A/N: Thanks for R&Ring!
Vulpix4Life: Good chapter but 1 problem. She's not a Rider so how could she have been old enough to see Morzan alive considering Brom killed him before either her or Eragon were born? She'd have to be life in her 50's right? Well, besides that, great chapter ttyl!
A: Oh, whoopsies. Sowwie, I never bother looking up that part. Oh well, lol.
Evelyn couldn't help being so rude. Really she wasn't this way but she was genuinely frustrated with everything that was happening to her. After all the crap she went through back at the castle and running away, she can't have some peace? Okay, the first week was fine, it was just she and Lamont, but now they showed up.
Rubbing the back of his neck, Eragon gave a glance to his old companion who was approaching them on his horse and pulling the reins of the other. He was not happy.
Growing even more impatient, Evelyn finally barked, "Why-do-you-want-the-damn-stone! I found it, it's mine! Deal with it! What, it's yours and just somehow it came tumbling to the very depths of the lake, buried by rocks and rocks and tangled within a vine? Just leave me alone!" she finished with a moan.
Eve, hastily making up her mind, then picked up her sword and drew it to fighting position. "I wanna get this over with, so…I'm willing to fight for it," she said, gazing over at Eragon. The sensations that came over her earlier when she first saw Eragon enraptured her again. She quickly brushed them off.
The old man gave Eragon a nod to fight her. Eragon then returned a defying look but gave up as his companion exchanged him a stern stare.
Eragon lolled over to the old man's horse and drew out two sturdy, wooden sticks made for sparring. "Only with these" he said, fixing his eyes onto hers.
Eve shrugged; packed away her sword and sheath, then took one of the sticks. She returned to her previous position with even more anticipation.
Waiting for him to attack first, Evelyn spun the tip of her "sword" in small circles displaying her lingering.
After awhile, Eragon sucked in his breath and lunged over slowly with weak impact- he probably underestimated her. Grinning, Eve struck his staff with vigor, which put him in surprise.
Eragon next swung at her upper leg with great speed but she parried the blow with ease. She had been doing this with Tornac for years.
After that, Evelyn started swinging her rod in a series of slashes and blows at Eragon's rod, swiftly, as he paced backwards. What she intended to do was to distract Eragon with this sequence and strike him in the shin with a sudden blow.
Eragon started to pick up the pace and stroked Eve back, the way she did to him. Despite his aggressiveness, Eve refused to move back. Instead she struck his stick and started pushing it at his face.
Eragon used both hands- one at the grip, the other at the "blade's" tip- to force the thrust back. Evelyn did the same- he was strong but not too strong to make her give up now!
After what seemed to be like minutes, Eve took the chance to swoop downward and strike his shin hard. The blow stung Eragon, who grew quite aggravated. Even though he wasn't fighting at his best, determined not to hurt her badly, he can tell that Evelyn was a very experienced swordsman.
As the fight continued on, Eve spotted a small boulder behind Eragon. With an idea, she progressed, as her blows grew harder. With the slight distraction, Eragon was able to sock both arms with bruises. Though none could compare the blow she forced on his shin.
Eh…I don't think he's trying his best, isn't he? Evelyn thought. Eragon looked stronger than that. It was probably his splint. But she was still impressed with his skill.
The rock was right behind Eragon's right heel. Just…one more… she thought. Determined, Evelyn swung a mighty blow at the tip of his staff. There!
Eragon raised his left foot backwards in natural reflex but the boulder behind him threw him off balance- his splinted right arm was wailing in small circles. Quickly, Eve struck him in the chest, which sent him tumbling over the boulder.
Evelyn leapt to the other side of the rock where Eragon lied on his bottom. He raised his staff to block any blows, but Evelyn, disappointed, carelessly struck her stick at his with great force.
The angle she slashed her staff at was a swerve that went downward then up. When it hit Eragon's stick, his wooden staff went scraping at the side of his forehead forcefully.
Evelyn stood in shock for on the corner of Eragon's forehead laid a gash that bled blotches of crimson liquid. He yelped in pain when it came but he began to nurse the small wound calmly.
Even though it was nothing serious, Eve dropped to her knees beside Eragon in resentment.
"Eh- I didn't mean to! I got carried away…I'm sorry…uh, here" she fumbled, pulling out a handkerchief. Eragon smiled to her, taking the handkerchief, "Thanks…it's okay, it's…nothing. I probably deserved it, hm? He joked. Eve gave a small sigh of relief.
