What have I just done? That is all I can think as I hold my eyes shut tight and pull back slightly away from his lips. I couldn't look at his expression. He would probably be so angry. What was I thinking.

Cracking my eyes open, I see him staring down at me with a mixture of emotions that I cannot place exactly. But shock is prominent.

"I- I", the stutters roll out of my mouth, "I'm sorry."

I close my eyes once more a duck my head, unable to look into those eyes. How could I just kiss him? He's my friend, nothing more. So when a large, slightly callused hand touches my face, I am taken by surprise and cannot help opening my eyes once more.

A small smile plays on his lips as he whispers, "Talia... Why would you be sorry?"

My eyes go wide as his smile grows bigger and pulls me back in, wrapping his arm around my waist. My breathing picks up as his head tilts down every so slightly, touching his forehead to mine.

"I've been waiting for so long to do this", he says, moving his hand from my cheek to my neck. My mind had literally turned to mush and I couldn't do much more than blink. It was a wonder I had built up the courage to kiss him in the first place, but now it seemed Galbatorix had taken matters into his own hands.

He crashes his lips against mine and holds them there for a moment before pulling back and preparing to go in again. It was pure and utter bliss as electric chills shiver down my spine. It was as if my mind had floated up into the clouds and was no longer able to function. But, just as his lips touch mine once more, a loud force crashes against my mind. A very annoyed dragon's mind.

I jump back out of his arms, as Vascar also presses against Galbatorix's mind. Both of his hands press against his temples as he mumbles, "ok, ok I get it!"

Vascar opens his mind to me as he says, 'I would appreciate it if you would keep your affections under control.'

Frustration wells up inside of me as I just huff out a breath of air. Vascar stands and walks over to me as I stare daggers at him.

'Vascar, what are you doing! This is Galbatorix! He has been there for the both of us since we first arrived here! You know him Vascar! Why would you even question him?'

'Talia, you need to take care in who you give your heart to-', he begins, glancing over towards where Galbatorix stands.

'What, are you jealous?', I snap, but regret my harshness as Vascar closes his eyes.

'It-it's not that Talia', he says dipping his head slightly, 'it's just... Our minds are connected, which means not only out thoughts, but also our desires and emotions. If you were to develop deep feelings for someone, then slowly, I would begin to acquire feelings for that same person. I just don't want you to rush into things, for once both of us are connected, then breaking the bond with someone is just that much harder.'

I stare in open shock at Vascar. So, if I were to fall in love with Galbatorix, then he would too? That was extremely hard to wrap my mind around. But, this was my best friend, I could trust him.

'I understand Vascar, but I know this is the right choice. Do you trust me?'

He opens his eyes and stares at me for a while, not making a noise, until finally he says, 'I do.'

With that he turns his head to Galbatorix and says something to him that I cannot hear, and flies out of the cave. Galbatorix and I were alone again.

"I'm sorry. I hope he didn't give you too hard of a time", I say walking up to him, closer to the mouth of the cave.

"It's understandable", he says placing his hands on his hips and stretching his back, "I'm sure I'll get the talk when Jarnunvösk finds out. Dragons, they're very.... Protective."

"Extremely protective", I mumble dragging my foot across the ground, unsure of what else to do.

"And maybe a bit jealous", Galbatorix says lowering his voice. I can't help smiling and letting out a slight chuckle.

"They'd never admit it though", I say, walking towards the edge and sitting down, dangling my feet over like I had on my first time being up here. So much had changed since then. Looking over the city, I notice more people and dragons gathered around the Nesting Building than usual, and reality hits me like a train. Everything comes rushing back from the watch, and why I was up here in the first place. Slowly, a single tear slips out of my eye and trails down my cheek.

An arm slides over my shoulder as Galbatorix sits down next to me. He says nothing as he pulls me closer and I lay my head up against him. He was warm and comforting, which is what I needed to heal how cold I had gone inside. We sat like that for a while, looking over the city together. No words were needed to be said, just the joy of finally being with him. I realized now, that I had felt like this for a while, but never truly embraced the feeling of wanting to be with him. But, it didn't matter now for I had finally taken that blind leap, and landed on the other side. Galbatorix knew how I felt about him, and he felt the same way.

