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.

In the morning, Riley visited Gertrude. She found that Eragon was doing well, his wounds healing to scabs. She was planning on staying by his side again, but Gertrude convinced her that she needed her help at Garrow's side. Riley tended to Garrow at Horst's. He was still unconscious and his body jittered with small spasms. Riley shuddered as she gave clean bandages to Gertrude and watched her dab cream onto his burns.

"Is he doing better than yesterday?" A female voice asked, getting closer. Riley looked back. Katrina came to stand next to her. She looked fraught with sorrow.

"Some of his wounds are healing, but others will not close up. I've tried everything I have. In time they may heal on their own," Gertrude answered cautiously. "His wounds have been cleaned. I trust you girls can see over him until I return. I must tend to Eragon." She set her tools in a basket and walked tiredly out the door. Riley moved about the room, trying to tidy things up and keep the medical materials in one area for quick access. After that she sat down, washing out the soiled cloths in steaming water, while Katrina relentlessly passed a wet cloth over Garrow's forehead.

Katrina moved beside her to help with the rags. Riley asked if she heard any news about Garrow's farm. Katrina hadn't. She had to beg her father just to come to Horst's today. She said she didn't stop to hear any news. She was only concerned with Garrow's health at the moment. After all, Riley knew she and Roran were very close, and Garrow was always kind to her. Riley was about to ask if word got to Roran yet, when Gertrude appeared busily through the door.

Right away, Riley saw that something good happened. She was humming a happy tune and only smiled when Riley asked what changed. She went to Garrow and began looking at his wounds; the smile disappeared.

Riley felt a scrape on the floor to her left by the doorway. She glanced over expecting Horst or his wife, Elain. But it wasn't. She jumped off the floor, spilling some of the water from the cracked bucket as she threw a cloth in.

"Glad to see you're up," she said cheerily to Eragon. He only looked at her with a blank face and sad eyes while going straight to Garrow's bed. Riley wasn't insulted by his actions; she would have acted the same.

Riley finished up with her last rag and pardoned herself from the room. She wanted to stay in there with Eragon but knew it would be better for him to be alone. Katrina excused herself as well. They made there way down the worn smooth steps. Katrina went to fetch a bucket of fresh snow to be boiled. Riley found herself in the kitchen, asking Elain if she needed help. Albriech and Baldor, Horst's sons, soon entered, along with Horst. The sons went to sit down around the maple table.

"Eragon's here. He's up by Garrow. Poor thing," Elain said to Horst.

Riley looked up from the dishes she was drying to her friends behind her, pushing the hair out of her eyes.

"How's he doing?" Baldor asked sympathetically.

"He's in much pain, mentally and physically," Riley replied with a sigh. "But I think he's taking it harshly because he blames himself for the intensity of Garrow's injuries."

Elain continued with her baking after a moment of silence from everyone thinking of what could possibly have happened.

"I'll bring him down. It's time to get a few thing straightened out." Horst took off his coat and hung it on a rack as he entered the hallway to upstairs. While he was away, Riley listened to the boys talk about Garrow as she stacked the plates and bowls and stored them in a family-crafted cabinet that matched the table, where she seated herself afterward. Elain set the table with a delectable pie, filling the room with a sweet aroma.

"Help yourself," she said returning to finish another pie, just as Horst reappeared with Eragon.

He sat in the chair across from her provided by Horst, still with a sadness Riley couldn't penetrate. Elain hurried over with a small plate, every inch filled with food, offering it to Eragon. He picked up a fork but scarcely touched any. Riley watched him, chewing slowly on her piece of cinnamon apple pie. Horst began asking for details of the incident. She put her utensil down and listened with curiosity as she would finally get some news.

"I was one of the people who went out to your farm. It didn't just fall apart—something tore it to pieces," Horst said, his hands clasped on the table edge. "There were tracks down there from a huge monster; I've no clue what it is. I wasn't the only one who noticed. You have to tell us what you know. There could be a Shade about."

Eragon looked down. "After you warned me of the strangers in town, I went home." He looked to Horst. Horst nodded. Elain had stopped her cooking and the room was so quiet that Riley could hear the creaking of the floor upstairs, as Gertrude moved back and forth. He continued, "It was fine that night and the next morning, after I was done with chores, I went for a walk. There was an explosion and smoke could be seen rising where the farm was. I was too late; whoever did it was already gone. Through the debris there was...Garrow."

Riley took another bite as Albriech asked a question about how he got Garrow to Carvahall. Riley knew the answer from her talk with Brom. But then Eragon produced something black, the color of oil, from his pocket, holding it stiffly, thus changing the subject.

"It's a cloth I found in Garrow's hand. There were two tracks leaving on the path. I think this belongs to the strangers."

Riley zoned in and out of the conversation. She was remembering her encounter with the strangers. They could have destroyed her easily. But they went for Garrow and Eragon. Maybe if she hadn't angered them, this wouldn't have happened. They must have found out her friendship with them and took revenge on her. Riley wasn't hungry anymore. She felt sick now. She came back to earth in the middle of Horst talking.

"…don't want to get in their way." Riley's thoughts were strengthened. "Besides, they have what they want now. Did they take the stone?"

"I didn't see it in the house." Eragon answered automatically.

No. Not all my fault. She thought. It wasn't just me. They were after the weird stone. But that realization didn't make her feel any better. After the discussion shifted to Roran's knowledge of this, the men left abruptly to send word, leaving Eragon to his thoughts. Riley didn't have the heart to finish her pie. She pushed it aside, debating whether she should stay or go home. In that time, she peeked up at Eragon.

Eragon was staring intently at the wooden table. At first his eyes were clear and focused. Riley blinked, holding in her gasp as they changed slightly, turning a brighter brown with a magical light. She blinked again and it seemed to be only her imagination. But his eyes now had a faraway look.

Riley shook her head, and made a decision. She got up, the chair scraping noisily against the floor.

"I'll see you in the morning." She waved goodbye to Elain and left Eragon, staring out the window to the darkness beyond.