Chapter 2: Tale of a rider

Well, here is the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it. It will explain more about Delena, the mysterious rider.

I don't own the Inheritance Cycle.

There was an absolute silence in the room and no one attempt to break it. Everyone was waiting for the elven rider to talk.

"During the fall of the riders," Delena began, "Galbatorix managed to obtain 3 dragon eggs, two of them which had already hatched, like you are all aware. But the elves managed to obtain one egg," She revealed. "It was kept secret even amongst our own people. When I was thirteen years old, I was presented with the egg and it hatched for me," Delena claimed. "Since then we trained with Oromis-elda and Glaedr. That was kept secret as well," She continued, "and they trained me in the hope that I will defeat Galbatorix along with the rider of Saphira when she will hatch. Then, a few months ago, I had to left Ellesmera and head to the Hadarac desert to hide with my dragon because Eragon started his training with Oromis and Glaedr. They instructed us to keep training on our own until Eragon completed his training.

She made a brief pause before continuing.

"But then, the empire attacked the Varden in the battle of the burning plains and Eragon went there before our masters even told us about it. Believed me, I wanted to go," The rider said. "I have wanted to reveal my existence to Galbatorix and join the Varden for a long time but our masters didn't allow us."

She made another pause but this time she looked sad.

"And yesterday, during the siege of Gil'ead our masters were killed by Murtagh and Thorn. And we knew that with Oromis and Glaedr dead it was time to reveal our presence to Galbatorix," Delena said. "So, we flew all the way here since last night. We came to join the Varden and to help you bring the downfall of Galbatorix." She stated.

There was another silence after she stopped explaining. Everyone was thinking about the things they had just heard. Then Nasuada sighed in relief and smiled.

"Well this is probably the best news I have received in a long time," The Varden leader said. "We could certainly use the help of another rider and her dragon. By the way where is it and is it a male or a female dragon?" Nasuada asked.

"It's a male dragon and he is about a mile to the west in the woods," Delena answered. "I came here alone to explain the situation first because I didn't want your archers to start firing at us."

"A wise decision," Arya said.

Eragon looked at her and noticed that she was slightly annoyed. He could tell that she was offended that no one told her about the existence of this rider even though she is the elven princess.

"So, Eragon Shadeslayer and Saphira Brightscales, would you like to see my dragon?" Delena asked with a small smile.

Eragon stood up immediately and he felt that Saphira was excited that she was about to meet another dragon.

"We would love to," Eragon said.

Then, he exchanged a mental conversation with Saphira.

"Saphira says that since your dragon is a mile from here and she doesn't want to wait for you to catch up, she is allowing you to ride her with me on the way there," Eragon informed.

Delena looked surprised.

"I had never ridden another dragon aside from Glaedr and mine," She confessed. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," Saphira said now projecting her thoughts toward her.

Delena smiled again and then turned to face Nasuada.

"We will give you about half an hour to explain the Varden about us before returning to the city," She said.

Nasuada nodded in understanding.

"All right then let's go," Delena said as she exited the room alongside Eragon and Saphira.

Once they were on the roof, the two young riders mounted on Saphira's back and after a jump and flap of her wings they were in the air. They left Fenister in about 35 seconds and Delena lead them toward a small forest a mile from the city.

"He is in a clearing in the middle of the forest," Delena said out loud.

Eventually, they reached a clearing of about 10 meters wide and Saphira landed in it. Shortly after the riders get off Saphira, they saw Delena's dragon. It was almost twice the size of Saphira so clearly that dragon was older than her. His scales were of a sliver color that seemed to glow with the rays of the sun. His eyes were of a grey color similar to the one of her rider. His ivory claws and fangs were longer than Saphira but not by much. Saphira's spikes were longer though, because she is a female.

Saphira and the male dragon stared at each other for a while before he started projecting his thoughts to everyone present.

"I have heard much about you, Shadeslayer and Brightscales, my name is Alfheim and the few elves that know of my existence often call me Argetscales." The dragon said in their minds.

"I can see why," Eragon said with a chuckle. "It's an honor to meet you Alfheim."

Saphira just kept staring.

"Hey Delena, I want to ask you something," Eragon said.

"What?" She asked.

"Is your sword a rider sword or just elven made?" Eragon asked her.

Delena smiled at once and that struck him as odd.

"It's a rider sword… Thanks to you," She said still smiling.

"Huh?" Eragon said confused.

"I always trained with an elven made sword but when you gave Rhunon enough brightsteel to make seven swords, she made one for me, using my arms to make it, but I still owe you one because now I have my own rider sword," Delena explained with a grin.

"Oh, I see," Eragon said.

Then he started looking at her more carefully. She doesn't looks like any elven woman he had ever seen. Sure, most of them were very beautiful but Delena looks more alive than any of them.

"Delena, you said that Alfheim hatched for you when you were thirteen years old but you didn't tell me how long have you trained under Oromis and Glaedr," Eragon stated. "Will you mind telling me?" He asked her.

Delena looked like if she was thinking deeply about something before answering.

"Not at all," She replied, "Alfheim and I trained under them for seven years."

Eragon shouldn't have react so surprised but this was the first time that he actually encountered an elf that looked like a twenty year old and that is actually her age. Maybe that is why she looks so alive. She is a young elf.

"You seem surprise," Delena said smiling.

"Well it's just that I have never met an elf so close to my own age," Eragon admitted.

"Ah, well I might be consider an adult among the humans but among my kind I am still a child," Delena said a little annoyed.

There was a moment of silence in the clearing. Saphira and Alfheim keep staring at each other without thinking a word toward each other.

"So," Eragon said after a while, "I supposed that we will have to work together from now on, right?" He asked her.

"Yes, and I have been looking forward to fight alongside you so I hope we can be a good team," Delena said smiling again.

"So do I and I will try not to disappoint," Eragon said chuckling.

"Well then let's return to the city," Delena urged.

Eragon nodded. Then both of them climbed on top of their dragons and once they started to fly they raced toward the city.

The adventures of Eragon and Delena have begun.

There you have it and I hope you enjoy it. I got the name Alfheim from the Norse mythology but the title Argetscales was my idea. For those that don't remember, Arget means silver in the ancient language so it translates into Silverscales. In the next chapter plans will be made. Please review.