Chapter 5: Fall of the Riders

A/N: See past chapters for language types and disclaimer.

Harry sat in his small hut in Ilirea. More than a year had passed since Galbatorix made his demand. Nimbin had passed into the void along with his dragon. He had died of old age but before he had passed, he named his successor on the council, the next oldest rider of Vrael. His legs were crossed as he meditated. His thoughts reached out, as if he was attempting to find the source of the feeling of dread that he had within him since Galbatorix demanded another dragon. He took a deep breath as his body immersed itself into the magic of the land, feeling the flow of time.

In his mind's eye he saw a small black Dragon. He knew the dragon to be named Shruikan, having just hatched for a young human woman by the name of Careil. He knew the rider was resting after a hard day of training. He smiled as he saw her fall asleep in her bed. Careil was one of Harry's charges to train. The girl had taken to magic like a fish takes to water, but she always had the question of why. She reminded Harry of himself when he first started to train to become a rider.

Harry saw Galbatorix and Morzan enter the small home of the riders in training. The wizard felt his blood run cold as he struggled to break the magical hold had bound him to see this vision. Morzan cried out "letta" at Shruikan. The young dragon froze in place as he tried to cry out, to wake his young partner of his mind and heart. Galbatorix flicked his finger out as he said one of the twelve words of death. Both Harry and Shruikan howled in pain as Careil fell to the void of death.

Morzan smiled at Shruikan "You will accept Galbatorix as your rider now Dragon."

"I will never submit to a murder as he is! She was a child! A meager hatchling!" screamed Shruikan as he attempted to twist his head around to dowse both humans in a river of flame.

Galbatorix and Morzan smiled as they started to chant, words that Shruikan did not understand, however Harry knew full well. / Eldunarí! Galbatorix is tapping into the heart of hearts of the Dragons! To cast his spell, he had to of stolen at least thirty hearts. Blasted magic!/ He cried out mentally as he could only watch the black dragon being bound to the angry man.

Twelve men entered the hut and knelt before Galbatorix "Master, we have done as you asked. The riders food has been poisoned, however it is only part as you requested. They will not know that they will face death when they face you." One spoke

"Rise, let them eat their breakfast. Once they do, we will take this city and begin to reform the land in my image." Galbatorix said, an evil glint in his eye.

With those words, the magic that held Harry in place broke. /GODRIC!/ Harry bellowed in his mind to awaken his dragon as he scrambled to put in his armor and blade.

/What is it Harry?/ Godric asked sleepily.

/Galbatorix just murdered my student and bound her dragon to him. He plans on killing all of the riders! Come we must warn Vrael/ Harry said quickly as he finished with his armor. He saddled Godric before they left the home. They rushed to the eating hall where most of the Riders had already eaten their morning meal. Harry felt sick as he saw the council of elders. Vrael had just sat down as did Brom.

Harry glanced around and did not see Oromis. Harry snapped his hand out before crying "Eilai varaer!" causing all of the plates to jump across the tables to him.

"What are you doing Harry?" Vrael asked.

"It is Galbatorix Vrael! He killed my student and bound her dragon to him. He has a group of riders that have sworn to follow him. They put some sort of poison…" Harry stated but was interrupted as the doors to the main hall exploded inward.

Harry ducked as splinters flew over his head. He started to cough as a very fine dust settled over him. To his horror, everyone that had already had eaten started to turn red in their faces. The riders started to convulse as the poison took hold of them. Harry turned to look at Galbatorix as he entered the hall. He was laughing as he looked around at the death.

"Oh look, you can't even protect your own!" Galbatorix spat "All of you are weak. The order will be remade in my image!" He snapped.

Little did Harry know, that a small group of students had not come to breakfast, having chosen to skip the meal in favor of attempting to further their training, however the wizard was quite angry at the death he felt around him. He started to bring his blade up when he felt a hand upon his shoulder. He looked to the owner and saw that it was Vrael.

"Galbatorix, you have committed a crime more evil then what the Kull did to you." Vrael said as he drew his own blade.

Galbatorix snapped his blade around, only to have it parried by Vrael. Harry stepped back, his eyes upon the other riders that entered behind the oath breaker. He saw Brom step forward, his face one of shock and horror as he saw the man he practically worshiped standing there, glee upon his face. Harry let his eyes move back to the fight, and saw that Galbatorix had his left arm bloodied. Galbatorix snapped the hilt of his blade up, to slam into the left cheek of the head rider.

Harry stepped forward to attempt to protect Vrael however; Morzan snapped his hand up and cried out "letta."

Harry was frozen in place. He attempted to cancel the magic but to his shock he did not have the magical strength to complete the spell. /Morzan must be using the heart of hearts as well/ Harry thought to himself. He felt helpless as he watched the leader of the Order battle the one so evil to murder a child. /He and Voldemort could have been brothers for their evil. They do not feel guilt, nor do they have an idea of right vs wrong!/ Harry felt himself smile as Vrael wounded Galbatorix, dropping him to his knees.

