OK. I'm sorry but I realized that in the previous chapter I had left 3 places with ( ) I was so excited about finishing my first chapter that I just hit publish without checking it. i went back and change it. I also do have a few people I know that can check my work so I'll go to them with my request to make it easier to read. I know I hate it when I read something that has poor grammar and spelling. I just cant help it.
Also I don't have the books currently with me for references. So it is entirely possible I'll make some huge errors. I will look on-line, best I can for now, and have my sister send my books up from home. Luckily I wont need any direct references for a few chapters.
since it takes me awhile to find someone to fix my errors i plan to post my first draft and repost it when they are fixed. so hears my first draft of chapter two.
Nightmare
You know how in a dream when your scared and your trying to run away from danger you end up sluggishly slow? And the faster you try to run the slower everything is?
Luckily that wasn't happening.
I was running as fast as I could. Why was I running if knew it was a dream? Well that is obvious. Because that's what you do when your scared. You run.
Now normally if a police had told me to stop I would have despite being scared. But this was a dream and if you are scared in a dream it always means it's a nightmare and everything is indeed dangerous.
Logic wasn't a factor. And I was gonna run until I woke up or got caught.
Unfortunately I wasn't a very fast runner. And I would have been caught in a moment if it wasn't also for the fact that the suit of armor was slowing him down.
There was still persistent clanging behind me and even though I was running on adrenalin I knew I would tier.
I had been running down the hall yet the their seemed to be no change in the pattern. No windows, doors or turns to throw off my pursuer.
Great it was one of thous dreams. Where your trapped and cant escape no matter how you struggle.
Yep. This had definitely been induced by the panic attack.
Just then I finally saw a corner and darted into it. I noticed as I passed that the corner was marked by a large coulomb. I had already long since passed it when I finally processed my idea.
"Halt in the name or the Empire." he kept calling.
We had finally passed some doors but I was too scared to try and open one. What if there were more guards behind them? I counted myself lucky that none had jumped out yet.
Another corner was coming up so I readied my self.
Now.
I turn the corner swiftly and ducked into the shadow behind the pillar.
A moment later mister guard turned the same corner and continued shouting.
Soon as he passed I went back to the original hall and continued straight. Finding another pillar and sitting behind it. Panting.
This was my usual tactic. Hide.
Dreams usually didn't last to long. This one had lasted an unusually long time. I thought if I just hid for a moment and calm down I would be able to restart the dream, wake up, or something.
My heart was pounding in my ears and now that I wasn't running I was assessing how I felt.
Heart pounding wasn't unusual. That happens a lot in nightmares. What was strange was that I was sweating. I couldn't remember that ever happening before.
Sliding down the wall I covered my eyes trying to focus on opening my real eyes.
I started hearing that distant clanging come back.
"Come on." I whispered. Looking at my surroundings trying to see through them.
I saw the guard come out of the hall way. I immediately slowed my breath and pushed my self against the wall into the shadows.
He paused a moment... then went the opposite direction.
Just when he was out of sight and I was almost safe, I shrieked.
Oh my gosh, oh my gosh OH.
Yes, I was an idiot. I had been trying to see passed the illusion of my dream. But the thing was it didn't feel like a dream. So when I looked down and my hand was gone I couldn't help it. I screamed.
It was loud and piercing. The moment I herd it I shut my mouth but it was too late. He had herd me. And I had no time to think but instead ran.
Or tried was more like. I was exhausted from my earlier sprint.
After my heart and breathing had slowed the adrenalin rush had left my system. One other thing was that I was out of shape to begin with. I had dropped PE earlier and I wasn't in any sports so my stamina was way down.
This shouldn't have been a problem in a dream. But then, nothing was matching up to a dream anyway. It was all to real feeling.
True I had dreams before where I could smell touch and tast. But they were rare. And I never felt sweaty and exhausted. I even had a sharp pain in my side growing right now.
But then it couldn't not be a dream either. I couldn't have transported back in time to when men in armor walked around and castles where it was the "it" thing.
I mean sure I had often imagined doing just that. I thought if I could be born during any era it would be the medieval times or Victorian or the Renaissance. But that would never happen in the real world.
And to prove my point were my hands. They had disappear right in front of my eyes.
Looking down I was relieved to see they had reappeared.
