Hell everyone,

So we just passed 500 Favs and we're about to hit 600. Making us one of the top fic's in the Inheritance cycle. I have no words, honestly. Thanks to everyone for their support. I won't bore you anymore, on to the chapter.

Authors note at the bottom.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Thorn ran away, deeper into the city. It was odd seeing a dragon run a lengthy distance, and not fly. His left wing had multiple tears and bent at odd angles, his right wasn't much better and all of this combined meant that he wouldn't be flying until Murtagh got to a covered position to heal him.

Carn stood beside me, with his green spear in his hands and his eyes told me he was about to pursue the red dragon. I held my hand up and stopped him.

He gave me a confused look. "Why? We could end their terror."

"We can not afford to kill anymore dragons." I said and pointed towards where Thorn's body disappeared. "That is the only living male dragon that Saphira would consider for a mate."

"The King has a male dragon." Carn's reply came swift.

"Shruikan is too big and has killed too many of his own kind. I doubt Saphira would choose him." I cut his reply down.

Soldiers passed us as they moved to secure the rest of the city, block by block. Brom approached us at the same time as Carn replied.

"There is another egg right?" Carn asked.

"We can not know that it is male." I lied straight through my teeth, knowing Firnen's gender. "There is a deeper reason also, every dragon's life is valuable."

Carn's frown cut into his handsome face and Brom decided to explain for me.

"When the elves and the dragons made the pact, so long ago. They tied their races together not knowing the effects it would bring." Brom explained to Carn. "There hasn't been an elven child born in twenty years, and before that, thirty. When the Riders were in their prime, and dragons roamed the world freely, Elves dominated the continent in numbers, as much as humans did for sure. The war resulted in most of their deaths and one hundred years of only two dragons has taken its toll on the race. It'll take hundreds of years for them to recover." Brom's long winded explanation sounded weird in the middle of a battle, but he has always been a fantastic teacher.

Carn nodded and relaxed his body as more soldiers passed by us. Thorn's roar split the sky as his red scales soared up and away from the city.

I watched them leave and took a deep breath of air before releasing it.

"Dras-Leona is ours."

"Congratulations on your victory."

I looked up from the reports on my troops to see the dark skinned beauty, Nasuada enter the room. She was dressed as a queen of her people would be, gold flowed around her body, framing her perfectly.

"Hello Nasuada." I greeted her without bothering to correct her about it being 'our victory'. "Both of us have won a lot today."

Her eyebrow rose, questioning. "What have I won, besides more shame that you are succeeding where I am not sure I would have."

Oh, she's still bitter huh? I thought to my only companion in the room Shadowcat.

"You would have succeeded, that I can promise you." I told her confidently. "And you have made yourself invaluable to me throughout this campaign." I continued.

She snorted. "I have done most of the logistical work." She replied.

"Aye, and I will admit that it is by far the hardest and most stressful job I could delegate to someone. But I needed someone capable." I agreed with her.

"That is why Dras-Leona is yours." I dropped the bomb on her.

Her face showed no sign of surprise, sadness, or happiness at the news. Instead she walked forward to the chair in front of me and slowly sat down. She took a deep breath and when it was released, she slumped against the chair, losing all regality and taking a break.

"You've saved my life." She told me after a few moments of reflections.

"I know." I commented honestly.

She had been getting more and more pressure from the tribes to seize control from me. Ever since the werecats have joined us, I have had more information to make decisions with. One such example was that some of the elders have been working on an assasination attempt to get Nasuada out of power.

"How do you know you can trust me?" Nasuada asked me out of the blue.

It was a good point, but it wasn't out of faith of her character that I was giving her the city.

"'No Orrin, anything this far into the campaign could mean it falling apart. I won't risk everything my father lived and died for, not for anything.' Isn't that, word for word, what you said to Orrin when he approached you about his latest plan?" I revealed, showing her the reason I was trusting her.

Once again, nothing crossed her face to reveal if she was surprised or not. My bet was that she was not shocked I was spying on her.

Eventually a smile split her face. "You're getting better at this, Stronghammer." She replied with a nod of her head.

I smiled back at her. "I've learned from the best." I complimented her. "Now I should warn you."

She straightened back up in her chair and adopted her regal pose again.

"No more slavery." I told her, dropping the bomb.

It was a big deal, because it was one of the most heavily taxed trades in the empire, and Dras-Leona is the biggest slave trading hub on the continent. I was collapsing her economy as soon as I handed it to her. Not only that, but her people have been slavers for forever, lost souls wander the Hadarac, and wake up one day to find a collar around their necks. Some were even heading towards the Varden, there is no telling how many they had doomed over the years.

