And I give you Chapter numero nueve!! I am not Paolini.

We entered through Síthrim's main entrance, not wanting to startle the town too much. I was the first to step foot in the city's borders.

My eyes filled with tears. I hung my head in grief.

Síthrim had been completely destroyed. Bodies with protruding black arrows were strewn across the ground and over the windowsills on houses. Children and the elderly were all that were killed. The strong were nowhere to be found.

As Kukin moved farther forward into the town, the bodies grew less frequent, but bloodstains were seen more often. Those who had not died had all been dragged to the center square then had disappeared.

A white arrow lay, bloody, on the ground as testament. The Ra'zac had massacred this town. I dismounted Kukin, walked over, and picked up the bloody arrow. It was still warm.

I swore. This was not how things were supposed to be. The elves were more powerful than an entire army of Ra'zac and yet they could slay us so easily?

This was not how things were supposed to be. I flung the arrow to the ground and rushed away in anger. I could feel the other's eyes on my back as I stormed off in a fury, but I didn't care. This town didn't deserve to die. No one had deserved to die.

But they did. I walked back into the trees. Once I was a good ten yards into them I roared my frustrations into the air.

I fell to my knees and sobbed. I sobbed for Síthrim. I sobbed for Ellesméra. I sobbed for everything lost, but never forgotten.

Kyra, Bid'daum's voice hummed in my head. I didn't answer.

Come now, Kyra, he prodded gently, I know it's bad, but you can't let your grief take over your life.

I held on to his every word. He didn't know it, but his voice was sucking the poisonous anger and grief out of my body.

I know how easy it is to let your life be ruled by that anger and grief, he said, I've sunk into that bottomless pit. I was so far gone that I didn't even recognize myself. I was paying full attention to him now. His words held me.

I don't want you to wake up one day and realize that you've turned into a monster, then he said with great pain, I don't want you to realize your too late to change what you've become.

Is that what happened to you? I asked.

Yes. He was such a mystery. The fact that he was even talking about his past made me want to keep him talking. I wished nothing more than to learn more about him. He had barely passed into the history books when he disappeared.

After Eragon died, he said, I grew more and more bitter. I was soon more fierce than the wildest dragon. No one could stop me. So I would destroy towns upon towns just to try and appease my anger and grief.

But none of it helped.

I was lounging in my cave one day when they attacked. Elven solders, about one hundred. I gasped. This was no where in the history books. For the elves to attack a dragon was inconceivable.

But you must understand, Kyra, Bid'daum tried to explain in my head, I was a monster. I was no longer Bid'daum, the first of the Shur'tugan. I was a creature ruled by hate. I tried to understand, but could do nothing but grasp the concept. I could never see the calm and comforting voice in my head as riddled with pain and hatred.

So we fought, and I lost. I thought of the cave with Bid'daum trapped in the crystal. Yes. I was impaled with enchanted weapons to ensure that they embedded deep beneath my scales. Tears for Bid'daum welled up into my eyes.

Just as I was to draw my final breath, to roar my final roar, I realized the monster I had become. But it was too late to save myself by then and I knew it.

But I was not to die. I felt magic well up from deep within me. It flowed from the stone beneath my feet and filled me to the top with power enough for one last, great action.

I released the magic and was forever frozen in time. I sealed the valley of my cave from all but those with the heart of a dragon rider, and a powerful one at that. Then I waited for one to come who would awaken me.

Three came. The first studied in fear, then quickly left. The second found refuge in my cave and valley and stayed for a week. He didn't even mean to leave. He took his horse and a few supplies and went out hunting, not realizing that he would never return.

Then you came and found Edursvar and the Zëis abr Wyrda. When you left, you ate my fruit, which none had dared do before. Most importantly, when you left you took me with you.

I thought about this. I hadn't meant to do any of those things. Well, I had meant to eat the fruit, but I hadn't thought anything of it. I was hungry and there was some non-poisonous food so, why not eat it?

Do you think that me eating your fruit made me take you with me?

No. He dismissed that idea without holding anything back.

That fruit has a rejuvenating factor in it. Its purpose is to make the subject stronger. Because you ate it, you could probably go a month without food or water and survive. I wouldn't suggest it though.

I'm going to get up now, I said.

Alright.

I sat then stood. When I turned around, I saw Kukin laying on the ground, looking at me. I stood there, a bit shocked for a second, in which time he pulled his forelegs in front of him and hoisted himself up, above the ground.

He walked over to me and nuzzled my shoulder. I smiled and rubbed his forehead. He purred.

"Come on, Kukin. Let's get back to the others," Bid'daum smiled as we started our walk back.

We re-entered the town from where we had exited.

"I'm back," I said. They all turned in their saddles to watch me. A whistling noise cut through the air, followed by a soft thud.

Shocked eyes turned and followed Katalina as she slid off Katán's back, a white arrow protruding from her chest.