Erais watched him stonily as he walked away. From how he spoke, she knew exactly what she'd have to do to free him. It would be hard, but she was too stubborn at the moment to care. "You really are dense, aren't you?" She asked him, crossing her arms over her chest. "As long as you are trapped, I'll forever be your shadow. I don't care how you break your curse, and believe me, I think I know how it has to be done; but I'm never leaving you until you're free." Her voice was quiet as it drifted towards where he was.

"You'll never be free, you're giving up hope. Don't say you aren't, because I think I know what you'll do, you've given up hope and the chance for a life. You know as well as I do that you won't try. Even if the moment presents itself, you'll push it away like you are right now. I think you want to be cursed...I think you want to forever be hunting Mesaraih." Her words were cold and icy, she knew more than what she had already said. Erais didn't have an evil trapped inside her, but she had been cold most of her life for things she had done in the past. She knew how to hurt people both physically and emotionally.

"Than you are more of a fool Reik," Erais told him feeling slightly hurt. He was giving in when he should be fighting. If he gave in completely...he'd be just as bad as Galbatorix himself. "You will never be right Reik...as long as you give up...you'll never be right." She whispered to herself as he walked away laughing. The weight of what she had done crashed down on her and she began to feel hurt and pain move through her body at a fast pace. I've failed... Erais thought as her emotions started to build up until she couldn't take it anymore. She screamed long and loud, regretting everything she had done. "I should have never come down from the mountains..." Her voice was fragile and her heart breaking as she knew she'd have to confront Mesaraih before disappearing.

His words stung and she wanted to speak back, but wasn't sure she could handle voicing it. "No, it wasn't impossible. Because the only things that are impossible is what we haven't thought of yet. As long as we know about it, there will always be a way...always." Her voice shook slightly, but she held her head up. "As long as I knew I was doing it for love...then it won't ever be impossible." Erais whispered, not caring if he heard it or not. She had been close, but she had become too close and had shoved him the other way without realizing it. Arden merely glowered at Reik, thinking of every possibility to kill him.

Erais didn't say anything more, she just watched him walk away. The silence around her hurt, she knew now that she shouldn't have interfered, but that didn't help her at all. Arden, I messed up. She told him dully, feeling more horrible than she had in a very long time. Arden brought his head down and rubbed her back comfortingly. But you tried, and that's all that matters. Arden told her and let her climb on his back. She curled up between his shoulder blades as he took off, letting the feeling of the cool air sweep over her. We need to tell Mesaraih. He told her as he soared in the air. No, I need to. This had nothing to do with you, but I really appreciate your support. She told him before drifting off to sleep as he made his way back.

Arden flew silently through the air, more worried than ever for Erais. Even in her sleep he knew she was beating herself up about what she had done. The air whooshed past them quietly as he saw that they were getting nearer. The light of dawn started to cross the sky, slowly the stars disappeared and it would only be about an hour before they made it to the city. Erais was still asleep as Arden flew over the city, he let his mind wander to find where Mesaraih was at.

He landed and was surprised to see how much of the battle had been cleaned up, it was almost nonexistant. He didn't feel like waking Erais up, he felt so bad for her right now that he knew it would be much better if she stayed asleep right now. Mesaraih, something happened. He told Mesaraih, not sure where he was exactly. He knew that Erais wanted to tell him what happened, but that didn't mean that he wanted her to go through that pain.

Um, sort of...I think you better come though, but be warned, she's really stressed right now and is too confused and guilt ridden to do much. She's sleeping, but I would think she'd want you near right now. Arden told him, not really wanting to move, afraid Erais might stir. So he sent a picture of where he was to Mesaraih. Be quiet as you come, her mind is starting to wake up, but her body is keeping her asleep. He told Mesaraih before laying his head against the ground, wishing life wasn't this hard.

Arden felt relieved as he saw Mesaraih come into view. His eyes followed him as he came quietly towards where they were. I won't say, even though it hurts her, I know she wants to be the one to tell you, but its hard on her and please try and understand. Arden said grimly, feeling Erais began to shift under him as she was slowly starting to wake up. She'll be up in a minute. He stated, keeping still.

