This story has words from the Ancient Language in it, so here is what they mean:

Brisingr- Fire.

Brakka du Brisinger- Reduce/dim the fire.

Ebrithil- Master

Svit-kona- Female honorific of high praise.

Waíse hljödhr!- Be silent!

Atra esterní ono thelduin- May good fortune rule over you.

Atra du evarínya ono varda- May the stars watch over you.

Kvetha Fricai- Greeting Friend.

*space*

I poked at the dry wood, not sure if I wanted to start a fire.

We are in the middle of nowhere. No one can see. It is dark. The smoke will be hidden.

I glanced at my dragon. "Did you check? Just a quick soar over the top of the Spine."

Of course.

"Brisingr," I mumbled, sighing. The twigs leapt to life. I held my hands close to the blaze, the past few days troubles heavy on my mind.

My dragon sensed my frustration.

Easy, young one.

I scoffed. "We are of the same age."

Would you rather I call you 'small one'?

"Young one will do. We do need new names. Ebrithil Eragon will find us if we wander around with our current ones. We are slightly infamous."

Slightly?

"It is not my fault I am the fist elf ever born who is clumsy. So, if you drop powerful amounts of magic on a pointy-eared klutz, you have a problem. And ever since Ebrithil Eragon defeated Galbatorix, there have been more dragons, which in turn leads to there being more magic. And with the elves going out into the world, everything changes.

Ebrithil Eragon would not be searching for you if you had not destroyed his living quarters.

"Ha. If it had only been his living quarters, I would not be running. But you do not have as much to fear. Saphira is your mother; she would be gentler with you. You do not have to worry." I snapped.

She brushed my anger aside. You cannot run from him. His magic is more powerful than yours.

"I can try. And it is not by much. He has had thirty years to hone his skills. I have had seventeen."

My point, She groused, is that he has much more experience. He was teaching you! If you had not run, we might still be there, in a warm nest.

"Yes, perhaps we would be at Doru Araeba, but not in a 'warm nest'. More likely forced to clean Vroengard for a year: without the aid of enchantments. Just because he is the Eragon, does not mean he will not be upset about his entire tree house. He was rather attached to it. I believe Arya Svit-kona helped him sing its shape."

I have told you not to experiment with magic like that.

"I was not to know that saying those words would wilt everything within sight!"

It was the matter of thinking them that cause that. If you had spoken them, only the flower would have dried. Even Ebrithil Eragon does not think his magic unless the circumstance is dire. He forbad you to ever think your magic, as he is not certain why your magic is so strong.

"You know well I plan on becoming the most powerful Shur'tugal that ever lived."

If you do not fall off my back and kill yourself first. She snorted.

"I could use a spell to catch myself. Ebrithil Eragon said he has never seen someone who can use so much magic and not destroy themselves. Everyday, I pour huge amounts into the ring he gave me." I looked at the emerald stone entwined in the silver ring. "It has enough power in it to bring down a fortress!"

That is an exaggeration.

I shrugged. "Not by much. Maybe not a large fortress." She rolled her eyes and a thin strand of smoke snaked out of her mouth.

"Okay! Time for new names." I closed one eye and stared at her shining white scales bathed in the moonlight.

"Hmmm….. I read about a powerful dragon named Ophelia. Will that do?"

It is a poor substitute for my true name, but I will allow it for now. She stared at me balefully. I hope you know this is foolishness…

I ignored her. "Now….something for me…."

I will choose yours, as you chose mine. I will call you Crystal. Ophelia flashed me a toothy grin.

I glared at her. "Why that name?" She narrowed her eyes and I flung up my hands. "Alright, alright. Crystal it is." I touched my hair, which I was certain the moon was causing to glow. "Perhaps I should change my hair color. White is rather noticeable."

Ophelia chuckled. Most certainly, young one. Perhaps a light blonde would do nicely. You should also turn your eyes more blue. Dark purple mixed with silver is distracting to humans.

"Stop making fun of me." I said, half teasing. "I am not the one with a colorless body!" I laughed, rubbing her snout. I stood and stretched. "Brakka du brisingr." I watched as the fire dimmed.

The elves took you to Ebrithil Eragon as a babe, seventeen years ago, because they could sense the amount of magic in you. When the egg Ebrithil Eragon sent them waked as you were carried by, that made you special. That is when I chose you.

I glanced at her, one eye closed. "Yes. Why do you mention this?"

You are a very unusual being.

