Flaming Archer: Thanks so much! I'll try to make em longer. Just for ya!
figi-mermaid: I'm sorry. You were right about a few things. I agree that it is hard to tell the difference between a Sue and an OC. I also have to say it's hard to make a second rider in an Eragon story without making her a tiny bit Sueish. So once again…sorry. Oh, and I didn't get pissed off…just slightly annoyed. I hope you continue reading.
Jousting Elf with a Sabre: Thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter. I'm also glad you think it's mature. Again…thanks!
OneWhoWalksWithPigeons: Heh heh…I dunno if I would be lucky to even get out. Lol. Thanks so much for reviewing my story! Please read on.
anonymous: Here's your update! Thanks for reviewing!
KrazieShadowNinja: Thanks for reviewing! No…I don't want you to cry…or die! That'd be awful. Here's the chapter you deserve! Oh and the falling in love thing…just might happen but not as quick as most reviewers (I think) would've liked.
anonomous: Oh! Thanks! A lot of people tell me that. I really want to be a vet because I love animals…though dragons are extinct…but I love writing too! I hope you like this chapter!
KatzEye: Hey! Love the nickname. Thanks for loving my story and I hope you enjoy this chapter!
breathless74: I hoped it would be like that. I don't want to get out of sync with the book but I still want to add my own little things in it, too. I hope you enjoy the chapter and thanks muchly for reviewing!
Ale-black: Nope! Thanks soooooooooo much for translating! I feel honored to have my story both in Spanish and English. I don't think I need to because I looked at it and it looks great but just incase I'll put your e-mail on my list. Thanks again!
Meira Evenstar: Thanks. Here's your update.
A/N: The chapters for this story and all of my other stories are going to come a bit rare nowadays. School is tight with homework and junk so be happy with the few you get…sorry. I'll try to update as much as I can.
Chapter 4: Sore FeetMarie groaned. Earlier after breakfast, she had finally decided to go with Brom and Eragon. She had also secretly taken the book on dragon riders leaving all the money Marie had in its place.
Then the issue of traveling came. Eragon and Brom had Snowfire and Cadoc. Marie…had nothing but an egg.
Marie had been fairly nervous about who she would ride with. The thought of riding with Eragon made her shift uncomfortably. She thought he was cute and appeared nice but had no intention of wrapping her arms around his waist and riding like that for possibly hours on end.
Although the next thought made her cringe. If she couldn't ride with Eragon…she'd have to ride with Brom. The thought about holding his waist for hours on end made her want to puke. He was old and probably couldn't even get on a horse! She'd die if she'd ever got chased by Urgals or men.
But in the end…Brom wouldn't have her ride with Eragon so…here she was…straddling Snowfire and clinging to an old man. They had been riding for about an hour now and Marie, not used to riding for so long much less at all…was sore.
"Can we get off the horses please? I'm sore and tired!" she said in Brom's ear, faltering back as much as she could, realizing how close she was to him.
Brom growled and yanked Snowfire back on the reins. Eragon was taken by surprise and cantered a ways up ahead before slowing Cadoc and trotting back over.
"Why'd we stop?" he asked, a look of concern spread across his face.
"Lady Marie would like to stop and rest," Brom growled, throwing himself off Snowfire, making Marie fly forward off balance and cling to the horse's neck.
Eragon sighed. "I'm going to call Saphira and fly ahead to see if the road's clear."
With that Eragon leaped off Cadoc and tied him to a nearby tree. Brom pulled Snowfire's reins forward and yanked Cadoc's reins loose. "Eragon!"
The teen whirled around with an amused expression as he watched Marie trying to sit up, only to throw her arms back around the white stallion's neck. The horse was stamping and snorting in irritation and Brom looked just as annoyed as the horse. "Yes?"
"Ask Saphira to find us a clearing. Staying on the road is dangerous." Brom said, rolling his eyes slightly at Eragon. The teen suspected that Brom was also embarrassed to have Marie along.
"Ok…do wanna help her off?" asked Eragon looking at Marie with a slight hint of pity.
Brom groaned and reached up to grab Marie. At the touch of his hands, Marie yelped and shifted to the side, falling off Snowfire.
Eragon raced over and lifted her up, her black hair falling in her face.
Brom led the horses in their direction slightly. Marie gave another yelp and leapt behind Eragon, clinging onto his shirt.
Eragon moved uneasily. He wasn't the least bit comfortable of having a girl cling to his shirt. She was supposed to be a Rider. Now she's too afraid to even be helped by Brom!
