A/N: hello my faithful readers. As you can see I have updated in less than two weeks. This is twice in a row; I think I have set myself a new record. I don't want to keep you for too long so I won't say any more.

Disclaimer: Unfortunately I do not own Eragon, so please don't sue me.

Ch.17. Chapter 16

"Yes, I do believe I am," the Shade said with a sneer, looking at his hands with feigned confusion.

"Arya," Eragon called out with his mind.

"What's happening?" The worry in Eragon's voice scared her.

"I need you to stay out of sight," Eragon said quickly, glaring at the Shade who had taken a step forward.

"What's going on Eragon?"

"Don't worry, just stay out of sight. I can handle it on my own."

"Eragon, if you don't tell me what is going on, I will come to the clearing and find out myself."

"There's a Shade here."

Arya's blood chilled. "Oh no, I'm coming right now."

"No, you can't, if you do, he will find out about your dragon. We will lose the advantage."

"I'm coming now Eragon. I wont have you fight a Shade on your own. It is to dangerous."

"I will be fine."

"No, you won't."

"How about this. Do you have your bow?"

"Yes"

"Shoot him in the neck if it looks bad."

Arya paused for a moment. "Fine, but if you die, I will never forgive you."

"Thank you," Eragon said, then withdrew from her head.

"Eragon Shadeslayer," the shade mused, unaware of Eragon's previous conversation. "It does not fit well; you do not seem strong enough to have slain one of my kin."

"Well, you can talk to Durza about how authentic my name is. Wait, I just remembered, I slew him 2 years ago," Eragon said with a sneer.

At this, the Shade returned Eragon's glare. "Ahh, but through trickery, was it not?"

Eragon ignored the comment and spoke. "Seeing as you know my name, it is only fair that I know yours."

"Very well, my name is Sorerro."

Eragon didn't get a chance to respond because Sorerro attacked him with lightning speed. Eragon barely got his sword up in time to block the blow. 'He's strong,' thought Eragon, cursing silently. He is stronger than even Durza was.

Both Eragon and Sorerro fought at their best. Sorerro was slightly stronger than Eragon, but Eragon had the advantage of speed. They were evenly matched. Eragon sent a fierce blow at Sorerro's head, which Sorerro blocked with equal ferocity. Eragon spun out of the way quickly as Sorerro aimed a blow at his left shoulder. Eragon used the momentum from his spin to strike Sorerro's shoulder, managing to lightly pierce the skin through his armor. Both spun away after this blow, before coming in once more, striking at the same moment. The swords met in the centre with a shower of sparks. Both fought, trying to overpower the other. Then it happened. Eragon watched in horror as Yawë chipped, then thin cracks began to spider web across the blade. Then the blade broke.

Half the blade fell to the ground in a shower of sparks as Sorerro's sword rubbed across the broken edge. Sorerro quickly regained his stance and attacked Eragon once more. Eragon blocked his strike with what was left of Yawë. The sword vibrated in his hand from the power of the Shade's blow.

"Well, well, well," Sorerro said taking a step back. "Not a rider's sword is it. Because if I do remember correctly, the rider's swords were unbreakable."

Eragon ground his teeth but didn't say anything. The Shade brought his sword up so it was 3 inches from Eragon's neck. "The riders are meant to be powerful, but here you are, as helpless as a baby. You are alone. No one is here to protect you." The Shade smirked; not noticing Saphira crouched in the shadows.

Eragon then found his voice. "I am never alone. Did you ever wonder why they called us the riders," Eragon said, a mischievous smile forming on his face.

Sorerro hesitated. That rider shouldn't have been smiling, he should be begging for mercy. Then, for the first time, he noticed the glint of Saphira's scales in the shadows. Sorerro froze abruptly, then paled, cursing himself for his own foolishness.

"The dragons," Eragon said agonizingly slowly. Saphira stepped up behind him and roared, showing off rows of pearly white, razor sharp teeth.

Sorerro sighed and lowered his sword. He knew he was outmatched. Few could single-handedly beat a dragon in arm to arm combat. But trying to fight a dragon that was defending its rider was suicide.

Saphira took a step forward and the shade took a step back, his hands in the air. "We will meet again, Eragon Shadeslayer," he said the name with disdain. "Maybe when we do, you will have an adequate weapon," the Shade added crudely.

Eragon recoiled as if he had been stung. The Shade smirked evilly, happy at the wounds his words had inflicted.

"Until we meet again," the Shade said then slit his own throat, muttering something along the lines of, "Not again." Sorerro disintegrated into the air.

The second he was gone, Arya ran from the trees to Eragon's side. She laid a comforting hand on Eragon's shoulder. "Are you alright," she asked. Eragon didn't respond, he had barely noticed, as he stared at the pieces of metal that had once been his sword.

Eragon fell to his knees, his head bowed. Then he lifted his head to face the sky, fury glinting in his brown eyes. "WHAT DID I DO WRONG?!?!?!" he yelled to the sky, startling Arya who took a step back. "WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS?!?! FIRST YOU MAKE MY BROTHER BETRAY ME!!!! THEN, YOU MAKE HIM TAKE MY SWORD!!!! MY FATHER'S" – Saphira flinched at the words my father's – "SWORD!!!! YOU MADE ME THE SON OF A MONSTER!!!! AND NOW YOU HAVE A SHADE BRAKE YAWË. WHY DID YOU DO THIS?!?! WAS I NOT MEANT TO HAVE A SWORD?!?!"

Eragon gripped the sword's blade tightly in his hand. Blood dripped down his hand but he didn't notice. "WHY DODN'T YOU JUST KILL ME?!?!" He yelled. "WHY DONT YOU JUST LET ME DIE?!?! DO YOU ENJOY TORTURING ME?!?! DO YOU ENJOY CAUSING ME PAIN?!?! WAS I NOT MEANT TO BE HAPPY?!?!"

Eragon looked at the blood that slowly dripped down his hand. A single tear fell from his eye, mingling with the blood. He sighed. "I guess the son of a monster wasn't meant to be happy."

Arya was surprised by his words. He believed them. He believed he was not meant to be happy.

Arya walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him in a comforting embrace. Then she took his injured hand, carefully removing the blade from his hand. She then examined the self-inflicted wound on his palm.

"Waisi heill." Arya watched the wound carefully knit itself back together. "There," she said letting go of his hand.

Eragon smiled sadly at her before taking his sword and burying it in the dirt. Eragon touched the Elven-made bow slung across his back. It reminded him that he had lost his first bow.

Arya came forward and sat by his side and leant her head on his shoulder. He put his arm around her waist and rested his head on hers.

"We will get through this," Arya said confidently. "We will make it through this war, together. You and Saphira are not alone in this anymore. We are all in this, and together, we will win."

Eragon smiled, "thank you." He didn't say anything else. He just sat there with Arya until sleep took over his weary body.

A/N: that is all for now dearest readers. Review and I will try to update within two weeks, although I may not be able to, I have a big project due in for English.

Farewell

Lots of Love

Maddy

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