Purging of the Darkness (Quetzal)

[Brenton]

The war with the Empire had taken several decades to pass but finally it was at an end. King Galbatorix was dethroned by means of death, the elves were finally under the rule of someone who rightfully deserved the throne, dwarves could once more be seen out in the open freely, soon the riders would be raised up again. Yet one thing was left to do, something that could possibly affect many individuals. It was at last time to destroy the dark magic keeping Brenton in a state of madness.

So the half elf had flown immediately to Ristvak'baen to prepare all that he would need for this ceremony. All that was left was for Isrydia and Eragon to show up before he could begin fully. Slowly the elf took his cruxes crystal and laid it on an anvil. Next he muttered a couple words and fire sprang up around the chamber. This was going to be one strange night to say the least. With all of that done, Brenton sat and waited for the others to show up. While he waited, the king went through all of his possible fears. The greatest was that he would hurt Isrydia or Eragon once he had his emotions back, which was the reason they would both be there, of course.

((Basically Brenton is destroying the cruxis crystal and will probably screw up a friendship in the process. Also this is where he learns about his past through terrifying means such as near death.))

[Quetzal]

Eragon, Saphira, Isrydia, and Arlyn had hoped to travel with Brenton to Ristvak'baen, but for reasons unknown to them he had decided to rush there himself, forcing them to make excuses - which had consequences, in Eragon's case, what with all the work that needed doing to rebuild the Rider Order - and hurry on after him. People were reasonably understanding when they told those they trusted they were following the mad half-elf to try helping him rid himself of dark magic, knowing how much of an annoyance he could become if allowed to stay in this state and being concerned of what might happen if given the chance to try destroying his connection to nether magic by himself. People's opinions did not change the fact that there was a lot of work to be done and politics changed quickly these days. Eragon and Saphira were anxious to get this over with as quickly as possible so they could make the time they had to leave the political situation alone as short as possible, and were annoyed at Brenton for not giving them a warning he was leaving or an invitation to travel with him. The four had been worried what might happen to him travelling by himself, or what he might do to other people unsupervised.

Ristvak'baen was in sight now. "He can't have been there for more than a few hours, he didn't have that much of a head start on us. What damage could he do in a few hours?" Isrydia said hopefully to the minds of everyone present in the flight towards their destination. She had been visiting her family in Kuasta when contacted saying Brenton had already left. She'd known he planned on leaving once the war was over, but had desperately wanted to see her family again and had managed to spend a couple of weeks with them before anything had cropped up. She had met up with Eragon en route and gone the rest of the way with him.

"Plenty," came Eragon's sceptic reply. He had no illusions about what the insane man might do. The man was still his half-brother, though that seemed less and less likely to be true with certain rumours he'd been hearing, and Isrydia vouched for him having been a decent person rather than the violent, aggressive, short-tempered nut case he knew today. He hoped to the gods this stupid trip would be worth the danger and sacrifice of time.

"Calm yourself. If you go in hating the man you're hardly likely to save him. You cannot let yourself get angry, either, especially around someone with an even shorter temper than yours," Glaedr's voice sounded through his mind alone.

"Stop looking at my thoughts," Eragons said moodily, though he rarely guarded most of them from the Eldunari.

Glaedr would have given him a look were he able to. "You need my advice and you know it."

The dragons landed with a cloud of dirt outside the cave entrance. The two Riders slipped off the two blue beasts' backs and cautiously peered into the passageway. Arlyn sniffed. "I see fire," he squinted down at the faint flickering light, dimmed by the twists and turns of the passage. Isrydia couldn't see anything but darkness, but Eragon's more sensitive eyes could see it too.

"I see it too. That had better just be him cooking dinner or staying warm or something," Eragon felt the first stab of real worry that travelling behind Brenton had made them too late. If he began all this before they got there, he doubted any good would come of it. Isrydia nodded and stepped towards the light she couldn't see. Eragon followed, but both dragons were too big to fit in the small passageway. To better conceal the entrance, it and the tunnels following were hardly big enough for a person to enter. They figured there must be a larger entrance somewhere to pass tools to build chambers and things to go in them, unless of course that larger entrance had been demolished when there was no longer a need for it. They did not have the time to find a bigger entrance, so for now all they could do was promise the dragons they would run back to them quickly if trouble arose. They both clawed the ground unhappily but had no choice but to agree. It distressed them to leave their Riders walking into a dangerous unknown, and they paid close attention to their minds. Both Riders let their dragons see what they saw, hear what they heard, and feel their thoughts. Arlyn let out a whine when they couldn't see them any more, and Saphira tried to comfort the younger dragon with a nudge of her wing, but was too scared herself to be much help.

