Tears of the Wronged

An Inheritance Fanfic

Note: This is based after Brisingr

One: An unreleased prisoner

"Are you absolutely sure?" Eragon asked as one of the Varden's soldiers returned with news of there only being one living prisoner within the dungeons of Lady Lorana.

"Yes, Shadeslayer, we are certain. But if you ask me she is nearer to death than those already dead." The soldier replied.

"Why do you say that?" Eragon asked, somewhat worried about what this soldier meant by that statement.

The soldier seemed to recall something, and shivered. "Well, for someone to act like that, there has to be something wrong with her."

"Ah," Eragon said. "Take me to her."

The soldier bowed and led Eragon through Lady Lorana's house until they reached the dungeon and saw Arya waiting at the door.

"Eragon, what are you doing here?" She asked.

"I heard that there was only one prisoner alive in here, as well of strange behavior coming from that prisoner. Why are you here?" He answered, as he moved to let the soldier unlock the door.

"Do you know who is in this dungeon?" Arya asked.

"No."

"Good, then you don't have to worry." She replied mysteriously.

As soon as the door was open Arya was inside and had magically opened the girls cell door.

An elvish looking girl sat shaking and mumbling, almost screaming, within the cell. Her clothes were shabby and had hundreds of holes torn in them, her right eye was covered by a dark and dirty old piece of cloth torn from the hem of her long sleeve shirt. She had no hair, apparently burned off by the scars on her head, several scars ran down her face, one ,very noticeably white, ran down her face from her covered eye to her chin.

The girl flinched from Arya's touch, screaming, but muttering told Eragon that Arya had put the girl to sleep, before she picked her up.

"Arya, who is she?" Eragon asked as she passed him.

"Her name is Keridyn." Arya answered.

"I asked you who she is, Arya."

"Then look at her hand." Arya replied.

Eragon's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. He took the girls hand and looked at it. Then his eyebrows rose to their maximum height. "How-"

"She is from before the fall of the Riders, Eragon. It was then that I originally met her." Arya told him as she scaled the stairs.

Eragon ran to follow. "She's an old rider?"

"Yes." Arya said as they reached the top of the stairs. From there she made her way towards Nasauda's pavilion. "You may want to ask Elva to leave."

"Why?"

"Keridyn has suffered the most these last hundred years, I assure you. It is what drove her mad in that cell. Imagine how it would have been if you were a dragon rider from before and were in his imprisonment. I did not think she was alive."

As they came to the front of the pavilion Elva met them at the tent flap. The look on her face was shocking. It looked as though she were suffering from a deep sadness and despair, but the tears in her eyes portrayed something far different.

"Let her tell them herself, Elva. Robbing her of the chance to let them know her for who she is would be unfair." Arya told the young girl.

Elva nodded her head and ran off.

"What was that about?" Eragon asked.

"I will not be the one to tell you." Was Arya's only reply.

The guards stopped them before they entered. "Arya and Eragon to see you my lady, they also have someone else with them."

"Who is with them?" Nasauda called from inside.

"Lady Nasauda, I will not explain this to you by shouting, but the girl I am carrying is older than this war and was the only person alive within Lorana's dungeon." Arya replied impatiently.

Nasauda then appeared at the open tent flap. "Who is this girl?"

Arya moved around Nasauda and put the girl on a nearby chair. "Her name is Keridyn, she is a Rider from before the rise of Galbatorix."

The eys of the leader of the Varden grew noticab;y larger in size. "You knew this girl from before?"

Arya nodded her head. "Keridyn was my friend before the Riders' fall. I thought for sure she was dead."

Nasauda looked at the sleeping girl. "Is she an elf?"

"Not entirely." Arya responded.

"What do you mean?"

"Her mother was an elf, her father was not."

"That makes her half human." Eragon realized.

Eragon, don't get your hopes up. Would you destroy your friendship with Arya over the faint hope that if the both of you do fall in love that it is possible for you to have children. Saphira reminded him.

"Who were her parents?" Nasauda asked.

"That I can't say. You would have to ask her." Arya replied. "But I would recommend not entering her mind, it wasn't a good idea a hundred years ago, I highly doubt it is now."

"Why is that?" Eragon asked.

"You can tell from experience that the elven mind is no place for humans, it is so even with her. However, because she is both half elf and half human, her mind is no place for an elf. I once entered her mind with her guidance, I would not dare to do it again without her help." Arya answered. "But, I wouldn't want you all around when she wakes. With a mind like that and a memory like hers, paired with all that she's been through, it may be disastrous."

"Too late." Eragon said as he noticed the girl turning her head.

Arya rushed to her side. "Outside, both of you." She ordered.

They both obeyed her without question.

As the girls eye slowly opened she began to toss and turn and mumble. Arya grasped her shoulders, startling her.

