Apparently the French laptop was just giving me a hard time because I had no trouble opening this

Apparently the French laptop was just giving me a hard time because I had no trouble opening this. Last time it want me to install something, this time it opens perfectly...

Anyways, after this there are 2 more chapters then the story is done (so no, the cliffhanger at the end of this is not the last of the story. I'm not that mean).

And I'll try and get the last two up within the week. Because this is a shared computer and the adults like to use it when I get home from school (7pm thanks to the buses on every day except Wednsday; I'm not a fan of French school hours), I never know when I can get on anymore, but it's not too bad, I usually get on once every 2 or 3 days at most now. Wow, that's pathetic to what I was like before with internet… stupid laptop of mine, not connecting…

ANYWAYS, enjoy!

The next few short months passed as things went back to normal. After a long while, Murtagh and Darcie finally had a wedding and became married legally in Aberon. The twins grew and it was finally decided when they turned 3 that changes should be made. As a result, Darcie and Murtagh went to Nasuada and Orrin first and clarified their plan to the two leaders. Once it was finalized and Eragon had been informed, an announcement went out to the Varden that they would slowly be moved out with Murtagh and Darcie, who were moving back to the capital of Alagaesia to take the role of king and queen upon news of the chaos that was spreading throughout the country. It was also agreed that the silver dragon egg would go with them, but the other egg that Saphira had given to the Varden months prior, which was a new shade of blue and green together, would stay until the last group with Eragon would leave.

--

It was barely light when half of the Varden headed out with Murtagh and Darcie. They were told to pack for weeks and leave behind anything that would slow them down. Among the Varden that were leaving were the men, women, and children of Carvahall, all of which knew how to pack for long voyages.

The trip was slow as they left the nation of Surda and into the barren lands surrounding the Hadarac Desert. Once the group left the borders of Surda, they headed north-east and set up camp by a forest that grew miles away from a lake.

"Do you really think its safe here with the forest right there?" Darcie asked Murtagh when they finished setting up camp.

"People said they're putting up watch just in case," Murtagh responded. "Don't worry about it too much, if there are any survivors left, they've already attacked Eragon, Saphira, me, Thorn, and Kazryth, all of whom were killed."

"Ok," Darcie said, a faint tone of cautiousness in her voice. Murtagh squeezed her hand in reassurance, and Darcie forced a smile. She saw Aryana and Reagan run by, and she said loudly, "Get back here!"

The two came back.

"Time for bed."

"No..." the two whined simultaneously. Darcie gave them a warning look, and the two trudged into the tent as if it was a death sentence. She let Murtagh's hand go and followed them in.

--

"INTRU..." a yell was cut off suddenly.

Darcie shot up and out of bed quickly. Within moments, she had changed into her attire for battle, and then managed to get chain mail overtop after a few minutes of struggle. The sound of Kazryth's loud, echoing roar made her attempt to move faster. Things fell from her hands more than she could keep them.

"Don't rush," a voice behind her said.

Darcie jumped suddenly; she momentarily forgot Murtagh was there. She spun around and saw Murtagh pulling out two sword sheaths from the end of the bed. He tossed one to her, and put the other around his waist with swift ease. It didn't seem to bother him that a battle had just begun outside, the sounds of war cries and the growing stench of death evident.

Suddenly there were two terrified screams from the other room.

"I'll be right back..."

Darcie headed towards the twins' room, still putting the sheath wrap around her waist. Inside the room, the twins were hiding under shaking blankets.

"What happening?" Aryana asked in a quiet voice as her eyes poked out from under her blanket.

"Yeah..." Reagan injected, doing the same as Aryana.

"Fight?"

"Yes, a big fight outside," Darcie responded, finally able to do up the leather belt that bound her sheath in place. "Now come on, get out of bed."

Reagan slid out of the small bed first, and then went up to Aryana's bed. He pulled her out, and the both stood there, looking at Darcie.

"Come over here and take a hand," Darcie said, holding out her hands. The two ran towards her and stole each arm, hugging it like they would to her legs. She had to shake them off and take their hands before they could repeat what they just did.

"Now you'll follow me carefully and we'll go to Kaelib's tent, ok?"

The two nodded jerkily, and they all ran towards the flap in the room and across the small distance between the two tents. Darcie pushed through the other flap and found Kaelib's wife, Caysee, with her son.

"Can you stay with these two as well?" Darcie asked. Caysee nodded, and the twins looked up at Darcie, wide-eyed. "I'll be right back, I promise." She then crouched down to their height and stood in front of them. "I love you," she said.

"Love you too," the two said simultaneously.

"Kisses?"

The two kissed both of Darcie's cheeks simultaneously and then ran to Caysee. Darcie then got up and left the tent to go back for her helmet. She heard two roars of surprise and pain come from both dragons that stayed just outside of the camp. Sticking her helmet on, she walked outside and was greeted by three surviving Empire soldiers. Within a mater of seconds, she beat them all down, the head of one rolling away, the helmet still on.

She kept walking again and then saw who led the ambush – the Shade that had been rumoured to be wandering in Alagaesia named Zeehad. The Shade's maroon eyes sliced through the air like daggers and caught Darcie now locked in battle. In that moment, Darcie finished the soldier and spun to face the Shade. He gave her no time between battle changes and let out a spell. Darcie ducked, just barely missing it. Darcie then sent out a spell of her own, but the Shade didn't have any problems with blocking it.

"Stupid girl, you should have never left your room," Zeehad snarled, now advancing on Darcie.

From behind, Murtagh finished another Empire soldier and spun to face this Shade, letting loose a dark spell in her direction. An inconceivable shield went up around Zeehad, and the spell deflected off of it and flew back to Murtagh. He jumped out of the way and let it hit a soldier that had tried to sneak up on him. There wasn't even a shriek of pain.

The Shade's blade and Darcie's struck another, and a loud clang of the clashing metals broke through the air. The Shade was quick and swift, making it nearly impossible for Darcie to make a move that didn't involve blocking herself. She felt Kazryth's conscious take over and he looked through her eyes.

Get out of there he told her.

I can't! Her shield went up again and her sword shoved beneath it, blocking another hit and attempting a feeble one of her own that was deflected by the Shade with barely a move.

I'll be right there.

The sound of thudding and the crunching of bones hit Darcie's ears as Kazryth neared, squishing ever enemy he could along the way. He then lifted up into flight and reached down and picked up Darcie with his mouth. The Shade took advantage of this, and swung his sword and sliced up Darcie's calf to her upper thigh. She screamed at the sudden, searing pain. Her vision started fading as she lost blood quickly, dripping down her leg and towards the ground, causing red rain. As her vision turned to black and Kazryth started to fall from the sky, she heard high-pitch screeching – metal upon metal - and the shrill cries of Thorn echoing across the land, fading into the distance of Darcie's disappearing thoughts.