so when do we get the next chapter? I cant wait.

a/n: yea... its been over a month since i updated... lol sorry - but heres the next chapter finally! lol enjoy & please tell me what you think!

The Perfect Tear

"We are only an hour from Elesmera," Laelia suddenly said, breaking the long stretch of silence. "Do you know what you plan to do there?"

"I believe so," the young mother replied quietly. Farah's nervousness increased with every step of the horses' hooves. I do hope that the elves will accept her, she thought desperately.

“And me,” she whispered under her breath, too quiet for anyone to hear. The words reverberated inside her head; filling her skull with foreboding. Her heart was as heavy as a thousand-pound boulder, crushing her ability to feel, with the thought of her child being shunned by the elves.

The elf watched as the young mother clutched the babe to her chest, as if the gesture could keep them in this moment forever, and kindly looked away as a single perfect tear formed in Farah's large brown eyes, then splashed onto the wiggling bundle cradled in her arms.

***

I can't stand all the trees! Farah thought to herself, downcastly picking pine needles from her hair with frustrated hands. They're everywhere! I want to see the sky. I want to be able to smell plain air without having to smell animal droppings and old bark! Her complaints were cut short as the tiny infant in her arms started to cry. Laelia glanced over and gave the same adoring grin she always did when she caught sight of the babe.

Farah inspected her daughter with keen eyes only a mother could possess and soon found the cause of her discomfort. "Can we stop for a bit? I believe she needs a change of her small clothes." The babe started to squirm around within her blanket and her cries grew louder and ever more obnoxious.

"Yes," the elf said after a moments thought. "We can take a rest to eat and care for your child, then we'll be off the see the King and Queen."

Directing attention to the laboring animals beneath them, they murmured, "Blothr, blothr (stop, stop,)." The horses slowed their quick pace and halted. Laelia and Farah dismounted and led the horses to the side of the small path they were treading. Farah sifted through her bags looking for the necessary equipment. The young mother deftly changed her child's small clothes with practiced hands.

The young babe giggled and started blowing bubbles out of her tiny, cute nose. Farah laughed as she hugged her daughter close and gave her a light motherly peck on the top of her head. The little tuft of black hair crowning the babe's head tickled the mother's mouth and she laughed even more.

Laelia had not laughed as she usually did during displays such as this. Farah looked over and saw a dreamy, far away look in the elven beauties eyes. Farah knew that kind of wishful look; Laelia was imaging herself with a child in her arms and Ranir by her side.

~*~Many Years Later~*~

Kaelyn tried to roll a body off of another to glimpse its face, but her hands and heart knew the difference between a wet log and a dead human even though her mind tried to tell them otherwise. The deep ache in her bones betrayed the fact that she knew there was little chance that she would find her brother.

Ariane, she said desperately, I can't see all of the bodies. Can you help? Her voice was strained and her breathing labored. The young dragon rider wiped her hands on her breaches before the realization that the fabric even more soiled than her hands dawned. Oh, Ariane! she cried and fell to her knees, wincing as pain lanced to her chest. It's no use, don't even try. Dry sobs racked her chest, she felt the tears seeping from behind her eyes but they wouldn't fall.

Araine fixed one large jade eye on her rider and looked at her, really looked. A penetrating gaze that took in more than mere appearance was focused on Kaelyn for a few minutes before Ariane spoke. She saw a quite beautiful girl (for a human) covered in dirt, one that had faced hardships and sorrows that many adult humans went their whole lives without experiencing. She saw a girl that was born of elven blood - elves always had this sort of shimmer about them. A girl that looked as if she had aged years in merely a few months. A girl that was a legend now, a female Shur'tugal. That girl was her rider and her friend.

Kaelyn, Ariane said slowly. The dragon knew that this was one of the most important talks she would ever have with Kaelyn. She had to make it worthwhile. Though you can try,you will never be ble to shield the whole world from suffering. It exists, and the best you can do, the best any of us can do is to banish the suffering around us. And luckily, even at your worst, you are better than most people at their best.

You were given a gift, you should use it to the best of your abilities and strive for more, but not make that hunger for power your goal. Look at what it did to Galbatorix. He now has an unquenchable thirst for the whole world to be under his command. He will not achieve that goal. Because we will not allow that. That is what the Riders did, they kept the peace. And made sure that people like our present king never rose to that rank. But they made a mistake - they only looked to the outside for those kind of people. They never thought that such a person could come from within themselves.

So, don't make that same mistake yourself. Always be aware of what's around you, but more importantly, look inside yourself. See the power there? Use that for good. Trust in yourself.

