Hope

Kassia woke with a chill in her bones, and she glanced around the clearing where they had decided to spend the night. Brambles crept up the trunks of trees that lowered their stick fingers and brushed the ground in an everlasting caress.

She sat up and saw the sun struggling through clouds as dawn arrived in Du Weldenvarden. Eragon was sitting on a rock, watching the sun rise slowly in the sky, bringing with it a dazzling display of awe-inspiring golden light.

He turned and saw her blinking sleepily. She cast her eyes to the floor in embarrassment. "I'm sorry about how I behaved yesterday." She said sheepishly.

Eragon merely smiled. He wasn't sure which instance she was referring to, but he decided not to let her know that. "You were upset, I understand."

For the second time, a massive shadow fell over the clearing, and they dove into the trees. Luckily, the passing dragon did not look down.

"We must be close." Kassia murmured, gazing after the emerald-green dragon.

"We are." Eragon stood up and pointed through the trees to a ridge. "Behind that, is the dragons' temporary home."

Kassia felt excitement bubbling up inside her, she had no idea what they were going to do when they arrived, but the thought of revenge was too sweet to forget.

Only one thing made her reluctant to go, and that was the fact that she was acting amazingly un-elf-like, for elves were always expected to be wise and forgiving, just like Eragon was.

He took a few steps toward the forest. "I'll get breakfast today, I thought I saw a bush full of berries back there." With a wave of his hand he disappeared in the thick band of trees surrounding them.

Eragon whistled softly as he made his way through the forest. Birds joined in, and he felt totally at peace. It was the first time he had felt almost happy since… he shook his head, not wanting to dampen his mood by thinking of such things.

He sighted a bush bursting with delicate, blue fruits, and he knelt before it, sniffing the berries. A large, white object caught his eye from inside the bush, and he hacked at the dense branches to get to it.

He stared at the gem-like object, and saw that it was shaking and moving slightly. He picked it up cautiously. It was pure white, with light white veins writhing around it like little marble snakes. It continued to shake, and suddenly, his mind clicked into place.

A dragon egg! That was the only thing it could be! He dropped the trembling thing, and took a frightened step backwards.

The egg hit the floor with a deep 'plunk' and rolled around, rocking and swaying violently.

He could not bring himself to move, he stood, transfixed, as it shuddered, and finally, cracked in half.

A tiny, cat-sized dragon spilled out of it, shaking its wet little wings and stretching them for the first time. It was as white as the egg, with miniature talons, and a long, snaky neck.

It stared at him for a while, with such intelligent, golden eyes that Eragon almost believed it would start talking to him.

But, of course, it didn't. It let out a soft chirp, and he fell backwards in alarm.

He quivered with fear, and stepped forward, meaning to pick it up and damage it in some way, but he couldn't. This dragon had done nothing to him, it hadn't even contributed to the war raging around them. It was a lonely orphan… like him.

He held out his hand awkwardly and rubbed its hard, diamond scales. It let out a delighted caw and nuzzled his hand.

Eragon laughed and scooped the dragon into his arms. This startled it though, and it flailed its little talons around, scratching Eragon all over his arms.

He didn't drop it though, for he felt something for this little creature, he felt that it was a symbol of hope… perhaps it was the elves' and dragons' only hope.

He let the dragon perch on his shoulder, and traipsed through the undergrowth to show Kassia his discovery.

** * *

Kassia hummed to herself as she watched the sun on its journey through the sky. There was something about the air today… something fresh, pure and hopeful. She watched the silhouettes of birds as they soared in front of the sun, and she closed her eyes peacefully.

However, her quiet time was disturbed when a loud chirping echoed around the forest. She scowled and covered her ears, but it got louder and louder. As the source of the sound neared her, she heard a voice, a voice that sounded rather a lot like Eragon's.

"-but I don't suppose you knew your parents did you? I did… anyway, I knew dragons were smart! You can really understand me, can't you?" Every sentence was punctuated with a chirp, as if whatever was with him was agreeing with him.

She stood just as Eragon appeared through the trees, and she gave a startled cry at the sight of his companion.

A fragile, spotless, white dragon was seated companionably on his shoulder, and it seemed as though the two were chatting. Eragon would say something, and the dragon would chirp in agreement.

"Kassia look!" Eragon waved at her and pointed at the dragon.

"I had noticed." She muttered, stalking over to him.

The dragon turned its golden eyes to her and cawed softly. It flicked its wings back, revealing more scales on its back, that sparkled in the sun like snow.

"I called him Bid'Daum, it was a name I read in a book once." Eragon seemed delighted, and he petted the creature lovingly. "He's brilliant Kassia! And so intelligent! I feel like I can tell him anything. Touch him, go on!"

Kassia retched as the creature looked at her again, and she found herself shrieking.

"Get that thing away from me, Eragon! It's a monster! Its kin killed our kin!" She ran to the trees, where she picked up a handful of rocks. "Drop it! I have to kill it!"

Eragon looked shocked until she picked up the stones, when he frowned deeply at her and shielded the dragon with his arms.

"I won't drop it." He stated firmly, not removing his gaze from hers.

She was fuming. "What could you possibly achieve by keeping it?" She demanded.

"It is hope." He said simply.

Kassia exploded with rage. "Hope? Hope? Hope for what? Death? If you don't kill that foul thing right away, I'll leave and fight alone." She stamped her foot angrily.

Eragon stood calmly, still holding Bid'Daum. "Then fight alone, Kassia." He said softly.

Kassia's eyes widened. "You… you would choose one of those putrid monsters over one of your own kind?" She shouted.

"You don't know what you're talking about." He said, and as she was about to snap back at him he added, "Bid is my friend now, he can help end the war. You're too obsessed with revenge to understand that."

"You're a treacherous oath breaker! You shouldn't even be called an elf! I hope that dragon tears out your insides!" He was surprised to see that she had tears in her eyes, but before he could comment on them she charged away.

"She'll be back." Eragon told Bid'Daum, although he didn't even believe it himself… and was he just imagining that dubious look that the dragon shot at him?