Hayden (An Eragon Shadeslayer love story)

Saphira

It was still well into the night. Therinsford was only a twinkling mass of lights by now. I was miles away, and it was even darker in the dense woods of the spine. I turned my back for the last time on the village and pushed myself forward despite my aching legs. I wanted to stop and rest, perhaps find some water. I hadn't packed any supplies in my hurry to get away. But something urged me on, so I forced my body to keep moving.

Suddenly, there was a rustling sound in the bushes to my right. Normally, I would wave it off as a small nocturnal animal or a breeze. But not here; not in the spine.

I stilled, staring at the innocent thickets with dread written on my face. My heart pounded so loud I was afraid whatever beasts were out there would hear it. It's nothing, I told myself. Keep moving.

But I couldn't. My muscles were frozen with fear.

A white-tailed deer popped out of the trees and sprinted in the opposite direction. I relaxed slightly, though still on edge from the adrenaline.

I almost began walking again, but several deer rushed out of the darkness and past me, an entire herd of them. Almost as if they were...startled by something.

A blood-curdling roar blasted through the trees, capturing everything around me in trembling, deafening fear. That was no beast of the night.

That was a dragon. And it was hunting.

I bolted, running like my life depended on it. Which it very well might. Dragons haven't been known to attack humans, but that didn't mean they weren't capable if hungry enough.

The air was suddenly colder, the darkness more petrifying, my exhaustion more tiring. I was prey. I was no more than a quarter-mile away from a full-grown, hungry dragon and, from the sound of that roar, not a happy one.

I saw it. An enormous, but graceful, mass of brilliant sapphire blue flew over me as fast as a hummingbird, but much deadlier. I skidded to a stop, about to duck under a bush and pray for my life when the dragon circling above me folded its wings and landed on the hard earth not ten feet from me, shaking the ground as it settled on the land again.

I stared open mouthed at the majesty before me. It was huge, as tall as the pines growing around it. Its wings were large and tented against its sides, while its claws were the size of my arm, easily.

I knew this dragon. I hadn't met her before, but I knew her.

"Saphira." I whispered, hushed with awe. "Your reputation precedes you."

If a dragon could smile, she was.

'Hello, child. I did not mean to frighten you.' Her voice was beautiful, melodic, and in my head.

I laughed, have with disbelief and half with joy. "Oh, really!" I paused, considering. "Shall I bow?"

She made a rumbling sound, like laughter. 'No, sweet one. But I appreciate the gesture.'

I didn't know what else to say. I was speaking to Saphira! She was practically legend! She was dragon and guardian of Eragon Shadeslayer, Argetlam, The Rider! Oh, the guys would never believe this.

I grew sad though, thinking about them. I'd probably never see them again.

'What is wrong, sweet one? You have grown somber. Do you forget you are standing in front of the mightiest being in all of Alagaësia?' Saphira asked proudly.

I giggled. She sure was arrogant, but I found I liked it. It was amusing, to say the least.

"No, Great One. I am very grateful to have met you. It's surreal to speak with you when all I've heard are stories." I addressed her with all the respect and tact I could muster, which I regret to say wasn't a lot.

'I am not a god. You may call me by my name.' She corrected. 'And if I am not the source of your melancholy, than what is?'

"I'm just a human girl." I told her. "Why should you care? Return to your hunt."

She growled, making me jump. 'Don't suppose you know my thoughts. For your information, it is very unusual for a young girl to be wandering around in the spine at this time of the night. Why do you think I hunt here? Here is safe from the king's guard and any other human eyes.'

I thought. Was it safe to tell her? She was a dragon, the wisest and fiercest of all creatures. If there was ever anyone to trust, it was her. I'd just met her, but she was Saphira! She could help me find the Varden.

"I...ran away from home." I admitted. "I live in Therinsford. I am searching for the Varden, so that I may become a soldier and fight in the war against the king."

Saphira gazed quietly at me with wise, intense blue eyes. So intense, in fact, that it made me shiver.

'The Varden will not let a girl of your age with no training fight, and they have no time for training new recruits.' Saphira said, surprising me by not addressing my reason for being here first.

"I can fight!" I retorted. Yeah, with a kitchen knife.

Again, the rumbling sound shook Saphira's gigantic body.

"Stop laughing, I'm serious." I pouted. But I realized how ridiculous the idea that a nobody like me would make it into the army with no training was.

'I admire your courage, sweet one.' Saphira told me gently. 'If you think you are ready, I will take you to the Varden. But you must be sure.'

I beamed. "I am ready!"

'You must swear to keep the secrets of the Varden to yourself.' Saphira warned, but I knew that once I did this, I was forever a traitor in the king's mind. Fine by me.

"I swear on my mother's grave." I said sincerely. I probably sounded too overjoyed to be taken seriously, but I tried.

Sapphire considered, then sort of chuckled. A shorter sound than her booming laugh. 'Alright, sweet one, climb up.'

"Where are we going?" I asked, confused.

She looked smug.

"Wait...where are the Varden?" I asked curiously. No one actually knew that.

'On the move,' She replied mysteriously.

I grinned. "And where is your rider?"

To that, she simply said, 'Tell me, sweet one. Do you like to fly?'