Chapter 12. Fate of Alagaesia

Part 1. Voice of Dragons

Eragon and Saphira stand side by side before a great rock. At the same time they speak their true names to the rock. The great bolder shifts like clay in someone's hands and becomes a door. It opens to a massive cave filled with Eldunari; each Eldunaru sits in little rock nest. At the back of the cave are three Eldunari sitting on rock pillar. The Eldunari are red, gold and green.

"Welcome Saphira Brightscales and Eragon Shadeslayer…" Three voices speak as one addressing Eragon in the ancient laguage.

Both Eragon and Saphira recognize the voice, "You! Your voice is the same that spoke to me the first time I used magic…"

The voice laughs, "Yes…"

("And your voice spoke to Eragon at the Agaeti Blodhren celebration…") Saphira says speaking up.

"We were the ones who redirected Saphira's egg to you as well…We have been watching you Eragon from the day you were born…"

"Why?"

"We knew Saphira would chose you above all others…And because of the name your mother gave you…Time is precious we gave the werecat the prophecies to aid you…We bought you here to empower you with our ancient knowledge and the gift of our Eldunari…"

"Galbatorix know the true name of the ancient language…"

"We know and we will tell you the true name of the ancient language as well to put you on equal footing…Three hundred of our brothers and sisters wish to unite with you…"

Eragon is overwhelmed, "Three hundred!"

("How many Eldunari does Galbatorix have?") Saphira asks.

"One hundred and twenty…If you can kill him bring our brothers and sisters here that they may commune with us…"

"We will I swear it…"

The ancient Dragons teach Eragon how to bond and merge with three hundred Eldunari. He merges with the Eldunari sometimes three at a time.

GALBATORIX

Meanwhile Galbatorix stopped in Feinster after Shruiken convinced him of the uselessness in attacking Surda. Galbatorix's army is in the city as well. The people Nausada left in charge are publicly executed in the town square. Galbatorix had no interest in interrogating them.

"Where are they?" He asks to himself. The Elves would never allow Murtagh to enter their forest domains. Galbatorix is familiar with most of Alagaesia, including the Beor Mountains. The only parts he is unfamiliar with are the lower parts of the Spine and all of forest of Duweldenvarden. Then it dawns on him and Galbatorix scrys the Island of Doru Areaba. "I have found you!"

Galbatorix summons Lord Barst. Galbatorix creates a portal to the Island and as his army marches through the portal Galbatorix and Shruiken fly towards the old academy. It is protected by a barrier that even he cannot breach. "MURTAGH! THORN! YOU COWARDS! COME OUT AND FACE ME TRAITORS!" His voice booms shaking the island.

Galbatorix lands in the Vanguard of his army. He makes a signal and they start casting magical bolts, catapult fire, and arrows strike the barrier Murtagh erected. The barrier is designed to draw energy from anything directed at it. The allies return fire, but Galbatorix has erected his own barrier to protect his forces.

ERAGON

Eragon emerges from the cave and as he does the door turns back into a boulder. "You must go Shadeslayer…" Paneer says sitting by the fire. "Galbatorix has discovered the place where your allies have gone…It is a standoff for now, but Galbatorix is not to be underestimated…"

Eragon leaps onto Saphira's back and looks at Elva, "Elva come on we must go…"

"I am not coming…The Dragons invited me to stay here and I accepted…"

Eragon smiles, "I am so sorry…"

She returns the smile, "I…I forgive you…Now go and save Alagaesia…" Saphira goes down the trail leaping and running when they reach the bottom Eragon makes a portal to Doru Areaba.

Part 2. Final Confrontation

"Galbatorix is not to be underestimated…" Oromis says to everyone gathered, "We should take the fight to him…"

Murtagh rolls his eyes, "Look! I put up that barrier using the one word…Galbatorix is not getting through that…"

Glaedr snorts, ("As arrogant as his father…") Thorn growls at Glaedr.

"I agree with Master Oromis…" Lord Dauthdr says. "We should attack…"

They all look at Nausada for a decision. She looks at Murtagh, "Can you contact Eragon and Saphira?"

"They are on the way as we speak…"

"We cannot wait on him." Oromis says in a forceful tone of voice.

She looks at Orin, "We attack!"