Finally Isrydia too could see the flickering light. Before long they reached a chamber and the light changed to bright flames. They were clearly conjured by magic. No other flame burned without fuel and produced no smoke. It took a word for Eragon to part them to let them pass. "Brenton?" Isrydia called.

"Brenton, why did you run off? You should have let us travel with you, to make sure nothing happened. Have you... done anything yet?" Eragon cut any conversation straight to the point.

[Brenton]

The sounds of traveling beings in the narrow passageway reached the ears of the half elf at his post near the anvil. It was but a mere seconds before the flames parted and Eragon stepped through with Isrydia beside him. Of course, Isrydia had been worried enough to try and start a conversation but his half brother simply cut straight to the source of their presence. Other than the fire and setting aside the crystal and Undbitr? No, I figured I would wait for you to arrive. Oh and I don't do well with...regrowth after war. The last time I was anywhere near a Varden celebration was when I met Isrydia. I believe they had many weapons to fix and William almost was in a duel with me. Best to avoid that, since I was sane back then and I am not now.

The half elf, Brenton, stood over the crystal for a few seconds before he exhaled and started speaking once more to both of them. Something isn't right with this anymore. It's almost as if the very fabric of our relationships will be destroyed after this ritual. Alas, what cannot be foretold must not be dwelt upon. Eragon, please...if I go dark side then kill me. I won't be able to handle any backlash from my actions. Isrydia, thank you for showing up.

Finished with his speech to them both, Brenton started a long line of complex and very ancient spells. They couldn't be messed up in even the slightest of pronunciation so it took a full ten minutes before Brenton raised Undbitr and spoke his own true name, the one that it had been before the cruxis crystal. In a flash, the half elf dropped his blade down onto the smooth stone. A loud crack rippled from the impact zone quickly followed by the sound of a naked sword slamming against the ground. Next was the thud of Brenton hitting the stones beneath his feet.

As he fell, Brenton felt a wavering pain envelope him quickly accompanied by the deep gnawing hunger and suddenly a dam of emotions swept over his mind. Screams filled his thoughts just before images flashed past his eyes. Most of them were of a younger Brenton but as a simple peasant. Slowly a progression of memories passed before his eyes up to the point that Galbatorix altered everything. Seconds turned to minutes and minutes to hours before Brenton opened his eyes and took a shuddering gasp of air deep into his lungs.

Slowly his vision focused and he immediately saw the two in the room. One was Eragon Bromsson, Shadeslayer and Bane of the Ra'zac. Eragon had been his half brother, even if it was all a lie. The second was Isrydia, rider of Arlyn and one of the few people Brenton had truly cared about. As his eyes settled on her, he felt his face heat up and his thoughts cloud over with purely physical need. The desire to have this woman closer to him was overwhelming and it made Brenton bite his lip just as he propelled himself toward Isrydia. He was mere inches away from her when his body was reigned in by Grazael who had seen the signs.

Eragon, Brenton is battling his lust for Isrydia and losing. I can't hold him still for long so please get her out of harm's way and then I will free him once more. Grazael spoke directly to the rider and then he was forced back into his own defenses. Just as that happened, Brenton broke free and dove for a full tackle to keep his once friend from escaping. If only he could...what? Brenton had warned them and now it was too late. He would finally get what he wanted and not be rejected anymore.

Or at least that was the plan until Saphira I intervened and once more he was immobilized by an eldunari. Now Eragon had time to get Isrydia to Arlyn and safety.

[Quetzal]

Isrydia and Eragon listened to what he had to say. While Isrydia doubted she would be able to kill her friend if he did seem to turn - there would always be that niggle in the back of her mind insisting he was still in there somewhere and just needed more time - Eragon was confident he could so nodded. He didn't want to, but if it was what Brenton preferred, that was what he'd do his best to make come about. It was for the best of everyone if someone who proved unfixable was stopped before he got out of hand and had the opportunity to hurt anyone.

