Here it is…dedicated to Tallacus. Thanks for the review and I just thought of something…I am halfway to 100 chapters, and halfway to 1000 reviews. Crazy!

Chapter 51: Twins by Birth

"What a day," Eragon groaned, as he unlocked the door of his home. Saphira flew back to the halls to fetch her daughters while Draken and his father returned home. "Son, never fight unless you have to, okay?"

"Of course father," Draken replied, bowing his head respectfully. Eragon opened his door and stepped inside. He removed his tunic and headed up the stairs to rid the blood off of his face and body.

"Father?" Draken asked from the floor underneath him. "Why does Stave want my siblings so badly?" Eragon smiled and shook his head.

"Son," he replied. "Stave used to be a rider in the old times, but he lost his dragon due to his disregard for him. Stave misses the power of being a rider and wants one of your sisters to regain it." Eragon turned the knob of the tub, causing steaming hot water to pour from the faucet. "You see, he was trusted at one time, but I suppose one can only fight a demon for so long before giving in to it."

"I suppose," Draken sighed. "Since I am mature enough, he cannot come after me, so he moves along to my siblings, correct?"

"Sadly," Eragon replied, lowering himself into the hot water. He felt the blood wash off of his body and turn the water into a light shade of red. "Stave only grows more powerful. We were lucky today because we were able to return home…others on the field were not as lucky, son."

"I know," Draken said, climbing up the stairs into his room. "I would like to make a promise."

"Hmm?" Eragon asked. "What do you mean?"

"I want to promise that I will lay my life down for my family," Draken said proudly. "I will die fighting to keep Stave's unholy hands from reaching Covin'thra, Equinox, and you and mother."

"That is a brave thing to promise," Eragon admitted, "but you should not do so. Your mother and I are quite capable of defending our children and ourselves. We defended you from this man for quite sometime without the help of Murtagh, do you not think that we can defend two more hatchlings with Murtagh and Thorn as our allies?" He heard Draken snort.

"I want to be an ally of the family as well, father," Draken spoke.

"You are this family, Draken," Eragon replied, stepping out of the tub and drying himself off with a pure white towel. He wrapped it around his waist and stepped out. "It is your duty as the eldest in this family to protect those younger than you are, but I do not want you to give your life for them…that is our job as their parents."

"I understand father," Draken muttered. "I only wish to help."

"If that situation does come up," Eragon sighed. "We will have no shame for you if you sacrifice yourself for our young. "

"Your words bring comfort," Draken said, placing his head on his father's shoulder. Eragon reached up and scrubbed his son's brow.

"Stave is a fool, son," Eragon told him. "You have picked up the fighting skills that Saphira had leaned. With you fighting beside her, nothing can defeat us."

"What about you, father?" Draken asked. "You fight well in dragon form also. Do not leave yourself out of it."

"I can merely hold my own, child," Eragon chuckled. "Your mother is the fighter in winged form; I fight best with my hands."

"I see," Draken replied. Suddenly, a loud thump was heard downstairs.

Eragon, Saphira cried. Hurry! Eragon and Draken looked at each other briefly and blitzed down the steps to see Saphira standing at the base with her large head facing the last bowl where the two eggs were laying in.

"What?" Eragon panted. Saphira turned to him and showed her teeth.

It is time for them, she replied joyously. They began cracking on the flight over here. Eragon smiled brightly and pushed Saphira out of the way so he could get a better look. Draken practically did the same, forcing Saphira to stand behind them. She whimpered softly and attempted to nudge her way between the two.

Eragon, she cried. Move! Eragon looked up to her and smiled. He scooted over to where all three family members surrounded the bowl.

"What one will hatch first?" Draken asked, leaning in to touch Covin'thra's egg with his snout. Suddenly, a large crack appeared down the middle of the silver egg. At the same time, the magenta egg split as well.

"They are going to hatch at the same time!" Eragon exclaimed.

Eragon, Saphira said jokingly. When they see Draken and me, who will they think are their parents? Eragon laughed and stepped back, tossing his towel down on the floor.

"Honia!" he exclaimed, changing him into dragon form again. He padded forward and placed his head over the bowl to get a better look. All three family members held their breath as the sound of chewing began escaping from the eggs. More cracks began forming on the two stones and the chewing sounds began to grow more intense.

