Alone in paradise

[Ember]

Just a little further.... I swear, we can rest in a bit Issie stroked along her dragons neck scales. The sun was bright and high in the sky, making it look like small individual rainbows were trapped in each scale, big and small. She took away Isellmarie's breath every single day. She was well aware the dragon was listening to her admiring thoughts and could feel the barely contained pleasure Teirar was trying to hide.
You said that a few miles back, Teirar spoke in her musical voice and hummed in that way which showed Issie she was happy with the praise. Issie laughed. There was no-one to hear her apart from her Teirar and she seemed pleased at the sound. Issie had never felt so complete as she did when she was around her dragon. It was as if some how she had been blinded all of her life and now, in the spring sky, she was complete and happy despite still being in the Empire still. She needed to find the Varden so they could help her. She had no rider training, she had no experience and Teirar was still young.
I may be young, Teirar commented on her riders downward thought progress, but I can still protect you. The amount of affection and love and pride which came with the thought made tears come to Issie's eyes.

Wordlessly the pair carried on, each reflecting silently just how strong they were together. Issie briefly thought back to her mothers grief at her dragons death; now she understood.
Here, land beside Tudosten, Issie nodded towards the large expanse of water that they were rushing towards. Teirar tilted her wings and glided smoothly to an undercurrent where she wouldn't have to use as much energy. Issie stood up in the saddle and watched the lake with wide eyes as they skimmed the water. Thrilled at this landing she turned round and watched the waves her dragons talons made. Like a knife though butter she cut through the mirror like surface, flapped her wings twice and landed gracefully on the shore, tucking her wings against her sides so it was easier for her rider to get off her back.

Issie slowly slid off of the dragons back and then slid to the ground, crouched and waited for some stability to return. After a while she managed to stand up up and awkwardly walk in a circle. Teirar's rumbling laughter made Issie blush and quicken her stride. She went to the lake side and splashed her face with the cool water. A moment later Teirar uncoiled and leaped into the water causing Issie to instinctively jump then gasp as the resulting splash soaked her brown breeches and crisp white blouse.
"Snowy!" Issie exclaimed out loud and burst into fits of laughter. Out here it seemed impossible that anyone could reach her. She and her dragon were alone and safe. Well, that's what she thought.

[Kotan Milesson]

Riding Arget was soothing sometimes, and right now, Kotan really needed to soothe himself right now. He had been training and studying magical techniques and sword fighting maneouvers a lot lately, and so far, it was stressing him out as well, due to the sheer amount of information he was trying to absorb and memorize within such a short amount of time. His father had commented on how he had been pushing himself harder than he should have. However, Kotan agreed with him, but he still did not like being told he was overworking himself. It was frustrating, and his half human side kept him from reaching the full potential he could of had if he was a full blooded elf. However, he was becoming more elven due to his bond with Arget.

Is something troubling you Kotan? Arget’s voice rumbled through Kotan’s mind, and he shook his head. Using their bond, he replied Well, not really. It’s just, I’ve been forcing myself to train more and more, and everyone, apart from you so far, has told me that I’m pushing myself to far. In a tense tone, Arget’s voice rumbled through the hybrid’s mind. Well, you see, you are pushing yourself to your limits my vor. We may share a very powerful bond of yawë, but you need to understand your limits. Sighing, Kotan thought about it. He had been pushing himself to his limits lately, and this was probably why his father had been worried. Just the sheer force of training was beginning to wear him down. Sighing, he said out loud “You’re right Arget. You and all the others are right. You’re a good Vor Arget.” Sometimes, Arget and Kotan would use both the native tongue of humans, and the ancient language in their conversations.

Kotan noticed that Arget had noticed something as they went into a dive, which caused him to release a yell of both exhiliration and adrenaline. As he got closer to the ground, Arget pulled up and landed safely. Looking at his dragon, Kotan said quietly into Arget’s mind Next time, tell me before you do that. With a rumble of a laugh, Arget replied Don’t worry. I’ll warn you next time.Leaping off of Arget’s back, Kotan landed on his feet and looked at a woman with a dragon. Walking closer to her, he also noticed her elven features. Kotan walked a bit closer, and in case she thought he was being a bit hostile. He said “Atra du evarínya ono varda.” This was a greeting that all elfs used. He then switched back to his native tongue and he said “I’m with the varden. I’m Kotan Milesson, and this is my dragon Arget.”

