Galbatorix and Illeana couldn't stop laughing; they succeeded again.
"What now?" Illeana asked "Are we going to let Irina stay or not?"
"She's staying." said Galbatorix "We need good shows like this! Life wouldn't be fun without it!"
"Then you'll have to stop Murtagh from killing her." she laughed.
"Oh, that's easy." he smiled "But did you see that baby dragon? We have to have him on our side."
"He's already on our side." she said "I think he's keeping Luna here because he thinks it's safe."
"The problem is we don't know what he thinks!" he sighed "Maybe we should try to make Luna grow faster."
"But you know that wouldn't work. Her mind would be damaged." Illeana said "It's not like with dragons. Humans are complicated."
"I was actually hoping Luna will be special…but she's just a normal baby!" he rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, we've already been through all possible ways…we can just wait." she said.
"Yeah, that's what I had in mind in the first place but I was hoping…" he said "Ah, never mind. We have nothing but time."
"What about Saphira?" she asked.
"Oh, with her it's already working." he smiled "We'll have dragon eggs soon."
Luna's third birthday was coming but in the castle nothing had changed. Irina was walking around the castle like a ghost, not speaking to anyone. Illeana was getting more and more nervous because Galbatorix didn't want to hear about making her a queen. Saphira gave 6 dragon eggs and it seemed like she didn't even know what's going on. Murtagh tried over and over again to take Luna away but the green dragon didn't let him near her; he's never got a chance to talk to her or see her. He didn't even know does she know he's her father. The castle and the Empire were never so close to complete destruction and chaos; people were without hope.
Murtagh was walking down the hall when he saw Irina holding Luna in her arms. He didn't know for how long he hasn't seen Luna; everyone tried to keep her away from him. He stopped in the middle of the hall, looking at them and Irina stopped too. They stood there for a moment, looking at each other and saying nothing.
"Mommy?" Luna pressed herself closer to Irina, looking with her big dark eyes at Murtagh.
"Shh, honey. It's alright." Irina whispered.
"Will you at least let her meet her father?" Murtagh looked at Irina.
"Stay away from us." Irina said coldly.
"Fine." he said "But only if that's what she wants."
"Mommy?" Luna was confused "Is he my daddy?"
"Yes, he is." Irina said, not letting go of Luna.
"Put me down!" Luna cried and Irina finally let go of her. Luna stood there for a moment, looking carefully at Murtagh.
"Are you afraid of me?" Murtagh didn't know what else to say; he didn't move either.
"No." Luna pressed her lips together, looking little bit angry.
"Come here then." he made a step forward and took Luna into his arms. Irina gasped and Luna got nervous at first but then she smiled.
"Are you a Dragon Rider?" Luna smiled.
"Yes, I am." Murtagh smiled too; he waited for this for too long. She was finally with him.
"Why Rubin won't bite me?" she looked at him with her big eyes, tears already forming.
"Rubin?" he was surprised.
"My dragon." she said "He won't tell me."
"You can talk to him? Does the king know?" Murtagh got upset.
"Put me down!" Luna started to scream and kick. Murtagh put the crying child on the ground and Irina immediately hugged her daughter.
"How dare you upset her like that?" Irina looked at Murtagh angrily while trying to calm Luna down.
"I didn't mean to…but it's important!" Murtagh said and looked at Luna "Luna, please, tell me."
"The king knows." Irina smiled bitterly "He was more in her mind than anyone else."
"What?" Murtagh was furious "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Don't yell in front of your child!" Irina said coldly "That's why we're keeping her away from you. You just react too fast."
"Irina, we can't let the king…" he tried to explain.
"Stop it! We don't exist! It's just you and me...separately. I know what is the best for my daughter." she said "Stay away from us. I was trying to spare you all this…"
"So, she's safer with Galbatorix than with me…is that what you're trying to say?" he raised an eyebrow "When I tried to get her away from you, you were pleading and crying and all…and you said it wasn't fair…now I say it isn't fair! She's my daughter!"
