Hi again! I still don't own Digimon or Eragon! I also don't own Amazing Grace!

PS: By the way, people, you might want to put this in your favourites or alert list. I'm going to be switching the category to Eragon via next chapter.

Murtagh: And sango apologizes for her not updating for a really long time. She was too absorbed in how much that Krispy Cream Donut went straight to her thighs.

sango: Glares, then pokes her thigh, which jiggles. I haven't been working out or eating healthy since I got back from Disneyland in October... I'm gonna go for a run and to the pool tomorrow.

Murtagh: Snickers Yeah, good luck with that.

sango: Scar brain.

Murtagh: Jelly butt.

sango: Butt face.

Murtagh: Jackass.

sango: Loon.

Murtagh: Crackhead.

sango: Telly-tubbies lover.

Murtagh: Person-that-got-$250-from-her-grandma-for-Christmas.

Silence. Cricket's a-chirpin.

Murtagh: Wait, that's a good thing.

Lilymon: Egg breaker, oathbreaker, crest stealer, MURDERER!

Eragon: Wow, talk about giving away the plot, flowerbrain.

Lilymon: Hey, only Renemon can call me that. Glares.

sango: Wha- wha- WOULD YOU TWO GET OUT OF HERE! Lilymon's not supposed to be here until chapter 6!

Lilymon: turns to static; disappears.

Eragon: Walks out, grumbling.

sango: Oh yes, by the way, I know Rika doesn't sing in Digimon Tamers, but it fits for this fic's plot. Mimi dances in this fic, too.

Murtagh: Who's Mimi?

sango: WILL YOU SHUT UP SO I CAN GET TO THE CHAPTER ALREADY!

Chapter 4

Snowball Fights, Lucky Charms and Dragon Tales

The dragon swooped down, a huge ball of fire engulfing the plains around it, and I shut my eyes tight and fell to the ground, for the flame nearly missed the top of my head.

But suddenly I felt long claws dig into my waist and I was being lifted up, up into the air. I caught sight of the beast's huge yellow eyes and my heart stopped… and then-

Knock knock. The picture of the valiant warrior Blane drained out of Rika's mind as though a plug had been pulled. The girl looked up at the bathroom door from her place on the floor under the lit lamp. Reluctantly, she stood up and opened the door a crack.

Garrow's tousled hair and tired eyes appeared, but he smiled at her. "What are you doing?" He whispered. Rika held up her book.

"A bit of light reading. I've been itching to crack open this book ever since I got home. I came here instead of my room cause I thought no one would bother me. Clearly, I was wrong."

Garrow laughed softly. "Alright, I'll leave you be." And he closed the door. Rika sighed and sat back down.

But suddenly I felt long claws dig into my waist and I was being lifted up, up into the air. I caught sight of the beast's huge-

There was another knock, and Rika growled, stood up again, and opened the door.

This time it was Katrina, with a major case of bed-head. She yawned.

"What are you doing?"

"Reading."

"Oh. Okay, I'll leave you alone." She yawned again and disappeared from sight.

But suddenly I felt long claws dig into my waist and I was being lifted up, up into the air-

There was yet another knock, and Rika moaned in frustration. "I give up!" She said, getting up and leaving Roran standing there, wondering what he'd done.

Two seconds later Rika was back, knocking on the door herself.

"Would you hurry up Roran- I forgot to go!"

Eragon woke up on the floor of Mimi's room to see sunlight filtering through her window. He yawned and looked around, realizing that he must be the only one in there.

And then a warm feeling rushed over him.

It was this day, 16 years ago, that Garrow's sister and Eragon's mother, Selena, had come to Carvahall, alone and pregnant with him. She had been gone for six years, living in the cities. When she returned, she wore expensive clothes, and her hair was bound by a net of pearls. She had sought out her brother, Garrow, and asked to stay with him until the baby arrived. Within five months her son was born. Everyone was shocked when Selena tearfully begged Garrow and Marian to raise him. When they asked why, she only wept and said, "I must." Her pleas had grown increasingly desperate until they finally agreed. She named him Eragon, then departed early the next morning and never returned.

It upset Eragon quite a bit to remember how his mother had left him, but it gave him joy to know that that was how he'd come to be Garrow's adoptive son. After all, if not, he wouldn't have been raised in Carvahall with great friends like Sora and Katrina and Roran and Mimi and Rika. He smiled.

