But yet again, fate was siding with Eragon; it was out of nowhere that Murtagh appeared, riding Thorn and slashing at Galbatorix's back.

The king easily parried the attack, but it was enough of a distraction to free Saphira and Eragon from being held in place.

It was as though someone had turned them back on. Saphira continued to fly through the air at the speed in which she was frozen, flinging Galbatorix off, though Shruikan appeared, quick as an arrow in flight, and caught him.

Eragon felt someone entering his mind, and recognized it at Murtagh.

Murtagh! How could you have attacked Galbatorix?

I…I have been able to change my true name, freeing myself from his bonds. Murtagh answered hesitantly.

But how? Saphira asked curiously.

Well, Murtagh needed to change some part of him, and with my help, of course, Murtagh was able to let go of his anger at the world, Thorn answered unexpectedly, but he was able to change only that.

Amazed, Eragon mentally congratulated Murtagh, and Murtagh thanked him. Thorn and Saphira flew side-by-side now, so Eragon could shout, "It's time to fight, to kill Galbatorix and end his reign once and for all! For all of Alagesia! For Brom, and Garrow, and Oromis and Glader! For everyone who despises Galbatorix, and wants to end his reign: let us fulfill their wish!"

These words were heartened by roars from Saphira and Thorn, and a battle cry from Murtagh.

The dragons, with the Riders on their backs, flew towards Shruikan, who was circling the tower; Galbatorix was nowhere to be seen, not even on his dragon.

Where could he have gone? Eragon wondered to the others, and was answered with the equivalent of a shrug mentally from all of them.

Well, let us put an end to the dragon's misery, and once that is done, we shall easily dispose of Galbatorix. Thorn stated simply, and sped up towards Shruikan.

Wait! Saphira said to him and Murtagh, but they ignored her and continued. They were about to attack Shruikan when they froze.

Eragon nearly groaned, for he had suspected this as well as Saphira. Galbatorix had been awaiting them, trying to bait them with Shruikan, but had caught an equally valuable treasure: Murtagh and Thorn.

"Ah, it seems that I have found something less useful to me, but equally slayable. This will be enjoyable." Saphira and Eragon heard Galbatorix as though he was next to them, but he was actually walking onto Thorn at that moment.

Saphira immediately increased her speed, trying to get to them before Galbatorix could do anything more. But it was hopeless; Galbatorix was now readying his sword, aiming it at Murtagh's heart.

"I have no choice," Eragon muttered to Saphira, and did what he had to; he transported himself right behind Galbatorix, and before he could either feel the extreme weakness to come in mere seconds, or before Galbatorix could react with his lightning fast reflexes, Eragon said, "Funcario!" meaning "Push!" in the ancient language.

The force sent Galbatorix flying off of Thorn; it was as though he had been kicked in the back…hard. But by then, Eragon had felt both the drain of transporting himself instantly onto Thorn and using such a basic word to get Galbatorix off, but he had no choice. Galbatorix would've reacted had he said anything longer.

However, the toll was greatly terrible. Eragon felt as though he were to pass onto the void, only being saved by the energy that Saphira gave him, until he was strong enough to drain from Aren.

The spell, having been released, rocketed Thorn forward, an unfortunate thing for Eragon, as he was beginning to stand just then. He did a backward somersault in mid-air, and was caught by Saphira before he could begin to fall.

Feeling both nauseous and relieved, an uncomfortable combination, Eragon gratefully thanked Saphira, and then caught up to Murtagh and Thorn.

"You…you saved my life." Murtagh stated in shock as he stared at Eragon once they had landed on the ground to give the dragons a rest.

"Well, I couldn't just leave you there, could I?" Eragon said, surprised that the thought had even crossed Murtagh's mind.

Murtagh's way of thinking has…changed, to say the least. Thorn explained.

"But we have no time for this," Murtagh said, clearly uncomfortable. "We must take flight."

Eragon agreed, and they all rose into the air.

Now, where could Shruikan and Galbatorix be? Eragon asked everyone. It would be a bad thing if he were to ambush us like that. We need a plan, or better yet, reinforcements.

I can contact Trianna, Murtagh suggested, and she could send in all the spell casters, of every race we have on our side. It would make more than a formidable force against Galbatorix.

