Jousting Elf with a Sabre: Wow! Do you really think so? I'm flattered! Nobody's ever said anything like that! Thanks! I hope you enjoy Chapter 6!

Rittzi: You'll find out in this chapter! Thanks. I am trying to be as descriptive as possible. Enjoy!

Meira Evenstar: I was so eager to get to that part! Well there is a little Eragon/OC in this chapter and the gender and name of Marie's little white dragon is finally found out!

Shadow Riku: Hi! Thanks for reading. You'll find out the gender in this chapter! I hope you like it.

OneWhoWalksWithPigeons: Hi! Where did you find the idea for your screen name? I like it. I'm glad you like Marie's dragon. I might change the name of my story because it sounds so plain and the story is kinda about Marie, her dragon, Eragon and his dragon. Ok? Give me any ideas if you have em! Read on!

Sorcerer of Darkness: Thanks. I'm glad you got a good first impression of Eragon stories. Not all of them are bad. I'm glad you don't think mine is. I admit that I kinda made Brom mean but thew rest of the time he's…him. Hope you like!

alicia: Thanks! You're the second person to think so. I'm glad I made a good descriptive dragon and I'm thrilled to see that everyone liked it. Thanks so much for reviewing! I hope you like this chapter.

taylor: I thank you for loving my story and I think this chapter is what you were waiting for! Please review!

Chapter 6: A Growing Friendship

Marie woke up early the next morning, her body aching and her head throbbing. The horse ride had gotten her saddle sore and just making that tiny pebble float had given her a migraine that lasted half the night.

She gave a slight groan as she stood. Tiny rays of sunlight had barely risen over the horizon, leaving the rest of the sky pink, purple, blue and then in the farthest corner away, black.

She looked around at her companions that she'd only met two days ago and now was traveling with them. There was Brom who even though he had lost his temper yesterday, made Marie feel safe. Then there was Eragon, who was handsome and nice. He had proven to be a very good friend in the very little time she knew him. There was Saphira. She was a massive blue dragon with a broad head and a wise eye. Marie knew nothing would stand in-between the bond she and Eragon shared.

The newest member was the little pearl dragon. Marie had yet to name it and could not think of anything good. The dragon was also too young to specify its gender so still, she was at a loss except for common names unworthy for a dragon like, Pearly or Starlight. The names also sounded a bit feminine and she didn't want to offend her new best friend in any way.

The baby dragon, sensing its new partner's wake, raised its head to look at her. It stretched its wings and gave a snort.

Marie sighed looking over the landscape. It wasn't much…just trees.

"Oh!" she uttered the slight cry as she felt something brush against her mind. She realized it was the baby dragon.

Sighing, she looked down as the dragon uttered a snort. She gave it a warm smile and lifted it up.

A louder, stronger snort made her jump and look behind her, clutching the newborn defensively.

Saphira was looking at her with a big blue eye. The dragon's face was expressionless.

"Hey Saphira, how are you?" Marie asked. She looked at the dragon and imagined hers just as big. Suddenly an image of a blue dragon and a white dragon flying together with Riders passed through Marie's head.

"Was that from you?" Marie asked to her baby dragon. A wave of denial blew past in her head.

Marie shot her head up and looked at Saphira. The pretty beast appeared to smiling.

Marie smiled. She thought about the image and realized it was Eragon, her and Saphira flying with a much larger baby dragon. Her forest green eyes glistened in the morning light as she admired how strong and powerful her dragon looked. She couldn't make out details but she knew she was going to fly.

A throbbing from her right wrist made her grasp it. It was painful. The pain had stopped once she had gone to sleep but now it started again…feeling worse.

"I knew that would eventually become to painful to ignore," said a voice. Marie turned slightly to see Eragon. He had a grim smirk on and strode up to her.

He took her hand gently and ran his hand along the surface. He noticed Marie didn't wince once.

He ran a soothing finger up her hand and barely touched her wrist when-

"Oww!" she shrieked and yanked her hand back, cringing. The white dragon squealed painfully, feeling Marie's hurt.

"Oh, man. This is going to be harder than I thought." Eragon mumbled, his face full of sympathy as tears streamed down Marie's face, dampening the loose black hair. "Brom, Marie's hurt. Wake up."

The old man rose with a start and stomped over. He swished past Eragon and grabbed Marie's arm.

"Stop!" she yelped, trying to take her hand back. She was now crying freely. It must feel awful, Eragon thought to Saphira as Marie collapsed on the ground, sobbing.