"You finally awake, kid?" Eragon looked up and saw that Mimi was staring at him, grinning sleepily from atop her bed. Eragon yawned.

"Yep. I just realized something- today was the day Selena came back to Carvahall."

Mimi nodded understandingly. "And that also mean that it's only 6 months til the day that we showed up on Papa's doorstep, too."

The odd thing about the house of Garrow was that three of the four children there were adopted. Indeed, 16 years ago, 5 weeks after Selena moved in with Garrow, Marian and their son Roran, rumors spread around Carvahall of a frantic woman asking people in the town to take two children and raise them as their own- one of which she was still pregnant with. After a few days, the strange woman had disappeared- however, about a month after Selena left Carvahall once more, the woman came back, this time with a 1 year old girl and a newborn, barely 2 days old. Apparently this had been Mimi and Rika's mother, for the woman got news of Garrow and his family and, sure enough, for some reason or another, the next morning the woman had gone again, leaving Mimi and Rika on Garrow's doorstep, Mimi clutching a letter in her tiny fist. Garrow never shared the letter with anyone except his wife, and yet something the woman had said convinced Garrow to raise Mimi and Rika.

All three of them- Rika Eragon and Mimi- still remembered how they had felt when Marian told them the two stories before she died. The realization that Garrow and Marian were not their real parents had disturbed them all greatly. Why had their parents left them? Who were their sires, and in Mimi and Rika's case, their mother? If only Garrow would tell them or if the mother's had left even a name…

Eragon nodded. His stomach gave a loud rumble.

"I'm starving."

"Hi starving. I'm Mimi."

"Very funny, Mims."

"Hey, you can't leave yet! You need your morning tickle!"

He raised his eyebrows. "Morning tickle? Mimi, you haven't done that since I was four-"

But before he could finish, Mimi had flattened him on the ground and was furiously tickling his stomach. Eragon burst into gales of laughter.

"No- no, Mimi- st-stop!"

About five minutes later, Mimi and Eragon joined the rest of the household for some breakfast in the kitchen. Mimi raised an eyebrow at Sora and Katrina, who, unlike the rest, were already fully clothed, with their sleeping bags and belongings all piled up by the door. "You're not leaving already, are you? I thought we were having a big snowball fight."

Sora shook her head. "If you look outside, the snow melted, and it didn't stay long enough to damage the crop. Unfortunately, that mean's da's gonna want me back at our place to help Albriech and Baldor salvage whatever we can from the rest of the fields."

Katrina sighed. "And I shall go too, for father would want me to run around and finish all the errands while the weather still fares well. I'm sorry Mimi- we'll have to do it another time."

Mimi shrugged, and she and Eragon sat down and helped themselves to some chicken. "I suppose so." She said lightly- but she couldn't hide that she was disappointed.

Another half an hour later, Katrina and Sora were bid farewell and sent on their way. It was only when they were out of sight did Rika realize something and whisper to Roran, "Did they leave their eggs?"

"No." Was the reply. "They took them while you were still asleep."

Just then, Rika felt a tug at her wrist and turned to see Eragon staring at her and Mimi urgently. He pulled them into a corner and whispered, "Listen, remember what we said about not telling anyone about our… jewels? Don't you think that we should tell Roran and Garrow? They wouldn't tell… but I don't think we should tell uncle about the eggs. If they really ARE eggs, I have the feeling Garrow would want to kill whatever is inside of them."

Rika shifted her weight to one foot. "Do you think?" She asked. Mimi nodded.

"They should know."

Then, without further ado, the three marched into Eragon's room, took out the three stones and plopped them onto the kitchen table. Roran and Garrow, who, by then had been sitting and the table once more and talking about something, jumped as the table sagged a bit under the weight of the stones.

"Papa, Roran, we found these in the Spine. Or, at least, Eragon and I did. Mimi found hers on the trail." Rika explained slowly. Roran's eyes darted between the eggs and his three siblings. Garrow's expression turned stony as he stared at the stones.

"Really? What are they?"

"That's the problem- we don't know." Mimi took up the conversation. "We think they might be dangerous, so we waited until now to tell you, after Sora and Katrina have left."

