(A.N.) So sorry about the long wait guys. It's the usual excuses; school, work, busy life, drama, etc. As we get closer to the summer, my updates will be getting slower because I'm going to be doing a lot of traveling in the US and out of the country.

Thank you LongLoreLover, burning book, Dessert Maniac, JumpFrog, ratafia, d-saintsation-b, Elemental Dragon Slayer, Belgrath, Tamerlain85, Vizual-Era, and Ultimatedemi-god117 for the wonderful reviews!

Looks like things are wrapping up here in this chapter. The epilogue might not come up for another chapter or two, not too sure yet though.

Enjoy XD

Arya

She stood beside Saphira, unable to help as she watched Eragon and Murtagh dual like so many times before. If Eragon were to best Murtagh, then what would Galbatorix do? Anger and frustration boiled inside Arya; she hated not being in control. Arya glanced to her side to see Shruikan curled up several feet away from them, his attention was focused solely on Saphira.

She tore her gaze from the black dragon; he was more than just intimidating. She watched as the brother's dual took them across the chamber, and at some instances they nearly vanished and reappeared from how fast they were moving. She glanced over at the king, her fingers curling into fists. He hadn't bothered to look over at either her or Saphira, he was cleary too busy enjoying the fight before him.

"We must do something…" Arya thought, clenching her teeth together.

"What can we do?" Saphira replied.

Arya glanced over at Saphira to see her extending her tongue out to taste the air.

"We must wait until Eragon breaks Galbatorix's connection with his Eldunari." Saphira said.

"All we can do is wait…" She knew it was the only thing they could do right now, but it still angered her to no end.

A cry echoed through the large hall and Arya's eyes widened as she saw Eragon stumble slightly, his hand covering a deep and long gash on his right arm.

"Eragon!" She found herself crying out to him. "Do not lose hope!" She added, trying to boost his morals, and perhaps hers as well.

The two brothers fought harshly against each other, and were slowly pushed back further away into the chamber, until only their outlines were visible.

"Blast! Saphira, can you see them?" Arya asked, trying her hardest to squint."

"Just barely…they are on the ground but I can't tell much more than that." Saphira replied.

Several long minutes passed until Arya heard a loud grunt that did not sound anything like Eragon's voice. She watched now as Eragon pushed Murtagh closer and closer to the throne with renowned vigor. Something had most certainly changed.

Then something happened that Arya did not expect. Eragon and Murtagh were now very close to the throne, and she suddenly saw a sparkle in Eragon's eyes before he pushed Murtagh down and faced the king. Arya's eyes widened as Eragon extended his sword arm and recited a spell. She felt her heart beat faster than ever as she waited for something to happen. Nothing did, and as Eragon finished the spell he lowered his arm and Galbatorix stood up.

"No!" Arya screamed in her mind.

"It did not work!" Saphira cried as she released a roar.

"We do not know that!" Arya replied as she watched on.

"My dear boy, such foolishness is unbecoming of you." Galbatorix said as his face turned to anger; his eyes flashing dangerously. "It is time for you to die." He lifted his hand, probably intending to recite a spell, but stopped short suddenly a few seconds after Eragon completed his spell.

Arya watched as Eragon gasped and fell to one knee. She now realized just how strong the spell was. Only now had the spell finished and took immediate effect. Thankfully Eragon had plenty of energy stored in Brisingr, Aren, his belt and the two Eldunari he kept close to him.

"What have you done?!" Galbatorix roared as the ground beneath them began to shake.

Arya tensed up and then her eyes widened when she found that she could move once more. "Saphira?!"

"The spell has been broken!" Saphira roared. "It is time to end this!"

"Galbatorix! It's time to fight me fairly! Your days of tyranny are over!"Eragon cried.

Arya couldn't help but smile at how brave Eragon was. It was no small feat to stand in front of the all-powerful Galbatorix and tell him that he would soon die.

Galbatorix, whose face was covered by his hands, suddenly began to laugh; it was soft at first, but as he raised his head up for all to see, his laughter boomed across the chamber. In fact, he seemed to be cackling…madly.

