The forest was calm, the early summer heat causing many creatures to remain near a water source and in the shade during this heat. It was the perfect time for walking to clear my head. As I walked along a deer-made trail among the trees, beside me to my right a little ways from me, I heard a loud snap, as if something or someone had broken a large tree branch, only a bright flash of light accompanied it. I jumped, turning and looking in that direction cautiously, watching and listening intently. Whatever it was, it had scared some rabbits and birds out of their places, for I could hear the rabbits running through the brush and birds squawking and flying through the leaves. After the animals calmed, nothing else occurred, and I saw nothing moving, I cautiously walked to where the sound had come from.
I looked around cautiously, confused when I saw absolutely nothing. I stepped forward into the brush and felt my foot brush something hard but smooth. I looked down and blinked. At my feet was a medium sized purple stone, a little smaller than a normal sized watermelon, with what looked like white or silver veins covering it. I blinked and nudged it cautiously with my foot, curious about what it was. I had never seen a rock so smooth, not naturally or even at a master's hands. I looked around, then cautiously picked it up, blinking in surprise at how light it was. It was almost as if I had picked up a few normal sized pebbles from along a lake, much lighter than this stone should have been for its size. I glanced around nervously, then looked at it closely, suspiciously, ready to drop it and run if needed, if it seemed to attract something or cause something to happen which would harm me.
After what seemed like forever of dead silence in the trees while studying this stone, I decided it was safe and to take it home. Tomorrow the traders were due to arrive in town, so I could take it to find if anyone could take it or tell me what it was. First, I had to get it home and past my parents, and somehow convince them that I needed to go into town to the traders on my own tomorrow. I walked back to where I had left my mare tied to a fallen log and took a blanket I had wrapped my lunch in for today and wrapped it around the stone to protect it from scratching. It was cool in my hands, even through the blanket, which was also a mystery for me. I shook my head, sighed, and placed the bundle back into the pack I had tied behind my saddle.
As I untied the mare's reins, I glanced up to the sky and sighed. The sky was starting to darken, the sun getting close to the horizon. I should return home… My parents will never let me go to the traders tomorrow if I do not return soon. I thought, sighing, as I swung up into the saddle. I nudged her into a trot back to the road that, if I turned left from where this trail met the clearing the road ran through, would lead me to town, and to turn right led me to my home. Soon, I broke out of the trees into the clearing, guiding the mare to the road and turning her right, urging her into a run, galloping down the road towards her house, praying silently to whatever gods would listen that her parents would forgive her and allow her to go to town.
Her home was only 5 miles from the small town of Furnost, which is near the shore of the lake Tüdosten. After only a couple of minutes of running along the road, listening to the steady droning beat of my mare's hooves on the solidly packed road, I saw my house on the horizon, quickly growing. It was set back a ways from the road, but clearly visible on the flat ground. It was a small farmhouse with a decent sized barn and field beside it. It was not much, but it was home. They had moved here when she was younger, and lived here for a few years now. They had moved here from Carvahall, a small village in the north, near the northern end of the Spine, between the mountain range, and the elven forest, Du Weldenvardan. That had been several years now, and she was adjusted to the life here.
Soon, she was stopping the mare near the door to the barn, dismounting and leading the young mare in and removing the saddle and bridle. I brushed her and put her in her stall, feeding and watering her, then picking up the bundle that had the mysterious stone. I went to the house, sneaking in through the back door and up the back stairs leading to the second floor, where my room was. I managed to get in my room and to hide the bundle before I heard my mom yell, "Elizabeth, is that you?" I sighed.
"Yes mom! I just got back." I called back, going to my door.
"Get downstairs right now, young lady! Your father and I need to have a word with you!" She called back, sounding relieved but angry. I sighed, but instead of pressing their patience, went straight downstairs. I needed to be on my best behavior right now, if I wanted any chance of going to town tomorrow.
"Yes ma'am?" I said, respectfully, walking into the lounge. She was seated in her chair, looking tense and stern, my father standing near our fireplace, staring out the window into the distance where, just barely visible from our home, you could see the very faint shimmer from the surface of the lake. He looked over when I stopped in the doorway, a look of worry in his eyes.