Garrow studied the stones for a moment, absent-mindedly fingering the red one- Rika's. "I see…"

"This is why I went to Sloan's last night, Uncle." Eragon explained, somewhat gently. "I thought I could use it-" (He pointed to his blue one) "-to buy some meat from Sloan. But he didn't take it, so Horst bought it for us-"

"You let him pay for it? It's worse than I thought." Garrow's face paled with anger. "I told you before, I won't accept charity. If we can't feed ourselves we might as well move into town. Before you can turn around twice they'll be sending us clothes and asking us if we'll make it through the winter."

"I didn't accept charity." Snapped Eragon. Rika rolled her eyes. "Horst agreed to let me work off the debt this spring. He needs someone to help him because Albriech is going away."

"And where," Asked Rika snidely, in an absolutely infuriating know-it-all tone, "Will you get the time to work for him? Are you going to ignore all the work that needs to be done here?"

Eragon sat down also, shooting a glare at Rika. "I don't know how I'll do it." He admitted irritably. "Besides, these stones combined could be worth some money."

"I thought we agreed we were going to keep them." Rika sneered. Roran coughed, and all eyes fell on him.

"I think we need money more than we need three shiny stones. You and Rika found these in the Spine?"

"Yes." Eragon said, and then he and Rika both explained what had happened, then let Mimi recite her tale.

"I really don't think there's anything we can do with them until the traders come. We can sell these to them. How was the weather?" Garrow asked, lifting up the gold stone. His hands tightened around it, as though he was afraid it might disappear.

"Cold." Was Rika's reply. "There was no new snow, but it froze each night."

Garrow looked worried by this. "Winter is upon us, judging by last night's flurry. Alright, we have to get to work- put those stones back in Eragon's room, and I forbid you to take them out of the room until the traders come. I agree, selling it would be the best thing. You all have to get outside and pick the rest of the barley, and the squash, if we can. I'll get ready for the canning."

After getting clothed in working gear, the foursome were just pulling out their hoes and harvesting tools when Roran stopped them.

"You were wise to wait to tell us about that, though I don't see how Katrina would've done harm by hearing it- Sora, though, would've blabbed it all to her family straight away. You were also right to not tell father of the eggs- he would've wanted to kill them."

"That was our thought." Muttered Mimi, pulling on a pair of leather gloves. Roran continued.

"I find this all odd… the six of us friends suddenly wind up with strange eggs, but only three of us with these jewels… they're definitely all connected, though I can't say why. One thing's for sure, though- it happened for a reason."

"Agreed." Mimi and Eragon both chanted in unison as they moved to attach the plow to their stocky Clydesdale horse. Rika, though, stopped to look at Roran.

"Say, do you know why Sloan didn't take Eragon's stone?"

Roran shrugged. "Katrina told me- her mother, Sloan's wife, Ismira, went over the Igualda falls a year before you were all brought here. He hasn't trusted the Spine since."

The sun was cold and pale, providing little comfort. As the day wore on, the last of the barely was stored- then came the rutabagas, beets, peas, turnips and beans, which they packed into the cellar. The last hours of the day were spent still outside, stretching their cramped muscles, aimlessly chasing around the chickens and watching as Mimi whipped up a very delicious supper.

The following days were spent pickling, salting, shelling and preparing the food for winter.

Nine days after Eragon and Rika came home, a vicious blizzard blew in from the North, covering everything in huge blankets of white. Most of those days the family of five spent huddled together near the wood stove, trying to keep warm. (Mimi even took the liberty upon herself to take her egg and jewel, sit it on her lap and cover it with a blanket in attempts to keep them warm.) Rika was the only one brave enough to so much as open the door, and she braved the white desert only to go and feed the animals. Finally, the storm cleared, leaving Palancar valley to be an endless plain of glittering white diamonds.

"I doubt the traders will come." Garrow sighed 2 days after the storm let up. "They're late as it is. I'm afraid that means we'll give them a little more time and if they don't show up, we'll go to Carvahall and buy spare supplies to the villagers. Unfortunately, I think that means we won't know what those stones are at all."

Hearing this and panicking, Mimi had torn apart the house for every book she could find, then spent the next three days skimming through the scrolls, searching for any clue she could find about the mysterious eggs and jewels. Rika, the only one in the house besides Mimi who could read, laughed at her older sister.

"C'mon, Mims, the traders will come, there's no need to do this."

