Disclaimer: I don't own any recognizable characters from Eragon. Nope. Not one. Duh. They belong to Mr. Pao Pao ((© City Pigeon)). If you find any unreconizable characters, which you definitely will come across in this chapter, they are made up by lil ol' me, and you can't sue me for that, ha!
A/N: This is my second ficcy, hooray! My first one isn't done; I kinda hit a writer's block for what happens next, check it out AFTER you read this, if you want to. It has the most poetic title: Untitled For Now. That was sarcasm. Sorry for any grammar or spelling errors, you can flame at me for that.
READ ON!
Waist-length black hair billowed into a girl of seventeen's blue eyes, obscuring her fair face. She was sitting on a roof, basking in the moon's glow in the company of another teenager. He was eighteen with wavy russet hair that almost always hung in front eyes that were a brown so deep it was almost black. The two friends were waiting for Nathaniel to come back with a report of what the guards were doing; the pair was strangely relaxed, considering how desperate their situation could become. An almost silent thump sounded to their left, neither of them needed to look; Nathaniel had arrived. The tall boy walked over and sat cross-legged next to them, his mahogany eyes catching the moonlight, making them look scarlet. Many mistook Nathaniel for a shade, he looked the part; a slim but muscular build, crimson hair, and reddish brown eyes.
"What did you find?" The girl asked without hesitation, he tutted at her.
"Not even a hello? Well, this is the last time I risk my neck for you."
"Oh be quiet and just tell me." He sighed and waved his hand, a sign that nothing was out of the norm.
"Just the usual. Getting drunk, not doing their duty, trying to pick up girls."
Riku, Nathaniel, and Dominic had been partners for a few years and friends even longer. They were in the resistance, working against Galbatorix, thwarting his plans whenever they could. They knew who the Varden were, but had never met them; all they did was keep him from getting supplies to his troops and sometimes sneaking into his castle to hear his plans. The latter reason was what they were planning on doing sometime this week; they were tracking the movements of the guards to see if they suspected anything. Dominic had overheard two members talking; apparently there was a spy in their group, which consisted of about twenty young people, no one over thirty, no one under fifteen. Riku was the leader of the group, and was almost always in the midst of their plans. Dominic and Nathaniel were second to her, Nathaniel was a spy he could be as silent as death if he wished it. Dominic was more of a figure to most, the young boys looked up to him, and the young girls fawned over him. Many of the boys liked Riku and were constantly flirting with her, but she didn't have time for them. All that mattered was bringing down Galbatorix and avenging her parent's deaths. She thought the silly little boys would grow out of her, but they never did. Nathaniel scared almost everyone besides Riku and Dominic, they thought he was a shade, but Nathaniel was as magical as a pebble.
"Picking up girls, that's new." Dominic said, and sat up, a slight wind picked and ruffled his hair.
"Well, I supposed they were. Some guard was flirting with Ria, and she seemed to like him, they decided to go to the inn if I remember correctly." A slight grin on his face, Riku sat up in alarm, making the roof creak beneath her.
"Wait, Ria? No, she likes Daniel. She wouldn't wander off with him." Riku said, her tone was calm but her eyes betrayed her; she was worried.
"Now how am I supposed to know that?"
"Lets go check it out." Dominic said, then stood up and offered Riku his hand, which she accepted and pulled herself up.
"Nathaniel you really need to involve yourself more." She said with a shake of her head, and then nimbly leapt across the rooftops. Nathaniel rolled his eyes and muttered "girls" under his breath, Dominic chuckled and then both boys were off after her. Riku stopped at the inn's roof, by now they had memorized every inch of the city incase they needed to hide or make a quick escape, then leapt off the roof and landed silently. She strode confidently in, and all heads turned to look at her, some turned back to their drinks and some watched her walk towards them. As soon as Dominic and Nathaniel strode in, and Nathaniel put an arm around her shoulders, their heads turned away and they nursed their drinks. She shrugged out of his hold and glared at him.
"Well, it's not like your looking to catch someone's eye, you apparently don't have time for us boys. Who by the way would very much like to have a go at a pretty little thing like you." Riku shook her head and scoffed; she was used to Nathaniel's obnoxious comments by now. She approached the innkeeper and turned on her charm, he didn't usually do favors.
"Hello Tom. Did you see a young girl with blond hair come in here with a guard?" She batted her eyelashes just for good measure.
