New chapter! So who exactly is trying to break her mind? R&R and thanks for those so far!

The next morning, Nasuada was out earlier than usual, heading straight for Elva's room. She found the girl still sleeping, but she woke her anyways. Their conversation was a pressing one, and she wanted to know, she needed to know, why she had failed to alert her to the danger that afflicted her at night. It was a matter of principle.

"Elva," she said, her voice firm. "I need to speak to you."

The girl slowly opened her eyes, and one look at Nasuada told her everything she needed to know. Sitting up straight, she observed her for a moment longer, while Nasuada looked back at her.

"You are worried," Elva said.

"Yes, I am. Have you sensed anything? An attack? An intruder? Anything?"

"You know well my powers don't work like that," Elva looked out of the window distractedly, which Nasuada found somewhat upsetting. Despite their long years together, she still found Elva too bizarre and detached of everything. Of course, she knew that Elva remained with her just for convenience and comfort. Out there, she was an oddity and people avoided her. In there, she was useful and taken care of. If only she'd give a straight answer now and again! "And the answer is no."

"No?" That confused Nasuada. How could she not?

"No. The only thing I've felt from you the past few months is sadness over… well, you know over what." And the fact that Elva was privy to that fact also disturbed Nasuada. "And the past couple of days, there has been some worry. Other than that… nothing really. I can sense no misfortune in your immediate future."

"And you are sure about this?"

Elva looked at her almost disinterestedly. "Yes, of course. Now, if that is all…"

Defiant. That was the only way to describe Elva that Nasuada could find.

Next she went in search of Trianna. Even if Elva hadn't been able to feel anything, surely she should strengthen her barriers. It was in moments like these that she wished she had Eragon or even Arya close by. They would be able to offer advice and help her find a solution. As sure of herself as Nasuada felt at the moment, she knew that even though she had been somewhat able to resist Galbatorix, she was not infallible. It would be unwise to presume so.

She found her magician performing her morning ablutions, but she was received much more cordially by Trianna than by Elva. Of this, she was not surprised. It had taken time, but she had also earned the respect and trust of Du Vrangr Gata to the same level her father had. It had been tense at first, but they had come a long way. In the absence of Eragon, the human magician she'd trust the most would be Trianna.

'You would trust Murtagh,' a voice inside told her, but she quickly dismissed it. 'He is not here.'

"My lady," Trianna said, drying her hands quickly and bowing to her. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

"As a matter of fact, yes. I need a favour."

"Of course, my lady. What is it you need?"

"This information is between you and I, okay?" At Trianna's nod, Nasuada went on. "Someone has been trying to enter my mind."

"What?" Trianna was outraged. "Who would dare attempt such a thing?"

"I do not know. Elva did not feel anything. By your reaction, I take it you did not detect anything either?"

"Not at all. If someone had been trying to enter your mind, we would have noticed, but I've had no reports on the matter."

"I see."

"How do you wish we proceed?"

Nasuada thought about it for a while, although deep down she knew the course of action they needed to take. She nodded once, then spoke: "I need you to help me strengthen my defenses, and to keep a particularly keen eye on what's going on. This mind has made contact twice already."

"Twice? Was it very faint? I really don't understand how we could have missed it."

"It was faint at first, but the second time it took me a lot of power to keep it at bay."

"I understand. I will consult my books for the most appropriate way, and I will let you know."

"Thank you." She saw Trianna hesitating, so she stayed put. "What is it, Trianna?"

"Shouldn't you contact Eragon Shadeslayer?" she asked. "He might have some ideas as well. When it comes to protecting you, we cannot take chances."

"That's exactly why I cannot contact him, Trianna. If the letter were to go astray, I'd be left even more vulnerable, for someone out there would know of my weakness, and we cannot allow that. Keeping magicians in check is hard enough as it is. What if they gang up on us? No. Unless it's absolutely necessary, I will not be contacting Eragon."

"Very well, my lady. I'll get to work at once."

And so, Nasuada left Trianna's room more reassured. Surely, between the two of them, they could find a solution to the problem. For now, however, Alagaësia took priority over her own mind.

That night she stayed awake for a while. Trianna had suggested changing her sleeping pattern, so that if the attacker returned, he would not catch her asleep, but awake and alert. Then she could signal Trianna and they could figure out what it was. And so she waited for the presence to make an appearance, and the clock ticked eleven, then midnight, then one… and nothing.

Her eyes were closing on their own accord close to two in the morning, and that was when she felt the presence again. It was as overwhelming as the previous night, with the heat emanating from it enveloping her as she chanted her mantra again and again to keep the presence at bay. Not thinking much about it, she reached for a bell in her night stand, and was about to ring it, when a stray idea touched her mind…

The presence was hot and powerful… like a dragon…

'Could it be…?'

Again with the mantra, she slapped herself to get a grip. Thinking unnecessary things could give her attacker something to hold on to and penetrate her mind. And so, for the remainder of the attack, which was as subtle as it had been the night before, she avoided thinking about anything. When it finally subsided, she finally allowed herself to consider the possibilities.

'Thorn,' she thought. Which other dragon could it be? She knew Saphira and Firnen very well, and the newly hatched dragons were all in training with Eragon, so it couldn't be any one of them. This presence felt different to anything she knew, so her gut instinct told her that it could indeed be Thorn.

Could Murtagh be trying to contact her?

That was the hope she held.

But then, why wouldn't he contact her directly? She knew his mind, and he knew she would not be putting up barriers against him. Why send Thorn instead? Why risk causing her anger, when all he needed to do was reach out with his mind?