KrazieShadowNinja: Hi again! I am now talking to you from the keyboard of my very own computer! Yahoo! I was waiting to get one of these for a while and now I have one. I don't even have to share with my 4 other siblings. All though…this computer prevents me from reviewing. I did in fact read the latest on 'Future Rider' and I think you are a big butthead for making her die! You can't be serious! Just when Eragon kissed her too! Drat! Anyways…(I still think you're a butthead)…this is going to be a short chapter and the next one is too but the next one is going to be dramatic and a bit sad. See you then! Oh and review-and update!

Chapter 14: Confessions of a Teenaged Dragon Rider

When they stopped in the evening Eragon and Marie felt no different and the boys' moods were becoming worse.

"We can't keep this pace. We aren't gaining any ground on the soldiers. Another day or two of this and they'll be sure to overtake us." said Murtagh.

"What else can we do? If it were just the three of us and you were willing to leave Tornac, we could fly out of here. But with the elf? Impossible. Oropher still isn't strong enough to carry a person for more than about 15 leagues much less two," snapped Eragon.

"If you and Marie want to go on your own I won't stop you," said Murtagh. "I can't expect you, Saphira, Marie and Oropher to stay and risk imprisonment."

Marie looked up from where she was dozing and glared at Murtagh. Eragon's face reflected hers. "Don't insult us. The only reason we're free is because of you. We're not going to abandon you to the Empire, are we?"

"No!" snapped Marie. She continued to glare, but it was of utter gratefulness.

"Your words hearten me," said Murtagh with a pause. "But they do not fix our problem."

"What can?" Eragon asked. He nodded towards the elf. "I wish she could tell us where the elves are. Maybe we could seek shelter with them.

Eragon stared after Marie as she stood abruptly with a scowl and went to lean against Oropher.

Eragon and Murtagh continued this talk as Marie became sucked into her own thoughts. She apologized to Oropher before blocking him out.

All he ever talks about is that bloody elf! I could do something to help and Oropher isn't that small. Why do we need to take the elf with us anyway? What help is she going to be? She's practically dead! Marie was almost screaming inside her head until she realized the horses were stomping uneasily.

She began thinking earlier of Eragon and Brom's trip to catch the Raz' zac. They had just kept her as a companion. They probably weren't even planning on telling her about it until they found them. Then, she'd be stuck helping them.

Marie looked up as Eragon and Murtagh continued to discuss plans…like her opinion didn't matter…

You need to stop thinking like that. You chose to walk away so they aren't going to wait for you to discuss plans. Oropher said. He weaved his head over to the side and stared at her with deep golden eyes. She looked back and hugged his large head.

Boy, how alone I would feel if I didn't have you…Marie wiped away a small tear before it ran down her cheek. She wondered why she was even a little close to crying.

Why are you so jealous of that elf? Oropher asked, nuzzling her face lovingly.

Marie thought for a long moment. It's not so much the elf as it is Murtagh. Him and Eragon have this brotherly thing going on and I feel…left out…in the sidelines. Plus…I'm a girl…I won't ever have a sibling thing going on with Eragon.

Well, you're one step closer to getting over it, said Oropher.

What? How?

You admitted that you were jealous. Admitting something to yourself just gets you closer to doing something about it, Oropher said.

There's…something else…Marie said reluctantly.

What? Though I think I already know, said Oropher.

I think…I like him…Marie said in her mind so softly that she wasn't even sure she thought of it.

Yes…I knew it…that's why you're jealous of the elf. Though I don't see why…she has no figure…Oropher snorted, glancing at the elf distastefully.

Is it wrong? Marie asked. She glanced at him again.

No…and it is very possible. If I'm not mistaken, Brom had once mentioned the Riders having romantic relationships. Marie smiled slightly at the thought of kissing Eragon.

But Marie…Oropher started. Marie was taken aback by the sudden sternness in the dragon's voice. If you do…have a relationship with Eragon…you can't let it get in the way of your duties as a Rider. You have to remember that you are in fact now one of the most important people on the planet so…you can't let a fling with him get in the way. Like if you had to choose between saving Eragon and saving…the Varden. The Varden are a much larger organization and would be more useful than just one Rider. Right?

Yea…ok, Marie mumbled. She wasn't so sure if she'd sacrifice Eragon for a bunch of people she didn't know. Maybe she'd make an exception for Nasuada but everybody else she could care less about. It was because her parents were helping them that they were gone now.

I want to go for a walk…Marie said. She was thrown slightly by resentment from Oropher. She stood.