Well, I have a shout to fantisylover517 and estrid2006! Thanks for your reviews guys:)

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters besides Jacob, Calin, and Ayilie.

Note: Ayilie is pronounced A-yi-lie

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Ayilie was somewhat shaken from this encounter, but she kept working throughout the day. After work, she went to the Silver Moon.

"Hi, Jacob. Can I get some mead today? I really need it." She said and rubbed her temples with her fingers. Jacob gave her a look but shook it off and poured her a mug of mead and slid it down the bar to her. "I think I figured out who that man is."

"WHAT?!" Jacob asked excitedly. "Shh! Calm down and be quiet!" Ayilie stressed. "Okay, okay. Now, tell me what you know."

"Well, yesterday when I started the forge, I found an order for a sword. Calin then told me that a man who says he's from Uru'baen and is there by the king's orders came to the smithy last night and made an order for the sword. Calin briefly described the man to me; the description perfectly fit that of our mystery man." Ayilie said and took a gulp of her mead.

"Well, that tells us where he's from and what his business is, but it still doesn't answer who he is."

"Yes, but I thought that you'd at least like to know that much. I'll tell you if I find out more." Ayilie finished her mead and stood up, looking around the room. Jacob, knowing that she was looking for the man, looked up at her [as he was sitting down and she was standing. "He's not here."

Right as Ayilie was about to respond, the man walked through the door and found a seat in the far back of the room. Ayilie slid two silver coins to Jacob, who pocketed them. Ayilie slipped through the tables and slid into the chair next to the mysterious man. The man looked up sharply.

Ayilie just sat there and stared at him for a few moments. Then, "Who are you?"

"Who are you?"

"Well, you should know since you specifically requested me to make that sword for you." Ayilie shot back. The man smirked but did not laugh.

"Yes, yes I know who you are." Then there was silence.

"Who in the name of Morzan are you?!" The small smile that was on his face disappeared quickly. "I am…"

"Sir! We have just received orders from Uru'baen! We are to return immediately!" a soldier said as he ran up the man. The man stood abruptly. "I must leave. I may possibly see you again." The man said and left to get his things from his room.

That was odd. Ayilie thought to herself.

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Three months later…

Ayilie found herself being roughly pushed into a dark room. Once her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she realized that it was more like a cell. It had a small bed and a chair. She just sat there in silence for a moment and thought of why she was here.

Ayilie was walking down the road when a group of soldiers shouted after her. She panicked and ran. They had brought her down by force and then everything went black…

She first thought that she was in a prison, but then decided she wasn't. A prison wouldn't be this nice. About a half and hour later, she heard the sound of the door to her cell being opened. A soldier grabbed her by the arm and led her down a long corridor. They came out in a huge room that had a red and black wall map of Alagaesia. Then, realization washed over Ayilie. This was a throne room. Galbotorix's throne room.

Ayilie looked up and saw the king sitting on his throne. "You may go." The king said to the guard.

"Hello, Ayilie." He said smoothly, his voice dripping with honey. Ayilie refused to look him in the eye. She could tell this slightly angered the king. Galbotorix stood up and walked down the stairs to where Ayilie was standing. He put his hand under her chin and tilted her head back so that she had no choice but to look him straight in the eye. She was about as tall as him, but he was still intimidating.

Ayilie flinched as his unnaturally cold hand touched her face.

"You're probably wondering why you're here. Well, I am about to tell you." The king said something that Ayilie did not understand, and an emerald green stone appeared in his long-fingered hands. "This… is a dragon egg." The king stated. Ayilie gave him an odd look. "Now, I would like you to touch it."

"Y…yes sir." Ayilie finally said and ran her fingers over the egg. The egg's flawless surface was dark green, except for the thin veins of white that spiderwebbed across it. The egg was cool and frictionless under Ayilie's fingers, like hardened silk. It was oval and about a foot long.

"Good. Good. Now, I will keep this with me overnight and we shall see if it is to hatch." He said with an odd smirk. Ayilie nodded her head. "Yes, sir." She personally found the egg intimidating. It was beautifully frightening.

Galbotorix nodded his head in acceptance. "There is a room prepared for you. I will have a maid bring you to it." Then, the king clapped his hands twice and a maid appeared. She had honey blond hair and looked as young as twenty, but she was worn from work and even fear.

