Chapter 2: A Young Dragon

Anne stared, aghast, at the tiny, turquoise dragon, which was currently looking around itself in wonder.

"Hello," She said in the Ancient Language, reaching down to pat it, even though she knew what would happen. The dragon hummed, and pushed its tiny head into her palm. Anne stifled a gasp of pain as the gedwëy ignasia seared itself onto her palm. The tiny dragon looked up worriedly, so Anne smiled to reassure it.

"What are you going to name it?" Asked Eragon. Anne's head snapped up. She had forgotten he was there.

"Oh, that! Erm…perhaps…Myx," She stammered. The name had popped into her head out of nowhere. Eragon nodded, and leaned back against his blue dragon, Saphira. Anne leaned against the cave wall, and Myx scuttled up to sleep in her lap. She smiled with happiness, emanating from both her and the turquoise dragon, and fell asleep.

Anne woke to the sound of crunching. She opened her eyes, and saw that Eragon was eating some berries and bread. The crunching noise was coming from Saphira, who was savagely tearing apart an animal, which had become unrecognizable. Anne stretched.

"I guess we should be going," She announced. Eragon looked up.

"Where?"

"Ellesmera, of course! The Agaeti Blödhren, remember?"

Eragon blinked, as if he had not known the Blood-Oath Celebration was in two days. Anne scowled.

"Come on Myx. Let's go." Eragon jumped up.

"Wait!" He called, "Where are you going?" Anne opened her mouth, but before she said anything, Myx sent an image of Ellesmera with confusion radiating from him.

"So, you're lost?" Eragon asked, "Well, why didn't you say so? We'll show you the way!" Anne cocked her head.

"Why can't you come with us?"

Because Galbatorix will find us, replied Saphira, and that cannot happen!

Eragon sent a series of images to Anne's mind that would take her from the cave to Ellesmera. Anne did her best to memorize them, and set off with Myx on her shoulder. Anne ran to Ellesmera, following Eragon's directions. More than once, she had to pull Myx's claws out of her shoulder. When she finally reached Ellesmera, she ran right up to Queen Izlandi's hall, bowed, and held Myx before her. The collected dignitaries gasped at the dragon in Anne's arms. Queen Izlandi smiled.

"Another rider against Galbatorix, and this time it is an elf."