Chapter Two

The next day, when Eragon and Saphira were both awake, Eragon climbed onto Saphira and woke Lexi up. Then, he held out a hand for Lexi to join him.

"Where are we going? We just got here," she said.

"Well, I have something to tell you. Before I met you, I knew a girl whose name was Arya, and I still cannot get over her. I loved her."

"What? You love her? You just told me last night that you were in love with me!" She stared at him in utter disbelief.

"The only reason I told you I was falling in love with you was because I looked into your eyes and saw her. I don't love you, I love Arya." Lexi climbed onto Saphira looking angry and upset. They rode away.

Arya woke up, feeling damp and in pain. She looked down at her leg, where there was blood all over her leg. She was in a dungeon cell, deep in Gil'ead. When she looked up, she saw a Shade standing there and laughing at her. She could do only one thing. She mouthed the word Eragon.

In the dungeon, the Shade and all of his minions starved Arya, and after a week spent in the dungeon, she felt near death. The only other thought that ran through her brain was from the strong Arya, the one that was not starved, the one that was not wounded. It said, let us kick this Shade's butt. Come on, Arya, you can do better than this. Don't be weak! She tried to hold on, but she barely stayed alive.

When Eragon, Saphira, and Lexi had finally reached Farthen Dur, Lexi said, "As soon as we land, let me off."

Saphira said to Eragon, ask her where she will stay. I do not trust her completely, so be careful.

So Eragon asked Lexi, "Where will you be staying?"

"I do not know, but I will find someplace," she answered him. "I would stay, but I can not stay around here anymore. I love you, but if you do not love me, I must not stay."

"Yes, you must leave, because when I see you, I see Arya. When Arya is here I do not want to be constantly reminded of you." Lexi sat uncomfortably behind Eragon in the saddle, being completely silent until they landed. Some thoughts ran through her head. Thoughts of her love for Eragon, how he did not love her ran through her head. Who was this Arya? Why would he love her more? What was so special about her?

Finally, they landed in a clearing near Farthen Dur. By now, it was nighttime, and they would sleep. In the morning, Lexi would leave and Eragon and Saphira would search for Arya.

That night, Eragon had another dream of Arya. She was in a dungeon in Gil'ead, when a Shade came. He was holding a knife. Arya looked worried, but inside she was as strong as she possibly could be. She said, "I told you, you can kill me, but I will never tell you where Eragon is. I love him."

The Shade laughed and said, "Fine, do not tell me where he is. But, your life does depend on it." He held out the knife so close to Arya's heart, she could almost feel its presence, the cold metal breaking through her soft skin. Before the Shade killed her or even touched the blade to her, he laughed and walked away, muttering something to his minions as he passed them.

Arya lay there, breathing heavily. She could feel her heart pounding profoundly. She was thinking of Eragon, and what a big mistake she had made. Wishing he were here with her, listening to the footsteps of the Shade as he walked away, she thought of him. She thought of how he looked, of how he made her comfortable when they were together.

That night, it was cold. The chill of the air blew in through the small window in her cell. It made her shiver. Slowly, she picked up the thin blanket that was laying on her hard bed. She wrapped it around her, and that gave her a little heat, enough to keep her living, but barely.

When she finally went to sleep, she was happy, because when she was asleep, it was the best time of the day. She was not starving or freezing, she was just sleeping. That night, she dreamed of Eragon. He was in Farthen Dur, where he thought she was. Thoughts ran through her mind. He was actually looking for her. If only she had a way to contact him, to tell him that she was not in Farthen Dur.

Suddenly she woke up. She could feel that she was crying, but she laid there in pain and sorrow. The Shade came. In his arms was a big platter of food. Even though her stomach told her to eat the food once he set it down, anyone's common sense would say that if a Shade brought food, never eat it. It was most likely drugged or poisoned. She did not know which, but no matter what, she would not eat it.

Arya almost laughed. The shade was trying to trick her. If he tricked her, it would be offensive to all of her family. She smiled, laughing. Foolish Shade, she thought. Arya Drottingu would never be fooled by any foolish Shade.

She laughed and said weakly, "As much as I would want to, I will not eat this drugged food."

"Suit yourself. I just want my little elf princess to be happy," he said.

Eragon and Saphira searched Farthen Dur for Arya. When they had finally hit the ends of the mountain, Eragon said, maybe my dream meant something. "She's in Gil'ead, in a dungeon, and a Shade is torturing her. She is starving and weak. She needs our help."

Hmm. I was sure she was in Farthen Dur. We shall be in Gil'ead as soon as we can.

Eragon and Saphira were flying extremely fast. The sky was dark, for it was midnight. They had been flying very fast for several hours now, and all of a sudden, Saphira did a nosedive. She did not stop, but went down near a clearing. Skimming so close to the ground, her tail almost touched it. Suddenly, she zoomed up into the air and did two flips. Eragon almost fell out of his seat because he wasn't strapped into his saddle.

"Are you out of your mind?" Eragon yelled. "You nearly knocked me out of the saddle."

You know I would never let you fall, Little One.

I know, Saphira.

After three days of flying, Eragon and Saphira reached Gil'ead.

He said to her, "The dungeon is probably hidden." However, they reached an old abandoned mansion with barbed wire along the flat roof and windows, and assumed it was the dungeon. Eragon carefully climbed up to one of the windows, and with his magic, removed the framing. He climbed in. The window not that high compared to Saphira, and she had to lower herself to peer in inconspicuously. But now that they were both focused, they looked down. There laid Arya on a stone table with a Shade holding a sharp blade to her throat.

Thanks for reading chapter two. Please review. It will make me a better writer. Thank you. Bye. And thank you FlameWing41 for helping me type this story.