My first Eragon fic, bear with me hear people, I know some of this stuff seems really unlikely! No flames please!

Empire

Chapter One: The Dragon Egg

Deep in the dark recesses of Du Weldenvarden, a young elf girl roamed around. She shuffled through the dense undergrowth with light steps, her chocolate brown eyes scanning the silvery tree-bark. She was very young, about seventeen years old, the youngest elf alive, in fact. Her twin sister Star was a couple of minutes older, making her the second youngest elf. Star had gone on a mission to the Varden a couple of months ago, but she never reached Farthen Dur. She disappeared completely; there wasn't a single trace of her. She had vanished into thin air.

This elf's name was Mercury. She had black waist-length hair and she had dyed the tips red for a "color change." Her skin was tanned since she spent most of her time wandering around the forest near her home, Ellesmera. Mercury wore a sleeveless, sliver tunic with a green belt where she attached her slim sword. Her silver sandals laced up under her knees and were as sturdy as any riding boots. She wore a flowing cape that clasped around her neck with a ruby. The cape, which was silver on the outside and a deep, forest green on the inside almost completed her look. Mercury's hair was held back by a silver circlet inlaid with a ruby. Why? Simple, Mercury's mother was Princess Aiya, the second daughter of Queen Islanzandi, making Mercury a princess.

Mercury had been given the task of following Eragon until he reached Du Weldenvarden, but she got distracted in Dras Leona where she got her fortune read by Angela the Witch. Mercury then raced back to Ellesmera to ponder what Solobum had told her, "Look for the spirit of the first tree, then your duty will be clear to you."

Mercury knew that the first tree was somewhere deep in Du Weldenvarden, but what she didn't know was where exactly the first tree was, and that could be a little problem. Mercury spent so much of her time looking for the first tree that she missed the arrival of Eragon, and she got into quite a bit of trouble because of that.

But Mercury's constant searching did not prove to be futile, because a week after Eragon left for Du Vollar Eldrvarya, or The Burning Plains, she hit the jack-pot.

The Mother of all Trees was huge, even bigger than the Menoa Tree. She spanned about half a mile, it was amazing Mercury had missed it before.

Mercury stared awestruck at the Mother of all Trees. She shook her head to clear it and shouted, her voice cutting through the forest like a dagger. "Mother! Tell me what it is I must know to fulfill my destiny! I am useless without this information!"

Stillness reigned the forest as Mercury's voice died down. After a few moments, all of the forest sounds returned and Mercury screamed, "Mother! Where are you? Wont' you help me or do you not care?"

The wind blew, whipping Mercury's hair around her angry form. As the wind lapsed into nothingness, a figure slowly appeared. The figure had a bony body and was very tall. Its clothes were completely made of leaves. It was female with long grey hair, and despite its ragged appearance, it still managed to have an air of authority.

"Peace, child. What is it you desire?"

"Mother?" inquired Mercury.

"Yes, child. I will tell you what you need to know and give you what you need," said the Mother, "There are only two dragon eggs in existence now."

Mercury frowned, "But Saphira and Thorn already hatched and the only dragon egg left is in Uru'baen. How can there be two dragon eggs left? Unless…" her voice trailed off, looking at the Mother in astonishment, "You have one!"

The Mother clapped her hands and another druid appeared, this one male, holding a silver stone with black veins. "Even Galbatorix doesn't know about this dragon egg. And the time has come for two new riders. I would like you to guard this egg with you life. Can you do that?"

"I would be honored to," Mercury replied, accepting the egg and leaving.

"That is only part of your destiny, child. Be prepared," said the Mother, disappearing into the undergrowth along with the other druid.