My thanks go to both TheAngelFiction and alsdssg for reviewing. Thank you very much; it was highly appreciated.

Just a note though, there was a typo in the first chapter. Where it said, "Then, when she would begin to believe that she would only see blood for the rest of her life, a strange, silvery rock would appear, its surface smooth and unblemished with no traces of anything but flawlessness," instead of SILVERY, it should have been BERYL. I will be fixing the error, but to those of you who have already read the first chapter (which is probably most of you since why else would you be at this chapter), just remember that.

I do not own Eragon, Eldest, or any other book in the series.

Now, onwards to the new chapter!

Stage II: In the Castle

Feel was the first of the five senses to be regained by her.

Azorn felt her heart pump painfully against her chest. It felt like her body was being burned to crisps, licked and smoldered by flames until she was nothing but ashes. The cement ground felt slimy and disgusting against her skinny legs. The air seemed to burn her throat as she breathed.

Her other senses slowly came back, except for her vision.

Am I blind now? she wondered in panic. Did they make me blind before they captured me so I wouldn't be able to escape?

But then again, if that was the case, then why did she just happen to see a pair of eyes staring straight into hers?

Azorn felt her eyes widen at the sight and clamped her cold hand against her mouth to stifle her scream before it escaped her parted lips. The cry died harmlessly in her throat.

At least there's one thing to be happy about, the brunette thought bitterly, I'm not blind.

The pair of eyes watched her with an emotion akin to amusement, but she saw that hidden in their depths was sorrow and melancholy.

Azorn licked her suddenly dry lips to keep them moist and slowly backed up until she felt cold bars of the cell press against her back.

How fortunate of her. They decided to put her in a cell.

A soft noise—a chuckle, perhaps?—sounded in the darkness. Azorn felt herself cringe fearfully and pull her legs against herself and wrap her arms around them.

Do you fear me, little one?

She blinked and shook her head. I'm not going crazy, I'm not! Now I'm hearing foreign voices in my head!

Another rumbling chuckle sounded in the dark. I never did say you were.

"…Whose there?" Azorn asked meekly.

A loud breath—probably coming from whatever was talking to her—was exhaled. A jet of flame appeared, catching onto an object that remained concealed from her. Then, light flooded through the room. The creature must have exhaled fire onto a candle.

Now can you see me?

She gazed, awe overpowering her fear, at what loomed before her. It was a black dragon of immense proportions. "…A dragon…" she murmured, still staring. "…Are you…?"

Yes, I am called Shruikan, the dragon replied, lowering his mighty head so that he was level with Azorn. You are?

"…I'm… Azorn," she replied hesitantly,

Shruikan nodded his powerful head knowingly. So it is true. Tell me, do you know why you are here?

Azorn shook her head. "No, I don't," the fourteen-year old admitted. Strangely, she found that she liked Shruikan. Even though the stories she heard about him told her that he was a terrible dragon that killed many, she was still able to bring herself to trusting him.

King Galbatorix wants you for more than just the reason that you are a thief, Shruikan replied dryly.

"Why would he want me for more than that? I'm no one special," answered Azorn, blinking in confusion. "Why are you here anyway?"

Shruikan chuckled again, but his laughter seemed empty. He has, to put it this way, assigned me to guard you, the black dragon responded, before relaxing his body into sitting on the cold floor.

"I probably couldn't escape anyway," rebuked Azorn in reaction.

Even so, this is where I stay when Galbatorix does not have any use for me.

Azorn jumped to her feet almost instantly. "What? He's treating you like an object!" She had hated the man before because of his cruel deeds, but now, she hated him more than ever.

I cannot object to his commands, Shruikan answered solemnly.

Azorn strode over to him, uncertainly petting his shimmering, black scales to comfort him. "…I'm sorry to hear that."

Silence ensued.

The girl blinked and looked up at Shruikan, who had settled and closed his eyes. She sensed a deep sense of contentment emitting from the dragon. A faint smile tugged at her lips. Maybe I do have a soft side, she thought. She had always held an inner affection for most animals and creatures, especially for dragons. Azorn had always been quiet and polite, but when she found someone she liked, she could turn into a loud, but playful person.

She closed her eyes and let sleep sweep her away.

A strange noise aroused her from her slumber. Azorn blinked and turned to look at Shruikan, but she saw that he was no longer there. She was leaning against the wall. Now that sunlight streamed from a nearby barred window, she saw how large the cell truly was. It was gargantuan. No wonder Shruikan had been able to fit.

The rapping noise sounded again.

Azorn stood and warily strode to the front of the cell, where she was greeted by the sight of the male that had knocked her out. "You!" she snarled, jumping backwards instantly.

"You're coming with me," he countered in a tone just as cold. "Galbatorix wants to see you."

"…Who are you first?"

He stared at her. "…Murtagh. Now hurry up."

