I only own my own OCs. I think you know what I'm gonna say by now, so please review! :)

Why did we design the prisons so well. Meirin had forced me in, and Eragon had engaged the Elders to make a place to put rogue Riders, even ones with Eragon's power levels. It had been formed under Izlandzadi Plaza, and now, I was stuck behind bars reinforced by the Word, and Meirin glaring in at me. This was humiliating. And I was going to slam Meirin when he got close enough. He said, "So, Master. How will you get out of this one? I've always heard the rumors about how you can escape anything, so live up to your reputation now." I growled, and wanted to send a blast through the bars, but we had designed it so the one inside couldn't attack, but a guard could if necessary. Meirin saw my anger, and laughed. "So you don't have a plan this time? Well, I'm disappointed. Baen." I felt the rush of terror that resulted from his word, and pain suddenly flew through my mind, and I grasped my temples, attempting to dull the pain. I screeched, "Leave me!" I accidently loosed a bolt, and I dropped to my knees as the light clashed with the bars, then shot back at me with twice the power, and flew over my head, evaporating on the stone walls. I muttered under my breath, "Le... Letta." I felt the pain fade, and I stood up to Meirin, glaring loathingly.

I quickly filed all the power I could muster, every piece of energy I had, and thrust my hand through the bars, grabbing Meirin by the shoulder, and I felt the bars pulling everything I had away, not even giving me the chance to attack Meirin as I flew backwards, crashing into the wall. I groaned, and Meirin said, "Stenr malthinae!" The stones behind me suddenly were like clay, and I had a quick flash of the terrifying moment when I had been turned into stone, but the stone only wrapped around my chest, but it curled in, crushing the air out of my lungs. The stone suddenly hardened, and I was held tight, my chest and arms held to the walls, and Meirin walked away. I had no strength to heal myself with, and if I even struggled, I would probably pass out, but I just sat there, listening to water drip from a bucket to the floor, making my mouth feel even more dry. Meirin was trying to weaken me, and it was working.

I suddenly heard a groan, and I looked around wildly. The stone walls surrounding each cell were hard packed, but a crack along the wall I was against showed... "Orik!" He was tattered and looked like he was in bad shape, but still alive. He looked wearily through the crack, saw me, and groggily asked, "Vraela? Is that you?" I said, "Yes, it's me. How long have you been here?" He gazed off into no where, and said sadly, "I don't know. The days and nights don't show here, and there is no way to tell." I nodded, and asked, "Do you know anything about what they're to do with us?" He nodded grimly and said, "An Urgal Rider came down a while ago, before you arrived, I believe, and talked with Meirin about a blood ceremony. Ring any bells?" I thought it might mean the Blood-oath Celebration, but that had taken place only years ago, and I doubt he wanted to wait for ninety years to rule. I admitted, "No, but I'll think on it. But the more important question is if you are you alright." He said, "I feel rather weak, but I am alright. The worst is scratches."

I nodded, and I felt the same way, as if the magic I'd usually regenerate was now being channeled away. I heard footsteps coming down the hidden staircase, and I struggled against the stone restraints, but they were tight and strong, too strong to break in my current state. I saw Orik pulling against manacles I hadn't even seen holding his arms behind his back, but both our struggles were futile. Three Riders came down, dragging along elvish and human Riders who hadn't joined Meirin, and putting them in empty cells. We had made over five hundred units, all of them proofed with the Word. When the loyal Riders saw me and Orik, they seemed to realize how bad the situation was, and suddenly looked gloomy and lost. I wanted to yell encouragement, do something to raise their spirits, but one who hadn't been leading a Rider entered my cell and snorted, "I never did believe the stories about you. And now I know I was right. Your pathetic."

He tossed a metal basin at me, hitting me in the head, and I growled, sending a shockwave into the air between us, making him jump, but he then snapped, "Hljödhr!" I opened my mouth to give a stinging retort, but no sound came out, but it was (usually) an easy fix. I thought, 'Losna hljödhre.' But the small amount of energy I had left wasn't enough, and though I regained my voice, I screeched in effort and fell into darkness.

