Chapter 4
Journey to Ellesmera: Lessons Along the Way
With Nasuada now leading the Varden, Eragon prepares to travel to Ellesmera for training. King Hrothgar gifts him armor from the battle of Farthen Dur and offers Saphira her dragon armor once repaired. When conversation turns to the shattered Isidar Mithrim, the Star Rose, Hrothgar expresses deep grief over its destruction. Saphira, feeling remorseful, makes an unexpected promise: if the dwarves can reassemble all the pieces of the gem, she believes she can use magic to make it whole again.
Eragon's journey begins with Orik and Arya as companions, traveling through massive thirty-foot doors that lead to tunnels underneath mountains to Tarnag. Though momentarily hesitant about entering the darkness and abandoning the familiar for an uncertain destiny, Eragon takes a breath and strides forward, "allowing the mountain to swallow him in its depths."
Their journey takes them along the Az Ragni river by raft, where Eragon learns about dwarf customs and beliefs. Gannel, a dwarf priest, teaches him about the dwarf pantheon: Guntera (King of the Gods), Kilf (goddess of rivers and sea), Urur (master of air and heavens), Morgothal (god of fire), Sindri (mother of earth), and most importantly, Helzvog, who created the first dwarf from mountain roots. Gannel explains their creation myth-how after Helzvog made dwarves, the jealous Guntera created elves, Sindri brought forth humans, and Urur and Morgothal released dragons.
As they travel deeper into elven territory, Arya teaches Eragon proper elven customs, explaining that elves' long lifespans necessitate extreme courtesy to prevent centuries-long grudges. She warns that elven politics move in subtle, millennia-long cycles, and that as a Rider, he'll be judged by the highest standards.
Upon reaching the edge of Du Weldenvarden, they meet four elves who greet Arya with unexpected joy. When Saphira appears, they initially react with alarm until Eragon reveals his gedwey ignasia and greets them properly in the ancient language. The elves welcome them to Ceris, a small outpost of three huts clustered around a great oak tree.
Approaching Ellesmera, they encounter Gilderien the Wise, guardian of the city since the dragon wars. The forest then opens into a glade where Eragon's perception suddenly shifts-what appeared to be twisted trees are revealed as graceful buildings growing directly from the pines. Houses rise organically from tree trunks or nestle between multiple trees, perfectly blending nature and architecture.
The elves emerge cautiously from hiding-ethereally beautiful with silver and sable hair, almond eyes, and rustic tunics. They bow to the visitors, then break into song and dance, escorting them along cobblestone paths set with green tourmaline. Eragon feels a profound sense of peace, enchanted by Ellesmera's harmony with nature.
Chapter 5
The Legacy of the Riders: Oromis and Glaedr
Following the cobblestone path through Ellesmera, Eragon marvels at how elven buildings grow directly from living trees. Their journey ends at a hall formed entirely of melded branches where Queen Islanzadi sits-imperious yet fragile, with slanted eyebrows, bright red lips, and midnight hair under a diamond diadem. When Arya kneels before her, Islanzadi embraces her, crying "O my daughter, I have wronged you!"-revealing to Eragon's shock that Arya is royalty.
After celebrations and feasting, Islanzadi leads Eragon and Saphira to a wooded knoll and demands they swear in the ancient language never to reveal what they're about to see without royal permission. At the knoll's summit, they reach a cliff dropping a thousand feet to the endless forest below. Suddenly, powerful concussions shake the air, and from below rises an enormous gold dragon with a Rider on its back.
This is Oromis, the Cripple Who Is Whole, and his dragon Glaedr-the last free Rider and dragon from before the Fall. Oromis explains he cannot fight Galbatorix because the Forsworn broke something within him during his captivity, leaving him unable to control magic except for the smallest spells. He has bound himself with hundreds of small spells to delay a terminal condition until he could train the next Rider.
Oromis takes Eragon to his home on the Crags of Tel'naeir, a small hut grown between four trees overlooking Du Weldenvarden. There, he establishes himself as Eragon's master, demanding proper respect and deference. When Eragon expresses fear about his own back injury, Oromis firmly states that training must proceed despite the pain, as their duty cannot be shirked.
Eragon's training begins with seemingly simple tasks: meditating in a glade to observe ants, practicing the Rimgar (a series of poses similar to yoga), and studying the ancient language. When Eragon focuses too narrowly on the ants rather than maintaining awareness of all surrounding life equally, Oromis assigns him daily meditation until he can "watch one and know all."
