glacier was pleasantly distracted from his thoughts by spotting a nice fat seal, his favorite lunch and one of the other main reasons he liked living in the North. He grinned fiercely as he gathered himself to dive at it.

" Saphira, return to me, we must remain together... I am a fool... Saphira come back please."

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She heard him loud and clear. A smile creeping across her scaley but beautiful face, Saphira lowered herself to the ground, landing directly in front of her rider.
"I never left you," she stated gently. The look the two shared said more than words ever could have, and they both understood. Quickly, Saphira's head snapped to the new and older stranger. Her wings spread, ready, and she bared her teeth at him and hissed.

"WHO is this stranger? Has he harmed you? I shall tear him limb from limb!!" She was untrusting of this new person, no matter what Eragon tried to say to her, no matter what the man's claims of knowledge were. She wouldn't transform to her human state until she felt completely comfortable with their surroundings and company... besides, first they'd need to get far away from this place and the danger it held.

But, not knowing if this man was truly a friend or foe, Saphira was skeptical until proven otherwise. She sent thoughts to her rider.
"I don't trust him. I don't like him. He says he knows about dragons! BAH! What does he know???"

WHO is this stranger? Has he harmed you? I shall tear him limb from limb!!"

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Eragon couldn't help but smile. Somehow he knew that if Saphira felt truly harmed, that she really would try and rip Brom limb from limb. Though he shook his head slightly and gently squatted a bit... she felt the soft stroke of his fingers upon her scaled back, before he rose and kept moving with Brom. " He is my friend Saphira... you are my drake... surely you can tell he is not our enemy. Do not be jealous because at the moment he knows more then you... my beautiful dragon you will learn more then he ever could." He trying to use a dragon's ego to soothe Saphira... even as he let Brom lead him from the burning building.

He did wonder where they would go now... the Ra'zac had just caused the destruction of his home, but he knew that they were not the true one's responsible. Saphira could feel Eragon's anger... Galbatorix was to blame... the tyrant of a king... someday, Eragon would make that man pay! With a silent nod to Brom though, he was led away from his home, though as he would come to find out later, it hadn't really been home. Yet above all else that had happened to the young man... he knew one thing, he was glad that Saphira was there with him... to him, it felt good!

Far to the north, contact is made

sunandshadow said:

Fortunately Glacier was pleasantly distracted from his thoughts by spotting a nice fat seal, his favorite lunch and one of the other main reasons he liked living in the North. He grinned fiercely as he gathered himself to dive at it.

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The wind that had buoyed him aloft suddenly turned, striking Glacier full in the face, turning his dive aside. The seal let out a trumpeting alarm, a clumsy lurch sending it skittering down the ice and into the water. The wind howled around Glacier buffeting the great dragon.

Then a voice floated out of the wind, into the great creature's ear. "Glacier of the great North, I have heard the whispers you sigh into the wind, and know the secrets of longing you have kept." "There are spirits of both and such things are mine to command." "I have an offer for you, one that fulfill longings for us both, and more besides." "Follow the wind to me." The voice was a human male's, strong and unwavering, with the hint of both command and an unspoken promise that further action would be taken if his instructions were not followed.

On his mountain peak, the sorcerer smiled coldly. The wind spirit had delivered his message. Now, to set the stage. He gestured with his right hand, and stumbling up the slope came two large mountain goats. They moved haltingly, as though trying to resist the very movements of their legs. The power that held them was stronger though, and come they did. He looked them over, good looking beasts, plenty of eating on them. An appropriate peace offering for what the wind had cost the great dragon. "Will he agree or will he need...persuasion, I wonder."

He turned from the beasts as they knelt down in the snow, looking to the north, the direction the dragon was. The massive wyrm would not be long in coming.

Several emotions flashed quickly through Glacier: startlement at being suddenly betrayed by the wind he knew so well and was addressed by a human voice in midair, anger as he focused his magical senses and identified an air elemental which had just wrapped itself around his neck where he could not direct his flame at it, and fear as the transmitted voice of the mage controlling the air elemental revealed a knowledge of the white dragon's inner desires.

