Elven Hope Chapter 4: Capture and Freedom, an inheritance cycle fanfic

A/N: I know I said 25 reviews, but 19 is close enough lol :) Besides, I was so looking forward to posting this chapter!!!

Lets see if I can get 30 reviews this time - good and bad people! All are great, and for my current reviewers - The Sun Also Rises, Macsek92, ejm12, Daphne13, rainbowsix, Clare-hpec , Soccergeek4jc, koolkat1125, Elf-oh-yes, Hornwaggler, sarcasm-is-me-17, spazzysassyangel, Phoenix Queen Crystal, -Al perqurie-, FirelordMee-Ya, METALLiCxTEARs and JazRox - you guys ROCK!! (Especially Clare-hpec and Elf-oh-yes, who reviewed more than once! :) ) A shout out goes to my current Story Alerts, Subscriptions and Favourites peoples, you guys are cool too :)

Enough of my rambling (la da da) and lets get on with this awesome chapter!!

Disclaimer: I'm not Christopher Paolini, people, deal with it. (Jks, but seriously I'm NOT!)

--------------------- Arya's POV ----------------------

Galbatorix was coming. Dread memories of Gil'ead flashed through Arya's mind. Durza. Torture. Pain. Suffering. Death. Punishment. My anguished screams. Durza laughing at my pain. My grief over my best friends, my mate. She then remembered that even in the darkness, there was hope. Eragon. Freedom. Friendship. Love. Joy. Beauty. The unlikely rescue. The Battle of the Burning Plains. Fear, for him. Arya knew at that moment, whatever the cost; she must get Eragon and Saphira out of his reach. No matter the price.

"Eragon…" Arya began, but the pain of her decision loomed on her. She tried again, hoping that he couldn't detect the agony, the love and the grief in her tone.

"Eragon…" He must of heard that one word, the word muttered with grief, agony and pain, because he said in a worried tone, "Arya? What's wrong?" If only he knew.

"Go…. Now…… without me." Arya heard herself utter those words, but they still didn't seem real. In her mind, this was the only option.

"Why?" Arya could hear the agony in his voice too.

"You need to escape. Now. I can distract him."

"No." She knew that she really should of expected that. He kept surprising her though. And he continued. "I can't leave you behind Arya, and even if I could, I wouldn't. Get on, or do I have to force you?" He said this last part with a twitch of a smile, as if seriously contemplating the idea. Arya looked at the horizon one last time, but she got quite the shock as she realised that Galbatorix was not a slow flier, and that they would have no choice but to confront him now.

----------- Eragon's POV -------------

"Eragon! I'm so glad to finally meet you!!" Galbatorix exclaimed. He did look mad, like a man who had nothing to lose. That is true, Eragon realised. He already had lost everything. He was balding, but possessed an aura of incredible strength. This strength, Eragon knew, was from the Eldunari that Galbatorix had stolen, tortured and finally broken to his will.

Yep, he's insane. We need to escape from him, because we have no hope of beating him.

Don't worry Little One, look at Shruikan. He is not a happy dragon. Looking through Saphira's view, he saw that Shruikan looked worried, angry and resigned, all at the same time. It didn't help their case that he was at least 4 times the size of Saphira. Galbatorix may have affected him in ways we don't know about. Arya thought. Be careful.

"What brings you to see me? Will you join me Eragon? Help me in my quest to make Alagaësia a peaceful, glorious place?"

"It was that before you took it away!"

"I see that I will not convince you today." Galbatorix said in a dark tone. "Maybe a few months here will change your mind."

OATH BREAKER!! TRAITOR!! MURDERER!!! DRAGON KILLER!!!! Saphira was hurling her rage-filled thoughts at Shruikan and Galbatorix, but Galbatorix didn't flinch. Shruikan on the other hand roared back, You think I WANTED this destiny Hatchling? I am forced to hurt my own kind! My will is useless! He killed my TRUE rider, and my wish is to die! I can't resist him, but can you kill me? Can you grant that? I will be forever in your debt, Brightscales.

Should we Saphira?

