Here you are. I think this is probably my best chapter and one of the hardest for me to write. I hope you enjoy. P.S. Slightly inspired by 300 which I saw yesterday. Best movie ever. That takes the number one spot replacing Monty Python.

Roland awoke later that night to find it raining outside. It was quiet as the rain thudded onto the tent. The rain was calming, but Roland felt horrible. His face hurt slightly, but nothing he hadn't experienced before. The rider put on his boots and walked to the rock armaments. The rain felt good on his bare chest and back. It was cleansing, ridding his body of dirt, sweat and blood. It washed out his wounds.

Roland sat down on one of the large boulders. It was calm as the rain fell around him. The water pounded into the ground and rolled off his body. He had let Vanya get away again. I will finish her.

Arya came to sit next to him. "What are you doing?"

"Thinking." He looked over at her.

"About what? The rain?"

"Ay. Rain after a battle is cleansing, washes away the blood. Yet rain before a battle is a bad omen. This rain is a double edged sword."

"What will happen?"

"I can not see it."

The two were quiet for a moment. "Do you love me, Arya?" he asked. Arya stared at him, "Why would you ask such a question? Of course I do."

"Will you rule by my side?" he looked at her rain running down his face. "I am a King. I have finally accepted it, but I want you to be my queen." He looked at her again she was crying with a smile on her face. Roland grinned. Arya lunged forward and kissed him.

Somehow the two ended up in his tent. They were ripping each others clothes off. Roland threw her onto the bed and placed himself above her. His eyes scanned her beautiful body. Arya looked deep into his eyes. He lowered his head and trailed his lips down her body. Roland felt her body rise; her breathing hitch and a moan escape her lips. Arya ran her fingers through his hair bringing him back up for a kiss. Her nails scrapped along his back as he entered her. The two lovers locked eyes.

"I love you." She breathed.

Roland kissed her passionately.

"Master Roland."

Roland stirred he lay next to Arya. He propped himself up on his elbow and looked over Arya. "What?"

"You may want to come and see this."

He sighed, got out of bed put on his boots, pants and shirt. He stepped from the tent and followed the soldier to the armaments. He looked out over the battlefield and saw hundreds of thousands of enemy soldiers. Roland just looked and seemed unfazed.

"Hmm…"

"Well? What do you think?" asked Lucas who leapt from the armament.

"Just gives us more enemy soldiers to kill." Laughed Roland. His riders smiled. "Let's prepare. You there." He pointed to a boy. "Fetch me my armour." The boy grew wide eyed and disappeared into Roland's tent. Arya emerged already ready for battle. The little boy hurried along and laid the armour at Roland's feet. He quickly put it on and sheathed his swords. Roland knelt down so he was eye level with the boy.

"What's your name, son?"

"Thane."

"Good name. How old are you, Thane?"

"10, sir."

Roland nodded. "Can you I trust you to do something very important for me?"

"Ay, Sir. Anything. I'll fight by your side!"

Roland laughed and laid a hand on the young boy's soldier. "Not yet, Thane. You will fight another day. I need you to guard this spear here with your life and when I call for it you are to throw it to me. Can you do that?"

"Ay, Sir."

"Good boy. Now go on." Roland handed the boy his spear and the boy took his position upon the armaments."

Roland stood and mounted Sirrush. The Surdan and Varden army made their ways to the front lines to face their enemy. It was quiet the only sound was the rain coming down. There was a heavy sigh from the soldiers. "This is it, Ladies and Gentlemen. WE HAVE HELD THEM THIS LONG, BUT EVERY SOLDIER YOU HAVE KILLED; EVERY ADVANCMENT WE HAVE MADE HAS BROUGHT US TO THIS VERY MOMENT! WE MAKE OUR FINAL STAND HERE AND NOW! RISE UP AND TAKE YOUR GLORY! RISE UP AND TAKE VICTORY!" shouted Roland. The army erupted in the clanging of shields and shouts. Lady Nasuada took her cue. She lowered her sword, "ATTACK!" The army rushed onto the battlefield. Enemy soldiers fell at their feet as sword met flesh and bodies met cold, wet ground. The Varden and Surda armies were inspired, but could it really lead them to victory? When they were so greatly outnumbered.

