So here is the fourth Chapter. Told you it wouldn't be long before I get it up=D
BTW I realise that some of things that have happened are probably not consistent with the book but this site is called fanfiction for a reason so just keep that in mind when you read this
Enjoy
Disclaimer: Wait, I'll just recall the past hour to see if anything has changed...nope still nothing.
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Arya turned to the sound of a limp Eragon land on the ground a couple of meters in front of her. The anxiety gripped her throat; constricting her voice and making it come out as a whisper. "Eragon?"
He didn't stir. Arya watched him as she felt a huge lump form in her throat. She was about to go in his mind to find out if he's alright but Glaedr entered hers.
"Arya stop!"
"But I have to see if Eragon is okay!" She replied desperately.
"I know Arya but I fear that Galbatorix has somehow set a trap for anyone who enters."
"But if he is in danger then I must help him!"
"Arya, listen to me!" Glaedr bellowed in her head. "Sometimes when one tries to do good it can only make the situation worse!"
Arya sighed heavily in frustration and reluctantly agreed with Glaedr. What good could she be to Eragon if she too was under Galbatorix's spell?
"Arya Dröttningu" Galbatorix announced with his hands out to the sides in a gesture that suggests he has no weapons. Shruikan was standing behind his rider barring his teeth. To Arya, it sort of made him look like he was smiling, but all she could see was how easily his teeth could tear her in half. "You grow more beautiful everyday Dröttningu."
Arya tried to keep her face void of emotion but she couldn't help the hot glare or the scowl that forced its way onto her face when she looked at him. She glanced towards Murtagh as he tended to Thorns wounds that Jade had inflicted.
"Come now Arya." Galbatorix said dropping his hands. "There is no need for such a hateful look. I am being kind to you."
Arya looked out over to where Saphira and Eragon were. She could just make out Saphiras form in the distance. She looked to Jade beside her and watched her eyes blink lazily. She finally looked to Eragon, at his unmoving body and found the lump impossible to swallow past.
Her eyes found Galbatorix as the hot glare returned. She clenched her teeth to keep from screaming at him. "How did you find out?"
"You are not the only one with spies Dröttningu." He answered smirking. "Except, we knew from the moment they arrived, who they were. So we had to speak very carefully around them."
"So you knew about Jade? About me being a Dragon rider?" Arya asked. She thought that maybe if she asks questions then she could buy enough time for Eragon to wake up.
"Naturally, my spies informed me of such news." He shrugged casually. "You see my dear; you have walked into your own trap"
"What of the Varden and your men?"
"Well, that was not part of the plan so I let them have it out." He scoffed as he leered at her. "Boys will be boys."
Anger bubbled up inside of Arya and she couldn't contain it. "How could you send your own men into a battle in which you could've stopped! They could die for nothing! How can you - -"
"I did what I did to keep yours and Eragons suspicions alive." He said calmly with a wave of his hand.
She had to take control of the situation and to do that she first had to control her emotions. So she just gritted and spoke through her teeth. "What of Jade, Saphira and Eragon? What have you done to them?"
Murtagh came back to Galbatorix's side as Arya glanced to see Thorn all healed. "I've paralyzed the Dragons with a simple spell." Murtagh announced. Arya thought that to be a good thing as all Murtagh needs is a huge distraction to break his link to the spell. But Arya was in no position to do so.
"And a good job he has done." Galbatorix said still keeping his gaze on Arya. "While he has control of the Dragons, I have control over Eragons mind." He said walking towards her.
Arya thanked Glaedr for stopping her before. He was right. If she did enter Eragons mind then she would probably be useless by now.
"What do you plan on doing to them?"
He stopped in front of her and scrutinized her up and down. Arya, for the first time in her life, felt vulnerable under a gaze other than her mothers. She was thankful that her body was frozen otherwise Galbatorix and Murtagh both would've seen her shiver under the cold, judgemental gaze.
He finally met her eyes and looked at her with feigned innocence. "Why Arya, what makes you think that I have a say in the matter?"
She frowned in confusion at him. "What do you mean?"
"Whatever you say or do, from this moment on will decide their fate." He replied with a sly smile. "I will not harm them, nor will Murtagh, if I am pleased with how you act. But if I am displeased then, well, let us pray that I do not feel that way."
Her razor glare was trained on him as he stepped away with a shake of his head. "Now Arya, do you think that hateful look pleases me?"
Once the words left his mouth and before Arya had time to react, Eragon let loose the most terrible scream she had ever heard. It sent shivers down her spine as she watched him snap into a straight board with his fingers and toes curling.
"Stop! Galbatorix leave him alone!" Arya screamed. She could hear Saphiras own growls in the distance as she could feel that her rider was in a world of pain without her being able to help.
