Chapter 2. The Battle of Belatona
Part 1. Arya the Shadeslayer
The day before the Varden marched out of Feinster Eragon had a dream of Arya riding behind him on Saphira. They performed a maneuver in the air that brought about Varaug's death. When Eragon met with Nausada to discuss battle plans it was revealed that Thorn and Murtagh had been seen flying over Dras Leona where the Shade had taken up residence. As they marched the dream Eragon had bothered him so much that he decided to speak with Arya about it.
Arya sighs, "Fine Eragon, I will fly with you and Saphira…"
She watched him walk away with Blodgharm at her side, "I hope you don't think you are folling anyone Arya Drottningu…For I have known about you and the Shadeslayer for some time now…"
She looks at him, "Do you plan on telling my mother?"
"Of course not I am no fool."
After weeks and weeks of marching Belatona came into view. The Varden forces divided into four large groups and approached the city from all sides. Orin attacked from north, while Jormunder attacked from the south, Nausada leads from the north, and command of the eastern troops is given to Roran.
Each of the commanders had a spellcaster at their side for when Nausada gave the attack order. A roar came from the north. Thorn flew a hundred feet over the city with Murtagh and Varaug on his back. Saphira dove out of the sky from the south with Arya and Eragon on her back.
("I told you!")Eragon said shouting with his mind.
The two Dragons flew towards each other and at the last minute Saphira dove and Arya leaps off her back. Murtagh winks at her and leans to the side as she approaches exposing Varaug. She sneers and stabs Varaug in the chest. He roars as his body becomes transparent and the spirits rip his body apart. Arya swings her sword but Murtagh catches her sword hand and head butts her. Murtagh is stunned as Arya hits head butts him again. That is when Eragon lands behind Murtagh and slips the amulet around his neck.
"Gotcha brother…"
Thorn turns upside down as Murtagh elbows Eragon in the stomach. "Thrysta!" Murtagh shouts and Arya is blasted off the saddle.
"Arya!" Eragon screams diving after her.
As Eragon leaps after Arya Murtagh looks at the amulet on his neck, he has the power to remove it but if he does he will let Galbatorix know how powerful he has become. That is when Thorn is tackled by Saphira. ("Let me go Blue Scales!") Thorn growls with his mind.
Meanwhile Arya falls through the sky and is caught by Eragon. She smiles, "And what do you think you are doing? I can take care of myself you know…"
"I know…It's a man thing…Instinct to want to protect the woman I love…"
They land safely using magic to slow their descent. They look up just in time to see Saphira release Thorn, who flies away with Murtagh. "Murtagh is no longer a threat…" Arya says, "Not even Galbatorix can remove that amulet…"
Part 2. Dauthdaertya
Eragon and Arya landed near the south entrance where Nausada's forces had broken through the main gate. Her archers controlled the southern wall. She had given the attack command when Saphira, Arya, and Eragon confronted Thorn and Murtagh. "BRISINGER!" Shouted igniting his sword as he ran side by side with Arya. The defenders of Belatona fought bravely, but the ferocity of the Varden was overwhelming.
The assault forces led by Roran were the first to arrive at the palace. However his troops were pinned down by archers on the palace walls. Then Saphira roared from above and rained fire on the archers allowing Roran's men to break cover and attack. As they surge forward Roran waves his hammer in thanks as she flies off.
Palace of Belatona
"My lord they have breached the city on all sides…The one they call Stronghammer has reached the palace…" A man says to Count Bradburn Lord of Belatona.
"Find Captain Sven…You men come with me…" Bradburn leads twenty men down to the cellar in his palace. Bradburn himself could use magic and had been blessed with immortality by Galbatorix a hundred years ago. During the Dragon Elf wars an Elf sought refuge in Belatona and gave the King his Dauthdaertya as a reward.
Bradburn opened a secret treasure chamber, one that even Galbatorix had no idea about. "My lord what is that?"
A spear with strange green blade that glowed sat on a stand. "That my dear Caldin is a Dauthdaertya…A gift to my ancestor King Fallen before that bastard King Abernost took Belatona and made my family bend the knee to him…" He removes the weapon from the stand, "More importantly this weapon is used to kill Dragons…"
Palace Courtyard
Roran is joined by Nausada, Eragon, and Arya as he fights his way towards the courtyard of the palace. Saphira forces the main gates open as Arya climbs the wall with Synen and Dianah. "Blue Rider! I am Captain Sven and I carry the doom of your Dragon…" He says on a white stallion.
Saphira roars enraged that this man would charge her and Eragon with a simple spear. "Saphira! Eragon no!" Arya cries as they charge each other. At the last minute Saphira leaps over the horse and lands turning half way around. She flares her wings and spews fire from her mouth. Eragon gasps as both horse and rider are unharmed. Saphira growls and approaches low from the ground. She is low enough for Eragon to fight the man on horseback, but his attacks are directed at Saphira. Saphira swipes with her claws and knocks the man off his horse. She goes in for the kill and the man throws his spear. When Eragon tries to deflect the spear with magic it does not work and he catches Saphira in the chest near her left front leg.
"Bastard!" Eragon screams leaping off Saphira tackling the man. He wraps his hands around his neck and breaks it. Then he walks over to Saphira who is on her side.
"Don't touch it!" Arya screams.
"Why I must take it out and heal the wound."
Arya shakes her head, "That is no ordinary weapon…It is a relic from the Dragon Elf wars…A Dauthdaertya. It was designed for the purpose of killing Dragons…"
Eragon starts to examine the wound with her mind, "Her heart was not pierced…" He looks at Arya, "Help me!" The other Elves arrive but no one moves.
"If we remove the weapon her death will come faster…"
("Eragon!") Saphira says calling with her mind, "(They are right I can feel this spear sapping my strength!")
Eragon drops to his knees next to her, "No you cannot die…I won't let you…" When he tries to pull the spear out Blodgharm and Ryu grab him. "Let me go I can save her…"
"Be still!" Blodgharm says.
Minute by minute Saphira grows weaker and all Eragon can do is watch. The battle is over and Bradburn dead killed by Roran and Trianna. Eragon lays his head against Saphira's head. "Eragon look!" Arya cries. He sits up just in time to see the spear remove itself from Saphira and the wound close on its own. Saphira's strength starts to return.
("Saphira!) Eragon calls with his mind.
("I will live little one…but I must rest…")
He hugs her and looks at Blodgharm, "Thank you…"
"Do not thank me Shadeslayer…I did nothing…"
Over the next few days Eragon keeps watch over Saphira with Arya, Blodgharm, and the Elves. During this time he refuses food rest and bathing water. On the third day a cow is brought to Saphira and two barrels of Dwarven ale. Then she and Eragon go flying in the countryside. The mysterious power that healed Saphira remained a mystery for the time being.
