Chapter 3 A Hope Renewed

A/N: I don't think Paolini uses the regular calendar months in his books, but I'm going to, just to let you know. : )

I wanted to say THANK YOU to my wonderful reviewers. You don't know how much they mean to me and how much they motivate me to keep writing. So thanks so much everyone:)


The next day, Aletheia's father, Mandall, arrived home mid-day leading their horse with a small wagon attached to its harnesses. Aletheia heard him coming up the path between the dense trees, so she ran out to meet him. As she ran outside, she saw him leading not only their old mare but another horse. This horse had the most brilliant white coat that she had ever seen.

"Where did you get him?" she asked as she walked up to the stallion, stroking its neck.

"Teirm," he said shortly. "He wasn't being treated like the noble steed he is, so I bought him off a trader."

"What's his name?"

"Snowfire," he said as he tied up the other horse to a picket. "The trader said this one had seen many miles and came from a mysterious young man." With that, he walked inside. Most likely to tell her mother he was back.

Aletheia led the horse to another picket to brush him off.

Suddenly, Anassa, Gunther, and Tearlach came from the right with huge beasts in their jaws. Unlike the mare, which reared and became increasingly restless, Snowfire just looked at the dragons as if they were no surprise to him.

Aletheia noticed this. She eyed him, confused, before turning to the dragons.

Do you know why he's so calm? Our mare, Myra, is frightened at your presence even after all these years.

Gunther narrowed his eyes suspiciously at the horse and walked slowly up to him. As he came closer to the horse, Snowfire finally became nervous and tried to step backwards. Which was no surprise, as Gunther was taller than three stories. His black scales did nothing to help ease the intimidation he emitted.

When Gunther had briefly scanned the sporadic memories the horse's brain held, he snorted in alarm, backing away slowly. When Aletheia asked him what was wrong, Gunther merely said, It's nothing, child. Go inside and be with your father – he is weary from travel.

Knowing that she was, yet again, being kept in the dark, Aletheia stomped inside the house.

As soon as she entered the house, she slammed the door. Her mother and father looked up at her from the table in alarm.

"What is it?" her mother asked, her eyes showing the worry she felt.

"I know you are keeping information from me!" she yelled, her temper rising like a snake. "It seems as if everyone knows something that I don't and I hate it!" With that, she ran into her small room and closed the door with a sharp snap. Once she was behind closed doors, she threw herself on her bed and cried. But she stopped, feeling suddenly drawn to a drawer on her bedside table.

She opened the oak drawer and found a picture. No, a fairth. It was of her and an old man. She instantly recognized him as her Uncle Bormir. Before he left, he made her this fairth to serve as a reminder to her of their close bond. Even though she was only three at the time, she could remember every single wrinkle, every single scar, and even the distinct smell of pipe tobacco that clung to his clothes. She missed him dearly, for she felt that he was the only one who would understand how she was feeling right now.

She had had hope of seeing him again, until a year ago, when her father told her that he was killed in an ambush. She remembered crying all afternoon after she learned of her Uncle's death. It nearly killed her to discover the horrible truth. Unprepared for sudden reoccurrence of her memories, she broke down in more tears.

Hearing her racking sobs, her mother and father looked at each other, a silent understanding passing between them.

As Marissa rose from the table to check on her daughter, Mandall sat at the table covering his face with his scarred hands. When he lowered his hands, his face was tear-streaked.

It is time.


Meanwhile, as soon as Aletheia had run inside the house, Anassa, Gunther's mate, walked up to him and put her silver head against his.

What is it, my love?

It seems as if he has seen one of our kind before. He said, after a moment.

Anassa snorted, her sense of alarm spreading like a fierce wildfire to Adelbert and Tearlach.

Are you sure, Gunther? She asked.

Yes, my love. There is another Dragon and Rider in Alagaesia besides the King and Shruikan.

That can mean only one thing. She said in awe, yet her voice betrayed a sense of sadness.

Gunther hummed deeply. He succeeded.


"Theia?" Marissa said, knocking softly on the door. "May I come in?"

Nothing.

"Theia?" As she opened the door, she saw that Aletheia was absent from her room. But she automatically knew where she was.

"Mandall!" Marissa called, walking down the hall. "Our daughter is gone."

Mandall looked up at his wife, with a knowing expression on his blotchy face.

"She's with Tearlach."


Aletheia sat upon her orange dragon, enjoying the chill breeze breathing on her face as Tearlach flew amid the dying sunlight. It had been almost three weeks since her and Tearlach last flew together. In her mind, she belonged in the sky, with the wind whipping her delicate face. Flying with her best friend was the most exhilarating and comforting experience she could ever imagine. When they were flying, they were not dragon and human – they were one.

For so long, she wished to fly free with Tearlach when the sun's rays flooded the skies. She yearned to see the sun illuminate Tearlach's ginger scales, displaying a myriad of indescribable colors. And tonight, she defied everything her father had taught her and flew with Tearlach when the sun's rays where still bright.

But most of all, she craved to show everyone who she was and be free of the Spine. She longed to confront the man who had forced her family into living in the black shadows of the Spine: Galbatorix. Granted, she knew she didn't fully comprehend who he was and she didn't know what he was. But all she knew was that he was an evil man and deserved to be punished.

As soon as her thought stumbled upon the fact that she didn't know much about Galbatorix, her anger came flooding back to her.

How could everyone keep everything from me? She asked herself angrily.

Because it had to be done, little one. Tearlach said, entering her thoughts.

I deserve to know!

