To Un-Make a King

It takes great skill to unmake a king. It takes even greater skill to make one. How much then, does it take to do both?

-Something I made up

Here's something I did because I was bored. I thought up songs to describe situations and pairings. Some of them are in this story; some are pairings for the whole Eragon fandom.

Eragon/Arya: You're Beautiful

Murtagh/Nasuada: Savin' Me

Murtagh/Luce: How You Remind Me

Roran/Katrina: Once again, You're Beautiful; Confessions, Part 2

Roran/Shaheen: Dirty Little Secret

Couldn't of any for Eragon/Ardis or Vanir/Ardis. Oh well.

Disclaimer: Don't own. Don't sue. Thank you.

Luce was five. She was waiting impatiently outside the birthing chamber. Galbatorix hadn't deemed it necessary to be present for the birth of his second daughter, so she was stuck waiting for her step-mother to have her baby.

She felt someone grab her shoulders from behind. She muffled her scream.

"Scared you, didn't I?" Murtagh asked.

"Did not," she retorted.

"You flinched. I felt it," the boy laughed. "So, how's waiting for you sister to come going?"

Luce shrugged, "It's boring. At least they're not making me wait in the room. Morgana's been mad. She's thrown stuff at everybody except the king, and if I'm in the room, it's usually me."

"Tornac says all men should stay away from pregnant women," Murtagh said.

"They should stay away from her at least," Luce remarked. "She's so arrogant. She thinks that just because her family's related to the old line, she's better. Honestly, I could've been queen if my mother's plan had succeeded."

Murtagh's eyes widened in fear.

"What?" she asked. "It's not scary." She screamed as her father grabbed her hair. He threw her into the wall.

"Don't ever talk about your mother. She was traitor. The gods decreed that I should be king, and so I am," Galbatorix roared. He probed her mind. There weren't any treasonous actions or thoughts to find, but it didn't matter. Probes could cause so much pain. It was just another form of torture, and it was more efficient for gathering information than any other. And so it hurt Luce even though the shock of hitting the wall had knocked her out.

A new voice rang out in her head. It hadn't been there when it happened, or maybe she had just forgotten it.

"You will regret turning on me, and so will your dragon. You'll wish you were never born. You'll wish I'd killed you then as I should have."

She woke up panting.

"What is it?" Murtagh asked, putting his hand on her back and caressing it. She had spent the night in his room. They had decided that after they had left the healers wards. So many had been wounded or killed it was hard to believe. Luce had only partially recovered her strength.

"Nightmare," was all she said. "I don't know why I had it. It's odd. It was a memory only something was added at the end. I think it was Galbatorix telling me I'd regret turning on him."

Murtagh heard a voice in his head say, And so you shall.

"What?" Luce said, looking at him.

Murtagh frowned. Had he said that out loud?

She humiliated you, didn't she? Why did you forgive her? You haven't forgotten. Don't forgive her. Kill her now. It would be so easy. She only beat you that one time through her trickery. Trickery won't save her now. It can't. Go on. All you have to say is three little words. Why aren't you saying them? You know you want to. Just say them.

Luce heard Murtagh beginning to say, "Letta älfrinn h— "

Luce clamped a hand over his mouth. Galbatorix was trying to take control of him. She should have known something like this would happen.

"Stop it, Murtagh!" she yelled. "You're Murtagh. You're not him."

"You know nothing," he snarled, shoving her hand away. He then clamped a hand over his own mouth. His eyes were toggling between gray and black.

No! Murtagh told the voice in his head. He couldn't say his own thoughts aloud.

You're saying you don't want to kill her? I think you're lying. I have your true name, you know. Why aren't you letting me say it? Hear it in your mind.

Murtagh didn't want to kill her. He loved her. Did he? Maybe the voice was right. Maybe she did deserve to die.

No, she didn't.

Yes, she did.

Murtagh was barely aware of the fact that Luce was struggling to pin him down. He realized that he had been trying to strangle her. He felt himself push her off him.

Luce fell off the bed and onto the floor.

You hate. You know you do. Kill her for it. She won't stop you. She can't. She's too weak. She's just deceitful, the voice kept saying. It still hadn't been able to say his name.

