Time Period: Approximately 17 years after Destiny and 18 years after Niaomi

Location: Ellesméra, Alagaësia

Characters from Destiny: Brom, Cuaroc, Maggie

Characters from DragonInk: Belle & Raugmar (created by moi), Verity & Shrewd (created by LydiaSparrow), Daenyris (created by 32onedoesnotsimply)

~ Mentioned Characters: Thiri (created by 32onedoesnotsimply), Lana (created by bookworm12600)

A/N: So, this is part one of the finale to DragonInk (which I've had written for a while now lol)! They will all be at least 2000 words each and perhaps some random chronicles in between. I don't know how many there will be, but I plan to alert all of my fellow allies once the last one is updated. The rest of you guys make sure to check in every so often, though this will be a long time spent in the making. Why oh why must I turn every idea into a book? (^_^;)

Story:

Belinda Liressdóttir didn't know when Ellesméra had become home, but at some point it had. She smiled as they passed by Gilderien the Wise, who had held them up as he made absolutely sure that Belle was in control of her own body. After all, the last incident had resulted in the theft of the Eldunarí that she now carried back to its notch inside the Menoa Tree.

Take care, Cuaroc told them now before they parted. Especially with my body, Brom.

"Of course, Cuaroc-elda," replied the Rider inside the metal avatar in an uncharacteristically respectful manner. Indeed, he'd seemed more subdued since entering the elven capital.

She'd been chatting silently with Raugmar when Brom finally asked in a low tone, "Doesn't something seem wrong to you?"

Belle glanced up into his ruby eyes, confused. "Nothing in particular."

What troubles you, Brom-elder-elda? her dragon asked.

"The elves are all gone."

It was then that she noticed how quiet it was - how too quiet it was. While Ellesméra was always a peaceful environment, the sounds of work could still be heard. But even the daily clang of Rhunön's forge was gone. "Where did they all go?"

"To gather for a war council," said a voice from behind her that she knew almost as dearly as Raugmar's. Spinning around, Belle grinned and threw herself into her lover's arms.

Verity hugged her tightly before drawing back, and her happiness faded upon seeing the look on his face. For a brief dark moment, she worried that it was she who'd done something wrong, but she quickly pushed the thought aside. He loved her as much as she loved him, and she was foolish to doubt it for even a second.

You have grown much, small one, Raugmar told her, pleased.

"It's good that you returned unharmed," Verity said. "Did you run into any difficulties during your trip back?"

"Only the pair of Ra'zac," Brom replied, prompting the boy to grip her tighter.

"I'm fine," she told him, stepping back but keeping hold of his hand. "What's going on?"

"Galbatorix's army is approaching the northern border of Du Weldenvarden." Belle froze in shock, and Verity squeezed her palm as he added in a softer tone, "And Lothiriel...she was killed."

Raugmar roared his anguish as tears sprung to her eyes. Thiri had been as blonde as Reona, with soft green eyes and a wonderful smile. She'd been like an older version of herself, shy and steadfast, and though they had not been close, Belle had looked up to her. And now, she was gone.

"This Lothiriel, she was an elf?"

"And a Rider," Verity answered Brom, and she buried her face into his chest to muffle her sobs.

Yet Dae...Dae lives on? asked her dragon, pressing his snout against her back.

"As much as any dragon could when their Rider is gone."

At Verity's words, Belle pulled away to comfort Raugmar. She'd known, even though he had never confided it to her, that he had held a great admiration the she-dragon. And now, Daenyris was missing the other half of her soul. The girl didn't know which of the pair she felt more sorrow for.

"How did a Rider, and an elven one at that, die?" demanded the old Rider's voice from within his avatar's dragon head.

"She and her dragon Daenyris were scouting for the enemy in Diaval along with me and my own dragon Shrewd as well as Master Eragon and Master Saphira," the boy explained, his eyes steely and shuttered. "We found a clue that Raugmar the Black could be alive, and we split up. Lothiriel and Daenyris had sworn that they - that they would be fine on their own..."

