I could not sleep no matter how hard I tried. With every flap of Vascar's wings, I was propelled closer and closer to my parents. I watched as Galbatorix passed out somewhere in the middle of the day, and how the land seemed to blur underneath us. There were no discernible features on the ground below, just endless plains, but I still watched every inch of it pass beneath us. I tried many things to keep myself entertained and my mind busy, so I wouldn't dwell on unpleasant things, or die of boredom.

Finally I ended up completely backwards in the saddle, fiddling with a random stick and my hunting knife. It took all of my concentration to make even strokes with the knife while being knocked around by the force of Vascar flying. As I came to make a slightly deeper stroke is when I slipped up.

The knife was thrown off by less than an inch, but it was enough to push it off the wood entirely, off the wood and on to my finger.

Crying out, I drop the stick and watch it spiral towards the ground below. Clutching my hand as blood drips down my finger, Vascar contacts me in alarm and starts to drop towards the ground.

'It's- it's fine', I splutter, trying to stem the flow of blood, 'really, landing will not help anything.'

He growls but tips back up towards the sky as he says, 'Fine, but be more careful. You scared me.'

I smile and turn back around, slipping the knife back in the saddle bags. As soon as I'm stable in the seat, I reach my uninjured hand out to scratch his neck quickly. But, I couldn't for long because my blood was starting to build up again. I needed something to stop the bleeding.

I rummage through the saddle bags, looking for something I could use and not have to worry about ruining it. Finally, I come across a scrap piece of white cloth and wrap in around my hand. I would just have to have Galbatorix heal this whenever we landed next.

Slowly, the blood stopped flowing, and I was left with my thoughts once more. My thoughts and Vascar's, that is. Soon if was back into my brooding stupor.

'You are worried Little One', he says sensing my thoughts.

'Yes I- wait, what did you call me?'

He chuckles, creating a deep rumbling sound, 'Little One. You are quite tiny.'

I sense his extreme amusement as this nickname he has given me and I couldn't help scowling slightly, but ignore it and answer his question. Perhaps he would forget his nickname for me later.

'Yes, I am extremely nervous, for reasons you already know. I just cannot shake this feeling no matter what I do.'

He mentally sighs and turns his head back to look at me. 'Little One, I do not know what will happen, but I do know this. No matter what, I will be here for you. And, I get the feeling that someone else will be there for you too.'

At that he looks pointedly over towards Jarnunvösk and Galbatorix. I cannot help the way my cheeks heat up from blushing, or the way my heart starts to race. Vascar notices this and scoffs, but I do not sense as much jealousy and scorn as before. Instead he seems to be more protective and just jealous of Galbatorix. Were my thoughts already affecting him?

I shake it off and instead go back to staring at the desolate land below. Nerves were building within me until my stomach was clenched and my hands were starting to tremble. I kept myself busy by telling riddles from Daret to Vascar, but my mind always seemed to stray back during quiet parts of our conversation.

Day faded into night, and with the lack of sunlight, my nerves seemed to calm. I would not arrive in town at night with two large dragons. It would give the people a heart attack and make them more likely to attack, fearing wild dragons. I knew that we would wait until morning now to arrive, whenever we did make it to Daret.

Through my mental link with Vascar, I could feel him becoming more and more weary, and knew he would not last much longer. I gave him as much energy I could spare to keep him moving for he seemed determined to make it to Daret tonight.

'Why don't we stop?', I ask him reaching up to pat his neck. He shakes his head before responding.

'I sense we are close, I will keep going.'

His answer showed how tired he truly was, his words slurring together and his sentences short. I did not argue with him though, for I knew his sense of direction was better that mine, and if he thought we were close, I would trust his judgement.

'Just don't kill yourself, I'd rather wait another day than to have you push yourself too hard.'

He grunts in agreement but says no more. I could sense his determination to overcome the way his wings ached or the slight foam starting to form in his mouth. He was set on this more than anything else I had ever seen of him before. I only hoped we would make it there quick before he passed out while in the air.

