I absolutely LOVE how so many of my reviewers commented on my Star Wars moment at the end of the last chapter. Yes, I did do that on purpose but do not intend to borrow from the mastermind that is GL again… well at least not in this story.

Chapter 13: Oromis' End

Eragon didn't know that it was Arya's intention to go to Ellesméra too. If he had, he may have changed his plans and gone back to Aberon in Surda first, but when they arrived in Ellesméra, Islanzadí told them that they had excellent timing because Arya was coming too. Apparently, the elves were preparing for another celebration, the queen's birthday.

Their arrival in the elven city was marked by an assembly of all the elves in Ellesméra to see Eragon Shadeslayer, Saphira Bjartskular and their companions. They greeted Eragon, Roran, Katrina, Saphira and Garrow warmly, throwing flowers at them and singing. Eragon wished he could have counted all the elves that came to talk with him, but there were even more that went to Garrow and Saphira. Their response to Murtagh, Circe and Thorn was not as warm.

Somehow news of Murtagh's betrayal at the Burning Plains had reached Du Weldenvarden and all the elves knew that Murtagh, son of Morzan, was bound to Galbatorix by their ancient language. They also knew that, as his dragon, Thorn was too. Nobody was really sure about Circe. They all knew immediately that she was not human, not dwarven and not elven. They must have come to a conclusion that she was Kylrian, and they must have remembered the horrible wars between the two races before the wars with the dragons. Each and every elf, including Queen Islanzadí, watched the three of them with wary eyes.

Islanzadí had given Eragon back the rooms that he had used in his previous visit, the rooms that once belonged to Vrael, the first Dragon Rider, but Eragon didn't stay there for long. He took the time to clean up a bit just like he used to do when he had lessons with Oromis and then jumped on Saphira and headed off to where he used to meet the wizened old elf.

The cliff on the Crags of Tel'naeír looked the same as it always did every day when Eragon used to come to the cliffs for his daily lessons with Oromis. As Saphira landed on the edge, he could feel her excitement. Before the Battle of the Burning Plains, Glaedr was the only dragon in Alagaësia besides Saphira. He had put an end to Saphira's yearnings for a friend of the same race, though he would not mate with her.

Something similar had happened with Eragon and Oromis. He had spent a long time believing that he was the only good Dragon Rider left in Alagaësia after Brom died. Having Oromis as his master gave him hope for the future. He had learned much about the ways of the Riders and, especially after the Agaetí Blödhren, he felt confident in his abilities- that was before he faced Murtagh in the Battle of the Burning Plains.

But something worried Eragon. One of the things that Oromis had taught him was to see the life force of all living things around him. Now, as he stood outside Oromis' hut, he could barely see the life of his old master and he couldn't see Glaedr at all.

Wait here, he told Saphira. I don't think everything's right. Something's wrong.

Saphira nodded. I feel it too. She sat down on the rocks and laid her head on the ground. Eragon could've sworn she was frowning with worry.

He approached the hut in a circumspect manner and poked his head inside. The old elf was lying in his bed. He seemed to be a lot thinner than Eragon remembered and his pallor worried the young Rider. "Oromis?" he called, stepping inside. "Oromis, it's me, Eragon."

Oromis looked up and smiled when he saw his pupil. "Come in, then, Eragon," he said, beckoning him closer with his hand. "I have waited for your return. Do tell me what has kept you."

Eragon smiled back, stepped inside and sat down on the ground beside his bed. Then, he told his master everything that had befallen him since he left Ellesméra to fight in the Battle of the Burning Plains. He paused slightly when he came to the part where he fought Murtagh. "He said that he was my brother," Eragon whispered, "that Morzan was my father too."

Oromis bowed his head slightly and remained silent.

"Ebrithil," Eragon asked. "Please answer me one question… did you know? Did Brom know?"

Oromis nodded slowly. "I can see there is no fooling you, Eragon-finiarel. I knew. Brom knew."

"Then why did no one tell me?" Eragon asked with a hint of frustration in his voice. "Why didn't Brom tell me when Saphira hatched for me? Why didn't you tell me when I came here for my training?"

"We felt that it was for the best," Oromis answered.

"Best that I did not know the truth?" Eragon demanded.

"Best to keep you from Galbatorix," Oromis corrected him sternly. "You've seen what he's done to Murtagh. If Galbatorix knew that Morzan had another son, he would have hunted you down and forced you into his service. We tried to protect you."

Eragon didn't respond. Oromis spoke the truth, but he was still upset that he and Brom knew who his father was and hadn't bothered to tell him. He sighed. "I am sorry, ebrithil," he said. "I should not have doubted your intentions."

"It is only natural, to want to know the truth," Oromis said. "But you need to be careful. You need to learn when to stay silent. Control your temper or you will meet the same fate as your father and brother."

Eragon nodded. "I haven't finished my story through, ebrithil. Murtagh is not still in Galbatorix's control. He is here, in Ellesméra with us."

