AN: I finally got a Beta! Thank you LOTRRanger for helping me out with this, Chapter 3 will be up tomorrow morning please review, I don't care if its a flame or just good job, please review.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Inheritance Cycle and/or any characters, places, names, languages, species, etc. used in the Inheritance Cycle.

Chapter 1

He had heard rumors of an ancient jewel, full of energy, more than any Eldunari, hidden deep within the Spine, and he was determined to find it. He had only one problem – Galbatorix was also searching for it. The Imperial soldiers were beginning to explore the Spine; it didn't matter. He was powerful, more powerful than the elves who had cast him out of Du Weldenvarden. He was Edhellhach, Ebrithil abr Carthungave, the Master of the Spine. The Spine itself was dark, foreboding place, even in the day, shadows were long, creeping out of the trees, a pale light managed to enter the forest, but large, menacing shadows flitted back and forth. Edhellhach was lean, dark and tall, with shaggy dark hair, grey eyes, and a stern pale face, a large cloak covering most of his features, but without constricting his movement. He himself was at times dark and cruel like the Spine, but at other times Edhellhach was also just. No thinking being went through the Spine without his consent. Let the soldiers come; he, Edhellhach wouldn't let them through.

He saw them first, a scouting party of ten Imperials. He quietly murmured "Brisingr," barely audible to the passing soldiers. The surrounding grass burst into flames and he jumped in with two swords drawn. He slashed at two soldiers, spun and kicked another into the flames. Edhellhach lunged at another and then sprung away into the trees.

On Galbatorix's orders, they scoured the Spine in search of a "special gem". Many under Captain Ohtar's command wondered what was so important about one little stone that the entire Imperial army was needed to find it. they had been walking in the forest when flames sprung out of the ground and incinerated two of his soldiers. A dark shape hurled itself out of the trees and before the commanding officer knew what had happened, it left, leaving him and his three remaining men standing back to back. A deep voice came out of the trees in a commanding tone. "Leave the Spine. Tell Galbatorix that Edhellhach says to abandon the Spine or lose his army."

"Never!" the officer shouted.

"Too bad! Jierda!" One of the soldiers fell. "Still don't want to leave? No?" Another man fell. "Fine! I'll tell him!" The officer relented loudly, scowling into the trees, his eyes a mixture of hatred and fear. The attacker chuckled and the flames disappeared. Edhellhach watched the two remaining soldiers leave and set off to show that he had not spoken idly; Edhellhach truly would destroy Galbatorix's army if it remained in the Spine.

XXXXX

He had been riding his horse for days, desperate to deliver his message to Galbatorix. When Ohtar had left to deliver his message, a platoon had been destroyed by Edhellhach. By the time he had arrived at Uru'Baen, two companies had been massacred. If they didn't pull out of the Spine soon, there was no telling how many troops they would have left. Of the men who had faced the elf, only he and two of his men were left. Even though they had reached the capital in record time, the captain struggled to gain an audience with the king. When he was finally granted an audience with Galbatorix, Ohtar knelt humbly before Galbatorix. "Sire, a being has been killing our troops in the Spine. He demands that we leave the place."

There was an ominous silence before Galbatorix answered. "Captain Ohtar, you would have me believe that one creature can defeat our armies?" The words were spoken low, danger tinting the edges.

He did not dare look up, fearing what he would find in his king's eyes. Many a person had been killed for bringing pleasanter news. "Your Majesty," He spoke haltingly. "He has already destroyed at least a company of our troops."

"Then Captain, you would do well to destroy this 'threat'." Galbatorix stated with menacing calm.

The captain swallowed hard. "Yes, your Majesty. I shall take to companies to destroy this Edhellhach." He backed out of the room, his head bowed low.

Edhellhach? Galbatorix almost couldn't believe it. Morzan had slain Edhellhach's dragon. The elf had become mad and disappeared. Over the years, they had believed that Edhellhach had died. If he was back, then it would take more than ordinary men to stop him.

"Durza!" Galbatorix snapped.

"Yes, my lord?" The Shade answered faithfully, slithering his way out of the shadows.

Galbatorix did not hesitate to issue a new order. "Kill the elf."

X-X-X-X-X-X-X

It had been years since Narlhug, his dragon, had fallen at the hands of the traitor Morzan. Edhellhach still had his Eldunari, but he wished for more. With the energy in the fabled jewel of the Spine, he would be able to bring his dragon back to his body, which Edhellhach had preserved with spells against decay, and wards against the hungry creatures. His dragon would return and destroy the men responsible for Narlhulg's death. Edhellhach had already killed of two companies of Galbatorix's men, and soon they would leave and he could resume his search for the fabled jewel, Mir. A large group of soldiers almost two companies large had gathered in a large clearing in the Spine. No matter their size, they would not survive. "Deloi sharjalvi!" Edhellhach hissed the words. The ground under the soldiers began shifting beneath their feet. "Adurna!" Some of the soldiers began to sink in the newly-made quick sand. Edhellhach leaped into the clearing, swords swinging and slashing. A soldier on somewhat firm ground tried to slash at him, but Edhellhach blocked the blade and kicked the soldier to the ground. "Brisingr!" A ball of fire engulfed several soldiers. "Deloi vondr!" The earth stopped moving, trapping several soldiers. A platoon of soldiers began advancing towards him. "Brisingr!" The ball of fire flew towards the soldiers and disappeared. They had learned, and now they were using wards. "Good; a challenge," Edhellhach murmured to himself. He charged at the platoon, but jumped over them before he reached them. Edhellhach landed deftly behind them and attacked them from the rear. Only a few soldiers had managed to spin around in time to face him before they died by his twin blades – Adurna and Deloi. Edhellhach continued in the same manner, charging at a group, sometime from behind, sometimes head on, until only one platoon was left. This last group seemed more wary of him, and more cautious. Edhellhach recognized one man, the captain with whom he had sent his message with. "I trust your king received my message?" Edhellhach stated, his appearance clearly suggesting that it had better have been delivered.

The captain glowered at him. "He has." The captain ground out.

Edhellhach nodded. "He sent you to defeat me." Edhellhach had anticipated this.

"He did."

The elf's eyes narrowed in appreciation. "And how do you think that's going?"

The captain's scowl deepened. "Not well." The captain was loath to admit it.

Edhellhach considered for a moment before he began to voice his proposition. "I have a proposition for you, join me or …"

"I shall never join you!" Ohtar fairly screeched the words, indignant at the thought of joining the elf. Ohtar and his men charged at Edhellhach, but they never reached him. Edhellhach used the energy stored in Narlhug's Eldunari to keep him still while he and Narlhug entered into the soldier's minds. With deadly calm, Edhellhach forced them to swear loyalty to them in the Ancient Language.