To Train A Bad-Ass
By Stargatesg1fan1 Disclaimer: I own nothing of any recognized characters or universes within.
Women Bonded to Harry Potter in This Story
Ros is Played by Esme Bianco Leaf is Played by Kae Alexander Ygritte is Played by Rose Leslie Missandei is Played by Nathalie Emmanuel Daenerys 'Daeny' Targaryen is Played by Emilia Clarke Melisandre is played by Catrice Van Houten
Margaery Tyrell is played by Natalie Dormer Sansa Stark is played by Sophie Turner Tyene Sand is played by Rosabell Laurenti Sellers Myrcella Baratheon Lannister is played by Nell Tiger Free Cersei Lannister is played by Lena Heady
Arya Svit Kona is played by Sienna Guillory Hermione Granger is played by Emma Watson
Chapter 35
Mars
"It looks just like LuPot Resort," Hermione said as she beheld the new Martian resort. "Except the landscape of course," She added while looking around in wonder at the view.
They were actually on Mars, possibly the first humans from Earth to do so in this universe. "The design is identical," Harry said. "I did add a room that I'm not sure I'll let the tourist see."
Hermione holding her boyfriend's hand allowing him to lead her. The resort was situated near the base of one of the mountains on Mars. It was a short walk to the base of the mountain.
"It's outside the bubble," Hermione pointed out.
"The better to protect it," Harry said. "No fears. I will protect us."
Harry pulled her close. They seemed to become intangible as they phased through the bubble. He then projected a shield around them that contained the atmosphere they needed to breathe. He led her unerringly to a section of the mountain that looked no different from the rest. He pulled her close again and phased through what seemed like solid rock. Once they were through
she found they had passed through into a room with a breathtaking view. It literally stole her breathe away.
"Harry oh wow!" Hermione said in awe.
The room was only about the size of her parents' living room. And it was filled entirely with diamonds. The diamonds ranged in size from small speckles of diamond to bigger than a basketball. She spotted a few diamonds the size of a car tire. And they came in all shapes and sizes. The majority of the diamonds were white. But there were other colors as well. The lighting in the room was placed in such a way to emphasize the view.
"I hoped you would like it," Harry said. "I made it just for you." "For me. Why?" Hermione asked in confusion.
"For this," Harry said as he turned and faced her before dropping to one knee while holding out a diamond ring.
The band of the ring was yellow gold strengthened with magic. The diamond set in the ring was large yes. But that wasn't what drew Hermione's attention. The diamond seemed to glow with a light. And she sensed the magic that burned within it. To her it felt like she was staring at a small star.
"Hermione Jean Granger, I didn't know it yet but the day you came into my life was one of the best moments in my life. Every day since then that I've spent with you has made my life better. I love you more than words can say. Will you marry me and spend the rest of our lives together?" Harry asked.
Hermione had tears in her eyes as she immediately held out her hand and said, "Yes. Yes I'll marry you." Harry slipped the ring on and stood. Hermione immediately kissed Harry. "I love you so much," She said after the kiss had ended, hugging him tightly to her. Hermione admired the ring and couldn't stop the feeling of happiness. "I didn't expect this at all when you brought me here," Hermione admitted.
"Well good. I still have the ability to surprise you," Harry said with a grin. "You certainly do. Did you really make this room just to propose to me?" Hermione asked.
"Yes. The diamonds were a bit tricky to make in all the sizes and colors. I tried to think of a really romantic place. How many women can say they've been proposed to in a diamond filled room on Mars?" Harry asked.
"Not many I suppose," Hermione said with a laugh. Then she got a thoughtful look. "Not many women can say they've been made love to in such a room."
The look in Hermione's eyes made it so Harry didn't need any further words.
Granger Residence
"So why did you really want to have lunch with us?" Emma asked her daughter after chewing a bite of her salad.
Emma and Lily were sitting across from Hermione in their dining room enjoying the house-elf prepared salad. The three women had made small talk for a bit. Now it was time to get to the heart of the matter.
"Well you know how Harry and I have been taking trips out of Hogwarts and through time," Hermione began.
"Yes," Lily nodded.
"I may be a witch now but sometimes I think I'll never get used to all the craziness that magic is capable of," Emma said. "But yes. I know what you're talking about."
"Well the fourteen year old you see before you isn't how I really look anymore," Hermione began.
"You've actually aged and you are using your metamorphmagus abilities to hide that fact," Lily surmised.
"Yes," Hermione answered with a nod. "How old are you really now?" Emma asked with concern.
Hermione focused and Emma watched her daughter's features change slightly before her eyes. Hermione's beauty became even more apparent.
