Alys stared at the heavy book before her, not even reading anymore, just staring. her mind was numb and eyes dry from her long day of research. Immediately after her encounter with Shruikan, she went to her cousin, Queen Nasuada.

She now sat in Ilrea's castle, Nasuada's castle, by a dying candle late at night. She'd searched through every spellbook, she could find for hints on how to help Shruikan, but there wasn't a sign of anything useful.

Alys leaned back, tilting her head back. The pain grew throughout her body, skin started to burn. As she grew tired, a weak connection with Ugauc formed and she would feel his discomfort as her own, the Seithr Oil slowly killing him.

She felt her eyes well. "Why am I here?" She sighed, putting her head in her hands as she leaned her elbows on the desk. "I should be with him, comforting him." Her bottom lip pouted, a lump in her throat forming.

"How goes your research?"

Alys sniffed and wiped her eyes, turning to the voice.

Nasuada drifted towards her, a purple velvet night robe wrapped around her. A candlestick burned in her hand, illuminating her face.

Alys considered her for a moment on how to acknowledge her, as queen or cousin. "Um, not great?" She stuck to casual.

The queen hummed and lowered herself down beside her. "How are you doing?" She whispered, touching her forearm.

Alys pulled her arm away, wincing at the tenderness. She gave her an apologetic look.

Nasuada glanced at her candlestick between them. "Ah, his pain affects you. Even at this distance?"

Alys nodded. "I think it's because he's dying." She admitted softly, something she'd not wanted to, but knew.

Nasuada sighed softly. "I'm so sorry, Al. I can't imagine everything going on, your pain, the emotions, and knowing that." She looked away. "It must be awful."

Alys nodded. "It is..." She stared at the flickering flame as her vision blurred again with tears. She didn't stop them when they fell. "And he's all alone while I'm wasting my time..." Her lips pouted again as she wept, hands covering her face.

Nasuada gave her a pitying looked and hugged her gently. "Oh, Alys."

Alys buried her face in Nasuada's shoulder, holding her in return. "What-What do I do?"

Nasuada thought for a moment. "I think you need to rest, focus on your heart. If you decide to leave this dragon hunt for a while, do so. Ugauc needs you."

Alys sniffed and looked at her. "B-but so does Shru--the other dragon. They're m-miserable."

Her cousin sighed softly. "Then you need to settle on what's most important then. I know you'll figure it out. Your compassion will guide you."

*~*~*~*

Alys took her advice and stayed in the castle for a few extra days. She sat in the guestroom she'd been given and looked through a very old notebook.

Its pages were stained gold and the edges crumbled easily. It contained countless of unfinished scrawlings of spells.

Specifically, Galbatorix's spells from when he first went rogue. There was everything from a spell to sustain a newly-hatched dragonling to his spell to make soldiers not feel pain.

Alys scribbled down his earliest versions of, what she could make out to be, the growth spell he used on Shruikan. He had notes of the effects of each one like; too sudden and painful. He was screaming and bawling. And, extremely slow. Both in pain for days. Need to make it gradual over short spaces of time, often.

And finally, she found the finished one. The one he not only used on Shruikan, but Thorn.

Alys sighed softly. She'd read so much for his journals and books recently. She was scared it had changed her, morphing her to be as disturbing and monstrous and cruel as he was.

She copied down the final spell and stared at its wording to try write its antithesis.

It took a few writings, and several cups of caffeine, before she final had a eureka moment.

Alys stood up quickly, almost tipping over her chair and stared at her work. She translated it in her head and read it again and again, triple checking.

She grinned and finally whispered, "I'm coming, Shruikan!"

*~*~*~*

It didn't take much convincing to get a ride to the cave. The few riders on the castle grounds seemed delighted that Alys was excited. So as soon as she rushed to Murtagh, it wasn't long before she was on Thorn's back again.

"I take it your problem is solved?" Murtagh called as they flew.

Alys nodded. "The cave-dragon one, yes. Ugauc is far more complicated."

"I'm sure he'll be okay." He tried to reassure her, but the words felt empty to Alys.

"Yeah," she replied softly.

Thorn soon landed on the ledge. Good luck, hatchling-carer.

