On the possible errors like i said in the last chapter all the ones my program picked up are fixed...anyway this story is taking some twists and things are going to start getting intriguing in the mush mush sense of pairings soon

Enjoy and thanks to evilpower and Padame i love your reviews they are like wood for a fire in getting me to update sooner until i need to finish the chap im on currently

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: DUNGEON CELLS

Essora woke up, things very hazy; she felt her cheek resting on something cool when it came back to her. It was three weeks after that night before her birthday and ever since then she had fell asleep in Durza's cold grasp her head resting on his chest.

She cringed at the feeling as she slowly sat up rubbing her neck. As she sat there in the glow of the rising sun her thoughts went to Vrael. I wonder if he's okay. I hope that he isn't being too much trouble. I hope he isn't sad. Oh all these "I hopes" it's not like I can do anything about it if he's not okay. I'm stuck here with no hope of escape. Oh well. What am I kidding myself?

She hadn't been in the best of health either. Ever since that night she had been trying to stay in control of the situation she was in but to no avail.

And the cut on her hand was no help at all. It had become a big scab with a sickly color to it. She knew it wasn't infected because she had cleaned it multiple times.

She walked over to the desk that had a scroll on it that she had been writing on and sat down pulling out an inkbottle with a pen. She started to write in the ancient language a song that she had been composing. It was a song that was light and cheerful. It was what she did to take her mind off her situation, and subdue her loneliness.

She thought that Durza was still out because he never slept, he just laid there eyes closed but never was unaware of his surroundings, so she started to hum the tune she was writing. He must have been sitting there wide "awake" because after she had been humming for a good five minutes he walked up behind her ran his finger along her neck.

"What now?"

He didn't reply, but he put his shirt on along with his cloak. She got up and got a navy blue dress out of the closet and headed behind the screen so she could change. When she was done she brushed her hair and tied it up in a navy ribbon. She put on a sapphire necklace and sapphire stud earrings.

"Today you're coming with me," he instructed leading her out the door.

She followed him down multiple hallways. She admired the architecture and the art that adorned the hallways. She followed him into a room to find that he had taken her to the library.

"I know that you like to read so you will stay here until I come for you," he said walking up to her. He put his hand on the back of her neck.

She nodded her head in acknowledgement not wanting to get hurt. He kissed her forcing her to return it through control and she gagged inwardly. After he left she sat down at one of the tables and grabbed a scroll and started reading just to read not caring what it was about.

A few hours later he came and "retrieved" her and she followed silently not knowing where he was taking her until they entered the dungeon.

"You will talk to the person behind this door and find out where the Varden is," he commanded while opening the door, he then pushed her in and locked it again. "Just contact me when you're done," he said through the doorway.

She made a note to drag it out as much as possible. She let her eyes adjust to the light in the dim with only the early evening light coming through the bar covered window. And what she saw made her want to cry.

There was Eragon slumped against the wall not in peak condition in fact he looked horrible. She rushed to his side shaking him so he would wake up and he groggily did so.

"Who's that?" he moaned.

"Eragon are you alright?" she asked panicked.

"Essora? Is that you?" he asked squinting his eyes and rubbing his finger along her cheek.

"Yes. It's me. I'm here."

Eragon started asking multiple questions and she shushed him by pressing her lips to his rejoicing in the warmth and tenderness that was returned.

When they parted it was all to soon for her.

"Essora I need to tell you something. I was planning on saying it the first time I kissed you but I didn't have the heart," he paused before continuing, causing Essora's hopes to go out. "I think of you only as a friend and I'm sorry I miss led you into thinking it was more I'm sorry."

On the inside she screamed but she had to keep a different front. "Oh don't be sorry I was part of it too. I guess I didn't help any. So could you forgive me?"

"Brom's dead," he said changing subjects which made her boil but at the same time she was shocked.

"What happened?" she asked.

"It's a long story but we have time so here go's. We had made are way into Dras Leona and long story short the Raz' ac found me when I was in town, chased me, lost them until that night and they attacked. Of course Saphira wasn't there so they didn't see her but Brom died because one of the Raz'ac threw a dagger at me and he jumped in its path. So sad to say Brom died as a hero and Saphira made his grave of stone a clear glass and he won't decay either," Eragon said normally.

The fact Brom was dead hadn't hit her yet so she was okay.

"You don't sound so groggy any more. Why's that?"

"Because I haven't been eating and drinking the food," he said flatly.

"Why not?"

"It's laced with some drug that dulls my ability to use magic," he said as he sat a little straighter. "I don't recall you having a red eye," he said his voice sounding concerned.

"I originally didn't," she said hoping to leave it at that.

But as was the norm Eragon had to know. "So tell me how did you get to have a red eye?"

She looked at him through the veil of hair that had slipped into her face with a look of desperation. "I...I can't tell you," she said looking away to conceal her unwanted tears.

"Why not? And why are you crying?" He asked moving closer to her.

"He'll hurt me...and not just a little," and she did her best not to give in and tell him but she knew in the end it would be futile.

"He? Who's he?" Eragon asked.

"The Shade...Ahhhhhh," she yelped as her mind was attacked by a raging inferno.

"What's the Shades name?" Eragon persisted trying to help her and get information at the same time.

"I...ahhh...can't...ow...tell you," and that was the last thing she said before she fell into unconsciousness.

so how was it?

awaits reviews with anticipation oh if i can find the file im considering putting up my other Eragon fic