Disclaimer: I do not own Eragon.
Okay, sorry for the delay in updating, but I've been in brain freeze mode for about a month with everything I'm writing right now.
The Third Rider
Chapter 3
Alexine woke up from the early rays of dawn, or was that twilight? She looked at her left hand again, and saw a strange marking that she recognized from the Castle. It was the mark of a rider.
Murtagh had showed it to her before. They had gotten along quite well in the Castle, and Alexine finally had the friend she never knew. Murtagh trained her in swords-man-ship, and from then on Alexine was never without a sword by her side.
A little green face popped up in front of Alexine. Ah, the trouble that started it all: Dragons. I know my ancestors before me have all been dragon riders, but to tell the truth I was hoping it would skip me.
The Dragon nudged her arm, most likely in want of food. Did I remember to pack food? Alexine sat up to go through her pack, and then realized that if she had packed any food it would still be with Cadoc. Darn horse running off with my supplies.
"I suppose you'll need a name," Alexine mumbled to herself about the Dragon. "Let's see, how about Emeraldo?" Alexine asked. The Dragon looked at her, and then nibbled her hand in disapproval. "All you had to do was say no. Hmm, this is not as easy as I thought."
Alexine's mind wandered to on old story her mother had told her about one of her favorite dragon name's in history: Merick.
"Will Merick do?" Alexine asked. The Dragon made a strange noise, most likely a roar, and nodded his head up and down. "Smart Dragon," Alexine mused, "ready to go hunting?"
The Dragon-Ahem- Merick jumped up and trudged over to a small trail that leads deeper into the spine.
"Why do I get the feeling you already know where you're going?" Alexine asked Merick even though she knew he couldn't answer yet.
"Roran," Katrina called from the house, "supper's on the table!"
"I'll be right there!" Roran said. He finished picking up the last of the weeds and went inside.
Everyone had returned to Carvahall in hopes of good fortune a few months ago. What they found was ashes. All their homes had been burned down, and there wasn't a living soul to be heard. The tombstones in the graveyard had been kicked to pieces, and any tools the soldiers managed to get their hands on were gone.
Roran suggested that since the town had to be built anew anyway they might as well build it a few miles closer to the farms so that if their was an accident like what had happened to Garrow again help wouldn't be far away. The town agreed without question.
Katrina was still wary of coming back given past events, but she was willing to listen to Roran for now. Eragon stayed with them every now and again, as well as his dragon Saphira. Most of the time though he was out scouting Alegasia, which was the case right now.
Many people had changed after retreating from Carvahall over a year ago. Self defense was a major thing taught among the children now in case of the soldiers return, and many people were injured just from accidentally sneaking up on someone and finding said someone's fist in your face.
The only thing that was still basically the same was the farm ground. Rocks still appeared from year to year, weeds still grew and attempted to kill the crops, crops still grew and provided food on the table for Roran and Katrina.
Alexine had been traveling for a few days going north. Merick was growing at a fast rate, and was already as tall as her waist. At this rate he would be big enough to ride on by tomorrow night.
She heard footsteps behind her and stopped. The footsteps continued, and they seemed close. Was it Urgals? Was it simply a creature of the Spine? An arrow flying past her head and into a tree in front of her gave Alexine the answer she needed. In the blink of an eye she was running for her life, Merick easily keeping pace with her. Alexine ran in a zigzag pattern to avoid the arrows, which was proving to be a useful tactic.
Are they ever going to run out of arrows? Alexine thought to herself. She felt another presence in her mind.
Not very likely a male voice answered.
Who are you? Where are you? What are you doing in my head?!
You named me Merick, I'm right next to you, I can speak with my mouth the way humans can so I use mental telepathy.
The voice in her head was none other than her Dragon Merick, a creature who hatched only a few days ago.
Since you seemed to be so far ahead of the normal growth rate of dragons, can you fly? Alexine asked.
Yes. I've been flying at night while you sleep, which is another thing I don't really understand.
Never mind that right now, are you able to carry me with you?
Not for a long time, but if it gets us away from these pests pursuing us I'll try, Merick said without enthusiasm. He slowed down until Alexine was running in front of him, got in line behind her, charged under her legs to lift her onto him, and took off into the skies.
"Watch the branches!" Alexine called, moving her head to avoid a branch.
Why are humans so heavy when they're so small?!
"We can go into the quantum physics of humans later!" Alexine said. Merick struggled to keep a decent altitude, but kept wavering up and down from the new weight. From the skies Alexine could see there wasn't actually much left of the Spine until they would have stumbled across someone's farm, which was where Merick seemed to be heading towards now.
Why are we heading towards a farm, where there would be people?
Because it's too hard for me to try and maneuver into going left or right so we fly straight! This was the direction you were heading towards anyway so don't blame me!
Okay, okay, take it easy. Dragon's were so moody sometimes.
I have to land soon, you're doubling my weight in the air and I can't handle it! Merick said.
Incoming arrows at five o'clock! Alexine screamed in her head. Merick had no idea what 'five o'clock' meant though.
Stop speaking gibberish!
Incoming arrows at the southeastern side then! Merick looked south east and saw the barrage of arrows. By now they were over the farm. The emerald green dragon twirled his body 360 degrees over in the air to avoid the arrows as they came at him, but the unsuspecting human on his back was thrown off and was at gravity's mercy now.
Roran and Katrina were just finishing up the dish washing when they heard an ear piercing scream from outside.
"What was that?" Katrina asked, already heading towards the door.
"I don't know, it didn't sound like it was coming from town," Roran admitted, right behind his wife as they went out the door.
"Sounds like it is getting louder," Katrina said.
"It does, I wonder what it could…" Roran had his unfinished question answered when something hit the ground on the farm not to far from them and the screaming ceased.
Katrina ran over to see what it was that had fallen from the sky."Roran, you'd better come here," was Katrina's only response to what she saw. Roran walked over.
"Uh, we should probably go see Gertrude," Roran suggested. Katrina nodded, for in the grass was a girl with black hair and a small cut on her shoulder.
-End of Chapter 3-
Hope you liked it! I'm going to try and update again within the next week, but don't count on it. Review please and tell me what you think!