It pains even me to see some one so young and innocent suffer. Saphira agreed turning her head away.

Pain lanced down Marie's arm and across her mind as mental and physical overwhelmed her.

Brom shoved her hand back at her and stalked over to the bags. He grabbed something out and walked back over. It was a long string of cloth.

Marie winced in pain and tried as hard as she could to hold back tears as Brom wrapped her arm up. She knew he was being gentle but the pain was great.

Her dragon bean to flap its wings madly. It was trying hard to fly onto Marie's shoulder but it was still too young. Eragon lifted it up and set it on the other teen's shoulder, making the dragon lick his gloved fingers in delight.

With a tie and a rip, Marie's arm was wrapped. She held it to her chest and closed her eyes as her baby dragon nuzzled her.

"Before we leave, we need to train you in the art of swordsmanship," said Brom. He walked over to the tree lining, everyone watching as he picked up two sticks.

He walked back over and handed Eragon one and Marie the other. Marie grasped it in her left hand reluctantly. She would have to give it her all if she wanted to beat Eragon.

Eragon was thinking the exact opposite. He decided he was going to go easy on her. Her wrist was broken bad and she was exhausted from the previous day's events that she couldn't possibly have more energy to do him any harm.

Eragon took his battle stance. He twirled the stick expertly in his hand and prepared for the easiest dual he'd ever have in his life.

Marie followed his stance but didn't try to twirl her stick. She felt that she looked like a fool enough, holding a stick and she didn't want to seem any more like it if she dropped it.

"Go," said Brom. Eragon lunged forward coming at her uphanded.

Marie screamed and zipped out of the way. Anger flowed into her. Eragon could've hurt her bad! She swung around and slashed Eragon's legs. He growled and shoved Marie to the ground with a shoulder. She kicked up and swung her stick at Eragon's face. He smoothly caught her hand and threw her to the ground, keeping the stick at her throat.

"You jerk!" Marie snarled. She ignored the fact that if the stick had been a sword, he could've killed her and she swung her legs, throwing the teen to the floor.

Marie leaped up and threw her stick at Eragon, hitting his shoulder. "You could've hurt me charging like that!"

"I-well…that's the general idea. We're going to get bruises battling so…please…you don't have to yell." Eragon mumbled, trying his best to look sorry, strong and meek at the same time.

"The general idea?" Marie snapped. She balled up a fist and shook it in Eragon's face. "How is hurting me helping me learn?"

"To help prepare you for the future!" Eragon yelled, tired of her weak, defenseless act. "You're gonna get hurt! You could get a leg, an arm or even your nose chopped off! Little bruises are nothing Marie!"

"Well you can't blame me for being afraid of getting hurt, Eragon! I have felt physical and mental pain before and I don't like it! I know the future's going to be bad but we're not in the future! We're in the now so get used to it!" Marie yelled back knowing half of what she had just said sounded stupid and had nothing to do with their argument.

Marie stormed away, stroking her dragon swiftly. She went over to the edge of the forest and began to fret and pout.

Eragon glared at her. He mumbled to himself softly and began to speak with Saphira as Brom shook his head and walked into the forest for some unknown reason.

"I wish you were old enough to talk…" cried Marie to her baby dragon. "Then I'd be able to name you and ask you advice and stuff…"

Tears were pouring down her face now. Sadness and sympathy and sorry brushed against her mind. Marie didn't want to fight with Eragon. She had just been so surprised.

Breathing a shaky sigh, Marie trudged over to her pack with her baby dragon, not looking at Eragon. She grabbed the book she had taken from Jeod's and went over to a log.

Marie didn't want to read at the moment. She flipped to the back of the book to the name index of dragons. Marie was tired of calling her new friend, baby dragon or the little dragon…it needed a proper name.

"How about…Reliard? I think it means loyal…" said Marie. The dragon voiced its opened through feeling. It was definitely not interested.

Marie sighed and flipped through the pages and began to discuss the manner with her dragon's feelings. The baby would also nod or shake its head or give a growl or something. "How about Fosen? It means smart."

The baby dragon didn't approve. Marie flipped through more. "Elenaleth?"

"No? Ok…Thonord?"

"No…How about Lirern? It means faerie. Nope?"

"Ok…(sigh)…how's Celebrindal? No…I thought that was too long, too."

"How about Luthien? It means unite…ok…fine…"

"How's…Oropher…it means braveheart…"

"You think it's ok? Are you a boy? You are? Great!"

Marie smiled down at the little buy dragon. He had felt that Oropher was a nice name but wanted to hear more.

