Sorry I havn't updated. I... Forgot? No, I'm grounded ^^

So chapters won't be churning out like crazy. Sorry

Eragon guided her to the door where Brom stood impatiently. 'Fay' pulled up her hood, tired of feeling the pelting heat of the sun on the back of her head. An older man appeared at the open door. He wore rich looking fabric, and a loose jacket, a slim sword resting on his belt. The man looked down to her (He was tall), and she noted a slender scar that ran across his scalp. It looked painful. He looked to Brom, who examined his clothes disapprovingly. They did look a little overdone. The man shrugged like there wasn't anything else he could have possibly done in his situation.

So this was Jeod.

He started to walk in the direction of the castle, all of them following in suit. Eragon lead the horses, and Elvin was sleeping peacefully in Lyre's arms. She looked around the busy streets, and took in everything with silent eyes.

Tall young men with shining hair rode with straight backs upon proud stallions. A group of ragged underfed children laughingly chased a wildly bleating goat into an alley, causing a woman who was selling her wares on the street to shriek unkind words at the vagabonds. Inside the alleyway, a woman sat on the windows ledge, stringing her dripping garments on a clothes line 3 stories above ground level. It was loud, crazy, and smelled a little like an unwashed bathroom.

She kind of liked it here.

She looked over to Eragon, who was unashamedly eyeing everything with a gaping mouth. The Jeod man babbled to Brom about the cities leader Risthart, and the extra precautions he went through with merchants.

They went through the main gate of the fortress. Once they were in the keep, Jeod told Eragon to tether the horses up. Eragon dutifully tied them to the iron ring, and Jeod slid a sliver key into the entrances key hole.

They entered the long hallway. It was narrow, and she hated the damp feeling of being stuck between the grimy stones. The only light they had was from the torches that lined their way, making their shadows dance on the on the dark gray walls. Lyre frowned. This was all unbelievably realistic.

Jeod grabbed a torch, and they made their way down. After a while, he unlocked a large and heavy wooden door, and led them into a room lined with books. Lyre felt a bubble of excitement when she saw the hoard of leather bound volumes. Jeod threw in some logs, and tossed the torch onto the wood. The fire made the room seem less cold and distant than it did before. Lyre took a step onto the bear skin rug, and for the first time that day, wished that she didn't have any shoes on.

"You, old man, have some explaining to do." Brom said, a smile dawning on his face.

Brom and Jeod spoke like old friends, conversing with each other teasingly. She smiled. She had always thought of Bromas a rude old man who didn't give a damn about anything.

Lyre scrunched her eyebrows for a moment. What was she talking about? She had read the books. She knew what he was all about. Well most of it, she had only read the first book. She realized though, that the more she thought of it, the more the details of the story became hazy. What was going on? Was she getting so immersed in the story line, that she was forgetting what reality was? She would think about it later though. Right now she should focus on the conversation.

"-what we were doing in Gil'ead?" Brom said, Lyre catching only part of the sentence

"Yes. Of course. That sort of thing is hard to forget." Jeod replied.

"When we were…" Brom paused, thinking for a word "Separated. In the midst of the turmoil-"Brom went on to describe what had happened to him. Lyre frowned. None of it made sense. It was smothered in code, and each sentence was half baked. She saw Eragon tense up. He had no idea what they were talking about either.

She looked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder. She gave him a look that told him not to do anything rash, or something he might regret later. They were keeping secrets for a reason. He nodded to her, and looked away. She rolled her eyes. Boys were all the same.

She than noticed Jeod inspecting Eragon and herself. "Than you're fulfilling your duty I suppose." He said, looking from one to the other. Brom stood up from his chair and motioned to them.

"That's Eragon." He said, motioning to the dragon rider himself. Eragon nodded to Jeod in greeting. Fay was surprised, telling such a man of his name. But than she remembered that Brom and Jeod were all buddy-buddy.

Than Jeod looked to her, "And the girl?" he said starting to really look at her, and he looked surprised, "Is she one of our friends?" he asked him, looking at her with wonder. "Her name is Fay. I'm not sure if she is though." Brom replied. "She doesn't remember anything of her past, and yet you can see a resemblance when looking at her."

Jeod nodded, "But not quite the same."

"No, not quite."

Lyre felt her impatience burst, She narrowed her eyes at them "What are you talking about!? Saying things about me when I don't even understand it!" she said, shouting angrily at them. What the hell were they talking about!? Than she immediately wanted to take her words back. Her back straightened quickly, and she bit her lips nervously.

Jeod bowed his head to her, "I apologize. I shouldn't have been speaking to you like that." He said. Clever, she thought, Apologizes, but makes no move to tell me what the hell you're talking about. She thought angrily. She had to hold her tongue though if she wanted them to keep her.

"No. I should be the one to apologize." She said bitterly as she turned her head away from them, her cloak covering her face from their eyes.

They continued to speak, and she listened intently to what they said, Eragon's uncle being murdered. Already known. Seithr oil? Rang a bell somewhere in her mind. Lyre realized she didn't need to listen. She read the book, right? Than why did she feel like she hadn't? What a strange feeling. Maybe she was drifting even farther into sleep or something. Though this was an incredibly long dream...

