As stated in my profile, this fic is in honor of my best friend, Gabe Rook, A.K.A shadowbard (RIP). It is the conclusion of the inheritance series…And more or less an adaption of Gabe's original story. So…here goes.

Eragon sat half awake, half asleep in the saddle, as Saphira glided slowly in the sky above Feinster, which was now a mass of shattered buildings feeding pillars of black smoke.. He rubbed a wound on his shoulder, where the cut had been surrounded by bruise, making it itch and twinge awfully when the cut had turn to scab. He had a dozen other injuries just like it, and had not bothered to heal them, as exhausted as he was from the previous day's battle. Even worse than those were the injuries of the mind-after the savage mental assault from his and Arya's bout with the shade, his head throbbed feircely.

And still he could not stop thinking! It's too much too quickly… Eragon thought. Barely a week ago I was fulfilling the first half of Solembum's advice by forging Brisingr, and discovering Brom was my father. He smiled slightly at this last thought; the revelation still filled him with pride. And now Oromis and Glaedr are dead, and I am truly the last of the free riders…how will this end?

Noticing his turmoil, Saphira turned her head slightly and said, Do not torture yourself, little one. What will be will be. Galbatorix will never win.

How can you be so sure? He responded. We have achieved and grown much…but Galbatorix has had over a century to build his power. If he could be defeated by two years of knowledge, two years of work, he would be long dead…In the end, it all boils down to a matter of power…and the undeniable fact that he has more than us…

Perhaps. Saphira said. But we bear with us the will of the riders. We bear Glaedr's heart of hearts. We bear the strength of Brom, Oromis, Arya, Nasuada, Orik, Roran, and others whose names we do not even know. It is our fate, our wyrd, to prevail. And so we shall.

Strengthened by Saphira's words, Eragon banished his greiving thoughts. You are right. We cannot fail, for there is too much at stake. We carry a will within us that Galbatorix cannot know; We fight with all of Alagaesia on our shoulders, while he fights to keep it at his feet. We have the lives of all who we hold dear to fight for, and we cannot fail them. That is why we cannot- will not lose. We will endure no matter what challenge faces us.

Saphira blinked, and said, And we have each other.

Eragon grinned, filled with hope for the end that was approaching. Aye. That we do.

Arya sat on the wall of Feinster, the first rest she had since the Varden's victory. But while her body lay still, her mind did not. How is it we are still alive? She suddnly wondered, filled with grim and morbid thoughts. We have fought well, and come so far…can it truly be that it is all only because Galbatorix does not see fit to leave his black keep?

And…why? Is he simply uninterested, or is he planning something? But what could he be plotting when he could destroy us all in an instant with his own power? She sighed, rubbing her eyes with the base of her hand. With the strength of the Eldunari, is he truly waiting, or is he merely lazy?

Frustrated by her thoughts, which forced her to face the fact that all the Varden's struggles could be for nothing. That everyone, Nasuada, Islanzadi, Saphira, Eragon… they could all die by a madman's whim.

Looking up towards the purple, smoke stained sky, she looked to where Saphira drifted with slow wing beats, and at her rider, the boy-man she corrected herself, knowing that he deserved to be called so after all he had done and and all he was. She looked at the speck that was Eragon. One man, who was so important to the Varden and so many others, including herself. One man, whose struggles shaped the fate of Alagaesia, and had endured against so much…the thought that he and all he fought for could be gone in an instant sickened her.

Arya sighed, holding her head in her hands. Whatever Galbatorix is planning, whatever happens…the true question, and the only one that matters is…will he be ready?

This is a short one, but it is the prologue, so yeah….Anyway, reviews are always welcome for all my stories. (Even if they're negative…I just like to know people are reading.) So review if you liked it, review if you didn't…

Anyway, one thing I feel I should say is that little wanderings of the mind that often get ignored sometimes have significance…I guess that's a little obvious for this chap...

Anyway, hope you liked it, and I look forward to bringing out more chapters soon!

Alex