"Seventeen," Hermione admitted. "Harry is nineteen since he has been time traveling longer." "That makes you both adults in the magical world," Lily said.
"Only the goblins know of our real physical age. We have no intention of notifying the rest of the wizarding world. If we have to we'll simply say it is time dilation," Hermione explained.
"Because while time dilation magic was thought lost quite some time ago you could say Harry rediscovered or invented it because he is already developing a reputation as a prodigy with magic," Lily mused.
"Exactly," Hermione agreed.
"How quickly are you actually going to age?" Emma asked in concern. "I just lost three years of watching my daughter grow up. I don't want to blink and find you are the same age as me or even older."
"Don't worry about that mum. I doubt that will happen. Once Voldemort is dealt with I doubt we will be slipping off for as many vacations. Instead we may just use the HFRs full time at Hogwarts," Hermione said thoughtfully.
Lily and Emma both knew about the Human Form Replicators.
"You can use them in place of yourselves?" Lily asked in interested.
"Yes. They go live our days for us at Hogwarts. Then at night we sync up with their memories so that we don't have to sit through the tedium of class. For special occasions we can even link up with them through our neural links live. It's kind of like possession. The only time we are really showing up in person is for the Triwizard Tournament tasks," Hermione admitted.
"That would have been a right useful thing to have around when I attended Hogwarts," Lily said.
"I'm sure Harry would be willing to set you up with HFR duplicates of your own. Just be careful not to let it make you too lazy," Hermione teased.
"I should think if being wealthy enough that we don't need to work a day in our lives or having house elves see to our every need didn't do that then HFRs wouldn't do it," Emma said wryly. "I mean the arm bands Harry gifted us make it so we don't even have to exercise to maintain our muscle mass. As long as we don't overdo it on calorie intake we'll be fine. And transfiguration sees to us being able to enjoy food."
Emma and Dan had been ecstastic to learn that if they used normal transfiguration on healthy foods to transfigure them into really tasty foods it would still have the same nutrition as the healthy food. The first time she had turned a baby carrot into a chocolate candy it had quickly became her favorite bit of magic.
"That is true," Lily mused. "So other than bringing us up to date on your real physical ages what did you want to tell us?" Lily asked while already having a suspicion.
Hermione's smile was radiant as she willed her engagement ring to become visible. "Harry asked me to marry him," Hermione announced. Emma gasped at the sight of the ring. Lily made appreciative sounds as well.
"I had wondered which way Harry went. He asked James and I a lot of pointed questions about wizarding customs on engagement and marriage. We told him the story of how James proposed. He seemed particularly interested in the story of James selecting an engagement ring from the Potter vault. I didn't expect him to make an entirely new ring. But I must say I do like the
result," Lily said. "It's fantastic."
The ladies spent several minutes admiring the ring before Emma asked, "Have you and Harry discussed the length of your engagement?"
"Harry and I were thinking of a longer engagement. We were thinking of two years," Hermione said. "By that point we can have let all those we intend to invite know about the fact than we are older than the public knows. And I read that it is a good idea to be a couple at least two full cycles through the seasons."
"That sounds like a good idea," Lily agreed. "By that point as far as the public is concerned you and Harry will be sixteen anyway. I imagine by that point if Harry has offed Tom Riddle nobody will bat an eye. The vaniquisher of Voldemort could have his way. Any thoughts on venue?"
"I was actually thinking about having it at the LuMar Resort, Harry's new Martian Resort," Hermione revealed.
The discussion turned into wedding planning from there.
Bregan Hold, Thardur Mountain
Harry, Arya, and Saphira had arrived at Bregan hold after an uneventful short journey. They arrived on the day of Orik's wedding to a dwarf woman Hvedra. Orik had tried contacting Eragon to invite him through the Varden spellcasters. Nasuada had promised to relay the invitation to Eragon. But by that point it was likely they were already on their way. Harry and company were delighted to witness the wedding. Orik had also been chosen as the new grimsborith of Durgrimst Ingeitum.
That was how Harry and Arya found themselves seated in the stands observing the customary wedding games consisting of many events.
"You would think a war wasn't currently going on," Arya said. "I know. If this goes on much longer we might need to appear slightly rude," Harry replied.
The games were a display of wealth. The wealthier the family the longer the games went on. Durgrimst Ingeitum was very wealthy.
It was the next morning that Orik and twelve dwarves on ponies rode out of the hold. Harry and Arya followed upon Saphira. They rode east toward the head of the valley. They followed a trail up the side of the mountain for three hours. The trail wasn't extremely wide. But Saphira with her claws made it work.
