He looked at Cailin fondly. Her pale face contrasted sharply with her dark brown hair. She appeared peaceful. After Muirgrid had brought her back and she was treated, Eragon had stayed in her room and watched her sleep in her coma for three days. Arya had begged him to leave the room but he had refused. Now as he sat watching Cailin sleep, he cursed himself for giving her up when she was born, for watching her grow up through a mirror, and for not revealing who he was to her. He grasped her hand, cursing himself and mumbling apologies to deaf ears. Slowly, his strength ebbed. Steadily it grew weaker. He was in a void and felt like he was spinning. He saw heavy iron doors and a large padlock on them. He stumbled toward the doors. He looked at his reflection in the doors and was shocked. He was donned in farmer's clothes and looked nothing like the Eragon Shadeslayer he was. Suddenly he threw up. The swirling sensation was still there, making him dizzy. These must be the doors that guard Cailin's mind, Eragon thought. If I knock, will she answer and not kill me on the spot? I need an antidote for this sickness I have. Will she recognize me and help me? Eragon knocked on the doors.
"Who are you?" asked a high-pitched female voice.
"Eragon, Cailin's father," he replied. "You do not sound like Cailin. Who are you?"
The voice chuckled.
"Who are you?" Eragon pressed.
"Let's play a little game. You must pass through Cailin's natural defenses. If you can't endure it, release her hand."
"And if I refuse to play this game?"
"She dies."
Suddenly Eragon felt as if he were underwater. Everything was blue. He broke the surface and saw lush greenery. He wondered what kind of test would be in such a beautiful place. Suddenly, several webs were thrown upon him and he was spinning in a whirlpool. Spinning, whirling, blue and white foam invaded his vision. He felt sick to his stomach. Then bright orange, yellow, and pink hues surrounded him. Swirling, swirling, swirling and never stopping. Then he was in a fire near the embers. His breath came in short gasps. Then the bright colors came again. Cailin's defenses were unlike other elves. She gives a swirling sensation that many were not used to. The effect was the victim felt sick to his stomach and couldn't take it any more. She also added bright colors, a void, and seemingly peaceful scenes that keep swirling, swirling, swirling. She also added feelings such as heat and warmth, a feeling of cold, hate, burning passion and love for no particular reason, a feeling of loneliness and despair, and unspeakable pain. After about thirty of these scenes and thirty more individual emotions, the swirling motion stopped, and Eragon was in a room. He looked ahead and saw a girl that looked like Cailin sleeping peacefully on a luxurious canopy bed. The room had a soft, cream colored glow and the walls and carpet were a deep, wine red. There was a cheery fire inside a stone chimney. But there was an eerie feeling in the air; the feeling something evil was there. It was felt and not seen. Eragon saw no cause for alarm and yet he was on his guard. Turned out he was right to feel that way. A high-pitched laugh rang out and echoed throughout the room.
"Who are you?" Eragon demanded.
The laugh continued, raising hairs on the back of Eragon's neck.
"Who are you?" he screamed.