I only own my own OCs. Ancient language translations at the bottom, and mental speech in ' '. Please review and hope you like my story! And I've skipped three days from the attack.

When I woke in the early morning, I instantly remembered the reason I'd slept so heavily. Janir. Why him? Why was he taken, and not the egg? It was a question that pulled at my mind constantly now, day and night, trying to find an answer. But I didn't know it would come that day.

I quickly dressed in my usual one-sleeved, white, knee-length dress, slipped on my boots, and quickly plaited my hair to the left side to cover part of my scar. I grasped Laufsbläd also, and strapped it to my hip-side belt. I walked outside, and saw Quin emerge from his hut nearby, also. Alaster was already awake, and lay on the grass, sharpening his throwing knives. I greeted them, and walked to Emerald and Fírnen lay in a nearby hollow. The two had become extremely close, and Emerald was soon going to have an egg to watch. I smiled, happy for some good news, and returned to the spot where Janir was kidnapped. Nothing out of the ordinary was there. It was a rest stop along the roads connecting our cities, well trod, and soft gravel covered it.

I kneeled as I often did to test the ground, always gaining no knowledge of the attack, and today was no different. No sand scattered, no soil in clods. It looked like a normal road. I wished I could find the answer to this mystery, and soon, but this wish came too quickly for my liking. I suddenly felt something press against my mind, and it wasn't friendly. I drew Laufsbläd, and readied myself for any type of attack. But this thing only brushed against my mind, and kept doing this. I realized it was looking for a weak spot, and I knew I couldn't give it one. I slowly let a single attack at it, and screamed to all minds, 'What are you?' It only laughed evilly, and I realized what had happened. "A Shade... Any soul but his..." I knew what was happening now. Some stupid magician had tried to control spirits, and had summoned...

"Galbatorix." Even in death, he manages to destroy the life I lead. Could you destroy a spirit? I decided to find out. I set barriers on my mind, so thick, I didn't think I was capable of this. I reached quickly to Arya, showed her a quick thought, and withdrew. I should have taken my chance to leave, but I was too devoted to my revenge on Galbatorix. This caused many problems. I saw the person he was now, when the Shade walked from the shadowy eaves of an oak. His skin was pale, almost white, and his hair was a black far too much like Galbatorix's. The eyes were a blood red though, and he wore a simple black shirt and pants. Wherever he walked in his black leather boots, the grass there wilted, turning sickly gray. The Shade said in Galbatorix's voice, "Well, well, well. A powerful elf girl for sure. Lightning has flowed into her veins. Delightful. It makes this transition much more satisfying." I backed up, and said, my voice somehow level, "What do you mean, 'transition'?" The Shade smiled, showing yellowing teeth, and said, "Isn't it obvious? I intend to possess you, child. And I tell you because you can't stop me."

I yelled a war cry and stabbed with Laufsbläd at the Shade, but even un-armed, the Shade blocked it with his wrist. He said, "Oh, adorable. You think you can resist. Well let me assure you. You can't." He gripped my wrist, and pinned me to the ground, as I kicked, screamed, and pushed, but he was as solid as stone. His red eyes glowed with a light worse than their original, blood-thirsty tone. They now glowed with vengeance, satisfaction, and triumph, all mixed with his still malevolent gaze. I looked away, and saw that Arya and Blodgarm were running to us, but it would be too late. I screamed, "Get away! Arya, run away! Blodgarm, take her away!" They didn't stop.

I managed to free one arm for a moment, and knowing it wouldn't affect the Shade unless I hit his heart, I shot my lightning into the sky, and a dome of sparking electricity and dark clouds fell around us, keeping Arya and Blodgarm out. I quickly rolled out from under him, but the Shade anticipated this move, and jumped onto me again. I thought of all the times I'd been captured, how I was always a damsel in distress. But that streak would end NOW! I screamed, "Garjzla!" I put all my anger, all my thoughts, my lingering sadness from my past, and I concentrated it on the Shade over me, locking my energy on the center of his chest. I felt him desperately pin my arms back, but it was too late. Everything had a new, green glow, and this glow grew, and grew, until the entire dome's electricity joined my spell, and it all crashed at one spot on the Shade. A scream, a bright green flash, and I dropped to the ground, light-headed.

I shook my head, and noticed that the dome had faded, and two stunned elves were staring at me. I nodded, and looked to were the Shade last stood, and strangely enough, Janir was there. I rushed as fast as I could without falling over to Janir and asked his slightly unconscious figure, "Are you alright?" He nodded and said, "It was strange there." I frowned, but resolved to interrogate him later. I motioned to the elves nearby and asked, "Could one of you help me with him?" Blodgarm quickly stepped forward and took one arm, while I swung the other over my neck and we helped Janir limp along back to the city.

~One Week Later~

I walked out of my hut, and quickly ran to the infirmary. I shot past stores, homes, and the stables, until I reached the large pine where Janir had been resting. I slowed my pace and was into a door on the right, and waded through a sea of healers, still caring for those hurt in the war with Galbatorix. After many flights of stairs, I managed to reach the level where Janir was, at least at the moment. I entered his room, and saw him standing, as well as before the attack. I smiled brightly, and asked, "Happy to go back to the horses? They probably miss you." He smiled back, and answered, "Well, you've probably been taking such good care of them for me, they will give my job to you! But I do miss them." I walked with him down to the ground floor, and the leather strip on his wrist was removed to show he was allowed out of the infirmary. We ran out the doors, and raced to the stables. But as we ran, I remembered why I needed to speak with him so desperately. I slowed as we passed a garden, and he backtracked to follow. He reached for my hand, and asked, "Is something wrong?" I turned to face him and said, "I need to know: What happened when the Shade took you?"

I hadn't told any that the Shade had been Galbatorix's spirit, nor did I plan to, as Arya and Blodgarm had never heard the Shade speak, so my secret was safe. Janir shook his head and said, "I don't know exactly, but when it grabbed me, I felt like I was swirling, and then, I thought I was looking out of glass, shattered glass, because everything was so distorted..." He hung his head, and I put a hand on his shoulder, feeling I'd pushed to far. I told him, "That's all? Then we can go see Dougan now!" When I mentioned his favorite, reddish horse, he immediately brightened and we ran, racing again, and for the first time since fighting the Shade, I laughed.

Garjzla!= light