Disclaimer: I don't own it, Paolini does.

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Ayilie shot up from sleep on a bed with a pounding head in a somewhat large dark room. Her first thought was that she was back in Uru'baen, but she quickly discarded the idea for there if she was in Uru'baen, Galbotorix would've been there to meet here as she awoke. Then, all of the memories flooded back to her.

Eragon… Roran… magic… A woman with frizzy hair interrupted her train of thought.

"Oh, you're awake. Here." The woman said and handed Ayilie a goblet with a strange liquid in it. Ayilie hesitated but then used magic to make sure there was no poisoning in it then, after dubbing it safe, gulped it down. The clear liquid slipped easily down Ayilie's throat and immediately refreshed her and cleared her headache.

"Who are you? Where am I? What happened?" She said as she sat up and began to get out of the bed.

"One question at a time. I am Angela and you are in Surda. That last question I can't really answer at this point. You'll have to ask Eragon."

Then, a tall woman with raven coloured hair and emerald green eyes came into the room. She looked strange to Ayilie in some way. Her high cheekbones gave her an exotic look. She was wearing black leather pants and a cream coloured shirt.

"Who are you?"

"I am called Arya. You must be the girl that Eragon brought back from Helgrind."

"Yes, but I have a name and in case you didn't know, I am a Dragon Rider." Ayilie said flatly. Arya raised an eyebrow. "What's your name?" Arya said quietly.

"Am I Ayilie."

"Do you know where that name came from?"

"No, not really."

"It is an Elvin name. It was the name of the first female Dragon Rider. It's a very special name."

"Well I wonder what famous person mother named Murtagh after…" Ayilie mused.

"What was that?" Angela asked. Ayilie shook her head, "Nothing. When can I get out of here?"

"First Eragon will have to probe your mind. It will hurt a little, but…"

"Yes I know it will hurt. Do you really think that Galbotorix didn't probe my mind?" Ayilie snapped. Angela looked taken aback by Ayilie's rude behaviour, but then shook it off.

"Ayilie, I know you are most likely confused right now, but…"

"Damn right I'm confused! I don't need a stupid little elf telling me things that I already know! Please just bring that git Eragon in here so we can get this over with." Arya's eyes gleamed with something that Ayilie placed as indignation. Ayilie smirked to herself.

"I will go and get him, Angela." The elf said flatly. Angela nodded. After Arya left the room, Angela scolded Ayilie who was leaning lazily against the wall.

"That was some show you put on."

"I haven't a clue of what you speak of." Ayilie said with the same grin that Murtagh used. Angela noticed this and shuttered slightly. Ayilie had the eyes of Morzan, just like Murtagh. "Stay in here." Angela said and left, closing the door behind her.

At that moment, a large black cat jumped out of nowhere onto the bed that Ayilie been occupying. This cat didn't look normal. It had huge fangs, red eyes, and was about three times the size of the biggest cat Ayilie had ever seen.

Do you know why you are here, Dragon Rider?

"Who said that?" Ayilie said looking around.

Me of course. Who else? Her attention went back to the cat. You? But… you're just a cat.

Do I look like a normal cat? The cat said smugly.

No, but… someone must have hit my head while I was unconscious… hard. What are you?

I am a werecat.

A werecat? I… I didn't think they exist.

We do. The werecat stretched.

Who are you?

I am called Solembum. Do you know why you are here, Dragon Rider?

No I do not. You wouldn't know, would you?

I would.

Can you tell me?

Yes I can.

Will you tell me?

Yes I will. Ayilie was beginning to get frustrated with the werecat and sighed. She then realized what he was going at. The soldiers and magicians back in Uru'baen did the same thing.

Why am I here?

Ah, there you have it. You are here because Eragon brought you here.

Is that all?

Yes.

All of that for nothing that I didn't know?!

Solembum closed his eyes. Ayilie groaned in frustration. She knew that the werecat wasn't telling her something.

