The Varden were nearing belatona and preparing to fight.
Their plan was simple; Arya and Eragon were to ride Saphira, above bow range, and attack with magic, while blodhgarm and his elves would climb the walls and hopefully open the gates for the Varden. Arya and Eragon would then join the fighting and hope that Murtagh and Thorn didn't appear.
Eragon fastened brisingr to the belt of beuloth the wise. He strode outside to find Arya waiting for him, staring into space. She jumped when he approached.
Eragon leapt onto Saphira and Arya settled behind him. She placed her arms around his waist; he felt a jolt of excitement as her soft skin touched his.
Saphira crouched and flung herself into the night sky, into battle.
"I did not know that you had Angela read your fortune" mentioned Arya
"It was before I met you" Eragon stated simply
"It seems strange that we have the same fates. And by the way, if you tell anyone about this, I will kill you. If people know we have similar fates, they will start to talk about why we would leave alagaesia and abandon them." She said coldly
Eragon shivered as he remembered his dream from so long ago
-He watched as a group of people on proud horses approached a lonely river. Many had silver hair and carried tall lances. A strange, fair ship awaited them, shining under a bright moon. The figures slowly boarded the ship: two of them, taller than the rest, walked arm in arm. Their faces were obscured by cowls but he could tell that one was a woman. They stood on the deck of the ship and faced the shore. A man stood alone on the pebble beach, the only one who had not boarded the ship. He threw back his head and let out a long, aching cry. As it faded, the ship glided down the river, without breeze or oars, out into the flat, empty land. The vision clouded and he glimpsed two dragons in the sky-
Eragon came back to reality. He found himself staring at Arya.
"I promise I won't tell anyone, except Saphira of course but I won't really tell her she'll see it in my mind …… I should really stop talking now, right?"
Arya's only reaction was a fierce glare.
"Eragon!" exclaimed Saphira
"What, I'm not a 5 year old; I think I handled that perfectly."
"I know your not 5 but sometimes you act like it. So stop staring at her!"
"Oh, right"
The rest of their journey was spent in silence.
Before long they noticed 12 silent figures running towards the city walls, followed by a larger group of many thousands in an arrowhead formation.
The Elves scaled the walls and when they were safely inside; Arya threw an emerald fireball towards the palace. It burst into flames and a high pitched scream was heard. This was followed by another, this time sapphire fireball from Eragon.
The gates swung open. The Varden emerged from the outside, banging swords against shields, an unstoppable human battering ram.
Eragon heard the shout of "CHARGE" From Nasuada
"Saphira, land!" he cried
"Ready?"
"Go!"
Saphira emerged from the clouds, sparkling in the soft moonlight, a menacing yet beautiful creature, ready to attack.
As she landed, the two elves jumped from her back to the ground and, drawing their swords, ran to what was left of the palace.
Arya and Eragon cast spells to detect life. There was no one. They swung around to find themselves facing at least 30 soldiers. Arya's sword arched through the air in a deadly dance, anyone who was unfortunate to be under her blade, Died.
A solider raised his hammer to attack.
"Jeirda" muttered Eragon. The soldiers head snapped back and he crumpled.
Eragon stabbed and slashed with brisingr as did Arya with her own elven blade until there was only one soldier left.
"T….that's not natural, no human can be that fast, or strong" the man stuttered
"That is because we are not human. And no human can do this either" Arya stepped forward and grabbed the soldiers neck, He fell to the floor.
Eragon spotted Nasuada surrounded by yet more soldiers. He grabbed Arya's hand and pulled her towards them.
A soldier raised his blade and slashed towards Nasuada before she could react.
"Deyja" muttered Arya. The man crumpled. She spun to her left and beheaded his companion. Eragon stabbed brisingr at the warriors' necks. He staggered as an arrow hit him and another her, draining his wards around them both.
Nasuada shot another of the empires men with her bow and the last fell to an urgal blade.
"Eragon!" Came a desperate cry from Saphira.
Eragon and Arya joined Saphira and attacked the soldiers. Soon they were surrounded by a sea of bodies although they had all acquired numerous new injuries.
The city had gone quiet.
The fighting had stopped!
There were no more soldiers!
THE VARDEN HAD WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Saphira released a jet of blue flames into the sky.
Nasuada led the Varden back to camp along with the citizens of belatona that had joined them.
Saphira flew Eragon and Arya back.
"Saphira, will you let me heal your leg?"
"No little one, wait until later."
When they landed Eragon went to Nasuada's red pavilion.
"Enter" she said wearily.
She was still wearing her armour which was the dyed the colour of her tent.
"That was over quicker than expected" She said
"Yes, I am surprised that murtagh and thorn didn't show up." Agreed Eragon, sitting on the small wooden table. "but I have a feeling that there was a reason for it being so easy."
"Maybe"
There was silence for several minutes. Then Nasuada clapped her hands and said with a smile,
"I am tired and I am sure you are as well so you should go back to your tent."
Eragon nodded but he noticed that her smile did not quite reach her almond shaped eyes. He stared at her suspiciously.
"Alright. Good night my lady."
"To you to Shadeslayer."
He left the pavilion and entered his own tent a few minutes later. He healed Saphira's injury before lying in his own bed.
"Good night Saphira."
"Good night little one" she muttered.
That night he dreamt of the battle and how glad he was to win. Then the dream changed but no image appeared in his head, only words.
"Brom, someday I'll return."