"Will you still go back to your world?" asked Eragon.

They were all gathered around the table on the pitching ship: Oromis, Brom, Eragon, Arya, Murtagh, Blödhgarm. The rest of the elves were either resting or managing the ship, and all the dragons (except Thorn, who was sleeping by his Rider) were flying alongside the ship. It wasn't big enough for all of them to land on the deck at once; as it was, the vessel dropped several feet lower in the water whenever Glaedr rested his wings.

I started to laugh, picturing a silver dragon hatchling in my mother's kitchen, because the other option was to start crying.

"I don't think so," I said, stopping my laughter before it was replaced by tears. "There won't be enough room anywhere on Earth for me to keep my dragon, and we can both do a lot more good here in Alagaësia."

Eragon tried (and failed) not to smile.

"What will you do, then?" Arya asked.

I stroked the silver egg in my lap. "I think I will go back to Earth and explain what has happened." I would feel so much better if my family at least knew I was alive.

"The portal requires enormous amounts of energy," Oromis began. "It might take us a day or more to regain enough power to cast the reverse spell and bring you back here. In the mean time, what if your egg should hatch?"

I considered this. "Eragon, how long did it take Saphira to hatch?"

"Around two weeks," he said. "But I suspect the hatching time differs from dragon to dragon."

"It does," said Arya. "I cannot be sure of exactly how soon your egg will hatch. It may be twenty days, it may be two."

"Can I take the egg with me through the portal without any ill effects to the hatchling?"

You could, rumbled Glaedr, but the young one might become confused and delay the hatching time.

"I think I should go to Earth before the egg hatches," I said. "Otherwise, I could become caught up in training and it might be another year before I have time to go through the portal."

"You should also take into consideration how fast a dragon hatchling grows," said Brom. "It requires much more energy to send a person and a three-week old dragon to another world than it does to send a person and an egg."

"Once the dragon gets old enough, it'll be impossible to send it through portals," Murtagh added.

"I'll just have to go quickly," I said. "How soon can I leave?"

Eragon looked at Oromis. "I should think that as soon as we can get back to the clearing in the Spine where you first arrived, we can activate the spell and send you back to where you were before...whatever brought you here. And then we can contact you with the Sending Stones when we're ready to summon you back."

If everything goes according to plan, Saphira added. If things follow the pattern they have been, you will end up stuck inside a tree somewhere with no way to contact us.

Well. How cheerfully optimistic.

"Sounds great," I said nervously. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, Saphira."

The meeting was adjourned and we all went off to do separate things.

I returned to my small cabin and flopped down on the bed with a sigh, cradling my egg.

My dragon.

"The spell works much the same way as the one Arya used to transport Saphira's egg," explained Oromis. "Because we are in the exact spot you wish to go, casting the spell without a focus point-an image of the place-will work just fine and require less energy than sending you somewhere completely different in the other world."

"That made absolutely no sense. Let's do it."

It hadn't taken very long to reach the Spine on dragonback, but it meant that less people could come see me off. I had already said goodbye to Arya, Fírnen, Brom, Murtagh, Thorn, Blödhgarm and his company, and many others. Now it was time to see if the portal spell worked. Eragon had the Belt of Beloth the Wise with him, filled with an enormous amount of energy from the Eldunarí.

I stood in the middle of the crater where Saphira's egg had once rested. Oromis, Glaedr, Eragon, and Saphira were gathered around the edge. A leather bag containing my iPad (now with only 15% charge left), one of the Sending Stones, and the silver dragon egg was slung over my shoulder. I was dressed in an elven tunic and the pair of jeans I had fallen into Alagaësia wearing. I was very nervous.

Goodbye, Syri, Saphira said. We will see you again soon.

"Farewell," Oromis and Glaedr said, speaking together.

Eragon was silent for a moment. "You'll contact me the moment you're through?"

"Yes. Don't worry, it'll be fine."

They began to chant in the Ancient Language, slowly at first, then faster and faster. I recognized most of what they said, having studied alongside Eragon so I wouldn't be in the dark when talking to elves. I had learned as many spells as I could, on the off chance that I ever became a Rider. Or needed to coach someone through saving my life.

I held my bag tightly. Their words were coming so fast now, I could hardly understand them. I think I heard the word Earth spoken very loudly, then-

I think it was a lightning bolt. I was struck from all directions. My blood fizzed and shivered. I could feel the clearing twisting away, and then quite suddenly, it wasn't there at all.

Here's what I encountered next:

Sky-green-branches-ow, branches!-Falling-ow-falling-trees?-No branches!-Faaaaalling!-Thwap! Arg!-Ground?

Blackness.

It's been an hour.

Hey, what's this?

Looks like a shiny rock.

Looks like an egg.

This slate is writing itself!

I think she moved.

My eyes fluttered open. Trees above me. Many with broken branches. My head throbbed, insisting that I pay attention to it. Groaning, I sat up.

Then I wished I hadn't.

I was surrounded by dwarves, all of them armed with swords, axes, a few bows, and a variety of other weapons. All pointed at me.

I croaked a four-letter word, looking around me. The dwarves did not appear hostile, just suspicious.