"You have made a grave mistake, stupid boy." He spat as he drew his blade. "And you, Murtagh, you will die for this betrayal!"

"Betrayal!?" Murtagh laughed. "I have never wanted to serve you! I have only ever done so to ensure Thorn's protection, but now I am free and you shall have to fight two dragon riders!"

Arya found herself lost for words or thought. So, Nasuada was telling the truth after all. She sighed in relief; perhaps it was a good thing that Eragon was hesitant in killing his brother, for now they had gained another rider and dragon as an ally.

"Oh yes, you two will have to face me now. Pray that it will be a quick end, for I will try very hard to make your deaths as long and as painful as I can!" Galbatorix threatened.

He quickly turned to Saphria and Arya, who were now making their way towards Eragon, and shouted in the ancient language, "Get them!"

Shruikan suddenly stood up on all fours, the chamber rumbling from his massive size. He eyed Saphira, jaws open and blood-red eyes glaring intently at her before he lunged straight for them.

Several things happened then; Eragon and Murtagh were suddenly thrown backwards as Galbatorix stood up and prepared to attack them, Arya jumped and roll to the side to avoid getting crushed by Shruikan, and Saphira roared in anger as she stood her ground.

Before Shruikan could attack Saphira however, something came in between the two dragons. A large red mass barreled into Shruikan's side and the black dragon cried out.

"Thorn!" Arya thought in amazement. She quickly stood up and brushed herself off before drawing her blade. She couldn't think about the strangeness of siding with a former enemy in order to take down an even greater threat. No, that would have to wait until later.

Arya jumped out of the way as Thorn was thrown to the side. Shruikan had snapped his jaws around Thorn's neck, hefted him up a few inches and then threw him on the ground. Arya scrambled to her feet as the ground shook from such might.

Saphira roared and released a jet of hot blue flame at Shruikan. The black dragon roared and lifted one his front arms to block the flames. Arya's eyes widened in shock at the might and fierceness of Shruikan, but her thoughts were cut short when Shruikan cried out. She looked over at the black dragon to see Thorn ramming his head into Shruikan's side. The black dragon was momentarily caught off guard and wasn't able to block Saphira as she opened her jaws and closed then around his neck. The enormous beast roared in pain and raised his head, lifting Saphira off the ground in the processes.

With a heavy shake of his head, Shruikan tossed Saphira into the adjacent wall, sending her right through it. Arya cried out Saphira's name and began to run towards her. Shruikan released a puff of smoke before slamming one of his hands on the ground. If Arya had not rolled at the precise time, she would have surely been crushed.

Arya ducked and rolled under another swipe and was now underneath the massive dragon. She quickly turned right and ran through the now destroyed wall.

"Ahhh!" She cried out as she was suddenly thrown forward. She slammed into the ground hard and looked back to see Shruikan's large tall swinging back and forth.

Arya gritted her teeth and forced herself to stand; a trail of blood now leaked down from her forehead to her lips. She managed to ignore the taste of metal in her mouth as she ran up to the blue-scaled dragon that was slowly standing up.

"We cannot hope to stop him." Saphria said in frustration. She wobbled slightly before regaining her balance.

"We must try!" Arya yelled. "Thorn cannot fight him on his own, we must help him!"

Saphira nodded slowly and then turned her attention through the large gap in the wall leading into the chamber, where Thorn, Shruikan, Murtagh, Eragon and Galbatorix were all fighting.

Saphira released a puff of smoke before preparing to charge through the gap. "We cannot defeat Shruikan as we are, but Thorn and I could try and hold him down long enough."

Arya stared up at Saphira, confusion etched on her face. "Long enough for what?!"

Saphria remained silent as she hurriedly prepared to attack Shruikan once more.

Eragon

He slowly backed away as Galbatorix stepped down from his high throne, his long blade in hand and a scowl on his face.

Eragon suddenly felt a familiar presence brush against his mind, but it was someone whom he had never actually allowed inside, though he had tried several times to gain access to.

Sighing, and slightly regretting his decision, Eragon dropped his barriers.