They reached a flat expanse of granite beyond a thousand feet wide. This expanse was bordered on the right by naturally occurring octagonal pillars.
"This is Az Knurldrathn," Orik announced. They were here to view a forest of stone. Harry did not see it. "Walk with me."
Harry, Arya, and Orik all dismounted. They walked into a thick mist. They walked to the edge of where the stone pillars began. Harry peered into the stone pillars. The mist seemed to thicken to the point where the rest of the valley was not visible. A faint pattern of light and dark became apparent in the mist until an image of ash-colored trees formed out of the pillars of stone. There were no leaves on the branches of the trees. It looked like the skeleton of some old forest.
"What do your people say about this place?" Harry asked curiously.
"Some claim that Guntera placed these trees here when he created Alaegaesia out of nothingness," Orik replied. "Others say Helzvog created them for his garden. Others say that a great catastrophe eons ago buried the trees in the dirt. They said that over time wood became dirt, and dirt became stone."
Orik was speaking of petrification. "I find the last scenario more likely," Harry mused. "Yet I suppose anything is possible."
"Aye," Orik agreed. "The first trees were discovered here while quarrying granite over a thousand years ago. A project was undertaken to carefully extricate the trees from the granite. When we reached fifty trees it was realized that there are likely hundreds or thousands of trees here. It has become something of a tradition for our people to journey here and chisel out a tree or two. We also send troublesome offspring here to extract a tree."
"You sound like you speak from experience," Arya noted.
"Aye. I was sent here in my younger days by Hrothgar. I only managed to extract a single branch after weeks of work. I ran away and fell in with a hunting party from clan Vrenshrrgn. They were hunting Nagra. I managed to kill one with their help. But the bore gored my shoulder with its tusks. I spent weeks in bed afterwards recovering," Orik explained.
"You miss Hrothgar," Harry noted.
"I do," Orik admitted. "It has been nearly two centuries since the last durgrimstvren, clan war, afflicted our nation. We stand close to another. Tensions have never been higher between the clans. Those who believe it is folly for us to cast our fate with the Varden are finding voice due to Nasuada invading the empire."
"How do they justify that when you were attacked in Farthen Dur?" Arya asked. "They justify it with the belief that Galbatorix cannot be beat," Orik answered.
"He can be beat. Even the strong can make a mistake and be surprised in battle," Harry said.
"Aye. That is true," Orik said. "Yet his magic makes it very hard to surprise him."
"Will you seek the throne?" Harry asked.
"Aye," Orik said. "Durgrimstn Gedthrall, Ledwonnu, and Nagra have already pledged their support to me. Will you support me?"
"You have been a friend to me Orik. So, you have my support. But understand this. I am not beholden to follow your orders. I may consider requests. But although I am of your clan I am not bidden to be commanded as a subject may be by a king," Harry said.
Orik suddenly felt as if he could feel the weight of the power wielded by Eragon Shadeslayer. He imagined this was what it felt like to talk to a god.
"I understand," Orik agreed. "And I thank you for your support."
The group then returned down the mountain and entered a hidden tunnel entrance that would take them to Farthen Dur. It had been some time since Harry had been in one of these tunnels. This time Arya was his lover. The tunnel was too short for them to ride Saphira. So they spent a great deal of the journey walking hand in hand.
"I dislike politics," Harry sent to Arya. Harry got enough of politics in Westeros.
"I completely agree. That is a large part of why I left Ellesmera behind so long ago," Arya replied. "If nothing else this should deter you from wanting to become king when this is all over and me from wanting to become queen. I may feel differently when I am older. But at my age I still feel the need to explore the world."
"Exploring with you sounds very nice," Harry sent while thinking about eventually showing Arya more than just this world.
There was an entire universe outside this planet to explore.
Mars
"Now you have me really curious," Hermione said as Harry took her just outside the dome of the MarPot Resort. They phased through a doorway nearby the hidden diamond chamber. "Where are you taking me Mr. Potter?"
"Somewhere quite a few light-years away," Harry said as he pointed to a circular ring in the room ahead.
"Is that the Stargate device you told me about?" Hermione asked curiously. "Yes," Harry said as he gestured with his right hand and caused a shimmering puddle to form. "It's beautiful," Hermione admitted. "It will be a little disorienting. We're about to travel light-years in seconds," Harry warned. "I'm ready," Hermione said while holding Harry's hand tightly in hers.
The pair of them stepped through the Stargate. They came out of a matching gate a few seconds later to a clearing surrounded by a forest. There was a small ship resting near the gate. It was an Alteran puddlejumper.
