ale-black: You mean, you'd translate the whole thing into Spanish? That'd be awesome! Thanks for reading it. I hope you like this chapter. Correct me if I'm wrong about the Spanish thingy.

Jousting Elf with a Sabre: Thanks, here you go!

anonymous: Hi! Thanks for reviewing. Here's your next chapter. Please continue.

Flaming Archer: Hey! Thanks. I hope it was going smoothly and you confirmed it! Thanks!

Zephyr the Gilded One: Wow! Thanks so much for reviewing! I don't beleive you like my story that much! But thanks. About your question...Maybe! (Grins and looks around)

breathless74: Thanks. I was hoping it was to your liking. Review!

A/N: Just a short in-between chapter.

Chapter 3: Finding Out

Marie was thrown roughly onto the ground in the room next to the stable. She stared up at Neal, with piercing eyes. She never let her father push her around. Why should she let him?

"What do you think you're doing?" snarled the white haired man. She glanced at Evan who was staring at Neal with a confused and strange expression. His face appeared to be blank, but he was still listening. Marie knew it had something to do with the dragon.

"What? Saying the truth?" she snapped back, standing up. Neal looked taken aback a little by her abrupt answer.

"You're spreading dangerous rumors young lady!" he growled.

"It's not a rumor! I heard him call to his dragon, Saphira! And I saw it, too!" she defended herself. "I won't tell anybody! As long as he gives me my rock back!"

Neal shot a death glare at Evan, who had snapped back to life by Marie's words. He glanced quickly at Marie. "I swear! I didn't see her!"

"Of course you didn't see me!" snapped Marie, rounding upon Evan. "I was stuck in that stupid ditch for hours!"

Neal sighed. He went to Evan and pulled the bag off his shoulders. He grabbed something inside and pulled out the pearly rock. Lightning veins pulsed beneath the shell, the pearly white color glistening in the candlelight.

"My rock!" smiled Marie. She walked up before either male could say anything and snatched the rock right out of Neal's hands.

The rock seemed to pulse brighter to an almost glowing catch of the eye. Evan widened his eyes as Marie gripped the rock gently but firmly.

Neal and Evan leaned in and whispered to each other.

Finally, they pulled away, Neal talking more softly. Evan stepped up.

"Ok…listen. My name is Eragon. This is Brom. Since you know all of this now, you have to come with us. We're only taking you because of that," after glancing at Marie's stunned face, Eragon decided to tell you the real reason she was going with them. So he pointed at the rock.

"Hey…what do you want with my rock?" she demanded.

"That…is a dragon egg. Brom says that an egg only appears to its rightful owner. At least when Galbatorix doesn't have them. When we checked with the Empire…the last two eggs were still there. This must be a hidden one." Eragon said, shrugging. He stared at the egg in Marie's hands, his intent brown eyes gazing over its surface.

"But I can't…" she mumbled. Thinking, she realized she could. She could travel with a cranky old guy and a hot teen to go whom knows where. She had nothing here.

On the other hand…she'd be a Rider. She'd have to hide in the dark like Eragon and fear for her life. Staring at her egg, she suddenly realized that maybe being a rider isn't all it's cracked up to be.

She stared hard at the egg, hands trembling. She couldn't do this. She didn't want to die. A loud thump brought Marie back down to earth as she realized she had dropped the egg.

Eragon stared at her with a mixture of thoughts. On one hand, he wouldn't be the lone Rider anymore and he'd have someone his age to talk to. On the other…she seemed weak. She dropped the egg with shaky hands at just the fact that she was going to be a Rider. Even he had excepted the fact before he considered caring for Saphira.

Do not blame the girl for her feelings. She's just found out many a thing for the few minutes she's been in here. Comfort her, little one. After all, I'm sure she doesn't feel that welcome since you told her that the egg was the only reason of her coming. Saphira had entered his mind. The wise dragon spoke the truth.

Ok…but I don't think she'll be any better off. Eragon sighed. Marie had dropped to the ground.

"Marie…it was hard for me too when I found out that I was a Rider. I couldn't tell anyone, even my family. I know it'll be hard for you to leave yours but-" Eragon was interrupted by her small voice.

"I have no family. When do we leave?" she asked. Eragon was slightly taken aback. No family? That was like him…sort of. His only family now was Roran.

"Uhh…Brom?" asked Eragon, looking at his friend.

"Tomorrow. Thank you for finally agreeing with us Marie," said Brom before leaving.

Brom leaned in Eragon's ear before walking away and whispered, "That was a rash decision, telling her. Now we have more luggage. You should've just let her spread rumors. Now we have a woman with us."

