Chapter 23:

Blood Spilled, Men Killed

As Arya approached the raging battle that had consumed both armies, her eyes flicked to the left side of the Empire's men. She noticed a pair of red eyes glaring straight at her. It was Vinazla. The shade's eyes narrowed, and she slayed the man in front of her before she strode towards Arya. As she approached, Arya noticed a group of men get seared to ashes by Thorn's crackling red fire. She cringed, and then averted her eyes back to her foe. The Shade now stood a few feet in front of her, facing her with an expression that seemed to physically show her craving for blood. Arya put her hand on the pommel of her sword and noticed Vinazla do the same. They both unsheathed their swords simultaneously, and held them at their sides. A broad grin crossed the Shade's face that caused Arya to recoil because of its cynical nature.

"Foolish of you to come, Princess," she sneered.

"What a coincidence, I was about to say the same thing." A smile crossed Arya's face, while a grimace now dominated the Shades'.

"You'll pay for that one…with your life!"

"Enough banter. Just die and let it be over with." Arya spread her legs apart to shoulder-length, assuming a battle-stance, but Vinazla didn't move a muscle. The elf's eyebrows met in a sharp V, which would have been enough to make a lesser man run like a frightened little girl. Again, the Shade didn't react. She tensed, ready for the coming onslaught. The Shade stayed as still as a mountain. Arya began to think she would have to begin their duel herself, because Vinazla obviously wasn't going to take the initiative. And so she did. She gripped her sword harder, and held it with both hands. But just as Arya raised her sword to charge, her mind was battered with a razor-sharp mind probe.

A low, condescending voice resonated through her mind. Give up, princess, there's nothing you can do to beat me. Arya ignored the voice in her head, and closed her mind off with her iron strong walls. She concentrated on a mental picture of a leaf, to keep her protection stable. The Shade battered her brain, trying to find a way in, but it was futile. That is, until Thorn roared loud enough to break her concentration. This caused her walls to waver, and Vinazla slid in through her weakness.

First, the Shade immobilized her, and took control of certain parts of her mind so that she couldn't do anything to counteract her attack. Then, she began rifling through Arya's mind until she found the thing she was looking for: Arya's magic. The elf recoiled, but the Shade had already gone to work. It was inevitable from the start, elf. You should have given up when you had the chance. She was true to her word and began sucking the life from Arya, bit by bit, beginning with her magic. After she was totally drained, she would die. The magic was going away slowly, but then more the drain continued, but with increased speed. She was already getting lightheaded…she didn't know how long she could stay awake. Everything was going black, and then she hit the ground. Hard. The Shade stood over her with her sword raised high. "I think it will be easier to kill you and suck the life from your dead corpse. Goodbye, Arya Svit-Kona." She raised her sword over her head, and stood high. Arya delirium caused her to think she could hear something in the distance, but nothing could save her, even if it was real. She was dead now. She began to close her eyes when a glint caught them. A blue glint. It was a sword. It was Brisingr.

Eragon had come to save her.

The blade pierced the Shade's heart, and she burst into blue flames instantaneously. The Shade screamed bloodcurdlingly, and the three spirits that had possessed her took leave of her body, flying into the sky. Arya watched them disappear, and then tried to stand up. She did so with less difficulty than she had expected, but she realized that Eragon had given her his energy. She looked up at him, and a solitary tear rolled down her cheek. "Eragon, I-,"

"Shhh. Its okay Arya, I forgive you. I realized that you have been a great friend to me, and every time I mooned after you, you always forgave me and you always stayed with me. You've been good to me, and I can't relinquish our bond. It's alright."

A quiet 'thank you' was all she could muster at the time. But before she could say anything else an especially bloodcurdling scream came from the thick of battle then, and Eragon turned to Arya.

"Quickly, get on. We have to help the rest of the Varden." He grabbed her hand and swung onto Saphira, flying straight into the heat of the battle. She flourished her sword high, and the three of the loosed their best battle cry as they crashed straight into the fray.