I glanced over at Jarnunvösk and noticed Galbatorix was now awake and staring intently at me. Reaching out to me, I feel his mind brush up against mine as he says, 'Jarnunvösk says we will be there shortly. I think she can see Daret up ahead.'

I nod and say, 'good, because I think Vascar is going to die of exhaustion here shortly.'

'Jarnunvosk is ready to drop as well.... Good thing we are close.'

I silently agree. I didn't trust myself to actually speak. If we were close enough for Jarnunvösk to see the town, then we would be seeing my parents in the morning.

Soon I am able to see the lanterns or the watchmen or the dimming lights inside a few houses. I am unable to contain the nerves in my stomach. Finally, the two dragons dip down to make camp for the last time until we reach Daret.

As I stumble as quickly as possible out of the saddle, I notice the way Vascar holds his wings and the way his head droops. Foam drips out his mouth as his shoulders heave with the force of his breathing. After I unbuckle the saddle from him, I do my best to comfort him and give him as much energy as I can spare. Finally, he drops to the ground and passes out without another word.

I chuckle and go to huddle by the fire Galbatorix had started. In Daret, the cold season had just begun so a subtle chill hung in the air, causing shivers to wrack through my body. Galbatorix notices and slides closer to me, grabbing out a blanket from the saddle bags and wrapping it over my shoulders. I smile at him, unable to imagine being here without him.

"Thanks", I mumble glancing up into his face. As the heat starts to warm my limbs once more, a dull ache begins to throb in my hand. That's when I remember the knife incident and hold my hand out to Galbatorix.

He grabs it, a look of concern spreading across his face. He asks no questions before saying the healing spell, causing my skin to itch and crawl, yet heal. It wasn't until after he had finished that the questions started to roll in.

"Talia, what did you do?", he says looking down at me, his thick eyebrows furrowed in concern. I chuckle darkly and tell him the story with the knife. When I'm finished he shakes his head and mumbles, "gods Talia, you should be a bit more careful."

"Yeah, Vascar already gave me that speech", I say waving my hand at him. He laughs and leaning back on his forearms, stretching his feet out in front of him. He seemed so strong and confident, like nothing could take him down.

"So, you are going to be a full rider soon?", I ask him, remembering what he said just before we left.

He smiles broadly, causing my heart to flutter, before responding, "Yes, and I cannot wait. Jarnunvösk and I are ready to go on real rider missions. Slay some Urgals, stop some riots, check on the dwarves or elves. I want to see the world. I want out of Ilirea."

"How long have you been here?"

"Too long."

I nod, looking up at the stars. I knew what he was talking about, the alluring call of being a full rider. I could not wait to receive my sword and be given my first mission. To be a hero of legends.

"What do you have to do? To become a full rider, I mean", I ask curiously.

"I'm not exactly sure. I know there will be a ceremony, but before that an elf from Ellesmera will have to come to get the measurements and description of my sword. Plus they will need the color of Jarnunvösk. But after my sword is made, I will be knighted with it, than receive blade, the blade of a true rider", he says staring off into space, imagining his not to distant future. It was something to behold.

"It sounds....", I say, but stop, unable to come up with the proper word.

"It will be", he responds, looking over at me, a gleam in his eye that made me think of amazing futures and successful endings.

I yawn, allowing the sound to escape past my lips. Galbatorix chuckles and motions me over towards him. I gladly oblige, laying myself down next to him, my head on his chest.

He drapes the blanket over both of us and asks, "Did you get any sleep at all today?"

I shake my head wearily. My worries were still there, but being next to him seemed to put them at bay. Now, sleep was starting to wear down on me, trying to drag me deeper and deeper into my dreams.

Galbatorix brings his hand up and stroke my hair, quietly saying, "Go to sleep Talia. I will watch over you."

I smile slightly, then deepen my breathing, allowing myself to be relaxed by the comforting touch of his hand on my head. As I drift to sleep, I do not think of the worries of my parents or what will happen tomorrow, all I think about his here and now with Galbatorix beside me. Needless to say, it was some of the best sleep I had ever had.