Attacking the elemental with his claws would be useless, they would pass right through it. The only thing which kept Glacier from outright panic was the knowledge that an air elemental would not be strong enough to throttle him. It could possibly kill him by suffocation if it managed to dive into his nose before he could breathe fire at it, but that was quite unlikely now that he was alerted. Its position around his neck was a defensive one, not an offensive one; and when the white dragon managed to process the mage's words, his offer was a seemingly peaceful request for a meeting - although Glacier bristled at the hint of threat in the human's tone.

"What do you want, mage?! Have you been spying on me? Do you threaten me? If you had some honest favor to ask of me you would be stupid to risk offending me before you even asked it, so you must want something you know I would not give willingly." The air elemental tried to tow the white dragon in the direction of its master and Glacier backwinged strongly, halting their progress but feeling an uncomfortable strain through his neck. He continued to shout, "If that is so, best you release me and go back where you came from, for though I have no quarrel with humans I do not hesitate to slay those who are foolish enough to threaten me!"

sunandshadow said:

"What do you want, mage?! Have you been spying on me? Do you threaten me? If you had some honest favor to ask of me you would be stupid to risk offending me before you even asked it, so you must want something you know I would not give willingly." "If that is so, best you release me and go back where you came from, for though I have no quarrel with humans I do not hesitate to slay those who are foolish enough to threaten me!"

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An almost smile flitted over Galyeon's pale face, though it did not reach his eyes. The dragon's bellowing could be heard far and wide. He closed his eyes, making mental contact with the spirit that was twined about the dragon. "Perhaps I overestimated you, Glacier." "If I wished to harm you, the wind would have hurled you to the ground below, not harmlessly coiled about you." "I did what was necessary to get your attention." "Nothing more." He spoke normally, softly even, the magic of the spirits he controlled carrying the sound directly to the struggling dragon. "We both know you would not have stopped to parley with a human who signaled you, you think yourself above us...and you're mostly correct." "Mostly." A hint of promise, of certainty crept into his words. "But you and I are not normal, we are great." "And great beings have no need of idle threats or boasts."

He gestured, and the wind released the dragon. "My offer of no mere favor, no easy boon, but a matter that will determine our fates, and that of the world around us." "It fits it to be treated differently than a simple begging for a task to be done." "You know where I am." "Come to me and hear my words." "Or go back to your hunt, and I will know I was mistaken in my choice of you, and seek greatness elsewhere."

The dragon was angrier than he'd expected. No matter. He'd prepared for this day long and well. Should the beast attack...it would be dealt with, and the offer would be made a different way. Not that mattered. The offer would be heard. It would be accepted. He would allow no other result.

Glacier considered pointing out that his wingspan was larger than the air elemental, so although it could probably have forced him to the ground it would have been a controlled landing, a mere annoyance. The white dragon considered explaining that to have any human appear in these cold uninhabited lands would have been unusual enough that he would have stopped and investigated them them out of simple boredom and curiosity. But listening to the mage underestimate Glacier's ability to fight back, call himself a 'great being', and refuse to apologize for his rude introduction, Glacier decided with offended dignity that this human needed to be taught a lesson in humility.

So when the elemental uncoiled itself from around his neck the mighty white dragon darted out of its grasp, flying like an arrow toward the impudent mage. Glacier could have incinerated the air elemental once it released him, but reasoned that it was only a slave of the arrogant mage, and as such not really at fault for insulting him. Besides, destroying his servant might have tipped the mage off to how much he was underestimating the dragon he had foolishly chosen to challenge. The more the mage underestimated him, the more entertaining it would be to 'enlighten' him about the true power of a fully mature wild dragon. Glacier wondered with amused contempt whether this mage had ever actually spoken with a dragon before, even seen one up close, or had only read about them in books.