During language instruction, Eragon learns he mistakenly cursed rather than blessed the orphan child in Farthen Dur by using "skolir" (shield) instead of "skoliro" (shielded). Horrified, Eragon realizes he condemned the child to absorb others' suffering. Oromis explains that Saphira's marking of the child creates an unprecedented situation and reminds Eragon of his responsibility toward the girl.
As training progresses, Oromis challenges Eragon's reasons for fighting the Empire, asking whether their war might cause more suffering than it prevents. When Eragon struggles to justify his position beyond simply declaring Galbatorix evil, Oromis instructs him to ponder the matter until he can provide a convincing answer. These philosophical challenges force Eragon to develop not just as a warrior, but as a thinker capable of understanding the moral complexities of his role.
Chapter 6
Resistance and Exodus: Roran's Leadership
While Eragon trains with Oromis, Roran faces increasing danger in Carvahall. After another attack by the Ra'zac, young Elmund is killed by a spear, leaving Roran desperate to find a safe haven for the village's children. At a meeting in Horst's home, Roran proposes they send the children, mothers, and infirm to hide in the Spine mountains where the Ra'zac and soldiers won't follow.
His suggestion provokes outrage, particularly from Sloan who declares, "I'll be hanged before I set foot in those cursed mountains!" Despite concerns about the dangers, Roran argues passionately that the Spine remains their only refuge. When he appeals directly to Delwin, who lost his son Elmund, and to Birgit about protecting her son Nolfavrell, the villagers begin to reluctantly agree.
Determined to protect Katrina, Roran visits her at her father's home to convince her to join those fleeing to the mountains. Katrina initially refuses, insisting she should stay to fight alongside him. When Roran pleads that he needs her safe to focus on defending Carvahall, she demands a promise: that he will never again ask her to leave him, even if they faced Galbatorix himself. Though it pains him deeply, Roran gives his word.
The next morning, as the villagers prepare to depart for the Spine, Sloan discovers Katrina among those preparing to leave. He erupts in fury, grabbing her pack and attempting to drag her away. Roran intervenes, publicly announcing their engagement. When forced to choose between her father and Roran, Katrina tearfully chooses Roran. Humiliated and heartbroken, Sloan disowns her.
That night, Katrina secretly slips into Roran's room. Their moment together is violently interrupted when soldiers blast through the door, accompanied by the Ra'zac. With a sword at Roran's throat and Katrina screaming beside him, the Ra'zac order him bound and taken away. When Katrina attacks the soldiers, Roran seizes his hammer and fights with superhuman strength, killing three men while wounding others.
As Horst and his sons respond to the commotion, the Ra'zac grab Katrina and flee. Roran pursues them to the window, where one Ra'zac catches his wrist. In desperation, Roran tears back its hood, revealing a horrifying face-shiny black skin, lidless eyes like hematite orbs, and a sharp beak instead of mouth and nose. Despite Horst's help, the Ra'zac bites through Roran's shoulder muscle and breaks his wrist before escaping with Katrina.
To Roran's horror, he witnesses not only Katrina bound as prisoner, but Sloan walking freely with the Ra'zac. Realizing Sloan betrayed them by killing the watchman Byrd and helping the Ra'zac, Roran watches helplessly as both Katrina and an unconscious Sloan are carried away on the flying beasts.
After recovering from his injuries, Roran conceives an audacious plan-convincing the entire village to abandon Carvahall and journey to Surda to join the Varden. This would allow him to both save his people and gain the information needed to rescue Katrina. Drawing strength from his vision of Katrina, Roran delivers an impassioned speech, showing his bleeding palm as a symbol of their shared pain. He condemns Galbatorix as evil, recounts their losses, and presents his plan to cross the Spine to Narda, sail to Surda, and join the Varden's resistance.
Under Roran's leadership, the villagers journey through the Spine to Narda, a small coastal town. There, Roran negotiates passage on three barges owned by Captain Clovis. When the Ra'zac's flying mount nearly discovers their camp, the villagers eagerly agree to travel by barge. As they prepare to depart, alarm bells sound in Narda after Roran kills two soldiers who recognized him. Clovis initially feels deceived upon discovering his "livestock" cargo is actually the entire village of Carvahall, but Roran convinces him to honor their bargain through a mixture of threats and honesty about their flight from the Empire.
Chapter 7
Transformation and Revelation: The Blood-Oath Celebration
Back in Ellesmera, Eragon continues his training with Oromis and Glaedr. Despite his dedication, Eragon's back injury causes multiple debilitating attacks daily. He names this pain "the Obliterator" for how it strips away everything that makes him who he is. Despite his suffering, Oromis urges him to persevere, reminding him that as Riders, they stand between light and dark.