Galbatorix turned his own hot glare on Arya. "You do not address me so informally! It is King Galbatorix or my King!"
Arya didn't seem that it was possible that Eragons screams could become louder and more agonizing, but she was proven wrong. She wanted to cover her ears from the piercing scream.
To Arya, there is nothing in the land of Alagaësia more foul tasting than having his name roll off her tongue in such a high status. But this was not about her, she knew that she'd have to swallow her pride and let him be pleased so he can stop hurting Eragon.
"Please King Galbatorix! Stop hurting him!"
"Hmm, that's better"
Eragons screams stopped which left a ring to the quiet air around them. Arya watched him curl up into a ball and cradle his head in his hands while he had violent convulsions. She rushed over to him and knelt at his side. Only until she laid a comforting hand on his squirming shoulder did Arya realise that she moved.
She looked up at Galbatorix questioningly as he smiled back with his arms out to his sides. "I told you I am kind towards you."
"What do you want with me? Why have you released me and not invaded my mind like the others?"
"I told you Dröttningu, I want to chat."
Murtagh began to make his way towards her. She was prepared to fight him when she remembered Eragons agonizing screams. Murtagh forcefully pushed Arya out of the way as he picked up a limp Eragon and held Zar'roc under his throat.
Arya got up and looked on terrified. "Galb...King Galbatorix! You gave your word!"
"Do not fear Arya; just make sure to keep me pleased."
Arya took a deep, calming breath to help to keep her cool. She can't afford to lose her temper now. "What is it you want?"
Galbatorix chuckled silently to himself as he walked towards Arya. "Is it not obvious Arya Dröttningu?" He stopped in front of her again and whispered. "I want you."
Aryas breath hitched in her throat. She felt like a duck on the water; on the outside she showed no emotion, she almost looked relaxed. But underneath her body was reacting something fierce to those words. "What?"
"It seems fitting that a King should have a Queen Arya. What a better Queen to have than the Elves very own Princess." She felt her stomach turning over at the very thought of her being with him like that. She couldn't even stand the close proximity that they are in already, though three more people could fit comfortably – with their shoulders touching - between them.
"Obviously..." Galbatorix started as he made his way behind her and whispered in her ear. "I expect you to be my queen in every way. That means you must be loyal to me and your subjects. Be involved in every decision and law passing processes with your full attention and honest opinions. Serve me by providing an heir." He placed his hands on her shoulders. Arya made herself stand still instead of acting on her reaction of squirming out from under his touch. "Think of the people Arya. There will be no more pointless bloodshed. If we can unite two different races then we can set the example and pave the way for a brighter future for peace."
"Glaedr! Help me." Arya pleaded with the Dragon.
"I do not know what to tell you Arya." His reply made it sound like he was as surprised as her.
"Tell me what I should do!"
"I cannot tell you that Arya. You must know yourself what needs to be done." Glaedr said in a reassuring voice. "But I will tell you to listen to your heart, not your head."
"Glaedr is right Arya." Jades voice went through Aryas head. It was so nice to hear her purring voice again. She looked to Jade and saw her own eyes staring back at her. "You must do what you know is right not what you think is right."
Arya seriously considered their words. If she didn't marry Galbatorix then Eragon, Saphira, Jade and the Varden will all fall under Galbatorix's ruthless ways. Arya could never forgive herself for putting herself before everyone. The unforgivable guilt would stay with her until she finally meets her end. Galbatorix says that the war will be over, the people will be saved and Arya would make sure that everyone in the farthest corners will get food and medicine to end the poverty that plagues small villages.
She knows that this opportunity will never come again and they have no hope of surviving at this moment if she tries to fight back. Arya, trying to keep her voice as official and powerful as possible spoke. "What will happen to Saphira, Jade and Eragon?"
"Well, Saphira and Jade are female Dragons and Shruikan and Thorn are male Dragons, so they will mate to produce more Dragons to populate our lands like it use to be. As for Eragon well, he will have to die."
Aryas eyes widened. Déjà vu was playing at her memory as she felt this situation somehow familiar. She turned around to face Galbatorix and stepped away from him. "But you said harm would not come to them from you or Murtagh. You gave me your word."
"That I did." Galbatorix clasped his hand behind his back as he circled her slowly like a vulture circles it's pray. "But I did not say that you cannot kill him." He stopped beside Eragon as he watched Arya.
"You must be mad to think that I will purposely harm Eragon." She immediately regretted her words when Eragons screams tore at her ears. Murtagh had to lean back and tighten his hold on Eragon as he went as stiff as a board again.
"The more you prolong his death Arya the longer he will suffer!" Galbatorix shouted over Eragons screams. "This is not the worst of it Arya. I am merely touching the surface of what I can really do to him." Eragons screams stopped as he began to have more violent convulsions under Zar'roc and in Murtaghs arms. He groaned and started to mutter incoherent words that Arya could not understand. "Just a little thorns prick really."