"Welcome to the planet Prima," Harry said. "Are there aliens on this planet?" Hermione asked curiously.
"There is animal life that is different to Earth. Some of the animals are very similar to what is on Earth. Others are quite different. There isn't anything sentient. Though I have carefully begun introducing magical creatures here on the planet. Prima is an untouched world about 150 light- years from Earth. It is a planet I claimed. Time for a tour," Harry explained as he led Hermione into the puddlejumper.
Once they were seated, he piloted the puddlejumper into the air. Hermione was in awe as she saw a vast forest beneath them. Harry flew them a few kilometers from the stargate until they were hovering over a vast estate that looked like Potter Manor back on Earth but much grander.
"This is our home on this world," Harry said. "This is Potter Manor Prima."
"It's beautiful," Hermione said in awe.
Harry flew about twenty kilometers away and they began to see more homes less grand.
"These are homes for our friends and family," Harry explained. "I don't intend Prima to ever be opened up to anyone more than our friends and family."
"That sounds wonderful," Hermione said.
Harry then began piloting the puddlejumper up. When they reached orbit, Hermione was able to get her first glimpse of Prima. There was a lot more land on Prima than on Earth. There were still oceans. The oceans were just a lot smaller than on Earth.
"Is that the Harion?" Hermione said as she noticed a starship approaching.
"It is," Harry confirmed.
"And these two are her sister ships," Harry said as two ships identical to the Harion de-cloaked nearby. "I've named the one on the left the Tria. The one on the right is yours to name since it is yours."
"You made me a starship?!" Hermione cried out in shock. "Yep," Harry said with a grin.
Hermione turned to her fiancé and pounced. Her mouth was on his hungrily kissing him. They ended up christening the captain's quarters in very short order.
Tronjheim
Harry for the most part left an HFR duplicate of himself to handle the talks with the dwarf clan chiefs. As a clan member, Harry was allowed to attend. Arya was not allowed to attend.
The contenders for the throne were Iorunn, Gannel, and Nado. These dwarves were grimstborith of Durgrimst Vrenshrrgn, Quan, and Knurlcarathn respectively. Iorunn was a female dwarf and considered a great beauty amongst her kind. She was also very cunning and had taken an interest in Eragon Shadeslayer. So far the talks had primarily been about disputes such as who had the right to graze their flock in contended lands. The Quan clan wielded enormous influence over dwarves as a whol as the custodian of the dwarf religion. Yet only two other clans supported their claim. Nado had a coalition of support from clans Feldunost, Fanghur, and Az Sweldn rak Anhuin. Iorunn only had the support of clan Urzhad. Nado was openly opposed to supporting the Varden. The other two candidates were harder to read.
Right now the meetings were about retaining the backers of each candidate while trying to poach the supporters of another candidate. First they had to vote if they were ready to choose a new king or queen. Nine votes were needed for that resolution to pass.
"Saphira said it does not go swiftly," Arya sent to her lover as he entered the library where she sat reading.
Only Arya and Saphira could see Harry. Saphira was currently up in the dragonhold resting. "No it does not," Harry confirmed. "You cannot rush the dwarves."
"I don't think any race can be rushed to make such a monumental decision," Arya mused. "For a misstep could mean the doom of their race."
"That it could," Harry agreed.
She put down what she was reading.
"I have something I wish to discuss with you," Arya said as she met his gaze and took his hand.
"What is it?" Harry asked curiously.
"There is no easy way to reveal this. I am with child," Arya revealed.
Harry was stunned. It would appear his contraceptive charm either had failed or was not meant to work between his physiology and Arya's.
"I cannot say the news came at an opportune time. But the thought of having a child with you is not an unpleasant one," Harry sent. "How do you feel about it?"
"I have been trying to determine my own feelings on the matter. Like you I agree that this isn't an ideal time. But I am also very happy," Arya admitted. "It hasn't fully settled in my mind yet."
"That means we have nine months to win this war," Harry said firmly. "How long will you be able to fight for?"
"We actually have closer to eighteen months," Arya corrected. "Elves may look very similar to humans. Our gestation takes twice as long. I will be unable to fight for the last half of that time."
"I did not realize that," Harry admitted.
"I am not surprised. Elves are generally far less fertile than other races. Given our lifespan that really isn't a problem. That along with the magic you cast to prevent this made it seem very unlikely in my mind. I take it the magic wasn't necessarily meant for my kind?" Arya asked.
"No. It was intended for humans," Harry admitted. "We have not spoken of children much. How would you like to raise children?"
Harry and Arya spent the next several hours discussing how they would want their children raised. They decided that Vroengard or some other Rider stronghold would have to be secured after the war was over. It would be a good place to raise their children.