"So? Ebrithil Eragon is as well. He was born human, but now would be mistaken for an elf-born. At least Eragon can keep his balance. Who ever heard of an ungraceful elf?"

It may be because you were not raised in Du Weldenvarden. No elf has ever been taken from the forest at such a tender age.

"I doubt that is the cause." We were silent a few moments.

Crystal, where are you planning on going?

I bit my lip. "I first thought we might return to Du Weldenvarden, but I would more than likely make even greater mistakes in a forest. We could go to the Hadarac Desert."

She growled. And do what? Die? Think about this, young one.

"Well…I could try and make a few things grow there. Ebrithil Eragon told me of the time he pulled water from the ground in the desert many years ago, when he was fleeing Galbatorix."

She sighed. Living things cannot survive there, and neither would we.

"We might." I shifted some dirt between my fingers. "I think we could do it."

Why not go back to Ebrithil Eragon and apologize?

"It is not that simple."

Why not?

Blushing, I shook my head. "It is so humiliating to be an elf, and not be able to walk straight. And then the magic accidents. Ebrithil Eragon is still upset about the rock incident. None of the other students there cause near as much trouble, and I manage to do it all on accident!"

Patience. All will work out in the end.

"That may be what you believe, but so far-" I broke of suddenly, the protective spells I cast around us drawing on my power.

Crystal, what is it?

Waíse hljödhr! I frantically thought to her. I reached into the stream of magic and felt for the disturbance.

It is Adurna and Vindr! What are they doing here? And without their dragons; in the Spine! Diemon-er, Ophelia, do you feel them? Should we hide?

Ophelia gazed at me. They are your friends. Do you trust them?

I would not call Vindr my friend, but I will have no choice in the matter. They will be able to sense the magic barrier. Not if they were some of the human Riders, but these two….

They elves were close enough that I could hear their voices, murmuring between the trees. Suddenly, they halted.

"Vindr, do you feel that? A magic user is near by. A powerful one." Her stunning blue-green eyes turned toward me, and the intensity of them sent prickles across my skin. Vindr replied softly.

"Adurna, I believe it may be Linnëa and Diemonda. Eragon told us she fled after destroying his home. I am sure it was quite by accident, but none the less, she continues to be a disgrace to our race." He grumbled.

"Vindr! She is no disgrace! She is more capable in her magic than you or I, but she lacks elegance. It will come in time." Adurna rebuked her brother. "You are not still displeased about the time she….."

"How could I forget?" He muttered.

They will find us. Diemonda blurted, startling me.

I know, I know. Adurna is walking here now. I may as well step out and meet her.

I did just that, brushing the boughs aside and touching my first two fingers to my lips. "Atra esterní ono thelduin."

Adurna smiled, not even startled, and brought her hand to her lips as well. "Atra du evarínya ono varda."

"Kvetha Fricai." I smiled at her. Her eyes met mine.

"Why did you flee Doru Araeba, Linnëa? Did you not think Eragon would forgive you?" She asked. Vindr coughed.

"Adurna, I believe Ebrithil Eragon would punish me beyond reckoning. I have made mistakes, but this, this is insane! He will murder me, or worse."

"Linnëa is correct. Eragon nearly went into spasms when he returned with Saphira from the new Carvahall."

"Vindr, hush. You are not helping matters." Adurna said.

Diemonda projected her thoughts to the two elves. Linnëa has no desire to face his wrath. She has had one too many mishaps.

"Eragon will find you. He will not give up easily on someone like you. Why do you think he named you after the Menoa tree? You are special." Adurna told me in the ancient language, revealing her sincerity.

I stared at the ground before answering. "That will not spare his anger. He will be furious."

"Just return with us. Give him a chance. Perhaps he will not be as livid as you believe." Adurna assured me. I stared at her doubtfully.

"I will come….but I do not trust that it will bode well for us. Diemonda?"

It was your choice alone, young one. I sighed, trailing my fingers through my starlit hair. "Where are Vanilor and Hírador? I do not feel their presence."

Vindr concentrated a moment. "Hírador is hunting further down the Spine."

"Vanilor is as well." Adurna noted. "We called them. They will be here shortly, and then we will return to Doru Araeba."

"Yes." Diemonda watched me unblinkingly. It will not be as terrible as you make it out to be. She whispered softly.

I suppose we will find out soon enough. I thought as I climbed onto her glossy scales, admiring the clear coating that seemed to cover them like diamond.