Chapter 27: Like Unto the Lion

Disclaimer: The spell in here called Skulblaka sven is not from the book. I do not recall a single page in there that mentions it. This is actually a spell from the film, which Eragon uses once or twice. If it is in the book, the credit goes to Paolini, as do all the others spells in this entire story.

Vanilor and Saphira soared out of the top of Helgrind with a great whoosh of air. There was a brief moment of inertia, and then both dragons flared their wings and caught a huge gust of air. They were blown backward, far away from Helgrind and to the east. Finally, the dragons closed their wings to allow them to turn around and head back toward Aberon until they met up with the Varden.

"It's only a matter of time now," said Eragon. "Once we arrive in Urû'baen, Galbatorix will be as good as dead."

Link nodded. He had a feeling that something was wrong, but he couldn't quite place his finger on it.

Shaking the feeling off, Link concentrated his view to the ground, looking for a large mass of armor. It would likely still be in Surda, but it would be hard to tell. It could have been that they already crossed the Burning Plains and were on the last leg of the journey to Urû'baen. There was no way to tell.

Of course, the most logical route to take would be around Lake Tüdosten and straight north to Urû'baen, since there isn't a single Empire city between the lake and the capitol besides Furnost, but if they went wide enough east, they would be out of sight.

They searched all over the Imperial plains and found no sign of a marching army. The sun had set, and Link was ready to call it a night before Eragon cried out, pointing with his finger to the east. Link couldn't see anything, even with his Hylian heightened eyesight. Then he remembered a spell that he had once heard Eragon say.

"Skulblaka sven," said Link. Suddenly, Link could see ten times better, with the same ease as Vanilor. In fact, he was seeing exactly as Vanilor was seeing. He didn't know that dragons had night vision. He could see several people camped out near the forested eastern edge of Lake Tüdosten. Link retracted from the spell.

"Let's go!" cried Link. Eragon nodded and led the way, flying east toward the campsite the Varden had set up.

The night air blowing into Link's face was a constantly recurring yet refreshing feeling. It persisted for the whole ten minutes it took them to get across the countryside. They flew straight over Lake Tüdosten, where Link could faintly see their dragons' reflections in the moonlight.

Link looked ahead and saw that there were several torches surrounding the campsite, and it was doubtless that the Varden could see them already. Link was not worried; they would recognize their dragons' colors in an instant.

As Link predicted, they were able to land in the campsite without interference. The Varden had even set aside a special landing area, which was surrounded by tall torches, just for the dragons.

Link and Eragon dismounted in haste, heading straight for the largest pavilion, which was Nasuada's.

"Nasuada!" Eragon cried as he threw open the tent flap. She was standing next to Jörmundur, leaning over a table that had a map of Alagaësia on it. She had been in the middle of divulging a battle plan to her assistant when Eragon had interrupted.

"Eragon! Link! You are back so soon!" she said in surprise.

"Yes, we have done it," said Eragon. "Galbatorix's extra powers have been weakened. He is now no more powerful than an average Rider."

"That still doesn't solve the problem of Galbatorix's troops," said Jörmundur. "They still greatly outnumber us."

"Yes, but you've got Eragon and I on your side," said Link. "With us and our dragons combined, we will more than even the odds."

"Except they will have Murtagh and possibly Galbatorix on the battlefield as well," said Nasuada. "This isn't looking good."

"Well, it's a little late for second opinions," said Link smartly. "You've already mobilized and you have every available soldier prepared for war. They want to take Galbatorix down! All of Alagaësia is depending upon us to defeat him."

"What are our assets?" Eragon asked.

"Thankfully, what we have with us isn't everything," said Jörmundur. "We also have Orik bringing in reinforcements from the southeast. He will have several legions of dwarves with him. We spoke with Islanzadí as well, but unfortunately, she refused us any reinforcement."

"How have the elections been going over in Tronjheim?" Eragon asked.

"They're over," said Nasuada. "Orik is the new king of the dwarves. That is why he will be in charge of the dwarves."

"Good for him," said Eragon with a broad smile. Link couldn't really be happy for Orik since he had only met the dwarf briefly.

"So what are the odds with everything added up, then?" Link asked.

There was a pause. "By our calculations," said Jörmundur. "They outnumber us about one to seven."