"Maybe I did, maybe I di'n what's it t'you?" She sighed, he wasn't going to budge, no use in charm. Nathaniel stepped over and flashed him a grin, Tom shrank back a little, he didn't usually see Nathaniel.
"Hello Tom. Now, why is it you won't tell Riku what she wants to hear? Do we need to strike a deal?"
"A deal? Why don' you propose it?"
"All right. How bouts you tell us which room the girl and the guard are in, and Riku here will do you a favor." Riku's face turned sour, and she crossed her arms at her chest.
"Nathaniel…." She said a warning rising in her voice.
"How rude of me, I forgot to consider poor Riku."
"You sure as hell did!"
"Well, no need to yell. It all depends on what kind of favor Tom wants you to do." He looked at Riku, warning in his eyes, then turned to Tom and smiled.
"Well…I suppose I'll be needin' a waitress t'morrow." He said, tapping his chin with his index finger. "Or you could-." He was cut short by Nathaniel who stuck out his hand.
"It's a deal. Now which room did they go to?" Tom took his hand and slipped him a key.
"Seven. You better not lose me a cust'mer." Nathaniel smiled, him and Riku walked to the staircase, and in the process rescued Dominic from two or three girls he was trying to shake off. They walked up the stairs and stopped at room number seven, Nathaniel pressed his ear against the door.
"Their talking, I can't hear, we're going to have to go in."
"I guess that's what the key was for." Dominic said, and then gestured for the key, Riku handed it over; he stuck it carefully in the keyhole. There was a small click and they all ran into the room, Riku grabbed Ria's wrists, and Dominic grabbed the guard.
"Hello loves." Said Nathaniel, in a cold voice he only uses around guards and people they are working against. "Could you be so kind as to tell us what you were talking about." Ria stuttered, and looked at Dominic who staring at her with disgust. She had only joined the Resistance a few weeks ago as soon as she turned fifteen, but she was always quiet and kept to herself.
"Are we not allowed to talk?" The guard asked his eyes trained on Nathaniel.
"No, I was asking Ria anyway. So, what were you talking about?"
"I-uh." A tear trickled down her cheek. "He-he said that he would kill Daniel if I didn't tell him…I'm so sorry."
"Liar! Foolish wench! You told me willingly!" The guard screamed, making her shrink back into Riku's stomach.
"Don't be so loud, people are sleeping." Nathaniel said calmly, then leaned in towards Ria. "Ria dear, are you lying?"
"No!" She said, and shook her head vigorously.
"Well then, that means the guard is lying, which is much more believable."
"Wait. Ria, why didn't you tell us? We can protect you and Daniel."Riku questioned.
"Because, I couldn't- he would hurt him…" Riku shook her head, and then glared at the guard.
"Kill him." She said simply to Nathaniel, the guard stiffened and tried to worn away from Nathaniel.
"Hasty decisions are not wise." Nathaniel warned.
"Well he deserves it, taking advantage of a young girl like her."
"I did not!" The guard roared indignantly.
"Inside voice." Nathaniel warned, then walked to the door and pressed his ear to it. "Times up, I hear footsteps." He tossed a dagger at the guard; it embedded itself in his throat. Dominic dropped his hold on him.
"Ugh! You could warn me at least!" There was a knock on the door.
"Is everything alright in there?" A muffled voice asked from the other side of the door; it was Tom.
"Lets go." Riku whispered, and opened the window. Ria shivered in the breeze, and then jumped out. Nathaniel and Dominic followed her, before Riku could follow, Tom walked in. He started at the guard's body then looked at Riku.
"Resistance business, you don't want to get involved. I'll see you tomorrow night." She said coldly, he nodded, his face white as a sheet. She stood on the window ledge and pulled herself on the roof, her preferred choice of travel. She waved to Dominic and Ria who were waiting below, but no Nathaniel.
"Now why would you want to run along the roof." He said from behind her, she started and whirled around. Riku lost her footing for a moment but caught herself before toppling off the roof, he was too good at being quiet.
"Closer to the sky."
