I only own my own OCs. Please review! Mental speech in ' ' and ancient language translations at the bottom! And by the way, I won't be ending A New Life for a loooooong time! ENJOY!

Black. I flashed to the last time I woke like this, only that time, I'd been helpless, chained, weak. I attempted to rise, but something held me down. I felt so weak, I was suprised I wasn't dead. Was I dead? No, I could feel Emerald. I reached to her and asked, "Emerald? What's going on?' She instantly enveloped my mind with compassion. She answered, 'I told hem you were alive! Why do you have to run into the mouth of trouble every time I leave you? And why do you have to taunt your enemies into kidnapping you? I've spoken to Saphira, and she says your much like Eragon! He can't avoid trouble, either.'

I pushed on, 'It's good to talk with you, but I don't know where I am or what's going on! Could you help me?' She growled in agreement, and stopped speaking. Soon, she replied angrily, 'The nerve of humans! I told the human-elf Rider you fawn over, and he said it was wishful thinking! How-' 'Emerald! I don't fawn over him! And I'll have to touch his mind. Please warn him.' She answered, 'I will, but you should remember that he is powerful.' I reached out, and I found Eragon, but he wasn't the same. It seemed a large flow of power had reached him. I touched his mind softly, and he was suddenly alert, and attempted to subdue me.

I held him back, but it was difficult, considering his new power and my lack, and cried out to his closed mind, 'Eragon! It is me! Vraela!" He must have heard me, as the pounding receded, he questioned, 'Are you a... a spirit?' His voice shook with disbelief. I answered, 'I'm not a spirit! I'm buried in the throne room! But if you don't hurry, I may become a spirit...' At this, he asked, 'You are truly alive?' I hurried him, saying, 'I am alive, but you must hurry!'

He pulled away, and for a long time, nothing happened. I lay there, being crushed by black rubble, but dying more from Skilna Bragh than the rocks. Then, at last, I heard movement above me. I attempted to yell, but my throat was tight, and I felt almost... No. I wouldn't drift off. If I did now, I might not wake up...

I heard more movement, and through the rocks, a jagged line of blinding light fell upon my face. I groaned, but the groan came out as more of a squeal. I tried again to call out... To move... I was held in place by rock and poison was burning... severing... I wanted to close my eyes and be done with it. End the pain. Make the horror leave me. But as much as this sick desire pulled at me, something just as strong pushed me on.

More and more light poured into the alcove that had formed over me, saving my life, and soon, a gentle face was visible. Arya! I watched as she reached for my hand, a thing I couldn't give. I looked at my arm, only to see a pale, blood-stained, and slightly black (courtesy of the Skilna Bragh) limb, a black marble slab covering half from view, starting at the elbow. I tried to pull it out, but I would have had better luck killing Murtagh with one spell. I saw Arya's lips move, but I couldn't hear her words.

Then, a weight on my body I had adapted to so well, I hadn't noticed, and it fell away. I tried again, and I found the Skilna Bragh was the reason I was so weak. I saw the hole where the arrow had broke my wards and dress, where I saw my skin was pure black, and it was spreading from that point.

It scared me how long... wait, I didn't know how long it had been since the Uru'baen siege began. Arya pulled me out of the alcove, limp as a strand of straw, as she swung my arm over her shoulder. I limped along as best I could, but Arya was practically dragging me. We walked over the remains of (what must have been) the castle and protective walls.

A while after tripping over rubble, falling on junk, and maneuvering higher piles of marble, a mass of tents were visible through a hole in Uru'baen's outer wall. We walked towards them until a green mass appeared. Emerald! I greeted her the best I could, but the Skilna Bragh was getting more grip on me every second. I saw Saphira riding closer, and I smiled, waved weakly to Eragon, then dropped to the ground. Words jumbled, and everything faded... faded...

Sorry I ended early, but I have to end here for today. See you tomorrow!