Heloo again ppl! I know u thought I'd given up and wouldn't publish nemore, even I thought I would. i was out there doing some self realization. But here I am again wid chapter 2! Now then, turns out majority of u ppl r DWEEBS ( yes, I still remember I threatened you) so I'm gonna stop asking u all to review nemore. I really have nothin much to say so why dont u just go ahead and start..

DISCLAIMER: Im not gonna type it all again so y dont u just go to chap. 1 nd read it again.

Chapter 2: Taking Leave

Isabel looked about the house for things they could sell. It had been eight days and the traders hadn't arrived yet, and she doubted they would with conditions this bad. She hoped they would turn up as there was a faint chance the merchant Merlock would buy the egg, though he wouldn't find any buyers nearby. And probably be burned to death when the Empire finds it with him, she thought, grim. She passed Eragon's room and peeped inside, the egg was there on Eragon's shelf of 'interesting' things. A gnarled root and various shiny stones gave the breathtakingly blue egg company. Under any normal circumstances, she would have felt respect and affection for it, but at the moment, she resented it for destroying her's, and everyone else's lives in Palancar valley. Not yet, no, the egg had done nothing, but soon, so soon, it would hatch, and the Empire would come, no matter what.

She thought back to how much Sloan had offered Eragon for the stone, three crowns. From her perspective, and several others she was sure, the egg was worth half the Empire, and it seemed rather ironic for someone to give such a miserly offer for a creature so exquisite. At the very least, even a person who did not know what it was would offer an extremely high price for it for it was beautiful.

She went to the dining room, where on the table was a small pile of things they might be able to trade with the villagers for supplies.

She made a few of her own additions to it, an old dress of Marians' she had found and convinced Garrow to sell and a few extra blankets, she excepted her sapphire from it for though it would fetch a good price in the market, the men would want to know where she got it from. Also, it was a family heirloom of Brom's and he would be furious with her if she was to sell it, he came from a family of enlighteners and in Kausta and his parents, when giving him the pendant, had told him it was enchanted. He had believed them, but after joining the riders, he had stopped believing the family myth. To make sure, he had even checked the stone multiple times for any enchantments placed on the stone, but had found none.

She spent the rest of the day looking for other things they might be able to sell and glaring at the egg whenever she passed Eragon's room. In the evening Eragon went again to check whether the traders had arrived yet and found deep ruts cut into the snow along with numerous hoof prints. Isabel saw him running back to the house, whooping for joy, and the mood of the house considerably lightened.

They left for the village early the next morning. Garrow fastened a leather pouch with the year's money in it to his belt and Eragon carefully wrapped the egg in a cloth before setting it down between bags of grain to stop it from rolling. Isabel had offered to hold it for him but he seemed not to trust her with it after having caught her throwing dirty looks at the egg yesterday.

She contacted Brom,"We're leaving for Carvahall.","Good, by when will you be here?" came his faint reply, the man was growing old, "We should be there by noon if all goes well."

"Come meet me then."

X.o.X.o.X.o.

Albriech stood in front of the trader Merlock's booth. He specialized in odd trinkets and jewelry and Albriech had his eye on a silver rose. It was delicately carved and beautiful and he meant to buy it but a party of women blocked his way. So he politely waited for them to finish buying whatever they wanted and hoped the rose wouldn't catch their eye. Luckily for him, it didn't and once they left he went ahead and bought it. As he pocketed the trifle, he turned around to look for the person for whom it was meant. She was sitting a little away from the crowd on the edge of a porch near Morn's Tavern, having a bit of candy with her brother.

Albriech walked towards them and called out but their attention seemed to be elsewhere. He followed their gaze and saw Sloan. Eragon then ducked into the Tavern and he returned his attention to Isabel. He called out again and she heard him this time and looked at him, smiling. Albriech walked towards her, grinning foolishly. "I was looking for you." he said as soon as he reached her, "I noticed.". He extended a hand to help her up and she took, dusting a few snowflakes from her lap. It was snowing lightly.

They walked together in comfortable silence. He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. She walked gracefully, with carefully measured steps, her brown hair gently blowing behind her as a gentle breeze blew in the opposite direction. Her eyes seemed to be distant, glazed over by the thin film of thought. He treasured that moment, for she looked beautiful just then, walking beside him. He knew he was lucky to have her love him. Even though she wouldn't be of age for another five months, other men had courted her too but only he had been lucky enough to catch her eye.

