They landed as soon as they spotted the castle in the distance. It was a mile away from the town and surprisingly elegant. Unlike Eragon had imagined, it was not a dark block of a castle equipped from base to parapets with deadly weaponry and instead red-brown sandstone with many round towers and decorations. There were carvings of dragon heads blowing fire underneath the wooden galleries that lined the tops of the walls on the gate side of the castle and gargoyles poking out from under the conical roofs.

"It's…it's…" Eragon stuttered. Arya nodded. They had run all the way until they were about half a mile from the castle.

"so when…does the…the shield start?" Eragon asked hoping to all heavens that Arya knew the answer.

"I'm not sure" she whispered sadly.

~O~

Do not be alarmed, I wish only to speak with Nasuada…the voice boomed through the crowds heads. Nasuada growled under her breath. Why? Why now? Why her?

The voice searched for her mind. Damn it just show yourself woman! Nasuada grinned.

Ask politely.

I don't have to!

Nasuada did not move from her place just beneath an open tent. The crowd had run into all corners of the camp, rolling behind tents, leaping into barrels, covering their heads with pans. Like that would help when the flames came licking…

I wish to speak with Nasuada, the voice repeated, please.

That's better, praised Nasuada steeping out from the sheets. Speak your will, she demanded then, narrowing the conversation down to just the two of them.

I'm not sure if this will work, he sounded sad…scared? At least the slightest bit insecure, surely? I wish to help you, he proclaimed then with new founded confidence, I wish to report one of your spies, he has been lying to you for quite some time under Galbatorix orders…

~O~

Eragon stepped forward. Nothing. He stepped again.

Very slowly they were nearing Galbatorix home and Arya was getting more and more overwhelmed by a feeling of dread and panic. Something was not right. Something was not right at all. She stepped forward once more, barely holding down the shriek that tried to force itself out of her throat when a squirrel bounded away in front of her.

"Eragon look," she murmured pointing at the furry creature.

"It's a squirrel," Eragon commented. I'd never had guessed, Arya thought sourly but stayed patient.

"Nasuada said that no walking, swimming or digging animal could get anywhere near the…" She did not have to finish, she could see that Eragon had figured it out. His face expression altered. His curious, large eyes narrowed and grew dark almost-black, his mouth tightened and his now longish hair collapsed into his forehead casting a shadow over it. Arya had never seen him so angry.

He stopped his cautious treading immediately and stomped forwards making sure each of his steps made a terribly loud crunching noise as they hit the ground.

"You're being to loud!" Arya hissed.

Eragon laughed, his laugh was not joyful, it was mocking, it was angry, it was sad. "Good!" he called louder than necessary "the whole of Alagaësia should know we've arrived. No doubt they already do," he stormed on.

They directed the squirrel in front of them. Not entirely out of its own will. Arya just cast spells that lead it to believe there was lots of food in the surroundings of the castle. All they had to look out for, though, were the soldiers who's mass was rising unaccountably. Every few seconds Arya had to throw herself behind a bush.

Eragon did not. He just walked on. If the guards managed to spot him they did not live long enough to say as much, not that it mattered whether they did or not, Eragon killed them all, one by helpless one.

~O~

Disgusting. He knew it himself. What could he do? He could barely see the tears were too thick a waterfall for that. He could not face Arya. She had seen what he did to the soldiers. It was better than nothing though, he sheathed his sword and when the next soldier appeared he rolled beneath the next large shrub. He heard Arya sigh though he could not tell whether it was relief, frustration or just…a sigh.

The walls were getting closer, he could not see them through the many trees, but he could sense them somewhere ahead.

He rolled out from beneath the leaves, jumped up and started running, this time not quite as loud as the last time. Nasuada had betrayed him. Nasuada had betrayed him to Galbatorix. Galbatorix had made Nasuada betray him. He had betrayed Nasuada. Arya had betrayed Nasuada for him. Arya had betrayed him. He had made Arya betray Nasuada because Galbatorix had made Nasuada betray him to him.

Eragon slapped his wrist. What was he doing? He had no idea what he was thinking about. Making insane assumptions, none of which he knew were true. Or maybe they were true…

He shook his head.

Above castle, waiting for a signal, Saphira told him quickly, sending him an image of clouds. Very helpful. Now he knew EXACTLY where she was. Eragon shook his head again. Stop. .

He could not help it. How could he? He was practically walking into his death, talking of walking into things, where did that cliff come from?

Eragon pushed himself off the ground rubbing his temple.

"Ow…"

He put his hand onto the cliff. It was surprisingly smooth. Eragon blinked and took a closer look at the cliff or more 'large rock'.

It had an unbelievably smooth surface, only the rock was in so many different shades of black and grey in such odd shapes that it looked like crevices, holes, folds, bits of sticking out stone, a lost pebble and the occasional crack.

Eragon let his hand slide across the rock. There was a carving near the bottom of the rock. Hang on…a carving? Eragon felt it again. He knelt down and stared at it in the semi-darkness the trees cursed them with.

K.U. T. H. I. A. N

Kuthian. Eragon thought back. He had heard that word before somewhere. A while ago…from…

Eragon smiled as the memory shot back into his head. Solembum. Solembum had told him to speak his name at the rock of Kuthian when all seemed lost.

Did all seemed lost? Had he not just been thinking that he was walking to his death? Had he not thought that he was alone and everyone was betraying him? Yes….but he had imagined 'all is lost' a little more dramatic than a single lie. Nevertheless he stood placed both his hands on the rock and spoke quietly but confidently "Eragon Shade…" then his speech faltered.

He blinked. "Eragon Shadsl…" The rock was stopping him! He swore of it the rock was making him stop! "Eragon Shade…" It was he himself he realised his mistake then.

"Eragon Bromson"

~O~

All things have a beginning, a present and a future,

All things have a start, a middle and an end.

That makes the lifespan of everything a story,

The trick is, knowing when the peak is,

And then being prepared to end it.

~O~

It was a cave. It was hard to figure out what happened to the smooth rock face, it seemed to just vanish into thin air, but Eragon was too preoccupied with what lay behind the wall to notice.

The cave was small, wide and more or less round, however that was not what fascinated Eragon.

"Garjzla!" Arya muttered and a ball of light floated up to the low ceiling. Both Eragon and Arya's eyes widened with surprise.

"Baah…" was all Eragon could let out. Arya just stayed silent. Speechless. Dumbstruck.

Eragon smiled amazed at the thousands, no millions of colourful lights springing across the back of the cave.

There in the cave were an unbelievable amount of hearts of hearts. The first one that caught Eragon's eye was the biggest Eldanuri. A massive hunk at least a metre wide. It was ash grey.

Who are you all? Eragon asked it.

The question is what are we a…

Lost… Eragon answered the question he knew he would have asked. His dream, it was like his dream. Lost, and I am meant to find you.

The grey Eldanuri laughed. You have found us though…

Help! I supposed to help you! Eragon remembered. The grey dragon was quiet for a while.

You are Eragon, rider of Saphira?

Aye, that is me.

Then yes, if you can, we wish of you to help us.

Eragon looked at Arya, she was kneeling on the floor with a large orange heart in her hands, staring into it intently.

How?

Kill Galbatorix, free us! Smash us!

Okay, sorry it took so long, I've been busy. Not that anyone cares but oh well. Progress be slow nowadays. Schools on and all that…

Anyways…hope you enjoyed it…I think I always say that but oh well…and as always, ever pleased to answer questions and receive feedback just follow the stemless Arrows!

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