I DO NOT OWN THE INHERITANCE CYCLE OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS. THIS FANFIC WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE IDEAS OF CHRISTOPHER PAOLINI

Aaron awoke the next morning to his mother and father moving to greet Eragon and another figure who entered the cave. His eyes soon adjusted to the light around him and saw a beautiful elvish woman standing next to Eragon. She had flowing midnight black hair and piercing emerald eyes. The woman turned and stared at him with eyes that seemed to know more than they should. "So this is the hatchling," the woman asked with a melodic voice.

Aaron tried to growl an affirmative, but realized the bone from the deer in his jaws. He dropped it from his mouth and the elf woman recoiled slightly. "Yes Arya, this is my hatchling. The one who was once a human," Saphira said with a heavy tone in her voice. Thorn walked closer to her and nuzzled her, obviously trying to cheer her up.

"Incredible, how a human achieved by accident what elves have attempted for centuries," Arya mused. "Hatchling, do you mind if I examine your memories?" Aaron walked over to the cave wall and carved into the wall, "AARON."

"Aaron then; may I?" Aaron nodded and brought his head in contact with Arya's waiting palm. The pain was almost instant. Arya didn't continue for long, only to view his last human memory. She removed her hand and Aaron slumped to the ground, out of energy. His jaw caught on one of the harder parts of the nest which caused him to sit up.

"Ouch," he thought. Unknown to him, he had projected that thought to everyone in the room. "Can we please stop doing that to my head? It hurts afterwards and leaves me weak." Then realization hit Aaron as he saw the looks of surprise on his mother's, father's, and the two elves faces. "You can hear me now," he exclaimed.

"Yes, we can understand you now," Arya said. "And now I have a lot of questions for you. When did this happen to you?"

"It was just before winter. I was hunting for my uncle in the Spine when I saw the bright flash. The next thing I remember was my mo… Saphira, looking down on me after I had hatched from my egg." Aaron realized he had almost referred to Saphira as his mother. Eragon and Arya seemed to have not noticed, but after it nearly slipped from his tongue Saphira positively radiated happiness.

"Now I know why my uncle said to stay out if the Spine. Strange thing happen there," Aaron mused.

"Was your uncle by chance Sloan?" It was Eragon's turn to speak.

"Yes, my uncle was Sloan, the butcher of Carvahall. I had been living with him since my parents were killed by urgals, and I'd been for three weeks when it happened. " Aaron looked at Eragon and saw a sad look project itself on his face. Saphira also began to resonate a hint of despair. "What is it?"

"There is no Carvahall anymore," Eragon said softly. "The town was destroyed by the empire. It has been for nearly a year and a half."

"If only I knew what the flash was," Arya said, sounding for the first time confused. "He couldn't have just died instantly unless it was by magical means. If there was someone who saw the aftermath, then this would be different."

Aaron chirped instinctively when he remembered seeing the other boy. He looked down in embarrassment when he saw them all stare at him. Then he sent them all the picture before the flash and focused in on the other boy.

Eragon went wide eyed. "That's me," he said in astonishment.

"What do you mean that was you, Eragon," Thorn asked inquisitively. "You did this to him?"

"No, but that's me trailing the deer," Eragon said. "That flash of light was Arya's spell transporting Salhira's egg. It must have effected him because he was closer to it."

Aaron looked at Arya with hatred in his eyes. "So you're responsible for this?" Aaron tensed his muscles and leapt at her, fangs bared.

Arya jumped out of Aaron's path with expert timing and agility. Aaron landed and pounced again, this time using his wings to keep him higher. "Thrysta," Arya yelled on impulse. Aaron felt an invisible force hit him away from the elf. Aaron hissed loudly at her.

"Don't hurt him," Saphira screamed with her thoughts. As much as he wasn't Saphira's true hatchling, she couldn't help but feel protective of the small dragon.

Aaron hissed once more and leapt to Arya. This time Arya was ready with a spell. "Slytha," she whispered. Instantly Aaron fell into a deep sleep and Arya caught him as his sleeping form came at her. She walked over to the middle of the nest and laid him down gently, even though it was impossible for him to awaken without a spell. "He's rather cute when he's asleep," Arya commented.

"Enjoy it while you can, Arya," Thorn said, "because when he wakes up he's going to be trying to kill you."

Thank you for enjoying my story and I will try to continue writing.