AHH!! sweat drops runs around the room ripping hair out OMG I'm sooooooooooo sorry!! I can't believe I did that to chapter 17. If you didn't catch it, it was actually a copy of chapter 7. I'm really sorry, I put it up in a rush right before I left on vacation, which is why it took so long to fix. Thank you, thank you, Wise Pallas Athena for telling me this, so I'll dedicated the REAL chapter 17 to you. To everyone else: PLEASE FORGIVE ME!!!!!!! This chapter will be action-packed, I promise you, so no slow reading here!
AmayaSora
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Shruikan and the red dragon swooped up, then dove down, then did back flips, twirls, and loops, all for the purpose of showing off and intimidating the enemy. It was a tactic that was, unfortunately, working, on Verina at least.
Her shaking increased in intensity until even the very tips of her claws quaked with fright. Her eyes widened and then begin to roll back into her head. Verina, hush, it's okay. They're all the way over there. We have time.
But not enough time, she whimpered. P-penelope, I am not strong enough. I would never be strong enough even if I had a thousand years in which to prepare. I am so scared I-I will only be a liability in the coming battle. The Varden, and you, would be better equipped without me.
Verina! Don't say that! I know it looks bad now, but I find that courage comes easiest in the midst of the battle, not in the beginning.
But I am a dragon! I am not supposed to be frightened!
Saphira broke in at that moment. Little one, she said, addressing Verina, being a dragon does not mean you are unafraid. I myself feel fear for my Rider and myself. Being a dragon means overcoming your fear, against all odds.
She's right, I said, patting Verina's shoulder as I climbed up. Besides, fear is a great way to stay safe. I know that much from experience.
Verina said nothing, and although I was extremely worried I felt that there wasn't much more that I could do for her. I was terrified for her, because if her terror overcame her she would be history.
Verina apparently heard this and swiveled to look at me. Penelope, I do not know what lies ahead. Her voice was stronger now, but only slightly. However, I feel that I must tell you how thankful I am for you. You have been the best Rider any dragon could ask for.
Verina, don't say that. You make it sound as if we won't get through this. But we will, Verina, we will. I won't let you die.
Penelope, do not endanger yourself making up for my shortcomings. It is not-
NO! Verina, you can't think like that! If you do than all really is lost! As long as you and I are breathing nothing is lost, we can still fight. And we can win! I was practically yelling at her. She had to see that I was right, that her attitude would get us nowhere.
She sighed deeply. Once again you have proven yourself, Penelope. I am sorry; I see now the wisdom in your words. The best we can do is fighting our hardest, and hope we will be lucky.
I don't need luck, Verina. I have you.
You are too kind.
We both withdrew a little to settle our nerves in private. Eragon's voice cut into our minds. Penelope, Verina, Nasuada says that the soldiers are disheartened by the display put on by the enemy. She wants us to put on one of our own.
Okay, I said, swallowing the lump that had hardened in my throat. Ready, Verina?
No, I am not prepared, but let us take to the sky anyway. Saphira took off next to us, and Verina opened her wings and joined her.
From this vantage point we could clearly see the expanse of the King's army. It went on for at least a mile, and when the two masses converged the ranks swelled to appear more than 150 times our own. Verina fought through her fear and shot up into the clouds. I shrunk down against her neck to reduce resistance as she turned and dove back down, brushing the ground with her wingtips. Saphira followed with a series of acrobatic moves that got cheers from the assembled Varden and dwarves.
Verina and I circled the blue dragon as she continued dancing through the sky. Suddenly a feeling of dread descended over all as a booming voice filled with pure malice cut through the thoughts of all present. There was no mistaking the voice of the evil King. He was laughing, but the laughter held no joy, only a sense of superiority and a blood lust. Fools! You cannot hope to defeat me! Surrender now and your lives may be spared!
The soldiers below us were visibly shaken and began to mutter fearfully among themselves. This time it was Eragon's reassuring voice that reached the crowd. Do not lose hope! We are the Varden, the Warders, and we will ward off this evil like we have all the others. You now have two Riders in your midst, and we have something the enemy doesn't: heart. We want to fight, need to fight, to save our families! We are strong; we have many battle scars to show it. And we will be victorious! At this Eragon raised his sword. Nasuada did as well and led her people in a battle cry which Verina and I joined.