Eragon held his head in his hands. Those were not good odds.

"Do not tell the men," said Nasuada. "That would only weaken their already frail morale."

"Don't tell the men?" Link asked judgingly. "Why?"

"Because," said Nasuada irritably, "we plan on winning this battle. Weak morale is not the way to go about doing so."

"I say we tell them!" said Link. "Let them know what they're up against. There's no sense in lying to them!"

"Link, you don't know about battle tactics—"

"What?!" Link cried. "After all the times I've made clear to you my accomplishments, you still doubt me?!"

The soldiers could now hear every word that was being said in the pavilion.

"Link, keep your voice down," said Nasuada.

"No!" said Link.

"Eragon," said Nasuada.

"I'm with Link," said Eragon. "It's not right to lie to the troops. They should know what they're facing. And he definitely knows what he's talking about."

"Thank you, Eragon," said Link.

"You're welcome," said Eragon.

At this, Link strode out of the tent, Eragon following him. Nasuada and Jörmundur were hot on their heels.

"Link, don't, please," said Nasuada.

"Soldiers!" Link cried. Nasuada held her head in her hands. The soldiers trusted the Shur'tugal. There would be no way for her to stop them now.

"I come to you with tidings on the coming battle!" said Link. He instantly felt the mood tense up. All the soldiers were on edge.

"You are likely well aware that we are outnumbered. You are also likely aware that the Empire has far greater assets than we do."

The soldiers didn't seem to know where he was going with this. Was he trying to discourage them? Link turned to Eragon. This was not his affair. He was from Hyrule. This was not his war.

"You see," Eragon chimed in, his voice carrying across the campsite, "the odds are definitely not in our favor. We feel it is right for you to know the exact odds we face. By Nasuada and Jörmundur's calculations, we are outnumbered one to seven."

The soldiers began to murmur amongst themselves. Link instantly saw fear strike many of their hearts, and it showed on their faces.

"I am here to tell you that this is the end! This is the end for not us, but for the Empire! They may beat us out with their numbers, but they can't beat our spirits! They may have stronger weaponry than we do, but they cannot defeat our courage! We must have strength if we are to bring Galbatorix to his knees!"

The soldiers began to take heart. Several of them were getting their hearts pumping.

"This is the day that Galbatorix will fall! Alagaësia will finally be rid of his tyranny! The hundred years' war we have fought with him will finally end in our favor!"

A quiet cheer went out near the back of the soldiers' ranks. Eragon would have to encourage them all if they were going to win.

"Do not let fear into your hearts! Fear is only an asset of the enemy! The enemy will exploit your fear and use it to his advantage! You see, the enemy knows you are outnumbered. When he meets you out in battle, he will expect to see that fear in your eyes! He will try to cut you down, thinking that you'll be too afraid to defend yourself. You must rip this desire right out of them and cut them down like the farmer to the wheat! Don't give the enemy what he wants. Disappoint him before you end his life."

The cheer that went up was louder this time. Several of the soldiers engaged in it. It would only take a little bit more.

"Now, I plead you stand before your enemy and look him in the eye in defiance! The Empire thinks they have a hold over you, that their reign will never end. I want you to transfer that fear which has struck your hearts into theirs. Make them realize that their lives, and the reign of the Empire, have come to an end! By this time tomorrow, the Varden will reign over Alagaësia in peace and prosperity! But for that peace to come about, we must first fight the great battle of our time, a battle that will go down in history as the greatest Alagaësia has ever seen. Now, stand and fight against our oppressors and take back Alagaësia for the people!"

Now the cheer that went up was simultaneous, and it came from the mouth of every one of the Varden's soldiers. They were like lions before the hunt, ready to strike down their enemy and take back what was theirs.

Eragon turned to Link with a broad smile on his face. Link's face was split by a similar grin. Link turned around to Nasuada and Jörmundur, who were dumbstruck by Eragon's sudden charisma.

With this kind of morale, plus the two Riders at the lead of the army, Galbatorix wouldn't stand a chance. The Empire would come crashing down, and the Varden would rise in its stead to bring tranquility to Alagaësia forever.

A/N: I'm getting pumped myself after that speech. Maybe it wasn't very good, but I thought it was. Don't go by me though because I'm a little biased since I wrote it. Duh. Haha well R&R please. It's almost over!