Author's note:
I just realized that I forgot the queen's raven!
However, I will not rewrite all my chapters in advance for a detail with so little impact. Sorry fans of the white feathered bird named Blagden
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Egan's POV:
The 3 elves this time healed Eldar then other elves approached with a kind of portable bed in order to put Eldar on it but I couldn't let them separate me from him so I made a growl staring at the two elves approaching to make them understand my disagreement.
I felt a spirit attack me and I immediately closed my mind as hard as I could and leaping past the body of Eldar still in the arms of the female elf, I roared into attack stance.
The surprise and fear is clearly visible on the faces of the 3 elves but the two males placed themselves in front of the female, their spears pointed at me.
The queen raised her hands as best she could continuing to support Eldar while taking two steps back, this posture and her expression seemed to mean that she had no hostile attentions.
"Dragon, I only wanted to communicate with you, I don't want to hurt you. »
My posture doesn't change and my growl intensifies when I see her backing away with Eldar.
"If you don't believe me, expand your mind to mine and I'll let you in." Then you just have to send me your thoughts as you do with your companion, I could then answer you and you will be able to see that I only wanted to communicate with you. We are not enemies. »
Having nothing to lose, I comply.
'If this is the way you treat your friends then I don't want to relate to you'
As she announced, her voice reaches me just as Eldar's does when we communicate through the bond.
'You are not our friends yet but this attack is an accident, we took you for our enemy. He is the only dragon rider still alive apart from Oromis and his dragon and black.'
Ah... If she is telling the truth then I can understand why they attacked us and why the golden dragon did not attack again even after suffering the attacks of Eldar.
'Now what will happen?'
'First we will introduce ourselves, I am Islanzadí , queen of the elves. What is your name dragon?'
'My name is Egan and my mate's name is Eldar, however, that's not really what I thought. What will happen as a result of this confrontation?'
A single raised eyebrow crossed the queen's face. 'Wonderful Egan, your name is atypical for a dragon, but it's a good name. To answer you, there are no casualties in this clash, so there will be no hard feelings on our side for this clash.'
The queen continued to ask me questions but I told her that she will have to wait until my companion is recovered to answer these questions since I am not the only one concerned.
After accepting and explaining to me that accommodation will be made available to us during Eldar's recovery, we headed back, escorted by his small army. Another spirit came against my mind barriers on the way but without any attempt at aggression, waiting for me to allow it access. This spirit was that of a dragon and it was with caution that I opened my barriers.
He spoke to me in an unknown language and when he understood that I did not speak his language, he ended up communicating with me with feelings and memories.
I only listened in this exchange but he could perceive my reactions. He introduced himself and his partner and passed on his remorse for his attack. He also transmitted his happiness to me at my presence and I took that for a welcome.
I can easily understand why he seems so happy if he really is the last living dragon if we exclude their mortal enemy.
I then decided not to think about this attack for the moment and to take care of Eldar, we will then decide what to do and how to react with his people as well as the other duo of dragon-elf paired.
We settled into a much bigger and more comfortable tree than what we had created on our island. There was a location made to accommodate a dragon, it's obviously outside given our size but it's covered enough to remain pleasant. There is a passage in the tree allowing the elf to reach the dragon's nest.
Every day, elves whose queen came to continue the treatment and it only takes 4 days to get him back on his feet this time. There is no denying that their healing is really effective. The last time he was like this, it took me a month to bring him back to consciousness.
Eldar's POV:
I woke up with a start and Egan rushed to communicate with me immediately to calm me down and summarize what happened after my confrontation with the golden dragon.
We discussed at length with Egan what to decide what to do and how to react to this onslaught that we have suffered. On this point we did not agree and it was while we were discussing this subject that Queen Islanzadí arrived with two other male elves and a female standing behind them.
The queen stepped in front of us and seemed to be expecting something, noticing my confusion that was turning more and more into distrust. She made an irritated face then put her hand in front of his chest, leaned slightly forward and said:
"May good fortune reign over you, may the stars watch over you and may peace live in your heart"
My eyes widen in surprise, "Uh...Egan, what is she doing to us here?" Has she ever done this with you? »
….
Egan had spasms of laughter and these increased until he almost rolled over on the floor laughing at my reaction because he apparently had a similar experience.