Azorn glared at him and cautiously watched as he unlocked the cell and briskly strode away.

She followed.

"Go in," said Murtagh, gesturing towards the door. Azorn swallowed and stared back at him before obediently following his directions. She slowly opened the door and stepped inside the room. The door slammed shut behind her.

That wasn't good.

She looked up and trembled as she stared into the gaze of Galbatorix, still shaking in fear.

"Come closer, Azorn."

Azorn knew something was up, and was even more scared since he knew her name perfectly, but obeyed like a well-trained dog following her master's orders.

Galbatorix slid over to her and reached his fingers under her chin, forcing her to look into his eyes. He grinned, though it was more unpleasant than pleasant. "Just like you to look like her."

Azorn did not dare speak, even though her mind was screaming, Who in the world is her?

"Tell me, do you know why you are here?"

"…No, sir," she murmured almost inaudibly.

"I see. So the thief has manners. Very good," answered Galbatorix. His grin did not leave his face, but he withdrew his hand. "Do you know what your true name is?"

"True name?" she echoed in confusion. All her life, she had known herself as Azorn. That was her name. But what was her true name? "I don't know, Your Majesty."

Galbatorix frowned, and Azorn bit her lip hard enough to draw a small bead of blood. She was that terrified of the man.

"Very well," the king responded. Azorn's head snapped up in confusion. That was all?

"You are to stay in the castle for the time being," he said, turning around as he strode to a small box perched upon a desk. He stroked its top almost lovingly. "I will have something to show you tomorrow. Murtagh will escort you to your room. You are dismissed."

Confused, frightened, and curious, Azorn turned her heel and quickly left the room, closing the door behind her swiftly and leaning against it, breathing heavily as though she had just run a marathon. Murtagh stood there.

"What did he speak to you about?"

"Why do you want to know?" she shot back at him.

"Merely my curiosity," he replied in response. "I'll take you to your room."

Azorn found that Murtagh, like Shruikan, wasn't as cruel as she had thought. She found it easy to bestow the discussion she had had with Galbatorix to him, and all he had done was listen quietly, but intently as they walked.

"Do you know what he would want with me?" she asked him as they scaled a staircase.

"…No," answered Murtagh. They continued up the staircase without another word.

When they reached what was supposedly her "new room", she entered and promptly gaped in awe. The walls and floors were decorated in royal wallpaper and carpeting, complete with beautiful furnishing. All in all…

It was a very green room.

"Yet there's poverty everywhere while the king basks in glory and splendor," she commented darkly to herself, almost in a hiss. She turned to Murtagh. "What am I supposed to do now?"

Murtagh shot her a look that indicated amusement. "You can do whatever you like, I suppose. Just as long as you don't leave the room." He was about to leave when she grabbed his hand and held it, palm up, so she could look at it.

"You're a Rider serving under Galbatorix?" she hissed with sudden vehemence. Murtagh could only stare at her in reaction. The gedwëy ignasia shone brightly from his palm. Azorn must have spotted it while he turned, but he was sure he had concealed it well until now. "Why are you doing this?"

"I never asked for it!" he spat suddenly, jerking his hand away from her grip and settling with glowering fiercely at the small girl.

The fourteen-year old shrunk back and bowed her head, sensing the emotion that he held in his voice. "…Sorry. But, that means you have a dragon, right?" she asked eagerly.

"Yeah…" he answered unsurely. "…Why?"

"If you take me to see your dragon," she offered, "then I'll repay you a favor someday."

Murtagh thought about it for a moment before grinning for the first time since she had seen him. "Deal. But…" He paused, a smirked. "I'm leaving you in here for a few hours. I have to be somewhere."

Azorn opened her mouth to protest, but he left and locked the door so she couldn't escape. Huffing, the brunette turned around and crossed her arms like a child. "I'm being so infantile," she remarked to herself with a frown. "What in the world would cause that?"

Still, she barely had a childhood when she was younger. She grew up faster than she expected. In her childhood, she had kept herself as innocent as possible so it would be easy to fool people and steal. Nevertheless, it was successful. Even though she still had that same innocent spark in her eyes, she didn't do trick people into giving her things anymore. She had decided to use stealth and agility to actually steal from people.

Shaking her head, Azorn proceeded to another door that stood in the room in hopes of exploring and utilizing the bathroom, if it was even the bathroom.

I know that there might be confusion because of why she and Murtagh seem to get friendly so easily, but I remind you that she feels a strange connection to him that tells her that it's okay to trust him. To her, it's like she knows him. As for Murtagh, in return, he's nice to her. It's kind of like an understanding between them; a minor form of friendship. Remember, this is NOT a romance story at all, so don't expect any pairings. Especially not ones that have Azorn in them.

Anyway, thanks for reading the chapter. Feel free to review.