Disclaimer: I don't own any of Paolini's characters. I just get to play with the world he made up.
Note: This is a slightly shorter chapter than usual, but I have a feeling that the next will be a doozy. However, y'all will start having to be patient with me. I start back to college on Monday, and I have no idea how intensive my classes will be. At the very least, I hope to be able to update once a week. I'm soooo close to 2,000 hits….lets keep going, folks, and hit that mark! WOOT!
Those of you who so wonderfully reviewed get a pretty stone. Does it contain a dragon? Who knows! Let me know in your reviews. As to the rest of you, you get one more chance. Review, and get a stone. Don't and well…use your imaginations.
Happy reading!
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Andean came to stand beside his young friend, who was gazing around her old town with great trepidation. But then she stood up straight and tall, and shook the hood of her cloak back, revealing her chocolate hair and slightly pointed ears. A crowd had gathered, and nobody seemed to know what to do with these strange visitors. The street was deathly silent for a moment, before Hanna spoke up, her voice strong and sure.
"I am Hanna Tirion. I am come from the land of the elves in order to see my mother." She gestured towards Andean and Endellion. "This is Andean and his dragon, Endellion. They were sent to accompany me here. Please, does anyone have any information regarding my mother?" Andean marveled at the strength in Hanna's voice. He had never seen her so sure of herself before. While she had gained a measure of confidence among the elves, he was used to seeing her defer judgment to Vrael, Adon, and even Silme. Perhaps she had just never had a chance to show her leadership qualities. In any case, Andean was pleased and allowed Hanna to continue without interruption.
The crowd shifted a bit, and then an older man stepped forward. Hanna recognized him to be one of the members of the Council that had served with her father. She didn't know much about Labriach Nadorsi, but she couldn't remember having a complaint with him. "Welcome home, Hanna Tirion! You have been much missed, and the village mourned when they learned of your great suffering during your time among us. Many of us wish that we could make it up to you, and we are happy to see this chance made available to us. We also welcome your fellow Rider." He bowed genteelly to Andean, who though amused, bowed respectfully in return.
"Fine words," a voice grumbled from the audience, "but not worth anything. The girl asked for information. You can give it to her without all of that nonsensical waffle!" Looking around, Hanna soon saw who had made the slightly cynical comment. It was Gammer Amen, the very same gossip that had helped Oromis on his previous missions to Tudessa. She smiled warmly at the Gammer, feeling a certain amount of gratitude towards the old biddy. Without Gammer Amen's help, Oromis would not have known how to help her when he had first realized that a fellow Rider was standing before him. "Gammer Amen, I remember you well. Please, come forward and speak with me. While Master Nadorsi undoubtedly means well," she said, sending a respectful glance at the man, "we are in haste. An honest word at the moment will mean just as much as a carefully chosen one."
Shuffling, the elderly woman came forward and greeted Hanna. "It's good to see you again, Hanna, looking well and better than ever. But its not you that you wish to talk about, it be your mother. Very well, says I. She's not looking good."
Concerned, Hanna asked, "What do you mean, Gammer? In what way?"
Gammer Amen clicked her tongue. "She's wasting away, poor woman, stricken by grief and loneliness. A few of us try and see her once a week, but she turns us away as often as not. Her hair's gone white, and she's thin as a bone. I think she misses you, and your father…the scum," the Gammer spit out.
"It's worse than I feared," Hanna said as she turned to Andean. He nodded, letting her know that he supported her. She turned around and spoke directly to Labriach Nadorsi. "I'm going to go see my mother now, but Andean and I shall return tomorrow, to help Tudessa in any and all of its needs. We are not here to be a burden, but to be a help. And for goodness' sake," she said lightly, remembering the brisk activity that usually surrounded a Rider's visit, "don't go to all the trouble of polishing the iron and painting houses! I've seen Tudessa in all of its seasons. You don't need to be putting a show on just for us. Now then, we must be off." She nodded her thanks to Gammer Amen, and swung back up on Caedmon's back. Come, Caedmon, she said firmly, you know where to go. Caedmon did not reply. He merely stretched his wings out as best he could, and the villagers quickly moved out of the way of their massive bulk. A few minutes later, Caedmon and Endellion had pointed their noses towards Hanna's old home, leaving the little village in a state of confusion behind them.
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It smells the same, mused Caedmon as he drew nearer to the stone house that stood solidly and forlornly before them. He began to veer down. I must admit that I am excited to see the place of my hatching again.
Hanna affectionately stroked her dragon's side. I'm happy you're pleased, Caedmon. I just hope that Andean isn't completely bored here in our sleepy mountain village. I think your hatching was the first exciting thing to happen here in about seventy-five years.
That may be, yet here we are. With a huge, thunderous noise, Caedmon landed in front of the house, Endellion coming up behind them. Hanna leapt down from Caedmon's back, but frowned when she saw Andean keep his seat. Seeing her puzzlement, the elf said quickly, "This first visit should be between you and your mother alone. Endellion and I will wait out here. Just call us when you want us, but only when you want us."
