Oh my gods, I wasn't expecting people to like this so much! Thank you to my reviewers last chapter, it means so much to me that y'all decided to share your thoughts~

Naerys Targaryen - Thank you so much for your kind words! I've been writing seriously for about seven years - which is just under two years away from being half of the time I've been alive - and in all honesty I still have a bit of work to do before I'm where I want to be with writing ability. That being said, I'm honoured to be counted among those whose stories you've read and enjoyed. I'm glad that you like the story thus far, and hope my plans for it in the future don't disappoint~ In response to your question, here's the pronunciation for the names (and I've included my other two OCs from this chapter as well):

Illarion - Ill-ahr-ee-uhn / Rion - Ree-uhn

Verune - Veh-roon-ay

Adeire - Ah-deh-air

Ellisian - Ell-is-ee-uhn

Prindles - Thank you as well~ I'm glad you enjoy what I've written so far, and I hope I continue to meet your expectations.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my original characters and the adaptations to the original plotline to better weave my characters into the world of Alagaesia.

Chapter One Part Two: From the Ashes

A hooded figure moved through the shadows cast by the dim light of the setting sun, strange dark grey, almost black, eyes peering up at the palace. When the figure drew near, guards came to block its path, only to pause when a female voice, sickly sweet, came from within the darkened hood of the blood red cloak.

"I'm sure the King would love to know that his own guards are prohibiting the entrance of his Right Hand... perhaps I should take care of yours for him, hm?"

At the thinly veiled threat and the icy tone with which she spoke, unfitting of a voice as clear and harmonious as her own, the guards recognized who she was and stood down. The female smirked and passed them by, removing her hood when she found her way into the palace. Her skin was smoother than that of any human, nearly devoid of color. Her hair was straight as an arrow and white as snow, pulled back to reveal the tapered tips of her ears. The only color on her body, besides her strange eyes with their cat-like pupils, was the red of her lips, stained by what appeared to be blood.

She strode through the halls, humming quietly to herself, trailing her fingers over stray plants littering the walkways, which shriveled at her touch. She walked right into the throne room, and sneered at the sight of the Shade that spoke to her King, elongated canines bared in a silent snarl. Her people and the bastardized necromancers had never gotten along well.

"Ah, there you are."

The female snapped to attention at the sound of her King's voice, bowing deeply. "My Lord," she said respectfully before rising and stalking closer toward the two others in the room like a lioness on the hunt. "Please excuse any disrespect to yourself, my king, but... why are you associating with this... scum?"

The man on the throne chuckled, drawing a confused look from the female. "This Shade has offered us the chance of a lifetime, my dear girl." the King said, a hint of triumph in his voice. "The lands of the place called Alagaesia, far to the east, are in turmoil, ripe for the taking."

The female blanched inwardly, her mind reeling, though she remained as composed as ever, simply throwing the Shade a sideways glare. "Alagaesia?" She questioned softly, hesitating.

"Yes, my dear. Alagaesia." the King replied, a certain softness passing over his features a moment before turning back to the man before him. "We accept, Shade Durza. On one condition."

The Shade - Durza was his name, she would have to make note of that for the future - raised an eyebrow. "The terms are not up for negotiation." Durza hissed, and the girl forced down a growl and the urge to kill him where he stood. No one dared defy her King, no one, not while she-

"I simply want you to understand that my Right Hand is to be protected at all costs. My men will die for her, and I expect King Galbatorix's soldiers to do the same."

The girl blinked in shock and focused her attention on her King, aching to ask him what he was doing, but knew she could do no such thing. Not now, during his dealings with the Shade.

Durza snickered. "Of course," he said calmly. "It was wonderful doing business with you, King Adeire. I look forward to seeing your so-called 'Right Hand' in action." He bowed with a flourish, and was gone.

The pale girl turned to her King, a single question burning in her eyes.

Why?

King Adeire smiled sadly, an ebony hand beckoning her closer. The dark-skinned male was young for their kind, but he was stronger and smarter than anyone she knew. He was a brilliant leader, so why would he...?

"How could you make such a promise?" The female was the one to break the silence, her voice hard and accusing. "How could you make deals with a tyrant such as Galbatorix? The Varden, the elves... they will all be slaughtered! And where will we be then? With no one in his own country to oppose him, he will conquer Surda. And then... then he will come for us! How could you be such a fool?!" As she spoke, her voice rose until she was all but screaming at him, and finally he had had enough.

"Theyna!" King Adeire shouted, standing, his voice echoing off the walls. The girl fell silent immediately, compelled by the magic behind the command, her eyes downcast. "I'll not have such accusations made in my own palace, and certainly not by you! You think I know nothing of his character? I know more than you are aware of, girl. I did what I had to in order to keep my people safe. I know what he has done... and what he has done to you... and I swear that when the moment comes, we will strike. Now please, leave me to my thoughts... much has happened this day."

The girl simply bowed and turned on her heel. When she had reached the door, her King's voice stopped her. "Ellisian... do not worry. I know what I am doing."

"Do you really?"

And with that, she was gone.

Adeire slumped down into his throne once more, pinching the bridge of his nose. Ellisian knew Alagaesia better than any other in his Council, as she had been there many years ago. Before the Fall, she had been an emissary for her kind, for her kingdom... and now... now he was sending her back there, to fight for the one whom she hated above all others. She would do as he asked, he knew, but at what cost? Her loyalty? Her trust?

...Her life?

Gods above, he thought to himself, looking up at the ceiling as if it held all the answers, I hope I am making the right choice.

Darkness.

Pain.

That was all she knew, all she dared expect. She had forgotten what the sun looked like, how it felt to have the light warming her skin. She missed her home dearly... and yet there she was, stuck in Uru'baen as the Mad King's prisoner. Her skin was like ivory now, its lack of color blinding to her sensitive eyes. A spell gone wrong. She had tried to escape and failed, which had nearly cost her life. She was dead inside, months of torture taking its toll. Her cat-like blue-grey eyes no longer held the same light. She was broken, afraid. Not afraid for herself, but rather afraid for her people, others of her kind. Once Galbatorix found out - if he found out - there would be no safe place for them. He would hunt them down wherever they ran to... but, at least across the ocean, it would take him a while to find them.

She had to survive. She had to fight.

She had to protect her people...

Galbatorix could never discover what she was, for it would mean death for them all.

Chapter One Part Two: From the Ashes - Complete

Theyna - Be silent

I know, this chapter is short, painfully so. I'm rather disappointed by the length, in all honesty, but I wasn't entirely certain what else to do with part two. The way I'm setting this up is rather different from stories I've written in the past, but I wanted to try something new, and it fits the story rather well, so I'm going to stick with this setup until the two tales meet. Part One of each chapter will focus on Illarion and Verune and their companions, while Part Two will be centered around Adeire and Ellisian.

I hope y'all enjoyed this brief look into the Western Lands.

Until we next meet,

-DTW