He trailed off, and Raugmar pushed her towards him. She hugged his arm tightly and whispered into his mind, It's not your fault.

His shaggy black hair swung as Verity shook his head once in denial and continued, "While coming back to meet with us, a Lethrblaka and Ra'zac attacked them. After fighting them off, Daenyris had to land because her wing was injured. Just when Lothiriel was about to heal it, a Shade threw a dagger straight into her heart."

How did Daenyris escape? the black dragon asked, his violet eyes filled with anger as smoke rolled from his nostrils.

"We don't know," he tiredly replied. "She just told us what happened to her Rider before demanding we find the Shade and kill him. Of course, Master Eragon told her that we had to go back and warn the rest of the Order of what is to come. Daenyris took off back towards Ellesméra without another word, and she hasn't said anything since. Shrewd is keeping an eye on her."

He was blaming himself; Belle could see it. Changing the subject, she turned to address Brom. "We should be getting you back into your real body."

"It's at Lana's home. I - "

"Raugmar can show him the way," she cut in, ignoring how Verity stiffened beside her. "I want you to take me to Dae."

"Thank the gods," Brom said, his voice heavy with relief. "I can't wait to be rid of this awkward metallic piece of enchanted rubbish. I wish we could have met under better circumstances, young..."

"Verity," the boy filled in with a deep nod. "And despite the circumstances, it was still an honor, Brom-elda."

Take caution with her, Raugmar warned his Rider gently as he lead Brom away.

As soon as they were out of sight, she tugged on Verity's arm hard so that his face was pulled down to hers. Before he could say a word, Belle pressed her lips to his. He responded instantly, sliding one hand through her thick braid as the other arm wrapped around her waist. They finally pulled away, gasping, and she said out loud, "It's not your fault, Verity."

He tried to pull away, but she tightened her grip around the waist of his black tunic. "But it is - "

Before he could finish his protest, she was kissing him again, twining their tongues together as thrill rushed down his spine. The girl pulled away once more to tell him with flushed bronze cheeks, "It's not your fault."

"B-"

Belle silenced him a third time, and Verity wasn't sure if he should be annoyed or appreciative of her methods of persuasion. He slipped his fingers under the hem of her tunic that matched his own and pressed them against heated skin, as amazed as always that this beautiful, wondrous girl was actually his. This time, when she pulled away, he only gave her enough time to catch her breath before he brought her mouth back to his, revelling in its lush fullness as he unwound the near black strands of hair that he loved so much. She slid her hands to his chest as he nuzzled her neck, pressing open-mouthed kisses along its sleek length, and said in a breathy voice, "It's not your fault, Verity. It's not."

Clutching her tighter to him, he whispered back, "But if I had stayed with her, if I had insisted we shouldn't split up, then maybe - "

"You didn't kill her," Belle insisted, pushing him back so that he had to meet her dark brown eyes. "And you can't know what would have happened."

Blinking quickly, he pressed his forehead to hers and took a long shaky breath. "I just can't believe Areq killed her. Just like...like how he almost killed you. When I heard that she had died - gods forbid, it was like realizing what could have happened to you that night. What almost happened to you on your way back! And if that's the worst part of Thiri's death...what kind of person does that make me?"

"A person who loves," she answered as the hazelnut flecks in her irises shone. "And a person who's reluctant to love, because when he does, he loves fully and completely."

"I miss her," Verity cried as the tears finally came. "She was so kind and caring, so much like you. Losing her is like a taste of what it'd be like if I lost you. And it's so awful I don't think I can even stomach it alone."

"Shhh," she whispered, and he felt the shoulder of his shirt dampen as her arms wrapped tightly around his neck. "I miss her, too. But I'm alive, alright? I'm alive and here for you."

"Always?" Verity hated to sound weak, but he couldn't help it. Not with Belle.

"Always."

