I only own my own OCs. Please review, and hope you like the new chapter. I do still have to say: "Mental speech in ' ' and ancient language translations at the bottom.

"Arya, do you really have to go right now? Can't you stay for dinner? I've sent in my own fruits today." I taunted her, but Arya was determined. "I'm sorry, Vraela. But I can't leave Du Weldenvarden to fend for itself. They need me, but I'll be back the day Eragon arrives." I nodded and promised, "I'll make sure Emerald takes good care of her egg. But... I'm worried about Quin and Alaster. They left right after lunch to take a walk, but I haven't seen them in the gardens." Arya waved a hand and dismissively told me, "They are probably messing around; playing dragon ball, or racing the leopards again."

I nodded positively, but I still couldn't shake the feeling something was wrong. But it faded as sadness replaced it, and Arya flew away. I wish she had stayed longer to help me with my next hurdle, and the highest I'd ever faced. The first thing that happened was Alaster showed up. He and Revan looked terrified, and Alaster kept looking behind himself, as if expecting an enemy. When they landed, Alaster leapt off, ran to me and screamed, "Quin! Quin! The creature! The... It stole him! Black! White sword!" This description. It was to intensely similar to... Oh, if there were gods, I'd be on my knees, praying, but I knew who it was, and weakening would only make the problem worse. But I killed him... He should have died again... What had I ever done to deserve this? Torment after torture, heartbreak after terror, it never seems to end.

Why? Why me? I hate my lineage right now, because the daughter of great people have expectations, and I had higher expectations than most. I walked Alaster back to Revan's side, hoping the sight of his dragon would calm him, but he just traced the pattern of his scales and muttered.

I pulled a shard of glass from my pocket and whispered the phrase for reflecting, and focus on Arya. I saw a disturbance like ripples on water and I could see Arya. She asked, "Vraela? What's wrong? You look troubled." I quickly told her, "Do you remember the Shade I fought? I must have misjudged how I hit it, because its back. Its..." I couldn't tell her it was Galbatorix. I just couldn't. It would send waves of panic everywhere, and Galbatorix would have a hold on us. I wailed, "It... Took Quin, Arya! He took Quin!" She looked at me and asked, "Are you sure? Is Alaster alright?" I replied, "Yes, Alaster saw it, then ran to me. Listen, I'm sending Alaster to stay in Ellesméra, where its safe."

Alaster suddenly was aware of me, and yelled, "No! I'm going to help get Quin back!" Arya protested, "Alaster, you must think! If you are killed, then three Riders are left. No, you will come with me to Ellesméra." Alaster knew better than to argue, and so nodded. I hugged him quickly, knowing I was sending away all the possible help I'd have any chance of getting, and watched him fly Northwest. I looked back at the glass and told Arya, "You aren't coming either." She cried, "What? You can't expect me to let you face a Shade alone!" "But you said it yourself, the elves need you. I've lived through fighting this Shade before, and I can do it again."

"But you'll be killed! Shades gain strength every time they disintegrate, so this Shade will be even more powerful!" I hushed her by saying, "Calm down. I've held my own against Galbatorix, alone and poisoned." I was facing Galbatorix's evil soul that was twice as powerful now than last time when I nearly died (form the fifth time since I left Uru'baen, I might add), but Arya didn't need to know that. She sighed and asked, "Will you at least promise not to take any unnecessary risks?" I could promise this; the risks I will take are going to be necessary, so I told her, "Alright, I won't take any 'unnecessary risks.' I'll call in later today. Good-bye, Arya." I tapped the surface of the glass, and Arya's face was replaced by my silver-framed shape.

I had a plan. But Arya wouldn't be getting that message later if it worked. Emerald couldn't be allowed into this, either. She would attempt to stop me, and I'd feel incomplete with myself if I died and it was my fault, and even if I managed to live, no one is the same after facing a Shade. And if I lost Emerald, I would have no reason left to live. I ran to my house, and quickly dressed for battle into my greaves, gantlets, boots, open palm gloves, and a helmet Rhunön had forged for me in the shape of a dragon's snarling face. I quickly strapped Laufsbläd to my waist, and I was as ready as I would ever be.

