Chapter 3

Disclaimer: Not Mine.

This story is edited by Jessie a.k.a. Dark Princesses, the stalked part of Dark Princesses anyway. Jessie is the one who comes up with the sometimes brilliant but mostly insane parts while I come up wit the ingenious parts and plots. She got tired of doing it and was starting to feel underappreciated. Actually, she got mad at me for not mentioning that she basically reads and edits all my stories before I post them.

Story Starts Now:

Eragon leaned against Blaze breathing heavily. He'd hardly done anything and his magic reserves were low, even with Blaze's help. He raised his trembling hands and pulled her shirt back down. He watched Murtagh lift her gently and carry her over to where her and Blaze had slept before.

Blaze shifted impatiently, eager to go back with Jessie so Eragon stumbled to his feet and walked to Saphira, grasping tree branches to keep his balance. Blaze waited until Eragon was leaning against Saphira before darting over to Jessie and curling around her.

Murtagh walked over and sat cross-legged infront of Eragon.

"Do you think she will be ok?" Eragon asked him. Some of the injuries looked like that of the Ra'zac. And he didn't know how long it would take for them to heal, if they ever did.

"I don't know. It looked pretty bad," he shrugged and got up. "I'll go get some more firewood," he said. Eragon sighed and nodded. When Murtagh had left the clearing he glanced over at the dragon and it's young Rider.

If what Blaze had told him was right then the two had been together for nine years. But that didn't make sense because Blaze should be huge. But Saphira was bigger then him, and she was only about two.

What is on you mind? Saphira asked gently.

Why is Blaze smaller then you though he is older? he asked.

I had a feeling that you would want to know that so I asked him earlier. Galbatorix would get someone to put something in the meat so both he and Jessie would grow at the same rate, as opposed to him growing rapidly and being harder to control as I have she explained and grinned.

You're not that hard to control Eragon said and sighed outloud. He glanced over at Jessie and Blaze again. To his surprise Jessie was sitting up(leaning against Blaze) and supposedly talking to him.

She is a strong one Saphira said as she glanced in the direction that Eragon was staring.

Ya Eragon answered and got to his feet. He shakily walked over to Jessie and sat down, still weak, he leaned against Blaze's flank. He glanced at Jessie who was glaring at him.

"Hey," he said.

"Asshole," she growled and Eragon was taken aback.

"Look. I'm sorry about having to drug you but it was the only way to heal you without you putting up a fight," Eragon pleaded. If they were going to work together they had to get along.

"Who said we were working together," Jessie said coldly. Eragon jumped and stared at her. "Your mind is heavily guarded but once you get in everything is visible."

"But how did you get in?" Eragon asked shaken. He hadn't even felt her.

She has a particular talent for getting into people's minds Blaze said.

"Aww Blazey. You flatter me," she said innocently looking at Blaze then she turned back to Eragon. "I had to learn how to do it so I could prepare for what...he was going to do to me that day," she said and flinched at the memory.

"I saw your back," he said quietly and her eyes widened while her arm flew to her back and slipped under her ragged shirt to feel an absence of several scars. She stared at him and turned away. They sat in uncomfortable silence for a few minutes.

"Why do you care?" she asked suddenly and looked at him. "No one's ever cared before. Why do you?"

"Some people have cared about you. What about your parents?" Eragon asked. He wouldn't, couldn't and didn't believe that this young girl had grown up without ever being cared about.

"My parents?" she let out a harsh laugh and pulled her legs to her chest and grasped her ankles, wincing slightly as scabs cracked. "I was a mistake and they didn't have a problem with letting me know. They tried to find ways to get rid of me. They tried to sell me as a slave once but they got caught and then I got in trouble...again and they hated me even more. When Blaze hatched and they found him they took me to Galbatorix personally. He rewarded them and they got rid of me. Getting the reward was just a bonus...and they told me that too," she said. Tears had started slipping down her face a while ago but she made no move to wipe them away. "What Galbatorix did to me wasn't a big change really."

Tears were slipping down her face faster now and she let out a choked sob. "Why do you care?" she asked accusingly. "What do you want so much that makes you act like you care? Galbatorix did the nice act for a while and look where it got me. What do you want?" she sobbed.

Eragon reached out and touched her shoulder. She flinched away from him, her hands held in front of her face as if to protect herself. Her thin shoulders shook with furious sobs. Eragon suddenly realized that every bone in her neck was visible and when she raised her arms, her shirt raised as well and her ribs stuck out.

Started and more then a little worried he pulled back for a moment then he pulled her into a tight hug. She sobbed on his shoulder and he rubbed her back. "I don't want anything and I care because I can," he whisper and she sobbed harder and clutched his tunic. He didn't try to stop her and he let her finally release the fourteen years worth of tears that she was never allowed to cry.

Her sobs died down and he heard her heavy breathing. He turned his head and saw her eyes were closed. He smiled and gently shifted her to his other shoulder, careful not to wake her. He found himself, once again, staring at Jessie's sleeping face.

He smiled softly and brushed a stray strand of hair from her tear streaked face. He tenderly kissed her forehead and nearly jumped when she shifted as if waking but instead cuddled closed and buried her head in his chest mumbling.

He smiled again but frowned as he thought about what Jessie had told him. How could anybody do that to a child? He growled angrily and stared as Jessie whimpered and shied away. He hurriedly whispered a few comforting words and stroked the nape of her neck until she relaxed.

He silently made a vow that he would show Jessie what it was like to be cared about.

Thank you he heard a voice in his head and glanced at Blaze who was looking at him. She needs and deserves it.

"She does," Eragon agreed and hugged he tightly as he stroked her hair tenderly.

Murtagh growled from his hiding place in the trees. He gritted his teeth as he watched Eragon hold Jessie and it took all his willpower to keep from running out there and grabbing her from him. He was scaring her. He growled once more before turning from the sight before him and going to look for more firewood.

A/N: hope you like it. Next chappy will be a dream/flashback thing. I hope it'll explain some of your questions. Again, hope you liked it and remember: R&R.

nikki