Alys smiled and petted his muzzle. "Thanks, Thorn." She looked at both dragon and Rider. "You don't have to wait for me."

Murtagh nodded. "Alright. If you do, use your scrying mirror and I'm sure someone will be happy to help."

She smiled softly and nodded. "Thanks again, both of you."

Thorn dove off the ledge and swooped away.

Alys watched for a moment and fixed her satchel. She drew in a breath and created an orb to hover in her palm. "Alright, Shruikan. I'm here." She whispered.

She strode forward, feeling confident this time. She cleared her throat. "I am here, skulblaka Shruikan."

A moment later a low hum vibrated through her. You've returned.

Alys kept moving. "And I know how to help you. How to free you from this cave."

He considered her words and spoke softly again. Go on.

She smiled to herself and soon appeared in front of him. "I can probably heal your eye too with time."

Shruikan hummed again. We'll see if I can trust you with such a task.

Alys frowned. "You'll trust me with the growth of your entire body, but not your eye?"

My size causes me great pain. My eye does not.

She nodded, understanding. "Shall I get started? And I'll try get you some food before I go. I know you don't need it but, may—"

How do you know I "don't need it"? Shruikan moved his giant head to try look at her, to see her for the first time.

Alys moved to try make it easier for him. "I've been... reading since I left here. Learning all I could about what Ga—he did to you."

He considered her for a moment, watching her with his working eye. Finally, he said, That's a lot for someone to bear. He peered at her, thinking, watching.

Alys nodded in agreement. "I knew he was awful to you... I just never knew the exact details. I'm sorry."

Shruikan blew some warm air on her, as gently as he could, which made her stumble a little. I suppose I should let you do what you can. And some food would be nice. I've not eaten much ever. Though I was never hungry.

Alys nodded. "I'll remove that spell from you if you want." She sat by his head. "Once you're able to hunt for yourself."

Shruikan radiated a warm, almost kind feeling with his mind. I think I'd like that.

She gently lay her hand on his face and whispered the words of her spell. Alys hoped she'd done all she could to make it as pain-free as possible. She reckoned if she visited him daily for the next few weeks, she could get him down to the size of a dragon of about seven centuries old. A size that'd be more manageable but not too disorienting.

Shruikan lay still for her, feeling the effects of her spell take hold. Not too bad so far.

Alys nodded and removed her hand. "Would you like me to leave?"

Do you want to go?

Alys hadn't expected him to be so friendly and wondered what had changed. "No."

Then stay, Shur'tugal.

She nodded. "Why are you acting like this?"

Shruikan glanced down. I was too harsh on you... I saw what you remembered of your dragon.

Alys blinked, tears blurring her vision again. "I see. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bother you with that." She looked away.

Why are you so sad about him?

She wiped her eyes. "Because he's dying... I was told to leave, almost forced out. I think the elves think I'm irresponsible. Or that if I see him suffer it'll change me for the worse. I don't know their logic, I just disagree with it. I'd rather be with him. Even if it means I end his suffering myself, I don't want him in pain anymore. I want Ugauc back, my Ugauc. I hope he'll have enough strength to disgorge his Eldunarí, if he wants to."

Shruikan's lip lifted in a snarl. That's perfectly cruel of them. I'll fly you up there myself to be there for him.

Alys smiled softly, lip quivering. "Y-You don't have to do that, Shruikan."

I will. For you, and for your dragon. Tell me about him while your spell alters me, if you can.

Alys sniffed softly and obliged. "He um, is confident in his looks and likes others to be confident with theirs. He likes to take things at his own pace and uh, doesn't really like training, so I bribe him with baths and scale treatments and the fact that if he trains, he'll stay pretty during battles."

Shruikan chuckled. You two sound very different.

She nodded. "We are, but it's not too bad. He knows that he has to be practical, and I let him dress up whenever he can. He likes perfecting his looks long before he gets the chance to wear them."

A dragon that dresses up? That's amusing. He snorted.

Alys frowned, insulted on Ugauc's behalf. "It makes him happy! And that's all that matters!" She felt more tears coming and her heart ache. "And he may never get to do it again."