A.N. Yeah… So, all the chapters are just going to be labeled with Roman Numerals. I have a hard time creating chapter names so I am just putting numbers, but because of the foreword, all of my numbers would be messed up with the numbers before them and I can't deal with that. Somehow, the problem vanishes with letters representing numbers. Therefore, Roman Numerals. Slightly O.C.D. yes, I know, but what can you expect from someone who organizes their books daily. Don't judge me. Well, if anyone actually cared enough to read that, enjoy the story. (Now you see how I can write from the perspective of a slightly batty person.) And wow, I apologize for all of that. I think I'll just pass it off to Angela now. Oh, one more thing, little interjections by Angela will be separated from the story with an m-dash. –like this, see? –

–I suppose it this was to be titled, I could call it childhood or early life–

I could lie. I could say I was the poor daughter of a farmer, born and raised in a distant and rural village, working hard to make a living and help put food on the table. But as I said, that would be a lie. My parents were not poor. I was not poor. When I was born, great things were already expected of me.

I never deny anything that makes others think of me as more interesting, and because of that, I am astounded at the rumors I have heard about myself. Some of these rumors amuse me greatly. That I am a renegade elf, in disguise to hide from the queen. I have been alive since the beginning of time. I even heard once that someone had said I was a spirit, trapped in human form. Where do people come up with these things, I do not know, but once I actually stumbled upon a rumor that just happened to be true. Naturally, I stifled it as soon as it reached my ears as you would imagine. The man was spreading the rumor I was the daughter of two riders.

I was born on a moonless night under the stars of Ellesméra, long after everyone had gone to bed. The only people awake that night were my parents. My mother's name was Eliza. Before she had become a dragon rider, she had been nobody. Living in a small house in a forgotten corner of Gil'ead, no one would have known her name. My father's past was different. His name was Mathieu and he had been born with privilege. He was the firstborn son of the lord of Gil'ead. An elven rider came one day with three dragon eggs. Two of the eggs found their riders there. And strangely, the man who would have one day been the woman's leader became, in an instant, her equal.

–This story is going to be more difficult to tell than I thought. Especially if I get off track this easily. Anyway, shall we continue? –

As soon as I was born, each of my parents laid upon me a blessing. My mother blessed me with a sharp wit and successful endeavors, my father with luck and that I would be where things were happening. Little did they know how much those blessings would shape my life.

– Unsurprisingly, I have few memories from those first years, but everything I remember will be written here. –

As elf children are rare. I was a novelty in Ellesméra. I was spoiled. Everyone knew my name. Elves brought me gifts and told me stories. I had even met the king and queen of the elves. But when I was two, an elf child was born and I was shunted aside for him. My parents were relieved by the sudden quiet in their lives. Over the next few years, they raised me in peace. My parents spent the first years of my life teaching me to walk and talk, and the rest of it telling me to sit down and shut up.

–I was fourteen when I met my best friend. –

"Meira!" My mother's voice called out to me. "Just where do you think you are going?"

"Where I am going, of course." I responded with a grin. "Where else could I possibly go?" Laughing, I took off at a sprint and dove into the trees before she could stop me. My parents had long since given up on chasing me when I ran. Surprisingly vain, it embarrassed them to be seen by the elves running after their unmanageable child.

Of course, it would have been easier to simply clean up the mess I had made searching for the poem I had composed, but I had no intentions of cleaning. I knew if I hid long enough, my mother would tire of looking at the mess and clean it.

So I ran, taking special care to stay under the thick trees. I learned my lesson last time. It I strayed into the open, my parent's dragons would pick me up and carry me home in their talons. Heedless of where my feet were taking me, I did not pay attention to where I was going until I collided into my father as he was taking a walk. I bounced off him and landed on the springy moss. He merely took a step back.

He stared at me for a few seconds before shaking his head. "Now, Meira, you are too old to be acting like such a child." He chided, speaking of my blind running, but I knew he would be even more disappointed when he heard what mess I'd left for my mother to clean.