I ran the way to the West Gate in about half an hour, and the Shade was waiting for me. He stood on the cobbled road, his suit pale against the red, setting sun sky. Just like the blood about to be spilt, the sky seemed to be the same blood red. I pulled Laufsbläd out, and the Shade laughed, "Ha, ha! You remember how well that sword worked against me last time, child. Just lay it down, and I won't make you suffer as much as the others." I hesitated. "Others? What others, you dark creature of destruction! Tell me! Now!" He smiled and said in mock disappointment, "Tsk, tsk. You should know better than to push Daddy." I screeched at the top of my lungs, "I'm not your daughter! I never have, and I never will! So tell me now! Tell me where Quin is!"

The Shade reached into his black robe, and pulled out two glass cylinders about an inch long and a quarter inch around, and said with pity in his voice, "So these little things are your students? Pity. I expected more than an arrogant child who charges blindly into battle and a dragon just as blind." I suddenly felt Quin, and Heldrean! I could sense them! I looked closer and saw two, swirling forms inside the glass, and I remembered Janir had 'watched life through glass, then broken glass.' I gripped Laufsbläd tighter, and ran through the barred gateway, quickly shooting a blast from my gedwey ignasia to open it. I knew I had to free them somehow. Janir seemed to have been freed when my electric discharge had smashed it, so if I destroyed theirs, it would do the same.

But electrical discharge... I had forgotten to loose my extra lightning this morning! I could feel my scar tingling, just waiting to be let loose. I grinned. I needed a bit of extra help. I swung Laufsbläd at his legs, but when he blocked, I feinted to his left, again to his right, and stabbed at his chest, but again, protected. "Come now, girl. I was expecting more of a challenge. But I guess it just makes this part easier." He pushed Laufsbläd out of my hands, and sent me flying backwards with the flat of his blade. I kicked high, and I connected with his neck. He groaned softly, and said, "Not bad, child. But not good enough either." He gripped my boot, and spun, making me spiral around him.

I tried to kick, but he was gripping me too hard, and soon let go. I flew into the stone wall around the haven, and the wall cracked. But how? We shouldn't have been able to break the enchantments on the barriers. But I had a bigger problem. The Shade stepped closer and closer, and I managed to drag myself to my feet. I saw the two canisters rolling in his hand, and I did the logical thing. I pulled a knife from my boot and cut off his hand. The two canisters shattered on the ground, and two purple orbs rose from the remnants. But I couldn't wait to see if it had worked.

The Shade grabbed my arm, used his other hand to point my head at him, and started chanting in the ancient language. The eyes... I wanted to look away from these endless pits, but something held me. I felt cold... As if frost had gathered over me. A feeling, much like when the dragons had held me captive, washed over me, and I felt the Shade leaving his body behind, and joining me.

I could read his thoughts for a moment, and with the time I had, I whipped out the shard of glass, and reflected to Arya. I quickly yelled, "Arya! Find Eragon! Keep him away! Don't let him try and help!" Arya frowned and asked, "What? If your battle goes badly, I will come aid you." I screamed, "No! Stay away! Keep Eragon away! You'll be killed! I should have told you earlier, but this Shade is Galbatorix! Ah!" I suddenly had no control. I dropped the mirror shard, and stepped on it, cracking it into small bits. I could still see, but I felt Galbatorix's soul making me move. 'No! Release me!' I screamed to any mind listening. The Shade replied, 'No. You just freed the two cowards, and no matter how idiotic they were, they gave me an appropriate power supply. You see, I transform my victims into a spirit; and I can add their energy to my own. My soul has grown so powerful in this manner, I need to switch bodies, as a parasite, you might say. When the one who killed me returns though, well, he is powerful enough to hold my soul, and I will force him to watch all the horrors he commits. Revenge and domination at the same time, wonderful, isn't it, daughter?'

I started pounding as hard as I could on Galbatorix's mind, trying to force him out, but he was still stronger than me. I stopped for a minute and saw that Quin was on Heldrean, and she was flying away. The Shade screamed through me in a voice a mix of mine and his, "No! I should have destroyed him when I had the chance! Well, no matter. All will fall in time. In due time." And with an evil laugh, he dragged me away in my own body.