Demonic Hope, thanks, I was just curious. Lord Zill, oh, why thank you. It is true, I am a very, very weird person((: RAARasaurus, you have an awesome name, and no I did not know the pancakes arch nemesis is the Belgian waffle. GreyHat 64, nerd! Yay! Hacker. Ohhhhh dear. FallenSyren, I may just leave the dragon love out, or it may come later in the story, or I'll make an epilogue and include that. Yes! I freaking love Harry Potter! No! I love long, rambling reviews!

Dear FlameWing41 and Every1's Beta, Where are you? Haven't heard from you guys in a while. I hope you guys aren't dead. That would suck. Realllly suck.

Chapter 36

"Who Are You

Now reunited, Arya, Andaer, and Eragon made their way out of the castle. Every few moments, Andaer would scamper ahead of the two elves only to turn right back to walk beside His Arya.

As they now quickly walked through the forest of Varden tents, people stopped to watch Eragon, Arya, and the young dragon pass through. Most only had eyes for the mesmerizing green dragon, having never seen a hatchling before. Andaer also watched the people with amazement. He wondered why none of them looked like Arya. He also wondered why Eragon didn't look like those creatures, or completely like Arya.

How come those creatures look different than you? He asked Arya as he gazed up at her with inquisitive eyes.

Those creatures are Humans. I am an Elf, Arya replied.

What about Eragon? He isn't a human, but he looks different than you.

Arya smiled down at her dragon. She was proud that he had noticed the difference. It showed that his mind was sharp, even for how young he was. Eragon is a hybrid. A cross between Human and Elf. But he wasn't always like this. He used to be completely human, but then during a special Elven ceremony he was changed by dragon magic.

Dragons have magic? Andaer asked wondrously. Arya had already explained magic to him in brief, but this was the first time he had heard of dragons having magic.

Yes, they do, though it is different than the kind of magic I'm able to use. Dragon magic is much more powerful, but it is rarely ever accessible at will.

Andaer thought about what she had said for a long moment. How many are there like you, and how many like Eragon? He asked, changing the subject back to the first topic.

There are many like me, Arya responded. In the Varden camp there are twelve other Elves. Their purpose is to protect Eragon and Saphira. Many other Elves live in the Forest of DuWeldenvarden. As she spoke, Arya showed her dragon images of some of the other Elves, and their home, and the forests. Though most Elves are fighting up north right now.

What about Eragon?

In history there have not been many people like Eragon, and I'm almost sure that there are none living today, Arya replied.

Don't you think he gets lonely sometimes? Andaer asked as he bounded a few feet ahead.

Arya thought about Andaer's question, but did not make a response.

Eventually, they left behind the busy activity of the camp, and things grew quiet. The only sound was the dry grass crumpling beneath their every step. Andaer snorted as he bounded into a roll. He waited for Eragon and Arya to reach him before climbing onto his feet.

Everyone was waiting in the back field by the time the three arrived. Lady Nasuada, King Orrin, and Jormundur were talking quietly as they stared down at the map of Alagaesia that was lying on a makeshift table. Murtagh was half sitting half laying against Thorns belly; legs crossed, eyes closed, and his arms folded behind his head. He looked quite comical surrounded by serious faces. Saphira watched as the humans pointed to places on the map, and moved small figurines around, but her mind was elsewhere. Nasuada's guards stood at a distance. They were to keep anyone from disrupting the meeting. A few of the Elves stood near Saphira, and others stood at respectful distances.

Andaer stopped with a surprised squeak, and everything went quiet. Murtagh's eyes snapped open. He turned his head to look at hatchling, who was staring at Thorn with big green eyes. His gaze momentarily switched to Arya, then back to Andaer.

"He hatched for Arya?" Murtagh asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.

"He did," Arya answered in a voice like stone.

Andaer sniffed the air. He could smell this new dragon. He didn't smell like Saphira. He smelled different.

Thorn lowered his head so that it was almost level with Andaer's. He looked at the little creature and studied him intently. After a long moment he snorted and blew a plume of dark smoke out his nose. This time Andaer did not react to the puff of smoke, unlike he did with Saphira. Now he was serious. Who was this new, male dragon?

"Who are you?" Andaer asked, speaking in grunts and hisses.

"I am Thorn," Came the ruby dragon's answer. "Who are you"

"My name is Andaer."

Thorn lifted his head. Hello, He said after a moment.

Kvetha, Andaer replied before hastily returning to Arya's side.

Eragon walked up to stand beside Saphira. He smiled up at her as she watched him out of one eye. Andaer bounded up to Saphira, where he scrambled onto her leg. Saphira lifted her front leg and gave it a slight jerk, causing him to fall to the ground. She tilted her head and looked down at him.

You must be calm now, hatchling, She said.

Andaer understood and obeyed. He sat down quietly beside Saphira's leg. Eragon glanced over at Arya, who had stopped beside him, his lips curved into an amused smile. Arya did not return the smile, but her emerald eyes were twinkling with amusement.

Short, filler chapter. I had a downright horrible day at school, and I'm too tired to write anymore.