"You wanted to get her away from me no matter what." Irina said.
"I'm sorry. I was wrong." he looked at her "You have the right to be with her; I have that right too."
"Ask the king." Irina said coldly "I don't have anything to do with it."
"Irina, since when do you work or agree with the king?" he rolled his eyes "Just drop the act and tell me the truth."
"You are potential danger to my daughter and that's why you'll stay away." she actually smiled while Luna held her dress.
"No, you can't think that." he laughed "Don't be afraid of the king. He's not listening to us right now."
"So? Do you think I decided this because of him?" Irina picked up Luna into her arms.
"Irina, come on!" Murtagh grabbed her arm but she moved away, taking Luna with her.
"You're just like your father." she said coldly before leaving him alone in the dark hall. He just looked after her in shock; this must have been Galbatorix's work.
Illeana ran straight to the throne room; she was sick of it all. She decided to ask Galbatorix for the last time will he make her a queen or not. It meant now or never because she realized that he didn't care at all.
"I have to talk to you." she looked at Galbatorix, her eyes shining dangerously.
"What is it, my love?" he said in a sweet voice.
"Don't pretend like you don't know!" she yelled "Make me your queen today or tell me you never meant to do it!"
"Don't be such a party breaker." Galbatorix laughed but she didn't relax.
"Is that a no?" she asked coldly, her whole body shaking.
"Of course." he laughed "And what did you think?"
"You son of a bitch!" yelled Illeana and closed her eyes, whispering something. Galbatorix looked her carefully for a moment, still calm.
"Oh, please. You can't kill me." he smiled.
"I spent enough time with you to know what to do to destroy you forever." Illeana said through her teeth while concentrating hard on the spell.
"Sure, but you can't destroy me without…" he looked at her.
"I know." she said coldly "And I don't give a damn."
She finished the spell in the moment Galbatorix tried to react. It was the only spell of black magic she wasn't supposed to know. But of course she was investigating all the time and found the spell. However, Galbatorix never thought she will use it since there is no chance for her to survive it. He was wrong; her anger was beyond anything. Everything what she wanted was to destroy him and make him pay for what he has done to her all these years. She wanted to make him pay for all lies and all unfulfilled promises.
"So it ends here…" she laughed as the big cloud of black filled the room, breaking everything and burning it like a fire. It seemed like an eruption of volcano for a second but then it turned out to be more like a cold storm. In a second there was nothing left of Illeana and Galbatorix but ashes.
The ground was shaking and the stone walls of the castle threatened to fall down any moment. Irina immediately took Luna into her arms and hurried to the way out. Murtagh was near them and he grabbed Irina's arm to help her get out faster. One part of the castle was completely destroyed when they got out.
"Dragons!" Murtagh suddenly remembered while taking Luna and Irina away from the danger.
"It's them, right?" Irina asked, pointing at sky. They could only see dark spots above all the smoke and dirt that rose from the ruins.
"Yes, it's them." Murtagh said, relieved. Dragons landed near them, waiting for everything to calm down. No one was sure what exactly happened.
"Is the king dead?" asked Irina after some moments.
"I don't know." Murtagh looked at Shruikan who was standing with others.
"He is. I'm free." Shruikan said.
"And Illeana?" asked Irina, finally letting Luna go to hug her dragon.
"They're both dead." Murtagh said, not believing his words.
"Is it over?" Irina whispered, tears forming in her eyes "Are we free?"
"Yes." he smiled a bit "It's all over."
"Oh!" Irina was so happy that she hugged Murtagh and cried "If this is a dream, please don't wake me up!"
"It's not a dream." Murtagh whispered.
"Mommy?" Luna was looking at them.
"What is it, honey?" Irina asked, looking at her daughter's worried face.
"Who is that?" Luna pointed at the shadow near the ruins. Everyone looked at that direction.
"Eragon." Murtagh said coldly, taking his sword in his hand "He survived."
"What are you going to do?" Irina panicked when she saw determined look on Murtagh's face.
