Get the tissues for this one. Let us just say that it was too much for a mother to take. This is the hardest chapter I have ever written!

Chapter 77: Destiny Prevails

Eragon called all of his family to the dinner table. All of the dragons huddled on the ground around as Eragon and Saphira took a seat at the head of it. Lunalese was leaning against Draken and Covin'thra was doing the same with Thorn. Equinox was lying behind her parents with her head lifted up attentively.

"Family," Eragon sighed. "I have some news." Saphira placed her hand on Eragon's shoulder and gently massaged it while he searched for an explanation. "Some things are going to change for your race."

"What do you mean?" Covin'thra asked. Saphira took her arm down and cleared her throat.

"It is hard to discuss," Saphira struggled to find a perfect explanation as well, but nothing seemed to arise in her mind. Even the wisest dragoness such as herself was at a loss for words after such an awkward night. "You see children, Eragon and I were visited by my family last night, but it is far more complicated than that. My mother and father were both killed long ago, and, somehow, we ended up in heaven last night…with them."

"Okay?" Draken asked. "This is strange."

"You do not know the half of it son," Eragon said, shaking his head. "My offspring, I am afraid to tell you that the dragons of old convened last night on your behalves. They do not think that you are worthy of getting access into heaven."

"Impossible," Draken hissed. "Why do we not…I see now. Is it because we cannot speak like actual dragons?"

"Sort of," Saphira said softly. "It regards your souls. Thanks to me and Eragon, your souls are mixed in both human and dragon forms. They told us that your souls' afterlives are confused and could be lost without finding their resting place. After a long debate with this council, we managed to convince them that you all were worthy of admittance. Still, they will not accept you unless you do something great for the human race…sacrificing yourselves."

Excuse me? Thorn asked. By sacrificing, do you mean laying our lives down?

"Yes."

So if we die for the humans, does that mean that we are automatically accepted? Eragon shook his head.

"There is another way, but it is riskier."

Tell us, Thorn commanded. Eragon and Saphira grasped each other's hands.

"The council decided to give dragons of this race the power to lend out half their hearts to an ailing human. If the human lives his life for good, then you will be accepted for your sacrifice, but if the human becomes evil, you will be damned."

"This is too much," Equinox whispered. "How can we tell?"

"That is the risk," Eragon sighed. "The worse part is, that when you and the human are bonded, both of you can die at the same time."

Like dragon and rider? Lunalese asked. Eragon shook his head again.

"No. If the dragon dies, then the human will as well. Same goes for the human when he is killed. Your bond will be to the person you revive for the rest of your life." The room remained silent as the dragons sat still in deep thought. "I am sorry, children. Our lust for each other has doomed you all."

Do not say that, Lunalese said sternly. You should never regret the love that you shared with your mate. Saphira sighed and excused herself from the table. Eragon muttered a subtle swear and stepped outside with her.

"Eragon?" Saphira shook her head and turned to face their home. "I am sorry."

"For what?" Eragon asked worriedly. He stepped beside her and gazed into her teary eyes. "You have done nothing worth apologizing for."

"Eragon," Saphria shuttered slightly while saying his name. "It was my lust for you that I apologize for. If I would have let my silly dreams die, our children would not be forced to endure such a fate."

"If you had let your dreams die then our children would never have existed!"

"I wish they did not," Saphira muttered tearfully. "Thanks to my actions, we all must suffer."

"Actions?"

"With you, Eragon." Saphira turned away and wiped a tear from her cheek. "I dreamed of a life like this ever since we fought alongside each other. Now that it is completed, fate has conspired against me. Remember our conversation in the cliffs regarding our children?"

"Of course," Eragon said, placing his marked palm on her shoulder. "We decided that we would sacrifice ourselves for…oh no! You are not thinking like that, are you? Saphira, I love you and you feel the same for me. If we separate, it would kill us both by heartache."

