Disclaimer: I do NOT own Eragon. If I owned Eragon, you would see Arya falling down dead, Brom coming back to life and King Galbatorix joining Arya in the pits of hell. If these events haven't occurred, then you are sure that I do NOT own Eragon. Eragon is owned by the one and only Christopher Paolini.

A/N: I would just like to clear up a few things…I did get some scenes from Eragon because…well…just because…and Rebecca is the only child (not related to the reason I got some scenes from the book). If I had made some mistakes, please don't hesitate to tell me. Of course, you have to review to tell me. ;)

The New Rider

An Odd Finding

Eragon came into the sight of the portcullis just as it was beginning to lower. Calling for them to wait, he put on a burst of speed and slipped inside seconds before the gateway slammed close. "Ya cut that a little close,"observed on of the guards.

"It won't happen again," assured Eragon, bending over to catch his breath. He wound his way through the darkened city to Jeod's house. A lantern hung outside like a beacon.

A plump butler ushered him inside without a word. Tapestries covered the stone walls. Elaborate rugs dotted the polished wood floor, which glowed with the light from the candelabra hanging from the ceiling. Smoke drifted through the air and collected above.

"This way, sir. Your friend is in the study."

They passed scores of doorways until the butler opened one to reveal a study. Books covered the room's walls. But unlike those in Jeod's office, these came in every size and shape. A fireplace filled with blazing logs warmed the room. Brom and Jeod sat before and oval writing desk, talking amiably. Brom raised his pipe and in said a jovial voice, "Ah, here you are. We were getting worried about you. How was your walk?"

I wonder what put him in such a good mood? Why doesn't he just come out and say how Saphira is? "Pleasant, but the guards almost locked me outside the city. And Teirm is big. I had trouble finding this house."

Jeod chuckled. "When you have seen Dras-Leona, Gil'ead or even Kuasta, you won't be easily impressed by this small ocean city. I like it here, though. When it's not raining Teirm is quite beautiful."

"Mum! Dad! I'm ho-oof!" A feminine voice sounded from the hallways.

Brom put his pipe into his mouth. "It appears as if someone went into the wrong house, drunk."

Jeod chuckled. "That someone has gone into the correct house and is not drunk. That someone is my ever clumsy daughter."

The door opened and before them stood a girl about fifteen with waist-length ebony hair and ocean blue eyes. She wore a white dress with two slits on each side of her body, the slits reached from her ankles and almost up to her blue sash decorated with beads. Eragon couldn't help but blush when he saw her legs. She had a sheathed sword that she kept tied to her waist, and a bag slung over her shoulder. "Hi Dad!" She gave a friendly wave, smiled and gave a polite nod to Eragon and Brom.

"Hello Rebecca. Why are you so happy and why are you limping?" Jeod asked the girl called Rebecca.

"I'm limping because the ever clumsy me, as you would put it, tripped on something while I was racing to the gates at dawn. But, in the process of tripping I made a discovery!" She smiled from ear to ear.

"Really now? You should tell me that later. This is Brom" Jeod pointed to the old man. "And this is Eragon" he pointed to the young man.

"Pleasure to meet you Brom," she shook hands with Brom. "Eragon" She also shook hands with him. Eragon smiled at her.

"I am interested in that discovery you made, Rebecca…If you don't mind Jeod." Brom looked at Jeod. Jeod shook his head and said, "I would like to know too."

Rebecca put down her bag and pulled an oval stone from it. It was violet with lilac veins spider webbed across it. "Where did you find this?" Brom sounded harsh when he asked her. She was taken aback by the harshness but answered, looking like she wasn't affected.

"I found it out in the forest. I tripped on it while I was racing to the gates so that the guards wouldn't lock me outside."

"My dear …do you know what this is?" Jeod asked her.

"Uhm…It's a polished stone…isn't it?" she was quite unsure of her answer.

"No, it's a dragon egg…and you are a Rider…" Brom answered quietly, almost above a whisper.

"I'm…I'm…a Rider?" she was taken aback by the fact that she was a Rider. She had never thought that she would one day be a one…until now.

"Yes…" Brom emitted a circle of smoke from his mouth.

"But…T-that can't be…I mean…" She was at a loss for words.

"A dragon chooses it's partner…and you have been chosen by this dragon…although…how you found it is somewhat odd." Brom had an amused smile on his face.

