The wind howled and rain splattered on the cobbled streets of the most famous city of Alagaësia. Eliena moved swiftly over the rooftops, jumping over this one and that, careful not to slide off of the tiles. Her clock and dark clothes made her a mere shadow in the distance. Lightening struck in the sky as she ran swiftly. Thunder boomed but she paid no attention to it. All she did was run.

As she grew near to the castle, with its gleaming golden towers, now dark in the rain and night, she did not stop. She ran on over the rooftops. At the last house before the gates of the castle, she stopped. Her emerald eyes searched the castle, her eyes never stopping as they searched. She did not blink as she watched soldiers make their rounds and shivering in the rain. She did not blink when rain went into her eyes. As Urû'baen most trusted assassin and thief, she was a professional and did not fail.

Thoughts raced through her mind of stealing something so precious that she could retire at the age of only fourteen. Her eyes still searched and then, she leaped. The castle gates were at least a few good feet away from the rooftop she had previously occupied but somehow, she made it to the other side without a single scratch and landed right on the top of the walls. Fortunately, the guard had just went past here and would not return for a few minutes. Was it fortune, or was it careful planning?

She made herself a shadow to the walls and silently slides to the ladders where she climbed down to the courtyard below. Near her were at least two soldiers but they did not see her in the night and the rain. Keeping close to the wall, she made her way to the back entrance of the castle.

As silent as a cat, she opened the doors to the servant entrance and slide in. She only knew about the entrance as she studied the castle more and more. She had robbed about every single rich person in Urû'baen and the castle was her next challenge. Some said you will never make it out of there alive with all the guards but that just made Eliena want it more. No matter what she steals or how dangerous it is, she would never ever turn down a challenge and the castle seemed like the perfect challenge there is.

It was so dark in there that a regular person could not see their hand in front of their face, but this was the most trustworthy and best thief in Urû'baen. She did not have a problem with seeing in the dark. No servants were in sight, most probably asleep, as she made her way up the stairs.

Eliena didn't know what she was searching for but she did know that something valuable was here and all she had to do was find it. Maybe a crown or some gold or even some rich nobleman's jewelry that could feed a whole village. As she climbed the stairs of the servant's quarters, she came across many doors but she did not enter. She climbed further until she reached the top. Disappointed, she saw that there was absolutely nothing there, not even a door. As she was about to head downstairs, something caught her eye. It was a trap door. Right under her feet, it was there. Yet it was so highly concealed even she didn't see it at a first glance. She doubted any of the servants were even able to see it even if they put a light to the entrance and stared at it for hours.

Carefully lifting it, she looked down into the room. She gasped softly at the room full of soldiers and weapons. It wasn't just any room, it was a fully protected room that to her eyes had only one door which seemed to be made out of very tough steel and inside

the room, there were at least twenty soldiers, each looking stronger than the last.

Why were all these soldiers here? And what are they protecting that is so valuable? Thoughts raced through her minds of the possibilities and ways of getting pass these soldiers. The many soldiers didn't scare her, it just excited her more about the challenge. Whatever it is that they were protecting, it must be valuable. She knew she wanted to do this even if she didn't survive for her pride wouldn't let her get away with not attempting this even if her life was on the stake.

She drew out a dagger from her knee and silently sent it flying to the nearest torch. The torch was knocked over and fire spread over the room. The soldiers were in confusion as some yelled orders and others tried to put out the fire. Eliena smiled to herself. Then, she took out another dagger and sent it flying at another torch which just made the fire grow more. Suddenly, the whole place was on fire including some of the soldiers. Soon, she had all the torches knocked over and burning the soldiers. Since the place was made of stone and not a sound was heard by any other people in the whole castle, the screaming of the soldiers were only heard by her. Watching the soldiers in confusion, she silently slides out of the whole in the ceiling and dropped down to the floor like a cat. None of the soldiers actually saw her for her clock made her look like the dancing flames of the fire and most were occupied by the fire spreading. She made her way to the steal door she saw and tried to open it but it was locked tight.

