"Wow…" Jaden was in awe, she'd been chosen. She bowed to the dragon, stroking its head. A pain shot through her arm, it was great but she ignored it as best she could. Hello little one, came a voice in her head. Hello, what to call you…? The elf thought for a moment, "I know, I'll call you Zidane!", she said finally. A small smile crept onto Zidane's face. A knock at the door tore their eyes apart. Jaden pulled the curtains around her bed and spun around just as the door opened. The elf sighed in relief, it was only Eragon. Jaden absent-mindedly raised her hand, "Hey…" she stopped at the look on Eragon's face. She turned her hand and saw what he was looking at. The silver gedwey ignasia was on the palm of her hand. "You're a…rider?" Jaden looked down, "If my father ever found out…" Eragon nodded, "Send your dragon to Saphira, she will train her and make her strong", Jaden disappeared behind the curtain reappearing holding Zidane. "Meet Zidane…this is Eragon".
So Zidane went with Saphira and Jaden pulled on a pair of brown leather gloves to hide the mark. They entered the court and Jaden was, once again, thrown onto the stands by a guard. "Have you decided your fate?" Jaden thought for a moment, then looked at Eragon, "Yes father, I shall stay for a month, then travel to Ceris to seek out the warrior Milane". More mutters. "Very well my child", her father turned to Eragon, "As for you human…" Jaden cut in, "He will stay by my side helping me", Rosh looked at his daughter, "Why him? That's what you have guards for!" Jaden realised she'd have to face the Queen. "Your highness, this boy is Eragon, he is", she sighed, "the only rider left!"
A month passed and both Jaden and Zidane grew. The Elven rider would ride her dragon and she trained harder with her sword. The girl was unbeatable. Zidane was larger, more powerful in both her strength and attacks. The relationship between dragon and rider also grew, Zidane becoming more protective of Jaden.
The time to leave came and Jaden faced Rosh. He was a couple of heads taller than her. "Must you leave?" he questioned. His youngest daughter nodded, "Yes father, yet I have something to tell you". She removed her glove, "I'm a dragon rider father!" Rosh almost exploded in anger, "Girl's cannot be riders! You're lying to me girl!" Jaden sighed, Bit of help Zidane? She thought, Yes little one, came the reply. There was a bellow and the green dragon landed next to her, swishing her tail over Rosh's head, causing him to duck. Eragon landed Saphira nearby, "Father meet Zidane". Rosh blinked, unbelieving, "In all my time, I have never seen a female Elven rider!" He turned to Eragon, "Take care of her ok?"
It felt good to once again be in the sky yet Jaden sensed sadness from Eragon. She flew beside him, "You miss your travelling partner don't you?" He looked at her, "How did you…?" a smile came to her lips, "I'm an elf, I can tell these things". Eragon told her all about Brom and Murtagh. Jaden nodded, "Yes, but why were you in Du Weldenvarden though?" Eragon sighed, "I was looking for Arya". Jaden straightened, narrowing her eyes, "Really…?" there was malice in her voice, anger. Eragon noticed this, "What?" Jaden shook her head, "Nothing, just don't mention that name in front of me again!" You haven't forgiven her, have you? Zidane asked, Jaden absent-mindedly ran a finger over the scar on her throat where it had been slit, How can I Zidane? She tried to kill me! Eragon looked, "Why?" he searched her, "Why do you hate her?" Jaden growled, "See this scar? She gave me it! She tried to kill me! My own sister!" And with that, she flew Zidane ahead of the shocked, yet amazed rider.
Night fell and Eragon grew tired, Jaden could see this in his heavy eyes. She landed Zidane, muttered a spell, creating a fire as Eragon leapt off Saphira, landing heavily on his feet. He would have toppled over had Jaden not grabbed his collar to stop him impaling himself on the spikes on Zidane's tail. Saphira curled up and Jaden laid the human against her belly before turning to Zidane and lying against her, using her wing as a blanket.