Then, Arya followed by a man that was about sixteen or seventeen years of age, Eragon, entered the room."This is Eragon." Arya said slowly. Ayilie nodded from the corner she was now sitting in. "Ayilie."

"What?" she snapped. Eragon shrugged and came closer to Ayilie. She gracefully evaded Eragon instead of backing into the corner like her instincts told her to do. Murtagh had always told her to never find yourself backed against a wall if you can help it.

"I have to probe your mind to make sure you're safe." Eragon said calmly. Ayilie shook her head.

"Ha! You honestly think I'm not dangerous?!"

"Everyone can be dangerous, Ayilie. If you let me enter your mind, we can help you. Please, just let me probe your mind!" Eragon pleaded.

"You can't help me, Eragon," Ayilie looked away, "No one can. He knows my true name. Ardemel and I are his slaves forever and my mind is my last sanctuary." A spark of recognition jumped into Eragon's eyes. Murtagh had used those same words.

"But, Ayilie, there is a way that we can help you. You can come with Arya and I to Ellesmera and the elves can help you."

"I feel as if I haven't a choice."

"You don't really." Eragon answered.

"Where is Ardemel?"

"Who… oh, you mean your dragon? He is with Saphira hunting. Stop trying to change the subject."

"Fine, brother. Do what you must." Ayilie said and stepped forward so Eragon could put his hand on her forehead.

Ayilie felt the ever-so-familiar sensation in the back of her mind of someone probing it, but Eragon was being a lot gentler than Galbotorix was. Memories flashed through her mind as Eragon looked through them.

Once Eragon was done, Ayilie smirked at the expression on his face. "Now, brother, you have seen true horrors." Ayilie said and walked passed him to Angela.

"Is she safe?" Arya asked. Eragon nodded.

"How did you get a werecat?" Ayilie asked Angela.

"I did not get him, he came to me. Did he speak to you?" Angela said with a bewildered look on her face. Ayilie nodded.

"You are special, then. He has only talked to four people besides me before, Eragon being one of them."

"Oh."

"Ayilie, we must go to see Lady Nausuada, leader of the Varden." Eragon said, pulling Ayilie's arm.

Ayilie left the small room with Eragon into a long corridor. There were guards stationed at every window and door. Ayilie couldn't help but to be conscious of the eyes that were drilling into her back as they passed the guards.

They got up to a huge, dark wood door with two guards stations on each side of it. When Ayilie raised an eyebrow, Eragon told her, "For safety purposes." One of the guards stepped up to Eragon.

"We are here to see Lady Nausuada." Eragon said bluntly. The guard was about to object, but Eragon cut him off.

"I have orders to report to Lady Nausuada." Eragon said. The guard moved out of the way and opened the door to allow Eragon and Ayilie into the room.

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Murtagh winced as Galbotorix threw a vase at the wall.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'ERAGON CAPTURED HER'?"

"They snuck up on me, My Lord. I did not know…" Galbotorix sighed angrily.

"Yes, Murtagh, you did not know. Has the training I've been giving you going to waste? Haven't I taught you how to sense these kinds of things coming? Oh… now I see what you did! You set her up to get captured, didn't you?! Murtagh, Murtagh, Murtagh… did you truly think that I wouldn't discover your schemes?"

Murtagh shuttered as Galbotorix gave one of his trademark evil smirks and braced himself for the pain to come.

Thorn, sever our connection.

What? No, Murtagh, I won't.

Please, Thorn. I'm begging you! This is going to be bad…

Alright.

Murtagh felt a pressurizing pain build up inside of him and fell to his knees in pain. The intense pain that Galbotorix was inflicting on him was to much for him and he passed out on the floor of the throne room.

Galbotorix sneered. "Servants! Take him to his room!" Two servants rushed into the room and carefully lifted the unconscious Murtagh and took him back to his room.

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Sorry this chapter is so short, but I'll update soon!