She cursed to herself but out of nowhere, a soldier came running into her, on fire. He carried a broad sword and aimed it directly at her. Taking out her own sword, she easily blocked his blow and gave him a deep cut on his shoulder. He screamed in pain, but she didn't know if it was from the cut or the fire. He ran towards her but she ducked out of the way in the last possible moment and he hit the door of steal behind her. He collapsed to the floor but made not even an indent in the door. From the soldier's noise, the other soldiers realized Eliena in the room. They surrounded her, some burning and some perfectly fine. Even if she was a skilled swordsman, she did not have the power to take on twenty or so soldiers. She backed into the door and then out of the corner of her eye, she saw a hand print. But strangely it was covered with blood. It wasn't new blood, just dried old blood.

Before she could think, the soldiers all came crashing into her at once. She jumped up but she escaped with a slash on her thigh. Without thinking, she placed her right hand on her thigh to stop the bleeding. Her hands were covered with blood. The soldiers came at her again but she blocked and then, she placed her blood-soaked hand on the imprint of the other. Her hand was smaller but it seemed the same shape as the one on the door. A blinding flash came and the soldiers shielded their eyes as did Eliena. The door flew open and Eliena quickly entered. The soldiers were blocked out as the doors closed after her.

The room she entered was so amazing that she gasped in amazement. It seemed to be carved out of gold. There in the center, was a table made out of gold and on it were two huge jewels. They were a deep crimson and an emerald green. They looked so beautiful that Eliena was entranced. She had seen her fair of jewels as a thief but she had never seen just beautiful things in her life. She stepped forward towards the jewels and touched the green one. It was just the color of her eyes. Also in the room, was a book. It was old, yet very thick. Looking at it oddly, she touched it too. But before she could open it, the doors swung open.

Eliena turned her head and there stood the king. He was a grand figure as they said he was, tall. Eliena gasped in surprise at him.

"So you have broken into here," was all he said as he looked her over.

Eliena couldn't utter a word. She was never afraid but now, she was terrified.

"And your hands are bloodied," he observed again as he looked at her. Nobody was in the room except for the king and her. She knew better than to just swing her sword at him for he was known for his fighting skills and of course, magic.

"Can this mean…" but he didn't finish the sentence. From out of nowhere, an arrow came at her. It came whizzing past and Eliena didn't have the time to dodge. She braced herself for the impact as it came nearer and nearer. She felt the pain as the arrow struck home, right at her heart.

Eliena screamed as she sat up. She looked around her, panting. She was still in the forest, sleeping next to Emerlden. Eragon lay a few feet away from her. So it was a dream, she thought as relief swept through her.

No it was a memory, came Emerlden's voice. Eliena turned her head and saw Emerlden staring intently at her.

"But I didn't die there. I didn't even meet the king. I stole one egg and the book before they broke the door and came sweeping in. I escaped with a cut on my thigh a shoulder wound. Remember?" asked Eliena.

Yes but it was still a memory. Your mind changed it somehow. And I still wondered why you were able to get in but the soldiers weren't. Your blood has something to do with it.

"Don't be ridiculous Emerlden. I mean the king would only program his own blood for the door to open and I don't think I have his blood," said Eliena as she lay back down.

Still…

"Just go to sleep. It was probably some stupid nightmare I had," said Eliena as her head fell back towards the grass.

I wonder…was all Emerlden said before he lay back down.

jkjkjkjkjkjkjkjkjkjkjkjkjkjjkjkjkjkjkjkjkjkjjkjkjkjkjkjkjkjkjkjkjjkjkjkjkjkjkjkjkjkjkjkjkjkjkjkjjkjkjkjkjkjkjkjkjkjkjkj

Okay, so I did promise Eragon would wake up but I'm sooo sorry that he didnt. I totally promise it will be up next chappie. Just that I thought this was good enough for this chapter cause I left sort of a cliffie. So that was a look into the past of Eliena. More of her past will be revealed as we go through the story more. So please review and I promise that Eragon will wake up in the next chapter. Thanks for all the suggestions and please review. Next chapter will be up next monday. Just a note, after the next chapter, the story is going to be suspended for some time because of finals so I cant really update because I have to study. After May, I will start the story again and update more frequently because I have summer vacation. Okay please review.

With much love and thanks,

Lale the Assassin