"I would die willingly to save our children," Saphira let a tear fall off of her face, splashing against her sapphire tunic. "Eragon, we have made a costly mistake."

"Do not say that, Saphira," Eragon commanded. She dropped her eyes away from her husband, but Eragon quickly placed his hand to her chin to lift them back up to him. "If loving you was a mistake, then I will live on as a failure proudly. You are not the only one at fault, my love. For the longest time I have held the same dreams that you have had. If there is one to blame, blame me."

"I cannot," Saphira whimpered. "I begged you to give me children, I was too persistent!"

"That is why I love you." Saphira sniffled and turned her head away again.

"It hurts to know what our own offspring will go through. I pledged to give them everything a mother could, and now I feel as if I have failed. Their spiritual lives rest in what they do here."

"I know," Eragon sighed. "We must stay true to each other, Saphira. Your mother wants us to fall apart, and I made a promise to you that I would not allow that to happen. Please, take back the words that you have told me. I do not want all that I have given you to be considered a mistake in your eyes. Our children have been raised well, darling. They know what must be done and that brings a smile to my face."

"I am sorry," Saphira whimpered, "but if I take back my very words, then I would go back on a promise I swore to you." She sobbed openly now, sniffing violently as she broke the grasp that Eragon held on her. He watched with tears flowing from his eyes as the love of his life and his beloved dragon walked down the hillside. There was nothing he could say and Eragon knew it. Saphira was heartbroken and distraught, but this seemed like the only way for her children to live peacefully. He continued to watch until Saphira's form disappeared in the shadows of the distant trees.

I am sorry, my dear, Saphira's voice came into Eragon's head. I cannot. For our children's sake, we are no more.

Saphira, Eragon cried out to her. You leave and I die! I will chant the spell to kill myself right now! Death is far better than watching you leave. You are not only my wife, but you are my dragon. As your rider I command you not to go! There was silence for a long moment while Eragon waited for an answer. When nothing came back, Eragon quickly ran down the hill in search of her. Nothing. She was gone.

Saphira.

- - - - - - - -

Are you satisfied mother? Saphira screamed through the forest. She was in dragon form cradled up on a massive boulder. Her large body was trembling dramatically as the poor dragoness bellowed in heartbroken agony. Is this the way you wanted me to feel? My children are far too young to accept this fate. Release it from them and know that I sacrificed my love for themto be accepted. She shuttered again and gently lowered her wings to where they touched the ground. Oh, Eragon, what have I done?

What a mother would have for her children, Eragon suddenly replied. She watched as he emerged from the forest in dragon form. Saphira, please come home. Our children understand this a lot better than we think.

I want to, Saphira replied tearfully. But what of my promise?

A wise dragon once told me to forget about promises and live for the day. Tell me, Saphira, were you not that wise dragon?

I was, Saphira whimpered. Oh Eragon, why must I be such a fool?

It is a mother's instinct to sacrifice herself, Eragon pointed out. I will never hold anything against you, my loving wife.

Loving? I disowned you, Eragon! I never said one word as I flew away. How could you call me loving?

I judge by more than one instance, Eragon pointed out. You have bore our children and you have taken care of me. How is that not considered loving? Saphira, I know that you are hurt, but we must press on. If we collapse, then our children may as well.

I do not know what to do, Saphira shifted and turned her head away. It seemed so understandable in the dream, but I can feel their confusion. I just want what is best for them.

So did your mother, Eragon explained, but was she really helpful? She just wanted us to separate.

I know. Suddenly, a loud rustle could be heard in the shrubs close by. Both dragons turned to see Angela emerge. She had not been seen in almost five months.

"Hail dragons," she called out with a smile. "I have news for you." Saphira turned away while Eragon continued to gaze at the witch.

Yes, he said. Is it about the spell?

"Of course. The supposed end to it would have been next week, but I made quite an astonishing discovery."

What was that?