Erais slowly became aware of her surroundings, and the weight of everything hit her full force and her heart seemed to miss a beat. She slowly opened her eyes at looked at the sky, her expression was everything but optimism. Slowly she sat up, she looked drained even though she had slept for a while. Looking around she noticed Mesaraih and felt her stomach jump. She wasn't sure she could tell him...she had messed everything up, and now she was right here, looking at him, wondering why she had to go and meddle with everything. So she sat there and stared at him, not feeling like speaking yet.

Erais searched her mind, trying desperately to find the right words to tell him what happened. Nothing came, she could only think uselessly, she wished that none of this had ever happened. "Mesaraih," she finally began, her voice low and a bit shaky. "I messed up...big time." She said, closing her eyes for a moment and taking a deep breath.

Erais looked up at him, her expression pitiful. "I drove him over the edge..." She couldn't continued as another wave of pent up emotions washed over her. "I could feel him sliding between sides, fighting the evil...but...he...I..." Only a few words were clear as they mingled with escaped sobs. So much had gone wrong, nothing had gone right, how could it have become so much worse?

Erais buried her face in Mesaraih's chest as he hugged her. She just wanted to disappear right now, not know anything, just be in existence, nothing more. He doesn't understand, Erais said quietly to Arden as she was pressed against Mesaraih. You weren't exactly clear. He pointed out to her. Please Arden- She didn't have to continued, Arden knew she wouldn't be able to finish.

You have to understand that she can be very stubborn Mesaraih. After we finally caught him, she gave him the silent treatment, and then started telling him over and over that she could help him break his curse. He always refused and kept saying no. Finally she pushed him over the edge and he was just sick and tired of her obliviousness that he let the evil start to take over. As he was walking away, he laughed and they exchanged a few more words before he disappeared. She broke down, afraid of what she had done. Arden told him, not letting him get a word in edge wise.

I think its because she knew what she had to do in order to free him, I think now that she was able to open her eyes after Reik walked that she probably realized what she had been about to do. Either way, Reik said he'd rather hunt you down, then steal her from you. I wonder if he meant more than he said. Arden had multiple questions running through his mind as Erais didn't move away from Mesaraih.
Right now she was just glad to have Mesaraih close right now, no matter what was going on her head, she felt relief, well a little bit.

Erais started to feel empty after a while, nothing seemed right anymore. There was always something in the way that wouldn't let her be happy. She was starting to wonder if Fate was working against her and wanted her to be miserable for the rest of her life for past choices. She pulled away from Mesaraih. "I'm sorry," it was all she could say. She said it quietly and was very sincere. She felt as though it were her fault, she truly believed that it was. It felt like everything was her fault.

Erais stared at him for a moment. "But it is..." She trailed off. Arden yawned before standing up. I'm going to go find Fenixeres. He told Erais before taking off to the sky. Erais watched him disappear before turning back to Mesaraih. "I'm sorry, if I hadn't been so stubborn, there would have been a better chance." She felt terrible, it was hard for her right now to look at Mesaraih, but she wanted him to be near her despite that fact.

Erais looked at him unsure, she still didn't get it. "So you're okay with having Reik as a constant threat?" she asked him confused, not really understanding it. "What I did was wrong, and you're okay with that?" she raised an eyebrow in question. It just didn't make sense, she had driven his best friend over the edge and now he would have to constantly watch his back; and all he could say was her trying was enough for him?

Erais looked at him emotionlessly. "But I do, its just as much my problem as it is yours." She said to him sternly, bit her voice still shook slightly. "So you didn't have any trust in me that I could help?" she asked him skeptically, a little hurt by his words. The fact that he just admitted that he didn't believe in her hurt, so she kept the questions she had wanted to ask him quiet. No longer feeling like talking.

"Just what I thought you would say. What I meant was that I don't think it was possible for anyone to do it, not just you," Mesaraih told her. "And how is it your problem?" Mesaraih asked.

Edit:sorry about the double post, I can't seem to delete it for some reason.

Ooc - I know what you mean, I think it was disabled.

Ic -

"Its my problem because it effects you, and if it effects you, than it will effect me. If you ever died..." She couldn't finish her sentence, just the thought of it made her heart pain. "Reik said he'll keep trying, but I don't believe him...I don't know why he let me go though, I had annoyed him enough. I just don't think he can try on his own, the evil grew too much. At least that's what I think, but." She fell quiet as she began to think, would he try?

