14 years later…
Ella walked into a small forest clearing, letting the first sunrays of the day hit her face. She allowed her body to gracefully land onto the large tree trunk placed directly in the middle of the open space. Her eyes slowly shut as the sounds of nature filled her mind.
After only a few moments of silence, Ella felt a human presence. She immediately opened her eyes and found a boy her age standing directly in front of her. He looked about her age and had messy brown hair with deep brown eyes. The bow strapped to his back and the short dagger strapped to his belt indicated that he was a hunter. She would say he was quite attractive, even though his body was covered with dirt.
As quick as her elf abilities granted, she got up from her seat. Ella had made to run when she heard the boy speak.
. . . . . . . . . .
Eragon studied the girl sitting down on the stump in the clearing, trying not to make a sound while walking forward. He was surprised to see she had pointed ears. He's never seen an elf in person. The woman elves were supposed to be quite beautiful and this girl was no disappointment. She had long, light brown hair that gleamed like gold in the sunlight. She wore a pair of leather leggings and a simple ivory tunic that made her olive skin tone stand out.
Only a second after stepping into the clearing, the girl's eyes shot open, exposing her bright olive green eyes to the sun. She immediately got up with inhuman-like speed. For some reason, Eragon didn't want her to leave and forced himself out of shock to speak.
"Wait! Don't go. I mean you no harm," he said in a calming voice.
The elf stopped in her tracks and turned back around to face him.
"My name is Eragon. What's yours?"
. . . . . . . . . .
"Should I trust him? He doesn't look like a threat, but what person, let alone boy, hunts in the Spine, the most feared forest in Alagaesia?" she thought to herself as she stared at Eragon with a blank expression on her face.
In a soft voice she whispered, "Ella." With that, she spun around and ran into the dark forest, glancing back at Eragon to make sure he wasn't following her. She kept running until around midday she reached another glaze. Off to the right side of the opening stood a petite house. Opposite of the house was a garden filled with lush plants.
After admiring the place she called home, Ella walked into the small house. Sitting on a chair in the kitchen was an older elf woman reading a book. Her hair was now a white silver color but it still had its beautiful shine. Ella couldn't help but smile as her mother, Verona, looked up at her.
"Back so soon?" her mother asked returning the cheery smile.
"I met someone," Ella said with a now more serious expression on her face.
"Hmm, that's odd. No one usually dares to come this far out into the Spine. Were they threatening?" Verona replied with a flicker of concern in her eyes.
"No actually. The person was just a boy, probably around my age, named Eragon. He was different than most human boys though."
"It sounds like my daughter has a little crush on this Eragon," her mother said mockingly.
"Mother!" Ella yelled as her face started to turn noticeably red.
. . . . . . . . . .
Eragon watched as Ella disappeared into the forest, leaving him with only her name. He sighed once then pivoted around to try to recover the tracks the limping deer left behind.