"How do you propose we begin, brother?"

"The spell I just used severed the connection he has with his Eldunari. He will be much easier to fight now." Eragon replied.

"He is still a formidable enemy despite the energy he has lost, Eragon." Murtagh said, as if Eragon's plan was pointless.

"True, but now he has two dragon riders to contend with. Besides, I've got some extra help with me." Eragon replied, flashing Murtagh with a grin.

"Afraid to take the first strike?"

Eragon's eye's returned to Galbatorix; who now stood on the stone floor. His armor was almost as black as Shruikan's scales. His black hair fell down to his shoulders, which were broad in size. His face and cheeks bones were prominent, and his nose stuck out like a sharp blade. He wore a small mustache on his chin, but lacked facial hair elsewhere on his face. His eyes were like a pair dark black chasms that threatened to suck you in if you stared into them for too long.

His appearance was almost….god-like. He stood tall, his long sword in his right hand while a second blade rested on his hip.

"He looks like a middle-aged man…is this how I am to be if I live through this?" Eragon thought to himself as fear and shock gripped his body.

"Steal yourself brother. Do not become intimidated by his presence. It is what he wants." Murtagh said calmly.

"Very well, if neither of wish to initiate the battle, then allow me!" Galbatorix suddenly rushed Eragon at blinding speed.

Eragon threw up his blade and only just blocked the king's first attack. Galbatorix grinned at Eragon; eyes and teeth flashing dangerously at the young rider.

"You think you know what it is to be a dragon rider?! I'll show you the true power of a rider!" Galbatorix spat. He screamed and pushed Eragon back with enough force to knock him down.

Just as Eragon's back hit the stone floor, Murtagh rushed Galbatorix; hoping to catch him off guard. But the plan didn't work out so well.

Galbatorix ducked from a high swipe intended for his throat and then kicked Murtagh in the stomach, sending him toppling backwards to the stone floor.

Galbatorix laughed and drew his second blade as Eragon and Murtagh slowly rose to their feet.

Without pause, the two brothers rushed the king. Eragon delivered a downward thrust and Murtagh delivered a blow to the side. Both attacks were blocked and the instant all four swords connected they broke apart, only to meet again in a different position.

A loud roar caught Eragon's attention and he was just barely able to see Arya being thrown forward by Shruikan's tail. Gritting his teeth, Eragon tore his eyes from her and turned his sights back to Galbatorix, who was now battling with Murtagh.

Eagon growled and rushed for Galbatorix's backside. He struck forward with his sword but missed as the king side-stepped to the left, turned on his foot and struck Eragon in the back with the flat of his blade. Eragon cried out as he thrown off balance and tumbled forward; his left hand the only thing breaking his descent.

Eragon cursed and pushed himself back up. He was better than this, he knew he was better than this!

He screamed and rushed for Galbatorix. The king grinned and spun around, slashing his blade horizontally, but his eyes fell to shock when Eragon gracefully ducked under his blade and spun behind him and swept his leg off the ground.

The king lost his balance and as his body rose in the air Murtagh seized the opportunity to drive the butt of Za'roc into his chest, sending him plummeting to the ground with so much force that the stone floor actually cracked, forming tendrils that branched out around them.

Eragon caught Murtagh's attention and, re-gripping Brisingr so that the blade was facing down, nodded as he glanced at the king that now lay before them. Murtagh nodded back in silent agreement and the two drove their blades down, though they never met Galbatorix. Before the tips of their blades could even touch the king's armor, they were thrown back as he thrust both his feet into their chest's; using the momentum to roll backwards and then jumped to his feet.

There was a loud crash, but Eragon forced himself to keep his attention on the man before him. The two brothers re-positioned themselves to attack the king, but were suddenly forced to stop an onslaught of vicious attacks; the likes of which Eragon had never seen before.

With fast precision, Galbatorix relentlessly attacked the two dragon riders; easily ducking and parrying blow after blow, until finally he managed to disarm Murtagh and send Eragon falling to the ground some feet away.

