Sorry for the long wait. I havent been feeling great with the last couple of my chemo treatment, and honestly didnt feel much like writing. However, two weeks ago I had my last treatment, and just last week found out that I was cancer free. Haha, kind of put me in the mood to write, not to mention that I've been feeling so much better lately didnt hurt. Haha. Going in next Tuesday for one last surgery, and happily not going to be going back to the doctor till December. So hopefully that means I'll be writing more lately, and finishing this soon. So, please stick with me a little longer.

Chapter 34

Below him the battle began as the people of the men of the Varden met the Surdan Soldiers. Eragon watched for a moment as swords met shields, as cries of pain were heard as steel met flesh. The Varden was holding the Surdan's back, their numbers far outstretching that of the opposing force, and again Eragon wandered what Orrin had hoped to gain.

Beside him Thorn swopped down and grabbed four men in his claws only through them a good thirty to forty feet, killing them instantly. He then opened his mighty jaws, and giving off a mighty roar set fire to at least ten soldiers that had standing grouped together.

He turned to his right, looking for Arya, but could not see her or Firnen in the air. He then looked down to the ground and watched as his mate and her dragon did battle among the men, Arya with her forest green blade, and Firnen with his claws and tail. The two were quite the sight, both possessing a deadly grace that held his attention.

It was then, with a sickening feeling that Eragon heard it, the sound that for close to a year and a half had hunted his dreams after the war. It was the sound of maniacal laughter, and he watched as one of the men that Arya had just cut down stood once again, and dragged his leg behind him as he advanced on Arya who had her back turned to the man.

Saphira dove at his insistence and he jumped when he was at least twenty feet from the ground, Brisingr held at his side as he landed in a crouch. He looked up, throwing out his palm with the Gedwey Ignasia on it and screamed "Letta!" stopping the man in his tracks. The mans eyes widended, but he continued to laugh, even as Eragon thrust his blade through the beings chest, and then sliced upwards cutting the man in two.

Arya turned, surprised, and then nodded in thanks. "I did not see him, Firnen and I were linked, and…"

Eragon held up his hand, and nodded in understanding. That was the drawback of fighting in that way, why he had once asked his guard of Elves and Urgals to watch his back as he and Saphira had fought as one. "I understand. Are you alright?"

Arya seemed to bristle a little at the question, the automatic answer that she was fine and could look out for herself about to be uttered. But she stopped herself and nodded. She understood Eragon's concern, perhaps now that they were mates more than ever. "I am fine."

Eragon nodded, even as he parried a strike, and thrust Brisingr through another man. Saphira reached out, extending her massive neck and chomped down on a man that had attended on running past her. "That is good."

"Argetlam!" Eragon heard a man shout, and he turned, raising both his shield in order to defend himself, as well as Brisingr to attack. His eyes found a man, standing in front of him, and watched in amazement as he threw down as his sword and shield, as well as removing his helm. "Argetlam, I surrender."

Eragon's eyes widened slightly, but then he couldn't help himself from allowing a small smile over take his features. He turned and pointed towards their camp. "Of course, tell them that Eragon Shadelsayer has accepted your surrender and that you are under my protection. You will not be harmed."

The man nodded and smiled. "Thank you Argetlam. I never wished to fight this fight."

Eragon nodded, completely nodded. "I doubt many did." He then turned and began to make his way back into the fight, but the sound of a sword piercing armor caused him to turn, and he watched horrified as a Surdan soldier began to pull his sword out of the man's back.

He smirked as he eyed Eragon. "Traitors deserve to die. It was his fate."

Eragon growled, angry that someone could do such a thing to one of his own people. "He surrendered. His back was turned."

"He didn't deserve to see the face of the man that killed him. He lost that right, as will anyone else that follows in his lead." The man said, his sword dripping with the blood of the fallen man.

Eragon snarled, but took a breath to calm himself before he allowed his emotions to control him. He readied himself to exchange blows with the man, but before he could Saphira had lunged and grabbing him in her jaws threw him into the sky and opening her mighty jaws roasted him with her flames.

He did not deserve the honor of dyeing by your blade Little One.

He didn't deserve the honor of dyeing by your fire either Saphira. Eragon exclaimed.

Another burst of laughter reached his ears, and he turned to watch as a hand shot up from the ground and grasped the leg of a Varden soldier as he ran past. The man, alarmed swung wildly, cutting off the appendage. He stood there for a moment, breathing heavily as he looked down at the man, then screamed in agony as the man without pain took his severed sword and drove it through his shin.

This has to stop! Eragon thought, as he watched another of the Varden's soldiers take his battle axe and sliced off the man's head.

Sensing a feeling of malice coming towards him, Eragon turned and raised his shield, blocking the strike of a sword. The man grunted, and removed a dagger from his belt and swung at his unguarded side. Eragon raised Brisingr and blocked the dagger, then swiping the sword upwards smacked the man in the head, and pushed him away with his blue scaled shield. The man snarled, and lunged at Eragon, but he had seen the attack coming and turned, nearly missing the strike then drove his sword into the mans left side.

The Surdan soldier dropped his sword, but still held his dagger and used it to attempt to keep Eragon at bay. Eragon closed his eyes, and uttering one of the twelve words of death that had been taught to him so long ago opened them again to see the man crumple to the ground. He watched him for a moment, before turning and running back off into the battle.

For such a small force, the Surdans were able to hold them at bay far longer than they had originally thought possible. Two hours into the battle Eragon had only taken on two of the Surdan magicians and put a stop at least three of their war engines. His students were holding their own, but they had yet to meet with any of the dark Riders, though Eragon doubted that would last much longer.

And then it happened. He heard a roar of pain, and looked up, his eyes scanning the clouds, and watched in dread as two dragons plummeted towards the ground, one bronze, the other orange. he reached out with mind, both knowing that what he was doing dangerous, but not caring. Gastakv, Vancir! Are you okay? He waited for a couple of seconds for an answer, but known came. Damn it, are either of you okay!?

No answer came, and Eragon cursed, unsure of his students fates.