"This means I…have to leave Teirm? I mean, I have been away from Teirm but...I don't think I'll be coming back anytime soon…"

On one hand…I'm never coming back to Teirm…on the other hand…I get to have a dragon! How cool will that be?!

"It's okay with me dear child…It's your destiny…but, Do you think Helen will approve of you going with them?" Jeod pointed out.

"Why would I be going with them?" She looked incredulously at Jeod, Brom and Eragon.

"Is there a problem?" Brom asked.

"No, I just want to know why I'll be coming with you…" She had a sudden interest in the floor.

"Because I'm a Rider too." Eragon finally spoke up.

"O-oh…well…If you need anything I'll be in my room, reading." She hobbled over to the door and gently closed it.

"She has an interest in books?" Brom asked Jeod.

"Yes, she's a bibliophile like me. Come let's eat dinner."

"Could somebody call Rebecca please?" Helen asked.

"I'll call her. Where is her room?" Eragon offered.

"Up the stairs and it's the first room you'll see." Helen smiled sweetly. Eragon thanked her and went up the stairs. He opened the door quietly, his eyes scanned the room. Tapestries and bookshelves covered the walls, laden with records of wonderful stories waiting to be discovered. Blue and white rugs covered the light mahogany floors. In the corner of the room was a blue and black, neatly made bed. A white divan caught Eragon's eye; it was placed under a bay window, and sitting on the divan was Rebecca reading a book. The pale moonlight cast a ray on her face, giving her a heavenly look. Eragon cleared his throat and she looked up.

"I'm sorry I didn't knock. You're mother's calling you for dinner." She smiled at him.

"Thank you. You don't have to wait up for me." Eragon closed the door and noiselessly ran down the stairs.

"Ow! Dammit!" Brom and Eragon looked up to see Rebecca leaning against the door frame.

"Don't swear Rebecca." Helen's voice came from the kitchen.

"You see…Helen doesn't like us swearing." Jeod explained, not looking up from his food.

"Yeah, why is that mum?" Rebecca hobbled to her seat.

"Because I'm so pure of heart." Helen emerged from the kitchen.

"So pure of heart." Jeod and Rebecca repeated with sarcasm.

"It's true!" Helen waved her ladle at them.

Rebecca waited until Helen was in the kitchen before talking. "Yeah, right" she took a bite out of her food.

"Rebecca…can you teach Eragon how to read? I'll be quite busy." Brom asked breaking the silence. Eragon blushed feeling embarrassed.

"Uh…okay…will I teach him how to write as well?"

"Yes. Thank you."

"It's no trouble. I should teach him tomorrow night because I have a job to do tomorrow and I need to sleep early tonight. If it's no problem to Eragon I mean."

"It's no problem." Eragon was a bit happy because Brom wasn't going to teach him. Brom was really stern when he taught Eragon.

"May I be excused?" Rebecca asked when she finished eating.

"You may." Jeod said.

That night….

Rebecca wrote a rune on a piece of parchment with charcoal.

"That is an a. I want you to practice writing it now please." And thus began Eragon's quest of being literate. After a few nights, Eragon could write-if a bit illegible-thanks to Rebecca's fun exercises and puzzles. She always made him read aloud to her at nights so she could correct his pronunciation and add words to Eragon's vocabulary. He read slowly but she would always encourage him, "Do not worry…you pick up fast. In a few days you could read as fast as a grown wolf catching a deer when it's famished." Eragon would laugh at the comparison but he would only earn glares from her. His lessons did not go unpaid, after every session she would make him tell about a little of his past.

It was afternoon when Brom summoned Jeod and Eragon both to the study. Brom gestured at Eragon. "Now that you can help us, think it's time to move ahead."

"What do you have in mind?" Eragon asked.

A fierce smile danced on Brom's face. Jeod groaned. "I know that look; it's what got us into trouble in the first place."

"A bit exaggerated," said Brom "but not unwarranted. Very well this is what we'll do…."

A/N: Thank you for reading :) I'd appreciate it if you would review so I would be informed if you liked it! If you would like to know, Rebecca doesn't like dresses; her outfit is technically a dress with 2 slits. She likes it because she feels comfy; she doesn't like the other dresses because she feels confined. Comments, suggestions, extra characters, flames, and constructive criticism are welcome:)