Disclaimer: I own everything ha ha ha psych...I own nothing.

A/N: This takes place after Eldest. There is some swearing.

Chapter One: Say it with me now...SHA-NA

I was late for school. Again. This I knew even though I had not yet fully woken. I groaned. How nice it would be to sleep in for once. My eyelids were leaden, but I tried to force them open. If I skipped school again I would earn yet another detention and my mom would probably ground me. But I was allowed to slack off in my senior year, wasn't I?

My alarm clock jangled and I reached out to press the snooze button once again. A few more minutes wouldn't make a difference. After all, was detention really that bad when all the hot guys were there?The thoughts of one particular guy named Justin filled my mind but they were abruptly interrupted when my hand met nothing but air. What happened to my alarm clock?

Startled, I jerked open my eyes and sat up sharply.

"Crap," I said when I noticed my surroundings. I was in a cell, iron bars revealed a stone hallway beyond, a heavy lock on the door. The walls of the cell were also stone as was the floor. A single barred window was set high in one of the walls shedding a single shaft of light on the floor. It wasn't a lot of light, but it was enough daylight for me to see. The only furniture in the small space was the cot on which I lay and a flimsy table in the far corner. There was a pitcher and cup on the table and a metal bucket under it. I was surprised the table did not collapse under the weight of the pitcher.

The cell looked nothing like the cell in the police station that I was semi-familiar with. Where was I? I couldn't even remember something I could have done that would land me in jail.

I got up, the stone floor cold against my bare feet. I was still in my pj's which was strange. My black shirt that said "I BITE" in bloody letters am my red sweatpants were just as I remembered them, as was my short mop of scraggly brown hair that no doubt looked a strangled mess. So only my surroundings had changed, not me, interesting.

I heard once again that jingling I had thought to be my alarm clock and I turned my attention to the man I had not noticed early by the door. He was dressed strangely. A coat of mail over a bright red tunic and leggings. Strapped to his belt was a short sword? God, this was just getting weirder and weirder. This dude looked some guy straight out of the Renaissance Festival. In his hand was a ring of keys. That must have been what made the jingling noise, I realized as he unlocked the door with an audible click. He replaced the keys on his belt and opened the door. With a gloved hand he beckoned me forward.

I shrugged and hesitantly walked towards him. What could I do? He had a sword for crying out loud. I could barely fight my unarmed little brother as it was, let alone a warrior who was obviously accustomed to chopping peoples' arms and legs off.

As soon as I neared him he grabbed my arm in a vice-like grip. That was uncalled for.

"Paws off, asshole! I can walk by myself!" I snapped at him.

Perhaps he was also made of stone, or at least a deaf as one, for his grip did not lessen and he began dragging me down the hallway.

"I don't know who you are, but you can't do this. I don't even know why I'm here, let alone what you want from me. Let me go!" I don't even know why I shouted at him. Maybe it was because I could do nothing else. Maybe I had just been stretched to the breaking point. I don't know. What was clear however is I could have been speaking in French for all the difference it made. He didn't even bat an eyelash in my direction for all my protesting.

We continued down several more corridors passing by many more people in the same red uniform as my...escort? Guard? Captor? I soon became lost in the maze and gave up trying to keep track of where we were going. I had never really been good with maps or directions.

Eventually, we stopped in from of a large set of double doors. They were made of some dark wood that was intricately carved with vines and creatures I had never seen before. My guard/escort/captor knocked loudly three times and the double doors swung open just large enough to admit both of us. They closed with a slightly ominous boom. Well that was predictable, I thought wryly, thinking of all the haunted house movies I had seen.

I gasped at the sight that met my eyes. We stood in a great hall, the ceiling so high it was cloaked in shadows, Torchlight lit the walls, illuminating the vast space with a dim glow. Torches? Well that was primitive. Still, it fit, considering the swords and all. Down the center of the hall was a blood red runner creating a clear isle on which we were supposed to walk. I nearly fainted when I saw what the runner lead to.

Seated in a heavy and ornate throne set on a circular dais sat a man that was unmistakably a king. My eyes ere quickly drawn away from him however and to what was behind him in a protective crouch.

