Nightmare woke first, blearily opening his eyesockets as a dull ache pressed against the inside of his skull. He mentally cursed himself for his decision to get drunk last night.
At least I didn't get overly inebriated. He thought, remembering the day before.
His tentacles felt stiff.

He looked up and saw why.
Vines wrapped around each of them, draping from some of the ends like strands of willow, swaying faintly with the movement. Leaves sprouted along their length, giving it the appearance of a strange breed of tree. He sighed, a little annoyed with the constant references to trees with himself and Dream.

He got up slowly, ignoring the weight of his brother hanging off of him. He clenched his tendrils as he stretched, awakening the one clinging to his backside.
"Uh..b.. Brother?" "Yes, Dream?" He asked, not bothering to look over his shoulder as he curled the base of his lower tentacles under Dream's legs to better support the sleepy one as he felt the vines flutter.
"I'm sorry.."
"For what? The vines? I don't really care. You can move when you're ready." He stopped talking, sensing a familiar presence approaching. He tensed, the action causing the vines to slip, making his tentacles feel strange. He glanced up, seeing that they had somehow absorbed into the tendrils, leaves the only things sticking out. They now emerged from the ends of his tentacles.
"Wonderful.." He sighed, exasperated.
"That happened." Dream commented with wide sockets.

The door opened.
"Oh. Reaper." Nightmare stated bluntly.
The God of Death stared.
"Holy crap, are you two turning into a tree."
"No." Nightmare responded flatly.
"You look like a tree."
"Reaper, you're upsetting Nightmare." Dream whined, tightening his grip on his brother.
"Okay, okay buttercup. But can you like.. separate? Islanzadí is planning something and I'm pretty sure we should be there."
"Sure." Dream tried to peel off of Nightmare, but was stuck. "Um."
"Wonderful." Nightmare said for the second time that morning. He sat down, waving his tendrils around as he watched the vines coming out of the tips sway. Reaper sat down next to them, careful not to touch anything alive.
"How about I help peel some of it off, maybe the rest will come off on it's own?"
"Can you safely touch his vines?" Nightmare asked.
"He can, they're immune. Are you?" Dream responded.
"He is. Found out a while ago." Reaper explained.
"Well then." Nightmare started.
"Looks like we need your help." Dream finished nervously.
"Heh." Reaper snorted, tapping one vine experimentally. "Let's see what I can do."

...

Blue woke up before the others, sitting up and stretching. He peered over to see GB had kicked the blanket off his legs, the shorts hanging off his left clawed foot as both feet and tail hung over the floor. He sighed, grinning as he slid off the mattress and arranged the bedding properly, ignoring his friend out of respect for his modesty. Then he looked out the window, smiling at the glittering forest full of dew.

Then Blueberry skipped to the main room, finding four trays of food consisting of mostly fruit- something he appreciated when he disliked killing for food. He didn't like ending the innocent animals' lives just to eat, when there were kinder options. He could ignore when he received food, reminding himself it was already dead and to not eat it would be a waste. That, and some out there were carnivorous and could not sustain themselves on plants alone.

He had some blueberries, grinning at the small joke as he read the note and glanced at the clothes.

Greetings, Saphira Bjartskular, Istalrfreohr Evarína-augar, Eragon Shadeslayer and Eldgath Andlátkyn.
I, Bellaen of House Miolandra, do humble myself and apologize to you, Saphira and Istalrfreohr, for these unsatisfactory meals. Elves do not hunt, and no meat is to be had in Ellesméra, nor in any of our cities. If you wish, you can do as the dragons of old were wont, and catch what you may in Du Weldenvarden. We only ask that you leave your kills in the forest so our air and water remain untainted by blood.
Eldgath, Eragon, these clothes are for you. They were woven by Niduen of Islanzadí's house and are her gift to you.

May good fortune rule over you,
Peace live in your heart,
And the stars watch over you.

Bellaen du Hljödhr

A roar from Saphira jolted him out of his thoughts before he could pick up the bluish clothes. He glanced through the screen door to see her leaping out the window over Eragon's head. GB was near the bed, in his animalistic form, tail sweeping side to side in pleasure. He turned his face to peer at Blue, eyelight glinting happily.

Eragon headed for the door, joining Blueberry on the other side and noticing the items.
"They're so courteous, aren't they?" Blue commented as he took some banana bread.
"They are. I don't know how to thank them." Eragon responded after slowly reading the note. Blue cringed. "Me neither. This is good." He glanced at the banana bread in admiration. Eragon tried some in curiosity, GB pushing his skull through the door and parting his jaws. Let me try. Without permission, he snapped up half the loaf. "GB! That's so much!" Blue stomped his foot. The skeleblaster snorted humorously. Oops.

While Blue glared at GB, Eragon took out the garments meant for him. Both skeletons paused to peek at them. It started with the red-brown tunics, matching cream leggings for each, and three pairs of socks.
"Don't go leaving socks on the floor." Blue muttered, resulting in GB snorting and wheezing like a demented train.
Blue just stared at him, unimpressed.

