A/N – Thanks to FlyingFaeriesDance, 9ud9ir190ne6ad and Caellach Tiger Eye for your support. Enjoy!

Disclaimer – If I owned any of the characters I borrowed from Eragon/Eldest then I would be rich, famous, a boy, brilliant and wouldn't have to write this disclaimer. Instead I'm a twelve-year-old girl who finds it amusing to read and write fanfic's. BIG difference.

Chapter Two - A Morning Acquaintance

Galbatorixs' fortress –

'So did you destroy it?'

'No.'

'Murtagh that was very foolish.'

'You asked me to try to destroy it quickly; never did you mention I had to destroy it.'

'You want to gain my trust and then you attempt something like this again? You are to be punished terribly for this.'

'But you can't do anything can you? You can't make me like you.'

'Ah, you underestimate my abilities'

'No I don' - AHHHHHHHHHHHH!'

'Like I said Murtagh – very foolish.'

And with that comment made Galbatorix strode away and left Murtagh to writhe in agony on the ground.

Roran and the dragon

Squeak.

Beneath the full glare of the sun Roran reluctantly blinked his eyes open. What was happening?

Another squeak.

Dazed and confused Roran pushed himself up to look at his surroundings.

Field. Remains of a fire. Dragon hatchling. Trees. Wait dragon hatchling? Suddenly the previous nights events flooded his mind – the egg had hatched! Maybe it was a dream; maybe this all was a dream. He glanced down at his hand. No, it definitely wasn't a dream; the strange silvery mark was still there.

A very loud and impatient squeak brought Roran to his senses.

Looking over at the bottle green dragon Roran took in its annoyed, swishing tail and its little head swinging side to side as if saying 'Finally!'

'You cheeky little bugger!' Roran growled 'Now whatever is the matter?'

The tendril of thought touched his mind again. Roran tentively opened his conscious and reached out to the emptiness beyond. This time Roran sensed hunger – ravenous hunger.

'I'm hungry too,' grumbled Roran 'I'll catch us something to eat, unless you want this' he tossed a lump of hard, stale bread onto the ground.

The little dragon turned up his nose. He looked mortified at the fact that anyone could eat that.

Roran chuckled, 'Yes it isn't that nice.' He strung his bow and then turned to the little dragon.

'Now you stay here alright?' he pressed that thought onto its conscious with his mind. 'I can't get us food with you crashing about in the bushes.

Stalking off into the trees with his bow at his side he watched for any small movements. In the corner of his eye a rabbit stuck its head out of a hole, seeing if there were any predators out there to harm it. It ducked back into the burrow and just when Roran had thought it had seen him, it trundled out happily with about six other rabbits.

Score! thought Roran. Today must be my lucky day! Nocking an arrow to the bow he aimed at the biggest fattest bunny in the bunch. He pulled back and let go, the arrow flew straight and true – hitting the rabbit. The rest scattered but he managed to hit two more as they – confused – ran around in multiple circles.

Pleased with the results of his hunt he sauntered back to the field where his dragon was waiting. He'd never been as good a huntsman as his cousin but felt as though he'd done reasonably well.

When he reached the clearing his stomach dropped. The dragon was gone!

Great thought Roran I leave it alone for 15 minutes and look what happens! It disappears!

He stomped across the clearing, dragging his hunt behind him.

'Dragon!' he bellowed with both his mind and voice. 'Where are you? I've caught the food! You can come back now!'

Filled with anxiety he gazed around at the surrounding trees again.

There he saw the dragon trotting towards him – his head held high with proud – clutching seven fat rabbits in his small snout.

Mouth wide open he stared as the smug dragon ripped into the first of the rabbits.

'How… how did you get those?' he stuttered, still shocked at the startling arrival of the self-righteous dragon.

The little dragon just ignored him and continued to devour the rabbits in front of him. Before long there was naught but bones upon the ground and the dragon, satisfied looked up at Roran.

Roran was just annoyed now. He thought that the dragon would look up to him yet here it was already hunting its own food and expecting him to catch up.

Throwing his three rabbits onto the ground he began to gut them while throwing occasional murderous glances at the dragon who was watching him bemusedly.

As he poked the fire and began to toast the rabbits on a large stick Roran detected a small being toddle to his side and prop itself up against him. Looking down he saw his little green dragon snuggle further into his side and begin to doze off.

With all of his earlier anger melting away he stroked his diminutive maw and smiled as he snuffled and snorted in his sleep.

He had to stand to pull the rabbits off the stick thus waking the little dragon accidentally.

'Shush, shush go back to sleep…' Whispering in his ear he laid him down on the ground by the fire.

'You need your rest, we're leaving soon' he told the sleepy little dragon. 'I'll have these and then we have to go' Mesmerized by his words the little dragon nodded off releasing puffs of smoke every time he exhaled.

Roran watched him rest as he chewed on his toasted rabbits and felt his heart swell with pride and love. He was so small yet so independent, chirpy and full of life.

After putting out the fire and placing the bones beside it Roran collected his things and went to wake the little dragon.

Gathering him up in a bear hug Roran threw his pack over his shoulder and strode off into the forest for Surda with the dragon asleep in his arms.

AN: Okey dokey a couple of things about this chapter - some of you may think that I'm moving a bit fast with the dragon catching rabbits so young, but as I know nothing about the race apart from what I read in the books for all I know the dragon would be able to catch food that young. The last chapter (the hatching) was just a play with words from Saphiras hatching. Now I'm into the stage where the details were not really mentioned so I have to create them my self. OH and this is for the star you may have noticed -

I know that he probably couldn't fit 7 rabbits in his mouth but I needed him to get a lot more than Roran

I hope you guys liked that bit with Galbatorix at the beginning - just giving some background to the egg. I know most of this chapter was fluff with Roran and the dragon but I need to create a happy relationship between the two of them. Next chapter will have more to it – Roran will arrive at Surda (he was just above the border near Cithrí) and tell Nasuada of his news. Opps probably shouldn't have told you that tidbit but anyway I hope you enjoyed, this A/N is getting too long, review and I'll post within a week or so (maybe even tonight if I can write fast enough!) Thanks dappled sunlight.