Erais didn't like the silence right now, it seemed ominous and sort of depressed. "So how's Fenixeres?" she asked in a lighter tone, trying to help bring a happy mood. She had a feeling he got fairly big while her and Arden were away. "Do you like the training, or do you just feel like escaping sometimes?" she knew all too well with that feeling. If you ever trained with Oromis, that will become an accustomed feeling. She knew that Mesaraih would have to travel to the elves soon and train with Oromis before Fenixeres and him would be fine on their own.

"Yeah, I know." Erais said abesently, her mind traveling miles away. Erais laughed with him. "I know how that is, mostly though, he just complains at his lack of sleep. Than lectures me about how he needs it since he's growing. Though he can't use that excuse anymore." She laughed lightly, but it faded as her mind began to wander again.

Erais became quiet and her face grave. She wanted to crawl in some cave and live in peace, no running, no fears, no pain, no Galbatorix, and especially no worries about the ones she loved. "Will we always be fighting? Will we never be left alone? Is it always going to be like this?" she asked out loud, they had been bugging her, and now that she said them, they seemed more real.

Erais knew he was right, so she pushed the thoughts from her mind. "I'm tired, I'm going to go rest." She said and stood up. Erais stretched slightly, feeling a bit cramped. She rubbed her tired eyes, the stress feeling to heavy to deal with right now. So much had gone so wrong, but there was always hope or light in the darkest of times or situations. "I just hope things will brighten sooner than later." She said tiredly.

Instead of going to the Dragonhold were Arden was, she began to make her way into the city. She was tired, but her body was restless. Erais looked at the faces of the people, wishing that she was one of them instead of who she was. It would be so much easier, she thought to herself gloomily. She continued to walk and observe the people as they began their daily chores and activities. Some of the men and dwarves were laughing joyously at some story, the women were near the water washing the clothes and exchaning gossip.

Finally Erais came into the heart of the city. She walked through it, noticing odd things and people bartering their goods. She continued walking and came into the mountain, she found the room she had used on countless times and fell on the bed. It took a while, but she finally drifted to sleep, wishing to be someone else.

The dreams that Erais had while she slept were strange, but enjoyable. Though as one faded away and another replaced it, they began slipping from her memory. It was all just so at ease and carefree that even in her unconscious state, she didn't want to wake up. Reality just seemed to cruel right now, while being unconscious seemed a welcomed idea.

After a while and the time had passed, Erais slowly began to drift back into concsiousness. Normally she was up quickly, but being asleep like this was very peaceful and she really didn't want to leave, not yet at least. Soon her body was fully rested and she was restless, even though her mind still ached for sleep. Cracking her eyes opened she noticed it was pitch dark outside, apparently she had slept through the day and well into the night. Sighing she sat up, staring into the dark, her thoughts muddled.

Sighing Erais rubbed her eyes tiredly before moving away from the bed. She desperately wanted and needed more sleep, but she was used to exerting herself on little sleep, so her body was restless and flat out refused to settle down. Maybe a walk will calm me down, she thought as she emerged from her room in the quiet city. Breaking away from the caves in the mountains she looked up at the dark sky littered with white specks. It looked to her as if a bird had poked holes in the sky, trying to find a way out.

Looking back to the ground, she began to make her way quietly through the city. There were a few bends and small hills that got in her way, but she finally came to the edge of the city. The air still smelled a bit foul from the dead beast that the Shade had conjured, but the mountain winds had almost completely obliterated it. Glancing around she noticed a figure a slight distance from her. She decided to go see who else could be up at this hour. She smiled slightly as she saw it was Mesaraih. "Can't sleep?" she asked him softly, coming to stand by him.

Erais watched his face as he spoke, he seemed distant and not exactly there. "Me neither." She said, he still looked far away, it made her wonder. "Where could you possibly be that's so wonderfully far away?" she asked him, curious as to what could be on his mind. He seemed a million miles away at the moment, even though he was still there in body. Erais never understood the meaning of that phrase until that moment as she watched his distant expression.