"Something I should have done long time ago." he said and slowly walked closer to Eragon who didn't seem to be moving from his spot.
"Daddy?" called Luna and Murtagh turned around a bit to look at her.
"What?" he asked.
"Don't go. Stay with me!" Luna said quietly.
"I'll be back. Don't worry." said Murtagh, looking from time to time at Eragon "Irina, take her away."
"No!" cried Luna.
"You can't do that in front of you daughter!" Irina was upset.
"Damn it, Irina! Take her away from here!" he yelled and his eyes shined dangerously.
"Fine." Irina took Luna into her arms and carried her away, looking angrily at Murtagh for a second "I hope you…"
He just looked at her and went at Eragon.
"I hate him." whispered Luna while they were all hiding far away from the ruins of the castle and possible fight.
"No, you don't, honey." Irina smiled "It's not hate what you feel."
"No?" Luna was confused "But Rubin said…"
"Rubin said?" Irina rolled her eyes "Dragon said! How amazing! Dragon is my daughter's teacher."
"I love Rubin!" Luna smiled "I love you! But not him! He's mean!"
"Sweetie, you're too young to understand…" Irina realized this will be hard to explain why is Murtagh acting like that. And she didn't really have intention to tell the truth about Galbatorix and what she did. She hoped she'll never have to tell to Luna why she was born and what kind of promises were made.
"'m not!" Luna protested "Rubin says…"
"Not again!" Irina smiled "Ignore Rubin, please."
"Okay. I'm ig…what?" Luna got confused again.
"Never mind, honey. But today is a happy day!" Irina smiled.
"Why?" Luna looked surprised.
"The king is dead…we won't see him again." Irina said "You'll never have to learn words of ancient language again!"
"Why?" Luna asked, upset "…keep Rubin?"
"Rubin stays with you…unfortunately." sighed Irina.
Luna was already sleeping in Irina's arms when Murtagh reached their shelter. Irina stared at him in shock. His face was expressionless and the sword in his hand was covered with blood.
"What happened?" Irina whispered.
"We're free." Murtagh suddenly smiled "There is no one who can do anything against us."
"Huh." Irina immediately ran out of the shelter and realized all dragons are still there.
"You're wrong." Murtagh said behind her back. She turned around to look at him, trembling.
"But…" Irina didn't know what to say "I…"
"I killed him." Murtagh said "Saphira is alive and she'll stay alive because he died while she was still apart from him. For her it's like he never…We'll control her with magic, together with Shruikan."
"I can't believe you…" she couldn't finish the sentence.
"I know. But it was the only way." there was a hint of grief in his voice.
"What now?" she asked.
"I'm the new king…I have to get this Empire back…new, better Empire where everyone will be happy. What do you think?" he was obviously having trouble keeping his face expressionless.
"What do I think?" she took a deep breath "Well, I'm not leaving Luna…and you…um, you know."
"We'll build a new castle…try again…for our daughter." he sighed.
"Sure. But if you ever try to…if you ever…hurt her…I swear, I'll kill you…" Irina said, even she knew she'll never have the power to confront him.
"Why are you thinking like that about me?" he got upset "I'm sick of it! I'm sick of people thinking I'm like my father!"
"You just killed…" Irina whispered.
"I did! But not because of what you think!" he said desperately "Illeana poisoned him so much that there…there was nothing else to do. I admit I was mad at first…but I would never…I couldn't have."
"Oh." Irina said "But it will take time…"
"Don't worry about that." Murtagh got closer to her, touching gently her face "Take Luna and I'll go to the dragons. From now on…we rule!"
"Fine. You take care of the dragons." Irina smiled "Just, please, build separate place for them…"
"Sure." he laughed "But we'll ask Luna first…!"
The end
Author's note: Thanks for reading. I hope you liked it. Like my other stories, this story was longer than I expected but oh, well.
Disclaimer: In case you don't know, I do not own any of Christopher Paolini's characters, but I do own all other characters like Irina, Luna, Illeana, Rubin…