Eragon's sparring partner, Vanir, treats him with contempt, easily defeating him in combat and mocking his abilities. When Vanir insults Saphira, suggesting she chose the wrong Rider, Eragon attacks with unexpected ferocity. Vanir reveals the elves' bitter disappointment-after eighty years of hiding from Galbatorix, they had hoped for a powerful Rider to defeat him, but instead got "another human like Galbatorix" and "worse... a cripple."
As the Agaeti Blodhren (Blood-Oath Celebration) approaches, Eragon grows enchanted by the timeless elven city. Days blend together in the pinewood haven where flowers of all seasons bloom simultaneously through elven magic. The forest animals show no fear of hunters-Eragon often witnesses elves petting deer, foxes, and bears.
During the celebration, Eragon experiences the event in vivid but disconnected flashes, losing track of time in the enchanted atmosphere. He remembers dancing with an elf-maid, watching musicians perched in the Menoa tree, and hearing countless poems. The elves present remarkable creations-glass balls with blooming flowers, musical lilies, and Rhunon's unbreakable shield and metal wren sculpture. Strange creatures emerge from the forest depths, drawn by the magic-both animals and elves who have altered their forms, including fur-covered elves, webbed-fingered swimmers, and dragon-scaled beings.
On the third day, Eragon presents his poem about a man destined to defeat Death, revealing his personal fears and journey. Saphira then reveals her creation-an intricate black stone sculpture she shaped by breathing fire upon it, amazing the assembled elves with her artistry.
As the celebration reaches its climax, two identical elf-maids, Iduna and Neya-the Caretakers-perform a ritual dance with a dragon tattoo that spans both their bodies, which through magic comes alive and manifests as a spectral dragon. The creature touches Eragon's gedwey ignasia, sending incandescent heat through his body before he loses consciousness.
When Eragon awakens, he discovers he has been transformed-his face has become more angular, his senses sharper, and his body stronger. Most importantly, his back injury has been healed. The dragons' magic has changed him, making him more elf than human. This transformation grants him elven strength and speed, allowing him to finally defeat Vanir in combat. The elf, who had previously scorned him, bows respectfully and acknowledges Eragon as worthy of the title Rider.
Chapter 8
Convergence of Fates: The Burning Plains
While Eragon completes his training, Nasuada and the Varden prepare for war. Intelligence reports suggest Galbatorix is gathering forces, though they cannot determine his timeline. Nasuada has been spreading rumors about Eragon's prowess, hoping to inspire cities like Dras-Leona to join their cause without requiring sieges.
Meanwhile, Roran and the villagers of Carvahall have stolen the Dragon Wing, a ship owned by the Blackmoor Shipping Company-a front for the Empire. With the help of Jeod Longshanks, an agent for the Varden, they sail for Surda. During their journey, they are pursued by three black-sailed Empire sloops. To escape, they sail through the Boar's Eye, a massive whirlpool between Beirland and Nia islands. While the Dragon Wing manages to pull free of the whirlpool's grip, the pursuing sloops are drawn toward the center and destroyed.
As Eragon completes his training with Oromis, he scries Nasuada and discovers the Varden preparing for battle. He then checks on Roran, finding him bearded and desperate aboard a ship with the villagers of Carvahall. To his horror, Eragon discovers Carvahall has been completely destroyed. With renewed determination, Eragon decides they've remained isolated too long. "It is time," he tells Saphira, committing to their fight against the Empire.
Eragon, Saphira, and Orik fly directly to Aberon, Surda's capital, where they learn that Orrin, Nasuada, and the Varden have marched to confront Galbatorix's army at the Burning Plains, where underground peat fires have smoldered for years-matching Eragon's premonition of warriors clashing on an orange field.
At the Burning Plains, Eragon reunites with Nasuada and meets Elva, the strange black-haired girl with violet eyes who bears his gedwey ignasia mark on her forehead. Kneeling before her, Eragon apologizes for the curse he unwittingly placed upon her. Elva reveals she's tormented by constant awareness of others' suffering and compelled to help them. Eragon promises to remove the spell after the battle.
As the battle begins, Eragon methodically eliminates enemy magicians with his mind, astonished at how easily he can kill from a distance. When Nasuada appears, wounded and desperate, she begs Eragon to fight openly as a Rider to inspire their forces. Eragon and Saphira merge their identities, becoming a single entity as they tear through enemy ranks. Despite their efforts, the Empire's endless ranks gradually force the Varden to retreat. Just as hope fades, King Hrothgar arrives with the dwarf army, reinvigorating the Varden's spirits.
