Disclaimer: Hawaii is great, but I got sunburn already and next week my grandfather is taking me to the big island.
Tasha woke three days later in a white linen bed. Her head hurt and felt like it was splitting in two. The room she was in swam into focus. She slowly rose and sat up. The sun shined through into the room. The door opened. Eragon walked in. He looked up at her. "Where am I?" Tasha asked.
"In Ellesmera, the capitol of the elves," explained Eragon. "I must admit that I am surprised that you are awake so soon."
Tasha rubbed her head. She struggled to remember the past week. She looked at her palm with the brand that meant that she had become a Rider. "Where is my dragon?" she asked.
"With Saphira and Galzra," answered Eragon. "Your training will begin once you have regained your strength. Until then, you are to bond with your dragon." He sat next to her. "You gave Queen Arya and myself quite a scare when you were found unconscious . . .what happened to you?"
"I don't know . . .I can't remember," replied Tasha.
Eragon placed a hand on her shoulder. "You don't have to if you can't," he said softly. "Now, get dressed. Queen Arya requests your presence."
"What for?" asked Tasha shyly. She looked up at Eragon and blushed slightly.
Eragon smiled. "I have not a clue," he replied. "I only know that she requests your presence and that she will be angry with me if she finds out that you are awake and not in her presence." He stood and walked away. "I will wait for you downstairs," he announced.
Tasha found a fine light blue tunic and pulled it on. She walked down the stairs. When she reached the bottom, she panted heavily. She followed Eragon through the strange city. Many elves sneered at her. She scurried after Eragon. "Why do they look like they hate me?" she asked in a small voice.
Eragon chuckled lightly to himself. "They don't hate you," he explained. "Do not worry yourself over them. Many of the elves here did not approve of my existence when I first arrived here. Yet I trained nonetheless. They will soon respect you as one of their own. You just have to show them that they can trust you." He led her to Arya, who sat at her mother's throne.
"Tasha, I am glad that you have finally recovered," Arya said, slightly coldly.
Tasha bowed before Arya respectfully. "Thank you for your hospitality, Queen Arya," she replied softly.
Arya taught Tasha the proper greeting techniques to the elves. She spent much of her patience teaching the young girl. After she felt confident that Tasha knew enough to not offend anyone, she dismissed her. "Your dragon is with Saphira. Galzra will lead you to the clearing that the dragons are staying in."
Tasha bowed one last time. "Thank you, Queen Arya," she said softly. She walked away.
Eragon remained at Arya's side. He sighed. "She's going to be a difficult student."
"Yes, but I can tell by looking at her that she'll be a strong Rider," replied Arya softly. She sighed heavily. "Be careful what you teach her though."
Eragon nodded. "Aye, I don't trust her either," he said. He placed a firm hand on Arya's shoulder. "Many things are going to change now. I only wish that Oromis-elda or Brom-elda were here to guide me in her training."
Arya turned to her mate. She raised an eyebrow. "You did fine teaching me, Eragon," she replied.
Eragon smiled. "Yes, but you were already exceptional in everything," he said humbly. "The only thing that I had to teach you was how to properly fight on dragon back and to be one with Galzra."
Little one, take some pride in what you have done, commented Saphira.
"Eragon, you have brought back the Shur'tugal," Arya praised. "Without your efforts, we would not have been able to overthrow Galbatorix."
"But without your effort to ensure that Saphira's egg stayed safe, I wouldn't have become a Rider," replied Eragon. "I owe much to you."
Being my mate is enough, Eragon, said Arya through their mental link. She sighed. "I wonder often of what would have become of me if you hadn't come into my life." Eragon tensed. Arya sensed his unease. "If you hadn't rescued me from Durza, I would have died. I am grateful to you as always."
"You owe me nothing, Arya," murmured Eragon softly. "I simply enjoy having you in my presence." As a friend and a mate, he added.
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Tasha walked through the confusing forest with Galzra leading her. She kept close to the dragon. "Where are we going exactly?" she asked rudely.
Galzra turned and growled at her dangerously. Be careful how you speak to me, human, he roared. His tail rose.
Tasha glared at the large dragon. She walked past him. Galzra roared dangerously and pushed her face first into the ground with his foot. "Geroff me!" mumbled Tasha angrily. The soil muted her voice. She struggled helplessly under the dragon's crushing weight.
Never insult me again! Galzra roared.
Why? You're only a stupid brute!
Galzra pushed Tasha further into the soft ground. He lowered his head and snapped his jaws next to her ears. I am much more intelligent than you are, human!
Get off me! Tasha cried. Before you kill me!
Galzra snorted and removed his foot. He snarled at the young girl when she got up. He leaped into the air and flew away. Tasha was left in the middle of Ellesmera with mud and dirt all over her face and tunic. She brushed off as much as she could and stormed away.
Tasha found her dragon with Saphira in a clearing, past the city where the elves stayed. She walked past them and climbed into a small tree. Tears streamed down her face. Her dragon hatchling glided up to the branch that she sat at. It landed on her shoulder. Its claws dug into her skin, making her wince with the slight pain. She looked at the dragon with her tear filled eyes. It squawked at her. She glared at the small dragon. "Go away," she grumbled.
Why are you pushing your dragon away, Tasha? Saphira cooed gently. She stretched her neck up to the young Rider and nosed her gently. What troubles you?
"Its nothing," growled Tasha angrily. She pushed the two dragons away and jumped down from the branch. She ran as fast as she could without a single glance back.
Eragon, what should I do about your apprentice? Saphira asked through the mental link that they shared.
What's wrong? Eragon replied; worry etched in her voice.
She's upset about something, Saphira explained. She came covered all in dirt and Galzra wasn't with her . . ..
Follow her, ordered Eragon, sighing.
Saphira leaped into the air and spread her wings. She glided over the trees. Her keen eyes spotted Tasha tripped over a root and crying helplessly. She landed next to the new Rider and covered Tasha with one of her wings. What's wrong, Tasha?
Tasha pushed herself up and punched Saphira's scales repeatedly. "Stupid . . .stupid . . .stupid . . .stupid . . .stupid . . .stupid . . .stupid . . .stupid . . .stupid . . .stupid . . .stupid . . .stupid . . .stupid . . .st . . .up . . .id!" Exhausted, she collapsed at Saphira's side.
Saphira waited patiently for the punches to stop. They did not hurt her and she could comprehend Tasha's distress. She wrapped around the young girl as she slowly fell asleep. She's afraid, she commented to Eragon.
It must be very hard on her, replied Eragon sadly. She has no one whom she can comprehend with. The next few years are going to be very lonely for her.
What do you want me to do with her, little one?
Watch over her and as soon as she's well asleep, carry her back to the tree house, ordered Eragon. She will stay there.
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Eragon sighed heavily and rubbed his temples. Arya noticed the disturbance. "What's wrong, Eragon?" she asked worriedly.
"Tasha . . .she seems to be troubled by something," groaned Eragon. He looked at Arya. "Ask Galzra why he wasn't with her when she arrived to Saphira and that dragon hatchling," he ordered not unkindly.
Arya nodded. Her face composed in deep concentration. Galzra, what's wrong?
That human needs to learn respect, growled Galzra.
Arya frowned. What did she do?
Galzra explained to her what had happened. I refuse to have her in my presence again, he finished.
Very well, replied Arya with a deep sigh. She relayed the information to Eragon.
Eragon nodded, understanding both points. "Galzra shouldn't have been so harsh on Tasha, but at the same time, that young Rider needs to learn to respect dragons," he said. "I pity Tasha though . . .."
"Why so?" asked Arya.
Eragon smiled, remembering the hardships that he had faced when Saphira first hatched up until Galbatorix was destroyed. He looked down at his mate. "Because, I remember what it felt like to be in strange lands where I had few who could fully understand me," he replied. "Yet I was lucky then. You were there to keep me company, and Saphira and I had bonded well before leaving Carvahall. I will not pretend that the elves did not approve of a human Rider. They disliked me."
Arya stood from her throne. She pushed Eragon into the nearest wall. "You will do fine in teaching her," she whispered in his ear. "And I will be right at your side, giving you guidance." She kissed him lightly on the lips.
Eragon smiled and returned the kiss. He held her close to his chest. "Thank you, Arya . . .." They walked back to Arya's room for the night. The two mates slept in each other's arms.
Disclaimer: Ok, now Tasha's training will begin. Sorry that the story was so dang boring until now.