After recuperating, Eragon nearly forgot about his friend. He shot up a glance at the old man with apprehension. Evelyn looked back as well, curious. He was probably disappointed.
Correct, the old man's countenance showed disappointment as he shook his head, and motioned Eragon to come over. Eragon glanced over at Eve before he scrambled to his feet and ran over to his friend.
The stone! Remembered Evelyn. To her relief, the stone was at its standard spot. Without hesitation, she sprinted towards it in glee. The stone is hers! Maybe she can sell it in Teirm for loads of money! Then she can settle down for once.
She lifted it up, and ran her hands over the smooth, polished, surface. The two men behind her started whispering but she ignored it for the stone.
"We apologize for disturbing you, we'll be going now" said the old man behind her. Eve looked behind her and saw him trotting away. Eragon, before following his companion, gave one last look at Evelyn and waved his hand in farewell.
Disappointed, Evelyn watched the handsome chap go before he and his companion were far off. She then ran towards Lamont.
Eve and Lamont barely made any progress after departing from Leona Lake. She was tired from today and wasn't in the mood to ride, so she parked the horse at nearby trees.
Once she finished her small dinner, she put out the fire and set out her sleeping sheets. The stone was tightly packed in one of Lamont's saddlebags.
Lamont's nickering and an odd squeaking awakened Evelyn's peaceful slumber. Aye, what now thought Evelyn as she sluggishly lifted her head.
When she turned her head toward the noise, what she saw was Lamont stomping his hoof in irritation.
Wondering what it was, Eve then saw the saddlebag, the one she inserted the stone in, was constantly rocking and shifting. With that, occasional squeaks also filled the air. The stone…
Wearily, she paced towards the bag and the second she opened it, the stone tumbled to the ground. It was too quick for her worn out reflexes. To her srprise, the stone didn't break. Instead, it rolled steadily behind Evelyn.
Once she turned to face the strange stone with confusion, the stone happened to have stopped rocking and squeaking.
Breaking the dark silence, a crack suddenly erupted on the stone. No! Did it break? But how could it have if it didn't shatter to pieces when it first fell to the ground? Before she can consider any conclusions, more cracks appeared as small bits of the once flawless stone fell to the ground. What's happening!
Flabbergasted, Evelyn leaned over. Another series of squeaks erupted until a petite head snaked out. Transfixed, Eve squinted in the darkness to see exactly what this…creature is. So the stone was actually…an egg…
After a few seconds, the small creatures crawled completely out of the stone. Evelyn shot open her eyes in shock and sucked in her breath.
What stood in front of her was a dragon.
She took small breaths as she stared at the small creature. A dragon! Who would've known! Yet this egg hatched for her…that means she's a Dragon Rider!
Fortunately, Evelyn had read a lot bout Dragon Riders and their dragons.
Still mesmerized by the creature, Eve shook off all other thoughts as she stared at it. A moment later, she felt a sudden force in her mind…no, not a force. But…a presence, that shared her mind.
She read how the Dragon Rider's minds were linked with their dragons, and are capable of sharing thoughts and emotions.
Evelyn couldn't help noticing how stunning the dragon was. Every single scale shone an aquamarine glow in the dark night. Its claws and spikes reflected a pearl-like glow. Attracted to the mystical fellow, Eve reached out her hand to pat it. It wouldn't dare harm her-
"Aah!" shrieked Evelyn. The moment the dragon's nose touched her palm, a flare of bitter cold energy gushed through her arm and then throughout her body. In desperate pain, Eve threw her self to the ground, crouched. Her unharmed, left hand grasped her other shoulder while her right hand was tightly clutched on her palm.
Numbness zinged through her body while her veins burned with bitterness. The throbbing was unbearable; she can barely move except writhe in pain, slowly.
After some moments, her body started to recover. Dumbfounded, she sat up and shot a glance at the dragon who placed a foot on her knee. What did the little fellow do to her hand?
She lifted her hand to find a glistening white oval in the middle of her palm. The only irritation that remained was her palm that stayed burning and itching.
"Just as I thought" someone said behind her.
Evelyn veered her head towards her back- only to be shocked.
There she found the old man she met before and Eragon, further behind, peeking out from the trees.
A/N: Thanks for reaiding. Please review!