He felt his mouth forming the words, "Letta älfrinns hja—"

His voice was cut off by Luce throwing herself at him. She pressed her lips against his and bit down hard on his lip. She'd heard pain could combat a true name.

Murtagh! Murtagh! Luce kept yelling. She needed to make him remember what he was. A part of him was Galbatorix. You're sworn to Roran. Not him.

Murtagh let go. He slumped on the floor, panting. He put his hand up to his mouth and wiped away the blood.

He knew hadn't completely forgiven Luce for what she had done. Galbatorix had used that against him. He looked up at her. He did love, and she had done what she thought was right. But did he hate for because he hadn't thought it was right? It had freed him, whatever he had done.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

"I didn't think he could do that," Luce mumbled.

"Did I hurt you?" he asked.

She shook her head. "I just got bruised a little."

He sighed in relief.

"I do love. I really do," he said.

"I love you too," she replied. She wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Did I hurt you?" she whispred.

"No," Murtagh replied. A terrible thought suddenly came to him.

"Thorn!" he shouted. Galbatorix might have taken over him.

Luce nodded in understanding. She looked as scared as he felt. They both ran out of the room to the dragon hold.

Saphira, Iormungr, and Kazul were trying to restrain Thorn. Something was wrong with him. He had tried to kill Iormungr before Saphira and Kazul had restrained him. Glaedr had been recuperating with Oromis. None of the other dragons had been able to fit near him.

Stop it! Saphira yelled.

Murtagh burst through the doors.

Thorn, remember who you are. We're not sworn to him anymore. He can't quite say you're name because of we're sworn to someone else, Murtagh shouted.

You know nothing, Galbatorix's voice hissed.

Murtagh stayed calm.

Remember who you are, he repeated.

Kill your insolent rider! Galbatorix ordered Thorn. The red dragon went to strike at Murtagh before something stopped him. That was his rider. Why did he want to hurt him?

He won't be your rider for long. You still have a chance. I can get you another one.

I don't want another one! Thorn screamed. The hold on him had broken.

Murtagh put his hand on Thorn's scales. Luce was healing Iormungr, who had several gashes on his wings and face. Kazul put her nose on the worst of these, and Luce felt her dragon tremble.

You all realize this trouble means he's here, correct? Thorn asked.

"I was afraid of that," Murtagh admitted.

"Where is he though?" Luce asked.

Care to find out, girl? Galbatorix's voice asked in her head. Come find me. It shouldn't be that hard. You're half me, aren't you? You're half of what you despise.

Stop lying, she shouted.

Am I? Look within yourself. Remember Morgana. Remember the slave. Remember Murtagh. Remember all those spies you killed or injured and revealed because they watched you too long. Is this what you hate me for? Then hate yourself, Galbatorix taunted.

Murtagh, he continued, you're as bad as she is. You robbed your own brother. You've killed. Why, you even got Tornac killed. If he hadn't helped you in your misguided cause, he would still be alive. Do you even remember who he is?

I REMEMBER! Murtagh shouted.

Then do I lie to you? Galbatorix retorted.

I only did those things because you asked me to, Murtagh said.

I didn't ask you to take the sword. That was your choice. But we are getting off the subject? What is wrong, girl? Are you afraid to face reality? Galbatorix said.

I did what I had to do. I only did what I did because you made it necessary. The slave I threatened has a better life because I made her take Ardis out of Urû'baen, she said.

So you did help your sister? Galbatorix sneered.

That is nothing to be ashamed of.

You say I made it necessary. Has it ever occurred to you that you made it necessary for me to do what I did?

Tell us where you are, coward, Iormungr taunted.

Outside the hold on the barren field near Aberon, little green one, Galbatorix crooned. If thou art so brave, why doest thou not face me?

We will face you, oath-breaker! Saphira screamed. To Kazul, she said, Call your rider. The time has come to un-make this king.

Ardis, Eragon, and several sat vigil by Oromis' bedside. The old rider was dying, that much was certain. Arya put her arms around Eragon's neck to comfort him. He sank into her embrace. Ardis barely noticed. Their love didn't bother her as much as it had. Maybe it was because Oromis was dying. Maybe she hadn't really loved Eragon. Maybe it had just been a passing infatuation.