Za'roc hit the ground, bouncing up a few inches before falling again. The sound of falling steel echoed throughout the chamber, the silence was soon quelled by a growl from the dark king as he rushed for Murtagh. Eragon's eyes widened as he watched a now un-armed Murtagh attempt to defend himself against a mad king who brandished not one, but two rider blades in his hands.

Galbatorix cackled madly as he swiped at Murtagh, who was barely able to dodge such a lethal blow. For a moment, it seemed that Murtagh would be able to hold his own until Eragon was able to get back up and assist him. However, once Eragon was back on his feet and nearly halfway to their new position, he heard a loud cry; a hoarse and throaty growl that rocked the entire room.

Murtagh clenched his teeth and covered his left side with his right arm; blood oozed down his armor and stained much of his hand and forearm.

With a cruel laugh, Galbatorix rushed Murtagh. The red rider tried hard to dodge blow after blow, but in the end he could not escape defeat, and so when Galbatorix whipped around his former slave and drove the flat of his blade into the back of Murtagh's neck, he fell to his knees unable to go on.

"Murtagh!" Eragon cried. He gripped Brisignr harder than ever and ran towards Galbatorix. The mad king hardly moved from his current position as Eragon attacked him over and over again.

He was hardly even thinking at the moment. All he wanted to do was kill the bastard that had ruined so many innocent lives and had destroyed his own.

The king himself was wearing a scowl on his face after failing several times to stop the rider before him, and he was even more displeased to see that Shruikan was having a hard time contending with Thorn, Saphira and that troublesome elf.

Out of the corner of his eye, Eragon saw Murtagh slowly getting to his feet and placing his right palm over the wound across his side. A sudden slash to his chest by Galbatorix and he was brought back to the battle before him. A loud roar erupted from far off behind him, but neither man stopped to look at what had happened.

Moments later another loud roar erupted and the sound of stone crumbling down could be heard. Galbatorix suddenly thrust one of his blades forward. His blade never reached its mark, for the mad king suddenly dropped both blades in his hands and fell to his knees; his hands grabbed his hair and he threw his head back.

Eragon watched on in silent shock as Shruikan roared in pain as a nearby stone pillar fell on him, and Galbatorix suddenly began to scream.

Arya

She had managed to land a few blows to the mighty dragon, Shruikan, however the beast had hardly slowed down its pace of relentless battering. The black dragon roared in pain when Arya sliced through a section of his unprotected belly.

Arya received a blow to her side for wounding Shruikan, and another angry roar rang out as Saphira snapped her jaws on the base of Shruikans' tail. Shruikan tried to break free from Saphira, but the blue-scaled dragon held him down harder as she lifted herself up and grabbed Shruikan's backside with her front legs; her sharp talons dug deep into black scales that soon began to spit out dark, thick crimson blood.

Arya slowly got to her feet; sweat, blood and dirt covered her face and body. She was exhausted, but she would not show it. Now was hardly the time. She quickly sprinted back to the three dragons that were viciously battling. Arya felt a strange pang in her heart when she saw Thorn's condition. Despite the red-scaled dragon having been a major enemy in this war, he was still a dragon, and thus must be respected and honored; it was second nature to elves, after all. Regardless of Thorn's involvement in this war, he and Murtagh had both forsaken Galbatorix and had even taken up arms against the mad king.

Shruikan roared in pain and viciously shook his body to try and throw Saphira and Thorn off of him, but the two dragons remained attached to the black dragon and continued to hold him down in place. With another mighty roar, Shruikan jerked his body to the right and hit a large, stone pillar. The damage was significant, but not enough to bring it down.

Arya had quickly taken note of the stone pillar's position and focused her mind on the object before crying out, "Jeirda!" The stone pillar cracked and bits of rock shot out as the pillar slowly fell forward and down on Shruikan.

The black dragon roared in pain and even Saphira and Thorn had been hit by large chunks of stone. Not wasting any more time, Arya seized her chance and with a burst of energy she ran up to Shruikan, her curved blade in hand, and jumped up on his back before making her way towards his head and driving her blade into one of his eyes.