Galbatorix hissed, Than you will all perish! He waved his sword, and his forces doubled their pace, running into battle. The Varden rushed to meet the enemy too at a signal from Nasuada.
Eragon told us that we would be more helpful on the ground than the air at this point and he and Saphira swooped in for a landing, raining fire down on the enemy as they did so. Saphira roared as she landed, rearing up and slashing at the front line with her talons.
Verina roared, too, and I added my cry to hers as we touched down. The enemy was stunned for half a second before charging us. I leapt down and pulled out my sword, incapacitating three soldiers with one blow. The sight and smell of blood sickened me, but I kept slashing to keep the enemies away from Verina.
She fought valiantly, slashing and biting and even using her tail as a battering ram. Suddenly a wave of arrows was hurtling towards us, and I watched in awe as the hit some invisible barrier and bounced back, never coming within 10 feet of us.
The battle raged on. Our guards fought ferociously, saving Verina and me many a wound. Soon the pile of dead enemies around us had doubled, tripled, in size. But we were beginning to tire, all of us, and Verina cried out as a sword found its way into her wing.
Verina! I screamed, cutting through the soldiers I was currently dueling. I leapt up to her back (actually leapt, not climbed, all the while amazed at the feat) and we took to the air to give us some respite from the carnage.
Eragon looked up briefly and saw us, his eyes flashing with anger. What are you doing?! he yelled.
We were getting overwhelmed, I answered and he too mounted his dragon and both climbed into the air to join us.
You could have at least told us you were taking flight, he scolded lightly. But never mind, we have company.
I followed his gaze to see the two rival Riders hurtling towards us. Well, well, it seems the little chickens have finally come out of the hen house, leered the one Eragon called Murtagh as his dragon swooped between us. Eragon leaned out to slash the dragon but was too slow.
Verina banked to the right and sharply turned to dive down towards Murtagh and his dragon. They shot up towards us and we were in a high-speed, high-risk game of chicken. Verina gave in, swiveling left, but not before Murtagh's sword grazed her leg. I cried out in fury as she roared in pain.
The other Rider looked amused. My King tells me you are not even worth wasting the energy needed to kill you.
Your King is a fool, I spat mentally. As are you, for serving him.
Oh, touché. I'm so scared. His dragon turned to fly directly towards us again. But you will serve him as well soon enough. Thorn looks forward to using your lizard as target practice.
Bastard! Go to hell! I screamed and Verina twisted away from the larger red dragon. I lashed out with Guardian and managed to nick Thorn's neck as he snapped at Verina.
You should mind your language when you talk to superiors! Murtagh hissed. He yelled "Thrysta vindr!" and a huge ball of air hit me square in the chest, knocking me off of Verina.
"AHHH!" I screamed, mentally and physically. Verina angled downwards but she was too slow, wasn't going to make it. Suddenly I stopped falling and turned to see Eragon pointing at me and speaking a spell. Behind him Shruikan opened his mouth to belch fire.
No! Eragon, behind you! I screamed, but Eragon wouldn't let the magic go. Instead he spoke another spell and the flames danced harmlessly past. By this time Verina had reached me and Eragon let me go, sending me falling a foot to land on Verina's back.
Aren't you lucky your boyfriend was there, Murtagh mocked. Too bad he won't survive for much longer.
Too bad you won't, either! I spat back as Verina banked upwards to face the other dragon.
Murtagh laughed then, and Thorn opened his mouth and sent a stream of red fire outwards, ready to incinerate Verina and myself.
We were near the ground, so at the same moment I saw a sword raised and a voice yell, "To me! To me, we can take them!"
A fairly large group of soldiers had formed behind the speaker and were turning to attack their comrades. They were deserters, willing to risk their lives for the chance at being heroes and standing up for their beliefs. The group turned around and met a unit of loyal Empire soldiers, and a fight was beginning. A corporal raised his spear and flung it right at the chest of the leader, who had no hope of evading it. The man's eyes flashed briefly in an unreadable expression, his green eyes.
