Voyfan7: Eh, you'll have to wait and see.
SidiousSith: Thanks! Ow.. it is a bad way to die. But I had to make Galby die a painful death.
DeadlyCreative: Now if Galby was really gone, I wouldn't be able to do Armageddon, now would I? Thanks for the review!
FAteD lOvE: Lol. I'll see what I can do.
Chapter Twenty-Four: Aftermath & InheritanceArya stood atop the southern wall of Urû'baen, gazing out into the sunrise. After a desperate fight through eternal darkness, the sun was finally rising and the Varden were victorious.
Once given the command, the Elves crept up on Urû'baen from the north and caught the soldiers on guard by surprise. Before those on the wall could sound the alarm, they fell with arrows protruding from their throats. The guards at the gate were easy enough to get past also and the Elves, under Arya and Islanzadí's banner, inundated the city with little opposition.
Though most of the villagers were not harmed by the Elves' invasion, anyone who stood in their way was either shot down by an arrow or killed by magic. They could have no mistakes this time. By midnight, everyone in the city was under the Elves' control and most of the warriors, including Arya and Islanzadí, moved out onto the plains to aid the Men. The Dwarves and Urgals were not far behind them. In what seemed like no time at all, Galbatorix's imperial army was beaten.
Now Arya watched as Men, Elves, Dwarves and Urgals alike moved about the blood-stained battlefield, searching for any wounded that might yet live and crying for those dead or beyond help. Something worried Arya's mind. The leaders of each faction had returned, all except for one. With her on the wall surveying the damage were Nasuada, Orrin, Orik, Garzhvog, Horst, Angela and Trianna. Islanzadí was nowhere to be found, neither were Eragon, Roran and Murtagh.
Now she watched in horror as two Elves turned over a body and howled in anguish and despair. At their cry, every Elf within earshot made his or her way over to the fallen one and let out their own cry of despair. Arya knew that it could have been only one lying there dead. There was only one whose death could cause such an agonized reaction from the Elves, and that was Queen Islanzadí.
She looked away. The sight of her mother's dead body being brought into the city with a grim procession of crying Elves behind it would be too much for her to bear. No matter how many times she'd sworn she disliked her mother, it still hurt a great deal to know that she was dead. Now there was only one in her life that she could say she loved.
Where was Eragon? He hadn't been seen since he and Saphira engaged Galbatorix and Shruikan. Taking a deep breath, Arya left the wall and descended into the city, making her way towards Galbatorix's castle and reaching out for Eragon with her mind. She passed Thorn, being tended by healers and magicians in the middle of the courtyard, and hoped that Saphira had fared better. She too had yet to be found.
The doors to the fortress had been torn apart. Arya couldn't help but smile. She guessed it was either Saphira or little Garrow that had done that in desperation to reach their Riders. Then a darker thought ran across her mind. What had befallen Eragon and Roran that made their dragons so frantic? Worried, she quickened her pace.
Soon enough, Arya felt Saphira touch her mind. The dragon's consciousness was frantic and worried. He's hidden some place where I cannot reach him, she said desperately. I can tell you where but you have to bring him back.
Arya nodded in understanding as Garrow and Saphira came into the main hall. The Elf couldn't help but notice how everything was scorched. Just tell me where to go.
Saphira nodded and pointed her nose at a side door. Go down those steps and then find the end of the corridor. I think Eragon's down there somewhere.
Arya tried to smile encouragingly at Saphira. I will find him, she assured her before disappearing into the depths of Galbatorix's castle.
I took quite a while to reach the end of the staircase, and even longer to reach the end of the hallway. The stone doors to the chamber were forced open and the Elf cautiously stepped inside. Silence nearly overcame her ears as she looked around. Roran and Murtagh lay unconscious on the ground by the far wall; both of their swords were thrown haphazardly aside. But Arya had eyes only for Eragon, who had collapsed at the opposite end of the chamber, next to the charred remains of Galbatorix's body.
She reached out for his mind first, but found it inaccessible. Worried, Arya rushed over to him and pulled his body onto her lap. He let out a quiet moan and Arya leaned down and placed a soft kiss on his lips. Eragon groaned and his eyes flickered open. "Arya?" he whispered. "Arya, is that you?"
Arya smiled and kissed his forehead. "Yes, it's me. Saphira's worried sick about you."
Eragon smiled. Saphira.
You've got a lot of explaining to do, Saphira snapped angrily. You're lucky I wasn't the one there when you woke up!
You'll hear the whole tale in full. Just be patient, Eragon assured her. He turned his attention back to Arya. "Arya," he breathed. "I had another strange dream while I was out."
Concern flickered across her green eyes. "Like the ones you had of me in Gi'lead?" she asked.
"No," he whispered, shaking his head. "I spoke with Brom."
"Brom?" said Arya. "What did he say? Anything important?"
Eragon chuckled. "Yes, very important. He told me who my father was."
Arya was confused. "But we know your father was Morzan."
"No," Eragon whispered. "Brom was."
"What?" Arya asked, flabbergasted. "But that can't be true. He would have told the Varden. He would have at least told Oromis!"
"No," said Eragon. "He didn't want anyone to know. Brom told Oromis that I was the son of Selena and Oromis knew that Selena loved Morzan. It seemed obvious that I was their son. Nobody knew that she fell for Brom too."
"But why would Brom try to steal Selena from Morzan?" Arya asked, still not believing him. "He just doesn't seem like the kind of person who would do that."
