Hidden Valor

Disclaimer: I don't own Eragon, Christopher Paolini does. (Sigh).

Chapter 2: Two Weeks of Winter

Snow still covered the ground in Carvahall but the dragon had grown. The small dragon was now up to the height of Arianna's shoulder and its wingspan was half of her arm. It still didn't have a name but she'd come up with one sooner or later. No one knew about the dragon either except her brother but he was the one who pointed out the dragon egg in the first place.

"Have you thought of a name for it yet?" Nolan asked.

"I haven't a clue what to call it to tell you the truth," Arianna replied. "If I knew if it was male or female, then I'd know."

"That's the most honest I've heard you say in a long time, Ari." Nolan said patting her on the shoulder. "It's good to hear that these days."

"I guess it is." Arianna said stroke the dragon's head. "I wonder what happened to Eragon. He hasn't been here for a while."

"I wonder that too but he's out there." Nolan replied. "Maybe, just maybe he found the Varden."

"The Varden don't exist, brother." Arianna said. "Galbatorix said that…"

Nolan looked outside then looked into his sister's eyes.

"Do you believe that heap of lies?" Nolan said gritting his teeth.

"Well, kind of…" Arianna said shakily.

"Do you believe that Galbatorix is improving Carvahall?" He asked still gritting his teeth.

Arianna shook her head. She knew that Nolan despised the king but she also knew that speaking badly of the king was treason.

"I don't think he is but we can't speak badly of the king; it's a death sentence." Arianna said.

Nolan spoke nothing more of the subject but the dragon looked inquisitive still. It didn't understand a word that they said but knew that it was a heated argument. These humans were interesting and complex creatures. Despite being a hatchling himself, the dragon thought of them the same. He wondered how they knew words when they were young for he didn't know how. The dragon felt someone lift him and felt frightened for a minute but realized it was his rider. He tried to speak when he saw an astonished look her eye.

You can talk? She asked.

I guess so, where are we going? It said in a young boy's voice.

Upstairs; my brother is right behind us. Arianna replied softly.

Brother? It asked curiously.

I have a brother; his name's Nolan and he knows of you. Arianna replied.

Nolan opened his mouth to speak and she severed the connection. She looked at him and saw the confused look on his.

"Now I know the dragon talks, and that it's a male." Arianna said.

"But what can you call him?" Nolan asked curious to her answer.

"I think Codas suits him. After all, he has the same emerald scales as in the legends that Merritt tells us." Arianna replied assuring him.

He nodded silently and continued up the stairs to the bedrooms. Tension had built between them but by morning, it would clear up. After the argument over Galbatorix and his power, she knew it would happen. He stopped again and looked at her.

"Arianna, I'm sorry about earlier; that threat just…" His voice trailed off.

"I know, it's a big threat." Arianna said. "I'm sure Merritt will be back soon, after all, it's been two weeks."

"Sure, he'll be back. But still, it worries me that he isn't here." Nolan said. "Wait do you hear that?"

"I do, that was Merritt. The soldiers." Arianna said running to the back door.

Nolan heard her let out a terrified scream only a moment later and he saw her come back inside with panic written on her face. A cut above her eyebrow poured crimson blood and her leg was covered in the same color. Urgals and a shade were behind her. Nolan looked at her then at them realizing what they had done. Blood was on their hands, Merritt's blood. Merritt was dead, gone for good. He lunged at the shade but missed, the Urgal struck him instead. The blow had left him with a cut on his cheek but that didn't matter, it was revenge.

"Nolan, don't! Run! I'll take care of him." Arianna yelled.

"No, he killed him. I don't care if I die." Nolan said angrily.

"I'm sorry but I have to do this." Arianna replied picking up a piece of wood. She threw it and hit Nolan in the back of the head; he felt his knees buckle and knew no more. She really was sorry but he would lose his life if she hadn't done it. She got up despite a bloody leg and threw her knife at the Urgal's head. It slowly fell to its knees and moved no more. Arianna wondered where Codas went but got rid of that thought and picked up her brother. The pain she felt grew as she walked further and further away from their home.

In the Spine, Nolan had come to in slight darkness which was letting in green light. He tried to get up but someone held him down; it was Arianna who looked exhausted. Her eyes were full of sorrow, from the pain of Merritt's death and what she had to the night before. He felt it too, a pain that wouldn't stop weaving its way into his heart. It tore at him to think that he was dead. She said nothing as the green darkness lifted and revealed white winter. The way he acted was not tolerable, it was appalling. He got up and went over to her.

"I'm sorry." He said.

"For what?" Arianna asked.

"The way I acted it was horrible." Nolan replied saddened. "I was angry, they killed him."

"I know you were. I acted the same way and I ended up losing." Arianna said. "I didn't want to see you die."

"Was that the truth?" Nolan asked.

"It's the truth." Arianna replied.

"Wait, how did Codas get so big? He was tiny last I checked." He asked.

"He said he grew while we were fighting. We're lucky he has enough strength to carry two." Arianna said. "But now, we can't go home. Where can we go?"

"The Varden." Nolan replied.

"Where are they? If we can't find them, the King will find us." Arianna asked.

"I don't know but there's a town called Daret. We could try there." Nolan replied. "What happened last night?"

"After I knocked you out, I carried you then Gertrude healed us." Arianna said. "She gave us enough food and water to last us for weeks but told us we need to worry about Urgals."

"We should get flying then." Nolan said. "Come on, dragon rider."

"Okay. And don't call me dragon rider." Arianna said getting on her dragon's back.

Nolan followed her and got on. The dragon took off with powerful speeds that were laced with caution. It was onto Daret and not back to Carvahall.