"You have simultaneously given me everything, and have taken everything away from me." She replied honestly. "They will strip me of leadership, and they might even withdraw their support from the Varden. That's not something you can risk." Nasuada continued, and gave me council at the same time.

"I saved your life." I concluded, steeling my voice and taking control of the conversation. "Yes I took everything away from you to do it. You must realize that it is better this way, no matter what you gave the tribes, they will want more. They would still try to assassinate you, they still might. The only difference is that you will be under my protection. What do I get out of this? I get one of the most capable people alive to clean up one of the biggest cities on the continent." I finished laying the cards out on the table.

She nodded the whole time, agreeing with me. "Yes you're right. But how are you going to keep the tribes in line?"

"I have a plan."

"Islanzadi." I greeted the elven queen through the body length mirror in front of me.

Her green eyes met mine and I was reminded of the strong resemblance Arya and her held. Raven hair spilled down her back, just as Arya's did.

"Stronghammer." She replied with a nod in the Ancient Language.

I smiled at the title. "It has been a long time." I told her switching over to the language that governed the world.

"Yes, it has. Let me begin with an apology. Our agreement was to meet at Farthen Dur, you may have noticed a significant lack of elves during the battle, and that cost your cousin a grievous injury, and your army a significant loss of lives. For that, I apologize." Islanzadi said with conviction and honesty through the mirror.

"Yes I did notice a lack of elves. But I know that it was politics that got in the way, and you're hands were tied. Thank you for sending who you could. I accept your apology." I forced out of my mouth, burying my bitterness at the lack of support in Farthen Dur and Nasuada's betrayal, which I am sure had something to do with the elves.

"Good, now let's move forward with our relationship." Islanzadi answered with a smile. "When do you march to Ilirea (Uru'baen)?"

"We will leave Dras-Leona at the end of the week." I answered honestly. "I suspect you will still beat us there, even with the greater distance."

"Aye, I thought much of the same."

We both fell into a comfortable silence.

"So it is finally time." She continued after a moment. "You've changed a lot, Stronghammer."

I smirked, knowing it was true. "A lot has changed me." I replied honestly, thinking back to the past year.

"Take care of my daughter, Stronghammer. We will meet you at Uru'Baen." And then the connection was gone and I was looking at my reflection.

No you won't.

I stood alone in my tent for what felt like the first time in forever. My shirt laid on the ground beside me and my necklace sat in my hands as I stared at it.

There is no other way. I thought to myself. It's a gamble.

I laid the necklace on the table in front of me, right beside a replica of the exact necklace. One that had a real stone, cut in the exact same way, courtesy of a dwarven jeweler recommended by Hrothgar.

Above the two necklaces, laid several envelopes, each addressed to the leaders of the rebellion. They will find them. I thought to myself.

I heard the ruffling of the entrance to my tent. I turned around to see the person I invited, Arya.

She noticed my state of undress, and the items on the table and frowned. This must look shady, being summoned and finding me shirtless.

"Thank you for coming." I told her in the Ancient Language.

"Of course." She responded in kind. "What is going on?" Arya asked quickly after that.

I looked to the table and then back to her, I waved her over. "I need you to do something for me."

She walked over and looked at the items on the table. "What is all this for?" She asked me.

"Murtagh and Thorn will attack soon. Galbatorix will order them to come take me." I started and paused thinking of how to continue.

She interrupted me. "Why haven't we been preparing?!"

"Because I will go with them." I answered truthfully without thinking.

Her mouth opened to respond, but the word didn't come easy. "What?"

"Let me explain." I half told her half explained. "You know that I am a traveler?"

She nodded, no doubt wondering where I was going with this.

"When I first arrived here, I knew a lot about the events that would unfold. But I was always missing something, something that I still don't have. So I have tried to keep the events as similar as I could, while saving lives. I have succeeded, but it's not enough." I paused again so that she could digest that part and I could also gather my thoughts.

"I am convinced that Murtagh is the key to everything." I revealed. "Nasuada was supposed to be the one in charge at this stage. She gets captured, and is taken to Uru'Baen. Murtagh visits her often, and they fall in love. By doing this, it frees Murtagh from Galbatorix's control."

"His true name." Arya said, realization lighting up in her eyes as she steps forward and looks at the table again. "You intend to take her place?" She asked as the color drained from her face.

"Not like that!" I corrected quickly as I could. "But he needs to change, and I believe I can do that, I have to, because they will come for me with enough power to take me." I explained.