"Come with me." She said quietly to Ayilie. Ayilie followed her out of the throne room and up a long flight of stairs and then down a long corridor. Ayilie thought that she'd be put in another cell, but was highly mistaken. When the maid opened the door, Ayilie gaped at it. She had always heard that Galbotorix was cruel and evil.

The room had a stone floor and stone walls, but they were covered with elaborately woven rugs and tapestries. There was a bed situated by a window so that she could see the entire castle grounds on this side of the palace. Also, there was a couch, a wardrobe, and a large mirror on the opposite wall. There was a fireplace made of black wood that felt like cold metal when she touched it.

Also, there was a screen door that led into what Ayilie noticed as a small study. It had a writing desk, stocked with quills, ink, parchment, and paper. Through the study there was another door that led into a washroom, which had soaps, brushes, and a variety of oils.

"My name is Bethany… call me if you need anything. The bell pull is over there." The maid, Bethany, pointed to a rope the came from the wall right beside the door. "Thank you, Bethany." Bethany had a shocked expression on her face. Ayilie then realized that Bethany had never been thanked for anything. She was a servant. Anything she did was expected of her.

"Is there any way I can get a new tunic and pants? These are filthy." Ayilie asked and pulled at her white-now-light-brown-from-dirt tunic. "Yes, of course! I'll have some sent up to you immediately!" Bethany exclaimed and ran out the door.

About twenty minutes later, another maid came in with a scarlet tunic and black leggings, along with socks."I apologize, miss. These may be a little big for you. Oh, and I was told to tell you that you may wander about the castle and the grounds, but be sure not to leave the grounds."

"Thank you." Again, Ayilie saw a shocked expression on the maid's face. Ayilie took the clothes and then the servant bowed her head and quickly left.

Ayilie ran her hands over the material. The leggings were as soft, but thick enough to keep her legs warm even on a cold winter's night. The tunic was made of tightly woven silk and was strong, and the socks were woolen.

She then went into the washroom and drew herself a tub full of hot water. She undressed and put her sword against the wall [amazingly, it was still in its sheath and belted on her hip and immersed herself in the warm water and washed herself with the brushes and soaps. When she got out, she found a towel hanging on a small hook on the wall and dried herself off and brushed her hair.

After she dressed, she stood in front of the large mirror and looked at herself. The tunic was a little baggy, but she liked it like that. The leggings and socks fit her perfectly. After belting on her sword, she decided to walk about the castle for a while. She walked by the training fields where a few soldiers were fencing. They noticed her immediately and all stood there, gaping at her. She had no idea what they were staring at, so she just kept on walking.

When she got back to her room, she found a note attached to the door. She was thankful that Rinarch had taught her to read and write before he was killed.

The note said:

I request you come and eat with me tonight. Dinner starts at eight o'clock sharp. Don not be late!

Your King

Ayilie decided that it would be foolish to not go to eat with the king, so she started off down the corridor, as it was almost eight o'clock, but then realized that she hadn't any idea where she was supposed to go and how to get there. She stopped a servant that was passing by and asked him where to go. "Just down this corridor and to the right there'll be a wide door. Who are you, may I ask, ma'am.?"

"I am Ayilie. I was invited by the king to sup with him tonight." The man went pale. "Y…you're Ayilie? Please excuse me for my behavior!" The man said almost frantically. "Why would I be in need to excuser you? You have done nothing wrong."

"Oh, thank you, miss! Here, follow me. I'll take you to the dining hall." Ayilie followed the servant down the corridor. He bowed and opened the wide door for her. Ayilie entered the dining hall slowly.

It had a long table and many chairs. At the very end of the table, Ayilie saw two people talking. She could tell that they were man by their voices, and recognized one of them as the king. The king stopped mid-word when he saw Ayilie.

"Hello, child. Come." Ayilie walked to the end of the table and sat down in a chair to the king's right side. The other man didn't look at Ayilie. "Ayilie, this is Murtagh. He is a Dragon Rider." Murtagh looked at her for the first time. She thought that he looked like he was trying to send her a message with his eyes. They looked desperately, as if trying to warn her. She shook it off and looked back at the the king.

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I hope you liked it! Remember, reviews always seem to help me update soon! wink

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