They turned into an alley and she gave him a questioning look. "I want to give you something", he answered, "And so you drag me into an alley? What's so special Albriech?", "This is.", he replied, taking out the rose he had bought from Merlock not long ago. He held it out in the palm of his hand. Her eyes softened and an appraising smile stretched her lips, "It's beautiful". She looked up and held him with her steady gaze, "You bought this for me? Thank you,", reaching up on her tip toes, she gently kissed him on the cheek, "it means a lot to me.", before picking it up and holding it in her own palm. She examined it carefully before dropping it into her coat pocket.

He had to tell her now..,"I'm leaving next spring". "Why?" she sounded confused, "I plan to go to Feinster to become a master smith, I'll only be back by winter.". She pouted, "No, I don't want you to go." "Try to understand Isabel, by the time I come back you'll be of age, I can start my own smithy and we can marry." As he said the words Albriech felt a wave of satisfaction roll over him. He had played this moment over and over in his head for the past month and it had played out perfectly now.

"Oh..." Something flashed in Isabel's eyes; He wasn't sure what it was but knew something was wrong. "What's wrong? You don't seem to be happy. Is everything alright?" Now it was his turn to be confused. Over the past few months she had seemed to be happy, but now he had ruined that. "Nothing's wrong Albriech and I am happy, just a little tired." his brow furrowed with concern he said, "Did you think of seeing Gertrude?". She sighed "I'm not dying you know, I'm just cold and hungry right now. How about we go and have supper?"

Albriech felt the corner of his mouth rise up in a smile. "We should be on our way then or we'll be late."

X.o.X.o.X.o.

Isabel picked at her food at Horst's that night. About an hour ago she had been ravenous but now, after her conversation with Albriech, her guilt overran her hunger making her lose her appetite. She still had to meet Brom, he would be furious she hadn't come to him the moment they reached but Garrow and Eragon had taken her with them to Merlock. She had seen him test the stone to find out it's worth to no avail for almost an hour, all the while trying to convince herself that it would be wrong to blackmail the merchant into taking the stone with him so that she could delay the her own doom by a few more months.

She could feel Albriech's eyes bearing down on her; almost feel the concern that emanated from them. He was an honest and gentle man and she already regretted what she was about to do to him soon enough. The guilt returned to her in terrifying, rolling waves and she felt like she was going to throw up. So, to not only calm down but also to escape Albriech's gaze, she excused herself, saying something about fresh air. She could only hope that he wouldn't follow her.

She was lucky; he didn't come after her out into the snow and made her way to Brom's house as inconspicuously as possible.

She knew he was home from the light in his window and the feel of his consciousness. When she knocked on his door it opened almost immediately. He shot her an angry look; "You're late." was the only greeting she received from the grumpy old man. "I know I am. I would have come earlier but I was… busy", she concluded, "Now are you going to let me in or not? It's cold out here." Brom's expression softened by a fraction and he let her in.

She walked past him to the fire place where he had a cheery fire burning and sat in a chair in front of it, warming her numb fingers. "What took you so long?" he asked her, "Garrow and Eragon took me with them to Merlock as they tried to sell the egg and then I was with Albriech", she said rather simply, making her feel a little stupid. "How is it?" at her questioning look he added, "The egg I mean." a bitter tone crept into her voice, "The egg is perfectly fine. It should hatch soon, two days at the most."

Brom nodded, "It's your duty to inform me when it hatches and who it hatches for. Is that understood?" "Yes Brom." She refused to call him father. It seemed wrong to do so, she didn't know why but it just didn't feel right. "I have to go now. The troubadours will begin to perform soon and I can't be late." Isabel took the hint and stood up. For once, she couldn't wait to go back home.

X.o.X.o.X.o.

Isabel woke up with a start. A soft moan emanated from the room next to her's. From Eragon's room.

Getting out of bed, she quietly crept down the corridor. Eragon's door was open and she peeped into

her brother's room. Eragon lay on the bed, his left hand cradling his right, which had a silvery mark on it. The Gwedey Ignasia. Next to him, a small blue dragon sat on it's haunches. It looked at her with ice blue eyes, almost freezing her in place. And so it begins…. She thought as she walked back to her room. She would tell Brom tomorrow, but now she would sleep.

Yup thats it! Hope u enjoyed. R& R if u want. Id like that.

PL 606.