"How poetic. Let's go, the authorities will be here soon." Then he ran off, still silent. She followed, glancing down at Dominic and Ria suspiciously, wouldn't people wonder why they were running along the street at night? They reached the headquarters with no problems, Ria and Dominic safely inside. Riku slipped in through her window and collapsed on her bed. Soon she would have to go downstairs and interrogate Ria, then decide if their plans were still on, if they weren't she'd have to announce it and answer a million questions. Sometimes she wished she was a simple member of the Resistance, just having to follow order, but no; she had to be the leader there was no one else. Dominic walked into her room; apparently they knew each other all too well to knock
"Don't worry about it, you don't need to knock." She said sarcastically, he rolled his eyes and perched on the side of her bed.
"You need to talk to Ria." Riku sighed; she knew this was coming.
"Yes, yes I know. Why couldn't someone else do it? I'm tired."
"Well, after you interrogate her you could go to sleep."
"No, I'd have to inform everyone and answer all these questions, besides I have to work tomorrow."
"Work?"
"Turns out that Nathaniel had to strike a deal with Tom, I'm being a waitress tomorrow."
"At the inn?"
"Where else?" Dominic looked troubled by her response.
"What if we have to move our attack up to tomorrow?"
"That wouldn't be a problem. What's really wrong?" He sighed, and looked hesitant.
"They just…don't treat the waitresses nicely."
"Oh please. Do you really believe that I can't take care of myself?"
"I just…" He began, Riku got off her bed, and on her way out of her room she patted his head.
"Don't worry. I've handled worse." Dominic sighed and watched her walk away.
Riku entered the walked down the stairs and into the brightly lit common room. There were many people milling about, drinking and talking, just enjoying themselves.
"Oi! Riku, care for a drink?" Asked someone, she turned to see Eric standing behind her, holding a mug. Eric was one of Riku's close friends, he could be a bit flirtatious at times, but she liked him better than the other boys.
"Would I? Yes, can I? No. Sorry, maybe later." He shrugged.
"S'alright. I'll be waiting for you though." She smiled and waved him off. After standing in the room for five minutes she was already hot, it seemed everyone was gathered in the room for some reason. Riku was also in long pants and a long sleeved shirt, that were both black. She sighed and worked her way around the groups of people, and found her way to the door. She walked out, and went towards the kitchen. She opened the door and walked in on Stephan and Emily; who were kissing. Emily was fifteen and Stephan was sixteen, she didn't really like Stephan, he was cheeky. Emily was a sweet and funny girl who she liked very much, more so than any other girls there.
"Ugh. Get a room! Actually don't, just stop." She said and continued on her way, she should be more careful, planting such ideas in their young heads. Riku descended to the basement, her boots thumping on the cold stone steps; it was much cooler down here.
Ria was sitting in a chair, waiting for Riku to come, her head bowed and staring at her feet.
"Hello Ria. I suspect you don't want to be here and neither do I so lets just make this quick, alright?" She nodded, and never took her eyes off her shoes. "What did you tell him?"
"I-um, well that is…" She trailed off then took a deep breath. "He wanted to know how many were in our group, so I told him, then he wanted our leader's name, and I refused, so he….he hit me and threatened to kill Brian. I still didn't tell him, and I was starting to make a scene so he dragged he to the inn. Then I didn't really have time to say anymore before you guys came in."
"Are you telling the truth?"
"Yes." She looked up into Riku's eyes, "I swear I am."
"Good, that means our plans aren't off. So, I'm going to go have that drink I promised Eric then go to bed." She started to walk away, but Ria caught her sleeve.
"Riku…could I help? Could I go on the mission too?"
"No." She replied simply. "Your too young to go on a mission, you know the rule. When your seventeen you can accompany us. Your mother will have my head if I let you go."
"So you would let me go if it wasn't for my ma, and anyways she doesn't even know I'm in the resistance."
"No I would not let you go even if your mother would, and you should tell her you're in the resistance."
"No. She would just get angry with me, besides she supports Galbatorix." Riku looked at her questioningly, and was about to ask why Ria didn't follow her mother, when she spoke.
"I have my own reasons, if your wonderin' why I don't follow my mother that is."
"I see. I suppose you don't want to tell me them?" Ria let her sleeve go, and smiled.
"Go have that drink." Riku smiled back and walked up the stairs into the kitchen, to find Stephan and Emily at it again.
"For god's sake!" She screamed, they broke apart, and Emily blushed.
"Oh, sorry Riku."
"I'm sure you are. Come one, go to bed."
