I know it's been a while. Thanks for being patient.

Disclaimer: don't own

"Why does it hurt?" Mellary complained. "Why does it always hurt?"

What are you whining about this time? Embrald asked.

"My bones ache."

I know that. I can feel it too. Why did you have to go and give such a strong oath?

Mellary didn't answer. Instead she used her remaining energy to pull herself up onto Embralds back so she could lean against his neck.

"Why aren't we moving?" She asked, eyes closed.

Saphira asked us to wait. Arya wants to talk to us, remember?

How could I forget? Mellary asked bitterly. Can we vanish? Please?

Mellary, you're going to have to talk to her eventually. And you told Eragon that we would go to Ellesmera to learn from his sage. You are going to have to get over this aversion to elves if we are ever going to get anything done. Talking to Arya is a good place to start.

Mellary though it over for a minute. Can we vanish? Please?

Embrald growled deep in his chest. Mellary, lying along his neck, felt the vibrations in her bones.

The door opened and Eragon and Saphira came out. They were holding a silent conversation. Mellary could tell from the way their heads were angled toward each other, and the slightly absent look in their eyes.

Embrald started to move, following the blue dragon. Mellary closed her eyes, letting her exhaustion and the rhythmic sway of Embrald's walk lull her into a doze.

Embrald brought her out silently. Mellary sat up on his back, stretching her arms above her head.

She looked around. They were in the library, winding towards one of the back corners.

Arya was sitting at one of the tables, drumming the tips of her fingers lightly against the wood. Her back was rigid and her dark eyes were blazing. Mellary recognized the look. That was the look that came before Arya unleashed chaos on the unfortunate victim. Mellary had only been on the receiving end once. They had both lost control then, and the results hadn't been pleasant.

"What have you done?" Arya hissed between clenched teeth.

"How so?" Eragon asked. He was surprised by the sudden ferocity. Mellary wasn't.

"What have you promised the Varden? What have you done?" The elf demanded again. Mellary stifled a wince at the pressure Arya was applying. This was dangerous territory. Too strong a push and the Elf might realize the true depth to her power, more than an untrained Rider of three months could expect to have. She pushed back gently without throwing the subtle attack off completely.

Eragon looked astonished by this show of anger. "We only did what we had to. I'm ignorant of the elves' customs, so if our actions upset you, I apologize. There is no cause to be angry."

"Fool! You know nothing about me, either of you." Her flashing eyes turned to include Mellary, though the girl had said nothing yet.

I know more than you think. Embrald heard the thought, even though the remark was directed toward the elf.

"I have spent seven decades representing my queen here, fifteen years of which I bore Saphira's egg between the Varden and the elves. In all that time, I struggled to ensure the Varden had wise, strong leaders who could resist Galbatorix and respect our wishes. Brom helped me by forging the agreement concerning the new Rider - you." Now she was taking solely to Eragon.

We might as well not even be here. Mellary complained.

You said you two grew up together? Embrald asked. And she's been out here seventy years? How old does that make you?

Mellary was silent for a second, half listening to Arya's rant.

I said we grew up together. It's partially true. She was the equivalent of five years of age in humans when I was born. Two decades later, I was three years older age wise, while at the same time five years younger.

That's slightly confusing. Embrald said. The corner of Mellary's lip lifted.

I'm a half elf, an anomaly. After a few decades my growth rate slowed down. I used to live in the forest with my mother. When she was killed, twenty years after Arya started going to the Varden, I was moved to the city. Fifteen years ago, when she first came to the city with the egg, there was… well, sufficient to say that I left. I've been roaming around the country since.

"What have you done?!" The half screech pulled Mellary out of her story.

"Calm yourself down already." She snapped at the elf. "We were all backed into corners."

Eragon took over, explaining what the Council had said to them before Arya entered. Mellary let him talk. He went on to explain what Nasuada had wanted.

"Mellary gave some kind of oath to keep the Varden's location a secret. But what was that word you used? It was-"

STOP HIM! Mellary shrieked silently. Her distress was great enough that the message went out to both dragons. A second later Eragon's eyes widened and her looked startled. He coughed to cover up the gap in the conversation.

"- Something I've never heard before."

"I'm sure your sage will have heard of it." Mellary said coolly. Arya followed the exchange without speaking.

Ask him not to mention the name to the sage. She said to Embrald. She felt him pass on the message to Saphira.

She wants to know why.

Ask her to please keep her oversized snout out of other people's business. Only phrase it more politely. Embrald sighed silently, probably at his Rider's lack of tact.

"Your position is not what I would wish, but better than I had hoped. I was impolite; you both understand more than I thought."

Her confidence in us is astounding.

"Your compromise will be accepted by the elves, though you must never forget your debt to us for Saphira. There would be no Rider's without our efforts."

'Debt'?!

Uh oh. Embrald said quietly.

'Their efforts'?! How dare she!

Time to go. Now.

Mellary slammed her chair back and stood. She stalked away from the table and wound her way through the shelves. Her chin was up, held rigid by her anger.

Embrald took the lead outside the library, guiding her to the training grounds.

DEBT?! I owe them no debt. If anything, they owe me for making my life a never ending torture! They owe me for the death of my mother! they owe me for the years of wandering around the country because I have no home of any kind, thanks to them. And only through 'their efforts' there are Riders today? It's the biggest load of lies I have ever heard! How DARE she generalize. They had absolutely nothing to do with you, and she's going on about a DEBT!

Mellary whirled and drew her sword in the same motion. She slashed at one of the training dummies. Straw showed through the gash in it's neck.

Do you feel better now? Embrald quipped. Mellary glared at him. She sheathed the sword and walked into a room. It was filled with training bows of all kinds. Mellary browsed through them, finally choosing the most rigid. It would be the hardest to draw.

Honestly, you know the comment was aimed more towards Eragon than you.

It didn't sound like it. She snapped back. She said there wouldn't be 'any Riders'. Riders implies plural. Plural Riders means us. She chose a target and notched an arrow. It's going back to that whole elven superiority that has been the bane of my existence.

The arrow went wild, missing the target by a hand span and thudding into the wall. Mellary gritted her teeth and drew another one.

You don't know that. Embrald was still trying to reason with her. He was crouched to her right, paws tucked under his body like a content cat.

I can guess. The second arrow grazed the top of the target before hitting the wall.

Mellary, this is not something to get angry over.

Yes it is! The third arrow was even farther off than the first. You weren't there! You have no idea what I went through! You can't possibly understand! She yanked back on the string, almost snapping the rigid bow. The wood complained loudly.

I am you dragon. The sentence contained iron. I have lived through your memories. I felt everything the way you did. So don't you tell me what I do and do not know. Mellary closed her eyes. She let the string relax.

What you went through was wrong. We both know that. But what happened is in the past. It is of no consequence now.

Mellary dropped the bow and threw her arms around the dragon's neck. Tears began to run down her cheeks. Embrald made a shushing sound in his throat.

But we have to go back to that place. We said we would. I don't think I can face it.

Remember, you won't be alone. You have me now.

Mellary wiped her eyes and smiled at the dragon. Taking a deep shuddering breath, she relaxed all her muscles.

She picked up the bow and sighted down the arrow before releasing it. The arrow whistled as it flew through the air and hit the target just above the center.

What starts with a re and ends with view?

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