The Dungeons of Despair

Night had fallen upon Uru'baen as Evan, Julius, and Adena crept to the hundred-stair staircase descending to the dungeons that held Eragon and Murtagh. All three were garbed in black cloaks and walked with silent footfalls.

Adena had somehow managed to get a hold of the dungeons' keys and the clinking of the keys made Evan feel uneasy. Pit, pat; pit, pat, their slippers echoed through the darkness.

Step number 50,51,52…Julius counted down until they reached the bottom.

75,76,77, Evan sighed and swished her hair in thought.

90,91,92, Adena mumbled something about the smell of death…98,99,100!

"Evan, I shall take you to the Rider first. Then, Julius, you shall see Murtagh."

The girls nodded then once again repeated their thanks. They followed Adena to cell that looked more like a stall for a cow. It was big and had no bars, just solid seven-inch-think wood walls. Adena unlocked the door.

"Here you are m'lady, your Rider" She bowed to Evan and then beckoned Julius to follow her.

Evan waved good-bye to her companions and stepped forward into the weird stall. She instantly burst into tears. There lay Eragon with his blood pooled around him. His was face was pale and Evan could tell his wounds had not been treated. She rushed forward and placed his head between her hands. She kissed his feverish forehead. Her tears slide from her nose onto his face. She wiped them away then whispered, "I must heal you."

She removed his bloody shirt to uncover the whiplashes that scarred his chest. "Waïse heil." She uttered and the skin patched itself up. She gently rolled him over and nearly fainted over the wound imprinted on his back. It surprised her that Eragon was not dead.

She gathered her strength. Then, she breeched the wall in her mind to unleash the magic.

"Waïse heil" she whispered.

The cell lit up and all the magic (and Evan's strength) flooded into Eragon's injured back. It corrected itself and now her major wounds were healed. Evan was light-headed and on the verge of fainting. She sat back against the wall. She had never used that much strength in magic before. She breathed deeply and lightly stroked Eragon's hair. He stirred.

"Evan," he sighed, "I owe you my life." His eyes flickered open to look at her.

"Why? You owe me nothing." She whispered to him.

"Yes, Evan, you have saved my life more than once. For that, I owe you."

Evan sat in thought for a moment, "Well, there is one thing you can do for me." She whispered in his ear.

Eragon gathered his small amount of strength and sat up. He leaned his body against Evan, his head rested on her shoulder. She placed her hand on his cheek.

"What is it? I will do anything for you" He tilted his head up to look her in the eyes.

"Love me" she replied.

"I already do," he whispered.

"Don't ever leave me again,"

"I wouldn't dream of it."

"Be the answer to every question. Be every song, be my everything." She said the last with such passion that Eragon had to kiss her. They locked lips and remained this way moving their tongues in a heat of passion.

"Evan," breathed Eragon, "I love you more than you'll ever know."

Evan breathed a reply. Eragon pulled her face to his and kissed her passionately, letting her know how much he loved her. He felt nothing except Evan. The intense pain he had felt minutes before seemed to have vanished. He laid a hand on her neck and she made a sharp intake of breath. He kissed her once more, then began to trail kisses down her neck and towards her chest. She threw her head back and made a soft noise. He kissed her lips once more and rested his head against her shoulder. She kissed his head repeatedly and shifted him and held him closer. He sat in her arms for what seemed like mere seconds when Adena's voice echoed into their cell.

"Lady Evan?"

She sighed, "Yes?"

"We must go."

Evan made a groan of protest and once again kissed him. Her heart ached to leave. She slowly stood.

"Don't leave." Eragon said, a longing in his voice that tugged at Evan's heart.

"I must, but I'll be back."

He grabbed her hand and said, "I love you, with all my heart and soul."

"I love you too Eragon." A tear trickled down her cheek.

"Eva, love, don't cry. If you do not lie, we will see each other again soon."

Evan walked backward, their hands slipped from each other's, and she stared back at her lover until she reached the door. She mouthed a final, "I love you." And shut the door.

Outside, she found Adena waiting for her. She had a sincere look on her face.

"Ah," she said, "Departed lovers." She sighed, "It is one of the saddest things, and my uncle loves seeing people in pain."

"Yes, I agree." Said Evan, still staring at the cell.

"Oh Evan!" said Adena, "You will see him again, I promise."

Evan nodded, then, as if snapping back to reality said, "Where's Julius?"

"She is still with Murtagh. We must go get her now"

Adena began to walk away and Evan followed to cell that smelled terrible, like death.

"Lady Julius?" Adena called.

"Yes?" Julius choked back.

"We must go."

A moment later, Julius appeared, tear-stained face and shaky.

Evan stepped forward and held Julius while she sobbed into her shoulder.

"Adena?" Evan asked.

"Yes, m'lady?"

"May I see Murtagh, it won't take but a minute"

"Yes! But quickly!" she said urgently.

Evan walked slowly into the cell. She spotted Murtagh on the ground. She quickened her pace and knelt down beside the corpse. A tear slid down her cheek and landed on the dirty clothing that dressed him.

"Murtagh," she whispered, "We need you. Julius needs you here most of all. You can't be gone, you just can't be." Then she began to shake with sobs. If she hurt this badly, how was Julius standing it? She let her tears drip down onto Murtagh.

Julius appeared beside her in a similar state. She helped Evan to her feet and they held each other while they both sobbed. Evan choked out their song:

Friendship is something we cherish,

Although most fade and perish

It binds us to the ones we love,

With higher strengths the ones of above…