Chapter 3

The rhythmic beat of Saphira's smooth, undisturbed flying greeted Alena as she awoke. Still groggy, she looked down, and saw her dragon, Skyla looking up at her with intelligent eyes. Eragon was asleep, hunched over the saddle. He looked so peaceful—so unlike the savage beast that had cried out at the village.

"Intelligent, isn't it?" asked Eragon, waking from his sleep.

"Huh?" she said, caught off-guard.

"Your dragon. It seems to be all-knowing, doesn't it?" he asked, rubbing sleep from his eyes.

There was a short pause as she thought.

"Yes. They're so intelligent and… pure-looking. Surely, Dragons carry great burdens."

We do not carry burdens. Dragons prefer to call them gifts than burdens, commented Saphira.

"I see," she replied. "Saphira, if it does not bother you, you do not have to answer, but how does it feel to be the only female dragon in existence?"

There was only silence.

"You don't have to," she added quickly.

It gives me a reason to live. It does not burden me, but gives me purpose to fight. If I do, my race will go extinct. It drives me to fight more fiercely than ever—strive to exist, to walk the earth.

Why didn't you tell me this before? asked Eragon, a hint of surprise and anger in his voice.

No need to, she said simply.

Alena's eyes sparkled she listened. She looked down and pat her Dragon's head.

"Wait, what's the gender of my Dragon?" she asked.

We wouldn't know, said Saphira. And it would be more than rude, even for another Dragon to protrude into its mind.

"Only the Dragon's Rider may enter the Dragon's mind, unless it gives permission," stated Eragon. "This holds true for all creatures. Do not pry into other's minds. Unless it is necessary—or the enemy—it is forbidden to expand your mind into others."

"How do you do that?" she asked innocently.

"That's right! First, close your eyes. Expand your mind, make it as big and compact as you can. Can you feel small specks of warmth? Of life?"

"Not in the air. Wait! I think I see some birds!"

Eragon smiled.

"Good. Now, focus on getting your mind down to Skyla," said Eragon.

She felt her mind brush against a foreign mind. It was only slightly different from Saphira—duller, but generally the same.

"It's a girl," declared Alena.

"Are you sure?" he asked sharply, turning his eyes on her. "Are you positive?"

"Yes."

Eragon took Skyla, receiving a sharp snap from her small, powerful jaws.

"May I?"

"Of course," answered Alena.

Eragon turned the Dragon around in his fingers, running his fingers on the smooth scales.

You know that won't do you any good, said Saphira, snorting. I still remember when you did that to me. I was very angry.

I didn't know any better, replied Eragon with a chuckle.

The Dragon that Eragon held in his arms squealed with displeasure, squirming.

So why are you making the Dragon feel displeasure?

Memories.

Saphira quieted and resumed her silent flight. Eragon returned Skyla to Alena, who immediately cuddled into her lap for a nap.

"How far are we from our destination?" she questioned after a long silence.

Little less than an hour, replied Saphira.

Eragon seemed to be deep in thought, his eyebrows pulled down in a frown, murmuring something.

What troubles you, little one?

The story… it doesn't fit.

What story?

Alena's story.

"Alena," began Eragon, shaking off his frown. "You said you named your dragon after your mother, Skyla, right?"

"Yes."

"Then why do the villagers say she is named S-Selena?" he asked, stammering at his mother's name.

"I knew my mother as Skyla," she replied, frowning. "Skyla."

"So you have no idea why they called your mother Selena?"

"None."

"OK… If the villagers were talking about… the woman I think, they said she died a year ago?"

"No. She disappeared. She left a slipper at the edge of a cliff, so we assumed that she died," she replied, suddenly very sad.

Eragon shook his head clear of thoughts.

It can't be my mother, he said. She died, didn't she?

Perhaps she disguised herself, suggested Saphira. But do not get your hopes up too much, little one.

I know, he replied shortly.

"OK," said Eragon, concluding their conversation.

Alena nodded and forced a smile. They rode in silence again, until Saphira announced that they were at the Varden.

As they landed, a lady with dark brown skin appeared from a plum-colored tent.

"Lady Nasuada," said Eragon, bowing.

"Eragon! You are a week late," she snapped, ignoring Alena.

"I offer my sincerest apologies, Lady Nasuada," said Eragon, his voice still pleasant.

