Hey everyone. MiniHouse here its been a long time since I added something to the site and I apologise to anyone still waiting for me to get my act together and update House Hunting, but I just can't seem to get into it again at the moment so I started writing this in hopes of getting back into the writing mood after Inheritance which I thought was a good book with a disappointing ending.

Well now my ramblings finished I hope you enjoy although I know most of this is based the prologue from 'Eragon' but I have made some very slight and more obvious changes.

Disclaimer: I own nothing that you recognise

Prologue

The Shade lifted his head and sniffed the air. He looked human with the exception of his startlingly red hair and matching maroon eyes. The message had been correct: the egg courier was here in the Spine.

'Spread out; hide behind trees or bushes and stop whoever is coming... or die.' hissed the Shade. Behind him twelve brutish Urgals moved noisily to hide in the dense greenery along the edge of the beaten path. After a few minutes of quiet shuffling in the undergrowth all grew still.

The Shade stood, hand on his sword, with such stillness if not for the colour of his hair he could easily have been mistaken for a statue who's unwavering stare was on the path ahead. The Shade did not even flinch at a loud screech emitted from an owl high in the trees above.

A gust of wind ripped through the forest carrying with it the scent the Shade had been waiting for.

'Ready yourselves' The Shade murmured to the Urgals he knew to be hiding just behind him.

Moments later three white horses with riders cantered directly into the ambush set for them.

On the lead horse was an elf with pointed ears and eyebrows which slanted elegantly, with a sword pressed tightly to his side. The last rider had the same fair face and angular features as the first although his weapon of choice seemed to be the spear strapped securely onto his back.

Between the two rode a raven-haired elven lady who surveyed her surroundings with poise. Her face was famed by long black locks, her deep emerald eyes shone with a force that could make many a man run in fear. Her clothes were of simple design, yet her beauty remained untouched by the simplicity of the clothing. On her hip was a sword, on her back a long bow and quiver.

Despite all of the marvellously made and maintained weaponry and goods the elves had the Shade had eyes for only one object; the simple seemingly insignificant brown bag in the elven lady's lap which she frequently glanced towards, almost as if reassuring herself it remained in the same position.

The two male elves shared a glance and the two guards switched positions. They passed the shades position without suspicion. The Shade smiled, although it quickly turned to a snarl when one of the Urgals broke cover and tackled the female of her horse.

'Open Fire' snarled the Shade and eleven arrows left Urgal bows, three stuck the front elf, two to the chest another hit his throat instantly killing him, the second took an arrow to the left leg, two to the chest and a final arrow which pierced his heart killing him also.

The Shade turned with a victorious smirk to where the Urgal had tackled the woman only to be met with the site of a dead Urgal and a trail of blood leading of to the side of the path.

The Shade bounded after the elven woman following the small trail of blood which would have been invisible to the human eye through the trees. He finally caught site of the female as they both came to a stand still in a small clearing. Where the elven woman stood sword drawn, fatigue obvious and with a slowly growing red patch on her clothes, just below her ribcage.

'Hand over the egg or d...' The Shade started when an arrow struck him directly between the eyes. He turned slowly and saw a boy of around sixteen years of age stood bow still raised at the edge of the clearing. The Shade snarled and noticed the female collapse just before his body collapsed into a pile of dust.

So there we have it yet another AU story. Leave a review on whether you think I should continue this or even just for some feedback but please no flames. Also leave a comment on whether you would prefer weekly updates or longer bi-weekly updates.

MiniHouse