Disclaimer: This story is based on the Inheritance Cycle books, so if you haven't finished it, please do so before reading. This story will hold major spoilers. It takes place after the end of Inheritance, a few years afterwards, in fact.

I own nothing but my own creativity to create this story, along with my own characters.

Reviews/comments/tips are welcomed and enjoyed! Thank you!

Enjoy!

Prologue: Something Like A Hello

The air was cool and crisp, and the small flickers of sunlight through the trees illuminated the colors of the changing leaves. There was still some green left in the trees, and he found himself focusing on the rich color that reminded him of the Spine and his childhood home. However, he only spared it a thought, and his eyes shifted with ease in search of a distraction from the unsettling stir of emotions that washed over him. He focused on the vibrant hued leaves instead; studying the reds, yellows, and oranges that clung to the treetops still. The breeze that blew was gentle, but reminded him of the upcoming fall with its brisk temperature. He shifted closer to the large form that slept beside him, still watching the tree line and the few leaves that fluttered past the trees and landed only yards in front of him.

The mass he rested against shifted, and his gaze lifted to look upon his companion. Her brilliant scales shone like sapphires, and he wasn't sure why he'd thought the leaves were vibrant when beside him sat the most magnificent creature he'd ever seen. Even years later, after she'd first chosen him, Eragon Bromsson found himself amazed that he, out of all men and elves, he was her choice. The memories he'd tried to push away before found him, curling around him like a blanket.

I'm a Rider. He reminded both himself and the memories, trying to force them away with only those words. He took a breath, recounting on memories before the last few years, despite his plea to flee them. The memories burned. They reminded him of his childhood home, the Spine, and all his travels. Before he'd left his land. His home.

The form of his dragon and companion shifted, and his view of the trees disappeared as a giant blue head appeared in front of him. Saphira's large blue eye peered at him, staring almost into him. He knew she'd heard him. He made no motion to block her out, nor did he try. They were Rider and dragon, and despite their differences before, Eragon didn't desire to block her out. Nor did she block him out. Save for the few personal times that they wanted privacy, but after nearly three years together, they rarely separated. They never found the need.

However, with her intense stare, he felt his ears flush, and he turned his face away. When she spoke, her voice was strong and powerful, even with the softness she'd intended. Little one.

It was one phrase. One small phrase that settled his stomach, and yet his heart remained uneasy. She left the option open to talk, he knew, as he could feel it, but he made no motion to speak. Instead, Eragon closed his eyes and pushed what he felt, his thoughts, and burdens toward her. She examined them through their link, taking her time before she dared speak. However, she could find no words, and instead rested her head near his, her wing draping over him to lock out the cold.

I am here, little one.

He nodded, eyes still closed. I know.

With his last thoughts, he drifted off to sleep. However, despite the comfort it brought him, his sleep was restless that night. Shadows formed in the woods around him, and Saphira was nowhere to be found.

He saw images, people—some family, some friend. One, however, was someone he'd never seen before. A young woman who sat with her back to him. Her form shook with sobs, but no sound came from her. He moved swiftly toward her, throat unable to form the words he wanted. He called out, but like with the woman, no sound escaped. He blinked slowly, and his actions were suddenly sluggish. Eragon couldn't move fast enough.

"Hello?" He called again, and sounds were louder than normal, and his voice sounded like a scream. The woman turned, standing up with one graceful motion. He stopped and caught his breath.

The woman's skin was like light, illuminated with a strange glimmer in the moonlight—the shadows vanished from her, and he felt compelled to move closer. However what kept him rooted was the seemingly unusual black specks that covered her cheekbones, traveling up like a plague to her temples and forehead. Between her eyes were the same black specks. Her feet were bare, and she was dressed in what seemed to be a skirt that was so tattered it tore at the knees, along with a shirt that looked stained and dirty. Her arms were bare but covered in a layer of dirt. He took all this in, but his eyes remained rooted to her face. The black specks were unheard of, and she didn't look sick, but he didn't want to risk anything.

"Are you alright?" He called out, remaining a few yards from her. She looked confused, then relieved, but the woman didn't answer. She stared, and he shifted uneasily. However something occurred to him from all his time traveling. He repeated himself, but this time in the ancient language.

