A/N: OMG... It has been forever and a day since I have updated this story!! Finally the writers block abated (and I have newfound sympathy for writers who suffer from this condition), and I was free to write again!! A huge apology goes out to everyone, because if it were me, I would be sending flames (NONE did, thank god!).

Just a quick warning, you may actually need to reread this story, its been that darned long! ;)

A shout out to my Story Alerts, Subscriptions and Favourites - you guys rock!

A HUGE thankyou goes to all my reviewers, because you guys gave me the strength to keep writing (and this particular scene took a while, it never was perfect ;) ). This chapter is dedicated to you guys :) . I hope you enjoy as much as I did while writing! :)

Onto Part 1 of the Battle For Alagaësia.... (cue theme music)

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

Eragon stared at the landscape overlooking Galbatorix's castle. This day had haunted his nightmares and his dreams ever since he had become a Rider. The result of this dawning battle would be Galbatorix's downfall. He refused to think of the Varden's downfall, for fear that it would come true.

She will be free tomorrow, Saphira replied.

I know… she must be in so much pain! But tomorrow could be a huge trap. Nasuada thinks that the Eldunari are not with Galbatorix but that is highly unlikely.

She has been very… distraught of late. The stresses of her position would be great, especially for this battle tomorrow. We must follow her judgement in this.

Let's hope her judgement will not cement our doom.

We are as ready as we can be… now fate will decide the outcome. We need to get Arya back, so the egg can finally hatch. Rest, Little One. You will need every ounce of energy for tomorrow.

I love you, Saphira. Don't forget that.

As I love you, Eragon. Saphira lifted her wing, and Eragon crawled under, glad for the chance to be with her. Looking at the thin membrane of her midnight blue wings, he fell into the elven slumber.

---

He looked around. The throne room of the evil king was as desolate as ever, but the air was thick with tension. Blood was splattered on the grimy windows. This surprised Eragon – the king would surely have the best.

"Eragon." That lone word made his heart seize up, a numbing dread filling his mind, and he turned slowly. Arya looked back at him, agony in her gaze.

"Arya!! Quick, get out of here!" Eragon's dread increased when she didn't leave, but instead walked closer, drawing a dagger.

"Arya, this isn't you! Fight it, please!" he cried out in agony.

"You left me to die. I'm repaying the favour." She spat the words out, as if someone else was willing her to speak. Her eyes begged for him to leave, but at the same time, she was drawing closer to him. He did not fight her – how could he? – and instead dodged her pitiful swipe. She was trying to resist – that much was clear – but she continued swiping.

"Why, Eragon, we meet again!" Galbatorix cried out. Eragon made the foolish mistake of turning in his direction and Arya's dagger tore through his heart, the dagger leaving her hand. She collapsed next to him, her body thrashing as Galbatorix fought to maintain control. Eragon's blood pooled in her raven hair, and his vision flashed. Outside, a dragon's death throes were making the castle shake.

As he died, the dragon died too.

---

"NO!!" he cried out in the night. Saphira twitched uneasily above him. Flashes of the dream ran through his mind, the shadows of the night seeming even more menacing. Using the techniques of meditation Oromis taught him calmed his body down and stopped the horrifying images from spouting to the front of his brain. Eragon did not fall asleep again, but instead watched the sun rise over the horizon.

It is time.

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

Arya drifted out and in of consciousness – as she drifted, the flashes came.

So you rejected my brother, Arya? Surely he hates you now?

Reconsider, and let my dream come true!

You will be the one to slay Eragon Shadeslayer!!

Eragon…

Blinding pain….

She opened her eyes to the dawn – and Eragon stared back.

"Eragon!" Arya cried out, glad that he had found her in the creeping darkness.

"Hello Arya, ready to go?" She looked at him, and he was well groomed. Surely nothing like if he had fought a huge battle. She considered this, but then winced when her head decided to start pounding.

"Where are we going?"

"Arya, we have to go! Follow me!" He didn't give her a chance to decide, instead dragging her out of the prison.

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

Eragon flew with Saphira over the landscape, ready for the final order from Nasuada to begin the final fight.

This is the moment that will change Alagaësia forever.

And we are more than ready.

A third voice, the one of Trianna, wove its way through Eragon's mind with the three words she spoke – It is time. Let us fight for our land!

Let us fight! Saphira roared in agreement as a great cheer rose from the Varden and the battle commenced.

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

Is this truly Eragon? I've gone into the void, and I'm seeing what I want to see, Arya told herself as they strolled down yet another corridor, and entered the throne room. She turned to look at Eragon, but his figure was blurry around the edges. It cleared again when the room stopped spinning.

"And now we wait," Eragon whispered.

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

Blood, sweat and gore covered Eragon's armour has he fought through the crowd of soldiers, his one objective clear in his mind, as the day wore on.

Galbatorix. Kill.

He cleaved several soldiers, while dancing around others and slowly inching towards the gates of Galbatorix's castle. Saphira roared above him, as she roasted soldiers in their armour, and tore them apart.

Are we one, Saphira?

We are one.

They linked minds, and it was impossible to distinguish if Eragon was truly slicing Brisingr like legends foretold, or if it was Saphira clawing at enemy soldiers. This carried on throughout the day, but shortly, their movements weren't as fast, and many of the wards had started to wear off. His head was spinning. Sweat and blood coated his body. Saphira was not faring much better. We have to get in the castle soon, or we will not be able to fight Galbatorix like this! he thought to Saphira.

The day wore on.

--- Arya's POV ----

Why are we waiting? Eragon wouldn't be like this at all… oh. How could I have fallen for the oldest trick in the book? "You're not Eragon" she murmured, and "Eragon" jumped with a start.