~*~

Morning seemed to arrive too early, and soon I could feel the warm touch of Galbatorix shaking me awake, and the poking thoughts of Vascar pushing against my mind. I knew it was time to get up, but another part of me knew that to get up was to face my parents.

I crack open my eyes and squint at the sunlight that comes pouring in. My stomach growls as I sit up and stare blearily around our makeshift camp.

Now that the light shines bright across he land, I can see Daret clearly, its tangled roads and leaning buildings. The smell of the wind rushing through the prairie grasses makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Everything was so familiar and comforting.

After that we eat in silence, rabbit and some herbs that I remember picking as a young girl. Neither Galbatorix nor Vascar push me to speak, and I do not choose to either. I continued to push off the moment when I would have to step up and enter the town. But as the sun reached its peak in the sky, I knew it was time to go.

I get to my feet slowly, then take the time to crack my back and stretch all my limbs. I could feel Vascar's eyes on me the whole time, sensing my motives.

Nudging my mind gently, he says, 'Are you alright Little One?'

I sigh and meet his icy blue gaze, then nod. As I go to climb his back, Galbatorix grabs my hand. I'm shocked at first, until he pulls me in close, wrapping his arms around me in a comforting embrace.

"Don't worry Talia, we will be here for you. Everything will be fine", he whispers into my hair. I nod again, then respond softly.

"Thank you."

He releases me and mounts Jarnunvösk as I do the same to Vascar. I was glad it was Vascar who had to physically move us towards the town, for I was having trouble breathing as he stretched his wings and pushed into the sky for the short trek to town.

We were over Daret in a few short flaps of his wings. From this height I could see the butcher's where father worked, the dingy town tavern, and individual people strolling the streets enjoying the last days of warm weather.

Taking a deep breath that shakes on the way out, I reach out to Vascar.

"Ready?", I say both out loud and with my mind.

'The question is not if I am ready Talia, the question is, are you ready?', he responds back.

I do not respond for a few seconds. The truth was I don't know if I would ever be ready, but with another trembling breath I say, 'I am ready.'

Without another word, Vascar tips down and aims for the town square. All else blurs around me as we come closer and closer to the ground below. Jarnunvösk is right on our heels as Vascar's large form lands with a solid THUD. Jarnunvösk lands beside us with an even larger bone jarring sound. Anyone in the vicinity jumps away and many screams can be heard. Several people pull out knives and look at the large dragons in complete and utter fear. Children look up at Vascar and Jarnunvösk in awe, but their mothers hold them back, terrified of the beasts.

Several moments pass in complete silence as the villagers stare up at us in shock, unable to comprehend our presence. My throat clogs as my I scramble for words. Vascar pushes against my mind.

'Say something Little One, they fear our presence.'

Clearing my throat, I search my head for something, anything I could say to calm them down. But, nothing comes to mind so I say the first thing that comes to my mind.

Raising my hand in greeting I call out, "Uhm.... Hi."

I hear a slap next to me as Galbatorix slaps his hand to his face. My face goes red as the crowd stares up at me expectantly. Needless to say I was ready to disappear. Until I saw the one face in the crowd I had been looking for.

"Mom."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

AN: HEY GUYS!!!! OH MY GOD OF MISCHIEF I LOVED UPDATING THIS STORY FOR SOME REASON! I MEAN, THATS A GOOD THING BUT I WAS JUST SO ECSTATIC TO FINISH :) SO IF YOU HAVENT HEARD ALREADY FROM MY MESSAGE BOARD I HAVE SOME NEWS...

I AM GOING TO STOP UPDATING ALL BUT TWO OF MY BOOKS UNTIL THOSE SAID TWO OF BOOKS ARE FINISHED. THE TWO BOOMS I WILL UPDATE UNTIL FINISHED IS....

Before The Fall
&
The Guardian

YAY :) OK SO THATS ALL HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS UPDATE AND PLEASE.....

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~Bert