Not really much to say here except I hope you enjoy chapter number 49.

The Battle Begins

…pass." I replied with a smile on my face.

Eragon's face was completely stunned as he stared at me. I was sure that he was trying to figure out if it was all a dream or not. Everyone else was also silent as the words proceeded through their heads.

I decided that Eragon was stuck in that hole long enough so I released the jutsu and Eragon was popped out of the hole. He was not swaying a bit as the blood started to return back to his feet.

Once he had recovered enough, he asked me "What did you say?"

I replied "I said you passed Eragon."

He was still confused and he replied "But I didn't get the bell."

I nodded my head and said "I always knew you would not be able to get the bell. This was really more of a formality."

"A…formality?" Eragon asked confused.

I nodded my head and said "I had already recorded your skills in combat so I just this as a way of showing the others that I had recorded your combat skills. I feel that, given time, you can be able to be a great Rider."

Thinking that I had said enough, I made my way over to my clone, which was busy writing the last few things on the scroll. I waited until he was done before I took it and sealed it. The clone disappeared and I made my way back to Spyro.

On the way there, I contacted Ajihad and informed him about my result of Eragon's skills in magic and combat. I told him that while he will be able to overcome the physical challenge need for the near future, I should be on hand to assist him in the magic department. The fact that he was unfamiliar with wards was enough to secure my position as his back-up.

Once I had finished my report, I climbed up the side of the mountain and opened up the secret cave that Spyro was dwelling. Once I got there, I notice that Spyro was hunched over a carcass of what looked like a giant boar. I smirked and said "What no sheep Spyro?"

He looked at me with an annoyed face but I could feel his amusement from our bond. He then replied "Not in this crazy mountain with peaks that go up to the skies."

I nodded my head, returning back to a calm demeanor and made my way to rest on Spyro side. He allowed me to lie on his stomach and draped a wing over my body. I could feel the warm heat enveloping my body, luring me into the comfort of sleep. Even my own body was resisting my efforts to stay awake, as the days spent in constant alertness have started to worn me out.

However, I managed to stay awake to say "You know that battle is fast approaching."

Spyro said nothing but responded with a silent nod. We remained silent for a few more minutes before I said "I may need your help in this one."

It was then that he turned his head and said "Now you are accepting your role as a Dragon Rider."

I gave a grunt in response but decided against arguing with him at the moment. Sleep had finally taken over my body and it was not long before I drifted off into those fleeting visions.

Morning

I could feel the Urgals marching through the tunnels thanks to my earth powers. Even as I was getting up, I was estimating the time it would take them to reach the main Varden camp and I was gladden that they were still a ways out.

I managed to get onto both of my feet and started to stretch my muscles in order to get them loosen up for the impending battle. I then turned my head towards Spyro and said "Just come on out whenever you are ready."

He nodded his head in response and I made my way down to the ground area.

Once I was on the ground, I noticed a messenger running towards me. At first I thought it was because he was surprise to see me climbing down the inside of the mountain in the brink of dawn but I was proven wrong much to me relief.

The messenger approached me and said in a rather fast voice "Ajihad request your presence in his study." I nodded my head and thanks and went straight towards his study.

As I was making my way, I notice that people were starting to gather their possessions and finding their family and friends. I could sense the worry and the fear racing in every person mind and that only strengthen my resolve to do whatever I could to win this battle.

I made it to the study to find Ajihad, Eragon, Arya, Orik, Brom, and another human who I was unfamiliar with bit had an aura of command around him though not as strong as Ajihad himself. They were all looking over a table and I made my way to stand in an open area that was just across from where Ajihad was standing. It was only then that everyone notices that I entered the room.

Ajihad then said "Ah Sora, I am glad you could make it here so quickly." I gave a small smile and replied "You would have to bind me in chains before I ever think about missing this battle."

With the pleasantries aside, I went back to looking at the map that was on the table. I saw that it was a detailed map of the tunnel system in the Beor Mountains. The amount of passageways was extensive and as a result there were several entryways that an army can use to get into the city. I knew that if that happen, we would have lost since the Varden did not have the strength yet for a siege.

Ajihad explained that in order to better defend the city; we were going to force the Urgals to fight on the lower part of the city, where there would be more room for the Varden to maneuver. I nodded my head in agreement but kept my council to myself. I also learned that the human was Ajihad second in command and after exchanging introductions, we decided on caving some of the passageways to bottleneck the Urgals. The dwarves were already getting started and to be on the safe side, Ajihad asked Eragon and Saphira to help collapse tunnels in one area while Arya worked another.

I was asked to report to the battle field and get myself ready. Understanding what I had to do, I quickly made my leave and headed for the battleground.

