Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize.

Chapter 3: Journey to Ellesmera

It didn't take Elena long to realize flying on a dragon wasn't all that bad- in fact, it was quite fun. She found herself smiling and laughing while riding on Saphira's back hanging on to Eragon than she had back in the future.

Quite a few times, she'd caught Eragon looking back at her, smiling at the fun she was having.

They flew until the sun began to set, when Saphira began descending and eventually landed in the middle of a large forest clearing. The brunette hung on tight to Eragon as they dived towards the ground and didn't release until Saphira had safely landed.

"It gets better the more often you do it." Eragon assured her as he helped her down.

They quickly set up a makeshift camp, and Saphira flew off to hunt while Eragon pulled some of the food her kept in his pack and gave some to Elena.

"How far is… Ellesmera… from here?" She asked, nibbling on the bit of food. She hadn't realized how hungry she was until now.

"About a days flight." Eragon replied. "If the elves can't help you, then I don't know who can."

She nodded. "Eragon… I've been wondering. How exactly did you become such good friends with Saphira that she managed to let you ride on her back?" She asked, the one thing that had been bothering her.

"Have you ever heard of Dragon Riders?"

"No. What- who- are they?" She replied, her curiosity even more piqued now.

Eragon told her a tale of how over hundreds of years ago, there was a fight between dragons and elves, one that led to much bloodshed until a young elf named Eragon found a dragon hatchling and raised it. Together, the elf and dragon formed a treaty between the elves and dragons. That was how the Riders- a select group of people chosen by the dragon in the egg themselves to bring peace and keep the darkness at bay through the special bond Rider and dragon shared- was formed. Not to long ago- only about a hundred years or so- the Rider's met their downfall in the form of one of their own, a young Rider named Galbatorix. That same Rider took control of Alageasia and ruled it as it's king ever since.

He also mentioned that he was a Rider- one of the last ones- and that Saphira had picked him when he was 15. He mentioned there was two other Riders besides him and Galbatorix still living: an elf name Oromis and a man named Murtagh. Elena noticed the look that crossed Eragon's face at the mention of Murtagh, but she didn't press him on the subject, too caught up in the tale had just recited.

"That's… amazing." Was all she could say.

"An old friend of mine, Brom, used to tell that tale in my old village Carvahall." Her companion replied, a sad, bitter smile ghosting across his lips before it faded. "Come on, we should get some sleep." Eragon added.

She nodded, her head still spinning slightly from all this overload of information. Will I have a tale to say when I get back! She thought. If you do get back, that is. A small voice whispered in the back of her mind, full of doubt and dark thoughts.

Elena told it to shut up and pushed those thoughts away. She would get home, she would… eventually.

-E&E-

Saphira must have returned sometime during the night because when Elena woke up the next morning she was lying on the ground next to Eragon, who was dousing the fire and preparing to leave.

"Here." He said, handing her a chunk of bread. "Eat this fast, we need to leave as soon as possible. Saphira mentioned seeing a group of Urgals a few days out from here."

"What are Urgals?" She asked.

"I'll explain later. But we really need to leave." He promised. She nodded and quickly ate the piece of bread he gave her. Soon they were off.

-E&E-

Elena was more relaxed this time, and was able to fully enjoy seeing the beauty of nature from Saphira's back this time around. The day passed quickly, and just as the sun had begun it's slow trek towards night in the west, a large, majestic forest caught her eye.

Eragon caught her looking and said "Welcome to the outskirts of Ellesmera, Elena."

-E&E-

What do you know? Three updates for three different stories in one day- a new record for me. And I'm going to add another Thorin/Buffy oneshot to 'The Great Wonders of the Multiverse' that I started yesterday. Merry Christmas, by the way.