The powers of a pureblooded human mage who was not a shade or a dragonrider were quite limited. Humans were creatures of the earth, and thus they tended to think in two dimensions - many, many human spells required a circle on the ground (totally ineffective against a dragon in the air), or could only be cast on a target quite nearby. Probably the mage had set up some trap on the ground, and expected to either trick Glacier into landing there, or force him there with the air elemental. Glacier however was not that foolish. (A niggling thought tried to suggest that he might easily have been caught in such a trap has the mage approached him in a friendly way, but the white dragon ignored it.)

Mages' long-range projectile attacks tended to imitate arrows (provided one kept one's eyes out of the way, arrows might make a small hole in one's wing but otherwise tended to bounce of dragon-skin), lightning (to which sky creatures were naturally immune), or fireballs (pathetic compared to the dragon fire two adult dragons might breathe at each other in a dispute over mates or territory). Provided Glacier stayed in the air at least a few hundred yards away from the mage he ought to be perfectly safe. The only question was how exactly he could puncture the mage's overinflated ego without getting dangerously close. Glacier grinned with a predatory flash of teeth - perhaps this would be amusing enough to make it worth his lunch escaping.

Brom

The older man stopped in front of the now almost fully grown dragon and bowed to her, "I greet you noble dragon." he said, "I am Brom, and I must help the two of you." he said, "I mean no harm to you or Eragon." he said softly.



Then he gestured to the two horses he had with him, "Mount up boy, have your dragon fly out of sight near us. Ask questions later." he ordered swinging up into the saddle of the horse. He then spirred the horse into a trot.

Eragon looked to the horses, only once looking back... Saphira could feel his anger, they shared that bond that was between dragon and rider... though he nodded to Brom and looking to Saphira gently cooed. " Follow us, we need to get out of here... I want to get stronger, better for you my dragoness... you are so pretty... follow us." He implored her, even as he moved and climbing onto the horse he felt as normal as ever... though he felt an ashen hole developing in his heart... he was so angry and upset... that could prove to be a problem... if he allowed himself to succumb to the anger and turn into what he hated the most... the king.

In the north, a plan unfolds

A phantom smile graced Galyeon's delicate features for a moment. "Fine, then." This was always a possible way things would go. That he would have to humble the great beast to make it bond, though he'd expected the dragon to have at least heard his offer first. "I have asked twice, the third time will be the last."

He'd prepared for this day for some time. A year and a day, to be precise. The power of a sorcerer was in planning and strategy, instant casting and improvisation were possible but far weaker. A mage of his skill who's had time to get ready though...that was a dangerous man. Particularly when he didn't limit his thinking.

Galyeon raised a hand, "Wind." The word stung the very air with it's force, and immediately the wind kicked up driving and lashing at the oncoming dragon. The air spirit from before was part of the assault, but so was another he had kept back. "Water." The looming clouds above suddenly belched forth rain in a torrent that seemed to come from nowhere. The wailing winds cooled the raging rain, some of it becoming hail, much of it freezing as soon as it hit a surface. Say, a mountain side. Or a flying dragon. "Fire." The clouds rumbled, and lightning arced forth, great twisting daggers of electricity scoring the sky and the cliffs. He knew it wouldn't hurt Glacier, but the sound and the flashes of light would make the confusion and carnage of the storm even worse.

He had other resources to use, but he would hold them for as long as possible. He spoke again, his voice carrying to the dragon through the wind spirit's power, "Must this truly be the way of things?" "I did not travel for six months and climb these peaks to die, nor to fight you." "Glacier of the north, I have watched and seen that you are powerful and wise." "Perhaps I was...mistaken in the choice of tactic for getting your attention," the closest to an apology he would ever get, "but I have not shown any intent to harm you." "Merely the capability." He paused, pursing his lips. "Are you not even curious why I have gone to all this trouble?"

In the north, a plan unfolds

"Perhaps I was...mistaken in the choice of tactic for getting your attention," the closest to an apology he would ever get, "but I have not shown any intent to harm you." "Merely the capability." He paused, pursing his lips. "Are you not even curious why I have gone to all this trouble?"