She perked up a little, and then looked even more confused. "I… don't remember anything. I can't remember." She said, and somehow the language was foreign but he still understood it, as if magic illuminated from each word to make him understand. "Where am I?"

"Do you have a name?" He asked, beginning to reach out with his mind to touch hers.

"Where am I?" She asked again, stepping forward. His lungs caught, eyes widening. The specks on her face glimmered, reflecting the moonlight like stars. From her back, two large objects protruded, arching in a strangely familiar way. However his eyes were locked on hers. The orbs that shone like the sun itself, but staring into them he realized they were not bright, but alive. Vibrant. The violet hues reminded him of Elva, but the pupils that sat in the center of her eyes and the specks on her skin left one thought in mind. One thought that echoed. The protruding objects from her back and the shimmer to her skin.

"Dragon." He whispered with his mind and lips. She furrowed her brows, confused still. She seemed to recognize him then, as if seeing him for the first time. His own eyebrows rose, and before his very eyes, stood what seemed to be an ordinary girl. All traces of her former self gone. Her eyes were dark, almost like coal in the darkness, and her face was pale without the specks of what were once scales.

"Who are you?" She asked cautiously. He shifted before stepping forward.

"My name is Eragon."

She looked surprised and then confused. "Eragon?" Her voice spoke his name as if they were old friends, and it sent a flurry of warmth through his heart. He realized just how much he'd missed his friends, but pushed the thought away, promising to return to it later. As soon as it was gone, the woman spoke again. "Lydia."

His head snapped up, confused. "What?"

She lifted a single eyebrow, and he resisted the urge to snicker. "That's my name."

He blinked, then nodded curtly. Something occurred to him suddenly, and the awareness of the dream pressed down on him like a sheet. He stared at her. The last person he'd dreamt of was Arya, when she was imprisoned in Gil'ead. The Eldunari had helped then, and he wondered if this was their influence once again. His second thought was worry. "Do you know where you are?" He asked.

She blinked, then shifted. Her arms wrapped around the other, and only after what seemed like a long while did she speak. "Aren't I here? But... Where is here?"

He shook his head, frowning. "What's the last thing you remember?"

"Cold." Her voice was suddenly frigid, as if she felt the word deep in her bones. "White. Snow…I think." She whispered, blinking. "I remember falling too, it was fall—then there was snow and I was so cold. This voice found me. She helped me. Told me she could keep me warm. Then I was here."

Eragon shifted, eyes focused on nothing. He tried to place her. Tried to find her. There wasn't much he could do in a dream, but he didn't want to leave her. Not if it meant she may die, or may be close to death. Snow could kill, and from her dress—a part of him knew she wouldn't last long.

"There was this huge… thing. I could see it from the mountain. I tried to reach it, but I fell and everything got cold." She blinked, her eyebrows furrowing with frustration. His mind tried to put the pieces together, but he felt as though he was missing something.

Eragon! The voice echoed, booming through his being like a jolt of pain. He sat upright, eyes wide. Saphira stood on all fours, staring down at him like she might pick him up and fly away. He reached for her mind, and their minds merged, melding together like two winds.

Little one. I was afraid. She said as her emotions swept over him. Fear, disbelief, and other terrified emotions slammed into him like a shield bash. His confusion was apparent, and she explained that he wouldn't wake up, and that his mind was unreachable—as if a cloak had hidden it from her. Even more confusion ran through him, and he recounted his experience with the strange woman who looked like a dragon.

Saphira shared his confusion, but they tried to ponder together. He'd even went to the Eldunari to speak to them of this, but they admitted that they had no idea what his dream meant, and that a human being and dragon could never be one. The closest thing was of a Rider and dragon, but Lydia didn't seem very knowledgeable of dragons, so they turned that conclusion away as well. Even the elves interjected with her appearance change being that of magic, as was prominent—however none of the conclusions could explain the voice she'd spoke of, or the reason her mind reached out to his.

It baffled them all, Eragon most of all. However the only thing he could think was the idea of Lydia freezing to death in the cold. It sent unease down his spine, and no amount of comfort helped.

All he knew was that they were running out of time.

If it wasn't already too late.

Forgive me for the short beginning, but the story is a little wonky, and I'm still trying to sort out some kinks. I will try to update every week or so, but please bare with my busy schedule!

R&R! Until next time! :)