Theia, you may think you were ready for the truth when you were younger, but the fact remains that you were an extremely rash young girl. If you knew at the age of sixteen what you are about to find out tonight, you would have done something you would've regretted. Now that you are more level headed, your father and mother will tell you everything. Just as they did with your cousin, Micah. Believe me, Theia. I know you even more than you know yourself. Trust me.

Aletheia sighed, knowing her dragon was right.

Alright, Tearlach. Let's go home.

As Tearlach descended towards the Spine, he roared fiercely as an arrow pierced his wing.

"Tearlach!" Aletheia screamed for him, as he landed on the ground with a loud thump. She quickly jumped off him to examine his wing.

Where did it come from? She asked him, as she muttered a few words that her father taught her to heal Tearlach's pierced wing.

There. He said, pointing with his head toward the Spine.

She quickly turned to face the Spine, trying to find the culprit. She didn't have to look far.

THEIA! Watch out!

Just as Aletheia tried to put up her guard, she was knocked off her feet by someone to her right. She lay on the ground, gasping for air, her vision extremely blurring after hitting the ground so hard.

Tearlach roared angrily at the person, rearing and slashing at him. He back away quickly. Aletheia thought he was running away, but when she looking up, she saw him running to stand next to a dark mass on the outskirts of the Spine.

As she stood up to face the young, but unnaturally handsome man, she tasted blood in her mouth. The man came closer and as he did, Aletheia realized what the thing was. As her vision cleared, she saw a dragon! There were more dragons in Alagaesia! More secrets. She muttered furiously. She saw him whisper something to his dragon, before the dragon crouched and took off.

"I just want to talk," the man said, walking up to her.

But she stepped backwards, putting her hand on the hilt of her curved sword.

Tearlach, watch out for the dragon. I have a feeling these two aren't on our side.

Just as Tearlach started to ask her what she was going to do, Aletheia unsheathed her sword and attacked the man.

Theia, no!

Almost too late, the young man took out his sword to block her swing at his neck. Returning the favor, he took a swing at her stomach. She parried the blow and danced backwards putting several paces between the two.

He's fast!

But before she could think about anything else, he ran towards her, aiming his sword at her legs. She jumped quickly and swiped at his sword arm. She felt a burst of triumph as she sliced open his sword arm, causing blood to spill everywhere. Just as she thought the battle had ended shortly, he switched his blade to his left hand and started a series of strong blows.

She cursed violently, he's skilled on both arms!

Aletheia blocked every swing he took at her, but her moves became sluggish. She could feel her energy draining from her.

Tearlach! Help!

But he was nowhere to be seen. As she quickly tried to reach out to him, she could feel him in the air, battling viciously with the other dragon. She screamed out in pain as she felt the dragon take a slice at Tearlach's stomach.

Still on the offensive, the young man began slowing his movements; allowing her some leeway in her blocks.

He's toying with me!

This sparked her temper. She hated when her cousin or father took it easy on her because she was a girl. So she doubled her efforts, drawing on the energy of her surroundings, just as he mother taught her a week ago. Her swings became stronger as her anger grew towards the man. But just as she was about to back him against a tree, her foot caught on a root and she stumbled forward. As she went to stand up, she felt a cold blade on the nape of her neck.

"Do not move until I tell you," he said softly. Aletheia's heart was beating fast as she suddenly became frightened. What's going to happen to me?

As she knelt there, in front of the man, she longed to hear Tearlach's voice in her mind, telling her he was alright.

Tearlach? Speak to me!

I can't take him any longer. Run! Run into the wood and get your father!

I can't, I've been defeated. She said solemnly.

"Tell your dragon to come to us. I will tell mine to cease the attack," the man said sharply. "If you tell him to flee, I will have my dragon tear him to pieces. Understand?"

Knowing she had been forced into a corner, she nodded her comprehension.

Tearlach, come to the edge of the Spine. He wants to see you.

I am coming, little one.

Not thirty seconds later, Tearlach landed next to the pair, growling when he saw the position his Rider was in. The other dragon landed next to Tearlach.

The man grabbed Aletheia by her arm and brought her back against his front, holding his sword against her neck. As she looked at Tearlach, she gasped, wanting to throw up. His legs were torn to pieces and he had a long, deep gash that ran between his eyes. She saw drops of blood splatter the ground. Hot tears ran down her cheeks.

Her gaze turned towards the dragon on his right. The dragon had armor on and, in result, had hardly a scratch on him. Aletheia felt her blood boil.

"What do you want with us?" Aletheia asked, feeling the blade slowly cut into her neck. As it cut the skin slightly, she flinched, feeling blood trickle down her neck.

"Oh it's not what I want with you, it's what my King wants with you," the man said.

"What does that madman want with us?" she asked viciously.

"He wants your help in unifying Alagaesia under one banner," he said.

"Never!" she muttered.

"You won't have a choice, milady. You and your dragon are going to come with us to Uru'bean."

"Like hell we will!" she yelled.

Stop!" he screamed. He nodded towards his dragon, and the dragon took a battered Tearlach's neck into his jaws.

Aletheia immediately stopped yelling, in fear for her dragon's life.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"I am a Rider for King Galbatorix," he replied simply.

"But what's your name?" she said, frustrated.

"My name is Murtagh," he said simply before she felt a sharp rap on her head. But before the world dissolved in darkness, she heard a collective roar come from the Spine.


Hmm ... Will her parents save her time? Or will she be a captive of Murtagh's:grins evilly:

Please review! I hope this one was better than the last one?

Also, none of this is mine – except for Aletheia, her dragon and her family (and their dragons). Please don't take them.