Very sorry to have taken this long with this chappie, exams and all that have an irritating habit of taking up most of your time.

Replies to reviews (I'm only answering the significant ones here, you all respond wonderfully when someone threatens to kill off your fav characters...) :

sophianwin : I know! Isn't it great?

black rubix : Eragon, Roran and Nasuada... I really can't promise anything, specially not with those three...

Miz Turwaithiel : For the endurance bit, I figured that seeing as he's a Rider, he could hold up longer... And for the length of time he's held up, blame Jessi Brooke, she's the one that said five years.

Pinky : Who said anything about Roran saving Eragon? He might do, but then again I might just let Eragon die...

Please leave reviews, and I want to know if there are ay other hated characters I need to get rid of...

Curse, Chains and Hope

Elva's POV

The girl that had once been Elva watched.

She watched the preparations made by the rebels against a possible raid by the King.

She watched Angela, no longer young-looking and cheerful, but grey-haired, wrinkled and grim-faced, instructing young apprentices in the art of potion-making and spell-casting as well as swordsmanship and archery.

She watched Roran as he talked with Katrina in the evening, his face worn and tired, and then in the morning, before leaving for his council, as he played with his children, the only time when the Roran of before the war was recognisable.

She watched Katrina, as she cried herself to sleep every night, long after her husband had gone to sleep, and Elva could feel the fear radiating off the mortal woman. Katrina had so much to lose : her husband, her children, her friends within the rebel camp.

She watched the camp wake up every morning, readying itself for a possible attack.

She watched the world go by every day, knowing that she might never again be a part of it.

When Eragon had been captured five years ago, the remnants of the curse that bound her to him, had made Elva share his fate, but in a different sort of prison. She had become a spirit, invisible to all, who could roam the world at will.

Elva didn't mind that much. She no longer felt the pull every time someone was hurt, and she no longer had to worry about a possible raid from the imperial army and the King. He could not touch her, not even see her.

There was just one disadvantage to her situation. If Eragon died, so would she.

And so she sent dreams to the mortals who opposed the Empire, showing them visions of things to come. She helped in every way she could, because she could not bear the thought that she might die because of the fate of someone else. She wanted to be free. And for that, she had to help the rebels. It was her last chance, the only escape possible from her curse.

Nasuada's POV

Nasuada pulled against the manacles that held her in place. She didn' t expect them to release their hold, but she couldn't stop herself trying. She was desperate, desperate to free herself, her country, her people. She stopped as soon as she heard someone enter the dungeon she was in.

It was Vanir. As soon as she knew who it was, she relaxed. She smiled wanly up at him.

"This is becoming boring, don't you think?"

Vanir smiled back slightly. He had brought Nasuada her meals for the past five years, and they had gotten to know each other, as they could hardly have done otherwise. His attention was called back to the present as Nasuada spoke again.

"Any news of Roran and the others?"

"It is said that Galbatorix knows of the rebels. Perhaps even their location. He is planning a raid against the last elves left in Du Weldenvarden. They won't hold against the imperial army, and if even one of them talks..."

"You don't seem to place much faith in the loyalty of your people."

"I do not doubt their loyalty. I merely think that it would be difficult for them to hide anything from one so skilled in magic as Galbatorix."

"Eragon could beat him."

"You think so, Lady? Perhaps, if he were once again as he was during the final battle, but now he is a broken man. And anyway, even if he were at the height of his power once more, he is a prisoner in the King's dungeons."

"Therefore he needs to escape."

Vanir laughed mirthlessly. "Escape? From Urû'baen? It is impossible."

"There is a way."

"How?"

"There is a passage from the room which contains the remaining dragon egg, into the eyries. If you can make your way..."

Vanir interrupted her. "If we can make our way from his prison, to the egg room, past all the guards and various wards, up to the eyries, past Thorn and Shruikan, to free Saphira, and then out over the city without being pursued?"

"Not forgetting to take the last egg with you."

"It is impossible."

"No. It is difficult."

"Very much so."

"Will you do it?"

"You will be suspected of helping us."

"Of course. But there are sacrifices to be made in a war, and I have had enough of this cell. I will go to join my father long before Galbatorix can force any information out of me."

"Very well. I will do as you say. Where are the rebels hiding?"

"I cannot tell you. When you are out of the city, ask Eragon the name of a forest, and he will tell you the name of the hiding place of the rebel base."

"Goodbye, Lady Nasuada."

The woman smiled. "Goodbye, Vanir. I don't want to see you again."

The elf turned and left the cell.

Eragon's POV

When Eragon heard the door open, he didn't even move. He just waited for the inevitable blow. It never came.

"Rider Eragon."

He opened his eyes, to see Vanir standing in front of him. "Vanir? What...?"

"There is no time, Shadeslayer. Can you stand?"

Eragon pulled himself to his feet. "I think so."

"Good. Then come. The guards will wake soon..."

"Where are we going?"

"To join your cousin."

Eragon felt a swooping sensation in his stomach, but said nothing, and followed the elf up the many stairs and along the passageways of the palace, towards the egg room.

"Why are we here?"

"Quiet, and follow me."

The elf crept along towards the doors, then, as silently as a cat, pushed open one of them and motioned to Eragon to follow him. The guards were killed as quckly as possible, and Vanir walked over to the case on a pedestal in the centre of the room. It opened with a click, and Vanir reached his hand out to remove the emerald green egg from its case.

Oh, aren't I mean? Cliffhanger! I hardly ever do this to people, coz I know how irritating it is, but I have to stop it here or else it'll go too far, and then I'll lose the plotline.

You know the drill. Review, or I start killing people! Who shall it be? Mwahahahahahaha...

Carly

General Evil Person