My father had always been more compassionate towards me, having grown up as a farmers' son, while mom was the stricter one of the two, having been raised a rich merchants daughter, very prim, proper, and strictly upright in behavior and appearance. It was miracle how they had somehow met, fallen in love, and convinced her father had allowed her to marry him, but somehow, the miracle occurred. In addition, because of the marriage, as with all marriages, a child was born to them within only a couple of years. I was a single child, and always would be, because of a complication during her labor with me, which had caused her to be unable to have any other children. Sometimes, I was thankful, but many times, I wished that I would have siblings so that her intense focus, and occasional scorn at my choices of appearance or in different things, would not be focused directly on me. However, that was a lost prayer to the gods, because a young sister or brother never came.
"Come sit down, young lady." She said, voice chill and sharp, a tone I knew meant I was in for one of her many lectures about my behavior and how I needed to act more like a lady and less like a young, wild boy. I, however, just nodded and took a seat in my chair and looked at my feet until her sharp voice said "Look at me while I am speaking to you." I looked up, at her, seeing dad moving to sit in his chair beside me. I looked at him, then at my mother.
"Mother, I am sorry that I am late. I can ex-"She cut me off, not letting me finish as she scowled and spoke.
"Young lady, do you realize how worried I have been? You were only supposed to be gone until the heat of the day, not until the sun was setting. Where have you been all day?" She demanded. I sighed softly.
"I lost track of time while lying in a clearing, mother. I found a small creak leading to the lake and a clearing alongside it, and ate lunch there then swam during the heat of the day and was lying under a tree, and didn't realize how much time had passed." I said softly. It was complete truth. I had done all that before discovering that stone, which I had decided, upon seeing her mood, it would be better to not tell her of.
"You were to be home hours again, and you tell me that you are so late just because of lying under a tree? I do not believe that." She said, coldly. I sighed.
"It is the truth, mother… I was lying under a large tree near the stream and must have fallen asleep. I'm very sorry, mother." I said, apologetically.
"I have been beyond worried about you, Elizabeth! You know how I feel about you being out of the house near dark, with that-that killer running loose across this country of ours!" She said, truly seeming to sound worried and frightened. I sighed.
"I am assuming you still mean that Dragon Rider from in the north who refuses to serve the King?" I said, sighing softly. My mom was an extreme supporter of the King, willing to have handed everyone she knew, including me, to him with no questions if he told her that it would help the kingdom. I, however, hoped that the new rouge Dragon Rider would be able to avoid and survive long enough to learn enough to be able to defeat Galbatorix.
"Of course I am referring to that killer!" She said, angrily. I sighed. "No one knows where he is, but last time he was sighted and reported, he was heading south, this way actually!" She said.
"Mother, you know I do not agree with your views on him… Besides, I am well capable of defending myself, and I know the land around here by heart, so I would be able to escape even if something did happen." I said. Not like I would need to because he is not a killer just because he killed soldiers. He is not a killer at all; he is just trying to survive. I thought to myself, but not saying it because it would only lead to more fighting. I stood, impatiently, looking down on my mom, who stood as well. She was a rather petite woman, and I had gotten my fathers' height… Most people my age looked up to me, literally.
"Elizabeth, you do not talk in that tone to your mother." I heard my dad's gruff, stern voice say. I closed my eyes and bowed my head as he said, "We only want what's best for you, and want you to be safe."
"Thank you for the worry, but I am capable of protecting myself… I am late only because I lost track of time, and did not realize how late it was getting. As soon as I did, I came straight home." I said, sitting back down, calmly, trying to move past that little argument with them.
They both looked at each other and then my mother sighed and nodded. "I believe you dear. I'm sorry for yelling, but you know how we hold you to keeping yourself safe and obeying us when we say to be back by a certain time." I nodded.
"I know, mother." I said softly. She nodded.
"It's time for you to go to bed, but first, you need to eat. Your plate is on the table waiting." I nodded and got up, moving to the kitchen as they went to their room. I went to the table, sat down, and quickly ate my cold dinner, quiet, and the house silent.
As soon as I finished, I put the plate away and went up the stairs to my room. I closed the door to my room quietly and changed into one of my nightgowns, thinking. Well, if I want a chance for them to forgive me and to allow me to go to town tomorrow, I will need to do something special… As I lay down in bed, I tried to think of something I could do, staring at the bundle that was wrapped up and nestled between my pillow and the wall. I can get up early and make them breakfast and get all my chores done! If I have nothing to do, they will let me go, as long as I behave until then. I smiled and rolled onto my side, yawning. Well, I will need to get some sleep then… Tomorrow is going to be a long day… I thought, slowly falling asleep, my dreams alight with my dreamt up world of peace and Dragon Riders, and of me being one of the great Dragon Riders in the world….