It was then that Harry was contacted by Leaf. She had just deciphered a vision in her greensight that had been pushing her to tell him something.
"Come on," Harry sent to Arya as he abruptly stood. "Where are we going?" Arya asked as she followed him.
"Saphira, come pick us up," Harry instructed. He didn't answer Arya. Instead he climbed on Saphira when she arrived at the base of
Tronjheim. Arya climbed on behind him. And then they were gone from Farthen Dur.
Saphira and Arya blinked. One moment they had been in Farthen Dur. The next moment they found themselves in the bright sunlight and Saphira found herself forced to fly. Once she leveled off the flight they found themselves able to see an island before them. Peaks clad in snow and ice rose out of the clouds. The eastward peaks shone in the sunlight while the westward peaks were cloaked in shadow.
"Are those," Arya began hardly able to believe what she was seeing. "The fire mountains on Vrogengard?"
"They are," Harry confirmed. "Leaf has transported us here. She also sent us back a week in time so that we have plenty of time to explore."
Harry sensed the sudden excitement from both Saphira and Arya. Arya had always wanted to visit the home of the Riders. Saphira had naturally wanted to visit here as well. When Saphira flew further inland they saw an immense bowl-shaped valley. The mountains they had seen were surrounding this valley. The sides and foothills of the mountains were blanked with a dense forest of spruce and pine trees. It was here that they beheld the burnt out ruins of what was likely Doru Araeba, the city the Riders had built out of stone in the elvish architecture. Very few structures looked habitable. Doru Arabea sat on the edge of a lake fed by several rivers flowing out of the mountains. The structures within the city were large enough that they were obviously built for dragons. Moss and ivy grew over all visible surfaces.
Most of the damage to the structures seemed to come from a crater thirty feet deep in the ground located on the southern edge of the city.
"I need to cast a spell on us to protect us from a type of poison called radiation," Harry sent. Arya was nodding and said, "I heard stories of this. The Rider Thuviel caused that crater by
converting much of his body's mass to energy using magic."
Harry inwardly swore as he realized they were flyhing into the leftover radiation from a magical nuke. He immediately ordered the Harion to dispatch probes to clean the island of radiation.
"Is this poison why nobody lives here?" Saphira asked. "Mostly," Arya said. "Vroengard is rather isolated for any who are not Riders. Those who
visited here after the Fall reported lesions and growing quickly sick."
Saphira flew down towards the city. It became apparent that the buildings were so large that man of them were big enough for Saphira to fly within. They noticed the skeletons of several
dragons around the city. One dragon skeleton had ribs at least eighty feet long and a skull that was bigger than the main part of Saphira's body.
"Glaedr told me of this one. He was Belgabad, greatest of us all," Saphira sent. "He was a wild dragon not bonded to any Rider. When word reached him of our flight he like many wild dragons flew to the aid of the Riders."
Saphira touched down in a field on the northern outskirts of the city. There were pieces of cracked masonry approaching even the size of Saphira scattered throughout the field. As the field went away from the city it sloped upwards to the forest at the foothills of the nearest mountain. Where the field met the hill there sat the remnants of a building that was only partially intact and was half a mile long. It was also very ornate judging from the exposed pillars from within that were partially intact.
"That was the great library," Arya said. "Galbatorix plundered it."
"We will restore it," Harry said. Harry looked to one side as if he was listening to a distant conversation. "Leaf said she will take care of it."
As they watched stones began lifting back up from the ruins and fitting back into place. Arya and Saphira stood staring in awe as over the course of the next several minutes the Great Library of Vroengard was restored intact as if a battle had never taken place.
"Every time I hear of Leaf she impresses me with her magic. It also makes me question if the tales of the gods that some races ascribe to might not be based in some truths," Arya said.
"I wouldn't be surprised," Harry said. "The contents of the library have also been restored. They are copies of what was once inside. Leaf is also taking care of cleaning the poison out of the air."
"What is to stop Galbatorix from returning here and destroying it?" Saphira asked. "Other than the fact that he already got what he wanted out of this place? Leaf will put up wards
to deter such a thing from happening," Harry replied.
Foot paths led from the library to a grove of apple trees. Behind the trees there was a jagged rock spar over two hundred feet tall. Harry felt drawn to that rock. He began to walk.
"Where are we going?" Arya asked. "There," Harry said as he pointed to the rock. "I have a feeling that is the Rock of Kuthian." "We have spoken of it before," Arya said with realization. "Yes. Back in Ellesmera," Harry said. "I am being called here."
