Chapter 1: Coincidence?

A/N: Yup I changed it again. I'm so fickle. Now it's an Arya PoV. Takes place 2 days after the end of Brisingr. I'll try to also get Chapter 2 up today, as my house is getting tented for termites this week.

Anyway, R&R! (I know my chapters are short. I'm just not that amazing of a writer.)

A cry of pain startled Arya out of her thoughts. It was inhuman, with a pitch so high that it was almost beyond the elven range of hearing. Arya peered through the trees, looking around for the source of the cry. Collapsed by a tree was a man, wearing armor unlike any Arya had seen before. It seemed as if it was made of ruby scales. The scales reflected light into an array of ruby-white sparkles on the ground around it. The man wore a circlet of steel with a red diamond set into the helm. His arms were bare except for two bracers of the gem-scales. There were many scars and cuts on the man, and the armor had many scratches visible along it. He wore two blades, one ruby and the other black, and a shield upon his back, split into two halves mirroring the color of his blades. The man had angular features like that of an elf, although his face was broader and his ears slightly less angled. His auburn hair was like a mop, scraggly and rugged in appearance, as if it had spent months without a proper brushing. A cube lied next to the man, with a glass orb set into it and writing in 5 different languages. Arya recognized the language of dwarves, elves, men, and what she assumed to be urgals. The fifth was a language Arya had never seen before. The three languages she could read all said the same thing.

"May one who is worthy touch the orb and hope shall be restored."

After thinking over this for a while, Arya heeded the advice. As soon as she made contact with the orb, a presence could be felt in her mind. It passed through her barriers as if they were nonexistent, entering her mind, reading her every thought and memory. It sped through her mind faster than anything she had ever seen, even the spirits. It took the presence less than a minute to sift through over a century of memories. Arya attempted to learn from the presence, but it defied all understanding. It was entirely devoid of emotion and even thought, and its mind was not like that of any living race.

When it finished, something seemed to click into place in its mind. The orb she had touched grew into an emerald green, like dye dropped into water. Arya's vision flickered, and then her senses went blank. The presence in her mind enveloped her, and she could see and hear again. She saw an image of the man holding the orb that was set into the cube. He turned and looked at her, and concern filled his face. He spoke in the ancient language with a fluency rarely heard outside of Du Weldenvarden.

"All that you shall hear is true." He paused.

"Greetings, Arya Islanzadisdaughter. If you are hearing this, it means that I have failed to make it to the Varden. If you are wondering, I have successfully taken the last egg in Galbatorix's control. The egg will be revealed after I awaken.

I do not serve Galbatorix, nor am I a current member of the Varden. This may lead to some trust issues, which is why I am speaking in this tongue. Do not take the cube away from me, as the cube and I will be transported to a previously specified location. I am unsure of where yet, as there are many areas that it could take me.

It would be helpful if you could trust me, at least until I awaken. The egg in my possession will hatch for a member of the Varden, although I am unsure of who yet. It will be someone of importance, and that person will have faced much hardship and pain during their life.

I shall awaken as the sun rises a day from your contact with the orb. Find the red tent in the forest. It will not be far from here. You may bring at most 5 people with you if it helps you to trust me.

May the stars watch over you."

The world then went blank and the orb in the cube became clear, its purpose fulfilled.

Tell me what you think!