"Alright…how's Singollo? It means light…" asked Marie. He shook his little white head. His golden eyes watching her like an inquisitive hawk.

"Ok…I'm done. What name do you want?" Marie asked, closing the book.

Oropher…Marie leaped of the log and scrambled away from the dragon as words appeared in her mind. She recognized them to be male but clear and almost ringy.

"Did you just…" Marie mumbled. Eragon looked around from where he was talking with Saphira by her head and started to glare but stopped once he saw her casting wild eyes as her dragon.

"Yes…it can speak. Only a few words at first but then it's almost like they become a dictionary," said Eragon with a small smile as he walked over to her. She was staring at the dragon with confused eyes. She looked at Eragon walking over to her and relaxed.

"Wha…how can you communicate with Saphira…without talking?" Marie asked. Trying to start an unawkward conversation.

"I just think to her." Eragon said. He smiled a little wider.

Marie sighed and thought, Oropher…can you here me?

Marie…said the male voice before. Assurance flooded into Marie and she smiled at Oropher. The dragon appeared to smile back. He crawled over and began to flap his wings hard.

Marie flashed him proud feelings as the dragon managed to flutter up to her waist. Marie caught him and placed him on her shoulder where he licked her fingers. His pearly white scales flashed in the rising sun, his golden eyes string at her lovingly.

Marie turned to Eragon.

"Thanks…for your help…I'm sorry I was rude. I was just so surprised." Marie explained moving her arms around. She avoided his piercing stare, not wanting to predict his feelings.

"Yea…I'm sorry too. I was…too hard. I should've took it slow first…sorry," said Eragon, surprising Marie so much she looked up to see him looking away.

His face turned the weird blank again.

Suddenly he turned crimson and shot death glares at Saphira.

Marie cocked her head at this. "What did she say?"

Eragon turned an even deeper shade of red. "Nothing! She was just being…" He shot the dragon another dirty look. "Funny…"

Marie gave a slight smile. A male voice filtered into her head. Marie…hungry…food…

"Oh! Sorry!" cried Marie and she yanked her hands down to grab some food from her bag.

She yelped as a sharp stab of pain shot up her arm and then began to reach down to grab some meat slowly with her left.

Cracking in the dense forest caused Eragon to yank out a sword. It drooped slightly in his hands as he looked towards the sound.

Marie could tell Eragon hadn't used it before. Fear shivered down her spine and she could feel a strange growl rising from her throat. No! It was Oropher.

"Stay back," said Eragon barely above a whisper, standing protectively in front of her and her baby dragon. Marie bent down and grabbed a stick and took a battle stance behind the boy teen. Saphira growled deep, the trees vibrating softly from the noise. Oropher also took a battle stance, preparing to lunge at anything that came close, his sharp little teeth barred.

"Whoa! Hey, it's only me!" called a voice and none of them let their guard down until Brom was fully out of the trees.

He gave them a small, rare smile. "I see you two have made up."

He turned to Marie who was stroking Oropher's scales, softly. "Did you name it?"

Marie sighed and turned to him with a small smile of her own. "Yea. His name is Oropher."

"Braveheart…that's a good name for him." Brom said smiling at the curious pearly dragon, who had turned around and was licking part of the gold on his back near his spikes. "He certainly was brave to stick almost fight when he's so small. I also saw…you were in battle stance."

Marie blushed cherry red at this and quickly tossed aside the stick she had been holding.

"Don't feel ashamed. Anything can be used as a weapon," said Brom, placing down a few dead rabbits over a fire he had built in what seemed like seconds.

Marie smiled softly at this and then sat down with a groan, rubbing her right wrist thoughtfully as Oropher laid down on her shoulder, tail hanging off and neck woven around to rest on her other shoulder. He let a wing droop slightly and breathed a sigh that sounded almost like a tired puppy's.

After eating and Marie and Eragon practicing with sticks again (Eragon went easy like he said and Marie 'beat' him), they saddled up the horses and Saphira took off.

Brom pushed Marie up in the saddle and began to lead them out of the clearing, Eragon leading with Cadoc as Marie looked down at Oropher who was sitting in her bag, poking his head out.

"You can't do that…keep you're head in." Marie said quietly as Brom pulled Snowfire out and onto the branchy path.

When Oropher continued to poke his head out, Marie began to will with her heart that he'd stay there not showing himself. The dragon cooperated, his feelings of wanting to please flashing through her mind.

Then they began to ride their journey a little less awkward as friendships and bonds became stronger.

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