They passed through the grove of apple trees into a clearing where roses, thistles, raspberries, and water hemlock grew. The Rock of Kuthian stood right on the edge of this clearing. Three stone benches were placed on the edges of the clearing.
"We must speak our true names to enter," Harry said. "We do not know our true names," Saphira pointed out. "I know mine," Arya admitted. Harry nodded as if he expected this.
"Hold a moment and I shall have it," Harry said as he closed his mind. Harry reached out mentally through his neural link to the Harion which even then was floating over Vroengard. "Rhaezael, can you determine my true name and that of Saphira?"
"Give me a moment," Rhaezael said.
Rhaezael was an AI and was capable of feats of sentience beyond even a genius or savant mortal. He was capable of looking through time with his probes. He could see a being's entire history throughout time, even more than a being knew about themselves. Because Rhaezael could see when they slept, were unconscious, and even when they were a child before awareness came. Rhaezael had also been extensively researching the history of true names in Alagaesia and how they interacted with the ancient language. In a few more moments Rhaezael was telling Harry his true name and that of Saphira. Harry felt a sense of power and accomplishment as hearing his name. It described who he was as a person in both his flaws and successes. At heart he was a seeker of adventure and love. He craved love because of his upbringing. And now he had quite a few women who loved him. He had children as well. And he had his friends and family returned to him.
Harry opened his eyes and established a mental connection with Saphira alone. He conveyed her true name to her. She seemed to shiver. Her scales gleamed. There was also the air of sadness about her as the last female of her race.
"You know your true names," Arya said in awe.
"Yes," Harry said. "If you would like I can raise a barrier against sound so that we may speak our names to the rock without hearing one another's."
"I am carrying your child. We may not have known each other long by the reckoning of my people. We also may still have some secrets from one another. But I know you well enough to know you are a good man. I do not mind you hearing my true name," Arya said.
"Nor do I mind you hearing mine," Harry said.
Saphira sent her agreement. The trio stepped closer to the rock. Arya sent her name at the rock first. Then Saphira sent hers. And finally, Harry finished with his true name. A thin dark line formed from the base of the rock up to fifty feet on the rock. Then the outlines of large double doors presented itself in the rock face. Glowing golden glyphs appeared on the doors showing the wards. These were wards against physical and magical detection. The doors swung outwards revealing a large tunnel which descended into the earth at a steep angle. Harry led the way inside conjuring floating lights because the doors swung shut behind them.
The tunnel went deep into the earth. Harry was using his link with the Harion to track their progress. They were now into the foothills behind the Rock of Kuthian. Eventually warm air began to come up the tunnel along with faint orange light. The end of the tunnel was a large black arch covered with sculpted glyphs. The arch gave way to a circular chamber over two hundred feet across. There was a large pit in the center which is where the dull orange glow came from. The room had tiered levels with many objects in it. Harry's attention was immediately drawn by the large metal man with the head of a dragon in the center of the pit. His left hand held a shield while his right held a Rider's blade. A throne meant for the creature was sitting against the far wall of the room.
The dragon-man strode closer to the trio of new arrivals, each step sounding as if a massive creature were moving. It stopped thirty feet away and let out a strange roar. A vast consciousness touched Harry's mind. This consciousness felt like many disjointed voices. The vast consciousness attempted to stab through Harry's mental defenses. Despite the strength of his occlumency shields Harry wasn't sure he could have withstood this vast consciousness if not for the neural link he maintained with his probe. The neural link held against the consciousness. Arya and Saphira did not have that benefit.
Harry prepared to lash out and defend the other two despite being uncertain if he had the power. If he had to, he could tap into the resources of the Harion via the probes.
"Wait," The voice with multiple sounds said against his mental shields. "We are trying to be certain of your intentions."
"Who are you?" Harry asked.
"We have seen enough to know these are no friends of Galbatorix," The Voice seemed to say before withdrawing from the minds of Saphira and Arya. "We are the last free Eldunari and the dragon eggs we have guarded for over a century. I specifically am Umaroth. My Rider was the elf Vrael, leader of our order before our doom came upon us."
"Do you speak for the others?" Harry asked. "I do. But I do not command them. More of us were unbound wild dragons than those who were
bonded," Umaroth explained. "Who is this one?" Harry asked while gesturing towards the dragon-headed man.
Harry could sense now that it was an enchanted golem with an Eldunari inside.
"This is Cuaroc, Hunter of the Nidhwal and Bane of the Urgals. His body was fashioned for him by Silvari the Enchantress so that we would have a champion to defend us if the worst should happen. If Galbatorix or any other foe forced their way into the vault of souls he is our physical defense. Our greatest defense was a spell which took the memory of everything about us from the minds of those who knew," Umaroth explained.
