Vrael sighed as he looked down at Lydia. "I really am here," he said. He smiled slightly.
Lydia was silent for a little while. "But... he came and told us that he killed you both," she replied. "Though apparently he failed to find Umaroth's Eldunari."
Umaroth looked over at her. That is because I already hid it somewhere he would not be able to find any trace of it, he replied. It is good to see you again, Lydia.
Lydia smiled. "That makes sense. He was in quite the rage when he couldn't find it," she said. She shuddered. It seemed she had felt his wrath over not being able to find Umaroth's Eldunari.
"What of yours Antia?" Vrael asked, wrapping his arms around Lydia. "Has he got yours?"
He came close a few times, but always as he was about to manage to force me to give it up, something else happened that distracted him, the white dragoness replied. Though I do not think we should linger here. We know the Varden are attacking Urubaen. She bared her teeth. I think it is time we taught him a lesson.
"I should have finished him off when I had the chance, that much I know, Antia, but this battle against him is not ours," Vrael replied.
Who's then is it? Antia asked, snorting. Who could possibly have the strength to get rid of him aside from you or Lydia?
"Eragon," Vrael replied. "We have watched him for many months now, and he shows quite a lot of promise considering the task the Varden are expecting him to do. Glaedr and Oromis have taught him quite well, considering the short amount of time that they have had to actually do so."
Speaking of whom.. We should get back to the others. I suppose Blodhgarm and the other elves will have to find their own way out, Umaroth said. We have wasted enough time here.
Vrael sighed. It was going to be strange, looking at Galbatorix again after all these years. Not to mention, the human would likely not be amused that he, Vrael, had managed to evade being killed all those years ago. That was going to be one very strange confrontation.
Gently, he helped Lydia to her feet.
It will be good to get out of here for once, Antia growled, as she waited for her Rider to get up onto her back. Lydia moved fairly slow, and Vrael knew that was because she was still very hurt from Galbatorix's torturous ways.
No matter what happens up there, he must fall, Vrael thought as he climbed up onto Umaroth's saddle. The white dragon growled, before leading the way back the way they had come.
Umaroth started to run, as much as he could back to the throne room.
When they got there, the massive double doors were open, and he could see Eragon and... Another man fighting. How in Alagaesia did Murtagh get back here? Vrael wondered for a few seconds, before growling, Umaroth stepped into the throne chamber.
Vrael's eyes immediately went to the one sitting watching Eragon and Murtagh in their fight. Galbatorix had not aged a day! "Galbatorix!" he called, climbing down from Umaroth's saddle.
The human raised a hand signalling an end to the fighting going on. He stood, looking towards Vrael.
"Remember us, Galbatorix? The ones who nearly killed you a century ago?" Vrael asked. Though his voice was calm, as was normal for an elf, the anger that was within him, showed only in his eyes. This man had hurt Lydia and Antia, as well as countless other friends of his. He had killed Oromis, who had been like a brother to him. And the greatest insult was that he had never shown any remorse for his actions.
Galbatorix stared at him. Vrael noted that Murtagh had frozen in... fright. Good, the boy remembers us from that fight against him and his dragon, Vrael noted.
"I had heard that a white dragon took Thorn out. Now I see it was you. Vrael. The none who caused all this to happen. The Fall of the Riders... everything," Galbatorix replied. He smirked. "About time you showed yourself. I had thought that fight on Utgard Mountain was too easy for me. I see now that you tricked me."
"As we originally planned, it seems our deception was a success," Vrael replied, resting one hand on Naelging's pommel. He knew that Galbatorix would likely want to finish what he had started years ago on Utgard Mountain, and he was more than prepared for that to happen, if it should. It was something he knew could happen.
What about Eragon finishing him off? Umaroth thought directly into his mind.
That might not end up happening, Vrael thought back, as Galbatorix stepped down off of the platform on which his throne, ill gotten as it was, stood.
"I suppose there is no chance of you joining me, Vrael?" Galbatorix asked. He continued to walk towards them, frowning.
