I don't own any of the characters or places that Christopher Paolini's genius mind has created. But I do claim Riley and her family. Please enjoy.

The bed was strewn with many things. It arranged from simple toys, completed puzzles, detailed drawings, and several leather books, some flipped open, pages bent to hold its place. Riley sat at the head of the bed in her room, her legs bent in. She sighed and leaned against her headboard, none too gently, out of boredom. What else is there for me to do? Riley had been imprisoned in her home for almost three whole days. She wasn't used to this kind of treatment. She was always moving around, and outside was where she felt the freest. Riley slid off to get a look out her small window. The sun was just starting to pass its highest point. It's only midday. When are those creeps going to leave? She was about to turn away, but she heard a commotion in the distance and returned her gaze through the window.

Straining her eyes, Riley could detect Brom struggle into the village. His burden was hidden behind him, though she could tell it was very heavy. His back arched with the strain. Suddenly, he bent lower. Riley saw clearer now; her heart begun to beat erratically. There was someone on his back and then she realized he was dragging another behind him on a makeshift sled.

Brom called out again, catching townsfolk's attentions. They hurried to him, relieving some of the weight as they took the injured people from him. Riley knew where they would go, to Gertrude. She was the town healer and a very good one at that. She was one of Jocelyn's closest friends. Riley ran down the stairs, skipping two at a time.

Jocelyn was just closing the main door when Riley met her. She had a terribly worried expression. "Riley, it's Garrow and Eragon."

Riley paused only for a split second, gave one quick nod, her dread doubling, and grabbed her jacket. Jocelyn reopened the door. She stepped back through, Riley inches behind her. The wind bit into Riley's skin as they hastened farther down the street, and the sun seemed to mock Riley's fear as it glittered brilliantly off of the snow-packed ground. Eventually, they arrived at a small cottage. There were men waiting outside, discussing quietly what could have happened. They shushed when they noticed Riley. She ignored them as she pushed through the door. Jocelyn and Riley were met by Horst and some other men, hoisting Garrow gently toward the door. Riley quickly opened it for them and stood aside to let them pass.

"Is he… is he dead?" She asked to anyone who would hear.

"No. He's alive. But he is terribly injured." Riley looked to where the voice was. It was Gertrude, bent over the other still form, her hands moving as if an angel's swiftness possessed them as she prepared medicines and creams. "They are taking him to stay at Horst's. There isn't enough room here for the both of them."

Riley moved closer and peered down at Eragon's unconscious face. He looked worried and stressed even in this state, as if he knew their health was balanced precariously on a blade's tip. "How is he?"

"I don't know yet. He must be undressed."

"Riley, go wait outside. I'll call you back in later," her mother interjected.

"But I want to help."

"You will, later. Now go." He mother waved her hand in the other direction. Riley obeyed, not looking back.

Outside, the men were fewer than minutes ago, but this time, they kept talking in her presence. She put all her weight against the hard wood wall and listened.

"Maybe the animals caught a disease." One suggested. It was Bjorn, the tailor's wife.

"And what, they attacked Garrow like that? I'm not so sure," countered Logmar, his brother-in-law.

Just then Horst returned and came up to stand beside Bjorn, "I say we go down to their place. Then we'll have a better clue as to what happened."

Riley pushed herself up. "I'll come with you," she piped up and was about to slide next to Horst. A hand reached out, twisting its fingers around Riley's arm to hold her back.

"Where do you think you're going?" Riley's mother asked. But her mother already knew the answer as she said, "I won't let you go. It's dangerous. Whatever did this could still be down there."

"But I can handle it," Riley defended, removing Jocelyn's grip. She noticed that Gertrude was also there, her arms full of bags.

Horst spoke up, "Riley, you should stay here. Eragon and Garrow need your care more."

Riley crossed her arms. "It's because I'm a girl, isn't it?" Riley said coldly. She stormed into Gertrude's house, avoiding knocking the medicine from Gertrude's arms.

Once inside, her temper deflated like a balloon. She knew she shouldn't have reacted like that. Horst and Jocelyn had good reasons for her to stay. But she felt like she was just someone in the background; a child in everyone's eyes. She wanted to be able to do more. Riley grabbed a clean cloth and dipped it in the cool water. As she removed it and twisted it up to rid it of excess water, a minty smell was released. It soothed her nerves. But that calmness didn't last as she looked after Eragon. Riley sat diligently upon a high stool, cleaning and dressing Eragon's wounds. There were bruises and cuts all about his arms.

The countless hours of quietness disturbed her; the only sounds were the soft cackle of the fire and Eragon's harsh breathing. To keep her mind form thinking the worst outcome, Riley sang to Eragon. It started as a humming tune, then words were formed, held long and soft in the air. She sang a few from her childhood. Her parents sung them in the morning as she was about to wake. She didn't quite understand all of the words in some of them because they were in a complicated language, but as she grew older, it was easier to decipher when peeking into her parents' books. She had become quite good at self teaching herself bits of the ancient language. Also, Cori had started to teach her what he knew of the language before he decided to leave. The song she sang now, her favorite, told a story of how a child was separated at birth from his parents, taken by evil forces, but the child's will was so strong, all the evil in the world couldn't stop him from returning to his rightful home when he grew older.

As she finished singing, she found that his breathing had returned to normal. Riley sighed gratefully and thanked the Gods for protecting him. Riley left her stool, to stand and stretch her muscles. She hadn't left that spot for over four hours. She turned to the door as she thought of Garrow. Since she was here, Gertrude only returned two times. She came to check on Eragon and redressed his wounds (she told Riley of the ones on his legs; the skin stripped to the flesh. Riley had to look away), and then Gertrude stocked up on more poultice. She had been in a rush and hadn't been back since. She wished Garrow wasn't in such a bad state.

The sky had darkened and the fire was bright. The shadows splashed around the room in waves. Riley had just sat back on the stool when there was a knock at the door. Riley went to open it and found Brom waiting outside in a long worn cloak. She threw her hands in a gesture to come in. He did at once and as he passed, Riley saw a shallow gash on the side of his head, sloppily bandaged up.

"Do you want me to hang you're cloak, Brom?"

"No. No, it's quite alight. I'm not staying long," he said distracted.

She watched, invisible against the wall by the head of the bed as Brom examined Eragon's sleeping form carefully. He bent down, ear close to his mouth and listened to his breathing. Then he pressed his fingers gently over Eragon's shoulders, chest, arm, and was about to feel his legs, but Riley warned him about the wounds on the insides. Brom nodded, his eyes sparkling with interest, but said nothing.

"Where did you find them?" She asked in a low voice, now not wanting to disrupt the silence. She looked to Brom's bristling face glowing in the light.

He told her, "I had a bad feeling. I was on my way to see Garrow, and then I saw those men—"

"Ra'zac. I know. Mother told me," Riley interrupted, figuring that Brom really knew what they were, even more than her.

"Yes, Ra'zac. I thought I could sneak around them. But…" He indicated the bandage around his head. "I was knocked out. When I woke I rushed to Garrow's, but I wasn't in time. It was only a few yards when I saw Eragon collapse and Garrow lying next to him on the road."

Riley frowned. "Do you think they'll be alright?"

Brom coughed, "We'll see." He stood up straight. "Thank you for doing a great job. Watch over them." He walked to the door and left, the door resisting close from the blowing wind. The coldness of the wind swept chills over her as it reached her. She went to pull the blanket higher on Eragon.

It was an hour or so later when Gertrude relieved Riley of her duties, sending her home after she gave Riley supper.