"Your souls will not change back," Angela said with a grin. "This is permanent. You see, I made some miscalculations when I thought the spell would wear off, but now I have made the true discovery. Fear not you two, this spell will remain for your entire lives." Eragon turned to face Saphira, but quickly turned away after she let out a depressing bellow. "What ails you, Saphira?"

I cannot explain. Saphira shook her head and faced her. It regards the spell.

We have reached a complication, Eragon cut her off. We found out last night that the elder dragons are disgusted with us. They said that the spell you cast would prohibit us from entering any heaven and laying our souls to rest.

"I was afraid of that," Angela sighed. "I knew of that risk but I still continued. For that, I am truly sorry."

Our children now suffer the same fate, Saphira announced sadly. We fought the council to gain access, but our offspring have been forced to do something else.

"What is that?"

They must sacrifice themselves for entrance. Either by giving their lives, or half of their hearts.

"I do not understand."

Our children, Eragon explained, must give half of their heart to an ailing human in order to prolong his or her death. When it happens, they are bonded tighter than rider and dragon. If one dies, no matter what species, the other one will perish as well.

"Wow," Angela gasped. "Your children are wise though, my friends. It may be a burden, but I feel as if they could take on this task very well."

Saphira is still hurt by this, Eragon mentioned, as he stepped forward to brush his wife's muzzle with his own. She feels as if all of it was her fault.

"Oh, come now," Angela cooed to cheer the dragon up. She took a step forward and placed her hands on Saphira's belly. Saphira trembled at her touch and let out a comforting growl. "You did what you had to do as a female. Not only did you do it all out of love, you also did it for the duty of your race. You are a very lucky dragoness, Saphira. Females of the human race would be more than willing to bear Eragon's children, but he chose you out of all of them. Look into your spouse's eyes, Saphira. Even with the situation now, he still holds the look of love in his glares." Saphira lifted her head and stared nose-to-nose into Eragon's eyes. He never wavered as the two stood still. "He loves you dearly, Saphira. No matter what arises, he will be there for you. How many times has he been there already?"

Too many, Saphira whispered. Eragon, is this all true? No matter what happens to me or our children, you will still remain the same?

Of course my dear. Saphira shuttered drastically and turned her gaze away.

"Do you see? Eragon is very loyal to you. I know that you were thinking about leaving…I could see the fear in Eragon's eyes…but if you were to do that, your husband would go mad with heartbreak. I am sure you do not wish for that, do you?"

I only want what is best for my family, Saphira choked back.

Saphira, you are the best for our kin. You hold it all together with love and kindness.

Then why must all of our children run to you for advice? Saphira snapped tearfully. You hold the family together. I am merely an assistant.

Saphira! How can you consider yourself as that? Who was there to teach our children how to fly? Where you not out there with me?

I was.

Who went with Draken and me on our first hunting trip?

I did.

And who explained the mating rituals to our child's mate? Saphira remained silent and suddenly dropped her head against the rock she was resting on. Saphira, you have been the wife who has pushed me to do the duties of this family. You may think that you were the assistant, but in reality, I needed you to help me. You are still wiser and stronger than I can ever amount up to.

"Can you not tell the admiration and love in his voice alone?" Angela asked. "Saphira, return home with him. The spell is permanent and you two can love each other forever. Go home, make love to your husband, and continue to raise your ideal family. If you do not leave with him, then I am afraid that Eragon would remain at your side until you do." Eragon nodded his large head in agreement and snorted, tossing a thick plume of black smoke as he did so.

There is no need to dwell on this. Let us continue to live our happy life, dear. Suddenly, Saphira leapt to her feet and flew off into the sky.

I cannot.

Saphira! Eragon flapped his wings and prepared to take off after her, but Angela stopped him.

"She needs time alone, Eragon. Let her think this all over. If she does not come back then destiny has prevailed." Eragon bellowed hurtfully and lifted his head up to watch her fly away.

My wife, do not go!

PEACE!