There was a pause as she digested what I was telling her.

"There has to be another way." She spoke aloud to no one in particular.

"If there is, I don't know it." I answered.

"But the Varden needs you. Moral will falter." Arya argued, desperation straining her voice. "I need you."

My heart broke a little when I heard that because I could tell she thought I would die. "The Varden will be fine, the changes I have made will stick in the army, and our spies will spread the word that I willing went into Galbatorix's custody because of my faith in the soldiers around me. I will be a rallying cry. And most importantly."

I grabbed her hand with one arm and pulled her in, my other hand went to her neck to pull her into a kiss. "I will not die."

Her hands went to mine and held them in place. "I will meet you in the throne room when you confront Galbatorix." I told her.

"How?" She asked.

I pointed towards the necklace on the table. "I have made some adjustments, but if they see it on my neck they will know it is what holds my wards. I need to hide it." I explained as my mind reached out to join hers.

She let me in immediately and I was met with an overwhelming sadness. I shared it with her for a moment, letting her feel it before I overwhelmed it with a statement.

I love you.

Once I told her that, I showed her. Which is almost impossible to describe in words, how do you? Love is love, and I sent it her way.

Being in the same mind as another person is a very unique process, there is almost no way to lie to someone, or hide feelings. She didn't bother hiding what her sadness turned into.

An overwhelming need filled our bond as her lips met mine. Once again the emotion switched from a need to something much more interesting.

Lust.

Arya and I both woke to the sounds of fighting outside my tent. She came out of her elf-sleep much more gracefully than I came out of my normal sleep.

I jumped out of the bed, to my feet and didn't bother throwing any more clothes besides my boots, as I already had my pants on. Arya climbed out as graceful as a cat, fully clothed in preparation of the attack.

I grabbed Fram, my warhammer, as I moved towards the entrance to my tent just as Arya belted her sword and joined me.

I walked outside to see Murtagh waiting for me. I said a quick prayer for my dead guards at my feet and moved forward.

Saphira laid beneath Thorn, behind Murtagh, pinned to the ground.

"Hello cousin." I greeted Murtagh cheerfully despite the situation and stepped in front of Arya.

"Well that is an interesting development." Murtagh said watching her come out of my tent late at night.

"A lot has changed since we last saw each other." I responded.

"Not for me." Murtagh bit back.

That's what I was afraid of. I thought to myself.

"You are here for me?" I asked changing the topic.

"Aye." Murtagh said and pointed to Saphira behind him. "If you do not, Saphira's life is forfeit."

We both know that is a lie. Galbatorix would never allow it. I deduced but didn't say anything out loud. I looked past him and saw Eragon standing off to the side pacing with Brisingr in his hands, unable to do anything out of fear for Saphira.

I love you. Arya broadcasted to me as I moved forward.

I love you too. I responded as I cut the connection to us and swung my hammer into the ground, with the handle sticking up in the air.

I left it there as I walked up to him. My hands pulled my necklace around my neck and I let it drop to the ground. My ring fell from my fingers next, and I was left all alone, no weapon, no reserve of magic.

"I come freely." I told him as I approached. He didn't let me get very far, as the air around us vibrated with his spell.

"Slytha."

*Brom's POV*

Blast!

Thorn's wings beat down on the air and lifted himself in the air. I couldn't help but appreciate his skill, knowing how young he must be. Not including the effects of being magically grown.

Not many dragons could adjust as well. I admitted seeing them fly off with, arguably, the Varden's most important figure.

Eragon moved to mount onto Saphira and chase after his brother.

Selena's son. My heart twisted in my chest at the thought. Even after all these years, you own me.

"Stop, Eragon." It was Arya who commanded him. Evandar's silver hair cut into his vision as he took her appearance in. "Roran has a plan." She continued.

Eragon obeyed her with a confused look.

What? I couldn't help but wonder. He said it was supposed to be Nasuada.

"What do you mean?" I asked her.

"Come inside. He left something for all of you." She told us and I obeyed immediately wondering what kind of half-assed plan my apprentice cocked up.

I breached the flaps of the tent first and my eyes fell immediately on the letters that graced the table in the middle of the room.

At least it doesn't reek of sex in here.

My hands ripped open the letter with my name on it.

Brom,

I know what you're thinking. You can't believe that I didn't listen to you all those times when you told me to let go of the future I knew. I never could, I changed only the slightest of things, but always made sure that events were happening as I knew them. For that I am sorry, maybe I wouldn't have had to leave you all to finish this alone.