Sirrush swooped down grapping soldiers and crushing them in his mighty talons his jaws destroyed the enemy as blood rained down mixing with the rain. Sirrush breathed a great ball of fire engulfing a large crowd of soldiers setting them ablaze. They ran screaming in every direction. Roland leapt from Sirrush's back as the great dragon barreled through the lines. Soldiers flew into the air. Sirrush took to the skies as a hail of arrows rained down.

Soldiers ran head on towards the rider. Roland unsheathed his swords. He sliced the stomach of a soldier to his right. He stabbed a soldier who came running directly into his path. Another lost a leg. Roland knelt bringing his swords upwards catching one soldier in the hip and another under the chin. They fell at his feet.

There was a great roar just in front of him. Lucas had fallen from his dragon Rayne who had been pierced through the heart. The great beast gave one last roar before collapsing onto the ground in a great heap and dying.

"NO!" he heard him cry. Lucas took up his sword and began to fight through the soldiers that had surrounded him. Roland began to fight his way to his rider's side. There was a flash of light and the sound of sword through flesh. When the light faded Lucas lay dead on the ground. Roland fought harder to get to him. Where did that light come from?! Before Roland could reach the fallen Lucas the dead rider's brother Ripley appeared on the back of his dragon Thor. Ripley leapt from Thor's back and ran to his brother. He looked up at the person who had killed him. Roland couldn't see properly through the crowd. He killed soldier after soldier, but didn't seem to get any closer to the two.

In rage Ripley expelled a large amount of energy with a blast of fire bringing him to his knees. His body was filled with spears and arrows, but the young rider got to his feet and continued fighting. In one quick swipe of an enemy soldier he was decapitated.

"NO!" Roland roared. He was too late. The two brothers lay dead along with their dragons. Roland pushed through the onslaught of enemy soldiers grabbed a dagger from his boot and flung it through the air. It hit the soldier who had decapitated Ripley right in between the eyes. He fought until he reached their dead bodies. He looked up to see Vanya smirking at him.

Thane had leapt from his place on the armament and sprinted into battle. He carried the spear tightly. He dodged bodies and fights as he made his way towards Roland.

"YOU BITCH!" he shouted at her. The enraged rider charged the vile woman. Blow after blow he brought down upon her. Vanya was frightened she couldn't fend off the rider. She knew magic would be useless. The blows were crushing and each one came closer and closer. She would try magic on the rider at least to give her space. The rider was thrown back and Vanya drew back so there was a good amount of space between them. Roland saw his chance as he turned his head slightly to see Thane making his way towards him. 1…2…3…

"NOW, THANE!"

Thane threw the spear into the air; Roland caught it turned and threw the spear directly at Vanya. Vanya had no time to react as the deadly weapon shot through the air impaling her. The woman sank to her knees gripping the spear that jutted from her chest. Blood oozed from her mouth. Roland walked up to her bringing his two swords together decapitated her. He kicked her lifeless body with his foot causing it fall backwards in a bloody mess. Roland stood there for a moment breathing heavily. His swords lowered to his sides. He raised his head to the skies. The rain felt good against his face. The rider sheathed his swords and turned to his fallen friends. He lifted Ripley's body and laid it next to his brothers.

Murtagh hadn't appeared at this battle, but they had won and it didn't matter. They defeated Galbatorix's army. Roland sank to his knees. In his eyes he had failed. He had let two of his riders, his people, his friends die. He should have been there to save them. Roland broke down and cried. He sobbed like he was a little boy again. Thane stood quietly by the rider as he sobbed on the battlefield. Sirrush, the other riders, Eragon, Nasuada, Arya, Trianna, Orik, Fena came to stand around him. Arya knelt down next to her rider and placed his head on her shoulder. Roland continued to cry over the death of his friends, over the death of his family, over the death of everyone he had ever known who was lost. Arya let him cry as she stroked his hair. She didn't say a word. No one did. They were silent as they looked at the two brothers lying next to one another. They were silent letting only the cries of their King be heard. They were silent for all those dead on the battlefield. They had won, but no one was celebrating. No one was joyous. This was a dark day. And still the rain came down.