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Glacier bellowed in outrage... and fear. Sheets of ice held his wings rigid, and the unnatural wind was the only thing holding him in the air. The white dragon felt terrified and sick to realize that all the mage had to do was call off the winds and he would fall - not to his death, no, not from this height, instead his wings would shatter and he would be crippled and probably in pain for the rest of his life. His mouth was not frozen though - could he hit the mage from here? No, surely if he breathed fire the mage would have some spell ready to counter it. Glacier had originally intended to make the mage seem foolish, not harm him, but now he was so furious he could barely think, and had a sure and easy way to kill the mage appeared he would have taken it.

No, he had a better idea! He snorted a little flame toward the air elementals, just enough to get them to release him in self defense, then he blew a great cloud of fire beneath him - and fell through it, the flames melting the ice and freeing his wings. An acrobatic roll turned the speed of his fall into a fast glide away from the mage. While a mage's strength lay in study and preparation, a dragon's strength lay in instincts honed by hunting and the adaptability bred of living wild, with no walls or food stores to rely upon, and many other predators to compete with.

Glacier shot another gout of flame to fend off the pursuing air elementals a zig-zagged through the air to avoid any further spell attacks. Flying under his own power again his mood improved a bit - enough so that instead of immediately looking for a way to incinerate the mage he just screamed, "Asked?! ASKED?!? You have ATTACKED me twice, mage, without DEIGNING to tell me what you want, not even giving me the respect your laws say you would owe to a fellow human! So now I and telling YOU - call those damned elementals off, or I will destroy them! I should have done it from the first, but I listened to my misguided instincts to be merciful and tolerant and give you a chance to apologize. For fuck's sake, you told me to com and I came! But I swear a draconic oath, if you attack me again I will not rest until you are dead, even if I must sacrifice my own life to accomplish it!" Magic rang in the air, signifying the sealing of the oath.

If the damned egotistical human wouldn't listen to reason, at least he must know the laws of magic - if he attacked Glacier again, the dragon would have no choice but to use every ounce of energy in his body trying to fulfill the oath by killing the mage.

Galyeon's eyes flashed as the dragon plummeted through his own fire, melting the ice off that had gathered on his wings. "Magnificent." Yes, he'd chosen well. If the great dragon could get past his rage and pride, he'd see that his death could have come at any time, that he had never seriously been attacked. Nevertheless, the oath was an interesting move, and an impressive one. The dragon was laying his life on the line and curtailing Galyeon's options at the same time.

"Enough." The word was spoken at barely above a whisper, yet it vibrated with power. All at once, the wind, the freezing rain, the lightning, all of it stopped as though a switch had been flipped. "It seems we are both party to a great misunderstanding, noble Glacier." "This hostile state was not my intention." "Please allow me to make some restitution." "If you will join me at my camp, I have two fattened goats that are yours." "Please come and dine with me." "My offer is no small thing, and I would prefer to discuss it face-to-face, rather than shouting through the air."

He paused again, "Ah, my manners escape me." "I should introduce myself." "I am Galyeon, son of Borric and Tynave, former apprentice of Trimegistus." "I have come very far to find you, the greatest among dragons to my judgement."

Galyeon walked away from the cliff edge, his mane of coppery hair shining bright against the starkness of the mountainside. He gestured, and the hide door to the cave opened, a chair, a small table, and a steaming pot of tea floating through the air to make a rather urbane dining setting on the peak. Another gesture was made, and several bottles of wine flew through the air to alight on the table. "Will you join me and hear what I have to say?"