She dazed off for a few moments, before Brom said "Fay, Eragon, could you go check on the horses?"

Eragon jumped out of him chair impatietently, his ever growing grimace turning into rage as he stormed out of the room. She sighed, and moved away from them, walking quickly to the door. She could understand Eragon's hissy fit. No knowing what you should know is horrible.

When she came out into the sunlight, she saw Eragon stroke the horses neck impatiently. She heard him quickly whisper, "Thverr stenr un atra eka horna.". She recognized it as the ancient language. What was he doing? Shouldn't she know what he was doing..? She searched her mind for an answer and turned up with empty hands.

Eragon was listening intently, not registering that she was there. Lyre leaned onto the doors stone frame, and crossed her arms and legs. Every few moments his face would light up cheerfully, looking intensively interested. Wasn't he listening with magic at this part? It looked like it. But what did were they saying? Was this a side affect of being sucked into a book? Memory loss?

After a minute or two, he looked like he was back in this world, "What is going on?" he mumbled to himself.

"I don't know. You seem to know more than I do." Lyre said, relaxing her arms to her sides, standing upright on her own. His turned his face to her faster than she expected him too. "When did you get here!? I thought you were still inside?" he asked, his face looking like he had murdered someone.

I snickered, unabashed of my harassment. "Awhile." I said, giving him a short answer. His face hardened. He doesn't appreciate my sense of humor I guess.

I laughed it off, "It isn't like I'm going to tell him you were eavesdropping." I said, waving him away. I turned my face back up to him, my spring colored orbs mischievous, "That is if you tell me everything you heard." His eyes narrowed. "Witch." he murmured stormily.

"That's a yes, right?" I asked him with an overly cheery smile.

"Aye." He replied, as I spotted Brom and Jeod's torchlight bobbing in the hallway.

_-_-_-_

Jeod ushered Brom and herself into a large study, much like the room in the castle, this one was piled high with books. She smiled happily as she stepped inside. Jeod noticed her obvious happiness, and asked her, "Do you know how to read?"

She nodded, "More than that. I love to read." she said, walking to one of the shelves, telling herself not to squeal when she realized that not only did that speak in her language, but wrote in it too.

Brom frowned, "Have you remembered anything of your past."

Lyre had to force her body not to go rigid. She slowly turned her head around, right than she forced herself to believe that she really was Fay. Lyre didn't exist. With a sad smile, and forlorn eyes she said "I guess you don't forget the things you love the most." before turning her attention back to the books, Lyre once again. The room was silent for a moment, as if they were thinking it over.

Jeod broke the silence, "It seems Fay, and that you have given us all something to think on." he said gently, sympathizing with her. "I hope your memory returns soon."

Lyre felt a small pang in her heart. She felt bad for lying to them. Jeod obviously felt for her. The nice old man deserved more than lies.

Her long tapering fingers skimmed the assortment of spines. Lyre's fingers were longer than most girls, and skinny too. She rolled her eyes at such idiotic thoughts .What did it matter if her hands were big. She pulled down a large (Unbelievably heavy) book of poetry, and walked to a table, loosing herself in the words.

_-_-_-_

In what didn't seem like that much time, Eragon unlatched the heavy oak door, and let himself in. "Ah, here you are. We were getting worried about you. How was your walk?" Brom asked good-naturedly. I frowned, what put him in such good spirits?

"The guards almost locked me outside of the city, and I had a hard time finding this house, but either way, it was fine." He replied, giving a report wrung of any detail. I decided not to follow the conversation. I guessed that if I kept forgetting things at the rate I was, than this laziness would differentially be my downfall. I skimmed the poetry, until one sentence caught my attention, and loosing myself in it.

"I can't read." Eragon, lowering his head and looking ashamed.

"You can't read!?" I asked,stating the obvious, my head shooting up from the large tome.

The blood rushed to Eragon's face as he looked at me with pleading eyes. Oh. Well that must have embarrassed him even further. Oops.

"Well that sets us back..." Brom said disappointedly, causing Eragon ever more grief, meekly avoiding everyones eyes.

"Didn't Garrow ever teach you?" he asked Eragon.

Eragon's eyes widened, "Garrow could read?" he asked him with wonder.

Brom grimaced, "The proud fool. He must have thought it an unnecessary luxury."

I sat their, looking at Eragon with a gaping mouth and raised eyebrows. Brom narrowed his eyes at me and said, "If you think it's such a damn shame, than why don't you teach him how to read?" he asked rudely.

Well. Well, I'm not having that, "Well then I guess I will!" I said, eyes flashing lividly. Brom smiled victoriously, and my face fell. He had won the battle. He didn't have to waste his time teaching Eragon to read. The sinful bastard.

"Good. Why don't you start now?"

_-_-_-_

The next morning, Lyre woke up in a house that wasn't her own.

