I only own my own OCs. I guess I'd better say my ush, so ancient language translations at the bottom of the page, and ' ' are for mental speech. Now, read to your heart's content.

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was giant teeth. I screeched and fell on hard wood, and I scrambled backwards. I heard a snort, and an amused and pleased voice spoke in my mind, 'Am I that terrifying now, Vraela?' I rolled my eyes and playfully pushed Emerald's snout away. She growled mockingly, 'The ferocious dragon, Emerald. Killer of foes-' "Eater of sheep, more like it!" She growled and rubbed against me. I pulled myself up and looked around. From the looks of the room, it was my guest room in Ceris, with the bed next to the doorway. Emerald had crammed herself as far into the room as she could, but only her head could fit in. I smirked, and scolded her mockingly, "Has the room gotten smaller, or are you just that much bigger? I told you that you were eating too much. You should have listened.." She stopped attempting to tear herself out the door, and snarled, 'Stop joking and help!' I rolled my eyes, and said, 'Turn your head as you pull.' She twisted her emerald head and pulled backwards, freeing herself in a shower of bark strips. She shook her head multiple times, and complained, 'I feel like I have splinters under my scales!'

I stood, and looked to the vanity, seeing a short, silver, laced dress, changed from the tattered rags I presently wore. As I walked out the door, a black-haired elf boy rushed up to me, and stuttered, "Lady Vraela! Eragon Kingslayer, Arya Shadeslayer, and Raweru Rockbender have called for a meeting of the Elders. And I am pleased to see you are well." I nodded, and asked, "Where are they?" He replied, "At líf Treavam. I will escort you. And I have a message from a Janir Festonsson." He handed me a roll of pale parchment, which I eagerly accepted, and nodded my thanks. Janir had become the stable master before I left, and I was waiting for news of success. I was met with a horrible fact:

Dear Vraela Lightwielder,

I am sorry to inform you, that Janir Festonsson, had joined a patrol to escort a dragon's egg from Ellesméra to Kirtan, and the escort was attacked. An Urgal horde captured the egg, and the patrol, including Janir Festonsson, were slain. We grieve for your loss, as we are aware he was your future mate, and we regret his death.

Wishing you well,

Duncan Roseton of Elvish Incidents

I couldn't face it. Janir. Beautiful, kind, generous, loving Janir... He couldn't be gone. I wouldn't believe it until I saw his body. I thought the words for scrying, desperately searching for Janir in the world, but he was gone. A void. Emptiness. All I could see was black. Why him? Why now? Why at all? I had loved that boy. His black, wavy hair, his laugh... All that made Janir, Janir... And now, there was no Janir. I opened my eyes, and feeling tears well, I let my hair droop in front of my face, shielding myself. No matter how painful, I had to remember that people still needed me. I murmured, "Lead me to líf Treavam." And I silently followed the boy, not bothering to ask his name. Emerald could feel my sadness, and attempted to comfort me, but it didn't help. She was part of me, but she wasn't Janir. I saw the boy halt in front of an oak tree, 3/4 the size of the Menoa tree. He motioned at a root to the left, and as I looked, I noticed that a staircase wound up the root and around the trunk, disappearing in the fall orange, gold, and red foliage.

I thanked the boy, and quietly settled onto Emerald's back. We shot up into the sky, following the staircase, but the usual adrenaline of flying was replaced by a wave of sadness. When I had flown with Janir, he had loved the flight, and the wind running along Emerald's wings. I saw and felt the wind dancing on her wings as we flew, and Janir's vacancy felt even stronger than before. But I pushed all thought of Janir away, remembering that Arya, Eragon, and Raweru were about to see me. They would take despair if they saw my tears. No. I hadn't been able to save Janir, but I would save my friends somehow.

I suddenly noticed a large knot in the trunk, big enough for elder dragons, and directed Emerald past gold leaves and limbs and into the hole. A small, circular table stood in the middle of the room, three dragons curled up around it. I could already tell Raweru was beating hard at Eragon about something. She was pounding the table with an iron hammer repeatedly, Arya plugging her ears, and Eragon just glaring back. Better than when I usually see Eragon and Raweru in the same room, but I had been hoping for unusual; that was apparently too high a hope. I dismounted Emerald and called, "Atra esterní ono thelduin." Eragon, face red, turned, and making the appropriate gesture, answered, "Atra mor'ranr lífa unin hjarta onr."

I didn't bother with the third line, and I asked, "What's happened?" Eragon was about to answer, but Raweru cut in angrily, "I had a vision about Meirin's plans, and just because it's slightly vague, Eragon refuses to act!" She threw her hammer at his head, scraping his left temple, and yelling, "Maggot-infested, dung-sniffing, canker-filled, worm-ridden, pus-dripping carcass of a rotten skunk!" Wow. She broke out the big spears on that go. I had to save Eragon's hide, so I put my hand up for Raweru to stop, and said, "Eragon. Walk with me." He blinked, confused, and followed me hesitantly.

We started to descend the stairs, winding along the tree trunk, and I asked, "It scared you, didn't it?" He stared at me, shocked, and I asked again, "Dying scared you, didn't it?" He hesitated before nodding, and I continued, "I understand your feelings. The first time, I was sure my life was over; that all I had wished to accomplish would never come true, and that I had failed in all my life. But you must understand that cowardice will not help us now; only bravery." Eragon looked at me and said questioningly, "This isn't like you. Usually, you'll have a full speech on my mistakes, and now your supportive? What's happened?" I couldn't pull my heart from my throat long enough to speak.

I pulled the letter from my cloak, and Eragon's face softened after reading it. He asked, "Were you married?" I chocked out, "No, but we were to be wed in spring." Eragon put a hand on my shoulder and said, "Janir died a hero's death. And you will join him someday. Just not yet. Until then, live life as well as you can." I smiled, and I thanked Eragon. We started walking back to the meeting room, where I could hear Raweru building and smashing things repeatedly. I patted Eragon's back and said, "Try to be patient with her." He rolled his eyes, as I saw Raweru throw a clay basin down the tree's length. Just another day with those two and Arya.

Atra esterní ono thelduin- May good fortune rule over you

Mor'ranr lífa unin hjarta onr- Peace live in your heart

líf Treavam- Life Tree