OOC *kicks forefox for eating the first version of this post*

Glacier was naturally hesitant to go anywhere near the crazy mage again, much less eat his food and drink. Even though Galyeon had suddenly decided to be civil, that did not change the white dragon's earlier reasoning - if Galyeon had an honest favor to ask he would have just asked, the only reason for pussyfooting around the issue was if the mage knew his request was something no dragon would willingly agree to. And the mage had made it clear he wasn't going to take no for an answer. So while Glacier did not fear the mage would immediately try to kill him with magic or poison, it was definitely possible that the mage had a trap prepared, intending to ensorcel him like Galbatorix had done to poor Shruikan.

A dragon's mind was powerful and sensitive, so much so that Glacier knew every other dragon living, even the unhatched ones, by their mental signatures. Every dragon lived with the horrifying knowledge of what had been done to the black dragon, Shruikan - his chosen rider murdered, his mind twisted with dark magic to bind him to evil Galbatorix. Every dragon could hear occasional whisps of Shruikan's deranged thoughts, and the occasional clearer nightmare when the black dragon's mind almost grasped the truth - then shied away from it, for the moment he knew the truth he would die. This was why the other dragons did nothing to break the spell on the black dragon - in breaking it they would murder him, as surely as if they had broken his neck with their own teeth.

So Glacier hung in midair, hesitating. But ultimately he could see no choice. It had become sickeningly clear that the white dragon could not outmatch the mage in power or strategy. Running away now would accomplish nothing. If the mage decided he wanted to kill Glacier, Glacier would die. The only course of action that might lead to a positive outcome would be to humor Galyeon, encourage him to keep acting civil.

So, knowing he was most likely walking right into a trap, the while dragon sighed and landed at the mouth of the mage's cave. "Galyeon son of Borric, I will listen to what you say. You seem to already know my name, but to introduce myself properly I am Glacier son of Moonstone. Usually I take human form when talking with humans - I can do that now, if you prefer?"

Galyeon waited patiently, pouring himself a cup of tea and taking a few long drinks of the hot bitter beverage. Glacier was hesitant. That was understandable. He felt as though he'd been attacked, after all, and asking him to land would take away one of his primary advantages. However, it would also put him right in front of Galyeon, negating the sorcerer's advantage. Spirits or not, one would not survive a physical confrontation with a dragon that close. It was risky...but risk was necessary to achieve greatness.

As the great dragon alighted, Galyeon did his best to appear unimpressed. It was not an easy task, and he was not entirely successful. This close, the raw power and majesty of this most magical of creatures was awe inspiring. It may have overwhelmed a lesser man, but left the red haired mage with only profound respect. As Glacier introduced himself, Galyeon rose from his chair. He shrugged off the heavy bearskin cloak that had covered him until now. Galyeon was smaller than many men, with a slender, fragile looking build. His face was delicate, like a work of art carved from crystal. His skin was pale, and the bright sheen of his red-gold hair contrasted starkly with it. He was dressed in well tailored clothes of purple and dark green, and bore a thin bladed sword at his waist.

The pale mage bowed to his guest, "Use whatever form you feel is appropriate." "I will not be a rude enough host to insist on one." Human form...interesting. He found himself very curious about it. He'd find out eventually though. If it made the magnificent Glacier more comfortable to stay as a dragon, so be it. "Would you care for some wine?" "It is a fine vintage, and chosen well for so high and honored a guest as yourself."

Unwrapped from his thick fur, the mage seemed even tinier to the big white dragon, his appearance belying how dangerous he was. The colors of his hair and clothing were like those of a tropical songbird, almost overwhelming to Glacier's eyes after the limited white, gray, gray-brown and gray-green palette of the North. He wondered if the mage always dressed that way, or if he had done so because he knew dragons liked bright colors. He also wondered how the mage thought he could drink wine in dragon form - out of a bucket?

Motivated by a hunger for socialization the dragon hadn't known he had, Glacier shifted to human form. But then he froze, embarrassed, remembering that humans always wore clothes and he had none with which to cover his human form. Then he shrugged - if it bothered the mage he could lend Glacier a blanket or ask him to return to dragon form. Meanwhile he would enjoy the amusingly gobsmacked look on the mage's delicate features.

