Chapter 4. Awakening

Eragon's eye's opened slowly, wincing in pain as his head throbbed. He closed them again, breathing in the musky air. His hands were tied behind him uncomfortably and he was lying on his side in a dark room. There were no windows.

Opening his eyes again, He managed to push himself into a sitting position, leaning back against the wall. Looking around the small cell, he found nothing to make him feel better. There was nothing there but him and… someone else.

Shifting over, he managed to get into a position so he could push the girls copper hair out of her face. "Katrina." He whispered. She as unconscious and had a huge cut across her forehead. Out of habit, he whispered, "Waise Heill" and felt the energy drain from him instantly. The cut was only half healed, but Eragon couldn't do any more. He fell back to the ground, completely exhausted. He hadn't been this tired from magic since he tried to lift the stone from Brom's hand.

Then he heard foot steps from out side the narrow door. Something told him to remain still and quiet. The door opened.

"Isss he awake yet?"

"No, it doessn't sseem like it." Eragon recognized the voices of the Ra'zac. Anger built up inside him, but he ignored it, not wanting to pick a fight at the moment.

"Do you think we should drug him sssome more?"

"No, that Rider will be here ssoon."

"Don't ssay that. We ssshould drug him now while we can. If he wakesss up-"

"If he wakesss up, we will drug him then. Murtagh will be arriving ssome time today. We can wait till then."

"I think it'sss unwissse, but I guesss you are right."

The door closed and Eragon looked around. He was alone again. Now along with hatred there was fear. Murtagh was coming. If he didn't get out of this somehow, he would be in Uru'baen by morning.

He noted that they weren't going to drug him till he woke up, so he wouldn't wake till he had regained all, or most, of his energy.

He sat there for three hours, the Ra'zac hadn't come back yet. He found he was beginning to remember words from the Ancient Language and tried to contact Saphira as soon as he thought he could. Saphira, are you there?

Eragon, are you okay? I've been so worried. What happened? You just, disappeared.

I'm fine, well, kind of. I'm in Helgrind. How long have I been out?

A day and a half. I was so worried you were-

Saphira, Murtagh is coming. He interrupted her. They say he's supposed to be coming by sometime today.

Oh, little one, we've- but he broke their contact as he heard foot steps outside his cell again. He quickly pretended to still be unconscious. The Ra'zac closed the door behind him and looked at the rider. Eragon whispered softly to himself so the Ra'zac wouldn't hear and his hands came untied. Before he let the toll of the magic take place, he locked the door.

The Ra'zac looked around in surprise at the door and then back at the rider, who was now on his feet. Eragon quickly forced his way into the Ra'zac's confused mind. He searched and searched till he found where his weapons were being held. He then decided to find the way out of the Ra'zac lair.

The Ra'zac began to fight off Eragon's tired mind, but Eragon broke the contact. Then, with one word, the Ra'zac fell to the floor, dead.

Eragon slumped to the floor, feeling close to passing out again, but didn't allow it. He decided to wait till he got some strength back before he went searching the lair for his sword and the exit.

He waited half an hour until he felt good enough to stand and walk again. He took the keys from the dead Ra'zac and opened the door without magic, not wanting to exhaust himself. He planned to find his sword, come back for Katrina, and then get out of there. He didn't think Katrina should be awake right now, there were too many questions and explaining.

The corridor outside was no more comforting then the cell; cold, dark, and musky. He found his way down that corridor and the next without meeting anyone. He was suspicious about the lack of security around the cells. But he found that he and Katrina were the only occupants of the cells. He found the room where his sword and bow were kept with ease. He felt a bit stronger now and easily opened the door and took the weapons. He found no one and nothing on his way back to pick up Katrina, but as he entered the cell, he saw a Ra'zac gaping at the dead one and the vanished Rider.

As soon as Eragon got to the door, the Ra'zac turned, took out his sword, and charged at Eragon. He guessed it was about mid day because he easily deflected it's blows, even in his weakened condition. He quickly took down the Ra'zac and ran to Katrina. He was sure someone must have heard the clinking of their swords from somewhere. He untied her hands and lifted her over his shoulder, raising his sword in front of them.

Sure enough, as soon as he reached the end of the corridor, more Ra'zac were racing over to them. There were only three, but Eragon was already feeling tired enough. But he soon killed the first two and severely wounded the other. He continued on, taking a different corridor then before, the one that led to the exit.

Six more were waiting for him at a door that lead down a flight of steps to the main hallway, which led straight to the exit. He knocked out three of them with magic and, ignoring his mounting tiredness, raced at the others. They surrounded him on all sides, but didn't match his magic. Two were forced backwards as he fought the first. It was very good at the sword but Eragon managed to kill it in a few minutes time, though he did get a pretty deep cut on his upper left arm.

He defeated the others more quickly and ran to the door, he was about to open it when he heard footsteps on the other side, running. He backed against the wall and waited for them to open the door. It flew open and Eragon jumped from his hiding spot and clashed swords with-

"Arya?"

"Eragon!" the elf grabbed his arm and pulled him down the steps. He almost lost his step as they hurried down the hall. "I told you not to get captured!"

"Arya, I-"

"Don't talk now, come on. Saphira and Roran are waiting outside."

Eragon allowed her to drag him down the maze of complex corridors. They finally reached the main room to the Lair and a small, Narrow archway of a door. But at least a dozen Ra'zac were blocking their path. Eragon groaned at the thought of fighting more of them, completely exhausted from everything else he had done. But Arya quickly took down five with Magic and Ran forward, finally letting go of Eragon's arm. They both brought their swords forward and fought through the group. Eragon was trying to take on four at a time, and could feel he wasn't up to the challenge. He could feel himself slowing down and was sure he was about to loss when he heard a loud roar from outside the entrance. Move out of the way! Came Saphira's voice, and Eragon jumped out of the way just in time to miss the tongue of flames that engulfed all the Ra'zac in their way.

Eragon ran forward and found Saphira and Roran waiting for them. Hurry, said Saphira, There are more coming.

Do you think you can carry four people?

If we are flying down into the tree's, yes, but not all the way back to Surda.

Fine. He throw Katrina onto the saddle and hopped on. Roran jumped on after him and quickly embraced Katrina in a protective hug. Arya leaped gracefully onto Saphira's back, there was no more saddle room left.

Saphira jumped off the edge of the cliff and plummeted unbelievable fast down towards the tree's below, slowing down just in time to hit the ground safely, a thousand feet under the Ra'zac.