Ardis, Galbatorix is here. You must come to the dragon hold. We need you, the youngest rider heard Kazul say.

He's here? Ardis asked incredulously.

He's at some plain. He wants to fight us. I think he thinks he can win. We can't let him, Kazul explained.

A small part of Ardis feared that he could. Eragon and Murtagh may be great riders and Luce may be a good one. She herself may have been a passable one. But Galbatorix had overcome so much more.

Ardis, you are more than passable. You killed a Foresworn resurrected and a Lethrblaka. If we can't defeat him, who can? Kazul argued.

Eragon interrupted the conversation, "Ardis has Kazul just told you what Saphira told me?"

"What have they told you?" Arya asked. She took her head off Eragon's chest.

"Galbatorix is here," Eragon explained. He sounded as frightened as Ardis was, though he didn't look it.

"I'll come fight him with you," Arya said.

"If you leave, Oromis and Glaedr will die. They need round-the-clock attention and healers. You alone can give them that," Eragon protested. "Besides, it should be a battle between riders."

Arya smiled at him bitterly. "I will stay because I cannot let Oromis and Glaedr, who have done so much for our race and all the other races, die. I will not stay because I have not received the honor of being a rider."

"I meant no offense," Eragon said.

"I know you didn't," Arya said. She kissed him. "Go kill a king. Maybe I can save a rider."

Galbatorix sat nonchalantly on Shruikan. It apparently hadn't at all fazed him that Murtagh had managed to avoid control. It mattered little, for none could kill him. They were coming. He could sense all four sets of riders and dragons. It didn't worry him. After all, this would only make it so that he could finish them all at once. Perhaps he'd find new riders for the dragons. It had been so easily done with Shruikan.

Eragon and Saphira attacked him first. The latter actually cut Shruikan, who had not been quite ready for the ferocity of her blow.

"Letta!" Galbatorix cried. They both stopped.

"Rïsa," he said nonchalantly. They both rose into the air. They couldn't break the spell.

Galbatorix's concentration slipped for a moment as an arrow was shot at him. Stopping it gave Eragon time to break the spell.

Shruikan and Saphira began to fight. The black dragon was so much larger than the blue one that even her flight skills could not help her. Unfortunately for Galbatorix, Thorn, Kazul, and Iormungr could.

Thorn clamped down on his tail, and Kazul kicked him viciously in the side. Iormungr slammed him in the other. The black dragon appeared only slightly shaken.

"Brisingr!" Luce shouted. Galbatorix blocked the fire. A small part of it burned his face a little.

The king responded by yelling, "Garjzla." Luce stopped it from hitting her, but the force of the blow knocked her backwards. She fell out of the saddle. When Iormungr tried to catch her, Galbatorix hit him with a bolt of light.

Murtagh slashed at him while he was distracted. Galbatorix blocked the blow with his own sword. Murtagh managed to disarm him, and Galbatorix responded by ordering Shruikan to kick Thorn in the side.

Luce groaned. When she tried to stand, she felt a pain in her ankle. It felt broken. She fell down. She dragged herself over to Iormungr and put her hands on him. She muttered, "Waíse heil." It might help him a little. She was glad she hadn't been hit by that spell. As the last of the energy flowed from the spell, she fainted.

Shruikan was still fighting Thorn and Saphira. Kazul bit his tail. The black dragon shook his tail, and Kazul crashed into the ground. Ardis was pinned underneath her.

Galbatorix had reclaimed his sword and was fighting both Eragon and Murtagh at the same time. The two brothers were gaining an advantage when Galbatorix yelled, "Garzjla!" Thorn and Saphira were forced to divide to keep the light from hitting them.

He's not getting any weaker, Murtagh growled.

I've been trying. We both have, Eragon shot back.

Thorn decided to fly straight at Shruikan. Murtagh cut down Galbatorix's arm, severing several tendons. The king's arm hung uselessly at his side. His eyes glittered angrily. Shruikan's claws raked through Thorn's chest.