"But he is still bound by that oath," Oromis pointed out. "As is your cousin Roran."

"But their hearts are in the right place," Eragon insisted. "They really hate Galbatorix, as does our new comrade, the Kylrian."

Oromis nodded. "But Galbatorix still has a hold on them. No matter how hard they try, they can never escape him while he still draws breath. Now, please, go on with your story."

Eragon nodded and continued on. He told his master of their ambush at Helgrind by Galbatorix and Murtagh, how Roran had been threatened into swearing loyalty to Galbatorix and had done so to save Katrina, how angry Galbatorix was that he'd already given his allegiance to Nasuada, Galbatorix's conflict with his Kylrian magicians and their plan to desert the army. Finally, he reached the Battle of Isenstar Lake, which wasn't really a battle.

Oromis smiled as Eragon finished. "I am impressed, Eragon," he said. "You have accomplished much since the last time we met. Indeed, you have accomplished the one thing that your father could never do."

There was a moment of silence and Eragon remembered one of his questions. "Ebrithil, where is Glaedr? Saphira misses him."

A terrible look of sadness overcame Oromis' features. "I have expected that you would ask me that." He sighed and looked at the door, as if expecting someone to come in. "Glaedr is dead."

Eragon nodded ever so slowly. He had expected this when he arrived and neither he nor Saphira could feel his presence.

"We are old, Eragon," Oromis explained. "We have become ill. Of course when Glaedr went, I only got worse."

Eragon looked at him in despair. "Ebrithil, you can't die. I need you. I've come back to complete my training."

Oromis smiled. "I have trained many Riders in my lifetime, Eragon, including your father Morzan and your former mentor Brom. You have the most potential that I have seen in a young human for quiet some time. There is little more you could learn from me."

Eragon lowered his gaze and sat in silence for a while. "Do you mean that, ebrithil?" he asked in awe. That might have been the greatest compliment that he'd ever received. Oromis nodded. "Then I am truly a Rider now."

Oromis smiled. "You still have an arduous task set out in front of you," he said weakly. "Galbatorix… your training will not be complete until you have defeated Galbatorix."

Eragon nodded. "I know," he whispered. "But with Roran, Murtagh and Circe by my side, he won't stand a chance."

Oromis shook his head. "I fear that in the end, they will not be able to help you. Galbatorix has power over them all. In the end, you will have to face him alone. It is your destiny, I have foreseen it… but I cannot see whether it will end for good or for ill."

Eragon visited Oromis every day leading up to Islanzadí's birthday celebration. His master's words deeply troubled him. He would have to face Galbatorix alone; Oromis had foreseen it.

Saphira wasn't herself after hearing of Glaedr's death. He had been her first dragon friend. She took to moping about and flying away for long periods of time and sometimes didn't come back by nightfall. Not even Thorn or Eragon could comfort her.

Eragon went through similar grief when Oromis died the day before Islanzadí's birthday. He had gone to visit the old elf Rider like usual, only to find him dead in his bed. Eragon came to the conclusion that he had died in his sleep. He stayed on the crags of Tel'naeír until midday, mourning and remembering the good times he'd shared with Oromis and learning more about the secret lives of the ants. Then, he and Saphira went to inform Islanzadí of Oromis' death.

They had a grand funeral celebration that night, the eve of Islanzadí's birthday. There wasn't a smiling face in Ellesméra that day. Even those who never knew Oromis, like Roran, Murtagh, Circe and Katrina, were saddened by news of the elf's death. Even though they never knew him, they all understood how much he had meant to Eragon and tried their best to comfort him. After several elves spoke comforting words about Oromis' death, Islanzadí beckoned Eragon to come forward and say a few words:

"I am willing to bet that everyone here knows me by name," he began. "But if I'm wrong and there's someone here that doesn't, I am Eragon Shadeslayer, one of the new Dragon Riders and a student of Oromis-elda who was the last remaining Rider of the old Order."

"I first arrived in Ellesméra quite some time ago when I was nearly clueless to the arduous task that has been set before me. With Oromis' help, I slowly began to understand the significance and meaning of being a Rider. Oromis helped me to understand that being a Rider did not mean that I was perfect, better than anyone or more deserving. He helped me to understand the history of the Riders and told me many of their old secrets. He gave me information that has helped me to survive many, many times."

"I am certain that if Oromis were here now, he would not want us to be sad. He would know that he has done all he can to help us win our victory against Galbatorix and the Empire. He would know that it was his time to go. He would wish us well and tell us to get on with our lives. He would tell us to go out and win one for him and Glaedr, his faithful dragon companion who also helped me understand why I'm here."

"Tonight we mourn and remember one of the greatest of the Dragon Riders and perhaps the wisest being that I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Tomorrow, we celebrate our Queen Islanzadí and have faith that she will lead us through this terrible loss we have suffered."