Disclamier: See the first chapter

Chapter 10

Eve returned to Oromis's in time for super and found that Arya had already arrived and they were standing on the cliff outside the hut next to Glaedr and Storm waiting on her.

(Arya is very nice.) Storm gushed as soon as she arrived, (She says I have a very unique color to me, and Oromis agrees.)

Eve rolled her eyes but secretly agreed. In all her books of dragons she'd never read of such a dark gray dragon. She had read of silver dragons and pitch black dragons, but never this dark granite color. Storm was so dark in places it looked like he had scales made of hematite.

(Well, hello to you too my vain dragon.) Eve grinned

Storm snorted and accidentally sent a jet of flame over Glaedr's shoulder. The gold dragon sent the youngster a warning look and then gave a long suffering sigh.

"Good to see you have made back on time." Oromis greeted Eve, "Did you practice speaking Ancient?"

Eve nodded enthusiastically, "Yes, I managed to have a conversation with Arya without too much trouble."

Oromis nodded, "Good now Arya will tell us what has kept Eragon from rejoining us here in Ellesmera, if you have any troubles with a word make note of it and ask after we have finished."

Eve nodded and followed the pair into the hut and took the seat closet to the window so that Oromis could sit next to the fire and Arya by the door.

"Now Arya tell me how did the battle fair, first." Oromis asked

Arya sighed, "We won but much was lost. Horthgar, the king of the drawfes was slain."

Oromis groaned, "I assume that Eragon will be going to the funeral then?"

Arya nodded, "He and Saphira will also fix Isidar Mithrim while they are there."

Oromis nodded, "What else has he gotten himself wrapped up in?"

Arya's lips twitched, "During the battle a ship arrived and turned the tide back in our favor, on the ship was Eragon's cousin Roran Stronghammer who he regards as a brother. Roran has made him promise to help rescue his future wife from the Ra'zac who have stolen her away."

Oromis sighed heavily, "He's ready for such a task I know but I don't like it any more."

Arya nodded her understanding, "I will be meeting him at Marna so that we can go after the Ra'zac together."

Oromis nodded, "That comforts me the most. Now tell me what you have reserved for last?"

Arya grimaced, "One of Galbatorix's eggs hatched."

Oromis froze and held his pose for a moment before setting the cup he'd been about to sip from down and sighed even heavier than before. Eve just stared at Arya in disbelief. She knew that she wasn't lying for she'd spoken in the ancient language. Horrified she touched Storm with her mind and left him know what she did. He grumbled displeasure at the knowledge and listened through her wanting to know more.

"I assume that Eragon faced this knew rider then?" Oromis asked

Arya nodded, "The new rider is called Murtagh son of Morzan."

Oromis scowled, "Dirty scum just like his father I suppose."

Arya grimaced, "No, he fled Galbatorix and helped Eragon rescue me and defended the Varden. It was the twins who organized his capture. Eragon tells me that Galbatorix knows his true name and has made him swear to serve the king in the ancient language."

Eve gasped in horror and had to be reassured by Storm.

Oromis nodded, "The boy has a sad lot in this war then."

Arya nodded, "There's more to it then that, he revealed that he and Eragon share the same parentage."

Oromis looked up at Arya sharply and frowned, "Brom knew."

Arya nodded, "It's the most likely."

Oromis snorted, "Figures he would keep something like that to himself. Well, Eragon proves that blood isn't everything then."

Arya nodded and grimaced, "I think he would do well to here that from you though."

Oromis nodded, "Finding out that he is the son of that one would be sure to make him reconsider himself, I only hope he returns here soon so I can set him right. Now you have neglected to tell me how he faired in the battle."

Arya nodded, "I am afraid he lost. He tells me Murtagh knows a lot of magic he doesn't and he bested his blade. Murtagh left taking Zar'roc with him."

Oromis nodded, "He should return to me soon, I have more to teach him. While you travel together teach him to fight like an elf with his blade Arya, and teach him what magic you know, and keep him using the ancient language, Teach him till I next see him, for me."

Arya nodded, "When he returns he will be fluent in the ancient language and skilled with the sword."

Oromis nodded and looked at Eve in thought, "Is Murtagh's dragon the same age as Eve's Storm?" he asked the elf

Arya stopped to think, "No, younger I'm sure, not nearly as large by half."

Oromis nodded, "He's probably a few months short of Storm, but then again Storm is large for his age."

Eve started and looked out the window at Storm. She thought he was a good size.

Arya nodded, "It's a red male called Thorn."

Eve gave a sigh of despair at the news. She had been too late to rescue Valandera's egg from the evil king. "That was Valandera's egg."

Arya looked at her in surprise, "You know his parentage?"

Eve nodded, "Storm is Valandera's and Verenov's son."

