LIGHT ➼ Eragon Fanfiction

Dragon Eggs

Autumn sat back and gazed out of the window and watched as the sun slowly rose above the horizon. Today was her only chance to escape. And, as slim as it might be, she would take that chance. Shivering slightly, she stood and approached the back wall of her house. Perhaps it would still work. Attempting to be as quiet as a mouse and failing miserably, Autumn examined the wooden planks. After around three minutes, she found what she was looking for. A tiny circular indent in the wood. Although it appeared to be a simple mark in the material, Autumn knew better. Quietly she pulled the plank towards her.

To Autumn's immense surprise, the plank swung forward, revealing a child size gap in the house. She had used this long ago, when she was around five years old, to sneak away from her father and play with Lorna and Taz. Taz. Autumn shook her head, as it to shake off the memories and focused on the task at hand. Moving stealthily, she attempted to squeeze through the gap. Shockingly, she passed through, onto the side street which passed her home.

Closing the plank behind her, without a thought as to how she would reenter the house, Autumn began to traipse towards the Main Square, where she was certain the Egg Ceremonty would take place. She was surprised to find that, although she was exited, she was very nervous. Normally Autumn didn't get nervous. But this was important. Her entire life could revolve around what happened on that day.

In an attempt to reduce her nervousness she began to hum a tune. It was a simple lullaby which Amira had sung to her when she was very young. It was one of her happiest memories. Her mother sat on a small chair humming to her, while Autumn squirmed on her lap. She hadn't heard the song since before her mother disappeared so she was greatly surprised when, unconsciously, she began singing it.

Soon enough she made it to the square and was shocked to see the huge line of hopeful children. Nerves coursed through her veins, a million times more powerful than before. Then she caught sight of the eggs. There was a large, stunningly bright turquoise egg which was incredibly beautiful, but Autumn's eyes rested on another egg. This egg was small but shone like pure starlight. In the instant Autumn knew she wanted - no, needed - this egg. For a moment the fear was gone, leaving only her excitement. But then it returned, doubly as strong as she realized that with so many people in line, her chances were slim.

As she moved to take her place in the huge line, she gazed at the three elves who stood by the eggs. They moved with a fluidity and grace she had never seen before. Autumn guessed that they would be faster than normal humans and probably just as strong. She was proved wrong rapidly when a boy refused to let go of the golden egg. The elf had simply picked him up by the back of his collar and dragged him off the small stage, despite the string of profanities which flew from his mouth.

The line moved slowly. Although it was near dawn when Autumn had arrived, the sun was well in to its journey across the sky and she was only around halfway there. The problem was, every child had to hold each egg for ten minutes at a time. And when there were hundreds of children this time added up. The only excitement came when an egg would stir slightly and the child would be told to sit. But even then, they were all false alarms.

When Autumn finally neared the front she realized that the people who were now trying for the eggs were Rory and Lorna. Roran went first. He approached the first egg, a look of confidence on his face, and placed his hand on the surface. Eight minutes passed. Nothing happened. When ten minutes were finally up Rory sighed and moved on the stunning golden egg. Lorna was now approaching the blueish egg. She to placed her hand on the eggs surface. Again, nothing happened to either of the eggs. Roran, with a defeated look on his face, wandered away from the eggs to wait for Lorna. Lorna was now approaching the golden egg. She touched it and, for some reason, closed her eyes. After around seven minutes, something happened. The egg appeared to stir.

The elves sprang into action. One approached and looked at the egg. He stared for nearly a minute and proclaimed.

"The egg's rider is near. But not you." The latter was addressed to Lorna. With an indignant expression on her face, Lorna walked over to Rory. Autumn was relieved. If the golden egg had hatched for Lorna... Autumn didn't know what she would have done. There were only two people left in front of her now. One person.. Nobody. She stood uneasily, shifting from foot it foot. It seemed like an eternity before finally the boy in front of her moved over to the golden egg.

Her legs feeling like slime, Autumn staggered over to the egg, sat on the stool and held it in her hands. The egg's surface was incredibly smooth. But also very cold. Holding the egg in her hands... It felt wrong in someway. When her ten minutes were up she practically ran over to the incredible golden egg. She sat down. And touched the egg.

While the first egg was cool, this egg was warm. It was as though the tiny dragon inside was awake and ready to burst out of it. Autumn sat on the edge of the stool, holding the egg firmly and her hands. As the minutes passed she grew more and more afraid.

'What if it didn't hatch for her? What if she had to go and face her father's wrath? What if - ?'

But she never finished the thought. Just as the girl was about to loose hope the egg shook. And, to her shock, emitted a high pitched squealing noise. Autumn was shocked. She realized what was happening just before the crowds did.

The egg had chosen. And it had chosen her.