But on the seventh day after the blizzard with no signs of the traders, Rika wasn't feeling so cocky. That night she and Mimi locked themselves in her room and stayed up until the wee hours of the morning, desperately searching until they fell asleep mid-sentence.

On the eighth day, Roran went out to the road and confirmed that the traders hadn't been by. Sadly, they all started packing for the trip to Carvahall. Out of desperation Mimi, Rika and Eragon all went out to the road to find it covered with wagon wheel tracks, deep ruts cut into the snow and numerous hoof prints. Elated, the three sprinted back to the cabin, whooping and hollering, bringing new life to their preparations.

After a hasty breakfast the next morning, the family loaded into the cart and set out for Carvahall. Mimi, Roran, Rika and Eragon had brought their stones and been careful to not let Garrow see the eggs, which they had slid and hidden in their packs. By noon they could see Carvahall and the dozens of trader's tents surrounding the village.

After Garrow parked the wagon and picketed the horses, he beckoned for his children to follow him, and he led them through the tents and the streams of people. But there was something different about the traders this year. Last year, they had all seemed so happy, lively and friendly- but that had changed. The men wore stone-cold faces and almost always their hands were at swords belted to the sides. The women were in the same position, daggers belted in numerous places. Their children no longer played and wrestled- they sat, watching the villagers with emotionless eyes.

What's happened to all of them? Mimi found herself thinking. After a moment it became clear where Garrow was leading them- to the stand of Merlock, a merchant who specialized in odd trinkets and pieces of jewelry.

They found him at his stand displaying pieces of jewelry to a couple of middle aged women. When he looked up and saw them, he immediately leaped up.

"Ah, yes, Mimiru, I was hoping you'd come here! Look at this, m'dear-" and he flourished a silver rose necklace to her, made by a fine hand. "Not even three crowns, though it came all the way from Belatona. And what about you, Rika, though I know you don't fancy these kind of things. And Eragon, Garrow, Roran, what'll it be for you, an amulet or trinket for a lady?"

Eragon smiled at Merlock's familiar easy air, seeming to view the world with a bit of contempt. He saw Mimi bite her lip, and Roran started at Merlock's offer but Garrow held him back.

"We're not looking to buy, but to trade." Garrow said gently. Merlock immediately covered the rose (much to Mimi's dismay) and looked at the six with new interest.

"I see. Maybe, if the item is of any value, you would like to trade. You did bring the object of consideration?"

"Objects." Rika muttered. Mimi implored, "We'd rather not show them to you here. Perhaps in your tent?"

Merlock raised an eyebrow. "In that case, let me show you to my tent." He gathered up his wares, locked them in a heavy iron case and then ushered them up the street to his makeshift home. Merlock untied the opening and beckoned the family in.

Small trinkets, unusual furniture and three knobbly stools filled the room. A ruby-hilted dagger sat on a white cushion.

"Now, show me why we are meeting here." Merlock suggested as Eragon, Rika and Roran took seats on the floor while the other three sat on the stools. Carefully, the three youngest siblings unwrapped the stones and laid them out. "May I?" Asked Merlock, holding out his hands. Eragon handed him the blue stone. Merlock examined it, measuring its length and diameter and writing notes. He did this with all three for a lengthy amount of time before saying, "Do you know hw much they're worth?"

"No." Garrow admitted. Everyone shifted uncomfortably in their seats.

Merlock grimaced. "Unfortunately, neither do I. What the material might be I haven't got a clue. It's harder than any rock I've ever seen- harder even than diamond. Whoever shaped this rock used tools I've never seen before- or magic. Also, it's hollow."

"What?" Eragon blurted. Merlock rolled his eyes as an irritated edge crept into his voice..

"Did you ever hear a rock that sounded like this?" He grabbed the dagger from the cushion and slapped the blue stone with the flat edge of the blade. A pure note filled the air, then faded slowly. He did this with the other two stones as well. When he showed them all the stones, there were no scratches or blemishes were the dagger struck. "I feel that it would stay in the same state even if I took a hammer to it."

"But what are they worth?" Rika asked desperately, and a pained expression crossed Merlock's face.

"I can't tell you that. I'm sure there are some who would pay dearly for them but they aren't in Carvahall. And I can't buy it either- I might find a buyer, but I can't be certain. You'll have to find someone else to trade with. I'm curious, however… what possessed you to want to talk to me here?"

