Brisingr ~
Chapter One ~ Deception
Eragon's thoughts wandered back to the night after the battle of the burning plains. He had decided that he would stay in Surda to fulfil his promise to Roran and to form a strategy that would catch the ra'zac off guard. He and Saphira had come up with numerous possibilities since then but none seemed very probable.
They needed something completely original or something that no one would expect them to find out or plan.
Saphira?
Yes, little one?
Can you think of anything at all that could help us defeat the ra'zac?
They were standing in one of the many courtyards that were scattered around the capital city of Surda, Aberon. This one had every colour of flowers planted in it. It was like walking in an Elven forest of rich colour and beauty. Saphira and Eragon loved it and visited it often.
The sun was setting, giving the place an orange and reddish glow, and the square was empty, completely devoid of guards or city folk. Perhaps it wasn't the safest place to go, being a weak spot for security and Nasuada would kill them if she found out they were walking alone here, but it was peaceful and tranquil which helped them think.
Hmm…Saphira muttered, staring at a spot in space behind Eragon.
What is it? He asked, turning around and searching for whatever it was that was making her uneasy.
Nothing, it appears. She answered, not fully taking her eyes away from the far wall though.
Are you sure?
No.
That helps.
Just be prepared for an attack, Eragon. I don't think we're alone.
Nor do I.
Act natural, we can't let them see that we can guess they're here.
I'm trying.
Try harder.
He glared at her.
She was about to reply when something caught her eye.
Eragon looked over to where she held her gaze. He hadn't noticed before but now he could see it clearly and felt idiotic for not having glimpsed it before, across the square, opposite them was a person wrapped in a cloak and hidden in the shadows.
He wondered broodingly who it might be, only agents of the empire sought him out, each goal to capture him and Saphira to bring them to the tyrannical King, Galbatorix.
As he pondered, the person noticed Saphira and Eragon staring and glided over to them, feet never seeming to visibly touch the ground.
She was very graceful, her figure giving away the fact she was female for she was far too slender to be a man, and she seemed to float over to him and Saphira.
For a second he foolishly thought of Arya, the raven haired elf that had captured his heart and fascinated him from the day they'd met but whom felt nothing other than friendship for Eragon.
The cloaked elf stopped before him and Saphira. He noticed, with his new, sharper eyesight that a few threads of silvery hair lay on her cloak. She said, with a voice like honey, "Eragon Shadeslayer I am glad to finally meet you." Throwing back her hood and smiling at him, "My name is Tuniúel."
He stared at her dumbstruck. In front of him was the most beautiful elf he had ever seen. Her hair was the colour of starlight and tumbled onto her shoulders in silvery waves. She had eyes that were a shade of deep, dark green that rivalled even Arya's, they were so dark. She seemed to hold a somewhat fragile air but if you looked into those eyes you could see that this was all but a lie to give her an advantage. A lie that worked well.
Eragon didn't notice the lies in her eyes, all he saw was what her intoxicating sweet presence made him see, an angelic, glowing elven maiden, not a twisted and deceitful being commanded to drag traitors and wanted men to the Capital and their deaths.
He could see that the garments she wore were very expensive and of the highest quality; a beautiful necklace adorned her pale neck and sparkled and shimmered with the fading light. He also noticed, to his surprise, that a sleek, narrow blade hung by her side, its silver sheen glowing, it reminded him of Zar'roc for a reason that he couldn't explain in his befuddled state of mind.
As he quickly tried to gather his thoughts, without success, she smiled a little wider, obviously taking in his expression.
"Well met, Saphira Brightscales." Tuniúel sang angelically.
Saphira responded by gazing curiously at her, sapphire scales twinkling in the moon's pearly glow, the sun having fallen deep under the horizon.
Silence descended upon them, Eragon, still unable to speak from his dazed mind, voiced none of his jumbled thoughts.
Finally he spoke, having gathered his wits, and greeted her in elvish, "Atra esterní ono thelduin."
"Mor'ranr lífa unin hjarta onr." She replied in a sugary sweet voice.
"Un du evarínya ono varda." He finished, shaking himself internally to lose the effects her voice had on him. Then he asked, carefully, "Why do you wish to speak to me?"
"Oh, just meeting you was all I really wanted," She grinned, less sugary sweet now, "but I'm afraid that that's not the reason I'm here."
She had answered him flatteringly but something had glinted dangerously in her eyes as she spoke, revealing the lie for what it was.
"Then why are you really here and who sent you?" he asked her, ready to fend her off if he needed to. His hand rested, waiting, just above the sword he was lent by the Varden's hilt. He could sense the imminent danger distantly.
Be careful, Eragon! She's more dangerous than she looks…I see a sinister power hidden beneath all her flattery and honeyed tones. Saphira warned him.
I'll be on my guard.
A look of sorrow and…something else passed over Tuniúel's face as she spoke to him, Eragon realised it was pain, "I'm really here to capture you and take you to Uru'baen and as to who sent me…I'm sure you can figure that out." Her blinding smile was back but this time it looked more like a leer.
Eragon took a step backwards, realising his stupidity, but she was too fast.
Tuniúel hit him on the head with the flat of her shimmering silvery blade and he was knocked unconscious.
The last thing he saw before he completely blacked out was Tuniúel talking to Saphira in a low voice.
AN ~ Okaaay....so...I thought an edit was in order. Complete revamp, more like lol. XD (even though its not like anyone's going to look at this :P)