Neither of them said anything while Brenton was speaking the spell, both aware that something like this required extreme concentration. They were prepared to lend him energy if need be. They were also readying themselves for whatever came next, watching his every move to gauge what was going on. He smashed the crystal at last and fell to the ground. The two Riders froze. They didn't know if it was best to go over to help him or to stay put. It might even be best to leave. No, they had to check how he was doing, but they had to be on their guard.

When he stood up, both the onlookers took a step back, hands hovering over their swords. He looked at them as if he had been unaware who he was with until that moment. "Isrydia, I don't want you near him," Arlyn said to his Rider just before Brenton lunged for her. She drew her sword instinctively, fearing he must have been overcome by the nether. She still didn't want to kill him, but she was ready to defend herself and hold him off as best as she could. She held Iarmailt defensively in front of herself to block any attack he was about to try, but thankfully there was no need to strike him. He froze before he could reach her, and Grazael's voice spoke. Arlyn felt a twinge of longing at hearing that voice. His friend had died fighting the witches that had once possessed him and Isrydia, and he missed flying with him.

Eragon took the warning and drew Brisingr, standing close to Isrydia. "Go on, go back to the dragons. I'll tell you if it's safe to come back or if I need help. I'm not trying to stop you helping or anything, I just think it's best this doesn't turn into a fight," he said through a mental connection. He didn't trust Brenton to hear anything that wasn't meant to be said directly to him, and had wanted to specify the suggestion of staying with the dragons in case she tried to linger just out of sight, which was far too close for his liking. Isrydia understood. While she didn't like having to leave, Eragon and Grazael had a point. She turned and ran away, feeling frustrated with herself for having to back away even though she knew the alternative was to let things escalate into violence.

No sooner had Isrydia turned, Brenton had tackled for her. Eragon shoved him, hard, with a shoulder, pushing himself in between the half-elf and the young woman so he couldn't run after her. Thankfully the job was made easy by Saphira I freezing him once again. Isrydia ran safely out of view and kept on going.

He was still holding Brisingr. "Brenton, if you have any slight amount of decency, you will stop this right now. Get some self control, for goodness' sake, and stop all these creepy advances. I'd been told you were worthy of being considered a person. If that's true, you'll let her go - and not just from this cave, but for good, she doesn't want you and you should respect that rather than constantly make more attempts pointlessly. I don't want to have to use this," he waved Brisingr, "so don't disappoint me." His tone was harsh and cold. He was at the end of his patience with this man, having seen absolutely nothing to indicate he'd changed in any way. If he couldn't even manage dealing with crushes that would never go anywhere, something even kids could cope with, how could he be expected to deal with the power he had?

[Brenton]

(Hmm this wasn't necessarily how I had planned that post when trying to decide how to do this...now what to do with Brenton.)

Brenton was just barely able to register what the rider before him was saying yet none of it seemed to translate into actual meaning. Yet when Brisingr was waved at his face, the half elf busted out in laughter. Eragon Shadeslayer, son of Brom, do you really think that a simple farm boy like you could harm me? While you may have trained with a few renegades and cowards I was brought up as a knight. One of the best the fair folk could offer, and then my training encompassed that which those fools Glaedr and Oromis would never allow you to know about. Even now, you hold dear to the thought that if you can just persuade me to calm myself then you will not be forced to kill me. Trained by traitors and cowards, so it seems fitting that you should be a cowardice swine as well. Oh by the way, Brom is your father and not mine. Now you can stop hating me for being able to know the man when you couldn't. Now then, Isrydia is more than just another student of mine. I went out of my way to train her, saved her from a shade, helped guide her, and then lost my dragon because I saved my dearest friend from witches possessing her. All of that just for her to shoulder me aside and act as if I am nothing. Don't think I can't see the disdain and fear from everyone every time they look at me. Every time I am near then someone gets hurt and it automatically becomes my fault. All of this foul treatment towards someone who sacrificed everything to help this land.