"Keridyn, look at me. Look at me, Keridyn. Keri, you're fine. You're safe." She called calmly.

The girls unfocused eye suddenly found Arya. "Arya! Arya is that you?!"

Arya smiled. "Yes, it's me."

"Where am I?" She asked frightened.

Arya grasped Keridyn's arms firmly. "It doesn't matter where you are, you're safe. He won't hurt you anymore. You're with the Varden. He can't reach you, you're safe."

"You keep saying I'm safe, but why are you the only one here?" Keridyn asked.

"I sent them away. I thought it would be better if you woke to someone you knew." Arya answered.

"That's thoughtful of you, but it's been a hundred years since I last saw you."

"I thought the same thing."

The two smiled at eachother.

"Would you like to meet him?" Arya asked.

"Who?"

"The Dragon Rider of the Varden, the one who is opposing him."

Keridyn's eye widened, fear shone in her eye. "I would rather not yet. I fear what would happen if I did."

"Will you at least meet the leader of the Varden?" Arya asked.

"You won't let me be if I don't will you?"

"You know the answer already."

Keridyn smiled. "Then call the lady in, Arya. I owe some people an explanation." The she seemed to come to a decision. "And the Rider, I shouldn't be so afraid."

"You've suffered so much, it's understandable for you to be afraid of a Rider." Arya told her.

Keridyn shook her head. "No, it isn't. It's inexcusable, I'm afraid when I shouldn't be. Being afraid of a Rider is the equivalent of being afraid of myself. It is inexcusable Arya."

"Alright then." Ary said releasing the other girl and standing. "Nasauda, Eragon, you can come back in."

Nasauda and Eragon entered the pavilion but stood by the entrance.

"Keridyn, this is Lady Nasauda, daughter of Ajihad, leader of the Varden, and Eragon Bromsson, Dragon Rider. Lady Nasauda, Eragon, this is Keridyn, daughter of Maliarin, also a Dragon Rider."

"Was, I was a Dragon Rider." Keridyn corrected. "My dragon was slain by Galbatorix in the last battle of Ilirea with King Evandar."

Eragon, I worry for this girl, losing a dragon is hard on a Rider. Brom told us that. Along with what she inevitably went through after that, it's a wonder that she's still alive.

It sounds like you want to meet her, Sahpira.

I wouldn't mind meeting her.

Where have you been anyway?

Flying around helping the soldiers round up stragglers of Lady Lorana's guard.

Ah. Perhaps you can meet her later.

"Keridyn, what was your dragons name?" Nasauda asked suddenly.

Sadness shown in Keridyn's one eye. "Faloreon. His name was Faloreon."

Nasaudsa nodded her head. "What happened to you eye?"

"What do you mean?"

"You're right eye. What happened?"

"Oh, uh, well." Keridyn shuddered. "I had an unfortunate encounter with Galbatorix."

"What happened to your dragon?" Eragon found himself asking.

Keridyn glanced at him. "The very same encounter. To torture my dragon he gouged my eye out with my own sword. To torture me he tortured my dragon with my sword as well gave him to Shruikan for a chew toy, then took his head off with my blade." Keridyn recounted morbidly. "Being imprisoned with him as a torturer was bad enough over a hundred years, having to look at my dear Faloreon's head, I'm still not sure how I found the reserve to live."

"I think it would be best if you had a bath and a good meal, Eragon, could you ask the guards to bring a tub of hot water, and where on earth is Elva?" Nasauda said.

"I left as they came in. I could feel Keridyn's emotional state even though she was asleep." Elva said from behind the tent flap. "I've never felt anyone with such conflicting emotions."

They all turned to look and see the young enchanted girl with tear streaks runnin down her face, in similar relations as Keridyn's scar.

"Well, I'll go get that bath." Eragon said as he slid out of the choking atmosphere.

Keridyn sighed. "I would apologize for that, but I'm not entirely responsible for it."

"You can't blame yourself Keridyn. All those years of imprisonment and torture from him have likely scarred you in more ways than one." Arya told her. "Especially being betrayed as you were."

"Betrayed?" Nasauda asked.

Keridyn looked ay Nasauda. "Galbatorix was a Rider, though he is older than I am by fifteen years he betrayed us all, the Riders were his home, my home, and he destroyed everything, killing everyone, including my mother."

"Your mother?"

"Yes, my mother was a Rider as well." Keridyn said.

A guard peeked through the door and dragged a metal tub inside the pavilion. "Here you are my Lady, and a change of clothes on Eragon's request."

"Thank you. Do you also happen to have a bandanna on you?" Nasauda asked.

"Yes, here you are my Lady." He told her as he pulled a white handkerchief from his armor.

"Now, let's get you clean."