Erais smiled slightly, it would be nice if a place really did exist like that. "Fine, I'm just not sure where I should go now. Either annoy Galbatorix to no end, or fulfil a very empty threat against Reik. Other then that, I'm completely clueless as to what happens now." She said looking off into the dark. "Of course you've got training now, which is good. I'm glad that you've got Fenixeres...it seems like Fate deemed us worthy for a second chance." Erais said quietly.

Erais sensed Mesaraih's despair at some past memory. She closed the small space between them and gave him a hug. "I'm sure she's still watching over you, even now." She said in comfort to him. Rubya had been a huge part of Mesaraih's life and she knew he missed her. Erais was confident that she'd keep an eye on him though, they had been to close other wise.

"Yes, I know what you mean." Erais said sympathetically. A wave of exhaustion washed over her so powerfully she nearly stumbled over. "That was strange," she said as her eyes felt rather heavy. It was really strange, in an instant her whole body felt like shutting down right then and there. She shook her head, trying to clear it from the heavy sleep that hung over her now.

Erais was grateful to Mesaraih as she leaned against him. She searched quickly through her mind for a reason to just feel like she hadn't slept in ages. The exhaustion grew heavier on her as she struggled to keep her eyes open. She looked up at Mesaraih, having a slightly difficult time. "Just," she said, desperately struggling for the next word. "Tir-" Her mouth seemed to close on its own and her body slumped against Mesaraih's as she went limp. The weight of exhaustion was so heavy that she fell into a sleep much deeper then she had ever experianced.

Arden was very tempted to go back to his nap, but the urgency he heard from Mesaraih forced his eyes opened and in one big leap he was in the air. He roared as he soared swiftly to where Mesaraih and Erais were. He landed lopsidedly on the ground, causing it to tremble. Erais! He shouted into her mind, she seemed fine on the outside, but something had snapped in her mind. This isn't just a heavy sleep, I think Reik is either doing this, or something has happened to him, and its combined with what is left from the Shade. Arden said quickly to Mesaraih as he brought his large head down closer to Erais' face. Images are flashing through her mind, past thoughts and memories, everything...I have no idea what's going on but its happening fast.

I wish I knew, Arden said worriedly. He tried delving into her mind deeper, but felt himself thrown out. Something happened, I don't think its good. As Arden kept speaking, the images, emotions, everything that she had every experianced flashing through her mind at such a rapid pace it was too hard to keep up.

Erais had no idea what was happening. Everything that had ever happened in any way to her flashed through her minds eye. It was confusing as they seemed jumbled and were going to quickly for her to pick any hints about what they were about. The emotions were easier, but going so quickly that it was giving her a headache and she felt like screaming in pain, but she felt disconnected from her body. The overall feeling that was her own, was confusion.

Arden could see bits and pieces escape from the block around Erais' mind. Since they were few and far between, he could break them down and attempt at figuring out what was going on. Soon pieces that were breaking from her mind weren't even her own. He had no idea whose they were, but he didn't like it. Somethings leaching into her mind, but I'm not sure if it is a good thing yet.

Everything halted...black...empty...Erais couldn't really figure what had happened. It went from everything speeding to quickly, to, nothing? She tried figuring out what was going on, but, nothing. In the distance she heard faint voices, muffled, just a soft hum. Erais began to hear specific words in the murmers. A few of them she recognized to be wavering voices from her past. Conversations she had had, and over heard. Soon they switched over and she was hearing something completely different. These weren't her own, but whose were they? One voice sounded so familiar, but much younger. What is going on?

Erais didn't get it, she had been able to recognize one of the voices in the conversations that floated in and out. It was a while before she had heard it much, but it came in frequent conversations. She didn't get it, she hadn't known Mesaraih then...but someone did, wait... It all clicked in her head, sort of. Her connection towards the dead Shade and Reik had run much deeper then any of them had thought. She could hear the two brothers start to age from their voices. They became deeper and more mature. She began to piece Reik's past together, was there a possibility that they were actual brothers?

Even though Erais' vision was black, the voices had stopped abruptly and she felt herself falling, even though she knew she wasn't. The sensation was so strange, but so familiar at the same time. Almost instantly she felt the impact of something hard, and cold. She felt unconscious, almost afraid that she had died.