~*~

Finally after a while, the two dragons returned and we parted ways as we normally did, even if it was a little earlier. I could feel Jarnunvösk's eyes on me more than normal so we kept our goodbyes more formal than usual. As I entered my room, Vascar gave me a cold stare with his ice blue eyes. Yet, when his mind met mine, he seemed more playful than usual. I knew I was not going to get off without any teasing tonight.

Just as he was going to make some kind of witty remark though, a slight rap on the door cuts him off. Curiosity builds within me as I turn to go and see who was there.

As the door swings open, I can't help but feel a bit confused. I young boy stands awkwardly in the street, shifting from foot to foot waiting for me to open the door. When it is open, he looks up and shuffles his hands.

"Are you Talia?", he asks.

"Yes, I am."

"I have a message for you. The runner got here this morning with it."

"A letter?", I say, unable to believe my ears. But, he nods so it must be true. As soon as he hands it to me, I am sprinting up the stairs and am dropping myself down next to Vascar. He doesn't need to ask what I was doing because soon the old paper is ripped open, and lines of finely written words are made visible. It was obviously my mothers writing.

Talia,

I hope you are well. I would say the same of your father, but he has been very stubborn lately. He is still not taking your decision well. But, he will come around. I hope we can make the journey to visit you soon, but I do not know if we have the money or time. Things have been rough here with crops, due to a drought. Hopefully, things will start to look up for our small town.

As for our newest family member, he sounds wonderful. Vascar is a very noble name, and I have the feeling he fits it well. I know you made the right decision and I will support you full-heartedly. I only wish I could have seen that the day you left. Maybe if I had been more supportive of you, I could have said goodbye. But, it is not forever, and I will see you soon enough.

As of Ilirea, I can understand how you are awed by its beauty. I have visited the city only once before when I was a young girl. It is also the place I met your real father. I think he still visits there from time to time.

Now, I am running out of parchment so I will make this short. Talia, I love you, and you have made me so proud. I regret pushing you away and hope that I will be able to see you soon, and meet Vascar. Until then, may the stars watch over you.

Mother

By the end, I was having to wipe my eyes. She didn't hate me. She was proud of me. Sure father was still sore at my decision and wouldn't talk to me, but mother had accepted who I was. Happiness did not even cover how I was feeling.

'You are so happy, it is even affecting me', Vascar says nudging my arm. It was affecting him so much he didn't even tease me about Galbatorix.

'She doesn't hate me', I reply, my smile growing wider as I end up clutching the letter to my chest, keeping it close to my heart, 'she doesn't hate me.'

'How could she', Vascar says looking me straight in the eye, 'you have done nothing but things to make her proud. You have grown so much Talia, grown into a warrior worthy of the title Rider.'

'I would be nothing without you, a dragon worthy of the legends.'

He puffs out his chest slightly before saying, 'someday we will be legends. People will speak of us for centuries to come.'

'Of course we will', I say, then slide down to the ground so I'm laying on my side next to him. All that was buzzing in my mind was when I would be able to see mother next. If what she said was true and crops were being affected by droughts, then there would be no way she could make it here. And, I don't think that she would want to come here, what with the memories of my birth father and all. But, I needed to see her soon.

A plan starts to form in my mind. My heart ached with longing and I knew that, even though I would probably get in trouble, I had to go through with it.

Standing up, I prod Vascar with both my mind and my hand, for he had fallen asleep, and say, 'Vascar, get up. We have to go.'

Shaking his head, he says groggily, 'Go? Go where? What are you talking about Talia?'

'We're going to Daret! But we have to leave right now!'

'Talia, have you gone mad! What about training, you know Oromis will never let us go.'

'I know, I know, but this is something I have to do! I need to make things right with my parents.'

He mentally sighs, then stretches his legs and stands, 'well, I see that there is no changing your mind so I am not wasting the effort. When do we leave?'