Murtagh shakes his head and helps the allied forces get ready. "We will attack Galbatorix together." Oromis says to Murtagh.

"Right…"

When everyone is in position Nausada gives the command. Murtagh lowers the barrier and the allied forces attack. A thunderous shout proceeds their charge along with flaming jars of pitch from catapults a hail of arrows and magical bolts of energy cast from the Elves and mages of every race fighting with the Varden.

Shruiken roars and leaps into the air flying towards Oromis and Murtagh on their Dragons. Thorn pulls back because Glaedr is the same size as Shruiken. The two massive Dragons slam into each other. As they fight Galbatorix uses ordinary spells to try and capture Oromis and Glaedr, but the wards around them had been placed by Murtagh.

"There is no protection from this!" Galbatrix yells. He combines his magic with Shruiken's fire using the burning curse. But before he can finish the spell Murtagh lands on Shruiken's saddle and opens up Galbatorix's back placing on him the same curse Durza used on Eragon.

"You little bastard! Morzan should have killed you when he had the chance!" He yells elbowing Murtagh in the head. Meanwhile Thorn bites a chunk of Shruiken's tail off. The great Dragon roars in pain releasing Glaedr; he swings around and bashes Thorn in the head with his left claw. Both Murtagh and Thorn go tumbling through the air.

As they fall to the ground Eragon and Saphira appear through a portal. He points his hand at Thorn and Murtagh, "Letta!" He yells catching both Rider and Dragon in the air. Using the one word he heals them.

Meanwhile on the ground the allies cheer when they see Saphira and Eragon in the air. They fail to notice the other half of Galbatorix's army attacking them from the rear, that is when the Sundavrblaka attack. Thorn dives on the rear forces and blasts them with fire from his mouth. Once again, the Dragon Rider Academy burns, there is fire everywhere as Galbatorix flies over the ruins of Vroengard Academy…He leaps off Shruiken's saddle and tackles Oromis off Glaedr's saddle

"Now you die for real!" He says stabbing Oromis in the chest.

"Master!" Eragon screams. This time it is for real and the pain of seeing it up close is worse than witnessing it from afar. Eragon had to lose Oromis all over again. Both he and Saphira would have been at Oromis' side if not for Shruiken. When Galbatorix leapt off the ancient Black Dragon flies at them.

("Eragon end lets end this!") Murtagh says with his mind. He is flying through the air while Thorn joins Shapira in fighting Shruiken. Glaedr joins them in the fight against the Black Dragon. As Oromis falls to the ground Galbatorix turns his attention to Eragon and Murtagh.

Swords are drawn as they fly through the air through magic. Murtagh attacks from the rear and Eragon from the front. Galbatorix spins around holding the two of them off at the same time. "BRISINGER!" Eragon yells his sword bursts into flames

("Murtagh! I have an idea…")

Murtagh smiles and the two brothers say the one word at the same time combining their magical skills. They strip Galbatorix of all his magical abilities. "NO!" He screams as Eragon thrusts Brisinger into his chest. Murtagh stabs him through the back. They slow their descent as Galbatorix hits the ground cracking it. Surprisingly Galbatorix's body does not burst his armor is enchanted.

"Tak…en d…own…by the…c…hild…of…m…y…best…friend…and…my worst enemy…" Galbatorix says spitting up blood. "I…f…y…ou…think…You have won…Y…ou…are mistaken. I leave you with this Eragon…" With the last of his strength he throws a ring at Eragon. He easily dodges it, but the ring hits the ground and then leaps back up touching Eragon. There is a flash of light and when the light fades the ring is on his finger.

Eragon tries to remove the ring, but is unable to, so he and Murtagh combine their powers and they are able to remove it, but not the curse that goes with the ring. ("If you are hearing this Eragon then I am dead…I always am prepared for every possibility…So my young Rider the curse I placed on you will drive you from Alagaesia…You will wonder distant lands for the rest of your life and never set foot in Alagaesia again…")

("Eragon…The Prophecy…") Saphira says.

("I know…") Eragon replies thinking about the people he loves. In anger Eragon uses the one word to slay every soldier still fighting in Galbatorix's name. Lord Burst is standing over Roran about to kill him when he drops dead.