"And who is this… this GIRL you bring?" she cried, gesturing wildly to Alena, who flinched at the woman's rage.

"Look at her hands, Lady Nasuada."

Nasuada glared at Eragon, and then at Alena's hands. Alena was holding the white dragon.

"What is this?!" she shrieked. "A Dragon?"

"The egg that Putine attempted to retrieve. He is… dead," he said with difficulty.

"Oh, Putine was a loyal, strong elf. What of his body?" she asked, calming down. "It saddens me greatly to know of his death."

"His body is tied to the bottom of Saphira's belly. We hope to give him a proper burial in the presence of Queen Islanzadí, so that she may honor his bravery and success in the difficult mission," he said, walking over to Saphira.

Nasuada looked at Alena, examining her from head to feet.

"She does not seem… fit," said Nasuada with a slight frown. "Your name?"

"Alena Lovvale, Lady Nasuada," she said, her eyes wide with fright.

"Well, Alena. I hope I did not offend you. You will train while waiting for your Dragon to grow," said Nasuada, pointing at the Dragon. "What have you named this magnificent creature?"

"Skyla, Lady Nasuada. After my mother," she said quietly, looking at it.

"And a fine name Skyla shall be," she said with a chuckle. "I will have the people set up a tent for you. For the time being, you shall live in Arya's tent."

"Thank you, Lady Nasuada."

Eragon perked up at the mention of Arya.

"Have you her permission?" he asked, his voice shriller than normal.

"Yes. I just contacted her. She would be glad to give her basic training of agility and strength."

"May I ask, who is Arya?" she asked timidly.

"An elf. A fair elf, the ambassador of the elven race, who transported Saphira's egg into my hands," broke in Eragon. "You are fortunate to be able to train under her. Not many get the chance to meet an elf."

"Elves are real?" asked Alena, surprised. "I only heard of them in olden stories. Never did I imagine that they could be real!"

"Oh, they're real. And more powerful than any other being," he said with a slight chuckle. "I too, was surprised when I heard of their existence."

"Well, Eragon, will you escort Rider Alena and her Dragon Skyla to Arya's tent?"

"Of course, m'lady," he said with a flourish and a charming smile.

Alena was led away by Eragon, Skyla waddling beside her. She had to hide Skyla as they neared the tents. Once inside Arya's perfumed tent, Alena uncovered Skyla, who had been squirming inside the cloth that had covered her.

"Why was I to cover her?" asked Alena, petting Skyla.

"Although rare, there may be imposters among the vast members of the Varden that slipped past the security guards and the mental test. Not to mention that rumors of a new Dragon would spread like a wildfire. We do not want Galbatorix to find out there is another Dragon that is not under his control. It would put you in much danger. Until Skyla grows up, you will be under extreme restrictions," explained Eragon, peeking out of the tent and motioning at the hundreds of tents just around Arya's.

"I see," she said with a relieved sigh. "It would frighten me greatly to be outside."

Eragon turned to her and frowned, shaking his head with disapproval.

"I will give you freedom. However, you must go outside. Dragon Riders are mighty warriors, not cowering weaklings. They are proud and brave. They step into the outside world with courage and hope, not in fear and mystery," he said firmly.

She whimpered, but nodded.

"You must accept your fate," he said, his voice softening. "I apologize for frightening you."

"It's OK," she whispered, tears filling her eyes.

"You should rest," suggested Eragon. "No, You WILL rest," he said, making it into a command. "We have much to talk about."

Alena curled up into a ball and hid herself beneath the warm blankets, trembling—whether from the outside cold or fear, she knew not. Tears slid down her tears as she thought of the children that had made her smile with pride and true happiness, and then of heartless Eragon, who had torn her away from the beautiful children and forced her to walk the outside as if it were nothing to think about.

I hate you Eragon, she cursed bitterly in her mind.

She felt a comforting touch to her mind from her Dragon, Skyla who silently warmed her thoughts. She soon fell asleep, dreaming of the day when she and Skyla would soar through the skies, bonded partners for life.

Not one of my best, I have to say.

Well, please R/R~ So many ideas for the Inheritance Cycle, so little time -_-;;

I might do just ONE MORE. Or, I might incorporate the idea into this or some other story(: