I only own Vraela, her dragon, and Silver Wind. Please review! Ancient language translations at the bottom of the page, and ' ' for mind speak.

One month.

That is how long it took me to see Lake Leona in the distance, and for my dragon to start speaking. I would have small conversations with her, and soon realized she had no name. One morning, about 30 leagues off from Lake Leona, I asked her, 'What is your name?' She answered, 'You must ask. I will inform you if you assume right.' I asked, 'Don't you know?' She said, 'I will when you say it.'

I let it go and racked my mind for names. I showed her each, but all failed. I finally remembered a dragon, a green one like her, and I showed her. I heard more than the previous silence, and assumed that I guessed right. Emerald then. Emerald.

~Evening~

I was at the edge of Lake Leona, trying to decided where to go, Dras-Leona or Belatona. I thought we might have a better chance of fitting in with Dras-Leona's strange cloud, but the Varden might be in decision was made a lot easier when a large amount of dust started rising from Dras-Leona. I quickly turned Silver Wind towards Belatona, and we rode for a long time again.

Soon, the smoking bulk of Belatona was in sight on the horizon. A large blot was next to it, something I thought must be the Varden's camp. I pushed Silver Wind to go faster, with some bumping that upset Emerald in the saddlebags. She grumbled, 'Ugh. Why do you have to speed up? You will reach the Varden whether you are walking or flying.'

I giggled at her grumpy reply, as even though I had enlarge the saddlebags with stolen leather, she was still crammed into the bags, she was growing so fast. As we got closer, I heard trumpets and running scouts, and smiled. They thought I was a threat to them. They were half right. I was a threat, to the Empire. Once I was only twenty feet from the outer defense wall, a soldier stood forward and yelled, "Stop! The Varden occupies Belatona now! State your business!"

I quickly whispered, "Brakka nuanan." As I cast the spell, I felt as a mask fell over my face to keep the men from becoming suspicious. I yelled back, "Rina Cospawnsdaughter. I have fled from Dras-Leona. I wish to fight with the Varden, as I had fought hard to escape the stone walls."

The guard yelled, "How can we trust you, who comes of the limbless city?" I said, "Do you see a missing arm or leg? Am I a headless creature? But I wish to have an audience with Lady Nasuada."

The guard scoffed, "Who could suddenly show up, unnamed and unannounced, with no title that is more impressive than a birth name, and see Lady Nightstalker?" I growled, and said, "Have you never heard of Cospawn, Duke of Dukes?" I laughed, as Cospawn had been the previous duke of Dras-Leona, but this man wouldn't know that.

I continued, "I am his daughter, though my late father turned me over to be a duchess instead of a lady." The soldier stood back, whispered to a messenger, and yelled, "Follow me. We'll search your mind to be sure your on our side." I pushed Silver Wind forward, and we waded through a sea of warriors. The largest tent, blood scarlet, was standing in the center of the white canvas, and stood out like a scar on pale skin.

The soldier introduced himself as Garven, captain of the Nighthawks. He was in charge of protecting Nasuada, and Eragon. When I heard of Eragon, I instantly thought of the first Eragon, but remembered Galbatorix talking about a new Rider with the Varden named Eragon.

I thought of all I could share with him, and how I could learn from him.

As we approached, many people looked at me strangely, and I realized how strange I must look on a silver stallion, with saddlebags as big as me. I dismounted as we got to the red tent, and a small page took my reins. I quickly said, "Wait! I will take the horse."

If any discovered Emerald too early, I might be called a spy and treated as a prisoner. He shrugged and handed back the reins. I sighed, relieved, and followed Garven past six creatures, two humans, Urgals, and dwarves.

I closed my eyes as we stood before the tent, and I thought, 'This is it. I am going to forge my own fate from here.' I pushed the tent flap open, and saw three beings inside.

Nasuada was the first; sitting in a normal arm-chair as if it was a throne, she was dressed in a floor-length dress the color of the forest with the sun overhead. Her skin shone like polished ebony, her dark, lively hair flustered around her face.

A man... if you could call him that in his beauty, was next to Nasuada. He looked like the elvish fariths I had seen, but more rugged. That somehow made her feel more towards him. He wore a simple white shirt and pants with leather boots, his brown hair slightly wavy, and his brown eyes glowing softly from the red light of the tent. His features intrigued me, and... I felt strange.

The third was a dragon that took up half the room. Her blue scales had a purple glint, and the beauty of it was overwhelming. She growled softly, and I thought, 'At least the last thing I see will be beautiful.'

Nasuada was the first to speak. "So, Rina. Why did you seek this audience with me? Eragon and Saphira decided to stay with me for your, uh, unusual request." I straightened and said, "I must ask your apologies, Lady Nightstalker. I am not Rina Cospawnsdaughter. I am the daughter of someone greater."

Nasuada nodded and said, "Yes, I knew. Cospawn never had children from the scrolls I read, and I make it my business to know my enemies." Eragon touched a battered, steel sword at his side and said, "Nasuada! You knew, and yet... Never mind, my lady. But I feel you, girl, are covered in powerful magic."

I remembered the spell to hide my face, and removed it by whispering, "Losna." I knew they still couldn't see my face underneath the hood of my cloak, but that was a good thing. I warned them, "I am not what you'd expect of a child, but you will understand my words soon."

I flipped back my hood, and gasped rang from the two, and a snarl from Saphira. Eragon said, "But, only two elvish children live. And they..." "Don't look like me?" I guessed. He stumbled over nothing as if I had punched him. I continued, "This will be hard to take in, but I have been a captive in Uru'baen for seven years. I am Vraela Songweaver, Vraelsdaughter, and the black king's prisoner."

Eragon leaned against Saphira, and I knew he could feel that I wasn't lying. Nasuada shook her head, as if clearing her mind, and asked, "How could he hold you captive and not have any elves know of you?"

I felt scared at this point. What if they didn't believe me? No, I scolded myself. They will never believe you if you don't tell them. So I spoke. I told all I remembered from before my time as a statue, to the events that followed. I spoke the truth the whole time, and I felt that they could sense that, too.

When all was told, they stood (and sat, in Nasuada's case) in awe and shock. It felt good to let loose the entire story to someone, as fragments mean nothing separately. Eragon shook off his shock, and said, "Well, you have told of this, second green egg, but not where the dragon is."

I reached into the bags, and softly pulled Emerald out of the leather. She crawled around, and said, 'About time I came out of that cow carcass.' I laughed as Saphira nudged Emerald gently, and Emerald puffed smoke into Saphira's eyes by accident.

Saphira scolded, 'Young one! Who will teach you the proper way to fly if I am blind?' Emerald retorted, 'There are others! My human has learned from the Black King, and no matter how malevolent he may be, you cannot deny the facts. He has extreme knowledge, and this should be used.'

Saphira replied after awhile, 'You have wisdom at an early age, hatchling.' Emerald answered, 'After hearing many twisted conversations in the throne room of Uru'baen, I have developed this wisdom, and thank you, Saphira Brightscales.'

Eragon interrupted, "Well, we have been speaking for two hours, and the sun sets. We should-" "Nasuada! Didn't we agree to meet in my tent for a strategy meeting! Dras-Leona is a rising threat, and we must prepare!" A man in gold chains and flowing robes entered, trailed by nobleman and war strategists.

He saw me, then Emerald, and yelled, "What in the name of-" "Orrin. Calm down. This is Vraela, and her dragon, Emerald. They have escaped from imprisonment in Uru'baen to join us."

Orrin was silent, obviously mulling over the information, then was a cranky man again. "Well, if we can't get past Dras-Leona, there won't be any Varden to fight for or room for vengeance. And child, don't say you don't want vengeance. I can see the lust for blood in your eyes. Were you raised by murderers?"

I laughed at the irony. I said, "Well, one murderer, dozens of servants. But it is an honor to be in your presence, King Orrin, Lord of Surda." I knew flattery worked on any lord or nobleman, and sure enough, he asked, "Well, if you must skip this meeting, at least let the young Rider stay with me. You, after all, have Eragon."

His voice was full of contempt, as if he was jealous that Eragon choose Nasuada over him, and wanted better than Nasuada now. The way he said it made me sure he wanted a tool more than my gratitude, and I couldn't think of a way out.

Thankfully, Eragon put in, "I'm not sure she should. Her dragon will need a larger tent than what you'd have, no offense intended. I believe she should stay near me, for her dragon's sake." Orrin looked as if he wanted to whine and protest, but Nasuada cut in first. "I'll have a tent pitched immediately."

Eragon lead me out, but as I hefted Emerald outside,I heard Orrin mutter, "Want all the Riders under your power and out of mine? We'll see about that." I quickly followed Eragon to my new life with the Varden.

fariths= elvish picture, entirely realistic, and created from memories.