We need to escape, not kill Shruikan and Galbatorix today. They are far more powerful than us, and could easily capture us.

"Saphira? Surely you don't agree with your Rider? Together, we can rebuild the Riders. Together peace can be brought back into Alagaësia. With your help, Saphira, this is all possible." Galbatorix looked at Saphira as he spoke, his expression one of a man with nothing to lose, and a lot of confidence in himself, albeit mad.

I will never part with my Rider, and betray my race. With this Saphira roared, daring Galbatorix to even try to change her decision.

"If that is where you stand… well, it looks like that I'll have to punish you both, when you are prisoners. Or even better! I'll make Murtagh do it!" Galbatorix laughed at this suggestion, looking at how Eragon reacted to this. Saphira… when I say now, fly as fast as you can to get Arya and we go! One –

Two –

NOW! Before Galbatorix realised it, Saphira had swooped down to retrieve Arya, but she ran into thin air. Damn these blocks! Are you okay, Saphira?

I'll be fine, but that hurt!

"Who said I was going to let you go peacefully?" Galbatorix laughed, and Shruikan roared, but it was a roar of despair. Without warning, Shruikan flew at them, and Galbatorix lunged with his sword. Eragon matched his blade, and suddenly they were at arms, the dragon's fighting underneath them. They kept at it for more than an hour, but Eragon was slowly losing strength against the oppressor. The Eldunari have increased Galbatorix's strength a million times over! But where is he keeping them? "Face it, Eragon, you can't win, so give up now, and I might just give you a windowed cell in Urû'bean. Give up, Eragon."

"I'd rather die than serve you!" Eragon shouted at him, waving Brisingr in the air.

Galbatorix narrowed his eyes and in a single stroke, knocked Eragon off Saphira.

Eragon! Two voices shouted in his tried to dive for him, but Shruikan stopped her at every turn. As Eragon fell, he saw Arya's face, the worry on her expression, something deep in her eyes.

"Letta!" Eragon cried, and slammed into thin air. "Owwww…." He groaned quietly, then healed his broken nose and collarbone. I'm not using THAT again! He thought then whispered "Audr," and looked up. Galbatorix and Shruikan had Saphira outnumbered and were slowly tearing her apart.

Saphira! I'm coming!

Eragon… I can't hold on… much longer……

Hold on please, Saphira! He started reciting a lengthy healing spell, healing his and her wounds in the process. After climbing back on Saphira, he continued fighting Galbatorix. We can't fight forever…

Eragon! I'm sorry.

For what, Arya?

For this. You need to be safe. He looked over at Arya, and the elf was muttering a spell. Galbatorix took advantage of his distraction, and slashed at Eragon. "Ahh!" Eragon cried, the sword easily slashing through his armor, cutting deep in his chest. His vision flickered from black to red and back to black. He looked at Arya one last time, and she looked back, an unreadable expression in her eyes. She smiled briefly, and he smiled back. The debt has been paid, she told him, but before he could reply his vision flashed black. When it went clear again, instead of seeing her face, he saw Nasuada's. What the? He realised quickly what had happened. Arya had sent him and Saphira to safety, sacrificing herself in the process. I have to save her!

------------- Arya's POV ----------------

"Eragon! I'm so glad to finally meet you!!" Galbatorix exclaimed. Eragon, get out of there! He's insane! She watched as Eragon responded to Galbatorix's offer in just the way she expected.

"It was that before you took it away!" Eragon shouted at the king.

"I see that I will not convince you today." Galbatorix said in a menacing tone. "Maybe a few months here will change your mind." Not if I can stop it.

Saphira was so mad, she was broadcasting her thoughts to everyone in the vicinity; OATH BREAKER!! TRAITOR!! MURDERER!!! DRAGON KILLER!!!! Galbatorix showed no emotion, but Shruikan snarled at her and at once she stopped her mental cries.

"Saphira? Surely you don't agree with your Rider? Together, we can rebuild the Riders. Together peace can be brought back into Alagaësia. With your help, Saphira, this is all possible." Galbatorix asked Saphira, like he actually cared what she thought. The only thing he cares about is power.