With a cry, Arya twisted her blade deeper into his eye before withdrawing is from Shruikan's now dismembered socket, and thick crimson blood sputtered and oozed out from its place.

Shruikan roared and raised his head, knocking Arya right off. She hit the ground hard and a loud grunt escaped her lips before she blacked out.

But not before she heard a strange and unfamiliar voice inside her head.

"Thank you…"

Eragon

Galbatorix was on his knees now, still screaming madly. When Eragon turned his head towards the direction of Shruikan, Saphira, Thorn and Arya, his jaw dropped in shock.

Thorn had several deep cuts and gashes throughout his body, as did Saphira. But unlike Thorn, Saphira was still awake. When Eragon caught site of Arya, his heart shattered. She lay several feet away from the three dragons, with her head facing up. She was covered in blood and dirt; the worst part was that he couldn't tell how much of it was her own.

He tried furiously to contact her, but she gave no response; Saphria was barely awake, and her conscience was slowly slipping away as well.

Eragon clenched his teeth together and tightened his grip on Brisingr before turning back to face Galbatorix.

He had stopped screaming, but was now on all fours with his hands balled into fists. Eragon's expression turned from one of shock and sorrow to one of hate and rage. As he looked around and saw his loved ones in such a state, his rage boiled into uncontrollable fury. Eragon stuck the tip of Brisingr under Galbatorix's neck and lifted up his head to face his own.

"Even the mighty Galbatorix cannot escape the pain of losing a bonded dragon." Eragon said in a low growl.

Galbatorix chuckled darkly as he met Eragon's eyes. "You really are a fool." He said, switching to the ancient language. "You think you're saving this land? HA! There are secrets that even the elves do not know…" He trailed off as Eragon's eyes narrowed.

"What do you mean?" Eragon asked cautiously.

"Don't listen to him, Eragon! He's just gathering more time!" Murtagh shouted, still badly wounded.

Eragon's turned to look at his half-brother before Galbatorix continued. "You think I am evil? There are darker, fouler things in this world than me, boy. When I die, I shall smile from the afterlife when you and everything you love fall's into darkness!"

Eragon's expression suddenly turned to anger as he grabbed Galbatorix by the throat and hefted him up to meet his face. "I am sick if these riddles." Eragon spat. "Loosen tongue and speak your mind!"

Eragon suddenly cried out as something sharp struck him in the side. Galbatorix fell to his knees again as Eragon was forced to let him and grab a hold of the newly formed wound. Blood oozed out from between his fingers and he suddenly caught sight of a dagger in the king's hand.

"You're all going to die!" Galbatorix shouted madly.

Eragon clenched his teeth momentarily before and shook off the pain. Re-gripping Brisingr, he stared down at the once mighty king, his face detached and emotionless. "Not today." And with that, he swung his sword to the side and sliced through the king's neck, beheading the man instantly.

Thick, crimson blood, sputtered out from where the head had once been, and the body limply feel to the ground with a loud thud.

Eragon released a heavy sigh as he looked around the, now destroyed, chamber. "It is done." He breathed in relief. He wanted so badly to hold Arya in his arms. He wanted so badly to embrace his dragon, yet he could not find the strength to move a single inch. And so Eragon Shadeslayer, the mighty dragon rider of Saphira who fought the Empire to his last breath, fell to the ground.

"Forward! Do not let them into the city! Long live Galbatorix!" Lord Barst yelled. The Empire and the Varden army were at a near stand-still in terms of who was winning. Lord Barst had taken a small company of his men and broke off from the main Royal Army to defend the Western wall.

Varden men, Urgal's and even Elves could not stop the commander as he slayed his way further and further West, until at last his goal was in sight. His lips curled into a devilish smile as his eyes fell upon a group of Elves fighting around a single, golden armored Elven woman of immense beauty. His men suddenly began to charge the group of Elves, but Lord Barst remained still. Instead, he raised his hand and suddenly shouted out words of power; his voice echoing out across the area and broke off into several octaves. As if not one man was reciting these words, but several were. A bright light grew in his raised palm, and a red orb suddenly shot out and hit the group of Elves, sending everyone flying; including his own men. But he did not care who he hurt at the moment. Right now, all he cared about was that single golden-armored Elf that had managed to stay afoot during all the commotion.