Green eyes, that familiar voice… Jeremy! "JEREMY!" I yelled, watching the spear get closer and closer. Time seemed to slow to a snail's pace as I saw the stream of fire coming at Verina and I from one eye, the deadly projectile headed towards Jeremy in the other. "NOOO!!! STOP!" I yelled, and Verina roared in sorrow and sent all her love to me. "STOP!!" I screamed even louder and my anger overflowed, my tears came down in a waterfall.
Suddenly time did stop, or so it felt to me. I felt myself being lifted from my body and high above the battle. I saw Saphira's tail an inch away from Shruikan's crushing jaws, the King's maniacal smile as he raised his sword. I saw Eragon healing a nasty wound on Saphira's spine with one hand while holding a sword above his head with the other.
On the ground Jeremy was looking up at Verina and me, his eyes shining excitedly even as the spear neared him. Arya was in mid-stroke, sword in the body of a soldier whose face was contorted in pain. Nasuada's steed was falling, and she was being flung backwards toward a group of heavily armed enemy soldiers.
To the north I saw two unbelievably ugly creatures flying swiftly in, no doubt the Lethrblaka Verina had warned about. The sun had just fully set and stars were beginning to dot the sky.
I took all of this in in an instant. At the same time I felt the barrier of magic in my mind burst, sending torrents of pure magic rushing through my brain and then my body. I felt the same thing occurring in Verina's body, too. There was a sudden flash of light so brilliant it would have blinded me. I saw my features change and rearrange, looking as much like an elf as Eragon's did. My eyes, once pale green, were now a stunning violet that matched the color now found on Verina's scales. Her muscle mass had doubled, too, and her length and width quadrupled. She was now bigger than Shruikan was, and looked confident and powerful. The sword I held in my right hand glowed, too, and the stone on the end transformed into glittering amethyst. The blade started to dance with tendrils of purple magic.
A single whoosh of air and the light vanished as I slipped back into my body. Verina swiftly tucked under Thorn and then shot a jet of brilliant purple fire at his belly. In the same instant I pointed at the spar and commanded, "Blöthr! Gánga aptr!" The spear stopped in its tracks and turned immediately around, finding its mark in the corporal who threw it instead of my brother.
The dragon Thorn roared in pain and Verina shot out from under him. I jabbed my sword into Murtagh's arm as we continued up and over the stricken dragon.
Verina paused to hover in mid-air. I saw Galbatorix's sword knocking Eragon's away and yelled, "Jierda Galbatorixz sverdar!" The sword broke in half like it was a piece of paper.
The King looked up and saw us then, and even his eyes widened. At that moment Verina let out an ear-splitting roar that made everyone present stop and look at her. Eyes widened and jaws dropped, and Arya swiftly dropped down to one knee. The Kull were next to bow, and soon everyone on the ground followed. Saphira shot down out of the sky and immediately bowed, lower than anyone there. Eragon did so as well, though he was very confused about the whole thing. I saw Murtagh and Thorn land and bow, too, until the only beings left un-bowed were Galbatorix, Shruikan, and the Lethrblaka. I turned to the black dragon and intoned, "Losna Shruikan fra Galbatorixz vanyalí!" The beast shuddered violently and its eyes became clear instantly. He was confused for only a second and then immediately twisted around and yanked the King off of his back.
Wait! commanded Verina, and the black dragon immediately loosened his jaws. He shall remain alive to receive his punishment.
Shruikan inclined his head and then dropped to the ground and bowed with all the others.
That left only the Lethrblaka. "Garzjla!" I said and the battlefield immediately became as light as day. The foul creatures saw this, saw Verina and immediately turned away, flying at breakneck speeds back to Helgrind. As they left something was dropped from the back of the biggest creature.
Verina darted forward to get under the falling girl. "Letta!" and she slowed to a stop, allowing me to catch her and pull her onto Verina's back. She was unconscious and hurt very badly, so I wasted no time in healing her.
She sat up immediately and blinked in terror. I soothed her, "Shh, it's alright. You are safe now." I smiled as Verina touched down in the middle of the once-warring people.
I set the young woman down on the ground and then stood up on Verina's back. "You may rise," I told the assembled beings, and they stood up slowly. "King Galbatorix is no more. Those of you who still wish to fight for him may do so at your own peril. But Galbatorix is no longer the ruler of the Empire. The Empire shall have no ruler, except for the Riders who will soon be reborn. Yes, I have restored the days of the Riders and the peace that comes with it."
