Disclaimer: I do not own the Inheritance Trilogy, nor will I ever. I only own the characters Silde, Éryuin, and the servant. Have fun reading, even if it really is over-dramatic.
It was dark; corridors were lit with torches that with their brilliance blinded. The night was old. Now, even the guards were sleeping, yet two figures were hastily wending their way through the palace. They were clothed in black hooded cloaks as if to mirror the late hour that it was.
Two doors barred the cloaked beings' way. The large, spelled padlock on said door seemed to be no match for one of the black clad figures. Slender, feminine hands reached out to pass over the lock. Words were whispered like the wind. Immediately afterward, there was an audible click from the lock and it became undone.
"I would come with you," a deep male voice said with a questioning tone. The voice seemed to be laced with pain, unconquerable pain.
The determined female pulled back the hood of her mantle to reveal a pale face and a pair of startlingly dark eyes that tried to hold back tears. Even her magic, she knew, would not heal the ache she felt. Hair as black as the night framed her narrow face and continued down past her waist - she was beautiful; there was no denying that. Yet the sadness had somehow marred her beauty. There were silver lines that ran down her cheek, as if a claw had done such vengeful work. If one were to look long enough at the scars, they would be able to see through the cheek. Maturity gleamed in the young woman's eyes of one who was maybe seventeen, but no older.
"Your presence would bring the assurance that I need for such an act as I am to perform." She spoke as if she were singing, with a lilting voice that rang pleasantly in the ears. Her voice sounded superficial, like forced jollity.
Her companion held out his hand and caressed her face, lightly passing his thumb over the cobweb-scars on her cheek. He dropped his arm to his side and pushed back his cloak to rest his hand on the hilt of a sword that lay in a leather scabbard.
The two walked unfalteringly forward, into darkness. The man could not see the shining silver light that the woman could in the middle of the treasure room; he muttered a few words and a ball of light appeared in his hand to be his guide in the dark room.
Pace quickened, the woman reached the center of the room. Locked in a golden cage that was surrounded by dozens of spells, was a silver dragon egg. It looked so vulnerable there on a dais, yet it was the most formidable thing that the woman had come across.
Unlike with the door to the treasury, she kept her hand on the cage, as did the man next to her. Words rolled effortlessly off of her tongue, but after what seemed a long while, she was still trying to unlock the cage and small beads off sweat gathered at the top of her forehead.
Both could hear nearing footsteps. The guards knew they were there in the treasury.
"Silde!" the man whispered urgently to the woman.
She did not hear his words, for without a sound, the cage had opened. Again, those slender hands reached out. Her heart beat madly, not for the oncoming men-at-arms, but for the egg that she was about the lift up. Once she was able to lift it out of the cage, she cradled it to her chest and peered at her companion.
"Leave, Silde!" he whispered. "You know how to escape. Leave!" He unsheathed his sword, and it shone black. The engraving down its blade was unclear, but he knew it by heart. Zar'roc. Misery.
Silde took one look at him and turned her head to the path before her. Now there was another reason why her heart beat so wildly. What would happen to the brave man? Would he fight? Or would he use his authority, as he should?
The guards were now shouting as they opened the doors. Up at the front of the line was Galbatorix. Silde had already gone.
"I tried to get here before he fled, Galbatorix-elda," the man said, shielding Zar'roc. "I was too late. He's gone. The last dragon egg is gone."
Silde traveled as fast as she could through a series of trapdoors and dark, elongated hallways. Several thoughts crossed her mind. What of her companion? What if he tried to fight? She did not let any tears fall from her stinging eyes as she pondered.
Somehow, she made it to the rendezvous point. A servant waited with a horse for her. He was patiently whispering to the mare as Silde neared them. The horse struck the ground with its hoof and rolled one eye toward Silde. It would have been comical if Silde weren't so frightened of the great beast. She swallowed her fear and approached the servant first.
"Thank you," she murmured without taking her eyes off of the horse. The mare jutted her muzzle forward and nodded into Silde's shoulder. The gesture from the horse startled the young woman, but she calmed quickly and tentatively held out her hand next to the creature's head.
The servant laughed and passed Silde the reigns. "Take good care of her. Her name is Éryuin," was all he said before he walked away.
She eyed Éryuin and carefully led the mare to a mounting point. Silde tucked the dragon egg in one of the saddlebags that rested on Éryuin's side and climbed up a boulder. The round surface of the rock made her stumble a few times, but she made it to the top.
Her next daunting task was to mount the patient mare. With not too much ease, Silde placed her booted foot out against Éryuin's side and swung herself around the great body; she was very close to flying over the horse.
Silde was afraid Éryuin would buck, but she did not. The young woman patted the horse's head cautiously.
"Well, Éryuin, do you know which direction The Varden is?"
It would be a long ride, surely, but she was willing to do it. She wanted to succeed for him. Murtagh.
There it is, the first chapter! Buwahahaha! I hope I didn't burn your eyes out. I haven't read "Eragon" in a long time and I need to reread "Eldest." It's a pity that I don't have a copy of "Eragon." If anyone would like to give me tips/criticism, I would sorely appreciate it! I don't really remember the description for Zar'roc too, so don't bash my head too much. I will continue this story if I get enough reviews, or any really. Oh! If anyone would like to be my beta if I continue this story -crosses fingers and squeezes eyes shut- then please e-mail me. You will receive cookies and lots of cyber hugs from me! Not to mention, you would be able to read the next chapter before anyone else!
May your typing muscles forever prosper,
-Svelte