Halloo! I'm really, really sorry for not posting regularly or continuously; I haven't really been keeping track of my copy of Eragon, which I think is trying to run away. And I also apologize for posting yet another short chapter. The next one will probably be even shorter. Again, I'm sorry.

We're ordered to assist Hrothgar, Eragon told her not even a few seconds after she had relayed the information about the Urgals. The fight goes badly for him.

We're close, Tania responded.

Ophelia swooped lower over the besieged dwarves. Arrayed in golden armor, the dwarf king stood at the fore of a small knot of his kin, wielding Volund, the hammer of his ancestors. As Saphira dived toward them, landing beside the dwarves, the camouflaged dragoness ripped through the ranks of Kull, demolishing all those she could get her claws through. They briefly passed over Angela and Solembum; the witch wore a red cape over outlandish flanged armor enameled black and green and bore a strange two-handed weapon—a long wooden shaft with a sword blade attached to each end, which looked light and easy to handle, but extremely deadly. Close behind her was Solembum in the form of a shaggy-haired boy, holding a small black dagger, sharp teeth bared in a feral snarl.

Tania saw Saphira jump into the air and wheel high above, and asked how they fared. Saphira replied with, Eragon was a little too emboldened by the dwarf king's heroics.

I see. We'll help, she replied.

Thank you.

Once again, Ophelia dove toward the mass, having been hovering slightly as Tania and Saphira conversed. Now she hurtled toward where Saphira had been fighting, holding the dwarves' right flank. After some time, and a lucky arrow that had caught Tania's left thigh, Saphira rejoined them, and Ophelia in turn rose to where the blue dragoness had been circling, allowing herself and Tania a small respite.

Tania hissed distastefully at the arrow as pain shafted through her left side. How do the Urgals somehow always get that particular leg? she wondered as she grasped it close to the arrowhead and yanked the metal barb out, yelping. Ophelia looked back worriedly as Tania ripped a chunk of her tunic off to bind it.

I'll be fine, said Tania, turning to scan the battlefield. Dismayed, she realized that, even with the help of two dragons, all three battles went badly. Neither Ajihad, Jörmundur, nor Hrothgar could stop the Urgals. There were simply too many.

Perhaps if they could kill enough Urgals to make a difference with magic… Tania shook her head. Madness. Suicide. Even with both of the Riders and their dragons. And the Varden needed them if they were to overthrow Galbatorix.

The fighting continued for one endless hour after another. The Varden and dwarves were exhausted, but the Urgals remained fresh with reinforcements.

Tania could tell from passing glances and occasional exchanges of words that it was a nightmare for Eragon, just as it was equally horrible for herself. Though the Riders and dragons fought their hardest, there was always another Urgal to take the place of one just killed. Every time Tania used magic—though it wasn't often—she lost a little more energy. Ophelia was in much better condition, and better than Saphira, whose wings were punctured with small wounds.

As Tania deflected a wayward spear that had found its way toward Ophelia's direction, Eragon contacted her. Tania, the Twins say that it sounds like the Urgals are trying to dig into the city. Arya and myself are going to collapse any tunnels they're excavating, but you should stay out here and keep helping the troops.

Alright. Don't get yourself killed.

As Saphira pulled away from the battlefield, Tania saw that her chest armor was caved in from an Urgal's ax blow. Eragon—!

I know. You stay, we will handle it.

Are you sure…?

Of course he is! Saphira growled. I will be fine, you and Ophelia need to help the Varden out here.

Very well. Contact us if you need us.

Ophelia wheeled below her, making her way to where Jörmundur and his battalion were fighting, having moved to the farthest side of Farthen Dûr from Tronjehim. Tania checked her current quiver and swore. She was on the last fifteen arrows of the third and final quiver, which meant she'd have to conserve them more than she already had been.

They swooped low over the battle, and Tania saw Murtagh and Tornac in a complete battle-rage, felling Urgals left and right. Tania smiled grimly and lifted the bow, striking down two Urgals who would have gained an advantage. Thirteen arrows left.

Tania! Durza is in Tronjheim! cried Saphira. The Rider whipped her gaze to the marble city-mountain, sucking in a terrified breath. Ophelia snorted in alarm, barely keeping her scales in check, and immediately pivoted in midair, racing as quickly as she could toward Tronjheim. Ophelia darted into the dragonhold, claws barely touching the gleaming Isidar Mithrim, ignoring the surprised faces of Saphira and Arya as she dove, barely concealing herself against the white marble, onto Vol Turin, then leaping over the railing, into the empty abyss within Tronjheim, tucking rose-tinged white wings into herself. The force of her leap and the added aerodynamics of her folded wings gave her a speed Tania never knew existed—the wind echoed in her ears with an almighty, rushing whistle.