By the end of the rant, tears were streaming from his face and Brenton was shaking with barely controlled outrage. He had bottled up all of those torturous emotions and now they were coming out without him trying to bring them forth. Yet as he realized what his words were, Brenton stopped and dropped his head in regret. All of this time, Eragon, I have searched simply for someone who understands what I am going through. I have tried to find someone who knows what my pain is like. So when it got to where I could trust Isrydia...I guess I was foolishly inclined to believe something more could exist. Still, you acted the same way with Arya when you found her. How can you be so similar yet still hold me with the utmost disgust? Bromsson, the day you finally realize who you are and that you are just as much of an outcast as I am, that is when you can judge me for my behavior. Just think, what of our situations had been reversed? It could be that I stood here trying to talk you down. I apologize for my harsh words toward you and toward those that trained you. Glaedr and Oromis were right to teach you the light magic and responsibilities that some of us could never learn.

With that, he waved a hand to get rid of all of the flames before walking out of the chamber slowly. His feet touched the stone with dreary thuds as he kept his head down and his mind in its own protective shell. From Grazael, Brenton saw what he had done and now he felt bad for what it must have made Isrydia think. Finally he emerged from the tunnel and into the air outside. In front of him stood two blue dragons and someone he couldn't bring himself to look at.

Without stopping for a second, Brenton took from his pocket a simple piece of crystal and a small note. The crystal was one of the shards that Vaentr resided within now and the parchment read "I'm sorry". Both articles he dropped at Isrydia's feet as he passed. Yet he refused to speak to even Arlyn. Arlyn, he won't admit it right now but Brenton feels bad for his actions. Maybe someday we will be able to speak again but right now he can't be close to those he hurt. Please tell everyone that Brenton is sorry. Grazael spoke to his friend and brother for one last time.

[Quetzal]

Laughter hadn't been the reaction Eragon was expecting. Perhaps the madness went deeper than the crystal he'd just destroyed. If that was the case, at least he shouldn't be able to use nether magic any more with his connection to the corrupting stuff gone. What he was saying was all hot air, too. Simple farm boy? He hadn't been a simple farm boy in a long time. Whatever their upbringings had been was hardly relevant. He was far from the angry, determined, over confident teenager way out of his depth. He had done, seen, and learned so much now he was hardly the same person. Of course he could harm Brenton. Whatever the arrogant man might think, swords still hurt.

He'd heard most of Brenton's speech from him before, but one thing that was new was his parentage. His eyes widened. How exactly was that a 'by the way' statement? This was huge news. He felt relieved, though he knew he shouldn't, but mainly was wondering who Brenton's father was if not Brom. He waited until Brenton was done speaking to voice his own words. "Isrydia doesn't act like you're nothing, she respects you and values you as one of your closest friends. I never said to stop feeling like that about her because I know that's impossible, but you can at least accept your friendship as nothing more than that. You need both sides to happy for anything else to develop. However I might feel about Arya, I don't force myself on her, and neither should you to any woman. If you keep it up, before long you won't even have her friendship. Plus... you have a wife, you're promised to her. You made your vows." He would never kiss Arya or force himself on her in any way, since he liked her too much to hurt her like that. Besides, he liked having her as a friend and didn't want to lose that, while he could see that exact scenario happening with Brenton and Isrydia if he didn't exercise some basic self control.

He turned to leave. "If you're going to see her, remember to control yourself! There's no excuse not to!" He started after him. "And... when did you learn Brom wasn't your father? Who is?" He called at the retreating figure.

Isrydia froze when she saw Brenton. Arlyn tensed and Saphira studied him warily. He wasn't even looking at her, though he through something at her feet. Picking it up, she read the note. She believed he was sorry, but he had been sorry before. For her to believe this really was a lasting feeling, and that he'd learned not to do this again, she needed to see proof in the form of him actually acting on this. She needed to see him keeping any feelings to himself until they dwindled away and died. She turned the crystal in her hand, not wanting to say anything in case hearing her voice had a bad effect.

"I will, brother... where will he go? I think he needs time to calm down and sort his emotions out," Arlyn replied. Eragon was watching what Brenton was doing from outside the entrance to the cave.

[Brenton]

Brenton looked over at Eragon briefly as he thought about his response. Honestly he had known he wasn't related to either family since they were so vastly different but when he finally confirmed it was just a bit ago. I found out just after shattering the crystal. Parts of my past had been showing up in dreams but it all came back in there. As for who my father was, I don't know. If I ever did then it hasn't returned yet. Thank you, Shadeslayer. You did a lot in your time as a rider and even now you are still helping others. Even without blood connecting us, you are still a brother through the Riders. Good luck Eragon.