Eragon disappeared into the study to dress as Blue took a look at what was made for him.
It made him grin.
Two tunics, like Eragon, but the color of the sky; one like that of a clear morning and the other of midday. A pair of black leggings and another in silvery white, and to his pleasure they were made with the lack of flesh on skeletons in mind. The socks were all white, but to his discovery they were soft. It felt like cashmere while looking smooth as silk. Giggling in excitement; he dashed to the washroom to clean his face and change, though he ended up scrubbing his arms and legs in annoyance, then his old clothes. Being made of Error's strings, they were closer to indestructible, though that didn't stop them from getting filthy.

He finally stepped out, grinning as he lovingly slipped his armband over his left arm. He pulled out his new hammer, Fyrnhamarr, and spun it in hand as he opened the door, encountering Eragon. They both glanced each other over and approved of the clothing, making Blue snirk at their synchrony.

Saphira had already landed back inside, eating three seedcakes as GB ate everything the others didn't.
"How can you eat so much after yesterday?" Blue found himself questioning.
I dunno. I'm hungry. The skeleblaster shrugged before a knock sounded at the door.
"Come in." Eragon called, reaching for Zar'roc as Blue stared at the door.

It opened to reveal a nervous Orik, stepping inside slowly as he tested the floor regularly, giving the ceiling a suspicious stare. "Give me a cave any day instead of a bird's nest like this." He grumbled. "How fared your night, dragons and Riders?"
"Good!" Blueberry beamed at the name. GB nodded as Eragon spoke for himself and Saphira. "Well enough. And yours?"
"I slept like a rock." Orik replied, chuckling before turning thoughtful.

"I see you've eaten, so I'll ask you to accompany me. Arya, the queen, and a host of other elves and few friends etalthargen await you at the base of the tree." He eyed them. "I'm not sure what the elves want from you, but it's important. Islanzadí's as tense as a cornered wolf... I thought I'd warn you beforehand."

Blue and Eragon explained their thanks, then the trio descended to the ground by stair, the dragons taking the outside route. Islanzadí waited, tense as Orik said, wearing swan feathers. They greeted and she spoke. "Follow me."
They fell in line after her, Nightmare and Dream appearing to join their group quietly, Reaper hovering behind them.

They were guided to the and of Ellesméra before Islanzadí spun around and faced them. Her words were harsh and stiff.
"Before we go any farther, the eight of you must swear in the Ancient Language that you will never speak to outsiders of what you are about to see, not without permission from me, my daughter, or whoever may succeed us to the throne."
"Why should I gag myself?" Orik immediately questioned.
Why indeed? Do you not trust us? Saphira inquired. Islanzadí shook her head. "It is not a matter of trust, but of safety. We must protect this knowledge at all costs- it's our greatest advantage over Galbatorix- and if you are bound by the Ancient Language, you will never willingly reveal our secret. You came here to supervise Eragon's training, Alalëa Könungr and Orik-vodhr, and by right your other half, Islingr, and Daéda Reona shall participate, as will Líf hafrdaéda due to the circumstances of Istalrfreohr and Eldgath. Unless you give me your word, you may as well return from whence you came."
"Which we can't." Reaper muttered.

Nightmare and Dream spoke at the same time with a knowing smile. "We already have our word upon accidental discovery not long ago." It was creepy. Islanzadí's eyes narrowed. "Indeed?"
Nightmare switched to her home tongue; unable to lie. "Indeed. And beforehand we had already been aware of the secret to some extent. Nothing truly escapes us; our minds are forever one with the world."
A hint of anger flashed across her face, gone as quickly as it came. "Very well. I hold you to your word."

Now Orik spoke, slowly. "I believe that you mean no harm to dwarves or to the Varden, else I would never agree. And I hold you to the honor of your hall and clan that this isn't a ploy to deceive us. Tell me what to say."
The queen guided him through the words as Blue glanced between his friends nervously. "I think." He hesitated. "I trust her." He smiled uncertainly. "Do you?"
I do not know. Saphira answered honestly, speaking for both herself and her Rider.
But we have no choice.
He looked down. The dragon was right, they didn't have much say in this matter. Blue looked back up. "Nightmare trusts her, and he knows the secret already. I think it's safe."
Eragon paused. "Yes, I trust in him. If he found fault in this, he would tell us."

Orik finished, and Reaper repeated the oath. GB was next, then Blue, Eragon and Saphira. He felt heavy after the words left him, filling his Soul with apprehension. As Saphira spoke the last lines of the promise, Islanzadí thanked them. "Now we may proceed."

Draco was at the edge of the cliff, trembling with wide sockets. "You won't believe this." He stated in Wingdings as they approached, looking over the drop-off and scooting away.

Thud.
It was so powerful the air shook.
Thud.
It reverberated throughout his skull, making his teeth clench.
Thud. Blue winced at the massive sound, reaching for his skull as a sense of fate bloomed in his Soul.
Thud.

Coming up from beneath the cliff ascended a titanic gold dragon, a Rider upon it's back.

"Oh my God." Blue whispered under his breath.