"Two of them, the red one and the blue one, appeared in the Spine, and all of them appeared by magic." Mimi explained quietly. Merlock gave her a startled look.

"Do you know why my fellow merchants and I were late this year? We could not avoid illness, attacks, and the most cursed black luck. Because the Varden's attacks on Galbatorix have increased, the King has forced cities to send more soldiers to the borders, men who are needed to combat the Urgals. The brutes have been migrating southeast, toward the Hadarac Desert. No one knows why and it doesn't concern us, except that they're passing through populated areas. They've been spotted on roads and near cities. Worst of all are the sightings of a Shade, though the reports have not been confirmed."

"Why haven't we heard of this?" Cried Roran.

"Because it only began a few months ago. Whole villages have been forced to move because Urgals destroyed their fields and starvation threatens."

"Nonsense." Growled Rika. "We haven't seen any Urgals- the only one here has his horns mounted on Morn's tavern."

Merlock raised an eyebrow. "Maybe so, but this is a small village, and it is hidden by mountains. It's not surprising that you've escaped notice. However, I wouldn't expect that to last. I only mentioned it because strange things are happening here as well if you found such a stone in the Spine." Then with a bow and a slight smile, he bid the five farewell.

Outside his tent, Roran muttered, "A lot of good that did us. What do you think, father?"

"I'm going to go get more information before I make up my mind. Take the stones back to the wagon, then do what you all want. I'll meet you all for dinner at Horst's."

Just as Garrow was disappearing from the crowd, Merlock emerged from the tent, only to be pushed back in by Roran. They all piled back into the tent as Roran pulled out his white and blue egg from his pack. The others did the same.

"What," Mimi asked, "Can you tell us about these?"

Merlock took Mimi's egg and examined it for a moment. Then, puzzled, he said, "This is not my area of expertise- I can tell you, however, that these aren't stones. They're eggs." And with that, he swept out of the tent, leaving the siblings with very confused thoughts.

So they had been right about the eggs… but there was no more to do about it. Quickly, they hid the eggs and stones under the bags of their carriage. Mimi made a business of going back to Merlock and coming back wearing the rose pendant proudly. Rika had snorted in disgust, but Mimi had paid no attention to her.

The next few hours was spent looking through the merchant's stands and buying a few things. Soon enough, they all bought candy sticks and ate piping-hot cherry pies, which felt good after hours standing in the snow.

And suddenly, out of nowhere, Roran had been lobbed in the back of the head with a big ball of snow, knocking him to the ground. Sora and Katrina were standing behind a huge wall of snow, piles of snowballs surrounding the and grinning devilishly.

"Last group standing wins!" Sora yelled, pressing their advantage and lobbing Mimi in the face.

And there started the most dirty and unfair snowball fight Alagaesia had ever seen. Most of the surrounding villagers and merchants stayed at least a hundred feet away. The air suddenly became filled with snowballs of all sizes, and though Roran, Eragon, Mimi and Rika outnumbered their friends they still had the advantage of being prepared beforehand. Eventually the siblings got tired of being hit and getting bruises all over, so Mimi crept out of the battle and up behind the girls and completely kicked down their defense barrier. She paid for it, however, when Katrina decided to make and icicle out of her- with Sora's help, they wrapped Mimi up in a tarp and buried her under the snow so that only her head was sticking out.

Half an hour, 15 bruises, a frostbitten Mimi and two broken windows later the group, exhausted, called a truce and dug the chattering Mimi out of her snow tomb.

"So, how are you all?" Katrina asked breathlessly as Eragon tried to see if Mimi's foot still had feeling to it. Roran's face hardened.

"We found out about the eggs. We were right about what they were."

Katrina's smile faltered also. "But… that still doesn't make sense…"

"Let's not trouble ourselves with such things." Sora suggested brightly, coming back from the nearest merchant with a tray of steaming cups of hot tea, which everyone took. "So what do you all want to do next?"

"I was planning on going to Morn's." Eragon muttered. Roran laughed.

"See, he's not even of age and he wants a drink! Well, I'll go with you- you girl's want to come?"

"HA!" Mimi exclaimed spontaneously. "A room of drunk idiots and 4 girls… not a good mix. Nah, I'm going to check out a few more merchant stands before dinner."