Glacier's human form was almost the exact opposite of the Galyeon's. He was as tall as the tallest human warrior, and would only continue to get taller throughout his life because dragons (like many lizards) never stopped growing. His shoulders were proportionally broad, and his whole body wrapped in rippling muscle, then sheathed in snow-white skin (with perhaps just the faintest hints of peach in his lips, nipples, and casually dangling prick and balls). His eyes were a changeable gray, and his hair a short fluffy fuzz - he had hacked it off short because he liked to swim in his human form but the way his hair would turn into icicles as soon as he climbed out of the artic water was quite annoying.

Glacier helped himself to a glass of wine and asked Galyeon, "Would it be possible for you to magic up another chair?"

A meeting in the mountains

Galyeon's emerald eyes were not able to hide his astonishment at the dragon's metamorphosis. The amount of change was no small thing from a full sized dragon to a man, even one as tall and thick-thewed as Glacier. The dragon's human form was impressive, so much so that a startled, whisper escaped the sorcerer's full, pale lips, "Magnificent."

He was referring to the transformation, but in truth also to the form the dragon took. Tall, broad shouldered, with rippling muscles, a fine specimen of manhood. Galyeon felt certain instincts within himself stir, aroused at the sight of this man, his eyes lingering for a moment of the slightly peach tinged phallus and sack that hung between his legs. Very impressive indeed.

He was so startled for barely a moment before his collected personality reasserted itself. "Of course, noble Glacier." He held out his hand, and the large golden bowl (fully the size of a man's chest) that had been floating paused in mid-air before returning to the cave. He gestured again, and a second wooden chair covered in furs walked itself from the cavern to the other side of the table. "Please, sit." "I do not know if this form reduces your resistance to cold." "Should you desire clothing, do not hesitate to ask."

As Glacier drank, Galyeon refilled his glass. Then he raised his own to his lips, taking a long drink. "You have rightfully requested to know what I have come to ask of you." "I will not try your patience longer by withholding." He paused his gaze turning south. "I do not know if news reaches you here...but many things have changed in the lands of men, elves, and dwarves." "Once, dragon riders ruled...but the riders are gone." "Betrayed and destroyed, only one now remains and rules over all." "His power is great, and like all who are strong, he forces the weak to submit to him."

Galyeon leaned forward on the table, his emerald eyes glittering. "The actions of the king have created a power vacuum." "He holds much of the power that the riders once did, but not all." "There are momentous times, when legends may be born." "The power is there to be taken, and that power used to achieve...more personal goals of mine." "But it takes power to get power." "More than I have, more than any human could have." He leaned back. "I could become a shade, let myself be taken by some spirit, but I am my own master." "Such a course is repugnant to me." "There is one other way a human may transcend his limitations...by becoming a dragon rider."

"My offer is this, Glacier of the Great North; I ask that you accept me as your rider, to grant us both what we want." He spread his hands, "You will have a companion who will never leave you, fight for you, die for you if needed, who will stand with you through fire and shadow." "I am a man of honor, and as much power as a human sorcerer can wield, I would be a powerful ally, particularly with the abilites our bond would give me." There was a twinge of excitement in his voice now, Galyeon unable to keep it out. "Together, we will make a legend that will last for eternity." "Strangers three thousand years from now will read of our deeds, and speak our names with awe and wonder." "We will be free to carve our own destiny and path from this world, and be such a force that none could oppose us and triumph."

The white dragon mentally added 'greedy' to his list of Galyeon's flaws - although it was understandably why any human would yearn for the power and near-immortality they would gain by bonding with a dragon. Then Glacier grimaced at the mention of Galbatorix. "I am not that isolated her, or that ignorant - I have at times lived father South, even among humans in this human form, and I speak with other dragons occasionally. This place may seem terribly remote to you, but with my wings it is only a few days' flight to the nearest human city. I am older than you, though I am young for a dragon, and I traveled as far as the elven kingdom and the great ocean when I was younger. How could I not be aware of the fall of the dragonriders? I was still in the egg then, but even thus I could hear the screams of dying dragons." Glacier sipped his wine, and wondered if the bitter taste was some magical herb or just his own unpleasant memories.

