Sorry it took me so long... testing in school is coming up and I needed to study!!
Eragon was just finishing getting ready to go train Pippin when he heard the screams from outside begin. He grabbed Vætta and ran from his house, calling Saphira home urgently from her hunt.
What Eragon saw when he stepped outside almost made him pass-out in shock. There above the trees of Ellesmera was his brother Murtagh burning a house to the ground as a family of elves watched in horror.
He stared at Murtagh, as the tool of Gallbatorix turned around and winced at the boy watching him in absolute disbelief.
Eragon found a hidden resolve and shouted a string of curses that made the spears around him rise and fly toward his adversary. Eragon barely registered the tear that slid down Murtagh's face as he and Thorn dodged the spears, he saw Murtagh as he had been in the Burning Plains, an enemy on his own with little help from Gallbatorix's orders.
Eragon watched his brother turn around and notch two arrows into his bow, firing one at Vanir, who was trying to run to safety and mount a magic attack from a distance. Then Murtagh cried out silently and fitted the other arrow at Eragon's heart his face drawn back in agony.
Frozen to the spot Eragon watched his friend pull the string back, tears streaming down his face in desperation, and release it with a deadly precision.
You stupid boy! MOVE! Saphira shouted from above as she plummeted to earth in an attempt to save her Rider from the other's projectile.
Eragon shook himself as the arrows flew through the air, and raised wards to catch them just in time. He berated himself for leaving his belt filled with spare energy in his room, as he felt a small tug at his energy.
Murtagh notched another arrow and aimed at a fleeing elf when he was hit by Arya from the trees with a spell. Arya ran through the trees after seeing that the spell hit, making it safely out of Murtagh's range. Eragon winced and turned away as he heard his brother cry out in pain, and leapt from the ground, with his elven ability, onto Saphira's waiting saddle as she reached him.
I led him right to us Saphira! If not for me, these people would still live in peace! Eragon criticized drawing Vætta from its sheath and turning to face Murtagh, who was healing a bloodied arm, and Thorn.
Gallbatorix would have found us eventually, be thankful it was Murtagh and not the King who is attacking us. Saphira answered flapping her wings as quickly as possible to reach their target.
Eragon let the matter go and focused all his attention to his brother who just then noticed their attack. Eragon steeled his emotions away and faced the Red Rider head on, each trying desperately to cling on as Saphira and Thorn fought beneath them.
Eragon watched in a sick satisfaction as Saphira's right hind leg ripped through Thorn's thigh tearing through both skin and muscle.
I wouldn't feel so bad if it was Shruikan you hurt just then. Eragon said absently as Thorn thrashed through the air in pain.
Saphira grunted in agreement and dodged wildly as Murtagh sent a desperate lash towards them, trying to calm his dragon down enough to heal him and still protect himself from an attack.
Suddenly one of Thorn's thrashes was strong enough to dislodge his Rider from the saddle. Murtagh cried out in fear as he fell towards the ground, arms and legs windmilling through the air violently.
"Halda gipta austrvegr lopt (hold him in the sky)!" Eragon cried without a second thought, thinking to only save his brother from death.
Murtagh's struggles ended as he found himself levitating in the air almost a hundred feet from his demise. Eragon looked away in defeat as he lowered his brother slowly to the ground and released the spell.
Thorn landed beside his Rider and held still long enough for Murtagh to heal the injury. Murtagh clambered back onto his dragon and took to the sky again looking around for a second before spotting his brother, face turned in self-disgust.
Eragon, you must distract him until the last of the elves are safely away from Murtagh. Then you must try to get away, our powers hold no strength over a Rider, and my brethren will not fight back until the last second. You are alone in this fight. Spoke Arya as she ran to the Menoa Tree.
Eragon held Vætta into the air and bellowed a war cry before dive-bombing his older brother forgetting about his own safety in an attempt to give the elves the time they needed.
"I thought I could trust you! I thought you were my friend!" Eragon screamed as his sword clashed with Zar'roc, reminding him of the faithful day he learned of his heritage.
The face Murtagh gave him nearly broke Eragon's resolve into sand. His eyes pleaded for a forgiveness he knew he did not deserve, and his lips formed empty syllables and words that never got to Eragon's ears.
Eragon disregarded his brother's reaction and continued to strike at him both physically and emotionally trying to break Murtagh, "Did what I say to you at Helgrind mean nothing? Was it an act, Murtagh, an act to gain my trust?"
Murtagh pulled away from the attack and thought desperately of a way to disarm his quickly angering brother, "maekir, fjúka brott annask ykkarr dróttinn (sword fly from your lord)," he screamed desperately.
Eragon cried out in dismay as his sword was wrenched from his hands by an unseen force, and flew through the woods to a distant place away from Eragon's sight.
Eragon looked at his brother in hatred as his only gift from the passed Oromis fell from the air into the woods miles away. Murtagh realized his mistake and thanked the gods that his brother was now sword less.
