Eldunarí
From Inheriwiki, the ever-growing Inheritance database
Eldunarí, which in the ancient language means "heart of hearts", was a gem-like body organ of a dragon which could be used to place their consciousness/soul. Typically, a dragon's Eldunarí slowly dissolved along with the dragon's body after it died. However, if a dragon wanted to, it could place its conscience into its Eldunarí, making it turn the color of the dragon's scales and also magically glow. This would make the dragon's conscience live on forever within the jewel (unless the Eldunarí was broken somehow). Also, a dragon could disgorge its Eldunarí if it wanted to. After a dragon had disgorged its Eldunarí a rider could call upon its dragon's strength whenever it had access to its Eldunarí. The energy an Eldunarí obtains for their sustenance comes from magic. After a dragon becomes resigned to their heart of hearts after death, they take with them the amount of spare energy they had while they were still alive. Over five to seven years after the dragon's death the amount of energy the dragon is able to store increases to astounding proportions. During a passage in Brisingr Glaedr mentioned that when a dragon had disgorged its heart of hearts and the rider lived on the pair became known as "Indlvarn" and although it may have been difficult for the dragon, there were many Riders and dragons adapted and continued to serve the order. Often, when the Rider of the Indlvarn pair died the dragon contained within their Eldunarí would arrange for someone to smash it for them. Glaedr also told Eragon in Brisingr that the larger an Eldunarí was the more energy it could store, which would provide incentive for riders to wait until their dragons were old before having them disgorge their heart of hearts. One benefit to having one's dragon disgorge their Eldunarí was easy communication between dragon and Rider over long distances. Saphira considered separating herself from her Eldunarí in "Brisingr", and even mentioned it to Eragon Bromsson "we could still talk to each other when we were separated."
In Brisingr, Glaedr disgorged his Eldunarí, and gave it to Eragon and Saphira before he eventually died. It was also thought that Galbatorix maintained his control over Shruikan because he had his heart of hearts. Towards the end of the novel "Brisingr", it was revealed to Eragon and Saphira that both Galbatorix and Murtagh drew their incredible magical prowess through the enslavement of the strength of the Eldunarya. It is also thought that Galbatorix was able to communicate through Murtagh during the battle above Gil'ead by drawing upon the strength of the Eldunarya, or possibly Thorn's Eldunarí.
- It also might be possible that wherever the Eldunarís are being kept, that place might be the Vault of Souls. If this is the case, it may reveal how Eragon conquers Galbatorix.
- In a short passage during which Glaedr revealed to Eragon the history of the Eldunarí, he mentioned that before making their pact with the Elves, the Wild Dragons kept their Eldunarí in Du Fells Nángaröth, the mountains in the center of the Hadarac Desert. It may be posible that this storehouse still survives.
- Christopher Paolini mentioned in an interview that once a dragon disgorged its heart of hearts, it would not grow any larger than it was at the time of removal. He also stated that the plural form, when referring to more than one Eldunarí, was "Eldunarya."
- The name "Eldunarí" almost definately derives from the Old Norse word, "Aldrnari," one of several words for fire. (Brisingr, for example shares its root with Brisingamen, which means bright or blazing, and was the necklace of the goddess Freyja.)