"What after you killed Oromis? And almost killed Glaedr? I think not," Vrael replied. "Not to mention you have tortured Lydia and Antia as well." There was no chance he was going to let him get away with that one at all. No elf was very pleasant when they found out such things had happened to one of their own people. And right now, that person who had been in that place was his mate.
Umaroth growled as Shruikan seemed to get to his feet as well. I know you're not happy to see me either, Shruikan, but this time things will not end the same way as they did back when we were all younger than we are now.
It seemed that by them merely entering the room, Galbatorix's attention had completely shifted from Eragon, Arya and the others to them.
Ready for quite a hard fight, old friend? Vrael asked Umaroth.
Indeed, the white dragon replied. They owe us much more than they know.
It was time to deal with the human for past insults. Normally, Vrael knew they would have forgiven whoever caused them insult if it was minor, but something as serious as what Galbatorix had done was unforgiveable. So many dragons, humans, elves and dwarves had fallen because of the human before them. And now it was time to bring everything to its end at last.
Shruikan made to leap at Umaroth, clearly ready to kill. Umaroth met him half way, though the movement caused a lot of dust, and some stone blocks to rain down from the ceiling above them. The two dragons were too big to fight properly in the confined space of Urubaen's throne room.
Galbatorix came towards Vrael, drawing his white sword.
Vrael glared at him, offended by seeing his own sword in the human's grip. That should never have had to be left for him to find, and now he had every intention of taking it back. The elf sighed, and drew Naegling. He walked forwards, to meet Galbatorix in the middle of the room, now roofless as the two dragon had taken to the sky to settle their dispute.
Be careful up there, Umaroth, he thought, though he was surprised that Umaroth was blocking him now. well at least he wouldn't feel anything the dragon did, and the same went for Umaroth when it came to him. Vrael dodged nimbly as Galbatorix stabbed at him.
Have to do better than that, the elf thought, returning an attack of his own. There was no pity in him at this point.
Galbatorix seemed to get very annoyed very fast when none of his attacks seemed to get past Vrael's own defences. Vrael did not smile as he fought back, gradually forcing the human to retreat. He knew that there was not long before the barrier he had placed around the Eldunari here would fade away.
What was one elf against so many Eldunari? Vrael knew that was the reason the illusion had been beaten back when he was thought to have died. He could not make that mistake once more. He would not.
The two men fought for quite some time, before finally, Vrangr fell from Galbatorix's hand, and Vrael frowned down at him. "A different outcome from the last time we fought," he said. "You have grown old and complacent since then. What a waste of talent you have become."
He raised Naegling, before doing exactly what Galbatorix had to kill the illusion. There was a dull thud as the human's now unattached head hit the stone ground.
Vrael turned his back on the human before walking over, and picked up Islingr. Too long had it been since he had held his sword in his hands once more. Yet the white sword was just as he remembered it, only last time he had seen it, it had not had his blood on it, but Galbatorix's.
Not that it mattered. The human was dead, and that brought a thought to him. He looked up.
Shruikan gave a bellowing roar of rage, and he could see the black dragon dropping towards him, teeth bared. He could see Umaroth diving after the black dragon, and he knew that should Umaroth not catch the black creature, they would have some trouble on their hands.
He looked around, and spotted where Eragon, Saphira, Arya and Murtagh were. But who was the other woman? And was that a Dauthdaert in Arya's hand? He hurried towards them, only just making it before Shruikan slammed into the ground. Glancing over his shoulder he saw Umaroth crash into the black dragon just as he was about to get to his feet, pinning him to the ground.
Then Arya threw the Dauthdaert and Vrael turned to watch as the spear ended up lodged in one of Shruikan's white blue eyes. Shruikan groaned, before he collapsed once more. And this time he did not move again.
I almost did not manage to make it, Umaroth murmured, looking down at Vrael.
"Well, we couldn't allow them to kill us a second time around, could we?" Vrael asked, looking back up at him. It was good to know that after the centuries of Galbatorix reigning over Alagaesia, that the king was dead.
Authors Note: It seems Vrael and Galbatorix have other plans now that they finally meet. I was going to have Eragon and the others kill Galbatorix as is cannon, but it seems finding Lydia changed that….
