The next morning, Ialana and Stronghammer walked into Du Weldenvarden, Ialana as Stronghammer's prisoner. A dark-skinned woman in a flowing blood-red dress approached them. "Ah, Roran Stronghammer, I trust your mission was..."

"Actually, Lady Nasuada, my mission took a slight diversion."

"I happen to have made a prisoner of a female Shade who calls herself Ialana. She seeks Eragon."

"Hm?" Nasuada raised one eyebrow. "A female Shade has been reported in nearby towns for killings, maybe four of them."

"I knew that, Lady. This is quite likely the same."

"Indeed? Hm." She seemed to be thinking. "In that case, take her to the prison."

"What?" Ialana hadn't considered that Nasuada might never let her see Eragon at all.

"My lady," Roran said, "I gave her my word that I would allow her to see Eragon."

"And to what end? To kill him, too? We cannot trust her around our most trusted fighter."

"My lady..."

"You have your command, Stronghammer."

Roran sighed. "My Lady Nasuada, I gave my word. The sons of Garrow have never once broken their word, nor do I intend to now."

"We have had this conversation before, Stronghammer.", said Nasuada, her voice taking on a dangerous edge. "You will not disobey your direct orders again."

Roran swallowed. "But Lady..."

"Enough. You have your command. Should you defy me, I cannot promise I will again be as merciful as before."

"Yes, my lady." Well. No more chance of Ialana seeing Eragon now.

And then she she saw him - the young man from her dream! Breaking away, she ran towards him. "Atra esterni ono thelduin, Eragon Argetlam!", she called.

He turned around, surprised. "Atra du evarinya ono varda!", he called back.

She can feel him, his arms around her, his lips meeting hers. "I, I can't believe it", she gasps. "I am in love with you, Durza." "And I with you", he says dreamily. "As you said", she says, "we will one day rule together. You as king, I as queen. I love you, Durza!" "As do I", he says, "as do I."

"Fricai onr eka eddyr!", Ialana said as Eragon saw her and drew his sword.

"My friend!", he said, breaking away from the Ancient Language. "You are a Shade!"

"I know."

"I am the one known as Shadeslayer! Why would you seek me?"

"Wiol pomnuria ilian", she said, simply.

"For your happiness? Now what is that supposed to mean?"

"I need you, Argetlam. A she-elf, Arya, told me you could free me of the Shade, of the monster I have become."

"The Shade you have become...so it was not your choice? What do they control, except your body?"

"Iet manin! Iet hugina! Iet wyrda!", Ialana cried. "My memories! My thoughts! My very fate!"

"Alright!", Eragon half-shouted. "I get it! No need to get yourself all in a twist over it!" Then he sighed. "My. Alright, I'll see what I can do...but, go along with Roran. Please. You don't want to cross Roran."

So Roran took Ialana to a darkened room, one of many that served as the Varden's holding cells, their prison.

Eragon came to see her there.

(A/N: Sorry the chapters are so short. The up side of that is, there will be many chapters and I will update often! The magic starts next chapter, as does the (slight/hinted) triangle between Ialana, Eragon, and Arya. Thanks for reading, please review!)