Inside, my heart stops pounding, adrenaline pumping at breaking a rule. I would have to let someone know where I was going so Oromis wouldn't think something happened to me. Immediately my mind goes to Galbatorix, but I didn't know where he lived. Maybe Vascar did.

So, I ask him, and my excitement builds when he somehow does. Apparently him and Jarnunvösk have flown around sometimes and she has shown him. Quickly darting around the room, I shove some things into a pack that I could need and saddle Vascar. He squirms for a bit after he's a strapped up and waiting for me. Finally, I shut the pack, throw it over my shoulders, and climb up Vascar's back. Then he pushed out the opening in the wall into the dark sky.

I could see very little except the points of lights that were lanterns help by sentries are anyone still walking around, which were scant to none. Vascar's scales were darkened in the light as well, but they still seemed to shine with their own inner light. Slowly, he starts to dive down into the street and stops outside a building identical to mine.

'That's the one', Vascar says pointing his nose to the third opening from the right. Vascar then extended his mind towards it, feeling for the familiar feel of Galbatorix's mind.

Recoiling, a thought jabbed itself straight into Vascar's mind, but also my own; so hard I physically cry out and grab my temples. But as quick as it comes, it's gone, replaced by Galbatorix's frantic voice.

'Talia! Vascar! Oh gods, I'm sorry! I didn't know it was you- what are you doing here? It's the middle of the night!'

'It's- it's fine', I say lowering my hands, 'I need you to relay a message to Oromis for me.'

'A message? What message?'

'I need to leave, tonight. Will you tell Oromis for me, so he doesn't worry that something has happened to me?'

He doesn't respond for a minute and I begin to wonder where he has gone, even saying his name several times. But no respond. Finally, the door opens and he walks out, a pack similar to mine slung over his shoulders and a cocky grin on his face, 'so, where are we going?'

"No", I say, bringing my hand to my face, "no, no, no Galbatorix! I need to go alone-"

"Talia, you have only been here for a little over six months. I have been here for almost three years! I will become a full rider in a few short weeks, so you need me."

"I'm just taking a trip to my hometown? It's not like I'm going Urgal hunting."

"Cant be to safe", he says as Jarnunvösk jumps out the tear shaped opening and lands on the ground, causing me to almost fall on my face. Knowing he was going to be as easy to persuade out of this as I would be, I decide to just agree like Vascar did.

"Fine", I say turning to Vascar again.

He parts his jaws in a toothy grin before saying teasingly, 'now you know how I feel.'

Pushing his head playfully I respond, 'oh quiet you.'

So now, both of us climb up onto our dragons and go to the one other person who I know could relay a message. But this time, I would not be talking to the person.

Landing outside of Leilaní's place, Vascar contacts Valeska with his mind and tells her the same message I told to Galbatorix, but informs her to not tell Leilaní until the morning. She agrees and does not even question our leaving, which I am thankful for. Luckily, it was a quick encounter and we were in the sky again within minutes.

'We should be able to fly past the sentries easy enough', Galbatorix says to me while the dragons fly, 'just make sure Vascar soars over the wall and tries to keep his wings still. It will make the flight more silent and not alert anyone.'

'I will let him know', I promised.

And, just like Galbatorix said, we flew out of the city easily. As soon as we were far enough away, I threw my hands up and laughed lightly. My heart felt free and my mind felt open. We would probably get in so much trouble for this, but at the moment I didn't care. The wind whipped through my hair, bit at my slightly exposed skin, and made my eyes water. It was a bit cold, and slowly, I start to come down out of my great mood, and weariness starts to set in. My brain loses it's concentration and soon my head is drooping and slipping off into sleep.

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AN: HELLO EVERYONE!!!! WOW THIS WAS A QUICK UPDATE!!!! I THINK THIS BOOK COMES THE EASIEST TO ME.... JUST A GUESS THOUGH, AND I LOVE ALL MY BOOKS :) SOOOOOOOOOOO IF YOU ARE VERY HAPPY WITH ME FOR UPDATING THIS BOOK QUICKER THAN THE OTHERS PURLEASE.......

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~Bert