Then he left, his aroma of leadership leaving with him.

"Is he always like that?" Marie asked. She had picked up the egg and was trying to stand on wobbly feet. Eragon grabbed her arm gently and helped her stand.

"Yea…you get used to it," he said. He quickly pulled his hands back.

"Will I get to meet your dragon?" asked Marie. Eragon was taken aback by the question. He knew Marie would have to meet Saphira some time or another but…he was beginning to feel a bit more protective of his dragon.

A pang of jealously washed into Eragon as he thought about how he would have to share his privilege of being a Rider with her. With a sigh…he knew he was being selfish.

"Yea…Saphira is great…I'm interested in meeting your dragon as well," said Eragon, his soft, dark brown eyes boring into her forest green ones.

"Me too…" she mumbled. "Well…see you."

With that, Marie left, holding her egg a bit more protectively now that she knew what was expected of her.

Eragon stared after the girl with sympathetic eyes. She was alone…no family and now with a dragon egg…she was placed with a huge burden.

Eragon gave a slight smile as he thought about how hard it was going to teach this stubborn girl how to fight and use magic.

Sighing, he left, going back to the house.

Marie rose in a soft bed the next morning. Groaning, she realized Gareth was going to kill her. What was she going to do?

Suddenly, the last day's events drowned her and she quickly began searching for her rock-er egg.

"Jeez…(sigh)…what have I gotten in to?" she mumbled. She dressed again and shoved her egg into a makeshift pack that Brom had given her.

She looked around and found a small brush to comb her hair with. She stroked through her long black hair while sitting on the bed. "Mom's hair was exactly like this…"

Marie smiled slightly as she realized she was talking to the egg. With a sigh, she walked out of the room.

Brom and Jeod were in the dining room eating breakfast. Eragon was in the sitting room, reading.

"Hey," she said. Eragon looked up and nodded to her and then went back. Marie strode into the dining room casually.

"Hello, Marie," said Jeod. He glanced at the bag slung over her shoulder and motioned her to sit across from him. "Eat with us."

"Hi, Marie!" said a bright voice coming from the kitchen. Helen walked out, a jolly smile on her face. "Let me make you some wheat patties (pancakes) and some syrup! I'll even give you a piece of bread and our best jam with some eggs! How does that sound?"

Marie smiled, her stomach rumbling loudly. She hadn't had a grand meal like that since her parents' death. But, Helen's generosity was too great. "Oh…you don't have to! Please, I don't want to be trouble."

"Nonsense! I've always wanted to make food for my own little girl! Trust me," said Helen walking over and shoving Marie into a chair. Helen even scooted her in. "You're doing me a favor!"

Helen pranced back into the kitchen, shutting the door behind her. Marie smiled as she listened to the women rant about how nice it was to have her here.

"Wow," mumbled Jeod, staring after his wife.

"I'm sorry! If you do like her cooking madly, it wasn't my fault I- "Marie was cut short She had felt that she was a burden.

"No! Don't apologize!" Jeod burst into a fit of laughter. "I haven't seen Helen this happy in years! She's right! You are doing her a favor!"

Eragon walked in, looking proud. "I finished a chapter in five minutes!"

Brom smiled. "That's good. But understand that it's not the speed you read things at…but that you can read them!"

Eragon smiled broadly again, and then sat down next to Marie.

"Ummm, Helen, honey!" said Jeod, looking a bit sheepish. "Could you whip something up for young Evan here?"

Helen poked her head in and gave a short nod, but smiled brightly at her husband and Marie. She went back in the kitchen, singing loudly.

Marie listened in as Brom began to talk to Jeod. "I wish I could go with you…"

"No…you need to stay here. Imagine what Helen would do to you if you left?" said Brom with a grim smile. He obviously wanted Jeod to come, but wanted to spare his friend the trouble.

"Yea, you're right." Jeod smiled. He looked over at Marie and saw her listening in.

"So…where's your mom and dad, young lady?" he asked. Eragon looked at Marie quickly, expecting a hurt face. He was taken aback by her face angered.

"They were killed on one of your ships!" she snarled. Jeod winced slightly.

"You're Graham and Windle's kid?" he asked, shocked. "I had no idea. We've been looking for you for three years. Helen wanted to take you in-"

"I was in this pathetic town the whole time!" she snapped. Marie folded her arms across her chest.

Helen suddenly popped in and set plates in front of the two teens. She smiled expectantly at Marie and even flashed a small one at Eragon. Was Helen finally coming round?

Marie sighed, wondering if going with Brom and Eragon was such a good idea when she could live a peaceful life with Jeod and eat the delicious food of Helen. Still pondering, Marie dug in.

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