Chapter 9
Brothers in Blood: Revelations and Inheritance
As Eragon and Saphira prepare to rejoin the battle, news comes of a ship approaching on the Jiet River-the Dragon Wing carrying Roran and the villagers of Carvahall. When their eyes meet, Roran feels conflicted emotions-joy at seeing his cousin alive, but also anger over Eragon's role in Garrow's death and Carvahall's destruction.
After ensuring the villagers' safety, Eragon confronts a mysterious enemy Rider on a red dragon. After a fierce aerial battle, Eragon faces the steel-clad Rider in swordplay. Despite his skill, Eragon's exhaustion hampers him, and he begins losing ground. When he finally slips and falls, he notices something familiar in his opponent's fighting style. Eragon rips off the Rider's helmet, revealing Murtagh-alive, despite having supposedly died beneath Farthen Dur.
Murtagh explains that the Twins orchestrated Ajihad's ambush to capture him for Galbatorix. In Uru'baen, a dragon named Thorn hatched for him, and Galbatorix forced them both to swear loyalty in the ancient language. Murtagh reveals Galbatorix's true plan: he wants Saphira alive to breed with his male dragon and rebuild the Riders under his control.
When Eragon offers to help free him from his oaths, Murtagh explains that Galbatorix knows their true names, making escape impossible. Even Eragon's suggestion that they allow themselves to be killed is rejected-Murtagh values his and Thorn's lives too much to sacrifice them.
The confrontation reaches its climax when Murtagh immobilizes both Eragon and Saphira with magic of impossible strength. After a failed attempt to break free, Eragon learns the shocking truth: Murtagh is his brother-both sons of Morzan and Selena. Taking Zar'roc as his birthright, Murtagh spares Eragon but warns their next meeting will end differently.
Left devastated by this revelation, Eragon watches as the battle concludes with the Empire retreating, though at terrible cost to both sides. Among the carnage, they encounter Orik and other dwarves mourning King Hrothgar's death, killed by Murtagh during the battle. Eragon is then confronted by his cousin Roran, who punches him before explaining that the Ra'zac captured Katrina.
In Nasuada's pavilion, Eragon reveals the shocking truth about Murtagh and his own parentage. Nasuada and Arya insist this must remain secret to protect morale. Upon reuniting with the villagers from Carvahall, Eragon feels strangely disconnected from his former neighbors who now regard him with awe.
The revelation of his parentage shakes Eragon to his core. He had always believed he was the son of Garrow's brother-in-law Brom, only to discover he is the son of the first and most powerful of the Forsworn-Morzan, the man who betrayed the Riders to Galbatorix. This knowledge forces Eragon to question his identity and destiny. Is he destined to follow in his father's footsteps, or can he forge his own path? The answer to this question will shape not only his future but the fate of Alagaesia itself.
Chapter 10
The Path Forward: New Alliances and Ancient Enemies
As "Eldest" concludes, the stage is set for the next phase of the conflict. The Varden has survived its first major battle against the Empire, but at great cost. King Hrothgar is dead, and the dwarves must choose a new leader. Nasuada has proven herself as the Varden's commander, but faces the challenge of maintaining morale in the face of Galbatorix's seemingly endless resources.
Eragon has completed his initial training with Oromis and Glaedr, gaining new abilities through his transformation during the Agaeti Blodhren. However, he now faces a personal crisis regarding his parentage and must confront the reality that his brother serves Galbatorix. He has also promised to help Roran rescue Katrina from the Ra'zac's stronghold at Helgrind.
Roran has emerged as a leader in his own right, guiding the villagers of Carvahall to safety and demonstrating remarkable courage and determination. His quest to rescue Katrina will test him further, forcing him to confront the darkest aspects of the Empire's power.
The revelation of Murtagh as a Rider under Galbatorix's control changes the dynamics of the conflict. The Empire now has two Riders against the Varden's one, and Murtagh's enhanced abilities make him a formidable opponent. Galbatorix's plan to breed Saphira with his male dragon adds urgency to the Varden's mission-they must prevent the tyrant from establishing a new generation of Riders under his control.
As the dust settles on the Burning Plains, one thing becomes clear: the true battle has only just begun. The fate of Alagaesia hangs in the balance, and the choices made by Eragon, Roran, and their allies will determine whether freedom or tyranny prevails. The path forward is fraught with danger, but also with possibility-the possibility of forging new alliances, discovering hidden strengths, and ultimately challenging the dark power that has held Alagaesia in its grip for a century.