The queen was now visibly upset "Egan, why didn't you convey our regards to your mate?" He now passes for a boor to my guards…"
Egan opened his mind to the queen and I could see the process he explained to me earlier.
'And miss the chance to see Eldar's head? No chance !'
A laugh escaped him before continuing: 'My apologies, it's been too long since I had a chance to embarrass him' and he started laughing again as I quickly turned my confusion into amusement and defeated, I sneered with Egan praising him for his prank.
The queen frowned even more, visibly unhappy with our reaction. "So you're just immature children?" Do you have no education? What could your parents have taught you… In our society we »
But she cut off without a sentence when she saw my eyes light up and saw that Egan wasn't laughing at all anymore. He put his wing on my back, a way for him to show me his support while glaring at the queen.
We could see the two males stand in front of the queen and put their hands on their swords.
"Be careful with your words, Queen Islanzadí , if Egan didn't tell me anything, it wouldn't have changed anything. He knows me and he, like me, prefers honesty and frankness. I don't really appreciate this extended greeting. Moreover his joke was harmless and does not deserve such a virulent reaction. If you want to say hello to me, say so, if you want to ask me, do so, but don't hide your intentions behind polite phrases that mean nothing. Please also don't insult us for free if you want to get our respect. »
The queen was now flushed with anger:
"No matter how ignorant you are, showing respect to a queen is just common sense. I could get you banned or even killed for such insolence, plus I saved your life so show a little more respect young man. »
Before I even let Egan let out the growl that was now vibrating in his throat, I answered in an icy voice.
"And how many of your men are you willing to sacrifice in order to satisfy your wounded ego from having suffered the affront of an honest conversation your highness?" »
…
"As for the fact that you saved my life, I am indeed grateful to you, but don't forget that it was you who attacked us without any warning before unleashing an angry dragon on us. would have killed Egan if I hadn't been able to fend him off. »
…
I see the queen breathing slowly to calm her nerves.
"Very well young Eldar, since you are so fond of honesty and frank and direct discussions. Here is a rough summary of the facts. You have come to our territory in the company of a dragon resembling that of our enemy. Even if you are not Galbatorix and Shruikan, you remain an unknown elf of our kingdom while all elves are born in our forests and they are all presented to the queen in order to properly celebrate this birth. Here are the facts, you are a middle-aged elf who was not born on our lands and you have a dragon while only Galbatorix has dragon eggs. As queen and responsible for the safety of my people, I should have every detail of your minds examined by my best magicians to be sure that you are not an enemy and that we can trust you. If I didn't treat you like this it's only because of your rank as a dragon rider and in the event that you are not a subject of Galbatorix and you are not a danger to the elves so I preferred to have a healthy relationship with the greatest hope we have of winning this war. »
His speech, said in a calm, slow but cold tone, makes sense and calms us both down.
"What have you to say to that, O honest and frank young dragon-rider? »
"Give us time to assimilate your point of view, will you? »
Debating with Egan, I must admit that his point of view makes sense, but there are points that I must raise.
"Forgive me, it seems that we both misunderstood each other , but I do indeed prefer this way of doing things. If you want something from me, be direct and honest because if I find out that you have cheated or manipulated me, I will never trust you again. »
She seems satisfied as she nods her head and motions for me to continue.
"However, you are wrong on several points. »
She raises an eyebrow and waits (this tic annoys me as much as it amuses me, but I continue without noticing)
"First of all you are wrong about elven births, not all elves are born in your forests since I am a living example. I was born on an island a few years before the Dragon Rider War started. For reasons that I don't want to mention, my parent left during my mother's pregnancy and she died to protect me from the ravages of the Dragon Rider War. »
The queen remains unmoved even though she can detect the surprise in her mind since she still has her mind open to Egan.
"Then still in our franchise agreement, I really, really don't appreciate the mention of me being your greatest hope in this war. I never said I wanted to take part in your war. If you wish to make Egan and me your soldiers, I announce to you immediately that I refuse. »
"Does your voice also represent Egan's?" Galbatorix holds all remaining dragon eggs and there are currently no living females. Do you want the dragon race to go extinct? »
A deep growl responds to the queen's statement.