"We'll come too!" The other girls yelled in unison, grateful that there was an alternative to Eragon's plan.

Or at least they had planned to. No sooner had they turned around when they found Izzy Koushiro, the son of one of the traders. He was an inventor by heart, and the girls had always liked him It seemed that this year he was trying out a strange cereal with little multicoloured marshmallows floating around the oats.

"Whatcha got there, Iz?" Asked Rika curiously. Izzy shrugged.

"Well, it's a product I'm still testing- cereal with different coloured and tasting marshmallows. I call it Lucky Charms. As I said, it's still in the testing mode, I'm not sure if everyone reacts the same to it."

Mimi stepped foreword, and Izzy held the bowl out to her. She shrugged and downed the first spoonful as Izzy took out his notes and stared at her hopefully.

No sooner than Mimi had finished the bowl was she jumping around, talking at the speed of light with some sudden burst of energy.

"IlikemarshmallowsdoyoulikemarshmallowsIalsolikecheeseandchickenandprettyrosesheythere'snorosesitmustbewinterIdon'tlikewinterverymuchdoyoulikewinterIdon't…" And it went on for about five minutes, causing Rika, Katrina and Sora to cower behind the stand with Izzy.

"What do you call that?" Katrina asked fearfully with wide eyes as Mimi attempted to interrogate someone about pickles ("I don't think you need to hold my bags for me!"). Izzy sighed and crossed something out on his paper.

"Sugar rush. She's the 8th person to react like this. If I'm correct it'll stop in 5…4…3…2…1…"

And right as Izzy said "0" Mimi suddenly dropped to the ground and started snoring. With much difficulty Rika, Katrina and Sora thanked Izzy, accepted his apologies and dragged the dead-weighted girl up to Sora's place.

Dinner at Horst's was an enjoyable affair. The room was warm and full of conversation as everyone savored roast pig and rutabagas. After dinner the kitchen emptied, and everyone made their way down to the field where the traders were camped. A ring of poles had been stuck into the ground around a large clearing. The villagers all sat in the circle expectantly waiting in the cold.

The troubadours came out of their tents wearing costumes of all sorts, followed by dignified-looking minstrels. They provided music and narration as their younger fellows started acting. The first plays were for sheer entertainment- full of jokes, pratfalls and ridiculous characters. After they were done, everyone began to clap. A particular one, however- a fat man who must have been a trader- stood up and hooted louder than the rest. Rika saw several of the men scowl, including Eragon and Roran. "What?" She asked her younger brother, and Eragon replied, "That man is a complete ass. He spent all day in Morn's tavern telling us why we should suddenly become all love-n-cuddles with the Empire."

"Fantastic!" Yelled the bald man, with such an air of pompousness that made Rika shudder. "In all my days, I have never heard such beautiful melodies and enchanted voices! You should perform for the king himself!"

An outbreak of whispered muttering broke out within the crowd- clearly, this man was not liked at all. Then, without warning Roran stood up and cleared his throat.

"If I may say so, Carvahall has it's own beauty who's voice rivals with that of the King's vocalists. Who does not agree that my own sister Rika Mariansri does not have the most beautiful voice in Palancar valley?"

Rika hissed at her brother and tried to pull him down, but a roar of applause had already descended the crowd- it was no secret that Rika had a talent for singing like no one in the entire town. Garrow, Horst and Baldor even yelled at the tops of their lungs, "Hear, hear!"

The fat old man turned to Rika and sneered at her. "Mariansri?" He said mockingly. "Only a bastard is named after their mother. What gives you the right to step forward?"

Rika stood up and spat at him, which gained the approval of everyone there, even the actors and minstrels. Everyone knew that her last name, Mariansri, meant, "Marian's Daughter".

When she sat down, she saw that Garrow was shaking with fury at the insult of his deceased wife- Roran's neck muscles were bulging, and Mimi's hands were clasped tightly in her lap, her lower lip bitten. Eragon was taking deep, calming breaths- none of Garrow's children took kindly to insults of their mother.

"To hellfire with you!" Yelled Albriech, and he turned to Rika and gave her a wink. Shrugging, she took a deep breath in, then let the first note flow from her mouth.

"Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, Who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.

When we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we'd first begun."