He slowly approached her, but of course she knew he was already there. The woman turned her head and eyed Lord Barst from afar. Her face was covered in dirt and blood; her eyes were red and glossy from the fumes and smoke. But she stood tall; elegant and graceful as ever. Her long, curved blade rested firmly in her right hand, the tip just barely touching the ground.

Lord Barst stopped several feet from the woman, and then he smiled at her before bowing. "Queen Islanzadi, it is an honor to meet you." He said in a mocking tone.

Islanzadi remained silent for several seconds before she turned her body around to properly face him. "Look well, Lord Barst. For this will be the last time you set eyes upon me."

Lord Barst let out a mad cackle. "Indeed it will, my lady." And he moved into a running stance before pushing himself off the ground the rushing towards the Elvin Queen.

Roran

"My Lord! We can't keep this up!" A soldier shouted to him.

Roran clenched his teeth and beat down another Empire soldier that carelessly rushed at him. He couldn't bear to admit it, but the soldier was right. They could not keep this fight up, and although they had breached the wall the Royal army was making it difficult to progress any further.

"Blast it! Eragon, Arya, I hope you're faring better than we are right now." Roran continued to push westward, he had to find Lady Nasuada.

He lucked out when he saw her battling a clump of heavily armed pikeman alongside her own guard.

"Thank the gods she's not alone."

Roran cried out and tackled an Empire soldier that was preparing to strike an unsuspecting Varden soldier. The two men rolled to the ground but Roran was able to get to his feet much faster. With his hammer in hand, Roran yelled out and slammed it down onto the enemy soldiers chest.

"Sir!"

Roran looked up to see a Nighthawk run over to him. The soldier extended his hand out and Roran graciously took it.

"What is the situation here?" Roran asked.

The man took a deep breath before replying. "Sir, we are currently holding position here. The Royal army is proving difficult to break through."

Roran nodded, having already made that assessment himself. "I need to speak with Lady Nasuada."

"Right away, sir."

The man led Roran several feet ahead of them, where Nasuada was currently positioned. An elf was beside her and appeared to be healing the Varden Leader.

Roran ran up to Nasuada and was about to demand what had happened to her, when she quickly raised her hand and gave him a weak smile.

"It is alright, Roran. It's nothing fatal." She eyed him for a moment before continuing. "You look well." She gave him a grin.

Roran looked dumbfounded for a split second. Had she just made a joke? "I've been better." He replied with a smile.

Once the elf finished healing her, Nasuada stood up and then looked towards the Citadel, and then off towards the sky; the sun was slowly falling. "I hope they're alright." She whispered.

Roran put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "My Lady, Eragon and Arya can handle themselves. Right now we need to find a way to break their defenses. Commander Redbeard is currently holding the eastern wall, but for how much longer I do not know."

"They have us spread thin, I believe that was his intention…" Nasuada replied. She seemed frustrated, and almost angry.

"You mean Lord Barst?" Roran asked.

Nausada nodded. "Yes, but something confuses me. I was just barely able to catch a glimpse of him running off towards the western wall with a small company of men. What could be so important that he would abandon his army and rush over there so quickly?"

Nasuada and Roran suddenly met each other's eyes as the answer came to them.

"Queen Islanzadi!"

Roran wasted no time as he gathered himself and ran off in the direction of Lord Barst.

"Roran! Wait!" Nasuada called, but her shouts were lost in the rampage of war around them.

Queen Islanzadi

She dodged a blow and was just barely able to parry another as Lord Barst began his relentless assault. A crazed smile covered the man's face, and his eyes shone mad with rage.

"Come now, is this the best the mighty elven queen can do?" Lord Barst laughed. He swiped at her again, but Islanzadi spun around his blade as it just barely skimmed her chest plate. With his back exposed, Islanzadi sliced through his armor and bone-chilling scraping sound filled the air as her curved blade went through his armor and cut his side.