Arden watched Erais, through the whole ordeal she had had some sort of connection to her body, but now she was completely limp in Mesaraih's arms and her mind was void of life. What happened!? Arden shouted at him enraged. What did you do to her?! he was thinking straight at the moment, just fueling his anger right now.

Arden growled back at him, he just felt more anger at the moment. He hated Erais being put in this situation, it was the one time he could do nothing for her. Just tell me what happened! He felt like exploding with rage. His claws dug into the ground, creating huge gashes as he attempted to keep his temper in check. It wouldn't do anything to figure out the truth of what was really going on.

Arden couldn't take it anymore at the moment. Don't lose her, he threatened before leaping into the air to clear his body of this rage that had consumed him. He flew up towards the stars, higher then he had dared with Erais as passenger. It was a serene feeling and began to help calm him down.

Erais was slowly starting to return to her proper state of mind, but it was much different from what she had remembered. Whatever had happened previously had sort of transformed her mind into a partly unfamiliar place. Aside from her own recollections, foreign memories were mingled with her own. Still, she was still in the hallucination of smacking into something hard and caused her body to ache.

Erais looked around shocked as darkness seemed to envelope her, twisting about her and sweeping over her body like a mist. She heard a faint distant call. "Mesaraih?" she called through the black weakly. In an instant she was crushed by every emotion possible that you didn't want to feel. It came as such a surprise that it caused all the air in her lungs to escape in a big whoosh. She stood gasping for breath, as she breathed, she began to inhale the dark essence that had been surrounding her. It had waited patiently for her to allow it in.

Erais fell to the ground as she continued to gasp for air. It only caused her to inhale more of the black thing that almost seemed to keep coming and wouldn't end. Instead of getting proper air she started choking on it and was barely getting any breath. She felt something nearly trip over her, it only caused her to try and inhaled air more urgently. Her surroundings lit up, but the only thing she could see was Mesaraih. She shivered against him slightly as she continued to choke on the black essence that continued to replace the air that she was struggling for. She couldn't speak, and only motioned, trying to tell him she couldn't breathe.

Erais was close to passing out from the lack of oxygen. Her vision had already been consumed, only her hearing had told her she was still suffocating. Before she had passed out, the tendrels of the blackness dispersed as far away as they could from the fire. She started to choke on the air and sat up quickly breathing in the welcomed oxygen. After her vision returned and she was able to breathe fairly normal again, the strangest feeling washed over her. Almost as though she wanted to kill something, or someone. Within minutes she felt herself drifting into unconsciousness from going so long without oxygen, and the black essence that was now lodged inside her body. All she knew before everything went to a welcomed black, was that it wouldn't be the same when she woke up.

Arden glided to the ground, his mind clear and his placid expression back. Erais seemed perfectly fine, just sleeping. Is everything okay? Arden asked Mesaraih, feeling bad for how he had acted to him. I'm sorry for how I snapped earlier, it was uncalled for. I just don't like seeing her in that state, it makes me crazy knowing I can't do much for her. Dragons weren't ones to apologize, so this was slightly difficult for him to say he was sorry to Mesaraih.

Erais stirred slightly and her eyes flitted open. There was a darkness behind her eyes, and for a moment she got that same blood thirsty feeling before it disappeared with the darkness behind her eyes. The presence was still felt there, but for the moment she couldn't acknowledge it. "My lungs hurt," she groaned in protest as she hadn't physically struggled for breath earlier, but the ache from the lack of oxygen had carried over.

Erais looked at him, slightly frightened of what she had felt and remembered of happening. She took a few slow deep breaths, honestly surprised that it helped relieve the pain and soon it was gone. Something clouded her mind for a moment and she felt a twinge of fear. She shut her eyes, trying to block out the feelings that started to mount. So far she had kept Arden from her mind, only letting him see what she wanted him to see. She opened her eyes again and realized who these murderous feelings were for. "I'm scared," she whispered quietly, looking up into Mesaraih's face.

Erais was desperately trying to fight down the feeling. It was extremely scary for her, she hadn't ever felt this way. Sure she had killed people before, but not with a shadow hanging over her to push her towards it, encouraging her to do it. Telling her it would be the most satisfying feeling ever. She quickly hid her face in her hands. It didn't matter if she couldn't kill him, that didn't mean it would stop the feelings and her attempts. Some sort of invisible connection had happened that seemed more powerful then a riders bond. She knew Reik was way too far away to do anything, but the connection was causing all his murderous and influenced thoughts to be shared inside her. After a few moments the shadow retreated into her mind for now and she was free for a moment. "I'm sorry," she said, her face still buried in her hands.

