The end of a long darkness (Clarissa)

[David Lightningsword]

Heralda willowed in Memories of her Rider..

"Heralda.. It is too late for him. Morzan has killed him" Kronos told the partner of his heart and mind high above the battlefield. Heralda mewed a cry of grief as she watched her mate fall to Zar'roc. He was so much older..so much stronger.. but Morzan and his dragon were creatures of darkness. Their black magic was his downfall.
"I know little one... I still want to rip their hearts out." She responded saddly. Kronos sighed, greif overwhelming him as well.. many of their friends had fallen, both Rider and Dragon alike. The riders greatly outnumbered the Forsworn, yet they were still failing. Doru Araeba  would fall. soon.

Heralda Twisting through the air and she dodged Glaerun and his dragon. She closed off her mind to Kronos and concentrated on outrunning the dragon. She was aware of Kronos using his bow to shoot arrows at Glaerun, and tried to keep steady enough for him to kill the traitor. After a few moments, she felt Kronos's hand on her neck and she opened her mind up to him again
"Glaerun has gone off to fight another Rider. Heralda.. We have to run." He said sadly. Heralda growled and said
"We can not abandon the other Riders and Dragons.. if we are doomed to die, I will die with my brethren!" Kronos sighed and said with a lot of emotion
"We have more of a chance to end Galbatorix if we leave and bide our time. We have to run." Heralda roared because she saw the truth in his words, she reluctantly turned and flew with full speed away from the battle.

It was mere minutes later that they both heard the explosion that destroyed Doru Araeba. Heralda set loose a cry of grief, but kept flying..knowing Galbatorix and his black dragon were not far behind them.

Heralda was brought back top the present when she felt a mind making its way towards her. She sighed mentally and prepared her mind for when Galbatorix or whoever this was would try to break it. She was detirmined to hold out as long as possible, for Galbatorix himself had told her the varden was getting closer and closer to Uru'baen.

[Brenton]

CLarissa, tall and regal in her stance, walked down the stone stairs briskly toward a room she was told to attend. As the toxins maker and one of the strongest in even the darkest of magic, the daughter of Galbatorix was expected to succeed where others failed. She was told to go to an eldunari that her father had been working to break but having no luck so she had left her newly hatched Vervada in her chambers. Now she wore her red and black billowing blouse over a black pair of leggings tied by a red sash that held a thin bladed sword in place as well as her pouches of toxins and explosives. A red and black cloak was wrapped over her shoulders while her long hair fell down into her fair face.

A small gleaming band of a tiara rested atop her head as she stepped past the guards and into the room. There was the eldunari of Heralds, one of the last dragons killed by the Forsworn. Clarissa stood still and then spun on her heel and slammed her hand into the stone wall. A guard loomed in but the princess him out impatiently.

Greetings Heralda, dragon of Kronos, my name is Clarissa Jessaminesdaughter. I am the only daughter of Galbatorix to have come forward and I am the rider of Vervada. She hatched two days ago for the battle that is approaching and I was called down to break you when I want to spend time with her. Now I see I can't break someone who is as strong as you are.

[David Lightningsword]

Heralda growled as a mind entered hers, but it was not Galbatorix, but his daughter, Clarissa, Rider of some Vervada. She could tell the girl was trying to soften Heralda up to be broken, but Heralda was old enough not to be fooled by flattery. She did not lower her defenses, but did commune with the girl "You are Right, Clarissa Daughter of the Egg Breaker. I have survived 50 years without falling to the black hearted traitor, I can survive a few more months until the Varden come and breaks down your walls." She growled menacingly

Heralda then decided to add, not as harsh "If I were you, I would return to your Vervada. Your days are numbered with her, as i am sure the traitor will force you to fight. The bond between Dragon and Rider is a rare beauty, and to have it ripped away is the worst feeling ever." With that Heralda attacked Clarissa minds, not to take control or hurt her, but to show her memories. Memories of Heralda's fall, how she felt when Morzan drive Zar'roc through Kronos' heart. She showed her a select few memories of happy times with Kronos, in their early years when she was a hatchling, and some of their time in the ranks of the riders. next she showed the battle of Doru Araeba, of her father in all his meancing glory, slaying rider after rider.

[Brenton]

Dragon, think not that just because I am the daughter of Galbatorix and that I rarely kill that I will not smash your precious heart of hearts if you attack my mind once more. I am one of the strongest in magic and I know many ways to do so tortuously so you push your luck right now. I came here and spoke to you in a friendly manner but you betrayed me with you assault. Don't assume you can do it again. Clarissa's voice was deadly calm with hints of malice dripping from her words as she glared at the eldunari and brought forth her magic, prepared to cast a dark spell meant to cause as much pain as possible while shattering the stone.

She would not take this abuse after being so kind and for the ancient mind to threaten Vervada indirectly was a move ache would not take sitting down. There were things a rider could deal with and then there were things a rider was less likely to be understanding about. This was one of those times she wouldn't be understanding of Heralda's actions.

[David Lightningsword]

Heralda continued to growl, not letting what Clarissa said break her defenses. "I would welcome death. To die free is better than to live enslaved" She commented, speaking the cold hearted truth. More than once she had tried to find a way to destroy her heart of hearts. It started right after her body died, and when she found that venture unsuccessful, she had slipped into the depression that had kept her free this long. Once she had found the light at the end of the tunnel, she again tried to find a way to end her existence. She only stopped when she was informed that the Varden were on their way, fighting across the whole country. Now it was all she could do to repel Galbatorix's attacks. The Old Dragon was not going to let Clarissa sneak past her defenses.

She then said to the daughter of the egg breaker "Do your worst. For I shall remain free until the Varden arrive and slay your father." She then braced herself for the pain that was coming.