Chapter 5

The end of that night was a dreadful one. Vanilor had me stay with him in the barn so he could watch out for me. He refused to let me enter the house while it was dark out.

The morning was not so much better either. The sky was gray and it rained for hours. When I was finally let back into my own house I set my self to work writing parchments for the Varden. It is required that every Dragon Rider document what they believe to be important aspects of their day-to-day activities. In my case, surviving my home invasions and avoiding Eragon and his new dragon.

As per Brom's instructions, I stayed away from Eragons property, and everything around it.

A week passed. I had not heard from neither Eragon nor Brom. I gathered my weapons and set out towards the farm. And then I saw the devastation.

The farm was nothing but ash and soot. I gathered my nerves. And stepped foot inside.

The tension in the air rose as i coughed the ash out of my lungs and looked around. I saw a blackened arm and ran.

I made it as far as the river in the woods before i finally let myself collapse.

I was numb, deaf to every noise around me, that I never noticed the hard landing of my dragon.

I let myself sob in his claws. Finally recovering myself I stood, turned to him with a sudden fire in my chest. "We need to go," was all I could manage.

He bowed his head in understanding and took me back to our home.

I gathered my parchment, my book of spells, and left. As I climbed onto Vanilor's back I ordered him to set the house ablaze. We flew away watching sorrowfully as the foundation crumbled to dust.

We flew for hours, until the moon was high in the sky and the wolves were crying to its light. When we settled down for the night I found it difficult to find sleep, and though he tried hard to hide it, I knew he couldn't either.

Finally I gave up trying and just lay awake watching the stars. The only thing crossing my mind was that I knew Eragon was safe. I'd never let Brom live another day if he wasn't.

When dawn finally came we set out early, Vanilor in the sky with my valuables and me hunting on foot.

Before long I started hearing voices. Two male, one young one old. 'Brom and Eragon.'

I sent Vanilor off not too far away and warily crept towards the men. Peering out from behind a tree the first thing I saw was the dragon.

Large, beautiful blue scales and claws, and eyes as clear and blue as a river.

I snapped a twig under my foot and her head whipped around. I hid quickly, but I'm sure she could smell me as she growled and trailed her tail against the tree i was hiding behind.

"Who's there?" Eragon.

I held my breath and waited. Nothing happened. Slowly I stepped out from behind the tree and let myself be seen.

The dragon's snarl faded and her jaws curved into a smile. She slightly bowed her head and flicked her tail at my feet.

Eragon looked at her in astonishment, and she returned his gaze evenly.

Brom walked over and nudged me hard in the ribs. "I though I told you to back off," he hissed through gritted teeth.

I matched his stare calmly and said quietly, "I am here now. And as long as I am, you will let me help train the new rider."

His eyes narrowed but he said nothing. As long as Vanilor stayed hidden for the time being I would not be found out.

I was determined to make this battle a battle worth winning.

hello my precious lovelies. im not dead :) just an excruciatingly long hiatus. I will be updating more frequently now, i promise. and in case you feel up to it i went back and revised the past chapters