Chapter 3

Eragon stood in a massive chamber that was large enough to account for all 13 of the council and their dragons. Vrael, the leader of the riders sat in the centre, Umaroth sat behind him. To his left sat Oromis staring down at Eragon, who had taken upon the guise of Galbatorix, with indiffirence. Glaedr sat behind him, several metres smaller than last time but still larger than the average dragon and this time still had all four legs. To his left sat a human rider with a great scar slashed down his eye. Eragon recognised him but could not remember his name, Oromis's teachings of history had left him and he cared little for who he was.

"It has been many years since this incident Galbatorix, we assumed you were dead. Why did you not seek us out sooner?" Vrael questioned.

Eragon replied with "I lost my dragon Ebrithil, for a time I was insane. My brain had broke, even now the stitches that hold it together feel like the slightest attack could rebreak me."

"And what do you suggest we do about it?" Vrael asked, with a hint of caution touching his voice.

"If I am to truly recover I ask that you grant me another dragon, let me find another dragon that will choose me. I need this Vrael, I beg of you" Eragon said, his voice becoming raspy. He could feel a lump developing in his throat and his stomach was churning because he knew what was about to happen.

Oromis was the first of the other twelve elders to speak. "No one has ever had two dragons before, we don't even know if it's possible but even if it were I think it unwise to grant you another dragon."

Falling to his knees Eragon moaned "Noo! You can't do this".

Continuing Oromis said "Even from this distance I can see what your hands tell. You have killed and murdered without second though, you haven't cared if anyone wanted to harm you just whether or not they were in front of you. You've become a monster, No dragon would choose you."

Those words jolted through Eragon. This man knew not what he was talking about but he couldn't tell them because they wouldn't understand. AArgghhh they don't understand that they'll all be dead if they follow through with this.

Eragon looked up with tears streaming his face and found everyone staring at him with wide eyes. Glaedr bared his teeth and said you dare to threaten us child. I was old before you were born and I or any one else in this room could kill you where you stand.

Eragon realised his mistake and bolted for the door. Shouts and footsteps chased after him. As Eragon ran he chanted a spell as fast as he could and with a flash of light his body was thrown into a wall.

A deep voice followed his entrance. "Is that you Galbatorix?"

Eragon turned to be in front of a man despised by so many in his time. Morzan stood in front of him with two different coloured eyes.

It took a lot of convincing to get Morzan to help, eventually Eragon convinced him to believe the dragonless rider they found the day he had killed the real Galbatorix had infiltrated the council, soon Eragon would have to break his mind to make sure he keeps following orders. This made Eragon realise he didn't know his true name anymore. He knew it most of it would be about his loss for Saphira, but he would make sure he figured out what it is.

Everything had gone smoothly, Morzan had killed the rider on patrol and they had entered the room where they kept the eggs. Eragon shot tendrils of his mind trying to locate his love's mind. There were several eggs of her colour but only one of them felt familiar. He approached the egg and felt a rush of de ja vu. A perfectly oval blue stone sat in front of him. He picked it up and inspected the white veins enveloping the egg. A single tear rolled down his face. Her mind felt like pure Europhia and all he could manage was a whisper "Saphira". Eragon's mind search also had two other eggs catch his attention. One was blood red and the other midnight black. Eragon cast the same spell he had used to hold the eldunari but before he left he noticed there was only one green egg in the whole room. He decided to take it with him.

Eragon waited many months for Saphira to hatch but she wouldn't budge. He spoke to her about everything, he toldher about the adventures they had had, how much he loved her and how happy he is that he found her. The riders were searching for him, but they wouldn't find him. Morzan had continued to accompany him and Eragon was surprised to chance across Durza. As much as he wanted to kill him Eragon could use him.

As time passed Eragon began to grow impatient that Saphira hadn't hatched. It had been a whole year and Eragon and Morzan had already captured several Elduanri. The night that changed everything that Eragon lost his temper. He started screaming about Saphira not hatching and shouted in the ancient language "why won't you just hatch".

