Candle in the Dark

Disclaimer: I only own Sapphira (for now)! Muahahaha... Meow!

Prologue

Sapphira

It had been her twelfth birthday, she remembered it so well. A little too well, perhaps. She was the daughter of the mighty Galbatorix and she had always lived in that prison-like stone castle since she could remember. All Princess Sapphira wanted was a sense of freedom, even a tiny little bit. Her father was ruling the kingdom almost every minute, oh, how she wanted her father to accompany her just for one day! Somehow she thought she would feel free that way, it was a good thing, after all, to be able to deal with someone other than her servants. Silently Sapphira made her decision. Like a thief she climbed up the marble staircases to her father's study, brushing dark red hair from her sapphire eyes as she walked, without making a sound. If not carefully looking, one could have almost assumed that her hair was black. Indeed her sanguine was not a very common colour. Her eyebrows had a sharp turn near the top, like a tick. Finally she reached the door of the study which was (surprisingly? ) guarded by several royal guards. They bowed to her as she came to a halt in front of them.

'The king is inside, my lady.' The tall one said, ' Eh, discussing things.'

She sighed. 'Yes, I can see that. But I'm sure he won't behead you if you let me in, so why don't you open the door?'

This must have been the thousandth time she assured them. The guards considered her words and opened the door for Sapphira.

'Good morning, fath-' She said merrily as she walked in, before stopping suddenly as she noticed that there was a strange man talking to her father. He had maroon hair and crimson eyes. He was also very pale. Strange, yes; handsome, maybe, but not at all terrifying for Sapphira.

'Morning, daughter, you would turn twelve today, is't that right?' Father turned his smiling face to her, but she could tell that there was something else on his mind. She could always tell.

'Well, yes. And I hope I'm not interrupting anything?' Still Sapphira stared at the strange man. She suddenly remembered that staring was rude, so she quickly looked back at her father. A small smile curled up the strange man's thin lips.

'Oh, not at all, darling, you havn't met Durza yet, have you?' So that was his name.

She shook her head.

'He is one of my most useful servants. He is a Shade- I have taught you about Shades, I am sure?'

'In fact, no. None of the books you gave me mentioned that!'

'You just have to know that I possess powerful magic, princess.' Durza's voice was very smooth and very cool. Exactly the type Sapphira liked.

'Magic! I would love to learn magic!' she said to Durza, although sounding a lot like begging her father to her surprise she heard Father voice his approval.

'Yes, well, we were just planning to show you something...Afterwards, you can start with magic. I think you are big enough to start understanding and learning those things.'

'What things?' Asked Sapphira, clearly confused, yet not without the feeling that this cannot be something good.

Her father's answer was not helping. 'You will see. Now follow me.' It was commanding and she and Durza obeyed at didn't talk much as they walked after the king, so Sapphira had much time observing the Shade (whatever that was!) and meanwhile cannot help noticing that they seemed to be on their way down to the dungeons. Exactly why would her father take her to such a place on her birthday, Sapphira had no idea- surely not trying to scare her? No, that wasn't possible, because she was not like other princesses, she was never afraid of darkness. She was different.

The narrow path grew darker and colder and still, her father did not speak. He seemed to be deep in thoughts. And as for Durza, Sapphira had the funny feeling that he was smiling mischievously -was it really some kind of trick? She wondered.

At last, after what seemed to be hours, her father stopped in front of an iron gate of a dungeon, proving Sapphira's guess to be correct. As she followed in, a strange smell filled her nostrils, like sugar mixed wrongly with iron, sweet, but in a disgusting way. She had to hold her breath. A horrible thought suddenly came into her already confused mind- it cannot be blood?!

Sapphira gasped.

Before her eyes was nothing else but a badly-beaten man whose aspect can barely be seen clearly through the blood. And blood. And blood. Blood everywhere!

Instinctively she closed her eyes.

'No, don't!' Ordered her father,' This is what I want you to see, what I want you to learn! If you can't even accept this, then you are most certainly not worthy to be my daughter!'