[Ember]

Issie whipped round at the sound of a dragon landing and then approaching footfalls. "Gath sem sverd un lam iet!" she held her hand out as the blade whipped from the saddle into her hand, drawn and shining. It looked almost identical to Teirar's scales and she lifted in a defensive manner. When she saw the man her whole body tensed and she centred herself. The training from when she was younger came back to her and filled her with a sense of clarity. She was calm. Already she was assessing him, looking for his weaknesses. He didn't appear elf - though he spoke the language. Maybe a bit of both. Slower reflexes than her. He also didn't have a weapon drawn. She could probably throw this blade before he drew his. It wasn't until he spoke of the Varden that she relaxed her stance and then let then stabbed the blade into the ground. She didn't need to worry about the dirt due to the wards around it or she wouldn't have dared to do such a thing. Issie tried to look nonchalant at the fact she was drenched from head to foot, her brown hair curling already around her high cheek bones.
"Atra esterní ono thelduin. Mor'ranr lífa unin hjarta onr. Un du evarínya ono varda," she inclined her head politely. She was very concious of the fact her blouse was sticking her skin and she mentally whispered a spell which dried the clothes, still never taking her eyes off of the male in front of her.
"My name is Isellmarie and this is my dragon Teirar," she spoke very softly in that typical elven musical tone. Teirar had jumped from the water the minute that the other dragon appeared. Issie was bombarded with the odd mixture of thoughts which were bothering her dragon.

Teirar wasn't sure how to react to another dragon and a male one at that. She crouched at first, her deep blue eyes watching the older dragon curiously. After all she wasn't that all, Tei just wanted to play, to explore. She knew deep down that she had a role to do outside but not now. Now she wanted to explore. When Issie had soothed her worried Teirar didn't waste much time in moving forward to sniff at the other dragon. She was smaller than him, about half of his size but she had the courage of an old dragon. She prowled round in a circle, sniffing at him curiously before she hummed in her little sign of content.

Issie couldn't help but smile at her dragon, her whole posture relaxing and her eyes softening. This was Teirars first encounter with another dragon and a male one at that. Of course she would be curious. Issie sent her a mental warning to be cautious and keep on her talons but other than that left her too it.
"You are a long way from the Varden aren't you?" she frowned slightly. Maybe she'd travelled faster than she thought.

[Darren]

It was the sound of talking and the speaking of the word "varden" that woke Levonla very suddenly from his slumber, protected by many wards that made him seem like a bush to passers-by. He sprang up from where he was sleeping and cautiously tip-toed behind the thick trunk of a tree to see what was going on. To his surprise, he saw the magnificent, glimmering bodies of TWO skulblaka and their riders.

'Varden?' he thought to himself, 'Are they from the Varden?'

As he was about to come out from behind the tree and talk to the riders, a thought stopped him immediately.

'What if they are Galbatorix's riders?!'

Silently, Levonla drew his sword, for his spear was still on the ground where he was sleeping minutes ago. Feeling the comforting and familiar leather grip in his hand, Levonla felt more confident.

'I will listen to what they are saying.' he thought to himself, 'Maybe I can find out more about the whereabouts of the Varden. Wait! But what had the girl said to the other rider?!'

"You are a long way from the Varden aren't you?"

'Aha!' he exclaimed to himself, 'So one of them must be a freelance rider looking to join the Varden! And the other rider must be from the Varden!'

Dashing out from behind the tree, he began to introduce himself.

"Greetings, Bjartslukar and Shur'tugalar. Atra esterní ono thelduin. Mor'ranr lífa unin hjarta onr. Un du evarínya ono varda. My name is Levonla Elessar Tinuviel, a spellcaster from Du Weldenvarden. Fricai onr eka eddyr. I seek the Varden."

[Kotan Milesson]

Kotan looked at Arget as the smaller and obviously younger dragon sniffed around him, and he smiled. Younger dragons have always been curious iet Shur’tugal. I believe she is just curious and wants to know more about her race. The rumbling voice of Arget resonated these words through Kotan’s mind, and he looked at the girl. When he noticed the girl look at him with a look that seemed like she was trying to understand what he was, he said “I am not fully an elf, or fully human. I am a half elf. My father is an elf, while my mother was a human. These pairings have been known to end in tragedy.” Rubbing his eyes, he shielded himself from the hurt of having never known his mother.

