Luminescent (Inheritance Cycle and Beyond)

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Radiant

After walking around for a half-hour, I finally found a balcony. My first breath of fresh air was intoxicatingly soothing. I rested my left hand on the stone railing while I observed Ûru Baen. This city was much too crowded for me. I stayed on the balcony for another half hour before making my way back to my room. I entered my room tiredly and walked over to my bed to sit down as Frida and Lydia scurried into the room.

"Your highness, you look exhausted, shall I get you your sleeping gown." I looked at Lydia an indication to do so while Frida gingerly put the circlet back in its box and retied the ribbon. Lydia then walked over to me with a folded white nightgown.

"Thank you. You're dismissed for the night." They left my room in a hurry. I changed into the nightgown. It was long-sleeved and had a tie at the front to loosen or tighten the nightgown. As I walked over to the covered window's the nightgown brushed my ankles softly. Never in my life have I worn something like this. I drew open every single drape until moonlight lit my room. I turned in a circle, soaking in the moonlight. I will now attempt to sleep.

I climbed into my oversized bed and wiggled underneath the silk sheets. I turned onto my side and looked out one of the windows once more before closing my eyes and attempting to sleep.

I rolled on the floor, wincing the pain in my body away while Eragon started to fight the Shade. I quickly got to my feet when the Shade shouted something at the Urgals, I was pushed down, and a spear was sent through my right shoulder, pinning me to rock floor. I let out a shriek but quickly silenced it. Blood started to drip from my shoulder and onto the stone, quickly turning cold.

I couldn't do anything to help Eragon, and the Shade bore down on him. Eragon screamed when Durza sliced open his back. Blood started to drip down his armor. I rested my face on the cold stone, feeling my blood touch my face and quickly turn cold. I was useless, powerless, to save Eragon. Quick as lightning, Durza drove his blade into Eragon's chest. I lost the ability to breathe for a few seconds before letting out a piercing scream.

I shot straight up, silencing the scream that had managed to get halfway out. My shoulder throbbed with phantom pain as a guard opened the door.

"Is everything alright, your highness?" I picked up a candelabra and chucked it at the guard's head. It hit the wall next to the guard's head and broke into pieces as it hit the floor.

"GET OUT!" The guard quickly retreated behind my door as I drew my knees to my chest and wrapped my left arm around them. One night. All I was asking for was one night of peaceful sleep where I didn't have to deal with the emotional and physical pain.

I dropped my head onto my knees for a few minutes and waited for my shoulder, arm, and hand to stop hurting. My entire body was shaking; I haven't had one that painful in a long time. I was exhausted, and sleep was out of the question. I didn't want to be curled on the floor in pain because I was foolish enough to think it would be okay to sleep.

I took some deep breaths in as the pain in my arm started to subside, when it disappeared completely, I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood up. I'll just walk around the castle for the rest of the night to kill time left before everyone would start to wake up.

I opened my door and stalked past the guards who flinched away from me. I silently made my way down the hall, not wearing the gloves like I usually do. I was tired of it. I made my way outside to an open patio. Steps lead down to the horse stables and the red dragon's nest.

With my mind made up, I descended the stairs. My white nightgown and slippers illuminated in the moonlight, creating a stark contrast to the dark stone that surrounded the castle, inside and out. At the bottom of the stairs I walked into the horse stables, I walked down the aisle looking at all of the magnificent horses and missing Tornoc. I got to the end of the stables where a door opened up to the red dragon's nest and paused. What exactly would this dragon be like?