As I was getting closer to the Varden main camp, I was once again trust with the magnitude of unblocked emotions. Waves of fear, worry, nervousness, and more flooded into my mind. It was making it harder for me to concentrate on what I was supposed to be doing at the time. I then remembered a lesson from Oromis about dealing with this kind of situation and went on to expanding my coverage until I felt the general emotions from the people around me.

I made my way to an open area and sat down on the hard ground, watching men setting up what defenses they could. I felt incline to help them but I had to make sure that I was ready to go. The first thing I did was check up on Spyro to see if he was ready which he responded saying "I'll be there."

Satisfied, I decided to hold off on placing what wards I needed until Eragon and Saphira got back. With nothing to do at the moment, I decided to help out with digging the ground to place the spikes in. I was soon loss in the manual labor and it was not long before I saw Eragon and Saphira approaching along with Orik.

Once they had reached where I was sitting, I took one look at Eragon and Saphira and said "I hope you are not planning on going into battle without any armor?" Realization hit Eragon and Saphira but before they could do anything, Orik gave a small grunt and said "Don't worry about it. We got it covered." It was then that four dwarves started to approach us, carrying a rather large bundle of metal on a platform.

Once they placed the armor down, I notice that it was in fact two types of armor present. The first was the smaller set which belongs to Eragon which he started to put on right away. The larger armor was quickly confirmed to be in fact a complete set of dragon armor, much to Saphira delight. With some of the armor pieces being a bit heavy to lift on your own, I gladly helped Eragon in getting Saphira outfitted for war. Needless to say, the moment she had that armor on, she did in fact look quite dangerous.

Once that was done, I went back to sitting on the ground. However, now that I was closer to Eragon and Saphira, I started to cast the wards I thought would benefit them the most. I kept my spell weaving quiet so as to avoid the risk of people hearing what I was saying.

Once I had cast the last ward needed, I looked around and notice that Arya was nearby. She had her bow strung and was staring at the caves where we hope the Urgals would start pouring out. She looked at me while I was looking at her and we shared a silent agreement. I then focused my attention back on the cave that was in front of us.

It was around that time that Murtagh decided to join us and while I was glad that he was here to keep an eye on Eragon; my attention was really more on the cave.

I could feel the tension from everyone around me. There were times when someone would come out of the cave saying that the Urgals were coming but they prove to be a false alarm which only served to agitate more people. Thinking that it might be a while before the Urgals got here, I suggested to Eragon that he takes a bit of a rest and that we would wake him up before the battle starts.

A few hours have passed before I felt the Urgals approaching through the earth. It was shortly after that when a scout came back reporting that the Urgals were almost here. Arya went over and got Eragon up just in time for the Urgals to appear.

We could hear the march of their feet and the grunts echoing in the cave. Ajihad must have thought that they were close enough because he ordered the pot of oil to be dropped and then lit. The oil went ablaze and we could hear the Urgals screaming from the pain. Though I felt my stomach twist up inside; I learned a long time ago that there were worst ways to die than that.

Stepping over the remains of their fallen comrades, the Urgals started to pour out of the tunnels. They looked just as menacing as ever but I notice that there was something about them that just seemed…off to me for some reason. I was not sure what it was but I had a gut feeling that there was something different about these Urgals then the ones I have fought with before.

I pushed that thought aside and summon Purple Legend. I felt a little better having a familiar weapon in my hand and waited for the Urgals to make their first move.

It was then that a large note sounded which signaled their charged. Shouting war cries at the top of their lungs; they stampeded towards our defenses. I heard the sound of arrows being released and watched as some of the Urgals started to fall dead in the ground, tripping up their comrades and causing their line to stagger. It was then that they threw themselves on the breastworks and were either cut down by the spikes or jabbed by the pike men we had position on the front line.

The charge lost momentum and the Urgals fell back to regroup for another attack. We stood there for a few minutes in silence before the horn sounded again, singling their second charge.

However, something strange happened at that moment.

When the note was dying down, an earthquake seemed to shake the entire mountain. Most people we unexpected this and some even landed on the bottoms. The Urgals were equally confused as they tried to maintain their own balance.

SMASH

Without anyone realizing it, a large boulder seemed to appear out of nowhere and crush several Urgals under its weight. Before anyone had a chance to react, three more boulders came crashing down, taking out several Urgals with them.

It was then that a fifth boulder came and crashed down on top of some more Urgals. What was interesting about this particular boulder was that it was different then the others.

I mean, how many boulders have you seen with spikes sticking out of it and the fact that it was about the size of an adult dragon.

I really apologize for the lateness with this one. I was just a little swamped as of late and suffered a minor writer's block. I hope that this long chapter will make up for it. Anyway, not much to say other then…

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Richer1992