"Jierda," Galbatorix whispered, raising his good hand. Murtagh couldn't stop the spell from breaking both of Thorn's wings.

"Rïsa!" Eragon yelled, trying to keep Murtagh from falling. Murtagh rose from Thorn's saddle. Shruikan shot a jet of flame at Saphira. Eragon only just managed to block it and keep Murtagh aloft.

Galbatorix flicked his good hand and repeated, "Jierda." Saphira's wings snapped this time. Eragon, Murtagh, and Saphira all fell to the ground.

Galbatorix dismounted Shruikan. His face was burned because of Luce, his arm was useless because of Murtagh, and Shruikan was injured because of all the dragons and riders. He was also smiling.
"Which one of you dies first?" he pondered. His eyes fell on Murtagh. "You have betrayed me son of my friend," he said. He looked to Eragon, "You have been a vexation so long, and you have still not repented." He looked to Ardis, "You are so near death now. You have caused more trouble than I thought you capable of, but I will not waste my strength on you yet." He looked at Luce. He slapped her across the face, and she slowly regained consciousness. "Perhaps you should die first. But no. You die last. First, you shall see your sister die. Ardis, your weakness is sufficient after all," the king said as he raised Kazul off of her.

"I am not weak," she rasped. She was sure some of her ribs had been broken.

Galbatorix laughed. "Dragon, kill her now," he demanded of the black dragon.

Ardis gripped her bow.

Surely you cannot hope to kill me with just that? Shruikan said. His voice was Galbatorix's.

Luce gripped a dagger in her boot. It was all she could do.

"Freedom, Shruikan. Remember who you are," both sisters said as they hurled their weapons at the dragon.

The pain shot through him. The arrow had caught him below the chin, and the dagger had hit him at the back of the neck. The pain of near death stopped the effects of his true name for just a moment.

"What are you doing? Kill them both," Galbatorix roared. Shruikan turned on him more quickly than lightning and slashed his black heart in his chest.

Galbatorix looked oddly pathetic in his last moments. "Why, Shruikan?" he asked. That was one of the few times he had ever said the dragon's name.

My life is almost over. Is it not fitting that I should take my rider into the void? Shruikan said bitterly. But she already went into the void. You'll suffice.

Galbatorix had fallen before Shruikan finished speaking, and he was dead before he hit the ground.

Shruikan turned to Murtagh and Thorn and said, "My freedom was death. Be grateful that yours was not."

Okay, next chapter's an epilogue. It might take more than one chapter to write. That final battle scene was hard, and I don't think I did it justice. Oh well. I want ten reviews for this chapter by the way. I only got eight last time. 

P.S. Did anyone see the Eragon movie? They butchered it. Murtagh was barely in there, and the chronology of events was screwed. Oh, and the script sucked. It wasn't as bad as it could have been, I suppose. Anyway, here are the review responses.

PrincessBob: I'm glad. Thanks.

Teenchic2004: I'm so sorry. How could I forget you? Here are the responses for both chapters.

Thanks. The body host's name was Mort, but he's not important. I love Thorn, and I wanted to give him a good role.

Yeah, trying is the key. That sounded cheesy. Oh well. I hope this battle scene was good, and I hope this chapter lived up to your expectations.

Sam14119204: Thanks. I hope this update came soon enough.

Matt: Well, Galbatorix is supposed to be pretty powerful, and the riders are pretty tired from the last battle. Plus, Oromis and Glaedr were hurt so badly they couldn't even fight. I might have them live a few more years. I hope I made Shruikan's turning on Galbatorix alright.

Inyellel; Yeah, I love battle scenes too. I hope this one was good. And, yes, I do celebrate Christmas, so Merry Christmas to you.

Frosted-Pink: Yeah, that's really true about cocky people. I hope you liked this chapter.

Prettybella: Well, once it's over, I can focus on other fics. I did enjoy writing this though.

Amantine: Yes, it does. I am currently reading Rome and Juliet on my own. I have to do a project on it. I'm hoping I finish before Christmas break starts because I've gotta do a World Cultures project. I'm glad you like the story, and I hope you liked this chapter.