Hi there!

This chapter is dedicated to the 33rd reviewer (hey, it's basically 1/3 way to 100!), O.o.

Although O.o is anonymous, he (I'll call you he for the moment, but please tell me in your next review if I have it wrong!) has reviewed every chapter except for one, and has been a great help and support. So, three cheers for O.o, and plenty of virtual cookies!

Thank you to all my readers. Here are the wonderful reviewers for the last chapter;

NormalityIsNonexistant (hello for the first time, and thank you for the review!)

O.o (hope you enjoy the mention (and the cookies))

SimplySupreme (another pack of blue cookies coming your way!)

basketballstar (Yay! another one from you)

Restrained . Freedom (no, I haven't forgotten about your dedication!)

happygirl122 (SHE LEFT 6 REVIEWS IN A ROW! Wow! I was watching them all come in with a huge grin on my face)

I will be doing dedications to reviewers for every major chapter that I particularly like. This one, I feel, is rather sweet... :)

Please enjoy and review! (6+ would be fabulous)

The Meepsta :) :)

(Elva POV)

With a heavy heart, I climb the stairs from the cave, leaving the dragon behind.

Not the dragon, my dragon, I correct myself. Sometimes, I find it hard to believe that a mere half-hour ago, the green dragon egg hatched for me.

Worry. The strange emotion overpowers me, making it hard to think clearly. Wailing pitifully, my dragon could easily be detected. I must stop the noise he is making, or risk taking him with me into the city. At least there I could protect him, and be his shield from harm.

After all, in the three years of my life, what else have I been but a shield to others?

No, dragon, I must go. Stay here. I transmit the clearest mental pictures I could muster through our link. Surely now there cannot be any doubt in his mind about what he has to do! Stay still. Stay here.

Elva! He shouts, limbs flailing in panic. Stay, Elva!

In reply, I send my dragon a surge of the emotion I believe is 'love', but I do not really know. Do I 'love' Nasuada, my liege lord? Do I 'love' my deceased mother, even if she asked Eragon to bless me? Or curse me, depending on the way you look at it.

How am I supposed to describe the world to my dragon if I am confused about much of it myself?

My dragon wails more.

Stay, Elva.

I'll bring us back meat to fill our empty stomachs and buy supplies to last us a week.

Meat? He looks at me almost sceptically, head tipped to the side. I wonder if he even understood what I was saying, but I continue anyway.

I promise, until you are a huge dragon, I will not leave you alone again. Do you understand? As I saw Eragon do many times with Saphira, I reach down with my hand and rub the scales by his jaw affectionately. His throat vibrates as he begins to hum, similar to the purr of a were-cat. I am the shield and I will protect you. I promise.

Dragon stay here. Elva go. Elva must go. His reluctance at letting me go is overwhelming, but somehow, I find the strength to stand shakily and walk away. Elva?

Yes? I spin around to face him, spotting a curious gleam in his eye.

Name.

Do you want a name?

Maybe.

Well then... how about 'jierda', meaning break? You're fierce and...

...no.

Luck... 'gulia'?

No.

'Draumr'... a dream?

No.

Maybe if he doesn't want a name from the ancient language... Are you Jadire?

No!

'Emeran', like emerald, the colour of your scales?

NO!

I run out of patience then, flinging my arms down by my sides. What then?

Elva is shield, but Elva need protection.

I am startled and confused by his statement. How can a shield need protection? It is an instrument of protection, and is 'used', not cared for or loved. Just like I have always been treated. I don't understand...

No dragon fights with shield, but all humans do. I be your shield.

Your name... you are 'skolir'?

I am skolir. He repeats, puffing out his chest. Skolir.

A childlike gasp escapes my lips. Of all the names he could have chosen...

Elva. He says, solemnly. Elva.

Skolir.