Disclaimer: No, I don't own Eragon but I do for everything else in the rest of the fanfic that is...well, fictional from the book. (plot, characters, etc.)

A/N: Thanks for reading and don't forget to review. I already made chapter 2- I'll put it up once enough people like it. )

Chapter 1: A Taste of Freedom

It was near midnight

Evelyn stepped out of the backdoor and checked her surroundings. It was a cold night with soft breezes that sent chills through her bones. Up in the night sky was a full, bright moon within hazy clouds. It was quite beautiful, for it glistened like a pearl engulfed in dark ocean water.

Evelyn tightened the multiple cloaks on her and merely stepped a few inches from the door with constant guard. She was set and felt courage beat within her heart. What kept her hesitant was the fact that tonight may be the last night of her life from a painful death. She reviewed her escape plan, just once more

Evelyn, or Eve, is an attractive fifteen year old,with midnight blue eyes, a slight tan and wavy hair of dark brown, streaked with copper from long hours working under hot suns on the King's grounds…

Yes, the King, as in King Galbatorix. Eve is- was a slave on his castle grounds for pretty much all of her life. The most she knew about her heritage was that her mother, Idona, came here to work as a servant. Her father, Lamont, was forced to be in Galbatorix's army. From that, they met and started to have secret affairs. Before Eve's birth, Lamont died in combat while Idona died in childbirth. The only possession they were able to leave Evelyn was her name.

With no one to claim her, she was left being not a servant, but simply a slave. Living in the domain for fifteen years she possessed precious knowledge and as a result was forbidden to leave the city. Evelyn was reluctant to this, since she had no knowledge of the world beyond.

It wasn't so until she befriended Tornac, one of the servants, whom much older enlightened her mind. So much had he taught her…about out there, Alagaesia, and the best of all, the skill to read. Evelyn never cared to look at the books while she tidied up the library. But since the timeshe became capable of reading, whenever she was alone, hurriedly she would pick up a book- any book to read and absorb its meanings. The most fascinating of all books were those of Dragon Riders whom she least expected had once existed. She never thought Alagaesia would have such an intricate history…

Evelyn remembered those painful nights of loneliness inside her small cellar room once she was aware of the world outside. Never had she experienced freedom. She had known nothing but the cold wrath of Galbatorix and his castle- she also didn't forget that dreadful Morzan- whom, thank the gods, has been slain by another man, years and years back. She didn't know why she hadn't thought of it before, but she had the sudden urge to escape!

She was still a rather young and…what Evelyn considered, naïve girl when she confronted Tornac and asked him to have her escape. Expecting hesitance and even rejection, he actually understood. Soon enough he started teaching her fine combat skills. Training was rigorous as Eve reminisced those many, many nights when she returned to her cellar room with a worn body and lethargic manners…but it was worth it. She has been training for years and planning an escape.

Evelyn, is now fifteen and set for sure. She heaved a deep breath.

Tonight's the night, she thought

She had this well planned with the help of Tornac. When everyone was supposedly asleep at midnight, she would sneak out the back door of the fortress. Surrounding the grand turret were towering stonewalls to avert any daring intruders…or possible deserters, like herself. But Tornac had dug a deep burrow beneath the stonewall; well enough for Eve to slip under.

Masses of long grass and some dirt covered it.

Taking another deep breath, Eve quickly scurried to the stonewall where the burrow was located. No one can stop her now…

Halt! A voice hollered.

Eve swerved her head toward the voice…it was a watch guard. What?She thought. What was she to do? The guard had better shut up before anyone else came. Fortunately Tornac had supplied her with a bow, some arrows and throwing knives. Just as she was about to take a step back, she stopped. No, she couldn't- if she dared to move the guard would make more of a racket and have a whole crowd of guards coming.

"Who are you? What do you think you are doing?" suspiciously asked the guard, who was approaching her. He looked deeper into her worn, dirty, face that lied under her hood. A face that would have belonged to a slave! The guard scowled, "Runaway!" and came after her.

Evelyn stood petrified, swearing under her breath. She had to move quickly.

I…have no choice!, she thought. Instead of taking out of her bow and arrows, she took the quicker way- she dug her hand behind her belt and swiped out a throwing knife. She least expected to be doing this so soon but, instantly she raised her trained arm, made her best aim and let the knife dash from her hands.

Evelyn immediately took way to the burrow. Behind her she heard a horrid cry. She quickly glanced back at the guard who dropped to his knees with the knife protruding from his forehead, blood dripping already.