I have faith that Eragon will lead us to victory. But I must do my part, Murtagh plays just as important of a role, and he can not do that unless he changes. That is my mission, to save my cousins, and let them fulfill the roles that destiny has laid out against them. I'm still not sure if it is destiny to be honest. At this point it doesn't matter.

Eragon will lead the Varden in my place. It's time for him to sink or swim. I promise he will not sink and I need you to trust him. I will meet you in the throne room when you all attack.

In case I don't survive it, I need you to help Angela and Arya look after Elva for me. She will need a father figure, as we all do.

Thank you for being one of mine.

In my youth, I would have reacted in anger, and chased after him without thinking of the situation. Even though this body has somehow repaired itself, my mind has been through too much to regress to that time in my life.

Be strong son. I'll see you in a bit.

*Eragon POV*

Eragon,

I have so much to tell you. First I'll start off with this. The Varden is yours, lead them well. There are a million ways to do it right, do it your way, that is the only advice that I'll give you.

Garrow would be proud of what we have done with our lives, wouldn't he? I can only hope so, I'm sorry I couldn't save him. I'm still not sure if I have had time to properly mourn him. Maybe I never will.

Anyway, I promised you a long time ago that I would tell you why I left you two at the farm, so long ago. I'm sorry I couldn't do it in person like I always planned. The day before I left, I received memories from another life, in another world, in another universe. They call me a traveler. In my past life, our journey was recorded in a book. I knew that Saphira would hatch for you, I knew that we would be thrown into a war. I also knew that the fates of all of the races of this world would rest on our shoulders and I couldn't risk influencing you and Saphira not hatching for you. I will explain more in person the next time we see each other, but that is the short version.

Murtagh is family, and he has just as important a role to play in this. I left voluntarily to make sure that he plays that role.

Be strong little brother, I'll see you in the throne room on the day of the battle.

I read the note three times before everything processed.

A traveler? I wondered, confused at the term.

He left for us? Saphira's voice cut into my mind, along with her gratitude for the act.

I couldn't help but put more of the pieces together in my mind.

He did everything for us.

*Vanir POV*

Vanir,

It feels like forever since I had a proper conversation with you. For that, I am sorry, old friend. I need to ask a favor from you.

Look after Arya for me, would you? She is capable, I know, but she ...well you know what I am trying to say.

You know why I need to go, Murtagh has a role to play in this. Apparently, Nasuada does not. It's one of the reasons why I left her in charge of Dras-Leona. I couldn't afford her making a power grab. It is Eragon's turn to lead the Varden. Be there for him, like you are for me.

There isn't a lot of things unspoken between us, you know me better than almost anyone alive. I'll see you in the throne room on the day of the attack. Make sure Carn is there and doesn't take any unnecessary risks with the Dauthdaert.

Fight well, brother.

P.S. Take care of Trianna's heart would you?

P.P.S. In the untimely event of my death, there is another note attached to this one with my will. See it done, would you?

No wonder this thing is heavy. I thought as I felt the additional pages attached to the back of the note in my hands.

So? You and Arya, huh? I bet Faolin shit's a cow when he hears of this. See you soon brother.

*Elva POV*

The witch sat in front of me, holding my letter. I hated that I couldn't read yet and she had to read it to me.

"Elva,

I know you're mad that Angela has to read this, but we'll rectify that soon." Angela paused and looked to me with a grin, knowing that it was what I was thinking.

She always knows what I'm thinking.

"I have to go and help out my cousin. He's trapped by the King, and doesn't know how to free himself. So I am going to make sure he makes it out alive of this war. I'll see you soon and then I'll teach you how to read so we don't rely on the crazy witch." Angela paused for a moment.

I couldn't help but laugh at the expression on her face.

"Well he's not wrong." Angela murmured, making me laugh even more. Angela set the note down.

"Is that it?" I asked, sad that he hadn't written any more.

"The rest is for me, little one."

*Carn POV*

Carn,

Don't be a little shit and listen to your elders. I'll see you in the throne room.

Fight well.

P.S. Little shit.

A/N: Aaaaannnnnddd cut!

So I feel like a lot happened this chapter, but in reality it didn't, it just had heavy consequences.

In the original plans, I had them kidnapping Nasuada and Roran taking over from there, but that is just not how the story wrote itself. I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do to make sure Murtagh changes, but it just hit me today as I finished the chapter what to do.

I hope you all enjoy it. We're approaching the end to this fantastic journey.

Let's talk about it in the reviews!