Come on, my daughters, Saphira encouraged them. Just a little further.

Yes my loves, keep trying, Eragon said cheerfully. Finally, the cracks grew too large and shattered the two shells. At the same time, the two dragonets broke through their casings and were lying on their backs with their wings wrapped around their small bodies. Covin'thra was a gorgeous silver color with sapphire on the tips of her scales. Her eyes were also sapphire, and her claws and spikes were bright white. Equinox came out in a magenta color with emerald on the tips of her scales and wings. Her eyes were bright green, even brighter than Draken's. Both were just larger than a small sized dog.

"Sisters!" Draken shouted joyously. "Welcome!" Both rolled over onto their paws and began chirping at them, flapping their wings energetically while they squeaked. Eragon gently lowered his head and picked up Covin'thra with his teeth. Instead of struggling like Draken did when he hatched, the hatchling let out a joyful squeak and hung lazily from her father's maw. Saphira did the same with Equinox.

They are beautiful, Saphira commented. Eragon nodded, still holding Covin'thra in his mouth. Saphira and Eragon both padded over to the first bowl and gently placed the two hatchlings down on the soft mattress. They watched with soft growls as the two young sisters began wrestling each other, chirping wildly as they began pouncing on one another. The silver of Covin'thra clashed with Equinox's magenta color while the two were balled up against each other. They began nibbling on each other's necks playfully, chirping and squeaking the entire time.

"They are a fine color, father," Draken said. "Should Murtagh know of this?" Eragon looked at his oldest son and showed his teeth.

Would you mind fetching him? Eragon asked politely. He should be at the hallway.

I saw him there earlier, Saphira mentioned. This should brighten his day. Draken nodded and padded outside. Suddenly, he came padding in, followed closely by Thorn.

Is it true? The red dragon asked. Eragon turned to him and nodded.

Both have hatched at the same time, Thorn, Eragon explained. What brings you by today? Draken was just heading out to find you and my brother.

Murtagh is busy with battle preparations, friend, Thorn explained. I have been out scanning the ground for any signs of Stave or his 'minions'.

Any luck? Saphira asked.

Nay, Thorn replied. It is as if he had just vanished.

Would not surprise me, Eragon huffed. Come, Thorn. Come and see your potential spouse. Thorn snorted and quickly padded over to the bowl where the hatchlings were playing in.

They are beautiful colors, Saphira, Thorn said. I really feel attached to the silver one somehow.

Covin'thra? Saphira asked. She is beautiful for a dragoness, is she not?

Yes she is, Thorn admitted. The magenta colored one is beautiful as well. Equinox is her name correct?

Yes, Eragon pointed out. Thorn lowered his head to the two dragons, and Covin'thra broke away from her sister to cautiously crane her neck up to lick his nostril with her small tongue.

I think fate has chosen, Saphira said with a smile. She must feel attracted to you as well.

We will see if it changes when she grows older, friends, Thorn replied. Do not raise her to be my mate, please. This is something that I want her to choose…not her parents.

We have already discussed that matter, Eragon explained. It is going to be entertaining to have two daughters here, but I have a son who can aid us in raising them. Draken growled pleasingly and lowered his head.

"It would be my honor to help raise them, father," Draken replied proudly. "I will be a loving brother to my siblings." Eragon showed his son his teeth in a proud smile and then brought his glance back down to his two beautifully colored daughters. Feeling that they were being watched, the two dragonets immediately stopped wrestling and sat on their haunches in front of Eragon. Both chirped in unison and twitched their tails excitedly.

I shall find food for them, Saphira said lovingly. Will you stay with them, Eragon?

Of course, my wife, Eragon said softly. Be safe out there.

I will, Saphira said with a gentle laugh. You be safe as well. They have you outnumbered love. Eragon laughed and slid to the floor to watch his daughters. Their sapphire and emerald colored eyes seemed to dance as they stared back at their father.

Greetings daughters, Eragon told them lovingly. I am your father, and the purple-scaled dragon beside me is your brother, Draken. Welcome home.

Short, but not really much to type on anyways. I think all that wanted to have caught up to this so we press on. Happy Easter!

PEACE!