"It is," Erais said with conviction. She remembered what she had done to Reik, she wasn't sure if he knew what was going on. She wondered slightly if the same thing had happened to him and her thoughts and feelings were being shared by him as well. With that thought she shuddered. She felt like her privacy had been banished, it was one thing to be a rider and able to block your dragon out from certain areas of your mind if you were strong enough. It was completely different if you were constantly exposed to a cursed man who could have been exposed to yourself. "Please know I don't mean it if I spontaniously try and murder you." She said in a strained voice.

Arden was very curious as to how the events had unfolded. He wished Erais wasn't able to keep him out, but she had much more training them him, and it was fairly easy for her, even when in a deep sleep she was still able to have that hold on her mind.

The same feeling surged through Erais at a higher intensity and she dug her nails into her palms and pressed her eyelids together tightly. It wasn't helping that he was so close, but she didn't want it otherwise at the moment. Then a horrifying thought came into her acknoweldgement. "What if he realizes the connection and uses it as a manipulation?" Erais asked Mesaraih, feeling much more scared then she had ever in her life. She knew one day the urge to kill him would be too strong and override any other possible emotion or thought.

Erais felt the murder in her die down, and her mind became clear again. Whatever was going on with Reik, he was definately at peace for the moment. Erais knew for him that was probably on in his sleep. "I just hope I can handle this for as long as it takes for him to break that stupid curse." As she spoke, she began to wonder if it was even the curse from before. It had the same effects, but it was much more overwhelming then before. "If we plan on keeping you alive, you need to be on guard at all costs, I think I might be able to warn you in time, but...maybe I should just leave like Reik did." Erais muttered the last part, more for herself then anything.

Erais didn't say anything, at least you'd be out of danger. She thought to herself in a depressed fashion. Once again the feeling of tiredness flowed through her, but this time she was able to recognize it as not her own. Why am I sleeping so much lately? she asked herself, annoyed with the fact that she had been asleep more then awake lately. "Please, I don't want to hurt you, just, keep safe for now." Erais told him before her eyes fluttered shut and she plunged into memories and thoughts which weren't her own.

Erais opened her eyes, and for once she felt like she had actually got a decent amount of rest. Soft light was filtering through the clouds and hitting Farthen Dur in a sereneful manner. She didn't know why, but she found herself smiling for a moment. It was moments like this when everything seemed normal that she knew why she was fighting. The smile was wiping clean off her face as she remembered everything that had happened. She found herself trembling slightly at what this meant. If Reik ever found out what was going on... She refused to think about it. As she sat there, looking straight ahead, she felt emotions stir in her and the same darkness clouded her mind again. Erais shook more as she realized what was going on, but when she noticed that she was lifting her arm because she had felt she needed to, it terrified her. "Mesaraih!" She wanted to scream at him to wake up, but it came out quietly and barely audible. Erais felt as though something was stopping her from alerting him.

Erais felt panic surge through her as she stood up and drew her sword. All she could think was that Reik had figured it out. She knew he would, but not so quickly. Everything screamed at her to kill him, her thoughts, emotions, instincts, and her body, it all wanted to see Mesaraih dead at her feet. Wake up Mesaraih! She sobbed internally as she shut her eyes while her sword swung down to pierce his heart. She was jolted to the side when she felt it was stopped, almost causing her to stumble forward. In the small place that was still completely her own that Reik couldn't touch, she felt so grateful that he was still alive right now.

Erais attempted to say something to Mesaraih, warn him, just something, but Reik's emotions and thoughts were to overwhelming for her and she only found herself striking out at him again. Luckily she missed and she felt a small bit of relief for it. Her mouth was sealed shut, keeping her from speaking her own mind. The words she wanted to scream were so close to being out, but they were held back. The feeling of wanting bloodshed flowed through her again, strong this time and she so desperately wanted to see him bleed, but the much smaller side of her desperately wanted him to run.