"Gah!" she screeched as she rocketed out of bed. She looked around wildly, before the conclusion finally dawned on her. Oh. I'm still here. She thought to herself, as she scooted her body over to the side of the bed, and forced herself out from the covers.

On the (Surprisingly not rickety) side table there was a bowl and a rag. She guessed the rag was to wash herself with, so she stripped down, and wiped off all the grime of her three day journey. Three days. She had been here for three days.

Chances were smaller than a woman on slim fast (Ah ha ha…) that she was going back.

Right after she put her clothes back on, someone rapped their knuckles on the door, "Come in." she said as she crossed her belt around her waist, and tightened it appropriately. A good looking woman with pale blond hair (Like herself) opened the door.

"Hello, I'm Jeod's wife, Helen." the pretty lady said politely as she stood at the door. She was named after Helen, the face that launched a thousand ships. She examined her. Perhaps she could only launch one or two, she was pretty enough. "Jeod asked me to make you feel welcome." Helen said with a level voice as she looked at her expectantly.

Lyre nodded, "Good morning." She said to her, returning the greeting, "It's nice to meet you, I'm Fay." she said, as she held out her hand for her to shake. Helen looked at her hand for a moment, like she might have a disease, before crossing the floor to shake her hand courteously.

She looked down to her clothes, "Would you like me to get you something else?" she said, eyeing my humble attire. I than noticed what she wore. I didn't even know what too call half of it. Everything looked expensive and shiny, and she reminded me of walking into the classroom and looking at all the girls in the back left corner, who would wear all those brand name clothes, and designer apparel. You know the ones who had all the tall, good looking boyfriends? But not the right hand corner. That's where Lyre sat, or rather slept.

She confined a blush that threatened to escape. "Err; I would very much appreciate that." She said nervously as she plucked on her tunic's seams. Helen nodded, and turned her back on Lyre as she promptly left the room. Am I supposed to follow? Might as well find out… She thought as she rushed out the room, chasing after Jeod's wife.

After scrambling around awhile, Lyre noticing the lack of servants, they entered the room through a large mahogany door, framed by a intricately carved door frame, outlined in roses and the likes. It practically screamed "RICH!" No. Not practically. It did. I wonder how wealthy they are...? Oh! The joys of a plushy life...!

Once they entered the room, she realized what was really going on. They were drug dealers. How else could they cough up this much cash? It was impossible! Really, is it even legal to own this much molah? Their pocket money must be gold!

While she was feeling completely, and undeniably jealous of this woman, they entered a long hallway. By hallway, I mean closet. I exaggerate. It was probably the size of an apartments hallway, and filled with pretty dresses. Silk, velvet, and jewels were the main theme for this room. It looked pretty imposing.

Are you kidding me though?

Helen rummaged in the back a little bit, before pulling out a pale green silk, with golden accents. She smiled, "I used to fit this when I was a girl. I don't know why I kept it." She said, before trailing off, looking into space. She misses her girlhood? Seemed so.

"Thank you." She said politely. Helen lady left, so Lyre undressed, and slipped (Literally) into the silken coverings. They were soft, I'll tell you that. Once she was done, she slunk out of the closet, and entered the (Rich) master bedroom.

Helen smiled, "It brings out your eyes." She said in a friendly manner, as she latched onto her arm, and led her out the door. Why is she being so friendly all of a sudden? I don't get it. The world may never understand the strange ways of rich women. Perhaps she looked less peasant like when dressed in fine clothing?

Or perhaps she looked nice in general. She liked that one.

_-_-_-_

I've been through a lot in the last few days, but his is truly, and completely ridiculous.

Lyre wasn't quite sure if she should be happy, or hang herself with Kindergarten craft string. "So A makes an OH sound, is that correct Fay?" Eragon asked her, as he rubbed the age of his feather quill against his the curve of his jaw.

Lyre shook her head, trying not to be impatient. "No Eragon. That's the letter O." She said, as she angrily scratched out the letter A, a sign that gave away how cross she was. Eragon squinted, and scratched his neck timidly (Or maybe he was annoyed too. Knowing him, it could be). "I'm sorry Fay, I'll try harder."

Lyre, or rather Fay, shook her head and sighed. "No. It's not your fault." Here she was, teaching a dragon rider how to read, and all she wanted was to smother him with a pillow. She could imagine it too. It would be so satisfying.

"Now Eragon, tell me what sound an L makes." She said in a motherly tone, as Eragon struggled against the bleached feather pillow, "Ummf! Ummf!" He groaned as he attempted to throw her off, "No Eragon, that's a combination of U, M, and F. Let's try this again."

She giggled a little, suffocating it with the palm of her hand. Ha ha… Suffocate. Eragon looked at her with and expression that said 'Do we need to take a break?' She smiled waved him off, "No, no, it's nothing, let's continue." He nodded, wondering if he should intervene. He decided to continue.

They kept at it for awhile, before Brom interrupted them. "We've constructed a plan to find what you need Eragon." He said sternly, focusing on the dragon rider himself.

Her fading memory informed her that this was supposed to be interesting.

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