Brom spoke his thoughts as the old man wrenched the girl from behind Eragon and held the collar of her shirt, lifting her off the ground and into his face.
"You little worm! You're not supposed to be afraid of me! How do you expect to go into battle if you're afraid of me? Control yourself and stop being a baby!" Brom snarled. Eragon was slightly taken aback by the man's outburst.
Brom breathed out and set Marie down slowly, pausing before finally letting her shirt go.
Marie stared at him, eyes wide.
"Now, you hold the horses," said Brom and he shoved the reins into Marie's limp hand.
Eragon sighed and walked ahead, glancing with concerned eyes at Marie and slightly frustrated ones at Brom for his abrupt rudeness.
Marie stood there staring as Eragon and Brom walked ahead. Brom started talking and Eragon's face went into that weird blankness.
Marie felt her body shaking but quickly gave herself a mental slap. Brom was right! She was a baby! She needed to toughen up.
The breeze picked up around her suddenly and the horses began to prance uneasily. Marie tightened her grip on the reins, glancing at Eragon as he searched the sky expectantly.
"Marie, come. We've found a hidden clearing." Brom said waving her over. Marie stood stock still, realizing that Eragon had called his dragon. Her heart leapt into her stomach at the thought of meeting and seeing an actual dragon.
"Marie!" Brom snarled. Marie shook herself out of it and led the horses forward.
They began pushing through the brush, Eragon having to take Cadoc as Two horses couldn't fit through the narrow path.
Marie grimaced as branches slashed her face and bore into her skin. She had to do everything to keep Snowfire from breaking into a terror frenzy.
After what seemed like hours, Brom finally tugged her and Eragon into a clearing. It had a tiny stream running through it and was large enough to hold them, the horses and a…dragon.
Marie almost let Snowfire's reins drop as she gaped at the sapphire dragon before her, scales shifting lift little saucers of water. The wings were glorious and wide and it held its massive and wonderfully chiseled head proudly. It had intent blue eyes that reminded her much of Eragon's brown ones.
Eragon tied Cadoc to a tree and took Snowfire's reins from Marie's hands, smiling inwardly after seeing the look of awe pressed across her face.
Brom began to make a small fire as Marie stood there, still gaping.
She's a very nice looking girl. Saphira said to Eragon as the dragon kept her keen eyes on Marie.
She is…but I'm worried. Eragon finished tying Snowfire and walked over to greet his large dragon with a hug.
Worried about her…and her future…Saphira finished.
Eragon thought about saying something about her looking through his thoughts but decided against it. Yes…she seems weak. Like I said before. If she ever got hurt…it'd just be you and me again. I wish there were some way to toughen her up.
I'm sure training with you and Brom will. Her mind will strengthen too, once the dragon is born. But for now, just worry about sparring. Relax, little one. Saphira nuzzled Eragon who patted and rubbed her nose.
He looked up at Marie who was still gaping at Saphira. He searched her eyes and realized that she wasn't afraid…just amazed.
"You want to meet her?" he asked. Marie nodded her head shortly. After waiting for her to move, Eragon stepped towards her and took her hand.
Marie walked cautiously towards Saphira, Eragon thankful that she hadn't made any sort of deal about him taking her hand and wondering why he had done it in the first place.
He let go and shoved her forward gently, making her get closer to Saphira.
Saphira raised her intelligent head and arched her neck, making the sun flicker of her scales.
Saphira snorted causing Marie to jump a little and take a step back into Eragon's hand. The male shot a friendly warning look at his dragon before shoving Marie forward again.
"Hold out your hand," said Eragon. Stop scaring her! Act like a wary horse not a lion.
I'm more like a lion than a horse. Saphira lowered her head slightly, flashing her rows and rows of sharp, glistening teeth.
Surprisingly, Marie didn't falter. She put on a determined stare and reached out a slightly shaky hand. Eragon smiled at her will to be what Brom wanted of her.
Saphira eventually listened to Eragon and pressed her nose at Marie's hand with caution. Marie jumped at the touch of the dragon.
She yanked her hand back halfway, still wary of the large blue creature.
Saphira made a strange noise that Eragon recognized as a laugh. He shook his head slightly at the great sapphire creature and stepped forward to rub her scaly neck.
Marie took in a deep sigh and slowly let her hand move forward again. She finally touched Saphira's neck. The dragon rustled her scales with pleasure and Eragon chuckled at something.
Marie sighed as she looked over the dragon. Maybe being a Rider would be nice. If she got to work with such a beautiful creature.
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