~Chapter 2~

Raven awoke in a cell, her head pounding from being hit so hard. She was lying on a cot and sat up, crossing her legs and letting out a moan. When she heard a muffled sobbing she looked up from between the bars to see her mother and father, along with her three older brothers. She ran to the bars, griping them. "What are you doing here?!" she demanded.

"We were told that you had been arrested" Her father answered.

"We rushed over and demanded to speak with you… the king complied. Oh my baby!" her mother cried.

"Mama, I'm fine, just a few cuts and bruises is all" She murmured soothingly.

"Oh darling, You're to be whipped at noon today!" the woman sobbed and fell to her knees, no longer able to stand from the shock and sorrow.

Raven stiffened at this, for if you were a woman and you were whipped, it was most likely that you would not make it after the first ten to twenty lashings, let alone the mandatory fifty for the crime. "I'll be fine mama, They'll let me return home once my punishment has been handed out."

Her father nodded to her "We count on you to remain strong through this dear" he said as his eyes softened.

Just then two guards entered the room "All visitors of the prisoner are to leave immediately and head for the town square". Her parents and siblings made their leave as the cell door was opened and she was placed in cuffs, her hands behind her back. She didn't struggle, only kept quiet and fallowed their lead as they gripped each of her arms with an iron like vice. She was lead through a series of halls and doorways. Fear overtook her as she heard the roar of the crowd and went through the doors that lead to the whipping post. Only then did she feel panicked as she was set down on her knees, her hands pound to the post.

She listened as a woman soldier read out her offences to the king and his laws. There was a long pause then a reluctant cheer from the crowd as she assumed the king and his sons had made their appearance to watch the spectacle, along with their dragons. A woman came forward to her and held out a leather bar to her, saying "This is for you to grip in your mouth, so that you don't bite your tongue off". Raven nodded and opened her mouth, and with the woman's help she secured it there. The woman then stepped around her and cut open the back of her shirt. Raven shivered as the cold air hit her back as well as from embarrassment of being seen nearly half naked by all of Uru'baen.

She tightened her grip on the rope used to tie her to the pole as the order was given to start the whipping. The first lash was agonizing, scaring her at the force put behind it. She refused to give even the smallest of groans of pain, out of defiance to the king. She listened as after each lash the man counted 1…2…3…4…5… Her mind went fuzzy after the first 6 or 7 lashes. She only felt herself become conscious every few lashes after. When she heard the number 36 she thought she might die at the thought of another 14. Refusing to even show the slightest indignation of pain, she gripped the rope harder, feeling blood run down her arms as her nails dug into her hands and the rope chaffed them.

When the whipping had ended and the king had made his leave, the crowd dispersed and Raven's mother rushed forward, demanding that she be cut down. The woman soldier from before complied and as the rope was cut, Raven slumped to the ground. She was only semi-conscious but knew that it was her oldest brother Koru who had picked her up bridal style and carried her home. She was placed on the kitchen table as her mother shouted order. "Koru, go get Freya to help me heal the wounds, Rickk, get a pot of hot water, Elic, fetch cloth and a quilt." All of the boys scrambled to do as they were told as her mother removed the rest of her shirt.

Koru returned with Freya, the old town herbalist and magician. Freya gave a deep sigh "Oh girl, what have you gotten yourself into now" she said with a slight chuckle. Raven smirked "Well, I thought it'd be fun to get whipped". Her mother gave an exasperated moan and said to Freya "Is there anything you can do for these?"

"Yes, yes. But first lets clean the wounds." Freya instructed.

Her mother nodded and dipped the clothe in the warm water, patting it to the whip lashes on her back. Raven let out a small moan as the clothe met her sore skin. Her mother began to sing a soothing lullaby, stroking Raven's soft wavy brown hair. Once the wounds were cleaned and Raven had a wooden spoon placed in her mouth, for her to bite onto at the pain, Freya whispered the spell "Waise heill" over her back. Raven felt an immense itching sensation in her back and could feel her skin crawl. It took all of herself control to not turn around and scratch at her back.

Freya healed the wounds to where they would only be scabs and then develop into scars. "I'm sorry I could not do more, but my power only runs so deep" she said sadly. Raven's mother only tutted at the old woman and said "No, no. You did the best of your abilities and even then that was more than enough" as she handed Freya a pouch of gold coins. Freya nodded her head in appreciation and left the house.

Raven tentatively stood from the table and looked at her mother and father, her head bowed in shame. "I'm sorry I disgraced you" she murmured.

Her father placed his hand on her shoulder "You did nothing of the sort. You should have seen the look on King Aldurn's face when you didn't cry out in pain" he said with a grin.

Raven grinned back "He was really angry, wasn't he?" she asked excitedly.

"He sure was!" Elic chimed in.

Her mother gave a glance and he nodded, saying "Boys, we need to talk to Raven alone, go upstairs for now."

The boys left reluctantly with sighs of complaint. Raven looked to her father with a brow raised "What I do now?"

"Nothing dear… there's just something we need to tell you…" her mother answered, stealing a furtive glance to her husband.

"Well, what is it?"

"There's something that you don't know about yourself Raven, something we haven't told you." Her father said, placing his hands on either side of her. "We figured that now would be a good time to tell you since the king will surely be here for you soon"

"What?! Why?!" she exclaimed.

"You didn't show pain in the whipping, you're a woman, and you survived 50 lashes. He'll want you for a soldier in his guard" her mother answered.

"Well, what is it you need to tell me?" she asked, now curious.

Her father took in a deep breath and with a pleading look to her he let out "You are the daughter of Eragon Shadeslayer and Queen Arya…"