Alas, she cried under her breath as she reached the burrow and started digging through the thin layer of grass vigorously. Just then she heard footsteps behind the castle. Guards were coming. She cursed in frustration and heaved the last pile of grass.

Without hesitation Eve slipped into the burrow in surprise. Tornac had done a good job digging the burrow! She had enough space to function. Just as she saw a torch's light grow from the other side ofthe fortress, she thoroughly covered the burrow with the dirt and grass. Out she popped up the other side, forgetting about how much grass must be stuck within the strands of her hair. Once she was out, again she covered the burrow. She looked around.
Good, she thought, sighing with relief. Since she was at the back of the castle no one was guarding at this moment.

Evelyn and Tornac had also planned where she should head once she was outside city walls. She could not head south to Surda- what would they do once they found out she once served Galbatorix? She shouldn't head out west to the Hadarac Desert. Conditions there seemed unbearable and she'd have to travel numerous leagues to get out of it. What would she do once she does? Nothing is known about farther west of the Hadarac, few she knew about the Beor Mountains. Remaining options were to go either east or north. Directly east wasn't a good idea because there laid Dras-Leona, an important city of the Empire. North lied Gil'lead, a prison camp of the Empire.

What Evelyn woud have to do is go around the Ramr River and go northeast avoiding Dras-Leona. Then follow the Toark River into Teirm. She has two options beyond that point. Either stay in Teirm or move further north into the Spine, which she heard was a most dangerous place with bad omen. She once heard that half of Galbatorix's troops have disappeared within that mysterious wilderness! In this type of situation, she can care less now… After the Spine she would travel through Palancar Valley and into Therinsford.

Fortunately Tornac gave her the best and clearest map he could find- after all Evelyn knew nowhere beyond Uru'baen. He also set up a horse waiting far outside of the city with more supplies and a sword. Eve knew she could rely on her only friend, since she had no time to have a chat with anyone else within the castle. She sighed, depressed, as she remembered what she asked Tornac before she escaped.

"Tornac! Why don't you come along with me? I mean, do you really want to stay here, serving this damned place? Hm?', asked Evelyn with a playful smile on her face.

Tornac's warm smile fell into a depressed frown," I…I can't child, I have another that needs me, just like you once needed me…I'm sorry, but- but this is your chance of independence...!"

Evelyn guessed whom he was talking about. There was a young man only a few years older than her. It was Murtagh, Morzan's son. The fact that he was Morzan's son intimidated her. But he couldn't be "dangerous", after all, she always caught him spending plenty of time with Tornac when he's not busy.. Eve was definately disappointed…but she understood. Even though the boy, Murtagh, didn't look like it, maybe he really did need help like she did!

There was a small silence," I guess, this is goodbye?" said, Eve.

"Yes, I'll miss you", replied Tornac kindly giving Eve a hug.

Eve returned the hug to her only friend, and then stepped back, prepared.

"Farewell", she finally said depressed, then turned around and ran for the door.

"Farewell" Tornac said softly
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Evelyn sighed, recuperating. Tightening her cloaks, she started running with great speed. The feeling to be running on such an open space was never so liberating! The air rushing through her face was cool and she could smell the fresh, open air of the clear field. Evelyn couldn't help grinning- she was actually going to be free and out of the wretched place! She gave one last glance at the stonewalls. She accelerated her speed as the walls became more distant. At this rate, nothing else could stop her!

Before she knew it, a whizzing sound chased herthen stopped abruptly. At that point Evelyn lunged to the ground with a loud yelp, caught in surprise. In the process, her outer cloak was immediately torn off her body with a quick rip. She sat up, hurting all over and almost out of breath. Despite this she quickly looked behind her and saw that an arrow had caught her cloak. She was still wearing two more though.

She finally knew what was happening- guards from the watchtowers were aiming for her right this second!

Without a second to wait, Eve picked herself up and started running, trying to run off the pain that several bruises were stinging her with. But she had a strategy planned for these situations. Especially at a far distance like this, rangers tend to have a harder time to aim targets that are constantly moving side to side.

Figuring this out, she started running in zigzag, crooked paths, side-to-side, at different lengths and different paces. As she continued, she heard arrows piercing the ground behind her. She grinned, as her strategy worked and she was getting farther away from the city. Not for long, Evelyn was only a tiny speck that the watch guards can barely see.

A/N: Thanks for reading! This is the very first fanfic I have ever written so please review, it would help! ) If enough people like it, I'll put up Chapter 2 which I already have done.