Arget looked at the younger dragon curiously. She looked to be only a few months old, and her scales were a similar colour to his own. Extending his mind to the female dragon, Arget spoke gently Hello young one. You have not been around other’s of our race, have you? Arget raised his head to peer into Teirar’s eyes, and he saw the curiosity and playfulness. A rumbling chuckle escaped his lips, and he mentally spoke once again to Teirar You’re playful and curious about the world. It is easy to see. However, I also see the courage you have. The eyes of a dragon, and any creature, show a number of things, and they show all these things about you little one.

Kotan looked at the woman and said “The varden’s only about ten miles from here. I just came out here for a ride with Arget.” Arget had been the one to choose his name, as most dragons do. However, Kotan did give him the suggestion as well as several other name suggestions. When another man came out of the bushes, Kotan’s hand went to the pommel of his sword, and he looked at the man. Noticing that he was an elf as well, Kotan took his hand off his sword and he said in his normal tongue “Pleasure to meet you both. Now, the Varden is ten miles south, the direction i came from. We could use some elven spellcasters, and another rider as well. Now, one thing. How experienced are both of you with magic? I may be very young by elf standards, and by human standards, I’ll have only been an adult for eight years, but magic is where I excel, not to brag.” Raising his right hand, Kotan thought the word Brisingr. In his raised right hand, a silver ball of fire came forth.

[Ember]

Issie already felt mildly uncomfortable about being stuck with two men and an older dragon while Teirar was here. On her own she would take the challenge but now she had another half, she had her Snowy and she was not going to let anything or anyone hurt her. Even if it mean't judging her own race. She had already pulled her blade from the ground and had it pointing across her ready. It would be very easy to step forward, move her up out and slit the man's throat if he turned out to pose some threat. But no he too wanted to join the Varden. Did everyone seek out this group?
They have so many followers but yet we still cannot take cities without great tolls on numbers? she thought to Teirar who had crouched low to the ground at the appearance of another two-legger-pointed-ears. She swished her tail low and then blinked one deep blue eye at her rider and blew a plume of smoke towards the new male to show she was watching him. She let her lips curl back to reveal only a flash of the sharp teeth which lined her muzzle before blinking up at the larger dragon and straightening up trying to appear taller.

We came from Galbatrix's palace. Isellmarie rescued me, without her I would still be under his thumb. I have not seen another dragon besides you no, I have long waited to see others of my race. Are there many of us now? Do we fare well? From what I heard there was only the Black-One and Saphira. Now there seems to be more. her spirits rose in hope. Maybe her race would not die out after all. If there were many of them around then they could rescue their race from near extinction.

Issie glanced to her dragon at the information she shared then quickly looked to the hybrid who had probably heard the news from his dragon. She smiled very slightly. She didn't want him to speak the information out loud of course. She was exhausted and she was still injured from his torturing. Explaining her journey was not something Issie looked forward to doing, and it was something she didn't want to do now.
"I've studied magic since I was very young, before you were born," she chuckled and then formed the words in her mind. deyja Brisingr. The fire was dowsed in seconds and she tilted her head slightly to the side.
"It is nice to meet you Levonla, my name is Isellmarie," she glanced back to the Varden Rider. "Only 10 miles?" she glanced to Tie who was also interested in the information. She couldn't push the young dragon. They would rest before catching up and joining them.

[Darren]

Seeing the fierce silver dragon baring her teeth at Levonla, he inclined his head in.


“I meant no harm, honourable Bjartslukar.”
Turning to Issie, he spoke in the Ancient Language, “I apologize, for I was not meaning to startle you, Isellmarie svit-kona.”

Sheathing his long handled, rune covered blade and digging his spear into the soft earth, he gazed at the riders and their majestic dragons.

Somewhere deep in his heart, Levonla wished that someday he could find a dragon egg and become a Shuturgal, but once again dragon eggs were extremely rare and usually hidden.

“Do you know there whereabouts of the Varden? As an experienced spell caster from Du Weldenvarden I hope to be of some assistance to the Varden.”