Chapter 1

"Noah, I need you to stay here," Arya said treating me like a child.

"Arya, I am seventeen your only nineteen I just wanted to come with you and help get the stone out of Durza's reach," I barked getting in my sister's face.

"I don't have the time it is far too dangerous Noah, stay here and protect the castle," she said storming for the door.

"Arya, Arya come back!" I called a few times and noticed she was gone. I ran to my window and watched her take off with two guards out from our castle and disappear into the dark moonless moon. I growled in anger and walked to a pedestal with a small emerald colored stone in which I picked up and sat on my bed examining it. The stone was a present from Arya for my fifteenth birthday, and now I was left the prince of Ellesméra.

"Noah, come for dinner," one maid said stepping into my room.

"I am not hungry," I said looking out toward the south where Arya went a few hours ago.

"Don't worry your highness she is fine," Victoria smiled walking in past the maid.

"Victoria you could have stopped her. She was your best friend and now you let her do something this dangerous. Bringing home something that belongs to Galbatorix, HERE!" I yelled walking toward the twenty year old.

"Come on she is a strong elf. She is stronger then most of our guys here," she smiled as I hugged the stone tightly.

"That doesn't matter, there are Urgals and horrible things out there," I barked placing the stone on my bed and walking toward veronica. "She could be in grave danger for all we know. I don't care by morning I am going to take one of the horses and go find her."

"Noah, are you serious I so used to you sitting back and doing nothing to help Arya what makes you want to help her now?" Victoria smiled.

"Eitha (leave)," I walked for the door.

"Did you just tell me to leave?" she asked rudely. I simply nodded and left the room. I had a quiet dinner with my parents as always when Arya leaves and I returned to my room. When I walked in I looked at my bed and saw the stone rocking back and forth. I walked closer to it and noticed something breaking it from the inside. Soon the stone exploded and a small creature blinked at me with great big green eyes and a small emerald body.

"A dragon," I whispered as I walked toward the creature. It sniffed my hand and licked it. I have heard stories of Dragon riders and how the elders who told the stories. The small dragon began to cry loudly. I ran out of the room and into the kitchen.

"Ah, Noah didn't get enough to eat, huh?" The cook smiled as he walked for his pans.

"Yes I did sir, I just need a small chunk of raw beef," I smiled innocently while the chef looked at me weirdly. He handed me a piece of meat and I ran from the kitchen and back in my room locking the door behind me. The dragon looked up and jumped from the bed ripping the beef from my hand. "You could have taken my hand off!" I screamed. Soon a knock came from the door.

"You ok in there sir?" my maid called.

"Yes, just fell and almost hit the rack of weapons," I lied. It grew quiet and she left. I picked up the dragon and a shock ran from it and into my hand. I dropped the poor little creature and looked at my hand which had a black mark in the shape of a twisted Dragon on it. I glanced back and forth from my dragon to my hand. Then I tried touching it again this time noting. I picked him up and examined it. "Well you are just the cutest thing ever," I smiled as the small dragon climbed on top of me. I grew tired and went into the bed followed by my dragon.

Noah, stay in Ellesméra do not come looking for me," Arya hugged me.

"Where are you?" I asked looking in her soft green eyes.

"I won't worry you but just promise me not to leave the castle," she said rubbing my short black hair.

"I will save you please Arya tell me were you are?" I held onto her. She then let go and fell to her knees and finally gave out a long and scary scream.

I shot up soaking wet and looked out the window seeing dawn had come. I looked at my small dragon and noticed it had gotten a lot bigger. I ran out of my room and out into the town to the oldest elder. "Sir, I would really like to hear your dragon stories again," I smiled sitting down in front of the old man.

"Noah you have never been interested in what I was saying," he glared at me.

"Yes, but things change, please, sir."

"Well I simply remember all the Dragon Riders living in piece until one day Galbatorix wanted the power to himself and he had everyone killed that wouldn't go on his side. Morzan helped Galbatorix a lot. Then he died after a certain Dragon Rider killed him and watched his dragon die. The day that death came upon him the remainder of the riders rejoiced, yet we were to late Galbatorix had seized the power ruling over every inch of this land and just mark my words that one day, one day the Dragon Riders will return I promise you that," The man smiled as he knew I was paying attention.

"Wait if a rider dies the dragon does too what about the opposite?" I asked getting a little worried.

"Then the rider is fine," he sighed as he looked at my hand. "What is that!" he declared grabbing my wrist.

"Nothing," I pulled away and covered the mark. "Just a birth mark," I said quickly walking away. I soon went back into the castle and heard one of the maids screaming. I ran up stairs and into my room as I saw my parents cornering my dragon. "Stop!" I demanded as they looked at me.

"What are you doing with this thing?" my father asked.

"Well it hatched from the stone Arya gave me."

"Why I didn't know that before," my mother said cautiously.

"Can I please keep him?" I asked picking up the heavy dragon. My parents nodded and I ran outside. I went into the field behind the castle and wanted to see how well he could fly. He lifted from the ground and took off toward the sky. "Wait come back," I called running after him. I had lost two things I loved now, Arya and my dragon. My hand felt like it was on fire and I couldn't control it. The dragon sign began to glow bright red and I looked to the sky and noticed bursts of fire in the clouds. When my hand stopped my dragon flew down and gracefully landed in front of me now towering over me.

"Do you know how long I have been in that egg," my dragon said without moving its mouth.

Did that dragon just speak? I looked puzzled.

"Yes I did. Before you think I can talk to you through your mind. My name is Zander," he said bowing his head as an introduction.

"No I have seen enough bowing from the nobles please don't," I laughed as Zander looked at me. "This may sound early but may I…"

"Ride me. We need to learn sooner or later," he cut me off. I smiled and climbed aboard. He slowly lifted off the ground and took off toward the sky. "Look at that view," Zander said I looked around and saw as far as my eyes could. I looked below us and saw these dark creatures forming a circle around a small light figure.

"Zander, down there, NOW!" I demanded pointing right below us. He sniffed and shot straight down. I held on with all my might and we landed roughly next to a girl by the age of seventeen. "Urgals," I looked as they approached. They stopped and stared at Zander. I pulled my bow out. "Leave these woods immediately or feel my wrath," I snarled as I looked at each Urgal. The groaned and turned around except for one. That one was the one to charge me so I released my bow and watched the giant creature collapse to the floor dark blood spilt onto the dirt in front of me. "You ok?" I asked not really caring.

"I could of taken care of my self," she groaned as I glared at her. "Stupid elf," she murmured.

"What did you call me," I jumped from Zander's back. She smiled. "I help save you and this is how you are treating me. I should have left you to die!" I snarled walking back for Zander.

"Wait, your right, I kind of don't want to be alone, please," she said instantly changing.

"Get on then," I said as cold as possible hopping she would get the message. Zander took off again and headed back to the castle. "So what is your name?" I asked rolling my eyes.

"Lila!" she screamed over the wind. There was a long time of silence. "And yours!" she barked back.

"Noah," I said as Zander began to land in the gardens where my father was.

"Noah, make sure you don't draw to much attention to us," he said as I climbed down and helped Lila down.