The last thing that Arya wanted to do was to harm Eragon any more than what she already has done. There is no sugar coating the closed lipped and emotionless answers and rebuffs that she has had to do to him. At the time she thought his infatuation with her as a distraction so she thought the dismissals necessary, but if she was being truly honest then she would know that she was just scared to admit it.
She tried to imagine the roles in reverse; what would Eragon do in her situation? Better yet, what would she want Eragon to do if she was in his situation? Arya needn't to think on it. She wouldn't want Eragon to kill her just so the pain won't be dealt. No, she would endure the pain if it meant that there was still a glimmer of hope.
It suddenly occurred to Arya that Galbatorix wants Eragon dead because with him still alive everyone will still have hope for freedom, and with hope comes determination. Galbatorix will have more blood on his hands and he knows that most of it will be his.
Arya swallowed hard as she looked at Eragon. She was shocked to see his eyes open and looking around confused at his surroundings. Arya was willing him to look at her, to meet her eyes. When they finally did she saw them glazed and distant. Although she could tell that he couldn't grasp a clear view of her, she was amazed at how much strength Arya could draw from him just from a simple look. But it never surprised her. Arya had always been able to draw strength from Eragons own strength and determination, he had been a rock when they had been in trouble like this before and he never ceased to amaze her at how much resolve he had. He would never give up, even in situations like this. He would give his last breath to fight injustice and to save others. And that's what Arya must do now.
She looked Galbatorix in the eye and spoke with strength. "No."
"No?" He asked her incredulously as he marched towards her.
She waited until he was standing right in front of her. She could feel her face making that same scowl and her eyes cloud over by rage at him and this time, she made no mistake in letting him see it. "I will not end his life to favour a spineless fool like you."
Galbatorix shook with rage as Eragons screams filled the air. Arya tried her best not to flinch at the sound; she made sure to keep full eye contact with him. "Well, well, well Galbatorix. It seems that even though you have us captured and could easily end us you are still afraid of us." The impact of the backhand made Arya fall onto her back. She felt the air leave her lungs and a horrible copper taste fill her mouth as blood oozed from her split lip.
Arya desperately tried to gasp for air while lying on her back. Once she finally had, she was being hauled up by her hair and standing in front of a very red Galbatorix. She spat bloody saliva at him as she screamed at him. "Even though we will be dead your men will also die and the Varden will come after you with even more hate! You will not be able to withstand them! Their numbers will overwhelm ten Dragon riders let alone a worthless scum of a rider like you and your bastard of a puppet!" Zar'roc cut into her neck breaking the skin as Murtagh tightened his hold on her while Galbatorix punched her across her cheek.
Arya felt dazed as the impact left a ringing in her ears. She felt a strong hand clamp down on her jaw and was made to look at him. It hurt her lip as she felt more flesh being torn open. "I will wipe out everyone who will stand in my way of dominion over this pathetic land." He suddenly had his sword in his hand as he placed the tip of it on her stomach. "I think I will start with you Arya Dröttningu."
Galbatorix was about to plunge his steel through her when a series of confusing events stopped him. Her Elf ears picked up a whistle coming through the air at speed then it hit something solid with a thunk. She could still hear screaming coming from Eragon but someone else's screams joined in with his. She felt a forceful and painful sensation occur across the side of her neck which made her fall to the ground. She saw Galbatorix look past Arya at where Murtagh was and yelled an angry protest.
Arya looked to the ground and found Murtagh on the ground writhing in pain as an arrow protruded from his shoulder. She then saw five figures running at such a fast pace towards her but couldn't make out who they were. She turned to the sound of angry growls as Saphira tackled Shruikan and Jade pinned Thorn to the ground. The arrow was more than enough to break Murtaghs concentration on the spell and now Jade and Saphira were free.
She smiled at the sight but it soon evaporated when she happened to look up and saw Galbatorix with his black sword raised above his head with the point right above Arya, ready to run her through. He screamed his rage as his intent was clear. Arya was frozen; she hurt all over and was tired. She couldn't move. She watched with fear as she knew she was about to die.
All of a sudden with a horrible gurgle sound and a spray of blood, a blue blade bathed in blood protruded from Galbatorix's chest. It was then that Arya realised that Eragons screams had stopped.
Galbatorix looked down at the sword and back at Arya showing her his surprise. A hand came up and grabbed the sword from Galbatorix's limp hands - before he could drop it into Arya – and with a grunt the sword disappeared from where it came from and Galbatorix fell to his side dead. Finally.
