Hi, sorry it's been a while since my last update. Just to let you know, you can still vote for this fanfic on inkitt up until the 28th January. I would be greatful to anyone who votes :) Enjoy!
Chapter 10: Who Else
As Arya approached Urû'baen her heart leaped out of her chest. Arya had never seen the city when it was occupied by the Elves, but it was easy to believe how breath-taking it would have looked before the fall. Some of the elvish architecture was still distinguishable in the tallest buildings, and even the walls themselves surrounding the once beautiful city had a subtle elvish appearance. Now, the structure of the city was darkened as if the king himself had cast a shadow over the vast town below. The castle itself was the darkest. What had once been carved out of the purest white marble was now a filthy grey. Even the pointed towers that had one reached up towards the open sky had been humanised in the most distasteful manner. It now featured a rectangular pattern around the rim and the once prominent point was non-existent as if Shruikan himself had flattened it. The city had truly become as evil as the man sitting on its throne.
The group scoured the walls from the tree line in search for the possible entrance Jeod had found. It wasn't going to be easy finding it and had most likely been covered up by the developments the king had made. But Jeod had seemed certain that part of it would still remain intact and Arya trusted his judgement. Whilst the elves searched with their enhanced vision through their remaining daylight hours, Angela and Yaela found a spot to set up camp in a nearby clearing, covered from view by the forest undergrowth, and enhanced it with spells of camouflage. Silencing spells were also cast around the camp and Angela and Yaela foraged for food. As the night drew near the elves retired to their makeshift camp after struggling tirelessly to find the entrance of the passage. When they returned, Angela and Yaela had made a warm, vegetable broth for them each to eat while they sat around the campfire and discussed any possible sightings of the entrance. There were none.
The next day continued much the same. The band of elves, except one, would leave the camp and search the walls for any sign of the entrance, each scouring a different section on the wall. Each day they would return and discuss what they had found and each day they would finds nothing. The elves rotated around the was systematically to cover over each other's areas. But still nothing was found. When light became scarce, the elves would return to camp to rest. They set up a night watch, but the forest was silent. It was as if the king had scared away all things living.
Many days passed and still no entrance was found. Every day, Arya would scry her mother and tell her what little progress they had made, if any and every day her hope slipped further and further away. As days turned into weeks, the elves considered returning home and three days later, packed up camp in preparation to leave at nightfall. Only Arya and Blödhgarm went to scour the walls that day. They separated to cover more wall, hoping desperately to find something. They found nothing. As Blödhgarm trudged back to camp, Arya stayed and stared at the city in frustration. It was as if the subtlety elvish structure was mocking her by barring them from the very thing they had created. Eragon was right in front of her and she could not reach him. All she could do was distract herself from the crippled image of the rider forming in her mind. Arya knew very well what it was like being tortured with little hope of rescue. She had spent months in Gil'ead despairing over what she thought would be the remnants of her life. Back then, she would have welcomed death, until a certain rider came to rescued her. Now all she wanted was to return the favour.
Arya sighed and pulled herself upright from the tree she had been leaning upon. I should probably return to camp she thought sadly. It was almost sundown. Arya stepped back into the shadow of the forest and was about to turn when something caught her eye. She took a double take but saw nothing. She was sure she had seen – Crack. A twig snapped behind her. She whirled around and saw a familiar shape move among the shadows. Solumbum? She inquired.
Who else he replied.