I will never part with my Rider, and betray my race. Arya laughed to herself as Saphira declared her standings to Galbatorix.

"If that is where you stand… well, it looks like that I'll have to punish you both, when you are prisoners. Or even better! I'll make Murtagh do it!" Galbatorix laughed at this suggestion, looking at how Eragon reacted to this. To Arya, it looked like Eragon was thinking hard, and suddenly Eragon and Saphira came in her direction swiftly. Then ran into thin air. Saphira, are you okay?

I'll be fine, but that hurt!

"Face it, Eragon, you can't win, so give up now, and I might just give you a windowed cell in Urû'bean. Give up, Eragon." Galbatorix taunted.

"I'd rather die than serve you!" Eragon shouted at him, waving Brisingr in the air. A noble sentiment, but will it become truth?

Galbatorix narrowed his eyes and in a single stroke, knocked Eragon off Saphira.

Eragon! Arya watched with despair as he toppled through the air, and in a single second, caught her eyes. She watched him fall, and immediately called up a spell to catch Eragon as soon as he passed her eyesight, but apparently he had used a different spell, because he smashed into thin air. Owch! He slowly sat up, blood pouring from his nose down his chest. He healed himself, then started to float back upwards, Arya ready if he should fail. Eragon climbed back on Saphira, but when she looked at Saphira, Galbatorix and Shruikan were working on her demise. No! Arya started pouring strength into her, and healing minor wounds, but for every wound healed, Galbatorix and Shruikan did far more damage. Finally, Eragon reached her, and in a second, had healed both their wounds. Galbatorix kept gaining on them, and it soon was apparent that capture was imminent for them.

It's time for me to pay my debt. To save the last free Rider. Eragon! I'm sorry.

For what, Arya? His mental voice sounded exhausted.

For this. You need to be safe. Arya looked at him, and he looked at her. She continued muttering the spell, looking in his eyes. Galbatorix took advantage of this distraction, and slashed at Eragon. "Ahh!" Eragon cried, the sword easily slashing through his armor, cutting deep in his chest. His vision flickered from black to red and back to black. You'll be okay. I know it so. He looked at Arya one last time, and she looked back, her decision and her sacrifice showing on her face. She smiled briefly, and he smiled back. The debt has been paid, Arya told him, but before he could reply, her spell took effect, and he, along with an item and a note in her possession, disappeared into thin air. Arya sank against the castle, fighting to breathe. The spell had kept Eragon safe, but should Galbatorix find her, she was dead.

It was the right thing to do. It kept my heart safe, free, and able to fight.

"Elf! I see you there! Come out, or I shall resort to other means!" Galbatorix grinned at her. Barzûl!

"Never!" Arya ran, but her strength was drained incredibly, and with a simple motion, Galbatorix had her pinned against the wall.

"Murtagh!" he called.

"Yes, Master?" Murtagh's voice sounded cold, and tired, like he had fought a great battle.

"Would you mind taking our guest to the dungeons? A few days there, and I'm sure that we can find what we need to know." He laughed at his mad thoughts.

"There is no we," Murtagh muttered, and came into Arya's view. His skin was pale, like he hadn't seen sunlight in a while, and his hair was lank. He took one look at her and went paler, if that was possible.

"Arya? How… what are you doing here?!" he whispered.

"I saved Eragon's life from this!" Arya whispered back furiously.

"Hurry up, Murtagh, or should I get Shruikan to give you inspiration? Your choice!" Galbatorix laughed at his own private joke.

"I'm sorry, Arya," he whispered then murmured "Slytha."

Her vision went dark.

A/N: Read and review, as always :) Remember 30 reviews!! :) Xoxoxo

Again - another sneak peek!! (OOOOOOOOOH!!!)

"Where did you send them?! Arya, the sooner you cooperate, the sooner your punishment ends." Not likely.

"Murtagh, you really think I'm going to tell you? I sent them away for their safety!!"

"So be it, Arya."

Oooh I'm looking forward to posting again! :)