"Just like the Fidelius charm," Harry thought to himself.
"The distance below the surface helped hide us from Galbatorix and the foreswarn above. We are a mile below the surface and just over a bed of molten stone below us. This heat keeps the eggs comfortable and the light needed for we Eldunari to maintain our strength. Oromis and Glaedr helped devise this plan. But the memory was removed from them and replaced with a false memory. Even the mothers of those who laid these eggs shortly before the fall lost the memories of their offspring. We have just released Oromis and Glaedr from the spell. So they will know of us now," Umaroth explained.
"Was Thuviel sacrificing himself part of the plan?" Arya asked for the first time.
"You are wise young one. I can see why Eragon chose you as his mate," Umaroth said. "Indeed it was part of the plan. Thuviel like the others didn't know about us because the memory was removed even from him. But he knew that immolating himself was required if hope of victory was lost. He destroyed the hatchery where we housed the eggs denying any evidence that we had secreted away many of the eggs. Thuviel also poisoned the island to discourage Galbatorix from settling on the island."
"What have you been doing all this time?" Saphira asked.
"We cannot scry normally. But we can see the skeins of twisted energy that pervade Alagaesia using our combined might. We can listen to the thoughts of those who make no attempt to hide their minds. We were able to gather information this way. We began to despair as Galbatorix's power only grew. We worried for the young ones within the eggs. They can remain in the eggs due to the magic that slows their growth. But too long in an egg can twist their minds," Umaroth explained. "So we began to intervene with a whispered thought here or there. We grew more adept at our manipulations over time. We were able to help those who resisted Galbatorix. We helped arrange the death of two of the foreswarn. When not ruled by his passions Brom has been a useful tool."
"That explains why he was able to accomplish so much. It was surprising at his accomplishments without a dragon," Harry said.
"Do not diminish his own accomplishments. But yes. We were often helping him behind the scenes," Umaroth said. "We helped the human Hefring steal Saphira's egg from Galbatorix's treasure room. Unfortunately we went too far and were noticed by Hefring. Frightened, he fled and did not meet with the Varden. After Brom rescued Saphira's egg we began making plans to
see to helping whoever she hatched for. We spoke with the werecats who have long been friends of dragons. We told them of the brightsteel beneath the Menoa tree which you have yet to use. We told them of the Rock of Kuthian. We removed knowledge of that conversation from their mind. We also arranged for Saphira's egg to appear before you that night in the forest. We thought there was a small chance that Saphira might prove a match for you. We were right," Umaroth explained.
"Are you those who are responsible for healing my back?" Harry asked. "We are," Umaroth confirmed. "We are also the ones who sent you visions of Arya in Gilead
when she needed your aid." "Thank you," Harry said gratefully. "Yes. Thank you," Arya added.
"We have watched you Eragon and you Saphira grow into mighty warriors over the course of many years. You are beyond what we could have hoped for in a new Rider and dragon," Umaroth said. "We would go with you and when the Varden reach Urubaen we would fight. We will help you kill Galbatorix."
"We would very much like that," Harry said.
"Five of us as well as Cuaroc will stay to watch over the eggs," Umaroth explained. "There are 136 of us. You must understand this. Galbatorix still possesses far more Eldunari than us. Those of us here are mostly those too old to fight or those two young to fight. Those too young disgorged their Eldunari before they should have. Their minds can never grow beyond the point that they were disgorged at. I am the bridge between them. It is often hard to get the older Eldunari to divert themselves from their dreams to work together. We will not be able to best the Eldunari that Galbatorix has at his disposal. It had been our intent to shield your mind so that Galbatorix could not split open your thoughts the moment you met him. But you just proved that you can do that on your own. We will be able to bolster your defenses furthermore."
While Cuaroc began to put the Eldunari into the silk purses upon which they had been resting, Saphira asked about the eggs. Two hundred and forty-three eggs had been saved. Twenty-six had the spells cast on them to bond them to Riders while the rest were unbonded.
"I understand you have a method of carrying your allies over a long distance but that it requires them to be unconscious. I do not know if it would be the same for us Eldunari. Let us just employ the spell we are familiar with," Umaroth said. "The spells is as follows."
Harry cast the spell around the pile of Eldunari that had been assembled. The Eldunari vanished into a pocket of folded spacetime.