~Raweru's POV~

As we landed in Uru'baen, I caught a glimpse of Argeta in the palace courtyard, as she had arrived before me. I leapt off Saphira and summoned a rock from the ground, and it met me halfway through the air. I rode it down next to Argeta, who snorted a welcome and we embraced minds. But just as I Eragon landed, I heard a sudden scream, and my vision suddenly faded into darkness.

I saw nothing but a black void until a gray form approached, a struggling, staggering form. After it got closer, and I recognized the form as- "Vraela! Are you truly here?" She laughed softly, the way only Vraela could, and said, "Yes. Meirin is holding me captive. Raweru, you must hurry. Bring Arya, Murtagh, and Eragon, because we'll need a lot of help. Orik is here!" I gasped. Orik? I asked, "Is he alright? Can you help us find you?" She said, "Yes, he's weak, but alive. You have to hurry, though. Meirin is planning something, and it's happening on the next full moon!" I was slightly confused, though. I thought she wanted me to stay away, but now she wanted to me to help her escape? But she probably wanted me to save Orik mainly. That would be Vraela for you. I asked, "Where are you?" But just as she opened her mouth to speak, shadows, even darker than the black void, dragged her away, and I was alone in a dark, endless eternity, but I suddenly woke. Eragon and Saphira hit the ground as if I had been pulled right out of time, and I realized that must have been what happened. I quickly filled in Eragon, and we ran for the others.

~Meirin's POV~

"Did the trick work, Master?" A young Urgal Rider asked me. I saw how my dark nature had corrupted him, and I felt so proud. I answered, "Yes, and you have ensured the real Vraela is barely alive?" The Urgal nodded, horns bobbing, and yelled, "Bring them in!" Four Urgals, four dwarves, and four werecats (the only ones here not Riders) guarding and dragging two limp figures, one in a silvery dress, one leather-clad. I rose from my throne, and walked forward. The dwarf king was conscious, and though we had dulled his senses, he could tell I was coming. I smirked at his terror, slapped his face, then motioned for the six guards with Vraela to leave her, and she was dropped to the ground, groaning in unconscious agony. And I loved it. I felt as if I could live of the pain of others. Who needs food and water when misery and terror fulfill and satisfy? I barked, "Take the king to a high security cell. I'll deal with this one." The guards nodded, and soon, only those two were in the throne room. I snapped, "Wake up, Clouds. You should wake to see this." She shook herself awake, and when she saw me, she drew back, trying to crawl away, but I ran in front of her. I smiled, and said, "I want you to have a special treatment before your friends arrive." She tried to get to her feet, but I pushed her back to the ground. I wanted her pain to be eternal. She had no idea what she had done to me. I had to avenge my lost time. I said, "I sent a Rider to get you, and I accessed your mind with ease. It was easy after that to simply manipulate Raweru's consciousness, and make her believe you could be saved. Much like how Durza manipulated Arya's mind to draw in Eragon, but here, the prizes are greater, and I will gain control of all Alegasia!" She looked at me with a glare of disgust and open hatred, and I felt as if someone had doubled my power, after learning how to draw power from emotion and pain. She spat, "Why do you wish us gone? What did we ever do?"

I fingered the amulet on my neck, and said coldly, "Something I can never forgive. And you must all pay. Besides, a werecat would make a much better leader. I will be truly fair and just." Vraela still glared, and I continued, "When they arrive, they will face a choice; surrender... or watch you and Orik die and add to my powers. Even now, the dwarvish, Urgal, and werecat armies rally, preparing to destroy your old ways. But my ways will survive and prevail." She suddenly threw a knife at me, and it must have had powerful spells on it, because it breached my wards, and if not for my leather coat, I would have died. I growled, "You will suffer longer than the rest, and the pains will be worse than you can imagine." I clapped, and the guards returned, each grabbing an arm, and she was dragged away, and I yelled after them, "Ready the fire and coals! We are going to have a bonfire." I knew that after her encounter with the Shade, Galbatorix, she had been entirely terrified of flames, and so, this was the perfect way to break her. And my revenge would be sweet. So sweet.

Baen- sorrow

Stenr malthinae- stone bind

Letta- stop

Hljödhr- silent

Losna hljödhre- release silence