Aye, but what of the time in-between? They cannon appear right away, and even at the speed of the elves it would take hours to get here. With the hindrances of the other races, it would take two days to get here.

Murtagh gave up his idea after hearing Eragon's argument, reluctantly stating, All right, but we need some sort of recinfor—

Yet again Galbatorix and Shruikan had appeared without the notice of anyone, and yet again the dragon slammed into Saphira, though it was her side this time. The force of the hit was so great (Shruikan was traveling at very high speeds) that Eragon was thrown off of Saphira, the leg straps ripped off and dangling from his ankles.

Eragon fell for a few seconds, spinning wildly, until Thorn and Murtagh caught him. "You all right?" He shouted at Eragon, who was still trying to not see double.

"Let's just go help Saphira!" Eragon replied, coming to his senses. Thorn immediately headed towards the fight that was raging, picking up speed by the second.

It was at that moment that Galbatorix decided that Murtagh and Thorn were enough of a nuisance, transported himself behind Murtagh, unsheathed his sword, and began battle with Murtagh.

"Battle" wasn't exactly an appropriate term, as they could only fight for a few seconds before Thorn made some aerial maneuver that caused the both of them to focus on magic, holding themselves down and keeping themselves from being thrown off.

Soon Murtagh began to tire, and though Eragon had tried to help, he was busy trying to keep Shruikan from killing Saphira.

Hold him off for a just a few minutes, Eragon said, and before Saphira could protest, he once again transported himself to the back of Thorn.

It was surprising that Eragon did not immediately fly off of Thorn, but he was lucky, for the dragon was circling Shruikan at the moment, waiting for the time when he could strike.

Eragon unsheathed Brisingr once more, and went into battle with Galbatorix. Even with the combined might of the two, it appeared that Galbatorix was still able to hold his own.

"Die, you monster!" Murtagh spat at the king, but at that moment, Thorn attacked Shruikan. It was so sudden that the three Riders were flicked off of Murtagh's dragon, and were falling through the air, very high up, at breakneck speeds.

Galbatorix transported himself easily, but Murtagh hadn't been learned in that art yet, and Eragon was barely strong enough to stay conscious by now, let alone transport he and Murtagh to safety.

Murtagh! Eragon! Thorn bulleted to where they were and caught them roughly in midair, leaving Saphira fighting.

"No, it's okay…actually, we need to fall." Eragon said, quickly speculating.

"Are you insane?" Murtagh asked, looking at Eragon as though he indeed did have some sort of mental illness.

"I have an idea. Thorn, go help Saphira, and drop us!"

You better not mess up, Eragon.

"Don't worry, Thorn, just drop us!"

Thorn obliged, turning upside down briefly so that Murtagh and Eragon started falling. They had around a minute before they hit the ground, more than enough time for Eragon to cast several wards around himself and Murtagh, all the while keeping a firm connection to Aren.

We need to seem as though we're dead, Eragon explained to Murtagh mentally while adding more and more wards, because if we do, then Galbatorix will weaken his efforts, and we can strike.

If this doesn't work, then our chances of survivability will drop greatly.

I know, Murtagh, but we're running out of options.

Murtagh said no more, but braced himself for the hit, as did Eragon.

When they did hit, it was less like landing on ground than landing on a huge pile of hay. It hurt, but not nearly as much as it would normally have. Eragon and Murtagh were protected by the wards, though now a large amount of energy had been drained from Aren, leaving the supply from the original at a little less than half.

10 years of storing energy, gone. Eragon thought bitterly, laying still.

They waited and waited, waiting for the arrival of Saphira and Thorn, who had been ordered to act as though the Riders had died.

It was nearly half an hour before someone arrived, but it was not the dragons. Eragon and Murtagh had their eyes closed, so they could not see who was there, but they heard the king's voice: "Brilliant idea if I say so myself."

Then Eragon and Murtagh were frozen, with no way to move at all. "You have no one to save you this time," The king sneered, "And you will pay for your foolishness. Good-bye, Murtagh, and Eragon. Your lives were in vain."
It was this statement that enraged Eragon, though he couldn't move anymore than he could before. His eyes were forced open as he saw Galbatorix raising his sword over Murtagh's heart. The sword plunged down…and hit its mark.