I do not own Eragon or any of the Inheritance Trilogy.

However, Linea, Eloni, Distul, and the rest at the beginning are my own.

WARNING: Some of those gibberish words are, in fact, gibberish. I had no idea what some of the Ancient Language words were, so I made some up. If you haven't noticed, they don't have a full English-To-Ancient Language dictionary at the back of the books.

Heads up: Mor'ranr lífa unin hjarta onr = Peace live in your heart

Un du evarínya ono varda = May the stars watch over you

Atra esterní ono thelduin = May good fortune rule over you

Enjoy, and please review!

. . .

The words flowed from his mouth like a crystal river. "Ick noko ai durna mai dentia morn nocten. Ek densia barzul nafteth!"

The wall before him rose, but only partially. That was as much as he could do. Being an elf, he had the ability to use magic since birth, much stronger than any human could. That didn't mean he could do anything. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he struggled to keep the wall up until the last man ran through.

"Distul! Go through!" one of them shouted. With a cry of release, he let go of the magic and slipped through the hole as the brick closed in on him.

There was much heavy breathing all around, the elf nearly collapsing. Suddenly, there was a cry of, "We did it! I can't believe it, we did it!"

There was some half-hearted cheering as the small collection of beings continued to catch their breath. Unfortunately, there was an alarm sounding from behind them within the fort. "Run!" the leader shouted in his deep voice. The humans and elves ran away from the place as quick as they could, elves getting ahead of the humans. "Linea, that means you, too!" he called as the half-elf stayed where she was.

"What are you going to do?" she asked as the watch-dogs were heard from beyond the wall.

"Hold them off! Get out of here!" Distul called.

"I'm not leaving you!"

"Linea, they need you more than I in this world. There is nothing more I can do to redeem myself than die saving the people I love. Let me do this." His black eyes stared into her deep green ones, and she fought within herself. She hated to leave him. She knew his death would quickly follow the arrival of the guards. But she also knew the others would need her. She was second in command. She needed to take his place.

"Go!" he shouted, a blue light beginning to emanate from his palms. "I won't say it again!"

Linea hesitated a second longer, but only to kiss her love goodbye. "Mor'ranr lífa unin hjarta onr." she murmured.

"Un du evarínya ono varda." he whispered back as the calls and shouts of soldiers were heard. Linea took off for the forest after her friends, running as fast as her legs could carry her, if only to escape the pain, the hurt. The death. She ran until she felt she could no longer continue, she ran until her legs burned, she ran until her lungs felt as though they were about to burst. She ran until she burst into the clearing where her fellow burglars sat awaiting their two missing companions.

"Linea! There you are! Where is Distul?" asked Drenna, a human female.

Linea just shook her head as she collapsed in a breathless heap from her over-use of magic and headlong run. Then, unbidden tears formed in her eyes, spilling over as she listened to the cries and shouts from behind her.

The others understood. They always knew, somehow, it would come to this. They bowed their heads in reverence to the elf who'd lead them so far for so long. Beyond the canopy of leaves above them, the sun began its ascent into the sky, turning everything a mournful gray.

After an hour of respectful mourning, Cale, a human male, stepped forward, placing his hand on the new leader's shoulder. She was on her knees, head bent in anguish. "We need a plan. We have the egg. What say you?"

After a few shaky breaths, Linea closed her eyes and spoke. "It was always part of the plan to hand the egg off to the leader for them to hide it, keep it safe. I'll do this. As for all of you, the Empire doesn't know your faces. Scatter. Find a place to live in quiet. You don't have to live like this anymore."

But the others just stood, still looking at her. They didn't want to leave. They didn't want to suddenly abandon the only real life they'd ever known. Linea sighed, getting to her feet. She approached an elf male and a human female. "Lastry, Riley, go to Teirm, or Dras Leona. Make yourselves a living. Buy a home. Have children. And go with my blessing."

"Dorrin," She turned, addressing the human male. "Go to Surda. They'll protect you from the Empire. Don't be afraid, you'll be safe there."

"Trisanda, go back to Du Weldenvarden. Take Esla and Brie. Tell Izlanzadi what's happened and what has become of the egg as well as you know."

"All of you, please. Turn from this life of crime, lies, and deceit. It will get you as far as winning once and then you're running forever. Go. Atra esterní ono thelduin."

"Un du evarínya ono varda." they responded in unison. Reluctantly, they turned and exited the forest in whatever direction held their destination. Except for one young human female. She had been the youngest of the group, no more than fourteen. But she had proven herself by use of blade.

"What is it, Rebecca?" Linea asked.

"You speak with authority and conviction, but do you know where it is you will escape to?" she asked. She'd always been a wise girl. Linea would miss her most, if not for Distul.

"I know. Go with Dorrin for now. I hate to leave you on your own, but I know you two are close. Good luck." the half-elf told her.

"As well to you." she responded, turning to join the brown-haired human.

Linea watched them go, melancholy filling her heart. She knew what she must do now. She lifted the bright, silver egg, placing it into her pack. It was warm to the touch, and nearly breathing magic. She needed to take it someplace safe, someplace remote. And somewhere the Empire would never think to look.

The weight of the egg and a heavy heart pressing upon her, she began her journey. It would be long, and probably filled with danger, but it would somehow be worth it in the end. It had to be. There was nothing else. Destination in mind, the Elf took her first steps north.

To Urû`baen.