Verina and I sat in front of an assembly of all the people from the battle. Nasuada, Orrin, Elva, Jörmundur, Eragon and Saphira, and Jeremy were in the front row, along with Arya, Angela and Solembum. The rest sat behind them in various groups.
I was attempting to explain what had happened. This was very difficult, especially because I myself didn't know what had happened. Verina did, but was bound by some code not to reveal anything.
"Thank you all for coming," I said eventually. "Um…so I assume you want to know what it was that occurred at yesterday's battle."
There were murmurs of assent and I waved a hand to silence them. "Well, here I am, and let me tell you, I'd like to know what happened yesterday, too." I ignored the shocked mutterings and went on, "Aye, I have just admitted that I don't know anymore than you do. In fact, I probably know less than some of you do." I gestured towards Arya and Angela. "So, at this time, if there is anyone who knows about this, um, could you please come and explain it to everyone?"
There was a long pause before Arya bowed again. "Ebrithil, if I may, I would like to say something."
"Of course," I said, only slightly put out that Arya had called me 'master.'
The elf rose and addressed the crowd. "Long ago, a race known only as the Grey Folk cast a powerful spell to bind magic to the ancient language so that it could be controlled. This spell depleted the strength of the Grey Folk and, according to legend, they faded out of existence. This, however, is not strictly true. Only a few know of this; the elven royalty, the leader of the Riders, and wild creatures such as Urgals and dragons." She paused as her words sank in. "How I came to know this is unimportant, however. The Grey Folk did die out, but not completely. The most senior of the Grey Folk bred into the other races, knowing as they did that in the future their prowess would be needed again. And it was thus that the Blessed was prophesied. When the world most needed power like the Grey Folk possessed, the remnants of Grey Folk consciousness laying dormant would bring themselves together again in the form of the Blessed, the one whose power would exceed all others. Penelope is that person."
At this Arya calmly twisted her hand over her sternum and sat down, ignoring the ripples of shock that ran through the audience. Next Angela stood up with Solembum, in human form, at her side. "Werecats know of the Blessed as well. The werecats were created by the Grey Folk to guide those who held parts of the Grey Folk in their blood together. The werecats worked at this since the fall of the Riders, and eventually succeeded when they led Penelope's father to Teirm, where her mother was living. They also ensured that the Blessed received her inheritance, the sword of the Grey Folk and the Book of Miracles."
That reminded me of the book Angela gave me in Kuasta. It seemed like forever ago, but in reality was actually only a few days. I spoke the spell to summon the book and it immediately appeared in my hand. The cover was no longer faded; it looked like it was only printed yesterday. I opened the book to find all the pages filled with histories, diagrams, and records of all prophecies ever made.
This was going to take a while to read, so I adjourned the meeting and everyone left except Eragon and Saphira, who I'd asked to stay. "Shadeslayer," I said, reverting to the ancient language.
"Yes, Master?"
"I believe you had a question for me."
He seemed embarrassed. "Y-yes, I did, Master. What was it that happened with Shruikan earlier?"
I smiled. "Galbatorix was not Shruikan's destined Rider. He stole Shruikan through the use of dark magic. To put things right, all I had to do was relieve the dragon from the influence of the magic."
But, Master, how did you know the needed words? It was Saphira's turn to ask a question.
Verina, who had been silent since the battle's end, suddenly spoke up. The Grey Folk knew all of the ancient language. The Blessed would know all she needed to at the moment the memories were awakened.
I had a thought just then, so I vocalized it to Verina. That was how you knew all that stuff before, wasn't it?
Yes, she affirmed. We were speaking in English again because it was how we had first learned to speak to each other and so it seemed more natural. Dragons are inherently more magical than humans, so the spell wasn't as successful on me. The information leaked out at random intervals.
I relayed this information to Eragon and his dragon. They thanked me and then excused themselves. I knew it was to report their findings to Nasuada, but I let them go, because Verina suggested, Perhaps we should go visit our prisoners.
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A pretty bad ending, I know, but I couldn't think of another way to end it. Please don't be too mad about it being the wrong chapter!!