Before Rika had finished the last words, the crowd broke into a tumulus applause that might've been heard from Uru'bean itself. Rika glanced over at the fat man, who'd sat down in defeat and was glaring at her. Then, after her applause had faded, a woman yelled, "But what about the second Mariansri? I want a dance from Mimiru!" And the crowd started chanting, "Mimi, Mimi, Mimi, Mimi…" Mimi blushed furiously in the flickering firelight, and both Sora and Katrina nudged her in an attempt to get her up. But before Mimi could so much as stand, Brom, Carvahall's own storyteller, had stepped into the middle of the circle. The entire crowd fell silent.

A knotted white beard rippled over his chest, and a long black cape was wrapped around his bent shoulders, obscuring his body. He spread his arms with hands that reached out like talons and recited thus;

"The sands of time cannot be stopped. Years pass whether we will them to or not… but we can remember. What has been lost may live on in our memories. That which you hear is imperfect and fragmented, yet treasure it, for without you it does not exist. I give you now a memory that has been forgotten, hidden in a dreamy haze that lies behind us."

His keen eyes inspected their faces. His gaze lingered on Eragon, Mimi and Rika last of all.

"Before your grandfathers' fathers were born, and yea, even before their fathers, the Dragon Riders and the Digidestine were formed. To protect and guard was their mission, and for thousands of years it succeeded. Their prowess in battle was unmatched, for each Rider or Digidestine had the strength of ten men. The dragons were huge, as long and wide as Palancar valley itself. The Digimon could take on multiple forms- from a butterfly to a winged man to a dinosaur- but each had differing and enormous powers. It was odd to find one person who was both a Dragon Rider and a Digidestine, for they had to be very talented- but it was because of these Rider Digidestines that Humans, Elves, Dragons and Digimon banded together to defend Alagaisea. They were all immortal- dependless on race- unless blade or poison took them.

"For good only were their powers used, and under their tutelage tall cities and towers were built out of living stone. While they kept peace, the land flourished. It was a golden time. The elves were our allies, the dwarves our friends. Wealth flowed into our cities, and men, women and children alike prospered. But weep… for it could not last."

Brom looked down silently. Infinite sadness resonated in his voice.

"Though no enemy could destroy them, they could not guard against themselves. And it came to pass at the height of their power that a boy, Galbatorix by the name, was born in the province of Inzilbeth, which is no more. At ten he was tested, as was the custom, and it was found that great power resided in him. He was given both a dragon and a Digimon.

"Through their training he passed, exceeding all others in skill. Gifted with a sharp mind and a strong body he quickly took his place among the Rider's ranks. Some saw his abrupt rise as dangerous and warned the others, but the Riders had grown arrogant in their power and ignored caution. Alas, sorrow was conceived that day.

"So it was soon after his training was finished, Galbatorix took a reckless trip with two friends. Far north they flew, night and day, and passed into the Urgal's remaining territory, foolishly thinking that their new powers would protect them. There, on a thick sheet of ice, unmelted even in the summer they were ambushed in their sleep. Though his friends, one's dragon and the other's Digimon were slain and he and his Digimon suffered great wounds, Galbatorix slew his attackers. Tragically, during the fight a stray arrow pierced his dragon's heart. Without the arts to save her, she died in his arms. Then were the seeds of madness planted."

The storyteller clasped his hands and looked around slowly, shadows flickering across his worn face. The next words came like a mournful toll of requiem.

"Alone, bereft of much of their strength and half mad with loss, Galbatorix and Devimon wandered without hope in that desolate land, seeking death. It did not come to him, though they threw themselves without fear against any living thing. Urgals and other monsters soon fled from their haunted forms. During this time the partners came to realize that the Riders might grant them another dragon. Driven by the though, they began the arduous journey, on foot, back through the Spine. Territory they had soared over effortlessly on their dragon's back now took them months to traverse. They could hunt with magic, but oftentimes he walked in places animals did not travel. Thus when they finally left the mountains both were close to death. A farmer found them collapsed in the mud and summoned the Riders and Digidestines.

"Unconscious, they were taken into their holdings, and their bodies healed. Galbatorix slept for four days, Devimon for two, Upon awakening neither gave signs of their fevered minds. When they were brought before a council convened to judge them, Galbatorix and Devimon demanded a new dragon. The desperation of the request revealed the two's dementia, and the council saw them for what they truly were. Denied their hope, Galbatorix and Devimon, through the twisted mirror of madness, came to believe it was the Rider's fault their dragon had died. Night after night they brooded on that and formulated a plant to extract revenge."

