Hidden Valor

A/N: Okay, this a redo and I finally read Eldest and saw some flaws I made. Oh well onto the story

Disclaimer: I don't own Eragon, Christopher Paolini does. (Sigh).

Chapter 1: Unexpected Beginnings

A deer rustled leaves on the ground as it cautiously took drinks from the river. The forest was engulfed by a light darkness showing only a tiny bit of sunlight. This forest, the Spine, belonged to Galbatorix, the king of Alagaesia. He never came near it since he lost half his men in a campaign years earlier. It was also the gateway to Carvahall, where his enemy, Eragon Shadeslayer was born.

A hunter was in the dark brush waiting for an opportunity to strike the deer. She had long midnight black hair, and vivid brown eyes, her skin was golden with a slight darkness. She had a calm nature but at times, she was short tempered and a strong fighter. This hunter's name was Arianna and she was fifteen. It was the third day of being in the Spine looking for meat. The girl was born in Carvahall and she had never been outside of it; her uncle Merritt said it was dangerous to leave there.

Finally, she shot but a light flashed and sent her back. Arianna realized she had missed her target but something glimmered where her arrow landed. It was a green stone lined with silver veins. She stared at it confused for a moment but then picked it up and left the Spine.

That night, she made it half-way to the Spine's exit. Arianna was still trying to comprehend what had happened. It all happened in a split second. She looked at the stone again and realized its weight was light. It hit her that the stone was hollow. She took out a chisel from her bag and hit the egg as hard as possible. It only reverberated a beautiful sound. Arianna hit it again getting the same sound. It was impossible to scratch it. She dozed off with the chisel still in her hand.

A few hours later, she got up from the ground and starting walking towards the end of the Spine. She hadn't come back with much except with a mysterious stone and an invisible catch as her brother, Nolan would put it. It was getting close to winter in Alagaesia and everyone was trying to prepare. The air was cold and white slowly covered the ground.

Early that white morning, Arianna made it past the Spine and into Carvahall. She saw the bar was full of rowdy patrons and that the soldiers were patrolling the streets. They ignored her as she walked towards the Butcher's where she hoped she could trade for some meat. But the man who owned the place, Sloan, hated her blood. He refused service to her because her uncle, Merritt made an ugly deal with him years earlier.

She entered the shop and saw Sloan chopping away at a piece of meat. He merely glared at her. He went onto explain how that this cut was his best and what expensive taste she'd seem to have.

"How much?" Arianna asked.

"Only the king could afford this. A poor soul like you or me, well we'd be lucky to have anything left." The portly man said.

"I have something…to trade." Arianna said coolly.

"Well what is it?" Sloan asked.

She took the stone out of her bag and the man stared at it. He eyed it cautiously.

"It's a stone; I found it." Arianna said.

"Stole it more likely." Sloan replied.

"Like I said, I found it…in the spine." She said quietly.

"Put it back… it belongs to the king." The man stuttered. "You'll put the whole village in danger."

She left the shop with the stone in hand. Arianna didn't think much of his warning and continued on her way home hoping that the stone wouldn't be any kind of danger. She walked up a dirt path to a house that overlooked a road filled with moving carts. This was her home for all of her life and where her roots were planted. The girl opened the door and saw her older brother, Nolan standing there.

"I see the hunters back; with her invisible catch." He said jokingly. "What happened?"

"I'll tell you later." Arianna replied. "Right now, I'm going to go upstairs and going to bed."

"It's still early and you just got home. Besides we need to spar again." Nolan said.

"I got slammed against a tree and sparring isn't sounding like a good idea." Arianna replied sharply.

"What an eventful hunt. Well, Merritt won't be back for a few more weeks." Nolan said trying to find the bruises.

"How come? I thought he didn't do business this time of year." Arianna said tiredly.

"Well, he met a man who gave him a deal to go to Tierm to sell wears so he left." Nolan said. "For now, I'm in charge of the store and you so get some sleep."

She nodded and started walking up the stairs to her small bedroom. Arianna placed the stone on the floor and laid on her bed. She finally dozed off and woke up at dawn. The girl heard her bedroom door open. It was her brother who was trying to get her up.

"Finally, listen you need to come with me to the apothecary. Hide that dragon egg too." Nolan said quickly. "Soldiers have been coming asking if anyone's seen it."

"How did you know about that?" Arianna asked.

"Well, I saw it last night when you were sleeping. I hope it hatches soon or else they'll kill us all." Her brother replied.

She hid the egg and got dressed quickly. Soldiers came around often but to ask about an egg was a rare occurrence. That thing she had said about Carvahall being close to danger seemed to be more evident.

Arianna worked with her brother at the apothecary and saw soldiers coming in. Sloan seemed to be right about one thing: the stone-egg-was placing the village in danger.

"Have either of you seen a green stone?" One of the soldiers asked.

"No we haven't." Nolan replied bluntly.

"Well, if you find it, tell the king. If not we'll send Urgals to raid every home." The soldier said leaving in a rage.

After the altercation, Nolan started closing up the shop fearing that they would bring the brutes that they called Urgals. He hoped that the egg would hatch so that rider could fly away from here and to a rumored group called The Varden.

"Come on, Ari. We gotta get home." Nolan said turning out the candles.

"Yeah, that's a good idea." The girl said cautiously.

They made it back to home in record time despite the rain and muddy roads. Arianna and Nolan were scared; they didn't want to die now. If they did, it would be a tragic end and that would make Carvahall sink into trouble even more. There they sat trying to contemplate everything that happened.

"Arianna, I want you to go to bed, okay?" Nolan said.

"Why? You can't go anywhere." Arianna asked confused.

"I want to keep you safe." Nolan said.

Arianna nodded and went back upstairs. She was getting freaked out by her brother's behavior; he was usually relaxed and stress free but now, he was stressed and keeping an eye out for soldiers. As she sat on her bed, she heard an object crack. It was the stone emerged in dark shadow. It made that noise again then she heard a creature's cry. It emerged from the darkness with green eyes and a small body with short wings.

"What a staid. What are you?" Arianna said. "You're not a bird, you're not anything found around here. Wait a minute, you're a dragon."

It made a small whimper then made a movement towards the light of the candle above her bed. The creature then jumped onto the fabric staring at the flame. Again, Arianna couldn't comprehend what happened. She moved away from the flame but the creature came closer. She reached out and touched the creature's head. It sniffed her hand for a moment then let out an icy flame. The girl moved away wildly feeling her blood boil and muscles tense. Only a minute later, she blacked out.

Morning hit Arianna hard as she woke up. The dragon still sat beside her sleeping peacefully. She looked at her hand; there was a swollen symbol of a twisting dragon. What happened? One minute she felt like she had endless energy the next she was out for the count. Nothing made sense but there was no time for it now; she had to face it, something had happened.