Before The Fall {An Eragon Fanfiction}

Chapter 27- Development

I woke the next morning to discover that Galbatorix had already left. Immediately, a wave of regret washed over me for I did not know when I would see him next. But, instead of wallowing in self pity, I picked myself up and began to get ready for training. Galbatorix may have been a full rider, but I definitely wasn't yet.

Walking over to Vascar, I began to put on his saddle, despite his sleepy protests. He rolled over several times, making it even more difficult to tighten the straps of his saddle, but in the end I managed to keep from being squished and made sure the saddle fit snugly in place.

'Vascar, wake up!' I prodded him with my mind.

'Talia, we still have hours before training. Why are you awake?'

'Because, my sleepy dragon, we are going to go flying before training,' I said, fully gaining his attention.

'What has brought about this sudden desire?' he questioned, opening one lazy, blue eye.

'Does there have to be a reason? Can't I simply want some quality time with my dragon?'

'That is a reason Talia,' Vascar joked, standing up and stretching out his large back. He was beginning to grow so large that his spine spikes almost touched the ceiling. How he would fit in here much larger, I wasn't sure. Reaching up, I started scratching the leathery patch of skin underneath his ears and beneath his chin. His head pushed into my hand as his humming echoes around the room.

Laughing, I ceased my scratching and instead climbed up his foreleg to the saddle placed on his back. For a moment, I marveled the agility it was beginning to take to scale Vascar's side, but my self awe was cut short as Vascar spread his wings and flew out of the opening in our wall.

The air took on a brisk chill, marking the soon arrival of the cold season, and I could not help the shivers that danced up my body. Vascar let loose a burst of flame that momentarily warmed the air, but quickly faded as we continued our flight.

'Don't worry about it,' I commented, pulling down on my sleeves to cover my hands, 'I will be fine, let's just enjoy the flight.'

He reluctantly agreed and began flapping slower. We glided peacefully over the still sleeping city, the only ones flying at this time of morning. The sky was a pale green that marked the arrival of dawn, yet still held the mind in a drowsy state. It was beautiful.

As time went on, the temperature increased, making the flight more comfortable. It was a very relaxed flight, and soon I began a chat with Vascar, talking about almost anything to put my mind at ease.

'Vascar?'

'Yes?'

'What do you think training has in store for us?'

He paused and turned his head to look at me, 'What do you mean?'

'I mean most riders train for five years! What is it we will be learning in those five years? It is such a long time and I cannot imagine what we could possibly learn for those five years...'

He chuckled beneath me. 'It doesn't necessarily have to be new things, Talia. It might only be a handful of things that we will take five years to master. But, despite this, I am sure that we have only scratched the surface of our training so far. We still have much to discover.'

'I figured that,' I responded, 'but the question is, what?'

'If I knew the answer to that, Talia, then I wouldn't have to be in training,' he teased, dipping in the wind.