Brom's words dropped into a mesmerizing whisper.

"They found a sympathetic Rider, where their insidious words took root. By persistent reasoning and the use of dark secrets learned from a Shade, they inflamed the Rider against his elders. Together the three treacherously lured and killed an elder. When the foul deed was done, Galbatorix turned on his ally and slaughtered him without warning. The Riders and Digidestines found him then, with blood dripping from his and Devimon's hands. A scream tore from their lips and they fled into the night. As cunning as the two were in madness, no one could find them.

"For years the two hid in the wastelands like hunted animals, always watching for pursuers. Their atrocities were not forgotten, but over time searches ceased. Then through some ill fortune they met a young Rider, Morzan- strong of body but weak of mind. Galbatorix convinced Morzan to leave a gate unbolted in Ilirea, which is now called Uru'Bean. Through this gate Galbatorix and Devimon entered and stole a dragon hatchling.

"They and their new disciple hid themselves in an evil place the Riders dare not venture. There Morzan entered into a dark apprenticeship, learning secrets and forbidden magic that should have never been revealed. When his instruction was finished and Devimon and Galbatorix's black dragon, Shruikan, was fully grown, the partners revealed themselves to the world, with Morzan at their side. Together they fought any Rider they met. With each kill their strength grew. Twelve of the Riders joined Galbatorix out of desire for power and revenge against perceived wrongs. Those twelve, with Morzan, became the Thirteen Forsworn. The Riders were unprepared and fell beneath the onslaught. The elves, too, fought bitterly against Galbatorix, but they were overthrown and forced to flee to their secret places, from whence they come no more.

"Only Vrael, leader of the Riders and the Digidestines, and his daughters Adelliana, an Elven leader, and Aliandra, both a Rider and a Digidestine, could resist Galbatorix and the Forsworn. Ancient and wise, they struggled to save what they could and keep the remaining dragons and Digimon from falling to their enemies. In the last battle, before the gates of Doru Areaba, Adelliana defeated Galbatorix for the honour of her people, but she hesitated with the final blow. Galbatorix ceased the moment and beheaded Adelliana and later smote Vrael in the side. Grievously wounded and inconsolable, Vrael and Aliandra fled to Utgard mountain, where they hoped to gather strength. But it was not to be, for Galbatorix found them. As they fought, Galbatorix kicked Vrael in the fork of the legs. With that underhanded blow, he gained dominance over Vrael and removed his head with a blazing sword.

"Then Galbatorix took Aliandra hostage in Uru'bean, not letting her out of the city gates. For nearly ninety years he kept her like this, and in that time she had a daughter with an unknown man and became pregnant with another. Finally, when the guards were shutting the city gates for the night, Aliandra escaped. For almost 9 months she kept running from him, until his guards finally found and killed the last of Vrael's line- or perhaps not. For when they killed Aliandra, her daughter and her newborn baby were nowhere to be found.

"From the moment he killed Vrael, Galbatorix crowned himself King of Alagaesia.

"And from that day, he has ruled us."

With the completion of the story, Brom shuffled away with the troubadours. Rika thought she saw a tear shining on his cheek. People murmured quietly to each other as they departed. Garrow turned to Eragon, Rika, Mimi and Roran and said, "Consider yourself lucky. I have only heard this tale twice in my life. If the Empire knew that Brom had been reciting this, he would not live to see a new month."

Okay, chapter 4! REVIEW, OR NO CHAPTERS FOR THREE MONTHS! (I'm dead serious about this guys.)

Murtagh: Drools Damn, that Mimi girl's hot-

sango: Pushes him out of the frame This is why you were not put in the Digimon series. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go eat some strawberry sugar-free yogurt.

Marik: Pops up I still think you're pretty even if you haven't been working out!

sango: ...um, I'm flattered, but I'd appreciate it if people who aren't supposed to be in the commentary would stop just popping up. You're not even in Digimon or Eragon.

Marik: Damn, I was so close. Walks out

sango: Shouts But thank you for the compliment, it made my day!

Murtagh: Night.

sango: Shut up.