"Of course I am… I'm waiting for Saphira."

"Where is she?"

"She is on her way."

"She's not is she?"

"She is, Arya, just be patient."

"I know you're not Eragon. He wouldn't wait right now," she whispered. As time passed, the room started spinning again, and a battle could be heard nearby. The doors creaked, and then "Eragon" was at her side again. "How did you know?" he whispered.

"The real Eragon cares," she whispered back. He just laughed.

"Let's see how much then, shall we?"

This statement rang in her ears as she fell to the floor, eyes drifting closed involuntarily and cheek throbbing.

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

As the battle wore on, many of the Varden's spell casters were feeling the pain. Nonetheless, they persisted in slowly wearing down the Empire. The Varden gave a cheer as they managed to shatter another of the Empire's defences. Eragon just grinned, and then continued fighting. After he had made a brilliant sword stroke which simultaneously killed three soldiers, while cleaving the head of a fourth, he saw a small opening. Taking full advantage, he fought persistently until he reached the castle doors. A guard tried to fight him, but it was a futile effort. Eragon killed him with a quick spell, and finally opened the doors. Arya. He was so close, he could feel it. As he opened the castle doors, a loud creaking could be heard, but Eragon slipped inside quietly. He was not surprised at the inside of the castle, it smelled of death and looked like his worst nightmares – dark and dripping. He listened quietly.

Drip. Drip. Drip. Thump. Drip.

Arya! He ran as he had never ran before, tearing through the castle and finally reaching a set of bronze doors.

Arya. Her beautiful face was marred with dark brusing, and Eragon felt a pang in his chest at seeing her this way. She had her eyes closed, but beyond the little clothing covering her, there were cuts and reopened wounds. This is my fault.

Galbatorix, Saphira hissed as she glanced over at a mirror image of Eragon, that walked through another set of bronze doors and joined them in the throne room. He grinned, and with a simple wave of his hand, became the king that they were destined to destroy.

"Hello Eragon. Are you ready to fight?"

"Are you?" Eragon spat – never had he felt such intense rage, his whole being was trembling with the effort to not swing Brisingr up into the air and through Galbatorix. Instead he gazed at Arya. She started trembling, but her eyes didn't open. "Let her go!"

"Don't worry Eragon! She will be alright, that is if you don't kill her" Galbatorix laughed.

"What? I would never hurt her!"

"Let's put that statement to a test shall we?" He waved his hand, and Arya opened her eyes. In one fluid motion, Arya stood back up. The shaking was gone, and Arya's face was completely blank – except for her eyes. Eragon looked, and they showed fear. Arya started walking towards him slowly. With a start, Eragon realised the dreams he had had, were all leading to his death – by Arya it seemed. He briefly glanced at Galbatorix, and his face showed laughter at Eragon's current predicament. Glancing back at Arya, he lifted Brisingr as a warning. She continued to walk towards him, drawing what he knew to be a small dagger in her pocket. Her face briefly showed surprise, before she made the first lunge at Eragon.

"Arya, this isn't you! Fight!" Eragon begged her desperately, as he blocked the quick lunge.

"Eragon" she whispered, but her swipes were getting faster and faster. Soon enough a sword fight had broken out among the two allies, both single minded in their goal.

I can't let her die, but she won't stop! "Arya, please," he whispered, then gasped as her small dagger managed to penetrate into his lower arm. For a moment, blinding-hot pain clouded his vision, then she pulled the dagger out, while he staggered backwards. She looked horrified at what she had done, and dropped the dagger. She started towards Eragon.

"Eragon? Why did you come? What happened to your arm?!" she murmured softly but before he replied, Galbatorix spoke.

"Oh isn't this sweet, the lovers reunite. Isn't it a pity though that they will be separated by death?" Galbatorix spat. "You, Eragon, think you can challenge me? King Galbatorix, the greatest person that ever happened to walk Alagaësia? You shall die here, and your blood will lay here for all to see, how their greatest hero, failed! You will never be worthy to spar with someone such as great as I! I destroyed the Riders, the fat, old, corrupt fools!! I exterminated every dragon in Alagaësia! I brought this country to its knees, and have ruled for a century! You, a pitiful farm boy in a role that is too great for one as worthless as you! But let the bards say I was merciful. That I gave you the chance to walk away. Since you are so determined to bring about your worthless death, let us duel for Alagaësia, and you shall fall Eragon Shadeslayer!"

Eragon grunted his assent, and Galbatorix drew a sharp green blade slowly. They edged towards each other, then Galbatorix lunged forward, his blade raised high. Eragon parried the blow, and retaliated. Above Eragon, Saphira and Shruikan had begun to duel. Soon enough Eragon's world narrowed down to action, reaction and action again. Galbatorix laughed on occasion when he managed to slice through a small section of chainmail on Eragon's leg. Eragon just smiled knowing he was weakening the mad king. As time wore on, Eragon's remaining wards started to fail. His arm where Arya had cut him was throbbing in time with his heartbeat and the headache that had increased in intensity.

"Give up Eragon" Galbatorix taunted restlessly.

"Never," he panted, then swore as Galbatorix brought his sword down in one swift movement, that saw Eragon to his knees. Blood poured from the slash on his legs, and the room flashed in and out of existence.

"Any last words 'Shadeslayer'?"

"Not for you," Eragon spat back, then slashed at Galbatorix's exposed thigh. To his surprise, Galbatorix cursed, and the battle recommenced again. Blood soaked the stone floor yet the Riders fought on regardless.

A/N: .... and there ends Part 1!!! Hope you guys enjoyed this :)

Don't forget to review and enjoy :)