The Name of Names

~2: The Dragon Eggs~

Coming to her house, Vanya pushed the door open, entering the tree-home she had sung herself.

Books were stacked in orderly piles, contrasting the scraps of parchment scattered around randomly. Ink bottles were on top of tables and chairs, some of them completely full, others barely covering the bottom of the glass container.

A chair, sung out of a young tree, stood in one corner, not being able to move for the live tree it was made out of planted into the dirt. A spiraling staircase led up to the next floor, and without going up there, knew what it looked like by heart. It contrasted sharply with the other floor, being completely neat and orderly. There wasn't a paper out of place, for this was where Vanya worked—or drew—on her maps. She liked a clean workplace, and this was definitely shown in the stack of half-drawn maps, next to the desk and chair. A single ink bottle, sealed tightly stood alone on the desk except for a quill, which lay gracefully next to it. The quill had been made out of a hawk feather after it had been found in the forest, naturally fallen from the bird.

Vanya closed the door behind herself and went into her bedroom, which branched off of the main floor.

The bedroom was truly the gem of the whole house, having a large and beautiful canopy bed in one corner, and an exquisite floating lantern next to it, looking like it was made out of glass. A map of Alagaesia was in the process of being painted on the walls. Vanya walked over to the only section that was actually painted—the forest of Du Weldenvarden, and traced her hand along it, following a path until it stopped, having reached the border of the woods and not been painted any more.

She looked at it longingly for a few more seconds, before continuing into her dressing room. Changing into thick black leggings and a forest green tunic, she nimbly parted and braided her own hair. Once finished, she glanced at a mirror set up by her bed to study herself. Her dark hair was pulled away from her face, displaying her sharp cheekbones, slanted eyes, and slanted brows. Dark green eyes reflected back at her own, framed by dark lashes.

Satisfied that she was presentable, she left the house, headed towards the Menoa tree, where the eggs were placed, and the elves gathered. Everyone was standing around, with Arya and Firnen closest by the eggs. Vanir—as the egg carrier—was close by as well.

Arya raised her hands to silence the small talking that there had been, and instantly silence split the air. "One at a time, you may come forward and touch the eggs." She announced, before stepping back a pace from the unhatched dragons.

Elves came forward, touching each of the eggs for a moment, before stepping back into the crowd when they did not hatch. Eventually, Vanya deemed it was her turn, and stepped forward.

With each step her gut twitched, nervous to see if her fate had been carved out already for her.

The eggs were both on elegantly made pedestals, and truly looked like beautiful stones. The first one was black, and had light grey veins traced over it. The other one was a mix of shades of grey, with veins of white tracing over it. Going over to them, Vanya placed a hand, first on the black one. It was cool beneath her touch, and the dragon inside shifted. Vanya's heart thumped, but the dragon settled back down, and didn't move again.

The next one was the grey one, and Vanya placed a hand on it as well. Once again, the dragon inside shifted, but Vanya sensed it was a different type of movement. The dragon shifted once again before the egg began to rock. Slowly at first, but then getting faster.

Murmurs of interest scattered around the crowd, and many shifted to have a better look at the hatching egg. Vanya's heartbeat picked up rapidly and she stared at the egg, with a mix of awe and apprehension.

Arya Drotting stepped forward, her green dragon by her side. "Vanya, pick the egg up, and you may take it home until it hatches. Then, please report to me informing me of its progress."

Vanya nodded, still shocked as she picked the egg up and began to run back to her own home. The elves all made way for her occasionally giving her a word of congratulations. Arriving at her house, she went straight into her room, setting the egg gently on top of the bed.

It continued rocking, and occasionally a small squeak would sound from the dragon inside. Finally, a crack sounded, and a new line appeared in the egg. Vanya smiled as she watched more lines appear on the egg, each sounding a small crack.

"Is this my path, then?" she spoke quietly, to no one in particular, really just to herself. "To be a Rider?"

The egg—or the dragon inside of it—responded with a squeak, and then a loud, firm crack sounded, and the egg split into two pieces.

A baby dragon was dumped onto the floor, squirming around, and trying to get it's wings in the right places. A piece of shell was ontop of its head, and even as Vanya noticed it, he shook it off.

The dragon seemed to notice Vanya for the first time, and turned its creamy grey eyes on her curiously. Tentatively, Vanya stretched out her hand, knowing what to expect.

The dragon stretched his neck out and the moment he touched Vanya's hand an icy burning sensation flared up. She gasped, instantly flipping her hand over to examine it.

A shimmery silver orb was forming in the center of her hand, glowing, and marking her as a Dragon Rider. The Gedwey Ignasia. Mark of the Riders.

OOH look at that, an update!! :D Also, I've entered this book in a contest called The Undiscovered Writers Award (or something like that lol)

Thank you all my lovely readers for reaching this :) I really appreciate you guys!

<>Evara<>