"Yes, father." I stood and brushed off my clothing. My mother was soft. I had no memory of her ever yelling at me or raising her voice, but I knew my father would not hesitate to punish me. I walked away at a carefully controlled pace until I was well out of his sight. Then I searched for a place to hide.

Meira! My father's voice sounded in my head and I slammed up barriers. I am sure he regrets ever teaching me that trick, because soon after, even he could not break through the walls. I crawled under an overhang and waited, leaning against the cool dirt. Then there were footsteps and I held my breath. My father couldn't have found me that quickly. A head bent down to look under the overhang.

"What are you doing?"

It was the elf boy. I had never actually spoken to him. His interests and mine had been extremely different, and besides, I had always found most elves dull. "Why I'm hiding, of course." I rolled my eyes and stated it as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. But really? I was crouched underneath an overhang in the dirt. What did he think I was doing? "Get down!" I grabbed his arm and unceremoniously pulled him into the dirt.

"What was that fo-" I clamped a hand over his mouth.

"Look." I hissed. A deep purple form glided over the trees.

"Isn't that your father's dragon?" He whispered.

"I'm hiding from my father."

"Do you do this every day?" He sounded amazed. Elf child or not, he was impressed by my mischief.

I nodded with a smirk. I had no doubt the elves had twisted him into some rule following child who never broke the rules or talked back. "Usually…" My words broke off as the purple dragon landed hard in the clearing. His head snaked to stare at me. "He found us. Run!" I grabbed the startled boy's hand and we took off through the woods. Being an elf, he was faster, but I had some speed, more than an average human.

We were looking back, watching the massive dragon gaining on us when suddenly our feet found no purchase. Too late, I saw where we were. Falling into the little river that ran into Ellesméra. The cold shocked me and I struggled to stand, only to be splashed in the face by the boy who had fallen in beside me. Outraged that he had managed to land on his feet, and that he took advantage of my fall to splash me, I tackled him before he could react. He was entirely soaked before the dragon stood at the edge of the river.

Meira. The dragon's voice was bursting with amusement. You deserved that. I stuck out my tongue insolently and the elf beside me stared in horror at my disrespecting a dragon.

The boy raised two fingers to his lips. "Atra esterni ono thelduin, Vanilor."

Amused, the dragon responded. Mor'ranr lifa unin hjarta onr. Meira, please tell me you have not enlisted him in your misdeeds.

"I didn't want him to give my hiding spot away."

The dragon stared at me for a long time before beginning to laugh, deep rumbling laughter. You look a bit cold. I glanced at the elf standing next to me. We were both shivering violently. Come here. We stumbled from the icy water. It had thawed only a week earlier and the water was frigid. He looked us over. Meira, your father wants to speak with you. And you, I suppose I cannot leave you here freezing in the woods, and it is her fault you are in this mess. I'll bring you home.

I climbed onto the dragon's high back and the boy followed with an expression of stunned disbelief. I realized he had most likely never ridden a dragon. Vanilor took to the air and a few minutes later landed in front of one of the homes. An elf woman walked out and her eyes widened at the sight of her drenched son on the back of a dragon. He slid to the ground and Vanilor turned to the elf. Do not blame him. This is all Meira's doing. I rolled my eyes and the elf took her son's hand and led him inside. Before we were gone, he turned and waved to me.

Smiling, I waved back to Vanir.

–Shall we take a break here, Solembum? –

So… what did you think? I'm working on getting the voice right. I have to beat out what school has instilled in my brain.

Hey, guess what just made my day! Anyone? I just programmed my keyboard to let me type with accent marks! Um, yeah, I need to see more of my friends. But, anyway, I can get the names right now. Don't forget to leave a review. More review equals more remembered memories. On the other hand… she is old, memory loss? WHAT! I'm not trying to threaten you. It's more of like a bribe. *winks. Hit the blue button and I promise shorter author's notes and long chapters?