"No one else is in bed, and it's not like you never kissed anyone before." Stephan retorted.
"That's true, but at least when I was fifteen I kissed them in private." Riku said smartly.
"Ooooooh, who was it?" Emily asked.
"No one you know, go to sleep or go to the common room." Riku said rather sadly, and watched the two walk out. Ria walked out from the basement as the couple was passing, and then followed the pair out of the kitchen. Riku sighed and sank into a chair, holding her head in her hands. Eric waltzed in, and sat a mug of beer infront of her, then took a seat.
"Eric, please tell me that the fifteen and sixteen year olds are not drinking."
"No, no their not. Did you really think we were that bad?" She laughed and looked up into his green eyes, they were really quite magnificent. His handsome face lit up, and he chuckled. Riku took a sip from the mug, this was different than the regular stuff they had, it was richer.
"This is new." She said, and raised an eyebrow.
"Well, it cost less than the regular, and it tastes much better, I don't see how we never bought this before."
"So, are we stocking this from now on?" He nodded, and drank some from his mug.
"So, about our mission…" He trailed off and looked around.
"There shouldn't be anymore spies."
"Well, still. Come one, let's go somewhere more private." He stood up, Riku was unsure if she should follow him. He did seem to like Riku more than a friend, and he had a lot to drink, maybe she shouldn't. A little voice inside her head overpowered her common sense, or maybe it was the beer, and she followed him. They walked back to the common room, and Riku was pleased to see that Emily and Stephan had resolved to holding hands, as she walked by them Emily wiggled her eyebrows and stared and Eric's back. Riku shook her head; no. Emily had the wrong idea, and she followed him up the stairs to his room. Once inside, he did not shut the door all the way, that in her opinion was a good thing.
"So, as I was saying." He continued and sat on his bed, Riku next to him. "About the mission, do you think we should really go? I mean we never tried this before, and if it fails we loose three important people."
"Well, Dominic will still be behind if we fail, he would make a good leader."
"I still do not think it is wise."
"If you don't want to come, just say so." He shook his head vigorously at her comment.
"No, no it's not that. I just don't want to take any unnecessary risks, is all."
"Now when have we ever done that?" She asked sarcastically. "It'll be fine, everything will work out alright." Just then, Nathaniel ran into the room.
"Galbatorix's guards are coming, I got everyone out from downstairs, Dominic is taking them to the outskirts-to the other house, Stephan is waking everyone up, we've got to move." Just then they heard a loud crash-the guards were breaking down the door. Riku stood up, grabbed Eric's hand and dragged him to his feet. She followed Nathaniel down the hallway, and out the back window. They ran as fast as they could away from the house and towards the barren land, it was just then Riku realized she had left the locket that her mother gave her.
"You two go on, I'll be right there." She turned and ran back, scuttling up the side of the house. Sprinting across the small hallway she met no guards, she ducked into her room and grabbed the necklace. On the way out she met two guards, who advanced on her, she threw a dagger at one's throat, and sliced the other with her sword. She jumped out the window, and heard shouts behind her; they had seen her. Riku couldn't lead them to the other house; she changed direction fast and ran behind the houses, and into a side alley. Riku could hear a guard shouting orders to follow and capture her, she cursed and ran faster. Riku looked behind her and ran around a corner, it was a dead end. She could hear the guards coming closer, her heart echoing their footsteps. Riku looked up, and without thought leapt on top of the wall and scurried to the nearest rooftop. She scampered along the rooftops, keeping low and to the shadows until she saw the edge of the city. Riku looked around, and saw that the foolish guards were occupied with raiding the house and finding her; they wouldn't find what they were looking for, she would see to that. Nimbly jumping off the roof she landed next to the house, and hid underneath the stairs leading to the kitchen. She picked this spot because directly next to it there was a window into the basement that was next to all their papers, she took out her flint and lit a nearby stick on fire. Riku shattered the window with her elbow, but didn't even notice the pain; she dropped the stick and waited until the paper was on fire. Seeing that it was, she crawled out and sprinted to the outskirts, checking behind her when she smelled smoke, the house was burning nicely. Riku put on a burst of speed, and wound her way through the barren land. She strayed from the main road and near a large cluster of rocks; behind it was a cleverly hidden house-or rather cottage. She approached the side of the house cautiously. Using breaks in the wood as foot and hand holes she made her way to the roof, the sun was just rising. Riku pried open a window and slipped inside an empty room, she crept downstairs, to see it was deserted. Riku was slightly alarmed, but kept walking to the basement. She opened the door slowly and walked down into the darkness. At the bottom of the stairs, she felt the cold, hard edge of a sword at her throat.