It was a dragon, and it was HUGE! It's black scales glittered in the torchlight and its eyes studied me speculatively. A dragon! Oh, I had always wanted to meet a dragon! Something told me, though, that this dragon was one I would prefer not to meet. There was something...sinister about it. Something that made me want to shrink away.

Unfortunately, I couldn't , for my stony faced guard/escort/captor was pulling me forward no matter my wishes. When we reached the foot of the dais my guard/escort/captor bent over in a low bow, pulling me along with him. I didn't want to bow, but it was wither that or get my arm ripped out. I'm sorry, but I happen to like my arm and would prefer to keep it.

"Rise" the king said in a language I did not recognize yet somehow heard in my mind as English and understood as such. I instantly did not like his voice. Why, I could not say. It was to melodious.

Frowning, I rose from my half-kneeling position. My guard/escort/captor straightened from his bow but did not release his hold on my arm.

"Leave us," the king said to the soldier and it was then that he let go of my arm and retreated wordlessly back down the runner. I rubbed feeling back into my arm, wincing as I felt a bruise forming.

I glared with all the anger I could muster at the king. How dare he treat me like this? He could go to jail for a very long time for doing this, king or no king! Not only for the rough treatment but also for kidnapping me. I didn't even know why. In response to my glower he merely smiled. He smiled! I clenched my hands into fists at my sides and I lifted up my chin defiantly, glaring for all I was worth. The dragon hissed its amusement from behind the king and that only made my spine stiffen in fury.

"You have caused me much trouble, Selvyne." the king chuckled, his eyes glittering like the dragon's scales.

I blinked in confusion, my anger melting away like ice in a microwave.

"What the hell?" I demanded. "My name is Shana. Who's Selvyne?"

The king's eyes suddenly marrowed and his smile faded. "Enough games, Selvyne." he growled. "What is it you have found out about the Varden? Who is their new leader?"

"What the hell are you talking about. What is the Varden? My name is Shana!" I was shouting now, completely and utterly confused. Who did this guy think I was? And, more importantly, where was I?

I was silenced by the king's heavy hand on my forehead.

"What's the big idea?" I shouted and wanted to step back out of his reach, but for some reason I couldn't make my limbs move.

"Do not even try to shield your mind, and do not ask Taros to shield it for you, Shruikan will know." The king warned me, but the words meant nothing.

Shruikan must have been the dragon, but who was Taros? Shield my mind? OK, this guy was definitely psychotic.

"Who...?" I began to ask, but was cut off by an immense pressure on my mind. It felt like one hell of a migraine was coming on, something I had too much experience with. With all this crap I had to deal with it was no surprise. I wanted to step back but felt a sharp jagged pain lance through my head coming from the man's fingertips. After what seemed ages, the king finally withdrew his hand, his expression stony.

"Find what you were looking for?" I could not help by quip regardless of the migraine steadily building in my head. "Sorry, but it's kinda empty up there. Spring cleaning, ya know?"

My light statement was me with a cold glare.

"Apparently not," I shrugged. "So...who are you? I didn't catch your name."

"No more games, Selvyne."

"Alright, but my name's Shana and I really don't know what to call you."

"Since you insist on being obstinate, you may refer to me as king Galbatorix." He answered reluctantly in a voice edged with steel.

"Well, king Gal-whatsit, can I call you Gal? What do you want." I bowed mockingly, making sure he understood the sarcasm.

"Tell me all you know of the Varden." By his tone, it was clear he was in no joking mood.

"Sorry, can't help ya there." I shrugged as if it were a trivial thing. "Who's Taros?"

Galbatorix scowled but did not answer. The sound of something heavy hitting the floor came from behind me and I could feel the vibrations of its landing through my feet. Hot breath with the smell of sulfur stirred my hair and I had no choice but to turn around. Something like that is kind of hard to ignore. I nearly fainted.

"Damn," I swore. Apparently, Taros was a dragon.

A/N: I know it was short, but there's more to come, I promise. REVIEW PLEASE!!!!!!!!Even if you didn't like it, let me know.