Arya nodded in understanding. Eve realized that the queen must have told Arya all about where she had been before her arrival.

Oromis nodded. "What of the other egg?"

"Murtagh told Eragon it is male, what of the three eggs that Eve brought?" Arya asked

Oromis grinned, "The purple is female."

Arya nodded and turned to Eve, "Then Saphira will not be charged with repopulating the dragons alone."

Eve covered her mouth to smother and snigger and felt Storms amusement.

(I wish to meet this Saphira.) Storm proclaimed to his rider

(What? So you can make little dragons?) Eve grinned andlistened with a half ear toher dragons dismay.

Oromis sighed finally breaking the silence that had fallen, "When are you leaving?"

"In the afternoon tomorrow." Arya responded

Oromis nodded, "I will write a letter for you to take to Eragon."

Arya nodded and bowed herself out of the hut.

"Any words that you need explained?" Oromis asked

Eve frowned and thought. She inquired on a few words but most she had figured for herself but ran them by Oromis to make sure she was correct.

"You now have a bigger task ahead of you, and not enough time to be ready in time. All I can teach you is how to defend yourself, for there is little hope that you would defeat another rider at present." Oromis looked at her intensely, "All I can hope is that you will excel enough to cover Eragon's back while he battles."

Eve nodded she had already figured that she would never be a fighter to be exclaimed over. "I'll give it my best master."

Oromis smiled at her, "I have no doubt you will. I think I will teach you more spells, and leave your swordsmanship to a younger elf."

Eve nodded, "Can that happen after I have built up some more grace with the sword on my own?"

Oromis chuckled and grinned at her, "You need not worry I will not throw you to the wolves yet."

Arya arrived at the hut the next morning while Eve was in the middle of her rimgar stretches. Eve was trying to accomplish an advanced stance that Oromis thought that she was only just ready for that morning.

Eve dropped her stance and performed the proper greeting. Oromis grinned at her and nodded to Arya. He held out a tube that Eve figured held a the letter to Eragon. Then he held out his sword to Arya.

"He will need this if he is to face Murtagh again. Make sure he can wield it well." Oromis handed her the white and gold sword. Eve held her breathe knowing that it was a great honor for Eragon to be given Oromis's sword.

Arya held the sword and gave the rider a meaningful look, "Of course Oromis elda."

Oromis nodded and Arya took the white horse she'd arrived on and left without anything further being said.

Oromis looked at Eve and raised an eyebrow, "Accomplished the stance so soon?"

Embarrassed Eve went back to trying to get the right pose.

Eve spent the next month going through rigorous training. She was surprisingly good at the Rimgar, and Oromis attributed it to her being a very limber person. She was still only just good enough with a sword to block simple blows from Oromis. She wasn't built to clash swords with others and was often thrown on her butt because of it. Oromis told her that they'd soon find another weapon more suitable for her slim form, but he still wanted her to learn the sword. Her skills with magic came along at a rapid pace thanks to her determination to learn the language behind it. She was very skilled and was often saying a simple word and getting enormous responses.

Oromis had been very pleased with her magic. he had been so much so that he was considering teaching her silent magic and other ways. She had figured out on her own how to make invocations during a challenge. She wasn't as daring as Eragon and not nearly as questioning. She had a habit of doing what she was told and doing everything she could to go beyond his expectations.

Storm finally was using flame and with skill. Glaedr instructed him through it with care. Storm was able to keep the flame up for and hour because of his large size and the amount of magic he posed. Eve was proud and they were often linking together during lessons to see if they could trip up Glaedr with her added magic, or Oromis with her added strength. Neither teacher complained and seemed to even incourage it. Eve had no problem with it because above anything and everything she was learning, she treasured her bond with Storm. She still loved dragons and wanted nothing more than to just be with him and often bonded with him to just be there. Yes, she was overly sentimental.

Oromis was feeling tried again and sent her into the village to practice her fluency with the language for the day. She eagerly went to visit the eggs taking Storm because Glaedr refused to leave Oromis's side for the day.

Eve slipped into the hall followed by Storm. Inside there was a group of elves sitting on some comfortable looking chairs and talking to one another happily. When they spotted Eve and Storm they bowed and complimented Storm and gave Eve the proper greetings if a little stiff. They were Delgrost, Bentven, Feltin, Meslon, and Vanir.

Eve looked to the eggs and smiled at them before going to touch them softly. She rubbed the bronze and was surprised to feel and shiver run through the egg. Careful not to alert the elves she kept her hand on it to be sure she'd felt what she had. It shivered again and she heard a tiny scrapping noise. It was hatching. She checked the others but got no response. Holding in her excitement she went to join the elves.

(I bet one of them is the destined rider.) Eve told Storm as the gray dragon slither behind the alter and laid down to watch the eggs carefully.