"Nal," I tried, which I think means "hail" in Dwarvish. Sort of a greeting.

"Speak a language we can all understand!" demanded one of the dwarves. He stood apart from the others, bearing an air of command and-

It was then that I noticed the two dwarves standing to one side, holding my egg and arguing. Losing my head completely, I screamed, "DON'T TOUCH IT!" and, scrambling to my feet, I lunged through the ring around me and snatched the egg from them.

Cradling it against my body, I went a little hysterical. "Do you have any idea what could have happened if you dropped it?" I was making things up now. "What if it exploded?! Why would you..."

I stopped talking, taking a few deep breaths and trying to calm myself. I was not in my house, that was about as plain as you could get. I was surrounded by a miniature army of dwarves who didn't speak Dwarvish and now thought I was mentally unstable. There was also a dwarf shorter than the rest, barefoot, and with no beard.

What.

A horrible suspicion began to form in my mind. I counted the dwarves. Thirteen, not counting the one with hairy feet. Crap.

"Why, Eragon, why?" I said weakly. "I said Earth, not Middle Earth!"

"Who are you?" demanded the dwarf I was pretty sure was the leader.

I snatched up my bag, checked to make sure everything else was in it, and placed the egg inside. Then I straightened and said, "My name is Syri Farseer, Master Oakenshield." Farseer was the name given to me by Brom after the Battle of Farthen Dur. It certainly had more of a ring to it than Sarah Dunley.

The dwarves frowned and muttered something. "Have we met?" asked Thorin. I couldn't read his face, but I'm guessing he was reacting sort of like Eragon had back in the Spine, over a year ago now.

I did the only thing that came naturally. I shrugged and said "No."

I hesitated. Could I? Should I? I could save Fili and Kili and maybe Thorin as well. Despite my iPad having little remaining charge, I could crutch on The Hobbit and use my skill with a glaive...and soon, the silver egg would hatch. I needed to be with it when it did. How would the dwarves react to a dragonling? Not well, that's for sure. I would talk to Eragon about it. Ah, what the heck. I could always leave later.

"May I accompany you for a little while?" I asked. "I have just now fallen into this world and I am...disorientated."

Thorin frowned. "We are not a spring ramble on our way to Rivendell. We are-"

"On a quest to slay a dragon and reclaim your homeland, yes," I said. Pleased at their stunned, even alarmed expressions, I smiled and said, "They don't call me Farseer for reading people's fortunes in tea leaves, you know. Also, I have other...abilities that might come in handy."

"Oh?" said Thorin skeptically. "And have you been in any battles? Slain any dragons? What weapon do you use, for I see none on you."

Instead of answering any of his questions directly, I reached behind me and pulled out Dauthhljödhr. Ah, so the spell had remained in place. That was good, very good. The dwarves stared.

"Shruikan could have eaten Smaug for a midday snack," I said quietly. "I was not the one to kill him, but I provided the distraction." I reached out with a tendril of thought and touched their minds, giving all fourteen of them the memory of Galbatorix's throne room when Shruikan had revealed himself. He was so large, his wing had passed for a wall and his mouth could have held a house. In the memory, I skipped ahead to the part where Eragon and Murtagh take on Galbatorix while Saphira and I distract Shruikan.

I dart in close and begin to hack at his foot, claws like trees towering above me. Saphira breathes fire into the monstrous dragon's face, blinding him as he tries to crush me. The fire clears and too late, Shruikan sees Arya, held aloft by her own spell, lunging towards him, dauthdaert poised.

The world is shattered by the dragon's roar as the glowing green lance is buried in Shruikan's enormous eye. Saphira and I raced clear as the dragon falls...

The memory ended.

No one said anything for a good deal of time. Finally, one of the unidentified dwarves said, "That place was not of Middle Earth."

I shook my head. "It would take a long time to explain." I looked hopefully at Thorin. "So can I come?"

"How are we to know you are trustworthy?" he asked.

I had no good answer, so I shrugged and, switching to the Ancient Language, said, "I am not in the habit of killing people when they are asleep, nor do I wish to harm any of you. I have seen your fates and want to improve them, nothing more." Seeing their confused expressions, I added in Common, "I have no reason to harm you. I probably am not trustworthy, but I'm also very helpful. Mostly." That's me, Queen of First Impressions. That almost beat my first meeting with Murtagh when I was held at sword-point while he demanded to know how I knew his name.

"You hardly make a convincing case," said Thorin. "But Gandalf will know what to do. You may accompany us until he comes back."

"Where is Gandalf?" asked Bilbo.

"I do not know," Thorin said. "And it looks like rain. Just when a wizard would come in handy."

"Actually, I doubt anyone could stop it from raining," I said thoughtfully. "That would take an enormous amount of energy, more than all the Eldu-well, it would be very hard." I looked at all the blank expressions. "Well, maybe magic works differently in this world," I offered.

"That is twice now you have referred to Middle Earth as 'this world'," a dwarf with long black hair pointed out. He was very young compared to some of the others. Fili or Kili, perhaps? He reminded me somewhat of Murtagh, mostly because of the hair and the bow he had resting in a quiver on his back. Older than Murtagh, though. Maybe 20 or so? Quite young.

