Man, I'm almost crying as I write this. I'm not usually an angst writer...anyway, enjoy!


Eragon moved the quill pen with his mind. It scratched lines that he pictured in his head, but he didn't see the piece of paper and therefore couldn't give up the message to Tory. Of course, finding out what Arya said back was another story. He always risked that. There was also meeting outside, but that only happened as long as he couldn't see her. They met when he was sent out on missions…that was about it, and that wasn't frequent. He missed the feeling of her talking to him in his mind, but there was the risk that he would divulge their secret to Tory. He racked his brains as hard as he could without shaking them loose from his head. Saphira's gentle laugh sounded in his head at this thought of his.

All of a sudden, the pen slammed down to the table and Eragon jumped up to fold the message up and drop it outside the tiny window. He didn't look at it as he did this. It was his paper thin protection against Tory. Thunder sounded deafeningly in his cell and Eragon hoped that rain wouldn't soak the little, parchment letter. Why Galbatorix had stocked the room with things like paper, ink, and pens, he didn't know. Maybe it was a test: Whether Eragon could successfully write a note and have it delivered without his 'master' finding out about it. He hoped not.

He wrote no name on the thin parcel and pitched it out the window for the green Rider. He knew she was there by the tapping that he'd heard before the bright flashes and roaring crashes had started, but he'd blocked his mind from both Rider and dragon so no memories could be ripped from his head, and they couldn't be listened in on. Then again, everything had changed. Tory now knew who the rider was. Eragon just didn't want him to find out what he was saying and was taking all precautions possible.

A second after throwing it, the ominous voice sounded in his head. You know that the little elf isn't safe anymore, right? Men! Find her!

Eragon's eyes widened and Saphira's expression mirrored his. RUN! They shouted in the minds of the Rider and dragon.

You're not safe here anymore. Go! Galbatorix' men are looking for you! Eragon added. Make sure the children are safe as well.

Galbatorix stormed into Eragon's cell for the second time in as many days. "What children?" he asked, eyes flashing dangerously.

"There are children who will defeat you. The Green Rider is caring for them," Eragon said, innerly thinking, And training them, even though it was no use trying to keep information he knew from the imposing figure now.

"And their names?" Galbatorix seemed impatient.

"I don't know them, their names, or what they look like," Eragon answered. This was true. They had agreed that things had to be this way for everyone's safety. All he knew was that they were young, and there was a girl and a boy.

"You speak the truth," Galbatorix spat. "And you may as well use her name, because I already know it. Arya, the elven princess. That certainly complicates things…" he trailed off, thinking out loud, "If I capture her, then the elves will certainly ride against me. That could be my downfall…" he paused again before a nearly deafening voice was heard in everyone's mind. Call off the search. Nothing good will come of it, for now at least. Soon though, nothing will stop me.

Eragon's eyes glowed. He'd reasoned this as well, and it provided a slight safety net.

"I'm going to assume that these children are either elves as well or under elven protection." Eragon nodded and Galbatorix took a second and searched out the memory in the young Rider's mind of it. Of course, Eragon hadn't seen the children, or heard their names, but he had heard the elf queen's declaration of protection. He flinched at the dagger mind touch of the older man, but didn't draw away physically, as inexperienced people tried to do, or force up a barrier. It would be easier for everyone that way.

"No, I won't make my soldiers go after him, but you will Eragon. You and Saphira will go after them, and find the children. You will learn about them, including what they look like, their names, and what is meant for their future, and then you will come back and tell me everything. If you do not tell me everything, then I will take it by force and you know what that means." Eragon nodded and bit his lip. "Oh, and you will tell Princess Arya that you have found a way out from under my thumb. There is no way you will be able to tell her otherwise, by mind, pen, dragon or otherwise." Eragon felt a tear trickle down his cheek. His plan had backfired, and brutally so. There was no way he could possibly get out of this, and then Galbatorix would have won.

"As you've said, Master," Eragon murmured bitterly, not by his own will, but by one of the wards placed over him, "it shall be done."