Don't really have anything to say so here it is…

Chapter 7: Dragon Keepers

Ella looked at Alex and swore, how could they be so stupid? Wiping the sweat from his brow Alex panicked. "What do we do? It's useless to just pretend we're not here but what can we do? We'll be tortured, banished forever; they will exile us to Sharktooth."

Ella took his hands and squeezed them, sudden terror filling her body. They needed to be calm, they needed to stop sitting in the bushes like idiots! Ella looked at Alex and repeated what she had just told herself, "We need to calm down Alex, and we need to stop sitting in the bush like idiots!"

He nodded his head, and seemed to pull himself together. He brushed the dirt off of his knees and straightened the creases in his shirt. He looked at Ella confidently, "Let's go." he said as he awkwardly stood up, dragging Ella with him. Oromis and Islanzadi stood facing them, beckoning them over, looking dreadfully angry. Ella swallowed the lump in her throat, as Alex pulled her unwillingly towards them.

There is no way that this is happening, she thought to herself fanatically. She remembered the last time someone disobeyed the Queen. It was alarming, the image of woman, and the sounds of her shrieking, were still embedded in her memory. The woman had been a councilor to the Queen, and was dismissed from her services after she burst out that Eragon should be killed and his dragon taken and given to an elf. Everyone thought that the she had gone insane, but the Queen had other ideas. She insisted that the woman was working for Galabatorix and that none could speak to her or look at her from then on. Ella thought it was cruel, because as far as she could tell the Queen had no basis for her suspicions. The women soon disappeared from Ellesmera.

Children, Glaedr voice growled in her mind.

Ella stifled a shriek in her throat. Her hand shook in Alexs' mighty grip, as they stepped out of the trees. Glaedr's massive head swung towards them, his eyes boring into Ella's. She whimpered aloud, trying to urge her tears to go back into her eyes.

Alex was much braver, his masculine voice tumbled through her mind and Glaedr's. Yes, sir?

Something like respect, edged Glaedrs voice, you know what you have done, and you know what the consequences could, and might be. He swung his head to face Queen Islanzadi and Oromis.

"Yes children," Islanzadi said boldly, "What do you have to say for yourselves?"

Alex was already ready with an answer, he looked them in the eyes and said, "I know what we did is a strike on security, and I know what we did was wrong," he became strictly honest, "But Ella thought that she had saw a dragon egg, and well, curiosity took hold of me, and I could not think rationally. We shouldn't have snuck into the bushes like that, and I assure you it will not happen again."

Wow, thought Ella, a surge of love gripped her heart; he could certainly win with words.

Oromis looked thoughtfully at Alex then turned to Ella, seeming to want her side of the story, "Ya," she said stupidly, "Me too."

Oromis raised his eyebrows at her but something else caught his attention. Ella turned to see an elf running towards them, full tilt. He was headed directly at her, and Ella squeezed Alexs' hand when he skidded to a stop before slamming into her.

The elves face was very white and he was panting hard from his run. His golden hair was slick with sweat.

"How did he find us?" she managed to ask her boyfriend, her voice squeaking.

Alex shook his head and shrugged.

Islanzadi looked at the two of them with a disapproving glare. They dropped each others hands quickly.

Islanzadi addressed the elf before her, "Yes Droma?"

Droma panted and stared at the golden dragon behind them. "Um…Queen, Eragon has arrived, but he does not look good."

Oromis traded glances with Glaedr. "We will meet you at the hall." He said and jumped on Glaedr with nimble grace.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ella found herself running ahead of the crowd, trying to keep her excitement and anxiety in check. She had never actually seen Eragon before, she had only herd about his stay from the other elves. Ella gasped when she realized that she, with exception of today, had never actually seen a dragon before. She focused on her stepping, rounding a bend she looked up and froze, Alex plummeted into her back, but she didn't care, a royal blue dragon stood before her, its magnificent scales glinting in the setting sun. And its wing draped protectively at its side. Beside her were a dwarf and an elf that Ella recognized as Arya, Islanzadi's daughter.

Islanzadi strode up to them, inclining her head at Arya, Saphira and the dwarf. When Islanzadi nodded at Saphira again, the dragon lifted her mighty wing slowly. Underneath, lay a bundle of blankets, with a pale, elvin face staring out of them. Ella stomach gripped with fear, as she sobbed softly and ran closer. Eragon's skin was red and vainy, boils covered every inch. The horror of the sight made Ella collapse on the ground, just as Glaedr landed roughly beside her.

He's dead, Ella though, tears streaming down her face, panic shaking her body. She faintly felt Alex touch her back. Ella noticed the silence, only her sobs stirred the air. Moments passed when no one moved then finally Droma walked over to Ayra and the dwarf and beckoned them into the hall. They followed him reluctantly. Islanzadi beckoned to Saphira, picked up Eragon with surprising strength and followed them into the hall, leaving Alex, Oromis, Glaedr, and Ella alone.

Oromis looked down where Ella sat with kind eyes. "Forget your punishment," he said, "Guard the egg well, and all will be forgiven." He handed the bundle to her and left with Glaedr into the hall.

Well there you go, hope you enjoyed!! Ps: Please review!