"Yes, indeed. I am not from this world. I came from a land called 'Earth', and was transported here by mistake."

Again with the raised eyebrows.

"I can explain later." Hastily changing the subject, I said, "I don't know many names among you, so perhaps-"

"My apologies," said Thorin with a slight bow of the head. "My companions are Dori, Nori, Ori, Oin, Gloin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Balin, Dwalin, Fili, Kili, and Bilbo Baggins, our burglar. I myself am Thorin Oakenshield, though I suppose you knew that already." At each name, he gestured to the individual, who nodded or bowed.

Ah, so Kili was the dwarf with the bow. His brother, Fili, looked quite different with lighter hair and a longer beard.

After introductions, I was offered a pony but declined, as I was far too tall to ride one without looking ridiculous. Fortunately, the company walked their steeds for the most part and I was able to keep up at a brisk walk. As Thorin predicted, it soon began to rain.

I was so glad my bag was leather instead of cloth. I absolutely couldn't afford to lose my iPad.

Speaking of tablets...I reached down and drew out my Sending Stone, which was vibrating like mad. I felt very, very guilty. In all the excitement, I had forgotten to contact Eragon.

Bending over the slate to keep the rain from washing away the chalk, I read:

So did you make it through?

Syri? Is this working?

Hello?

Syri, write something!

Are you okay? It's been several minutes!

Hello?

Syri, answer me!

You still haven't responded! It's been an hour now!

Oromis says you might have encountered some time flow difficulties. He said I shouldn't panic. I'm panicking anyways.

Syri, at least put a splotch down so I know you're there!

It's been two hours now! Where are you?

Okay, is anyone reading this slate? Just write on it and I'll see it. Is there anyone there?

How about now?

Come on, Syri! Arya says the spell is working fine!

Where are you?

The slate shook slightly in my hands as new words wrote themselves across the flat surface.

Some of the chalk just washed away; does that mean someone's reading this?

I fished around in my leather bag and came up with a broken piece of chalk. Glancing around to make sure I wasn't falling behind, I wrote:

Eragon, I'm here now. Sorry about the smearing. It's raining here.

There was hardly a second's pause before Eragon's handwriting spidered its way hastily across the slate.

Syri! Thank the gods! Where were you? Why didn't you answer?

Eragon, you may want to try using all capital letters and more exclamation points if you're trying to sound angry. Just a tip.

Oh, like this? SYRI! THANK THE GODS! WHERE WERE YOU?! WHY DIDN'T YOU ANSWER?!

Yeah, see now you've got it. We'll get you used to texting in no time.

Okay. SYRI! THANK THE GODS! WHERE WERE YOU?! WHY DIDN'T YOU ANSWER?!

It's a long story, okay? The portal didn't send me to Earth, it sent me to Middle Earth and because we were on a mountain when you guys cast the spell

Oh no. You fell? Are you alright?

If I wasn't, would I be writing this?

Maybe. I'm not sure. You could probably write with broken legs and a tree branch through your stomach.

Listen, I fell into another book. It's called The Hobbit and it's about a bunch of dwarves and a hobbit who go on a quest to slay a dragon and

SLAY A DRAGON?! WHAT DID THE DRAGON

Stop cutting me off! Yes, it's a...sorta insane dragon, I guess. His name is Smaug and he killed a whole bunch of people just because he thought the dwarves' treasury was shiny. I don't know much about him, though.

Here, I had to wipe the slate clean and start again at the top. My chalk was also running low, so I fished out the other half.

He's like Shruikan?

Yeah, I guess. The reason I haven't been answering your texts is I hit my head real hard when I landed and was out of it for a while, then I had to talk to the dwarves and convince them I wasn't insane or whatever. Now it's raining and we're going to stop for the night, hopefully. I was thinking...maybe I could stay and help them? Three of them die and

You always have to help people.

Is that a bad thing?! Where I come from, it's really rude to not try and SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE.

Sorry. I didn't mean it like that. But you should know: it's going to be very hard to bring a growing dragon through a portal.

Can it be done?

If we use the Eldunarí and start saving up energy now, yes. How long will this expedition take?

Well, we need to cross a good portion of a continent with 15 or 16 people and then in the book there's a lot of hanging around, first trying to figure out what to do with the dragon, then a bunch of political arguments and crap about whether or not the dwarves can keep all the treasure. And then there's a battle with goblins which I NEED TO BE A PART OF. Oh, and while crossing Mirkwood, the company is detained by elves for a long while.

That sounds like it'll take months. If your dragon grows as big as Saphira was when we fought in the Battle of Farthen Dur, there'll be difficulties.

Oh? How so?

If we mess up on the return spell too? That will

Not be good, yeah.

So do you have the book that you are in with you?

Yup, got my Hobbit here on the iPad.

Did you tell them everything?

After the fiasco on Alagaësia? Everyone blaming me when things went wrong, saying I should've warned them? No, I did not.

It was about then that I noticed Kili reading over my shoulder. Because today had just been like that.

Nim here-The third chapter! And we finally get Syri to Middle-Earth. Thank you to everyone who commented!