Looking through my old stories, and I decided that it was time to edit this one. Be warned that this will have no updating schedule, nor will it have much of a plot outside of the love quadricorn or whatever. Also, if there are inconstant stuffs, don't blame me. All of the plot and crap stuff I had written was lost. I'm just updating this for the heck of it.
This takes place before Eragon comes to Ellesméra. Brom and Jeod managed to flitch two eggs, the green one and Saphira. Arya has been ferrying them alternately across Alagaësia, so if she was captured only one egg would be lost. Obviously, she lost Saphira like normal. This is all in Bella's point of view.
The beginning comes directly from New Moon, be warned.
"Goodbye, Bella," he said in the same quiet, peaceful voice.
"Wait!" I choked out the word, reaching for him, willing my deadened legs to carry me forward.
I thought he was reaching for me, too. But his cold hands locked down around my wrists and pinned them to my sides. He leaned down, and pressed his lips very lightly to my forehead for the briefest instant. My eyes closed.
"Take care of yourself," he breathed, cool against my skin.
There was a light, unnatural breeze. My eyes flashed open. The leaves on a small vine maple shuddered with the gentle wind of his passage.
He was gone.
With shaky legs, ignoring the fact that my action was useless, I followed him into the forest. The evidence of his path had disappeared instantly. There were no footprints, the leaves were still again, but I walked forward without thinking. I could not do anything else. I had to keep moving. If I stopped looking for him, it was over.
Love, life, meaning... over.
I walked and walked. Time made no sense as I pushed slowly through the thick undergrowth. It was hours passing, but also only seconds. Maybe it felt like time had frozen because the forest looked the same no matter how far I went. I started to worry that I was traveling in a circle, a very small circle at that, but I kept going. I stumbled often, and, as it grew darker and darker, I fell often, too.
Finally, I tripped over something-it was black now, I had no idea what caught my foot-and I stayed down. I rolled onto my side, so that I could breathe, and curled up on the wet bracken.
A noise, a broken sort of growling and screaming, echoed around me. It took a minute for me to understand that the sound was tearing its way out of my lungs. It was a sound of pain, of frustration. I hadn't been good enough.
The sound continued for an immeasurable amount of time. My throat turned raw, and it burned to breath. The racking sobs scared away any creeping creature, and I let it continue.
My world was falling down. What did it matter if I died?
Child... A kind, warm voice entered my mind. I knew I should respond, but my frozen brain wasn't responding.
Are you hurt?it prodded. The sound was so motherly that I nodded my head, sure it would understand.
Something vast touched my mind, something so old that I wasn't sure if I was just dreaming or not. It skimmed the surface of my thoughts, and recoiled at the pain I was feeling. An emotion welled up in this alien presence, something not unlike compassion.
I can help, it whispered. But only if you wish. I can let you forget...
Forget him? A pain worse than losing him tore an even more jagged hole through me.
"I don't want to forget," I begged, still on the forest floor.
Then I will ease your pain, the voice said to my mind.
A warm, glowing feeling coated my body. It scoped out every pore, every bone in my body, embracing it. I was on fire, but it wasn't painful. In fact, it was the opposite. I laughed, momentarily forgetting my pain as the light shaped me anew. The supernatural was something I was used to, and as I watched the light move through me, I was amazed.
Could Alice see me?
The thought was gone as soon as it came, and the light began to fade. When it set me down on the forest floor, I looked at my hands in wonder.
They were slighter, more slender than before. I felt thinner then I had been, taller. My hair floated around my head like a halo, light but durable. I laughed, and it sounded like bells, almost identical to Alice's light tinkle. This must be a dream. I would wake tomorrow, and Edward would be next to me.
"Who are you?" I called out to the forest.
A waking dream. Now, go this way...The voice faded out, and I got the impression that I needed to go north. I wandered off in the direction of the thought. Amazingly, I didn't trip. I was more graceful than before, and it was much simpler to fly through the trees. It all enforced my idea of a dream. I could see so much more then I used to, and I leapt through the trees and laughed.