"ARGH!" Lord Barst cried out. Enraged, he wiped around threw up a fist that connected into the side of her face.

Islanzadi toppled to the ground; blood trickled down her cheek from where he struck her. She quickly got to her feet but jerked her head around in confusion as he was nowhere in sight. Then, suddenly, she was hit in the back of her head and thrown forward. She hit the ground hard and gritted her teeth as the world spun around her.

"Pathetic." Lord Barst spat. "This battle won't even last until morning." He laughed, glancing off towards the sky.

Islanzadi coughed as he turned her over to face him and then placed his boot on her chest, slowly crushing her.

"Ahhh!" She cried out in pain.

Lord Barst laughed again. "You didn't honestly believe that you could defeat me did you?" He pushed down harder on her chest, eliciting another cry. "I was trained by the Great Galbatorix and the Rider Murtagh! I have been given secrets that you could only dream of achieving!"

"You're a monster, and I will enjoy watching you die from the afterlife." Islanzsadi barely managed to say.

Lord Barst ignored her statement and kneeled down to her; placing his mouth beside her ear. "When this war is over, I will personally go to your precious home in the woods and burn every tree down to the ground and your people will bent to my Lord's will. You're women, your children and everything that you hold dear will be slaves…" He paused for a moment and then smiled. "And as for your daughter," He gripped his blade and then slowly drove it into her side. "She will be mine for the taking."

Islanzadi cried out as his sword cut through her ward, broke through her armor and then entered her skin. He twisted the blade, causing her to squirm under him.

Lord Barst laughed as he slowly stood up, withdrawing his blade from her body. Standing over her, he dropped the tip of his blade to her throat. "No last words for the Elven Queen?"

He waited for no response as he pulled back and prepared to thrust downwards, when suddenly a horn rang out in the distance.

Roran

He quickly pushed through the charred and body-littered fields outside Uru'Baen, attacking Empire soldiers left and right until he finally spotted her. The Queen was already engaging Lord Barst, and the battle must have only just begun, for it seemed to him that neither had the upper ground; though from what he had heard, Lord Barst was not a force to be reckoned with. But then again, neither were the twins at such a time, and look what he had done to them.

Roran glanced around him, realized that he had finally reached the eastern wall. Hopefully he would be able to find Jormundur and enlist his aid. Fortune smiled upon him then, when he spotted Jormundur not twently feet from his current position. Ignoring the screaming pain in his body, Roran pushed forwards and shouted out for the man clad in blue and grey armor.

"Commander Roran, why are you so far from your post?!" Jormundur shouted as he cleaved an enemy soldier in two.

"Commander Marcus had things under control there; right now I need your help. Lord Barst is currently engaging Queen Islanzadi!"

Jormundur's eyes widened and he followed Roran's gaze until he spotted the two in combat. "We must hurry!" He shouted, sprinting off towards the Queen.

Roran's smiled internally as he caught sight of Queen Islanzadi dodging a very complex blow and then returning an attack that hit its mark, cutting into Lord Barst's side. His smile soon faded, however, when Lord Barst released an angry cry and struck the Queen across the face, sending her to the ground. The fight grew worse when he suddenly disappeared from sight and then reappeared behind the Queen.

"No!" Roran shouted. He knew he hardly knew the Queen, and she probably hadn't given much thought to him besides the fact that he was Eragon's cousin, but she was the Queen of the Elven race, he could not stand by and watch as she fell. On top of it all, Roran saw the Queen as family and if there was one thing that Roran was sure about, it was that you protected your family…no matter what.

Roran could here Lady Nasuada shout orders from far behind him, and he wondered absently if she was joining in to help, as was Jormundur. Queen Islanzadi was on the ground once more, only this time she seemed frightened almost, if that were possible for one so skilled in masking their emotions. Lord Barst wore a satisfied expression as he loomed over her before slamming his boot onto her breast plate.

Roran pushed himself to run faster, but was suddenly blocked off by a large group of enemy soldier bearing the crest of the Royal Army. He abruptly stopped and gripped his hammer in his right hand, his left rested off to his side; ready for any attack.

