Otto and Roland carried the bodies of their fallen comrades off the battlefield. They were placed inside of a tent. They would prepare the bodies for burial. Roland turned to Arya his eyes still red from tears.
"They deserve the honor of being buried in the earth of Vroengard."
Arya placed her hand on his cheek, "Go."
He nodded wiped his eyes and entered the tent with his riders. The bodies were cleaned, their armour and weapons polished. The two brothers were placed on different stretchers and placed in the talons of Azzo and Sirrush.
"Bury Rayne and Thor. They will meet their riders on the other side." Roland said to Nasuada who nodded.
The riders of Vroengard took off into the skies and disappeared into the storm clouds. The riders were silent as they advanced towards Vroengard. The dragons had never flown as fast as they did now. In a matter of hours the shores of their homeland came into view. The dragons landed and released the stretchers. The bodies were carried from there to their burial grounds. Roland parted his hands and the earth parted before him, Emera did the same thing. The bodies were lowered into the ground. The riders stood around.
"On this dark day we end the journey of two fellow riders and friends. We have brought them home and lay them to rest in the earth of their fathers." Roland closed both holes in one quick flick of his hand. They stood quietly around the graves for awhile. Roland rubbed his temples and then walked off. He came to the grave of his father and knelt down.
"Normally I would seek out my mother's advice, but I feel the need to talk to you." He knocked his hand against the ground. "So this is the turmoil a king must face. This is what I am meant to live through. I have accepted my title, but I am not prepared for what I must do. You were a good king and even though I never told you it a good father as well. I love you and I realize now it's not too late for those words either." Roland stood wiped the dirt from his hands and headed back to his riders. They mounted their dragons and headed back towards the Burning Plains.
Roland watched the ground below him and for some reason it made him feel happier. After everything he had been through. He felt joy. He had been reunited with the love of his life, defeated Galbatorix, and killed Vanya, survived death. Things were good with the exception of the loss of his riders. Roland hadn't felt this good in a long time.
They landed on the Burning Plains. Arya came running and leapt into his arms. "How are you feeling?" she kissed him.
"Better." He smiled.
"Good." She rubbed his face with her thumb. There moment of joy was interrupted by Jormondur. Who they could hear shouting before he even came anywhere near them. Roland turned around.
"So you've come back, Rider. I'm surprised."
"Surprised?"
"You fled after the lose of your riders. Are these the great riders we've come to rely on? Cowards." He spat.
"I left to give my riders and my friends the burial they deserved. I did not run."
"That is not how the soldiers feel. They feel that you've abandoned them."
Roland walked towards him. "You are a liar! You fill their minds with false truths! You have had something against from the moment I entered this camp! I WAS GIVING MY RIDERS A BURIAL THEY DESERVED!!!"
The two were quiet as they stared at each other. "You're right, Roland. I do have something against you. You appear from no where and expect everyone to worship you. To come in and save the day."
"I expect nothing."
"No wonder your Kingdom was destroyed."
Those words set Roland off. He charged the Varden Commander knocking him to the ground. The two men wrestled around on the ground throwing punches and kicks. Roland held down the Varden Commander by the throat and beat his face in with the other hand. Jormondur punched Roland in the face, but it wasn't enough to dislodge the rider.
"Shouldn't we stop this?" asked Eragon.
"Nope." Replied Otto his arms folded across his chest.
There was a ring of onlookers as they beat each other up. Jormondur managed to get his foot underneath Roland and kick him off. They stood for a moment staring at each other. Jormondur charged Roland knocking him into a tent post. Roland brought his fists together and slammed them into the commander's back knocking him to the ground. Jormondur found a rock on the ground. He stood and hit Roland in the side of the face with it. Roland wiped the blood that was running down the side of his face. The rider looked at Jormondur and in one punch the commander was out cold.
Otto was laughing as Roland looked over at him, "Good fight, lad." He looked over at Arya who simply rolled her eyes.
"What is going on here?!" Lady Nasuada had broken through the ring of people and she was ticked. Roland looked over at her. "Settling a dispute."
Lady Nasuada looked down at the unconscious Jormondur and then back at Roland. "I would have expected more from a rider. GET HIM UP!" she commanded. 5 varden soldiers lifted up the commander and took him away. Roland was standing there with a smile on his face blood still running down his face. Fena walked up to him, grabbed his head and examined his wound. Roland winced as she poked and prodded his head. The rider to pull away, but Fena held on.
"What are you doing?" he hissed as she poked his head.
"What does it look like I'm doing? This needs to be cleaned and healed."
"I know. But you don't have to stick your fingers in it."
Arya had a hand over her mouth trying not to laugh. Fena took him by the arm and led the rider to her tent where she forced him to clean off the side of his head. His riders, Arya, Eragon, and a few others had gathered to watch. Arya was still giggling from behind her hand. Fena dunked his head into the basin, took up a cloth and began to scrub the dirt and blood from his wound.
"AH! What is wrong with you?!"
"What do you expect when you get into a fight? Now hold still. You're only making it worse."
"Let me go! I can do it myself! You are crazy, Fena. AH!"
But Fena held onto the rider so he couldn't get away. "Now hold still this will only take a minute."
Roland was mumbling under his breath as Fena placed a hand onto the wound and in a flash of light the wound was completely healed. "There all better."
Roland rubbed his head and grunted as he left the tent. He made his way towards Ripley and Lucas's tent. A large trunk sat in the corner. It was old, worn and for some reason he felt as though it was calling to him. Roland went over to it and knelt down. He wiped his hand over the surface and the lock clicked. With steady hands the rider lifted it open. Roland's mouth fell open at its contents to the point of nearly fainting. This can't be.