Before them Tania could see Eragon crumpled to his knees, and the dark figure of Durza standing over him.

At that moment, above her, Tania heard a loud report, and light flared behind them, then heat. She glanced back in shock and saw the falling pieces of Isidar Mithrim far above them, and in the center of the chamber, hurtling down headfirst, was Saphira, her jaws open. From between them erupted a great tongue of flame, bright yellow and tinged with blue. Arya was on her back, hair billowing wildly, arm uplifted, palm glowing with a nimbus of green magic.

And then, below, she heard a cry of "Brisingr!"

Tania could see Zar'roc blazing with a bloody light, flames racing along it…

Eragon lunging forward…

And stabbing Durza in the heart.

An unearthly howl burst from the Shade as he looked down in shock at the blade protruding from his chest. The sword in his hand dropped from nerveless fingers, and he grasped at Zar'oc as if to pull it out, but it was lodged firmly in him.

Then Durza's skin turned transparent. Under it was neither flesh nor bone, but swirling patterns of darkness. He shrieked even louder as the darkness pulsated, splitting his skin. With one last cry, Durza was rent from head to toe, releasing the darkness, which separated into three entities who flew through Tronjheim's walls and out of Farthen Dûr. The Shade was gone.

It was as he disappeared that Ophelia landed, crushing Urgals underfoot with her momentum, her scales shifting to a terrifying black and red as she let out a roar that vibrated the mountain. Her bronze-armored claws tore through the ranks of the beasts surrounding Eragon, and her blade-like teeth hacked through flesh. Tania let out a yell of alarm and tried to cling on as the dragoness released severe destruction on the monsters, nearly shaking her Rider out of the saddle.

Above them, Saphira, Arya, and the shattered remnants of the star sapphire stopped falling and hung motionless in the air, before lowering themselves slowly to the floor. Saphira snarled ferociously and joined Ophelia in mauling the Urgals. Soon, there were none left to attack. As Ophelia finally stilled, a faint growl vibrating in her chest and her tail lashing, Tania straightened from where she had been flattened against the dragon's neck, clinging to the neck spike in front of her.

She saw Arya swaying in Saphira's saddle, and immediately dismounted, running to Saphira's side to help support the elf in the saddle. She leaned heavily on Tania's shoulder, exhausted and visibly close to death. The Rider sighed, glancing to where Eragon lay, unconscious. We're going to have to take care of both of them, aren't we? she asked Ophelia tiredly.

The dragoness bobbed her head good-naturedly. I'm sure we'll manage. Saphira snorted softly, adding her encouragement as well.

Frowning, Tania observed their situation. Ophelia, you should head back up to the dragonhold. I'm still not sure I want the Varden knowing about you. Saphira, you help me take Arya and Eragon to someplace where they can rest until Angela can see to them.

As Ophelia nodded and winged her way upward once more, Tania lay Arya back in the saddle, leaping out of it herself, and loped to Eragon's side. She bent down, wincing as her leg seemed to scream in pain at the maneuver, then put her arm under Eragon's shoulder and struggled to lift him. Once she did, though, she stopped in shock, staring in horror at the sight of her friend's back laid open. Saphira let out a distressed cry.

He'll be fine, he'll be fine, he has to be fine! Tania could only stare at the sight before her. The sight of so much blood… so dark… it brought back bad memories. He'll be fine, he'll be fine, he'll be fine… please… not again…

A small, warm hand covered her shoulder. "Come, he'll be alright. Help me carry him." Tania numbly helped whoever it was pick up her companion and carry him to Saphira. The rest was a blur; all she could remember was Saphira carrying them up through the central chamber of Tronjheim, then stopping in front of a door.

"Saphira, you and Tania must stay out here. I do my best work alone—save for Solembum, of course."

Tania barely heard the words, just sat as directed by Saphira's foreleg. The blue dragoness crooned worriedly, nosing the top of Tania's head, trying to talk to the dazed Rider, but Tania didn't hear, staring sightlessly at the far wall.

Hours later—though Tania couldn't tell how much time had passed—a figure seemed to materialize in front of her.

"Tania?"

Tania's eyes focused blearily, once more seeing Murtagh crouched in front of her. Blinking, she croaked, "Murtagh…"

Without a word, he wrapped his arms around her, letting Tania bury her face in his shoulder, as tears tracked their way down her face.

:(

Why me.

Why do I have to write Tania breaking down.

Please review.

FF