Grazael simply grumbled and tried to convey his uncertainty. He is broken and lost right now, my rider. So for where this path leads him in the future I cannot say for certain. He has decided to step down from the throne and probably travel for awhile. Maybe he will meet someone who can help give him a sense of purpose again. It all depends on who he meets now.

Brenton looked over at Isrydia and smiled sadly. You and Arlyn will make great things come to pass as dragon and rider. I am proud to have been your mentor. Good luck Isrydia-finiarel.

[Quetzal]

Brenton sounded much calmer when he next spoke to Eragon, which was good to see. He was surprised by how he was acting as if finding out his past and his family were completely different to what he thought was no bigger a deal than finding out the local merchant had sold you goat's milk instead of cow's. In fact, he was making a bigger deal out of Isrydia, which had been going on for ages and didn't have to affect Brenton in the slightest if he didn't let it, than something which in his opinion was life-changing. Brenton must have been very sure about what those dreams said else he'd no doubt act differently, and if that were the case he wondered why he hadn't said something before. "Good luck to you, too, wherever it is you're going."

"I'm sure if you look for it, the rest of your past will come back to you," Saphira added. She was curious about what his real history was. It certainly made sense for him not to be Brom's son, and for Islanzadi not to have been intimate with Brom - those two things she had always had trouble believing. It just didn't fit in with her idea of what Brom had been like. She and Eragon felt more comfortable now knowing he hadn't been hiding a whole other side to him from them after all.

Stepping down from the throne was the smart option, Arlyn thought. The elves had been unhappy with having a mad king anyway. He had been sure something was about to spark if Brenton had carried on as he was. Now he had no claim to the throne, if he didn't step down, someone would make him. "Stepping down from the throne is best. Look out for him, brother, he needs it."

Brenton finally managed to look at Isrydia. She smiled weakly. "Thank you, Brenton, and good luck to you too. Goodbye. I'm sure we'll meet again when you've learned more about yourself and how to control your emotions," she said.

[Brenton]

Brenton nodded slightly, too uncertain of his own thoughts to reply to anyone. With that he stood by the edge of the cliff and stepped over into empty space. He couldn't use as strong of magic anymore but the former king was sure he could survive this. Using a few spells, the half elf descended to the ground in four smaller trips. As he touched the softer earth, the knight simply threw back his head and shouted in joy. He had been able to free himself of evil, discovered his past, and was on his way to start fresh. Even the issue with Isrydia wasn't bad enough to completely ruin the day.

Grazael spoke a few words to Arlyn before the connection could die away. Good bye Arlyn. May our paths cross again one day.

[Quetzal]

The four on the mountain, and Glaedr through Eragon and Saphira's eyes, watched Brenton descend. They were concerned he would hide himself somewhere and mope - he had a strong tendency to dwell on things rather than moving on - but his shout at the bottom told them otherwise. "I'm sure they will. Goodbye, see you later," Arlyn was certain this wasn't the last they'd see of Grazael.

"He seems happy, thank the gods," Eragon sighed in relief. "He can stay that way too, so long as he doesn't sulk and lets himself move on." He looked away from the former king, up at the others. "We'd best be going. There's a lot to sort out. We need to let people know Brenton is no longer messing with dark magic, and the elves will be needing a new monarch," he said, climbing up onto Saphira's back.

"I feel uneasy just leaving him here. What if he goes crazy again with no one there to tell him when to stop?" Isrydia said, climbing into Arlyn's saddle. The two dragons took off, leaving Brenton a dot at the base of the mountain.

Glaedr spoke up. "He has Grazael, Saphira, and Vaentr. He needs to be alone with his thoughts and as little influence as possible at a time like this."

Isrydia supposed he was right. The old dragon was wise, so his advice was best listened to, and it did make sense to her. Hopefully Brenton wouldn't get himself into any serious trouble. Perhaps the next time she saw him, he would have both sorted out his temper and his self control. It would be nice to have a conversation with him without him thinking his pride was wounded over something petty, shouting and threatening someone, or going off in a tangent about his feelings for her. Then perhaps they could have a proper, healthy friendship, one that didn't make her feel awkward and uncomfortable to be around him. She knew that had to make him feel better as well as her.

((End of thread?))

[Brenton]

-End of thread- (Now I'm caught up to the timeline with David and Velathan.)