My body was slowing. Running down halls was getting me nowhere. I was going to have to try a door.
Yes there was a chance that it would be full of enemy, but there was also the hope of finding a weapon. And if I was going to fight then I best do in now while I still have strength, rather than when I collapse at his feet.
There was a door to my left and I lunged to the latch. Griping it tight I pulled. It was heavier than I had hoped but it opened just enough for me to slip in a moment before the guard lunged at me.
I quickly latched it from the inside.
I stared at the closed door before me as the man banged on the door shouting at me to let him in.
Nice try buddy. So not letting you in.
Then I finally turned to asses my new predicament.
the young guard kept banging his hands against the door in frustration. How had things ended up like this? How could he let this chance slip by.
Jut two weeks ago he was bragging to everyone he knew how he was gonna protect the emperor himself. He had finally been recognized for his loyalty and strength. And he was gonna show them all what he was made of.
How embarrassing it would be for people back home to see him now. Standing around doing nothing while and intruder was safe inside a room.
At least it wasn't an important room. But then there were no important rooms in the east wing. That had been why he was placed there. Because there was nothing to protect.
Gritting his teeth in frustration he backed up readying to charge into the door and force it open. Taking a deep breath he ran with full strength. Clomp-clomp clomp-clomp BANG.
Dizzy he took a moment to regain his balance then. Clomp-clomp clomp-clomp BANG
Clomp-clomp clomp-clomp BANG
Clomp-clomp clomp-clomp BANG
Clomp-clomp clomp-clomp BANG
Clomp-clomp clomp-clomp BANG
this was getting him nowhere the door was deifying him every time. And all that was happening was him rattling around in a tin can. Getting dizzy and bruised.
This had been his chance. To catch an intruder would be his chance to prove himself. He would be promoted and moved away from guarding nothing to something truly worth his skill.
They were all underestimating him. And he would show them all. They didn't even give him a proper uniform. Just this outdated armor that was to large on him to be truly effective. And worse of all it slowed him down. He would have been better off if he wasn't wearing anything.
He thought he was so lucky when he saw her on the ground. He didn't think an opportunity would present itself because nothing would ever happen in the east wing. Though when he saw her she didn't look like someone who would break into the emperors castle. She wore strange cloths and had a panicked expression.
It took him a moment to realize that she might be a magic user. They were a crafty bunch. You could never tell by appearances. And even though the castle was defended against magic. It was possible that one could get in. But it would take an enormous amount of energy.
But it didn't make any sense. Sure the east wing wasn't as well guarded but the magic layers to get through were the same. The only way to enter if you were a magic user was on foot. If you did enter through magic it would alert every guard in the castle. And so far nobody had come to check on the intrusion. How had she done it?
Well no use worrying about what he doesn't understand. If she had gotten in with magic she would be exhausted and wouldn't use any more magic. And getting past her physical strength would be no problem if he could only lure her out.
That was it! If he lured her out he could win. Lay a trap.
Standing behind a pillar unseen he quietly took off most of his armor leaving only his boots. Then very loudly began stomping down the hall until he was a decent amount away. Then he slowly quieted his steps to appear to be going farther away.
Satisfied he took off his boots and quietly returned to the pillar behind the door to wait till she felt secure.
It was a few moments till he heard the results of his plan. He new exactly what she was thinking. She thought he had gone to get support. And he would be bake in a moment with guards swarming the east wing, so she best find a better spot to hide or get weapon to fight.
To be honest he had considered this course of action. But if he did that then he wouldn't get the credit. And he wanted the credit for single-handedly capturing an invading mage.
Slowly the door creaked open. He couldn't see the inside from this angle but he knew it was only a broom cupboard.
Come out little mouse, he thought. I wont kill you. I need you alive to question you.
Her back was turned and he took this moment to jump up and surprise her.
He was half way through his lung when she turned and barley blocked with a broom.
But he was fast without his armor and he was a great swordsman. That was how he had gotten this position despite his age. And it was why the other guards disliked him. Someone so young getting the job of protecting the emperors castle was unheard of. They had all spent years in the army but not him.
He could have cut through the broom in one swipe but he had used the blunt flat side of his sword intending to nock her out.
She stumbled backwardi fright. But she had a look she didn't have before, one of determination. Did she realy think she could win with a sword?