How dare you say such things! Thought Sapphira indignantly as she opened her eyes.

The man was clearly in pain, but somehow this did not frighten her at all, instead she felt a strange excitement rushing through her veins. Why was she feeling this way? She cursed herself under her breath. Her father looked at her.

'Good, that is an improvement. Tell me, if you are lost in the dark, would you light a very bright candle to gain some light?'

Why is he asking me this? Sapphira could only wonder. She answered anyway, trying to be careful.

'I would if i'm desperate. Is there anything wrong with lighting a candle?'

Her father chuckled. 'That is where the problem is. There is nothing wrong about it. But havn't you noticed what the candle gives you besides light?'

She thought of all the times a candle was lit. Oh, the brightest light in the world! What else could there be?

'I don't know. A hint?'

Surprisingly Durza took a step forward.'Do I remind you of anything?'

A moment's silence and then it struck her, the answer was so simple, so obvious- Shade, shadow!

'Yes, there would be a shadow! So?'

Her father replied with all seriousness. 'Always remember: the brightest light casts the darkest shadow. The candle in the dark is sheer power of both light and dark. Now I will leave you and you can start your lessons with Durza.'

Just like that he left, leaving Sa- pphira to her very confused thoughts. And the Shade Durza. As the sound of her father's footsteps disappeared, Sapphira let her question bursted out at last. 'What is a Shade?!'

Durza smirked. 'I would never have imagined that your father's daughter knows nothing about Shades. Why, Shades are extremely well-known and widely feared...'

'Stop laughing at me!' She glared at the Shade.'Explain to me. Were you born one? Or was it some kind of accident?'

'Were you born to ask so many questions?'

'What if I am?!' She fired up at once. She hated others saying she asked too many questions, she was indeed born curious.

'No need to be angry at me, princess, I would be in deep trouble if your father finds out.' He said softly.

'Why? I thought Shades are powerful?' She teased before realising that she was again, asking questions.

'Not if someone found out my true name.'

'Now that's something I do know. So he controls you by using your true name, I see. ' Then realising what she said, and what it must have meant for Durza, Sapphira felt sympathetic.' I… I'm sorry. I know what it's like to lost your freedom. I've never even tasted what it's like to be completely free. To do what I want, not just to be a proper lady.' Her words surprised herself, and apparently Durza as well. She had barely known him, yet here she was, speaking her heart to a Shade.

For once the Shade was almost speechless. ' It is very difficult to surprise me, princess. But I want this conversation to end now, we have lots of things to do.'

'Oh sure, I can see that we have a dying man here. How could he be lots of things?' She asked half-jokingly, looking back at the prisoner.

Durza chuckled darkly. 'Well, you see, princess, when we're finished with him, he will turn to more than one piece,'

'A quip,' he added, seeing Sapphira's lovely terrified face.

'Now listen carefully: what should I do if I caught someone with the information I want?'

'Torture him until he yields!' She had answered without thinking.

'Yes. But how would you do that? Tickle him?' He teased in a cruel manner.

'How would I know that, anyway? I thought you are teaching?' Sapphira answered slyly, playing this game with words far beyond anyone of her age.

Durza seemed pleased with her less-than-polite answer.' Consider torturing as an art. You torture to have fun, getting information at the same time.'

No! My father and you may be so, but I am not like that, nor will I ever be! Yet another voice in her mind told a different story. How about that sudden excitement when I saw that bleeding man, huh?

'Could we not have this lesson today? I think I'm feeling rather sick.' She lied, hoping she could fool a Shade.

'Fine. We can skip to the magic part. I never thought such a young girl can handle the torturing part anyway, least of all lie to a Shade like me!'

How could I possibly have thought that this will work?

Durza, however, didn't proceed on the subject, much to Sapphira's gratitude.

The rest of things they did she could not remember. Yet one sentence will accompany her through her whole life.

The brightest light casts the darkest shadow.

'Candle in the dark...'

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This is my first fanfic and probably the worst. What I need is encouragement! Positive reviews are blessed; the opposite ones are needed as well(just don't do that deliberately!)