And he didn't need to help it. Not with her.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Walking hand in hand with Verity, Belle let him lead her towards Dae. She could already see her and Shrewd in the distance, flying below the Crags of Tel'naeír. The male angled his wings downwards at the sight of his Rider while the other remained in the air.

Shrewd's jet black hide blotted out the sun above as he swooped overhead before landing behind them with a thud. He lowered his large head to peer down at her with one golden eye as he spoke. Thank you for finally knocking some sense into my Rider, Belle-Verity's-mate.

Struggling not to blush at being called "Verity's-mate" despite the accuracy of the term, she said, "There is no need to thank me, Shrewd-vor."

Dae was making her way towards them now, her scales glinting in the lingering light of sunset. As she admired their extensive range of purple shades, from lavender to indigo, Belle asked Verity, "Why is Galbatorix making a move now?"

"Element of surprise, to my understanding," he replied, tugging her closer so that her head rested on the curve of his shoulder. "You revealed his plans, and we know the size of his army. And there's no time to rally the other races, even if they would not be of any help."

At her curious glance, he sighed and tucked a loose lock back behind her ear. "The Shades number at least a hundred strong, and that's more than a match for even the entire elven army to face. No mere dwarf or human would stand a chance against them. Indeed, I fear that we alone stand little chance against them."

"Even with the elves?" she pressed, staving off the growing dread.

"While Queen Arya is trying to rally her people, many of them are convinced that they should remain hidden as before."

"What!"

"They're scared, Belle," Verity said, turning his gaze away from her angry eyes to watch Dae grow closer. "And there aren't many full members of our Order."

She could barely believe her ears. "And what of the Eldunarí?"

"Not many of them are willing to go into battle. Of the ones in Du Weldenvarden and save for Cuaroc, all were slaves of Galbatorix once before and have no desire to relive the experience."

"How many?"

He hesitated, and so it was Shrewd who added, Five-and-ten, at the most.

Trying to steady her breathing, Belle closed her eyes and held Verity's hand harder. With their dismal numbers, they were doomed. Doomed to fail, to die in a battle they could never win alone. Doomed to be martyrs in an attempt to slow the black king's advance.

...but they were not doomed, not while she and her father's souls were still linked. A plan began to form, a dangerous and possibly fatal one which she worked to hide from her dragon's mind. If Raugmar knew what she was thinking about trying to do, he would pin her with his claws and -

An earth shattering roar suddenly came from directly before them, and Belle opened her eyes to find a stream of purplish flames descending upon them. She screamed as Verity let go of her to hold up his hands and shout out a spell to ward them against the fire.

Once it had dispersed, the two Riders threw themselves to the ground as Dae swooped down on them, her talons just raking the ends of her hair. Shrewd growled and snapped at her as she whisked by, enraged at the attack on his Rider. What are you doing, Daenyris?!

The she-dragon's only response was another roar as she rose above them, the sun at her back. They had to look away as the glare blinded them, and it was then that Dae had the moment to strike. But before she could reach her target, Shrewd slammed into her from the side, buffeting her wings and forcing her off course.

Dae! Dae, what's wrong with you? the girl pleaded, but her mind was completely walled off. All she could feel from it was fury and an deep abiding pain.

Both of the dragons landed, snarling at the other as they slowly circled. When Dae was closer to the two of them, she suddenly lunged. Belle could only allow herself a moment of frozen terror at the sight of a dragon out for blood before she yanked Verity with her as they leapt to the side and rolled out of harm's way.

Reluctantly unsheathing Sundavr, she brandished the blade at the she-dragon while calling, Raugmar, come quick!

He was already on his way as Shrewd slashed at Dae, raking her snout with his claws in warning. She lashed out with her tail, whapping him in the face and disorienting him long enough to attack the two Riders once more. The girl swung at the paw that tried to crush them, wincing at the feel of the hot dragon's blood that splattered her and the sound of Dae's furious scream of pain. The dragon's tail whipped forth once again, knocking the boy into her and causing her sword to slip from her grasp.

And, staring up into those slitted indigo eyes, Belle knew that she was about to die.