What are you waiting for? I order you, Forlg, to strike him down now! Gallbatorix ordered watching the scene through his student's eyes.
Murtagh's eyes widened in worry knowing there was no way around the order, as he watched his brother Eragon had realized what Gallbatorix had ordered Murtagh to do and was trying frantically to find a weapon before the command took over Murtagh's body.
Suddenly Solembum's words from so long ago, echoed through his mind…
"When the time comes and you need a weapon, look under the roots of the Menoa tree."
Well, it seems now more then ever you need a weapon. Saphira said trying to fend off Murtagh and Thorn's attacks against the helpless Eragon.
Go Saphira, fly to the Menoa Tree. I'll use magic to keep him away for the time being. Eragon shouted through their connection.
Saphira blocked a blow that would have torn her leg off and flew quickly to the tree where Eragon would find a weapon. Murtagh flew after them and continued using magic and his dragon to try and defeat the Blue Rider flying before him.
There it is! Dismount and I'll keep them preoccupied while you retrieve the weapon! Saphira said crying out as an arrow pierced her wings.
Eragon leapt from her back, and used magic to slow his fall when he reached the ground. Murtagh tried to follow suit and go after him, but Saphira got between them and attacked Thorn.
Eragon knelt before the old tree and placed his hands on the ground, bowing and focusing on his magic. Suddenly words seemed to form in his mind that he didn't understand, but he recognized as the Ancient Language.
Taking a chance and repeating the words, Eragon shouted, "stórr eik hníga eða syna ykkarrsjálfr (Great Tree, open and show yourself)."
There came a scream from deep within the trunk of the Menoa Tree, feminine but not at the same time, like something being split apart. He winced at the terrible noise and sat up straight when an ancient voice seemed to float through his mind, a mix of a female and a male voice.
"You have asked for a part of us, to separate us after a millennium of bondage. We do so willingly, to the Rider who shall save our people. Long ago a fair maiden named Linnea joined us, and now after so long, we shall separate and be two instead of one," the voice said as another scream, Linnea's scream, came from the tree.
Eragon bowed his head in acceptance and felt a great root uplift itself from the ground beneath his feet. He looked underneath and was amazed to see a beautiful staff engraved with the designs of Linnea's life and history.
"She shall guide and protect you from the dangers of the world. Never be separated from her, for she sees what others can not. She is indestructible and will serve you well during battle. May this gift be what is needed to defeat the dark force that spreads from Urubaen," The voice, now deprived of the female, continued as Eragon fingered the staff in wonder.
Welcome, Eragon. I give myself to you in the hope that my brethren will remain safe for centuries to come. His staff spoke softly from within his mind.
Eragon! Look out! Saphira screamed as Thorn got past her and flew towards the bent over figure of Eragon.
Eragon didn't move as Murtagh's blade swept through the air, so immersed in Linnea's words that the surrounding world didn't seem to exist anymore.
Seconds before the blade would have hewed Eragon's head from his shoulders, a streak of black flew through the air and Ksh'dagnir caught Zar'roc against The Blue Rider's neck.
"You leave my Master alone you monster!" Pippin screamed as he struggled to keep the blade away from, the still mesmerized, Eragon's neck.
"You're the New Rider? Saruman said you were small but, well, even dwarves are taller then you," Murtagh said staring shocked at the small figure before him.
Mor'Khemir roared in anger at the Rider on the larger dragon in front of him, and flame burst threw his jaws for the first time shocking them both.
Murtagh dodged the flame with ease but cried out and clutched his head as a small rock hit him in the temple. He turned around furiously and saw four other Hobbits running around, bending to pick up rocks and throw them as Merry had just done.
Murtagh ignored them and turned his attention back to the Black Rider, when an arrow whistled through the air, inches from his face, and a blonde haired elf jumped through the trees, the trees leaves and branches forming defenses around the wood-elf, taking aim and firing arrow after arrow with deadly aim.
"So these are the Middle Earthiens?" Murtagh said absently as he noticed a group of beings, and Orik, in their hiding places firing projectiles at him.
Murtagh left Eragon and Pippin for the moment and advanced on his new opponents. He dodged arrows and rocks that were sent at him, and sent his own arrows back at them.
A Hobbit cried out and twisted as an arrow landed where he had been inches before; Frodo looked up at Murtagh after a second of recovering, and threw another rock at him, falling useless against the Rider's wards.
Murtagh grimaced and notched another arrow aiming at a Hobbit who had become stuck in the bush he had been using as a shield. Sam looked up in horror as he realized his danger and cringed as the arrow was released, pointing directly at his head…
"Sam, no!" they cried out in distress as the arrow was released, aimed perfectly at Samwise Gamgee's head.
Please review!! And I'll let you know how this mess ends! More reviews I get, faster I'll update and sooner you'll figure out whether Sam dies or not.