LIGHT ➼ Eragon Fanfiction

Yaela

The crowd burst into applause but Autumn didn't hear them. She was too busy staring at the now silent egg which sat, nestled on her lap. She couldn't comprehend this. Autumn was in such deep shock she barely noticed a female elf gracefully approach. The Soon-To-Be-Dragon-Rider was towed away from the cheering mob, into a small tent to the left of the square. It was rumoured that the elves stayed here and Autumn now saw this rumour to be true.

"Congratulations."

Autumn was wrenched from her whirling thoughts, returning to the present rather confused.

"Wha... Oh. Thank you." she responded, her voice quaking slightly. The elven woman gave her a reassuring smile then lowered her gaze. Following her line of vision Autumn found herself staring at the egg. The egg. It was incredibly bright, the reflected rays of light almost blinding the girl. It was as though somebody had polished the golden surface until it shone like the stars, though she doubted any amount of polishing could make a normal stone so... exquisite.

Autumn gave a small smile. The egg was warm beneath her hands, as though there was a fire inside, a fire which wanted to be free.

Hesitantly she reached out, attempting to give the egg to the elf. She laughed and replied.

"You keep him, he is yours now"

"He?" Instantly questions burst out of Autumn "What makes you think it's a he? " she asked, curiosity running rampant through her mind.

"I can sense his consciousness with my mind. He has slumbered for long and now, finally he has awakened. From what I can tell from looking into his mind he is male and will hatch soon."

Curiosity satisfied for now, Autumn attempted to relax. Of course she failed miserably, the excitement of the day staying with her. The elf closed her eyes, as if she was meditating and Autumn was left to cope with the boredom.

Autumn's attention quickly turned to the elf sat beside her. She had silver hair and, when she had had her eyes open, Autumn had noticed that they were a cold grey. Like steel. It was an interesting combination yet the elf was strikingly beautiful.

Suddenly her eyes snapped opened and, as if sensing Autumn's curiosity, said.

"My name is Yaela, I am one of the original elves who left this continent long ago. I am an egg courier along with Fiolr, the elf you saw earlier. Now an egg has hatched, it will be my purpose to guide you. First we will go to Teirm to see if the other egg will hatch. Then, we shall go to Ellesméra where you will be assessed while we wait for your dragon to become old enough to make the journey to the place where you will be fully trained."

Autumn couldn't help grinning. Finally she was going somewhere. Finally she would say goodbye to her father.

"How long until we leave?" The girl asked, barely containing the eagerness in her voice. But Yaela didn't answer. She appeared to be staring at the flap which covered the mouth of the tent. Then to Autumn's horror, the flap was pushed aside to reveal a man. A man that she, unfortunately, knew well.

"Autumn." Her father said, disgust in his voice. "What's going on?"

Autumn was shocked.

"Dad? Wh.. What are you doing here?"

"A better question would be, what are you doing here?" He replied, his voice slightly slurred. He'd been drinking. Again.

"And who's she?" He made an off-handed gesture towards Yaela who had remained still since he came in. His gaze drifted away from Yaela and, after much slow exploring of the room, landed on the magnificent golden stone which rested in Autumn's arms. The man's hands curled into fists, going white from the pressure he applied. His lips moved but no sound came out. Finally he managed.

"You? You're a...?" He managed. Autumn nodded fearfully. When her father was drunk, he could be violent. And when he was violent, things were bad for her. Very bad.

Surprisingly he did not lash out but instead began muttering to himself quietly. So quietly that Autumn could only catch the odd word or phrase.

"Again? No, this can't. Not again. ... take her again."

Then suddenly he stopped and, drawing himself to his full height, scanned the tent with suddenly focused eyes. He stopped on a small hammer and picked it up. Yaela remained still. Until he approached Autumn. Slowly she rose from her crouched position and moved, slightly protectively, beside the girl.

"Autumn. Give me the egg. Now." He said, his voice deathly silent and filled with dark rage. Autumn looked and the ground and, after a moment of indecision, clutched the egg even tighter.

Her father sighed mockingly.

"Will I have to make you, Autumn?" He asked in a neutral tone. Of course the fact he was brandishing a hammer ruined the effect. Autumn looked up into his serious eyes. He could almost feel her will crumbling. Any second now...

"No."

Her father blinked in astonishment. Then, he grabbed her arm and yanked the egg away from her. Autumn lashed out, attempting to grab the beautiful stone, but no. Her father, smiling evilly, carried the egg to the middle of the room and placed it on the ground. Then he raised his hammer.

"Yaela?" cried Autumn in a tone which held fear, pleading and confusion.

Yaela turned but simply smiled at Autumn and said.

"Do not fear, child."

Then Holcomb brought down the hammer.