Very Sorry it took so long! I had another project which caused me to be unable to work on this at all for over a month. I hope no hard feelings :P Read well!
The hardest thing about running into a wall that isn't there is your brain. Simply because you know that the wall isn't there and you know it won't do you any harm, your brain seems to contradict this information you know, trying to worm doubt in so you don't whack yourself in the head.
The worst of course, is the fact that you see the rock rushing at your head and you think, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH I'M GONNA DIE, I'M GONNA DIE, I'M GONNA DIE," and then you run through and nothing happens and you wonder why the heck you were worried in the first place.
This is what happened to Eragon.
He of course, as an elf, had the self control to not cover his face and not blink as he ran through, but the symptoms were about the same. When he made it through the fake wall, he began to think about how to find the place again without leading the elf-army half way around the monument, and without randomly putting your hand on the wall.
"I suppose I should really make sure this goes where I think it does, shouldn't I?" Eragon thought to himself, putting away the thoughts of the future and focusing on the actions of the present.
He began running up a narrow path that was rutted and windy. Despite all the trouble, he managed to make his way to through the tunnel in record time. He warily stuck his head out, looking around for any dragon patrols.
A small gasp loosed itself from his mouth as he looked around. This wasn't just the dragons lair… this was their nesting place, where they grew up, mated, and devised plans. If the elves were to attack this place…
"This might just be it… This might be the way to stop the war…" Eragon frowned, and brought his head back into the tunnel. "But I want the dragons to survive. I don't want them to be extinct."
Moving slowly back down the dark tunnel, Eragon wondered at his discovery. Should he tell the Queen and Captain?
It might be suicide not to.
It might not matter that he was trying to save the dragons.
They might destroy him anyways.
It might not be the way the maiden had spoken of by the river.
It might not.
Eragon sighed inwardly. All of his efforts for peace were being flushed away, and he had no say in the matter. This was no good. He was not accomplishing his purpose this way, sitting in dark caverns like the dwarves. Those dwarves, flaring up the dragon's anger at the elves, selfish brutes those shorties were
Flaring up his step, he bounded down through the tunnel. When he made it outside, he set up a noticeable rock in the middle of the entrance. He then carefully made his way from the dragons nesting place, being aware not to call attention to himself.
He finally managed to make it to the forest, where he took up his pace in full. Feet flying, he ran on and on, knowing every moment was precious to his survival, and possibly to the survival of his race.
As tired as he was, he ran through the night. He felt a tension inside his heart that urged him on, giving him strength when he felt he could not take another step, giving him courage when he feared for his life in the short, dangerous journey back.
He arrived back in the elven camp the next morning, breathless and exhausted, but with a sense of accomplishment. Sure, maybe he hadn't exactly fulfilled the mission yet, but hey, he was about as 'home' as he could get.
His heart was soaring, but he kept his head solid on his shoulders and exhausted as he was, made it quickly and without delay to the Captain's tent.
"Hail Vladime!" he called upon throwing the flap aside. Eragon walked in with a sure step and calm and collected tone of voice. "I have done as you requested. The fortress is impressive, and had I not decided to explore it you would've sent me for naught. As it is, I know a way to pass in unscathed, and return victorious." Eragon noticed with much relief that the Captain was alone in the tent, and that he did not seem to be messing with anything that important.
"Eragon! This is news indeed… Tell me of your adventure. I want every detail, down to the color of the last rock you saw." The last comment of course was an exaggeration, but Eragon told his story in full detail as quickly as possible. He made sure to note the directions, the time it took him at full speed to get there, and how exactly to find the hidden passageway.
To Eragon it seemed to only take a few moments to tell the full tale, but in reality it was more like an hour or so. He spoke quickly, yet with clarity so that Vladime would have no doubts concerning the truth of his tale.
When Eragon finally fell silent, Vladime sat for many minutes, gazing blankly out into nothing. Eragon wondered if he could go to his tent and get a mite of sleep, but he stayed quiet, knowing that it was rude to disturb a Captain when he was thinking and your question was merely 'Can I take a nap?'
So Eragon stayed silent for the few long minutes Vladime made no move, but after a while even he could not restrain himself. A long yawn emerged, and with it a heave of sleepiness and exhaustion. After all, he had just run like a madman through the night without even taking a rest. Sleep was just so tempting…
Finally Vladime took notice of him and dismissed him to another time, saying that he had done well.
Eragon of course heeded little if any of this, and was most grateful for the fact that a bed was waiting for him in his tent, seeming close to tired feet. In fact, he did not remember most of the road to his tent, at about one-quarter of the way he fell asleep, and he slept-walked the rest of the way to his quarters.
"To a job well done!" he toasted himself in a dream that night.
"Indeed, very well done." Vladime had congratulated him, and Eragon had lost himself in another weaving of another imagined tale.
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