"Oh yes, I know this king of whom you speak. Galbatorix." Glacier spat the name. "I know he got his power by enslaving a dragon's soul with dark magic. You must know this as well - and know that his power is only half what it could have been had he obtained a real bond with a dragon, rather than the crippled and twisted one he managed to force. And so have come to me, because you want power. You say that you will not become a shade because you are your own master, yet you expect me to bind my life to yours forever? Should such slavery not be repugnant to me also?"

"It is true that taking a rider would be more pleasant for me than becoming a shade would for you. But on the other hand I would not gain any ability to do magic or any other power from bonding with you, whereas you would gain a great deal of power from becoming either a shade or a rider. Many, many dragons have died young when their rider was killed, while becoming a shade or a rider would lengthen your own life; you could not die for me, for if my rider died, I would die also. What makes you think we would live long enough to be a legend, when becoming a dragon rider would immediately make you a threat to, and thus a target of, Galbatorix?"

Glacier shook his head unhappily - not really refusing, because he suspected Galyeon had no intention of letting him refuse, but not liking the alternative. "I fail to see any benefit to myself in your suggestion." The white dragon hesitated over his next sentence, wondering if it would give the mage even more of a hold over him than he already had, but eventually deciding he was already pretty much at the Galyeon's mercy. "You mentioned, before, something about knowing my desires. All I desire in this world is a mate, a child, and safety for them and myself. Can your magic give me that, Galyeon? Somehow I doubt that it can."

Galyeon's eyes took on a bemused expression, "Slavery?" "Come now, Glacier, you and I both know that the dragon-rider bond is nothing of the kind." He did have a flair for the dramatic. "What would keep me from stopping you in anything you wished to do?" "Hmm?" "I could not command your obedience or enforce my wishes upon you." "It is a partnership, one that is magical, yes, but still a partnership." "Which means talking about plans, making agreements, compromises, and opens many doors to both of us that are now closed." He almost laughed, "Slavery...if I wanted a slave, I'd go to the mating grounds and wait for an impressionable hatchling to beguile." "I want a partner who is at least my equal." "That is why I chose to make this offer to you." This might show some of the seriousness of thought that had gone into this meeting. "You are not the only wild dragon I have considered or observed." "You are the greatest."

"You also underestimate what you would gain." Galyeon spread his hands wide, "These mountains are impressive and they are yours...but they are very empty." "You can go to human lands and speak the language, but do you know how to go about getting what you want?" "Do you know the customs and traditions?" "I do." "There is wealth and pleasures that can be yours for the taking that would be denied you otherwise, or gained through the kind of direct action that would most certainly alert the king to your presence."

The mage took a long sip of wine, "As for what you desire...my magic could very easily grant you that." "Actually, that is one of the easier things you could have asked of me." "There are spirits of fertility, of passion, and they can be controlled by me as easily as the winds." "Of course, I don't believe we'd need magic for that." "Your human form is...stunning, to say the least." Galyeon's emerald eyes ran over the muscled chest once more, and he had to bite back a desire to lick his lips. "In every town we went to, many maidens and more than a few youths would seek out the...company of one such as you." Myself among them, perhaps, he thought. He leaned forward on the table again, "A dragon mate would be more difficult, but certainly attainable." "There are many subtle ways in magic that a mating can be created, and offspring produced." Or modified. If the dragon got a human woman pregnant, Galyeon was fairly sure he could use his magic to make sure that a dragon egg was born instead of an infant. "Any mate or child of yours would be the beloved of my bonded partner." "Do you think I would allow harm to come to them?" "I would keep them safe, with all the power and wit at my disposal." "There are many kinds of power, wit and cunning can do a great deal to equalize." "Has that not been shown here today?"