Although he had said it in the Ancient Language Eragon was surprised to feel his energy lessen. Behind him Eragon heard what he thought was a twig snapping and he spun around. He found no one there but the eggs, one of which was rocking. In the dark he couldn't tell which but he whooped in joy because it had to be Saphira. Summoning a werelight Eragon inspected the hatching egg. Instead of finding a cracking blue egg he found a midnight black head pop out of an equally black egg. Eragon was too surprised to be disappointed, but he was also fearful.

He now knew what he was becoming and thought of a name that was different from the rest of the names he tried and failed to find that explained who he was. Once upon a time his name didn't speak of a great person, but neither did it speak of one who was terrible. He wasn't inherintly evil, but he had become a cruel human that should be feared.

Once more tears wet his face and when he looked down he found a pair of icy blue eyes approaching, wanting to comfort him. Dreading what was about to happen for he knew he could never be paired with Saphira he placed his hand on the dragon and felt icy tendrils of energy course through his veins. An innocent and yound mind touched his. Vastly similar to his first dragon and yet was still vastly more different.

Eragon loved Shurikan, how could he not? But it never replaced the pain and longing for Saphira. He knew this angered Shurikan and he got so jealous of her that he hated Eragon's beatiful blue dragon. Eragon understood Shurikan's hate but it made him angry with him. No one should despise his partner of heart and mind, he still couldn't call Shurikan that, Eragon doubted he ever will be able to. He felt sorry for Shurikan, it was never his plan for him to hatch but now that he had Eragon had devised a plan.

He wouldn't be able to be bonded to Saphira but he could have her close. Eragon then carried out every atrocity that Galbatorix had, his whole sanity only being kept together by Shurikan and his need to make sure everything was perfect.

Years passed and Eragon still persisted. He sought to claim control of all the Eldunari in his possesion and then he found a tablet that could help him immensley. The name of the Ancient language and only then did Eragon realise that was the word that the original Galbatorix had used.

Eragon had placed a spell on Saphira's egg that would alert him when it hatched. And once it did he immediately scryed her. He found himself staring at his new dragon with such curiosity. A pang of jealosy touched him. Why could he not be this Eragon, who would be able to live in comfort with Saphira as his bonded partner once he swore fealty to him. For Eragon would have what he wanted. Eragon no longer cared whether the dragons lived or died, so long as she did.

Eragon watched Saphira grow and mature and he hadn't felt such happiness in a long time. This angered Shurikan greatly and his already slightly crazed mind touched insanity. Eragon spent alot of time trying to soothe Shurikan. It worked to some degree but he was still so angry and just wanted to kill everything. Much like what Eragon once was and he began to wonder if Shurikan felt like he had lost Eragon like he did Saphira.

Now Eragon sat in his throne preparing a spell for the possibility that the younger Eragon would kill him.

Now Eragon had just watched his younger self and Murtagh fight and he had seen his half brother mouth 'ready yourself' to the younger Eragon. He knew what was to come.

Everything had followed exactly as planned, they had attacked, Eragon managed to keep it that no casualties occured and he had once again subdued the group.

What happened next surprised Eragon. His younger self had a buildup of emotion and Eragon could feel the energy that was swirling with it. Magic began to take its effect on him. Going through all his memories Eragon began to understand everything he'd ever done to anyone and everyone. How his every action had harmed people. He wanted to die, but he had a reason for it all! They don't understand that this was all for her, for a better future for if he had let Galbatorix live they would be far worse off. But the pain, it nearly rivaled that of losing Saphira.

Eragon knew he would die and so he chose that moment to smother Shurikan with all his love, he deserved it. He'd always been second best to a dragon that was both dead and hadn't been born yet. Goodbye Shurikan, it is time that we should pass. Just know that I always loved you, and that you always will be my partner of heart and mind. Shurikan just looked his way. His eyes softened, all they showed were love, love for his rider. Shurikan knew he would die, but he was ok with that. As long as it was with his partner of heart and mind than he didn't care, they were doing it together.

And so with the death of Shurikan Eragon knew it was time to die. He spoke two words in the Ancient language; " Be not".

Eragon heard not the explosion he knew would follow. He knew not what would happen next. He knew not where he was going. He couldn't even recall who he was but what he did know was that when he died he heard two words.

little one.