Roran flicked his gaze from one soldier to another, realizing that he was vastly outnumbered. Nevertheless, Roran clenched his teeth and cried out as he charged the company of men. He ducked under a swipe and then threw up his hammer, breaking the jaw of the first victim. The soldier cried out in pain but another soon took his place. Roran blocked, ducked and fought back harder than he ever had, for he knew that time was not on his side at the moment.

In the midst of the assault, Roran failed to notice a soldier sneak around him and attempt to kill him while his back was turned. The soldier was nearly upon him now, and he raised his sword to cut down the mighty warrior before him. But his sword never met Roran. The man cried out as a blade stuck through his stomach and the tip jutted out from his front. Roran suddenly wiped around and looked on in shock as the man grimaced with his sword still high in the air, and then the man fell down. Standing there in front of him now, was Jormundur. He gave a quick nod to Roran and then joined him in the battle.

Not long after, Lady Nasuada suddenly appeared with her Nighthawks. "Go!" She shouted at him. "We can hold them off! Do what you can, we'll catch up!"

Roran nodded and gave a quick, grateful smile before he sprinted off towards Queen Islanzadi. His expression grew dark as he saw Lord Barst withdraw his sword from Islanzadi and then prepare to kill her. He was close now, nearly there, but it would only take a few more seconds before Lord Barst would end the life of the mother of Eragon's love, and the Queen of the Elven race.

Just as Lord Barst began to bring down his sword, a horn suddenly rang out across the land. The fighting seemed to slow down around him as he too looked into the distance to find where the source of this horn had come from. The sky was filled with auburn red streaks as the sun began its decent into the night, however Roran was still barely able to see a long dark line spread out across a hill not half and league away from the plains outside the city walls. The same horn rang out again, and then another as the long, dark line soon grew in size.

Roran felt himself catch his breath. It couldn't be…could it? The battle had completely slowed down now as every eye was on the hill. Not five minutes passed before the dark mass began to slowly move, and then it picked up speed, spreading out far and wide as gaps were soon formed. Roran smiled widely, it was them…the Dwarves had come!

He looked back at Lord Barst, who now wore a very disgruntled and angry expression, but more importantly he had been distracted by these recent events. Roran took advantage of this and closed the distance between him and Barst, and before long he was only a few feet behind the man.

Lord Barst suddenly wiped around and faced Roran, a furious look covered his face. But it was too late; there was nothing he could do. Roran cried out and slammed his hammer down on Lord Barst's head, splitting the man's skull in two.

He quickly knelt down at the Queen's side and helped her up. "Queen Islanzadi!" He shouted.

She turned her head to face him; shock and confusion etched on her face.

"You're wounded!" Roran yelled as he hefted her up and threw one of her arms around his shoulder.

Around him the battle resumed as Dwarves could now be seen crashing into the enemy soldiers. Now they had complete advantage over the Empire. Now they were no longer outnumbered. Roran hurriedly ran through the fields, dodging arrows and spears along the way as he helped the Elven Queen to a safe distance away from the main battle. Further back were tents that served as quarters for the wounded where several elves had remained behind, along with healers of the Varden.

Roran quickly helped the Queen into a tent where a group of elves watched in horror as their Queen was gently placed down on a cot. A few seconds passed by before they suddenly began to rush around, working hard now to keep their beloved Queen alive. Roran suddenly fell down onto a nearby chair, exhaustion taking over his body. A few elves quickly ran over to him and began asking him questions, but everything was a blur and he could hardly make out what any of them were saying to him.

He tried hard to stand up but found that his legs were too weak to hold him up. He fell back down, unable to stand for even another second as fatigue suddenly gripped his entire body, and then his eyes fell shut.

(A.N.) Okay, so I apologize if this is not at all what you were expecting as to an ending to this battle. I sincerely apologize if that is the case; taking as long as I have to finish this chapter may not have ended up being what I had intended it to be when I started it. With that being said, I still tried to make everything fit nicely together and I tried hard to keep the flow going. The ending probably sucked but I'm hoping that the next chapters (and the epilogue) will be better.

- Demonzmagic