TirithIre said:

Eragon looked to the horses, only once looking back... Saphira could feel his anger, they shared that bond that was between dragon and rider... though he nodded to Brom and looking to Saphira gently cooed. " Follow us, we need to get out of here... I want to get stronger, better for you my dragoness... you are so pretty... follow us." He implored her, even as he moved and climbing onto the horse he felt as normal as ever... though he felt an ashen hole developing in his heart... he was so angry and upset... that could prove to be a problem... if he allowed himself to succumb to the anger and turn into what he hated the most... the king.

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Saphira did as she was told, and hovered in the air above the two men as they rode as fast as they could along the rocky hills on their horses - such inferior creatures of transportation, but it would have to do for now. She lingered a bit on the words of her rider....

I want to get stronger, better for you my dragoness... you are so pretty...

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The blue dragon had known for some time now that she could transform herself into a more human-like state. When Eragon had sent her away, she became worried that her human form might never be seen.... The dragon knew instinctively that the two must truly be together, must truly become one, in order for both of their powers to be at their fullest - for them to be at their strongest. She'd not imparted this wisdom yet to Eragon, he'd not have heard it much before now. It seemed though, now, that he not only would he hear and understand it, but he may even welcome it.... She communicated only a hint to her rider, right into his thoughts.

"Eragon. I know you are angry, my dearest heart. I know you are angry. Please, Eragon - please put the anger aside. Love is what strengthens you, not hate. And we must truly be together for our powers to be their strongest."
She'd not said it outright... and she wondered if he would think she was talking in riddles, in metaphors. While away from him, she'd been able to get a glimpse of her human form. She couldn't fully transform without Eragon's will for it to happen... but her magic was powerful enough that, while standing in front of the still lake, the reflection of her human form appeared for only a moment. If Eragon thought she was beautiful as a dragon....

"We must hurry, Eragon. There is more, so much more...." Saphira could feel the miniscule feeling that she wasn't sure she'd ever feel. The blue dragon could sense the presence of another dragon.... Near, maybe, but a very faint feeling. It confused the girl, and she decided that she was probably imagining it, and shook the feeling away from her. Watching Eragon and Brom very closely, as well as keeping an eye out for any approaching danger, she felt herself become just a little nervous about the next few steps of this journey.

"Eragon. I know you are angry, my dearest heart. I know you are angry. Please, Eragon - please put the anger aside. Love is what strengthens you, not hate. And we must truly be together for our powers to be their strongest."

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He was confused... what was she trying to say to him... it didn't make sense. Honestly, he didn't know that she had a human form... otherwise he would have willed her into it himself! As it was... he mentally sighed, though he couldn't put his anger aside so easily. After all that had been his home! He didn't know where they were going, and to be perfectly honest, he didn't care!

He sighed to himself though as he nodded... slowly, as they rode... his anger diminished, he was alone now, other then Saphira... he was alone in the world. As he rode he maneuvered under her. " What do you mean... together... you are a dragon... I am a human. We are going to be together as much as we can... but I don't know what you mean." Before he sighed to himself... he wanted to be with her, to ride atop her, but she wasn't ready for that yet... he looked up to her though and smiled slightly to himself... he did think her beautiful.. for a dragon!

Brom

The weathered man rode in silence, and watched the interaction of dragon and rider. He couldn't hear what they said, however he could see Eragon's anger slowly dying away, and he suspected that the beautiful Saphira had something to do with it. Saphira, the name hit him and he fought not to let the pain show in his face as he rode. The dragon got his or her name from their rider's mind. Eragon had loved the stories of the dragon riders of old. Had heard the stories of Saphira. Had never known the truth of the name. He had a duty though, he couldn't allow his feelings, his pain to interfear with his goals, the warden's goals.
They rode until dusk, when Brom considered it late enough in the day to stop, and safe enough for a small fire.
"Picket the horses, and unsaddle them, I will set up a fire." he instructed the lad turning to go hunt up rocks to put around a fire, and of course to look for the firewood itself.