Seeing the wisdom in Andean's words, Hanna smilingly agreed. But before she could move one more step towards the house, the door flew open, and Maryla was framed in the doorway. Undoubtedly, she had heard the commotion and had come to investigate the source of the strange noises. She looked at the sight before her in great bewilderment, but then with a glad cry, she rushed headlong towards her daughter. Hanna met her halfway, and they just stood and cried together in each other's arms for several long minutes. Andean smiled to see the joyous reunion, but then averted his eyes in order to give the mother and daughter a little privacy.
At length, Maryla drew back from her daughter, wiping her swollen and red eyes. "Oh, my Hanna! How is this possible? How can you be here?" A thought seemed to strike her, and she asked sternly, "You're not in trouble with the Riders, are you? I asked you not to come home, to stay and finish your training."
"Oh, nothing like that, Mother! My master gave me permission to come. I was so worried about you that it was affecting my training. Master Vrael said that I'd be much better off here getting my head on straight than back in training learning absolutely nothing, so he gave me some time off. He was even so kind as to allow Andean here," she said, pointing at the still-mounted elf, "to accompany and make sure that I got back all right."
Maryla heaved a sigh of relief. "Thanks be! I was afraid that you had been…I don't know, dismissed or something. But these elves, these Riders," she said, giving Hanna a searching look, "have sent you back much better than when you left."
"I wish I could say the same about you, Mother…" Hanna's voice trailed off in grief as she looked closely at her mother. Her hair was completely white, and her face was lined beyond her years. She looked skeletal, and very tired. "Why do you grieve so much, Mother? I am happy, and you are safe for the first time from Father."
Maryla brushed away Hanna's concern. "Ah, please don't worry, my daughter. You must come in, please! Invite your friend! I've never spoken to an elf before, not even that one that was here before…" Her eyes clouded over as she remembered Oromis' presence, and Hanna spoke quickly to ease the tension. "First, Mother, I'd like to introduce you to someone very important." She led the way over to Caedmon. "Here, Mother. Here is the reason that I left, and the reason for my happiness."
Timidly, Maryla walked over to Caedmon, who tried very hard not to snort or frighten the woman. "So this is your Caedmon…" Maryla breathed. "Hanna, he's magnificent! Such beautiful scales!"
"Well, I think he's rather nice myself," replied Hanna in a teasing voice. Caedmon shuffled his feet and growled his laugh. Maryla jumped for a second at the sound, but once Hanna explained that the dragon was merely laughing, she relaxed again. "Oh my," Maryla said in a horrified tone as a horrible thought came to mind, "how are we ever going to feed him? Do you think one of the cows would be enough?" She eyed Endellion in equal alarm, and Hanna laughed heartily.
"No, no, mother! Both dragons are quite capable of hunting and feeding themselves. You don't need to worry at all." Relieved, Maryla led the way back into the house, insisting that Andean join them, which he did reluctantly. He wished that he and Endellion could just fly away somewhere and be out of Hanna and her mother's ways.
Thankfully, his discomfort didn't last long. The three humans spent an enjoyable evening together. No hard subjects were brought up and Andean and Hanna went out of their ways to be amusing for Maryla. They obviously succeeded, Maryla sometimes laughing so hard that tears would run down her cheeks. She prepared a magnificent dinner for her two guests, Hanna having a taste of meat for the first time since she had left Tudessa. She spoke softly to her mother about Andean's vegetarian lifestyle, and while Maryla was highly confused as to why someone would disregard an entire food group, she gracefully provided Andean with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and good bread.
Andean chose to sleep outside with Endellion and Hanna initially went to her old bedroom. Caedmon was highly disgruntled by this, and went to stand outside her window so that he could still be near his Rider. The memories of the past were heavier here, though, where no cheerful Andean was to make the tension flee. Hanna looked at the bed and remembered the times that she had been thrown across it after a beating. She saw the battered table and remembered it holding her few precious books. She looked at the clothes in her closet, looking so shoddy compared to what the elves had given her, and found no peace. Finally, Hanna fell sobbing onto the bed. The pain was too real here.
Hanna? Why don't you come outside with me? There is no reason for you to suffer in there. Caedmon's voice was soft and gentle, but it brooked no argument. Caedmon always acted stern whenever he felt his Rider's emotions flaring.
Wiping her eyes, Hanna agreed. You're right, Caedmon. Besides, you're much more comfortable than this old bed. I'm coming out now. Hanna felt only Caedmon's warm approval before he withdrew from her mind.
As she walked silently out of the house, Hanna stopped by her mother's bedroom, which she used to share with Soronin. Pressing her ear close to the wood, Hanna heard her mother's soft and even breathing. Good; that meant that everything was well and she was getting the sleep that she appeared to so sorely need.
Caedmon was waiting by the back door, and Hanna slung on her brown leather cloak before settling down beside her beast. She only looked at the stars for a few minutes before falling into a deep sleep, Caedmon tucking a wing over her to protect her from the cool chill of the night air.
Far away in Ilirea, Vrael came away from the water bowl that he was using to scry Hanna and Andean. He smiled, glad to know that both of the apprentices were safe, and for the moment, were at peace with their world.
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A/N: Ok…push the button and get a stone! C'mon, you all know that you want your own Saphira and scarred hand…..