A/N Hey guys! Did you all have a good Christmas? Hope so! Yay pressies! Had quite a few unexpected ones which was good! Anyways, next chapter, hope you all enjoy!

Chapter 30- Battle In The Banquet Hall

"She's hurt, we have to get her out of here!" said Eragon rushing over to the limp form of the She-Elf.

Legolas knelt down next to him. "I will carry her," he offered.

"Good. Legolas, her eyes are closed. She's not- is she?" said Eragon fearfully.

"Not dead, but seriously hurt, the quicker we get her out of here the better," Legolas replied.

"We have to go now, before we are discovered," Murtagh warned.

Legolas gathered the other Elf up into his arms. Murtagh handed Eragon a dagger and they rushed out of the cell. Murtagh led them through a passageway then up some stone hewn stairs into another hallway which opened out into a banquet hall filled with wooden tables and benches.

Legolas laid the She-Elf carefully down on one of the tables.

"We need around five more minutes," Murtagh muttered. "Legolas, tell Saphira-"

"I already have," the Elf replied breaking the contact he had just had with Saphira. "Murtagh, soldiers are come!" said Legolas suddenly listening.

Soldiers were marching up the stairs. Eragon dived under a table next to Murtagh. Legolas grabbed the She-Elf and placed her under the table where they all hid, knife drawn.

Ten soldiers entered the room hurriedly looking under only a couple of tables before continuing on their way. "Stay here, I'll be back in a minute," with that Murtagh darted off.

He soon returned handing Zar'roc back to Eragon. "I found it in the guard room. I also found these," he held up a strange bow and elegant sword. "They seem a little like Legolas' weapons, so I assumed they were hers."

"They are of a fine make," Legolas ran his hands over the bow. "One way to find out if this is indeed hers," he placed the sword in the empty sheath at the Elf's waist, it slotted in perfectly.

"What now? We can't stay here," said Eragon.

"Saphira's on her way. Don't worry. But for now," Murtagh drew his bow and nocked an arrow. "Be ready."

He looked to Legolas who had his bow poised and ready also.

"What if the Shade finds us?" Eragon said suddenly to Legolas.

Before he could answer, cold laughter echoed through the hall. "Too late."

The Shade stood at the end of the hall, a pale sword with a thin scratch on the blade in his hands.

"Come out little Rider, come, test yourself against me," he mocked challengingly.

Eragon drew Zar'roc and came out form his hiding place. He could not use magic against the Shade for fear of provoking him to do the same, he knew too well that the Shade was many many times stronger than he was. If he could make the Shade only resort to fighting without magic at least he would stand a chance… he hoped…

"So, Du Súndavar Freohr, what a pitiful name! I would have expected far better from you."

Eragon watched the Shade, waiting for any indication that he was going to strike. Eragon prayed that Saphira would come any second now.

Right on queue, there was a rumble, dust billowed al around, pieces of wood fell to the floor and from the roof came the sounds of screams and clashing metal.

Eragon dived out of the way of a falling piece of wood, taking advantage of his distraction, the Shade advanced. Eragon just had time to bring Zar'roc up to block the blow. The Shade was strong. He took a wild swing at his head only to be blocked. Swords met with a clang that resounded throughout the whole banquet hall.

More dust filled the room as shingles from the roof fell through. The Shade was good. Very good. The boy could not take much more. He could not even use magic, he had not the strength.

The Shade suddenly knocked Zar'roc from Eragon's hand and sent him sprawling across the hall. The boy got to his knees panting heavily. He could barely find the strength to stand.

"I thought better of a Dragon Rider. You disappoint me. Du Súndavar Freohr," the Shade said with heavy doses of sarcasm lacing his voice. "If all the Riders were like you, pitiful an weak, I wonder what gave them the strength to rule the whole Empire. Now wonder they were so easy to destroy."

Eragon looked up at him through narrowed eyes. A smile creased his lips. "Nom you forgot one thing."

"Like what?" the Shade said impatiently.

"The Dragons!" Eragon shouted,. There was a great crash overhead and more wood feel through.

The Shade snarled, Eragon rolled out of the way as he swung his sword with vicious fury.

Suddenly, surprise spread across his face as he looked down to see an arrow sprouting out of his shoulder. Eragon turned to see Legolas with his bow drawn. The Shade's travelled to where Legolas stood. He smiled. "You'll have to do better than that, Elf."

