A time before Galbatorix.

*remember people, I'm not a full sized dragon...*

Dylis stiffened. The new little dragon, name still unknown, had hatched for a man who's mind was clouded. His thoughts were of meniacle things, and horrid futures. The man believed he was a shade; pitiful.

He was not a shade. If we was a shade, Dylis and everyone else would be dead. He had spirits in his mind, but they did not control him the way they did a shade. They tormented him, that was for sure; and they gave him a bit of power, but he was no shade. Shade's were much more powerful than he was, and if he was one, his mind wouldn't have a trace of thought in it.

Hissing, Dylis jumped out of Naria's arms. Lifting her wings, she bared her fangs at the clouded man who held the new baby dragon. If this man believed he was a shade, he did not deserve that dragon. If he belived he was a shade, he would endanger the dragon's life until, at some point, she died. But the dragon had chosen this man; something was right.

Ignoring all moral pretenses, Dylis opened up her mind to the man's. Still unbelieving the hatching of the dragon, he had not put up a wall to his mental thoughts. Her only intention was to talk, but this was still an invasion of privacy. One this man needed.

The spirits only torment you because you let them, she said, closing her mind from Naria. Dylis still perched on her hind legs, hissing. Her silver eyes glowed with protective fury; but what exactly could a small dragon do? She was barely bigger than the small green one, but older obviously. She could talk with her mind.

"Who said that?" the man, Tristan demanded, turning his head from side to side. Jumping in the air to attract his attention, Dylis nipped at his hair.

I did, she said, grabbing a strand and pulling. The spirit's in your mind are not that of a shade's; you did not sacrifice them, you only killed them. They haunt you because you let them, because you show remorse towards your actions. Stop, and they'll stop.

"What do you know?" he hissed back, pushing Dylis away from him.

I, child, am one century old. My knowledge towers of your puny existance; do not test me, or you will live to regret it.

Tristan

When the dragon started telling me that I was wrong I lost my cool.

"How do you know? Have you had these things in your head for years? Have you had someone constantly egging you on to kill someone? And having the knowledge that you could? That you could kill a whole village if you wanted? I have. Don't tell me I'm not a shade. There is nothing else I can be."

I didn't want to listen to the stupid hatchling anymore. I turned away from her and ran along the boundary of the forest until I was far away from it.

The little dragon in my arms spoke, "How o you know she's wrong?'

"Because I've tried everything it said a hundred times, a thousand times. Ive killed them in my head, told them they dont exist, ignored them, blocked them, out and they wont go away. There is no way she can be right."

"THen how do you explain the fact that they havent taken over your mind completely."

"The fact that from the beginning I've battled them. I never gave them a chance to gain a hold on me."

"I think she might be right."

"Whatever. I don't want to think about it. Especially right now. We have bigger problems.

*Nice idea, but whered you come up with it?*

*two months later*

Tristan slouched, comfortably, on a high tree branch. The view from the canopy was amazing, but nothing like the view the tiny dragon had from way up high.

At that moment, a green streak dove from the sky. Hurtling towards the canopy at a frightening speed. The dragon had grown much these last two months but he was still barely the size of a very large dog.

To Tristans eyes he could make out, high above, the dragons target. It was a large eagle but the hatchling was larger. Crashing down from the canopy the dragon and the eagle hit the ground, hard, but the dragon was on top, the raptor pinned to the ground never to fly again. Tristan enjoyed watching him eat. (the dragon is a 'him' by the way)

That was amazing sky diver Tristan called out with his mind

Eagle is tasty. Replied the dragon, who was now devouring the last bits of what was edible. The dragon licked its chops and flew up to lay next to Tristan. It curled up and placed it's head on Tristans lap.

It is time to name me. It was not a request.

What name would you like, oh mighty dragon. Replied Tristan who was now petting the dragons head, especially the scales between the shoulder blades.

Something... Majestic! Said the dragon with vigor, raising his head up so quick it startled Tristan. The dragon stared into his eyes, making him feel uncomfortable, but he would not drop his gaze. He had decided his name.

You shall be known as Gemleer, for you remind me of a gem and you could pierce anything with that gaze. Tristan did not drop his gaze

Or Gem, for short, I like it. The dragon nodded in approval nipped at Tristan playfully before leaping off the branch to fly once again.

Ballow


It was the first time during those two months that Ballow awoke. He had self consciously turned into his cat form and was still dozing by a fire. A fire inside what was most likely a hotel or inn of some kind.

His eyes instanty flickered over to a person sitting down in a chair beside his reading a book. It was Nerinia. He thought about the first time that they had met and he felt a little guilt at the way he had treated her.

He let himself shift into his human form and let out a sigh. Her sharp gaze caught the shift and with a smile titled her head at him at amazement. he had no idea at how long he had slept.

"Finally! The sleepy head wakes up!" she commented, a tear forming in the corner of her eyes. She hed been worried that Ballow wouldn't wake up at all, frozen in that sleep like state.

They had a small conversation after that. where Nerinia informed how long Ballow had slept for and where they were now.

Ballow's mouth all but dropped open as he repeated what she said, "The elves invited us into their homeland in graditude of trying to protect the egg?"

She nodded.

"So, we're in their secret city?"

She nodded again.