"The entrance to this pocket is no bigger than a pinprick but is deadlier than the tip of any sword. It would cut right through any it passed through," Umaroth explained. "The entrance
will remain at a fixed distance above and behind you except when a person's body passes through that space. The spell is very useful to hide something in plain sight. But it is dangerous and difficult to do. Understand this, the moment you pass through the archway directly ahead of us you will begin to forget about the eggs. By the time we leave the main entrance we will completely forget. Even we Eldunari will forget. If we succeed in killing Galbatorix our memories will be restored by the arch."
Harry briefly considered suggesting a single egg, one of the smaller ones, be taken to the elves in Du Weldenvarden to be farried among the elven children to see if it would hatch for any of them. Then that Rider could be a backup for himself. But he quite liked being the only hope for all involved. Yet he realized even if that dragon egg hatched it would be some time before such a Rider could be a challenge to Galbatorix. By that time Harry planned to already have killed Galbatorix.
"Umaroth, I would request a slight revision to the plan," Harry said. "Go on," Umaroth said.
"Might we take a single dragon egg that is male and send it to the elves alone. No offense meant for my birth race. But we do not need another human Rider at this time. If such an egg hatched I realize it will be many years before a Rider is trained up. It would give Saphira great hope. Just knowing there are other members of her race outside those in Galbatorix's control would ease her mind greatly," Harry said.
Umaroth conferred with the other Eldunari before saying, "It is a good idea. How will we safely get the egg to the elves?"
"I can take it," Leaf said as she appeared.
Umaroth and the other Eldunari were surprised.
"We have heard of you Lady Leaf. But we did not think any could enter the Vault of Souls without our allowing it or at least knowing it. You will serve as a good protector of the egg," Umaroth said.
Cuoroc approached with a single egg about the size of Saphira's egg. The dragon-headed golem handed the egg to Leaf and she disappeared. When they left the Vault and the doors had closed behind them, Harry felt the magic trying to wipe the knowledge of the remaining eggs from his mind. The neural link he maintained with the Harion resisted and kept the knowledge secure. Arya, Saphira, and the Eldunari knew of only the single egg that was now in Du Weldenvarden. Harry didn't bother trying to enlighten them to the truth. For the magic would simply wipe the knowledge out again. If Galbatorix learned of that single egg they could always spread the story that it was found in the wild by the elves.
As soon as they stepped out of the Vault of Souls, the trio plus Eldunari found themselves back inside Farthen Dur. They had appeared inside of one of the lower tunnels so as to not draw
attention to themselves. Something felt off to Harry. His probe alerted him to what exactly before his magical senses could. Fifteen dwarves clothed in black and running with the speed of an elf came charging down the tunnel. Their minds were not detectable by the magic of this land just like the Ra'zac. Each dwarf wielded an enchanted pale blade that flickered with different colors of light. Half the dwarves also had a short spear with a spiked tip. The other half carried some type of net.
"Assassins," Harry had enough time to warn before the dwarves were upon their group.
Harry's blade appeared in his hand. The dwarves with the net attempted to throw it at Saphira. But quick as a snake she turned her head and bathed the net in a stream of fire. Part of the net had touched her and caused incredible pain where it made contact with her left wing. Meanwhile Arya and Harry had both engaged the other half of the dwarves. Harry directed his probe to put a shield up over the surface the bodies for all of his group. The probe was telling him very bad things about those daggers. One dwarf threw its dagger at Harry. A flick of Harry's telekinesis sent the dagger into another assassin. The flesh where the dagger touched seemed to disintegrate. With the shields in place, Harry, Arya, and Saphira made short work of the group of assassins.
"Who were they?" Saphira asked. Arya went over and searched some of the bodies.
"There are no identifying marks of any kind. But they carry this," Arya said as she held up a bracelet made of braided horsehair set with polished cabochons of amethyst. "It might identify them. We will have to ask Orik. It could just as easily been planted by our enemies to direct us at a particular clan."
"Their tactics were specifically meant to work against Rider and dragon," Saphira noted. "If we had been less experienced or powerful they would have worked."
Harry reached out with his mind and contacted Orik. In short order, Orik with a contingent of guards arrived at the scene of the attack.
"Barzul," Orik swore when events had been recounted to him. "Whoever did this has violated guest right. The amethyst on those bracelets is only mined four places in the Beor Mountains. Three of those places are owned by Az Sweldn rak Anhuin. While it isn't conclusive evidence it is pretty damning. I am glad you are all alright. You did the correct thing calling me. Otherwise this evidence might have all disappeared. I will take care of this."
Harry did not leave Orik alone down in that mine. He stayed with the dwarf. Any clan capable of fielding such assassins was not to be underestimated. It would be child's play for them to make Orik disappear in that remote tunnel despite him having guards.