Raylena's tears had finally subsided as everything was shared and taken away by her dragon. Eridor. They had wept together at one point, his tears hot and steaming and nearly burning her skin from where they dropped several feet away. How she had ever lived without him she would never know.

Dear heart. The warning echoed through her mind. Sunlight poured fully into her face as his wings parted. She turned around, crossing her arms tightly over her stomach as she met Murtagh's eyes. Thorn had landed at a distance, his nose brushing the ground as he awkwardly balanced on his three legs, months not helping the situation.

Murtagh gazed up at Eridor as he continued to wander forward, in awe of the beautiful dragon. "So this is him. Eridor?"

He growled, showing his teeth.

Murtagh halted and held up his arms, silently pleading.

Raylena shivered, pressing herself as far into Eridor as she could. "What is it?"

His brown eyes met her own. They were clear. So much brighter than they ever had been. "Raylena... I don't hear them anymore. None of them."

"Eragon freed them. You now only have your own heart."

"No, you don't understand. Not one of them." His eyes were wide, confused. For the first time in a long time he was alone. The cloud was gone, and any darkness that had lingered in the corners had been wiped away. Only Thorn remained. He felt detached, and light heated, as if he should faint.

Her jaw went slack. "Your name..."

"Eragon told me. He told me that my name could change. Raylena, it did." He looked almost frightened, and bewildered. Just like a child.

He had left her in Helgrind rotting. Eridor nuzzled her head with his nose, sending her a gentle reminder. No, he had never been allowed to come. Held away, imprisoned in his own mind, and against his will, just like her. The same as always. Murtagh was gazing at her, wishing for the forgiveness she had withheld, his eyes so warm as they used to be.

You may wonder, dear heart, as to the reason his name had changed... I will not.

She glanced up at him before he lowered his head, shamed and waiting. Zar'roc was discarded; she was armed. If it be death, then so it be. Thor told him he was willing.

Murtagh was staring at the ground, his eyes shut, apologizing to his dragon over and over. He didn't notice her until after she had hooked her arms around his neck, standing on her toes in order to reach.

Eridor snorted as he watched the pair standing silently in the other's arms. He finally turned his gaze to the large red dragon beyond them. Thorn met his gaze boldly. They never spoke, but there was born an understanding. Thorn nodded his head, and the phantom dragon returned the gesture. He would watch over her.

Saphira had landed and gladly relinquished care of the Eldunari she carried to the elf waiting below. Oromis wrapped his hands around it and pressed his forehead down, a single tear tracking down his cheek. It was silent and calm. The Empire's soldiers were being soundly defeated. The rebellion's soldiers combined with the reborn Riders and warriors were deadly, and a fearsome thing to behold.

She settled down, watching Eragon interact with his parents. Brom noticed her stare, turned, and smiled. She flashed a toothy grin like only a dragon has, eliciting a chuckle before the man returned his attention to his son. She lifted her head as iLyara walked up. The smaller dragon looked somewhat rejected, the cause being obvious. Her nose was nearly dragging on the ground. Saphira nudged her. Do not fret, little one. She will need you again when they are gone.

But the way she loves him-

Is different. You must understand this.

I do... I just sometimes wish I could be so privileged.

Saphira rubbed her wing against the smaller dragon. Speak with him. He already knows what you have done for her. Perhaps he can tell you ways to help her more.

Raylena breathed deeply, her face burrowed into his shoulder. Murtagh rocked her back and forth ever so gently, murmuring nonsense into her ear, holding her tightly. They stood in silence for a long while until voices called to them from afar. The closeness was gone; distraction evident. The Riders dashed to their dragons, needing to know for sure.

Murtagh once again felt tears threatening. Their dragons made quick work of the short distance to the castle, and before he knew it he was stumbling off Thorn, and into his mother's arms. He buried his face in her hair.

Raylena slid off Eridor, shame crushing the joy she felt as she gazed at the being watching her. After all the years, Oromis stood before her, tall and proud, peaceful as she could never be, balanced as she had remembered. She stepped forward slowly and knelt, touching her fingers to her lips, the keen weight on her heart simply forcing her to the ground. "Ebrithil, forgiv-"

She was cut off. The elf had dropped to the earth and drawn her into an ethereal embrace. She stiffened in his arms, eyes squeezed shut. No. No. No. He should be angry...

"My daughter."

They wept together.

After a time everyone's tears were spent, and once again they had to focus on the task at hand. There was a brief discussion as to where Galbatorix might be hiding. They welded their minds into a tool, though try as they might, they could not locate his position.

Raylena crossed her arms tightly over her stomach as they discussed the king. Oromis laid a hand on her elbow, calming her thoughts, whispering the newly familiar words, though she pushed away from them. Nobody knew what to do. He was everywhere to her; she had been right about the Rock but now she was useless. She shivered as she stared up at the palace. It had been such a long time since she had last stood at its base.

Eragon finally raised his hands. "We can try to speak to Shruiken."

Brom frowned. "Whatever gave you a fool idea like that?"

"I already have. I don't believe he shares the evil nature that has permeated Galbatorix."

Murtagh shook his head. "I have never known anything that could support that."

"But has there been anything to discredit it?"

Silence fell. There was a question. Who would risk their mind? Raylena shook her head, needing several calming words from Oromis. Murtagh also declined.

Done.

Everyone turned in surpise to face the red dragon. His eyes were closed, though his tail twitched occasionally.

It seemed as if everyone had stopped breathing. Not a single sound was heard apart from the whisk the scales on the dragon's tail made as it tracked across the dirt. Agonizing waiting.

And then, the way was shown.