(I think you're right the egg shall hatch very soon.) Storm replied and nudged the egg with his snout.

The elves looked back at her as she joined them taking the only chair available.

"Are the eggs as they should be?" Asked the female elf Meslon. She had short ice blonde hair and large pale blue eyes

Eve nodded, "They are perfectly cared for."

"Of course they are." Bentven snorted

Eve shrugged and settled back content to just listen.

"How goes your training?" Asked Meslon

Eve grinned, "Well I suppose, I'll never be a good enough swordsman, but magic is something Oromis feels I excel in."

Meslon nodded, "What are you learning now?"

Eve frowned in thought, "Well we just finished working with those fairths and my meditation is getting much better."

Vanir snorted, "You know so little."

Eve blushed and scowled at the elf, "I have only been studying magic with Oromis for two months."

Vanir shrugged, "Most children here know that already."

Eve narrowed her eyes at the elf, "For one I haven't studied magic my whole life, another I'm not an elf and born of magic, and elf are children for longer than humans are so how old would an elf child be before they know that much?"

Vanir looked at her closely and smirked, "Yes you're not an elf, and for it we are doomed to lose to Galbatorix."

Eve rolled her eyes, "Not everyone can be all powerful, besides you have Eragon and the new riders to come."

Vanir shrugged, "Eragon is no better."

Eve stared at the elf then scowled, 'You're just prejudice."

Vanir quirked an eyebrow at her, and snorted. Eve though he would have said more had a loud cracking noise drawn there attention to the alter. The bronze egg had a whole in it and a bronze dragonet was struggling to remove itself.

"It's hatched!" Meslon exclaimed, "I wonder where the rider is!"

Eve stood and went to stand next to Storm. The dragonet kicked the rest of the way out of the egg and righted itself. It looked around then proceeded to lick the membrane stuck to it's body away.

Vanir approached the alter carefully and stood in front of it a gobsmacked look on his face as he took in the sight of the dragonet. Eve grimaced and couldn't help wondering how this pompous git was a rider. Storm snorted and told her that the dragon his reasons for sure.

Vanir reached out and touched the dragonet. Instantly he crumpled to the ground and writhed for a moment before gasping he jerked upright. He stared at the dragonet that was now peering over the edge of the alter at him and then at Eve.

"Maybe now there is hope." He gasped

Eve rolled her eyes, "And you're full of yourself."

Vanir snorted and stood. "The queen should be told."

Eve grinned, "First the little guy needs to eat then you can go show your little beauty off."

Vanir gave her a strange look, "He's going to eat meat?"

Eve grinned, "Of course what kind of dragon eats plants?"

Vanir shrugged, "Then I guess we should leave the city for meat."

Eve nodded, (Storm can you go get us something like a few rabbits? We'll meet you at Oromis's?)

(Of course it is best if the little one eats soon.) Storm got up and left the hall to go hunt a few rabbits.

"If one of you would go tell the queen that I've taken Vanir and his dragonet to Oromis I would be very grateful." Eve asked

Delgrost nodded and took Meslon with him to get tell the queen. The others watched in curious awe as Eve lead Vanir out of the hall and towards Oromis's hut. Vanir held the little dragon and stroked it gently.

"Why do you think you need to take me to Oromis?" Vanir asked

Eve looked at Vanir in amusement, "I doubt you'll ask me any questions about your dragon since you seem to think that I'm some inferior human, and I highly doubt you would be willing to hunt and kill your dragonet's food for him."

Vanir halted and glared at her, "Listen human I don't need you to tell me how to take care of a dragon I already know how. They instructed us how when Saphira's egg was presented to us long before now."

Eve shrugged, "And how was I supposed to know that. Contrary to your beliefs I am not able to read minds."

Vanir raised a condescending eyebrow, "I don't expect such great powers from mere humans."

Eve threw her hands up in the air, "You are determined to hate all humans, I'd be a fool to argue with a rock and it as much with you."

Vanir remained silent so Eve relaxed and lead him to Oromis.

AN: Well I see how this is. I don't pester you to review and you give me three reviews! Last chapter I ranted and I got ten. Hey I can rant if that's what gets me reviews, but I'd rather not. So here's the deal:

I'll update more often if you review more.

maddie having the flu sucks I hope you get better soon. I hope you enjoy this chapter as well.

thief master Oh yes the last chapter went places! It insured that I wasn't going to make Arya a rider and you got to get a look at some of Eve's training. As for time line? I've kept in shadows till this chapter, because it really doesn't effect the story up until this point. Also I want people to wonder about what I've gone and done with Eragon.

Corgi-girl I'm just giving her more personality. I know you don't walk graceful so it's a safe bet Eve isn't perfect either. Enjoy the chapter.