Before The Fall {An Eragon Fanfiction}

Chapter 35- Concealed Burdens

I'll admit, I was not emotionally prepared to have a conversation with a hatchling. I tried to speak, but no words would come to mind. Instead, I ended up staring in shock at the hatchling, who had taken it upon herself to stare right back at me.

'Well?' she said, her blue eyes staring at me intently, 'Are you just going to stare at me or are you going to say something?'

'You can talk,' I stuttered, unable to believe that this young dragon was talking. It had taken Vascar a month to utter a single word, let alone complete sentences.

The small dragoness scoffed, 'You sure are a bright one aren't you? I guess there isn't an intelligence requirement to become a rider.'

Vascar growled softly, 'Watch your tongue hatchling, that is my rider you are speaking to. You are new to this world and know nothing of it's rules and nature, so if I were you I would think before you speak.'

'Forgive me, oh great elder,' the small dragon replied, her tone laced with sarcasm.

Vascar growled louder, his lip quivering as he struggled to resist snarling at the young dragoness. 'You better learn to respect your elders quick hatchling, otherwise you will face harsher punishments than a tongue-lashing,' he quickly responded, but quieter than I had expected. I placed a hand on his quivering side, making sure to avoid the wounds that Oromis had not yet had time to heal. All I could do was calm him down before he said or did something he couldn't take back.

'I will respect anyone who respects me, regardless of age,' she spat back, her scales ruffling in defiance.

"Peace, young one," Oromis commanded, his tone stern yet polite, "We have larger matters than respect to discuss. I think I speak for us all when I say we are shocked to hear a dragon speak so soon after hatching. As Vascar has stated, you have not had the time to experience the world and learn what is normal and what is not so you will have to trust us when we say that you are indeed a unexpected circumstance."

'An unexpected circumstance?' She repeated scathingly, 'Is that just a kind way of saying I'm a freak?'

'Not at all,' Oromis answered, his eyes shining with an emotion I could not place as he knelt down in front of her, 'You are unique, different, but you are also a part of the riders now. You are one of us, young one, and we will treat you as such as long as you allow us to.'

'As long as I allow you to,' She echoed, except this time her tone had become more resigned.

'Yes, this means that sometimes you will need to stop and think before you retaliate against one of your brethren. We only wish to understand why you are different-'

'And you think I know the answer?' She hissed, 'you said it yourself, I have only just hatched. I do not even know how to fly yet, let alone how I can speak.' She flapped her wings a couple times to prove her point. 'I'm different, I know it, I can feel it in my bones. I feel as if there is a cold claw ripping through my chest, trying to break free. I'm not sure what it is, I just know its bad, and I don't know how long I can hold it back. I don't know if I want to hold it back.'

A silence followed her statement, but it was soon broken as Oromis reached his hand out towards the young dragoness's head. He paused as he closed half the distance between them before asking, "May I?"

The young dragon stared at the old elf for what felt like an eternity without saying a word. I doubted the feisty dragon would allow the elf to touch her, but was proven wrong as she stepped forward and touched her head to his hand.