Arya looked at him stunned as his lifeless eyes looked at nothing. She looked to where Saphira had tackled Shruikan and saw his unmoving body, confirming Galbatorix's death.
She finally looked up at a panting Eragon standing above her with his blade dripping with the foul blood of the late Kings. He offered her his hand to help her up as she stared into his eyes. She could still see the pain drifting in them. She took his hand and with a strong pull she was on her feet, albeit unsteady. She put her hands on his shoulders as he held her elbow to keep her steady.
She just stared into his brown eyes absolutely speechless. Everything had happened so fast. She watched as his boyish grin started to grace his lips. "We did it Arya. We've won."
Arya smiled a huge smile at him as his words hit her. The war is over. She pulled him in for a hug. The last time they had hugged was out of mourning but now it is out of victory. She held onto him tight as did Eragon as they laughed together.
Arya pulled away and held Eragon at arm's length. "The war is over. In all my years I never thought I would live to see this glorious day!"
Eragon softly smiled at her as he replied. "I am so happy that you have lived to see the day the reign of Galbatorix has ended." He hesitated a little but it was such a small hesitation that Arya couldn't tell if it was really a hesitation or just a pause. "I am also overjoyed to still see you with life in your eyes Arya, though in bad shape." He chuckled softly as he tenderly touched the side of her cheek where Galbatorix had punched her.
Arya suddenly became aware of how close they were and how his other warm hand was still rested on her waist. She had an impulse of pulling him closer, finding that he was not close enough. It was odd how much she liked his touch and she vaguely wondered how she could've resisted his touch for so long. It was so tender, so warm and so...loving.
Eragon turned around and dropped his hands as Saphira landed behind him and muzzled him affectionately. He laughed and turned around to hug his Dragon around her neck. Arya watched on as she felt a tingling on her cheek where his hand was.
She felt a little nudge on her back and turned around to see Jade standing behind her. "I am so proud of you my Elf."
Arya, feeling tears well up in her eyes from all the emotions coursing through her, threw her arms around Jades neck. "I love you Jade, so much!" Arya felt Jade laugh under her as she angled her big neck to hug her back.
"Arya Dröttningu! Are you okay?"
Arya turned to find Blödhgarm standing before her panting with a bow in one hand, a sword in the other, a quiver full of bows strapped across his shoulders and blood coating him. "Blödhgarm! Is any of this your blood?"
He smiled a sly smile back, showing a fang as he replied. "They were no match."
She looked behind him to find four of the twenty spell casters standing behind him in near the same condition. Some with visible cuts, all with swords and all were panting. She looked back to Blödhgarm as realisation hit her. "You shot Murtagh. You saved me. You saved Eragon!"
"No one threatens our Princess or our treasured Riders. I am sworn to protect Eragon with my life and I do no less." He said proudly.
Arya was about to answer back when she heard a low rumble. They turned to the source and found Thorn nudging Murtaghs body. If Thorn is still alive that means...
"Murtagh!" Eragon called as he rushed over to him. Arya limped over as her stab wound shot pain up her leg every time she put pressure on it. She knelt beside Eragon who was comforting Murtagh.
"Thank you Eragon." Murtagh whispered. "You kept your word. You broke the bond that keeps me to Galbatorix."
"No need to thank me, just hold on, I'll heal you." Eragon said as he moved to look at the wound Murtagh grabbed Eragons arm.
"It is too deep a wound Eragon. Even with your transformation into an Elf and even though the arrow has hit none of my vitals, your magic will not be enough. It will kill you if you try."
Eragon just smiled back as he showed Murtagh Brom's ring. "This ring holds a lot of magic my brother. It will be enough." Murtagh studied his eyes for a while and finally let Eragon move to the arrow on his back.
"This will hurt." Eragon announced as he grasped the arrow. Arya took hold of Murtaghs hand and gave it a squeeze. He met her eyes as she smiled a reassuring smile. From the simple look and touch she tried to tell him that she was glad to have him back. Murtagh squeezed her hand back as he set his jaw so as not to bite his tongue off. Arya assumed that gesture meant he got the message.
With a forceful pull followed by an agonizing scream, Eragon already had his hand over the hole in Murtaghs back. "Waíse heill!"
Murtaghs skin healed layer by layer. The skin knitted together as it healed over, leaving only a faint white scar. Murtagh took in a big breath as he sat up. He turned and looked at Eragon. "Thank you, my brother"
Eragon smiled at him and pulled him for a brotherly hug. As Murtagh pulled away he turned towards Thorn and flung his arms around his Dragon and laughed with tears in his eyes.
He was finally free.
The plan worked perfectly.
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I hope that was exciting! And I also hope it was understandable, like I wasn't jumping from one thing to another and I wasn't confusing anyone.
One more chapter after this and it's finished=D
Melissa
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