"Who are you?" Nathaniel asked; he couldn't see her form in the dark.
"It's me." She said, he sighed and retracted the blade.
"What in hell took you so long? We all thought you dead!" He asked, and then groped in the darkness, she held out her hand, he grabbed it and tugged her to the right.
"Well, I didn't want to show the guards where the house was so I ran around the city, and then I burned the house's papers."
"There were papers?" He asked, then opened the door, inside were all the members of the resistance, their faces lit by candles.
"Tons of them. Hello." She said brightly to everyone, who had turned to look at what was happening.
"Riku!" Eric said from somewhere near the back of the room, he pushed some people out of the way, and walked to her, alarm on his face.
"Hello Eric." Relief spread through his features at the sight of her familiar face.
"Is the mission cancelled?" Someone asked from the back, Riku shook her head, a dark look on her face.
"No. Not cancelled, just delayed. We have to get supplies, and now it will take us far longer to get to the castle, and we will have to be extra careful."
"You do know your bleeding." Dominic said, he appeared at her side without warning, much like Nathaniel would.
"Oh, it's just a scrape." He shook his head.
"Follow me." Then he walked out of the room, Riku in his wake.
"Dominic, it really isn't that bad." The door shut, and once more she was engulfed in darkness. He walked carefully forward until they were at another door, and he walked in, and lit a candle. Riku followed him and shut the door behind her, the room was empty besides a dust-coated boxes.
"That was some shit you pulled back there." He snarled, and was suddenly in her face.
"What? What do you mean?" She asked and backed away.
"You know what I mean, what if you got killed, then our leader would be gone, the sole reason most people are in the resistance."
"Right, because they have stupid little crushes one me."
"No, it's more than that, they trust you and believe you can help defeat Galbatorix. Also," He said sharply, cutting off Riku's protests. "Some of us really care about you, take Nathaniel and Emily for instance. She would be heart broken if you died."
"And you, Dominic? How would you feel?" She questioned, he looked away and muttered something.
"Well? Are you going to tell me or the floor?"
"Alright, alright! I would be sad too."
"So…are you mad at me?"
"Yes. You had us all worried to death." He said in a much kinder tone, his eyes softened. She smiled weakly, and the held out her arm.
"Well it seems I've paid for it, can you bandage me?" He nodded and pulled a large container full of water out, followed by a smaller container filled with a tan paste, and then some strips of cloth. He rolled back her sleeve to reveal a large gash.
"I didn't think it was that bad." She winced as he wiped it with a wet cloth getting rid of all the blood.
"How did you get this anyways?" He queried then smeared the paste on it, which stung like mad, Riku tried to not show her discomfort.
"I smashed a window." He grinned and wrapped the cloth strips around her arm tightly.
"That definitely sounds like something you would do." She grinned back sarcastically and headed for the door.
"Not even a thank-you?" Dominic said and followed her out.
"Thank you." They entered the room, and it was just then Riku noticed how tired she was.
"Does anyone mind if I take a nap?" She questioned, no one raised any objections. She yawned and walked to her room, accompanied by Nathaniel.
"I think I can handle going up the stairs myself, thank you very much."
"Oh no, that's terribly difficult." He joked, then more seriously added, "You need someone to stand guard, if Galbatorix's men come, you probably won't wake up, then they'll steal you from us and we won't have you to look at anymore." He said simply, she smiled, he could never be serious for more than a minute. She walked up to a vacant room, Nathaniel behind her the whole time. Riku collapsed in the bed, and was almost instantly asleep. She always felt safe with him, no matter what the situation, she trusted Nathaniel with her life. He sat on the edge of her bed, dagger in hand.
"If you sleep for more than an hour I'm getting you up." She smiled and closed her weary eyes, drifting into a dreamless sleep.
A/N: Weee! Sorry if that chapter wasn't all that descriptive, I had to get the ideas down without making it WAY too long. Reviews would be appreciated, criticism would be nice, just don't flame pweeze! Next chappy will be out depending on how motivated i am over the next few days...