"Oromis told me that Brom admired Morzan very much, until Morzan joined Galbatorix," said Eragon. "Morzan's betrayal crushed Brom and all he wanted to do was get back at him. He said that he met Selena the one time that he was captured and brought to Urû'baen. He eventually escaped, but Selena began to wonder why Morzan couldn't treat her like Brom did and started pining for him. When Morzan left to find Saphira's egg, Selena went looking for Brom. She found him on his way back to Farthen Dûr."
"Though he cared for Selena, I don't think Brom was proud of his actions," Eragon went on. "But that's not the only reason he kept it a secret. What would Galbatorix have done if word got out that the last Rider and his only son were living in Carvahall?"
"He would have sent the entire army to eradicate you," said Arya quietly. "The whole village would have suffered greatly."
"And even if word didn't get out and events played out the same way, but I knew that Brom was my father," Eragon continued. "The Twins would still have found out in Farthen Dûr and told Galbatorix. He would assume that I had a lifetime of teaching from Brom and that I was quite skilled and threatening. He would have gone to the Burning Plains to kill me himself."
"Are you absolutely sure?" Arya asked after a moment of silence. "This could all be a figment of your imagination."
Eragon nodded and reached for Mor'ranr. Arya took it from Galbatorix's corpse and handed it to him. He held it high and gazed at it lovingly. "This is my father's sword," he whispered in awe. "My inheritance."
After a few moments of silence, Eragon seemed to remember why they were in Urû'baen in the first place. "The battle," he asked, "What happened to the battle?"
"Calm down," she said gently. "Today the Varden are victorious." She glanced over at the smoldering body lying next to them. "It seems that you were as well."
He smiled again. "It took nearly all of my strength, but I did it. Arya, I killed Galbatorix!"
Arya looked over at Roran and Murtagh. "I don't think you did it alone, though," she commented.
"I suppose Murtagh helped a little," Eragon grumbled. "But all Roran did was get quickly incapacitated." He paused, looking at Arya. "You look troubled. You should rejoice in our victory."
Arya dropped her gaze. "My mother is dead," she said quietly.
Eragon fell silent for a moment before he said, "I'm terribly sorry."
Arya ignored him. "Can you stand?" Eragon nodded and she helped him up and went over to see if Roran was okay. Eragon ventured over to Murtagh.
His brother's body was twisted at an odd angle and Eragon cringed at the sight. There was a large gash on his forehead and blood dripped down his face. It looked like his right arm and right leg were broken. Frankly, Eragon was amazed that he was still breathing. He reached out and healed the gash on Murtagh's forehead, but didn't have the strength to have the broken bones. They would have to wait for a healer.
Murtagh's eyes fluttered open and a look of panic flashed across his face. He tried to sit up but Eragon held him down because of his injuries. "What's going on?" demanded Murtagh. "What happened? Where's Thorn… and Circe?"
"Calm down, Murtagh," Eragon pleaded. "Everything's fine, but you're badly injured."
"So… Galbatorix… he's dead?" asked Murtagh. Eragon nodded wordlessly. "And the battle?" Murtagh wanted to know.
"We are victorious," Eragon stated with a smile.
"Thorn," said Murtagh, breathing heavily. "Where is Thorn? Is he all right?"
Eragon didn't answer right away. "I do not know," he said. "But I'm sure the Varden are doing all they can to help him."
"That won't be enough!" Murtagh shouted furiously, attempting to stand again. Eragon didn't hold him down this time, but Murtagh found it impossible to stand because of his broken leg. He let out an aggravated sigh and fell back to the floor. "Thorn needs Circe," he told Eragon. "She's the only one who can heal him."
"Murtagh, nobody knows where Circe is," Eragon told him. "She hasn't been seen since she left the Varden in Aberon."
"She's here," Murtagh insisted. "I can feel her again now that Galbatorix is dead." He took a deep breath because of the pain in his body. "Take me to Thorn and then you have to find her, Eragon."
Eragon looked over at Arya quickly; she'd revived Roran and the two of them watched Eragon and Murtagh curiously. "Arya," called Eragon. "We need to get Murtagh to Thorn. I don't think I'll be able to carry him, and I don't have the strength to use magic. Can you use your magic?"
Arya nodded and spoke a few words in the ancient language and Murtagh was lifted off the ground. Eragon picked up the purple dragon egg and began to walk back up to the surface with Roran and Arya. Murtagh's floating body followed behind them. In the main hall, Saphira and Garrow joined them.
Eragon ran to Saphira and hugged her neck. I am so glad to see you safe and in one piece, she said lovingly. However, the dragon quickly changed her tune. You had best not do anything like that again! she snapped. And after all those times I promised to never leave you again…
She trailed off as she realized that Eragon was laughing. He held the egg out to her. I told you a million times that I can defend myself, he chuckled. Why don't you ever believe me?
Saphira smiled. Perhaps I'm extra protective of you because of that little rule about the death of a Dragon Rider. You know, the part that says I'll die if you do?
Once they reached the main courtyard where Thorn was lying unconscious surrounded by Du Vrangr Gata, Arya released her spell on Murtagh and turned to leave. However, Eragon called her back.
"I need your help," he explained. "I promised Murtagh that I'd bring Circe to heal Thorn. I know she's somewhere in the castle, but not much else."
Arya nodded. "I will help you," she agreed. "It would be a crime for Thorn to die."
Eragon smiled and looked to Saphira. She and Garrow had gotten as close to Thorn as they could in concern. I'll be back soon enough Saphira.
Saphira merely nodded. Find the witch, she said gravely. Murtagh's right. Thorn needs her.
Eragon nodded back and promised, I'll do my best.