"Silváe?" asked a voice, farther off in the trees. I froze, scared. The voice was clearly male, and unrecognizable. "Blöthr!"
A face popped out behind a tree, and I let out a stifled shriek.
The face was only slightly human. The deep green eyes were slanted, cheekbones more prominent. Oddly enough, his ears were what stuck out most, pointed. It was strangely handsome, in its own way. But the face was twisted, marred by confusion.
He opened his mouth, and a strange language flowed out of him. It was smooth and it flowed, and I shivered. It moved me in ways I couldn't comprehend.
"I... I don't understand," I whispered, my voice rough. This was getting too weird for even my tastes.
He just looked more confused. "Aren't you an elf?" he asked in a light, bell-like tone. He moved a bit closer, as if to get a clearer look at me.
"Is this a joke?" I asked, moving back. "Tell Edward it isn't funny." A thought went through my mind. "Where is Charlie? Oh, crap. He's probably worried to death. I've been gone for hours, and I didn't even leave a note," I rambled.
The man in front of me arched his eyebrows. "I know of no man, human or elf, named Charlie. Are you traveling, young one?" His face was softer.
"Not that I know of..." Definitely a dream. "I was wandering by my house, in Forks. Washington," I clarified as the man gave me an odd look.
"There is no place called Forks here. I shall take you to Islazandï," he decided. "Follow."
I trailed after him through the foliage. He bounded about, knowing where he was, and I floundered after him.
"What is your name, child?" he asked.
"Isabella," I told him. "But-"
"We are here," he interrupted.
At first, it looked as if nothing was changed. But then I looked about, and saw the trees that were misshapen and full of holes. A few moments later it clicked. They were houses, grown in the trees. The craftsmanship was amazing, flawless.
The strange man led me through the streets, bounding until he reached a wall with doors. He declared something in the odd tongue, and the larger doors swung open unassisted. I continued to follow him until he stopped me in front of another set of doors.
"Take care, for a coiled snake may still choose to strike, but it is his own will." After that odd bit of information, he sprung to the door, and I followed after him.
The room we barged into was covered with lilies of all shapes and sizes, taller than it was wide. Near the ceiling were tall, open windows, letting in light and birds alike.
A gorgeous woman turned around, and my escort bowed. I stood awkwardly at the back, not sure of what to do. They exchanged greetings for a bit, and then the woman turned to me.
"Isabella, greetings," she started, opening her arms in welcome. "I am the queen of the elves. What brings you to our fair lands?"
Unbidden, my whole story spilled out of my lips, minus the vampire bit. That wasn't mine to tell. I told her of how I was left in the forest, how I tried to follow him and got lost. Of the calm and collected voice that somehow changed me, guided me, erased bits of my pain. How the man found me and brought me here. It was silent for a minute.
"I can't say I've ever heard of this," the queen said. "A human... who is an elf." She clapped. "Kinjú, search the records. Isabella, I will take you to a place where you can stay." She swept out of the door, and I followed. This was all so strange, so new.
I liked it.
She led me down the hall. "Wait here. I'll inquire of the sleeping arrangements." She walked off down the hallway, and I stood there, looking like an idiot.
There was a door across the hall that was closed, but something there drew me in. I tiptoed over to the door, and pushed it. The door swung in without the barest hint of resistance. Inside was not very large. All it contained was a polished, large, rounded piece of jade. I walked over to it, drawn to the way the light reflected off of it. My hand unbidden reached out to touch it.
That single moment changed my world.
A burning sensation flashed on my hands, and I yelped and yanked my hand away from the stone. I looked down to inspect my hand, and saw a silvery white mark branded there, similar in color and feel to the bite I had from James. I stared at it in awe. I don't know how long I gawked, but it was long enough that the queen had come back.
"This way, young one." When I didn't move, she came over to see me looking at my hand. She grabbed it, and saw the mark.
"Bless the stars," she whispered. "We found the Rider."
Did you like it? Hate it with a passion?
Me? It was meh. I could've done better, but I was lazy. This is just a 'what the hell' story for me.