No, he decided she thought she would die. But she didn't want to die without trying. He admired that. But it was foolish and he would show her that.
Turning his sword so the sharp side would hit her this time he aimed for her arm to wound her.
Swiftly he brought his sword down and felt no resistance as it passed where her arm was.
He looked at her horror on her face as she looked at her missing arm.
Then she fell to the side unable to support herself. Looking at her on the ground he walked over to her slowly basking in her helplessness.
Then he realized he arm was reattached. He was an idiot to think that she was out of power. He quickly garbed her off the floor. Growling in frustration and slamming her against the wall. Her head fell back and slammed against the stone as a whimper escape her moth before she fainted.
He had one and he would take her to Galbatorix himself and would be praised for both capturing a mage and providing them with information of the resistance. Which he was sure she was a part of.
His thoughts of triumph where interupted a moment later as he body disapeared in his arms.
NO NO NO NO
he had her she was right there. Now nobody would believe him. He lamed his hand against the wall frustration tacking hold of him he screamed like his dreams had been shattered and his life was meaningless.
Slowly his screams died down and he promised himself he would gain the strength to show them all. Especially her, with her innocent face underestimating him, he would show her. And he would be ready if she ever came back.
Slowly I opened my eyes. My head pounded and my eyes couldn't focus. Slowly I sat up my body ached all over.
I was on the ground. I must have fallen off during the night. It would explain why I had dreamed of getting slammed against a wall.
The pain was enormous and I couldn't stop the tiers falling from my eyes.
Slowly I crawled to my feet, using my bead to stabilize me. Painfully I walked to the kitchen.
Gathering some ice in a towel and pressed them to my pounding head. Thin I got a glass of water and grabbed some painkillers.
It was really early morning around 5:30 AM. The sky was only slightly lightening. I never got up this early and exhaustion plus the headache and achy body did not make the fact that I got to see the su rise a happy one.
Just then I saw a figure shuffling around in the living room. My heart picked up immediately. And I ducked behind the counter my body screaming at me for the sudden movement. My head spinning nearly causing me to faint again.
Suddenly the lights in the kitchen came on. I winced as the light hit my eyes.
I also realized my foolishness of a moment before. The figure in the living room was my dad. He was the only one to get up this early. I guess my panicky was left over from the dream which was starting to become bleary in my mind.
"hey" I said weakly
he starred at me a moment before questioning "what are you doing?"
I must have looked foolish to him. Still wearing the cloths from last night on the ground of the kitchen with ice sprayed about.
"You didn't stay up all night, did you. You know that you read way to much. You already are falling behind in school, and-" he was getting angrie already.
"No,- um, I was getting ice for my head. I hit it when I fell out of bed." I didn't stay up all night or anything.
I didn't want him getting mad at me when I already felt like crap.
"i hit it pretty hard. I think I might have a concision."
he looked at me a moment trying to decide if I was being over dramatic or not. But after a moment he got down and asked to feel my head.
"let me see." he said as he reached out.
I was a bit shocked. I didn't usually see him like this. Asking if I was ok.
He ran his fingers over my head and I saw his face change from skepticism to concern. I winced as he touched the tender points on my head.
"you must have hit it pretty hard"
at that he stood up and walked back to his room.
I sat there dumbfounded. I didn't have the best relationship with my dad. We got along great sometimes but I tended to get on his nerves more often than not. And when ever I was hurt he always thought I was ridiculous. But at the same time he did care for me. But it had been a while since I had seen him with an expression of concern for me. Usually he left the care of injuries to mom.
And that I realized in a second is exactly what he was doing this time. Mom stumbled out of the room and came to the kitchen a bleary look an her face. When she saw me it became more focused as she too checked my head.
"i think I will take her to urgent care."she said
"that could take a while."he responded.
They disused it for a few more minutes before finally deciding that she may not get home on time to take the kids to school so my dad decided to call in a sick day and drive them to school while I went to the doctor.
Before heading out I went to my room to grab some fresh cloths and something to read while I waited.
But no mater how hard I looked I couldn't find Eldest. I could find the other two but not the one I wanted. It wasn't in my bed where I left it nor behind it.
Frustrated I grabbed another book and left.
Well thats it for chapter two. What do you think? Did you like it better than the last chapter? Review!