Ariane shook her large head. There, look what I just did. I went and made a speech. Now I'm uncomfortable. Please get up before you make it even more so. She gently nudged Kaelyn. The rider still sat there, seemingly unaware of the silver nose pressing against her side. Bringing her knees to her chest, Kaelyn wrapped her arms around them and shook slightly as a cool shiver went up her spine.

"Ariane," she spoke slowly and shakily, as if she wasn't sure of what she was saying. "I think we need to find the two men that were here. The ones on the horses.” She took deep breaths, banishing the large urge to weep. “They could help us." She raised up a dirty hand, stilling the words that Ariane was about to say. She was determined. This was the right path. "I know that we’re not sure if they're good. But didn't you get a, a-" she paused for a minute, then spoke with conviction, "-a feeling when they were here. That things were going to turn out okay." Kaelyn shot an assuring glance at Ariane, willing her to understand. To feel what she had felt.

The dragon hesitantly tried to penetrate her rider's mind, but Kaelyn blocked it.

"I think we should look for them," she continued, after Ariane broke eye contact. "Someone once told me, I don't remember who is so don't ask, that the only way to live life fully is to follow your heart." She fell silent, thoughts raced in her mind, as if a large riot of them were all clamoring to be heard. Kaelyn moved her hands from around her knees and planted them in the ground behind her, she sighed as she leaned back. "Ariane," she started, then stopped to gather her many contemplations. After a plethora of halting, broken phrases she finally decided to let Ariane enter her mind.

Images, concepts, and considerations assaulted Ariane. She snorted in surprise. Oh my dear little one, she said sympathetically, as one who has seen the light. You have known too many hardships for one so young. Yes, we will find the two that were here. I can only wish they are fighting against Galbatorix. For if not, we travel to our doom...

***

Althea paced the room, frantically going through all her agonizing reasons to worry about Kaelyn. That note she left didn't explain anything! The old healer picked up a much worn piece of paper from on top of a stack of books. The edges of it were ripped and torn from being folding and unfolded so many times.

Althea, the woman could her the girl's voice in her mind as well as if Kaelyn was standing right next to her, safe and sound.

I'm so sorry that we took off like we did, but you have to understand. I just couldn't take it anymore! I had to leave. We'll be back, but not for a while. Probably around a month or two.

I'm sorry, but this was the only way I could make sense of what was happening in my life. Araine will protect me, don't worry.

Please don't tell my father about this. I know that this is asking a lot, but could you also not come to look for me?
It was signed,

Down with Galbatorix,
Kaelyn and Araine

That foolish child! Does she truly think that if Galbatorix did get word of her that Ariane could protect her? As powerful as that dragon is - Shruikin and the king could easily kill them. Her thoughts were interrupted by a horrifying thought.

Except, he wouldn't kill them, not until Shruikin and Ariane breed. The race of dragon's dwindle. There are two still left in possession of the king, and the blue egg that is being ferried between Du Weldenvarden and the Varden. Althea sat down, her legs exhausted from pacing the cold floor, but her anger flaring and sparking like the sun - hot and unforgiving.

Telling Ewan had been one of the hardest things Althea had ever done, harder even than hearing of her fathers death, even worse than watching her mother die and seeing her sister waste away slowly.

Ewan had not taken it well, even though she relayed the news as gently as she could. She had even resorted to lying. If he knew the truth, it would kill him.

Ewan paled as soon as she had finished speaking, his face turned a washed out grey color."What do you mean, gone?" he asked, his voice flat and lifeless.

"She left to help my cousin in Daret," she had said, the lie slipping over her tongue and through her lips like honey.

"But, she was my only child, after Amadeus left. May the gods save him, wherever he is..." His voice had been slow, halting, and filled with anguish. His next words were spoken so softly that Althea would not have been able to hear them if her hearing wasn't incredible. "She left..." Ewan put his head in his hands and spoke again, even softer than before. "When will she come back to me?"

Althea then crouched down beside and placed a light-as-feather hand on his shoulder, "She will back in a few months. Worry not. My cousin is a reliable woman. Not to mention she is an amazing healer, one that far surpasses my own meager skills."

He sat for a while, his expression unchanging; staring at a spot on the wall with unfocused eyes. "Very well," he had said, then got up and went out to the barn.

Althea had began her subdued trek back to her house, contemplating her treacherous young life the whole way. It had been difficult, fraught with perils, and riddled with hardships, but Althea had persevered. Kaelyn will survive, she thought with conviction. She has to...

Woah, that's really nicely done. How long have you been writing?

well, just about a year since i wrote the first chapter of awakening... and overall writing - just a little over a year im working on the next chappie of this - never fear!

That's great ^^ Good luck ^^v