Note: Lazuli comes out more in this chapter, and the large italicized portion at the very bottom is a flashback. Please, please, review this chapter, because I kinda had writers block, and wrote the first thing that came into my head... I really need ideas, any ideas, like what you want to read, etc.

Also, some people have been complaining that there is not enough narrative in the first few chapters. I have tried my best in chapters 6 and 7. Tell me if you prefer more dialogue, or more narrative.

What was it that made the two Riders join? Murtagh had betrayed Eragon to keep his own life. What made Eragon trust him now?
Lazuli woke up, and was surprised to see Eragon and Murtagh standing by her, covered in dirt. They had pebbles in their hair, and Eragon had a cut on his forehead whilst Murtagh had a bloodied lip. The injuries were small, but confused Lazuli nonetheless.

Lazuli... they have been fighting over you. It was Saphira who spoke to Lazuli. Lazuli knew it was rude to speak to a Rider's dragon without permission, but would it be rude if the dragon spoke first?

I think that you should go speak with them.

Why would they fight over me? Lazuli had an idea of why, but…

Girl, are you blind!? These two have fallen all too quickly in love. Perhaps not love, but they certainly do fancy you. Saphira's tone made Lazuli feel guilty.

"Lazuli? Are you okay?" Eragon must have been asking because of the blank stare that had crossed over Lazuli's face as she concentrated on communicating with Saphira.

"Why are you two covered in dirt and bruises?" Lazuli knew, but she wanted to hear it from them.

"We…" Eragon was unsure of how to answer.

"Uh…" Murtagh was stymied as well.

Lazuli shot them both dirty looks, and threw her arms up in the air. "Great, just great." She turned on her heel, then ran out of the clearing, stumbling blindly into the forest. She could hear Murtagh's strained voice calling for her from behind, and Eragon saying, "It's okay, let's give her some space."

Lazuli kept running.

Why, did she have to be always be judged by her looks? She took after her elvin mother, but she was nowhere near as emotionally disciplined, graceful, strong, or fluent in the ancient language as pure elves… but, at least, more so than many humans. Lazuli's boots got caught on a loose rock, and she fell, instinctively throwing her hands out before her. Lazuli got up, dusted herself off, and wiped the blood off of her knees. She pressed her hand against the cuts, trying to keep the blood from coming out. She closed her eyes, as something rare happened—she tried to recall her past.

The sun was high in the sky, and the people of the Varden were all at their own business. Lazuli was sitting inside her quarters, patching a tear from Lady Trianna's dress. She truly wished to go out—feel the sun, indulge in it, and sleep in the grass, but she knew that she could not. The Varden could not let the elves, or Galbatorix know that they held an elf, even if she was a half-elf. Galbatorix could kidnap her, and beat the locations of elvin cities out of her, but they did not know what the elves would do to a half-elf who's mother had eloped with a man much hated by elves. Lazuli never knew who her father was. Her mother only told her that he was hated… before she died… Lazuli wiped away a tear, and finished her sewing task with several large, sloppy stitches. She was going to sneak out.

The sun, as Lazuli had imagined, was delightful. It's heat warmed her face as she turned her head toward the sky. Suddenly, there was a gasp. A young man who was chasing a hare had spotted her, though she was in a knoll that almost nobody knew about. He stared at her, breath-taken by her angled features, flowing hair, and slender body. He bowed, and his hare skittered away, but he did not notice. He had eyes only for Lazuli.

Every night, he returned to where he had first seen her, and outside, he sang love songs, asked to see her face. Lazuli cowered inside, frightened… that humans could take such drastic measures to see the one that they fancied. Lazuli had seen that man's eyes that first day on the knoll. They were filled with the kind of emotion men had when looking upon beautiful women. Lust, not love.

The next day, there were two human males howling outside her window. Lazuli deeply regretted being so near her quarters when she went to sunbathe. She stuck her head outside the window, and poked her arm out as well. Her hair billowed, the man gasped, and Lazuli whispered, "Slytha!" forcing the men to teeter wearily, and drop to the ground, asleep.

Lazuli never went outside again… until one day, the people shouted.

"The Dragon Riders live again!"

It's not necessary but it is very degrading to see that you have 700 hits, and 40 reviews, most of which are people that my friend got to review for me after tons of agonizing persuasion to read it. Thanks, Ling!