He barely finished his sentence before he howled with agony. An arrow between his eyes. He writhed with agony as his skin turned a sickly grey colour and moist formed in the air around him, obscuring his figure. There was a shattering cry; then the cloud vanished.

When the smoke cleared there was nothing left of the Shade except his cloak. "You killed him Legolas! You killed h8im!" Eragon cried.

"I'm not so sure," Murtagh muttered.

A man shouted. "That's it! He failed! Go in and get them!" Soldiers filed into the room with nets and spears backing the three of them up against the wall. Legolas and Murtagh took out a few with their bows, but close range shooting was not ideal. The three of them stood protectively over the She-Elf.

There was another crash form overhead and Saphira stuck her head through the hole in the ceiling and roared. She gripped the ceiling with her talons and ripped off another large chunk of the ceiling.

The ranks of soldiers scattered as Saphira ripped the rest of the ceiling away. She landed in the hall, an axe wielding Gimli perched on her back. Eragon ran over to her.

Legolas gathered the She-Elf in his arms and brought her over to Saphira. 'Can you carry her?' he asked. 'She is the Elf Eragon saw in his dreams. We must get her out of here!'

'Of course!' Saphira replied.

Eragon climbed onto Saphira's back and Legolas lifted the She-Elf up in front of him. Gimli held onto Eragon and Murtagh climbed up behind Gimli, Legolas got on last. Saphira kicked tables and debris out of her way giving herself a clear place to take off.

Saphira leapt out of the banquet hall and onto the fortress roof. Bodies of watchmen lay scattered there. Some clearly ripped by sharp talons, some gouged with an axe.

On the other side of the roofless hall archers gathered.

Saphira unfurled her great wings and rook off. She dropped immediately as a result of the extra weight of the five of them on her back. She struggled to gain altitude.

Arrows whizzed towards them. Eragon heard the twang of a bow string nearby and turned his head to see Legolas balancing backwards on Saphira's back, firing arrows back in quick succession. There were screams and shouts form below as Legolas' arrows found their marks.

Suddenly Saphira roared with pain as an arrow pierced her wing. She quickly rolled to the left to avoid the next volley. The sudden movement surprised Legolas and he slipped from her back, having no time to grab hold of something.

He fell, his bow clutched tightly in his hands. Realising what had happened, Saphira dived, they all clung onto her for dear life, Eragon clutching the Elf to him tightly, afraid of loosing her.

Saphira caught Legolas in her talons, struggling to regain altitude with her injured wing. She roared with pain and frustration trying her very best.

Legolas held on tightly to her, afraid that she would drop him.

They skimmed over Gil'ead, then left the city far behind and veered eastward.

'Saphira let me go above that knoll of trees you can not land with me!' Legolas called to her. She complied and he held on until he was directly above a tall tree he swung down and grabbed onto the top most strongest branch that would hold his weight. Swinging down from branch to branch to the ground. It was times like this when he was truly thankful his race had been blessed with these skills of agility.

A/N There you go, shorted chapter I know, but never fear, the next one will be coming soon!

Reviewers

Xiad Rusco- Sounds like a good idea! I'll remember the tip about using elleth. That's my name over at council of Elrond, ellethalfirin. It would be good to get this posted somewhere else, but I think I'll finish it before I post it over there, then I can keep on top of it!

Dragon-miko- Yeah I know, bummer we have to wait that long for it though isn't it? As for the whole Arya/Eragon/Legolas thing, all shall be revealed soon.##

Tim, Digidestined of Loyalty- Lol. Yup! It thickens! Yeah, one of my faves too.

TrekieGreenieShannaraElfOfME- Leggy: I warned you, if anyone gets wind of that incident, they will become my new target practice! Lolly pop and TrekieGreenieShannaraElfOfME: We got the pictures! We got the pictures! Oh blackmail can be so sweet!

Zammy- Thanks, I take it you like!?

Moonyasha- Thanks!

Lestatlover1784- Lol. I know, I've been reading it! Hmmm, haven't ever read any Harry Potter fics, I like Harry Potter, read the books like a million times each, hmmm… Anyways, yep, bear that title well! Yay! life supply of lolly pop!

Well, hope you all have a FANTASTIC Christmas!

Sidh ed

Lolly pop