"Galbatorix, you will be brought forth to the council of elders…" Vrael started, however Morzan snapped his fingers, causing the other twelve to step forward and grab Galbatorix.

"I think not old man. We will be back and when we do, you will die!" Morzan snapped. "We will know every last secret you have hidden from us Vrael. Once we have finished prying the information out of Oromis's mind and his dragon!" He stated before walking away from the hall.

Harry felt that the bounds that held him fade. Brom looked like he was ready to spit nails, however, Harry walked over to Tlas, a student that he had been working closely with but not his own. He knelt next to the body and slowly closed his eyes. Tears started to form in those green eyes. Howls of pain, anger could be heard though out the city as the dragons mourned for their lost riders. Harry felt every howl, every bit of their pain. Their pain was his pain.

"Harry, we must find Oromis." Vrael said.

"How can we do anything right now!" Harry spat "We must bury the dead….bury the children... the children are gone Vrael…We failed them!"

Vrael lowered his head "Yes we did, however, if we do not stop them, to rescue Oromis, even more will be lost. The land will run in rivers of blood of every race." He placed his hand upon Harry's shoulder once more. "You and Brom are our best riders even before this happened. The two of you must go and find the lost rider. The longer he is with them, the more danger is to the land."

Harry closed his eyes as he locked his grief away, his head turning slightly before he stood. "Come Brom." Harry said, marching out of the hall. His wand was in his hand "Point me Oromis!" He said.

The wand spun in his hand before pointing to the southeast in the direction of Aberon. Both riders mounted their dragons and took flight. Harry looked at Brom whose pain had turned into grim determination.

"We will avenge them Brom." Harry told his friend who only nodded in response. They flew for hours without speaking. Once an hour, Harry would check to ensure they were going in the right direction. They had to make a few passes around Aberon, however they soon found the castle that they were sure Oromis had been taken to.

"I will provide a distraction with Saphira." Brom said, speaking for the first time in hours.

Harry nodded. They separated, Brom flying to the front entrance. Godric took Harry to the top of the castle. Harry dismounted Godric and then patted him on the shoulder /Find a place Godric and hide yourself. The entrance is far too small for you to follow./ Harry projected to his dragon.

/Be careful little one/ Godric told the wizard rider before flying northwest to the trees he saw, a spot where he could watch the entrance but also be close enough to lend his strength if needed.

Harry carefully opened the door, finding stairs leading down. He had stepped onto a landing when he heard a howl of a pain. He knew it was from a dragon. /Glaedr?/ He tried to project however there was no response. The dragon must be blocking all mental attacks and projections. He brought his wand up and whispered a spell, causing several dots to appear on the walls before him.

"Blast…Which one is Glaedr?" He asked himself, counting seven dragons in the area. He knew the one that was the farthest from him was Brom and his dragon. He inched down the hall. He paused as he heard a door open.

"When I return Oromis, you will tell me what I want to know!" Harry flicked his wand to turn himself invisible, so that the oath breaker would not see him. He relaxed the rider walked by him. /He must have had his mind shielded from Oromis. / Harry thought. He slowly entered. He felt horror as he saw Oromis's dragon lying upon the ground writhing in pain. His front leg seemed to of been sliced clean off. He glanced around and saw the silver haired elf, the rider's right temple bloody. It looked like there had been several things pushed inside.

"Portus!" Harry said, drawing upon Godric's strength to make the portkey powerful enough to transport a dragon and an elf. He had cast it upon the table that Oromis was strapped to. He turned to Glaedr. "Glaedr!" Harry snapped off. The Dragon whimpered as he looked to the speaker

"Place your tail on the table and it will take you away from here, a place to be healed. Do not worry, Oromis will be taken with you." Harry told the dragon.

The dragon whimpered as he placed his tail on the table. Harry whispered the word to activate the magic. He smiled as he watched the two of them disappear from the room. "I am glad they do not know how to block my magic. Oromis knew some, though I am sure that is why they captured him." Harry mumbled to himself.

/Harry, Brom needs help!/ Harry heard in his mind from Godic.

The wizard rider tore from the room; he was a little surprised to find no servants waiting to stop him. He found himself standing behind several of the riders that had turned their backs upon the order. He heard a voice in front of him.

"Brom, join us. Our master can make you powerful. He taught us many things since we swore to follow him. He taught us how to make the poison that we used. He can make you even more powerful!" the voice said.

Harry heard enough as he bellowed "Ai basti o thysaerys, aelaestia os si jhal!" Harry snapped, casting a magical spell without realizing it in his anger for he had said "I name you foresworn, enemy of the land!"

As Harry cast his spell, the dragons started to glow. /Godric, what is going on?/ Harry asked as the foresworn riders froze in shock.

/We dragons are punishing the dragons for helping their masters in killing us! We have taken away their names, everything that make them dragons!/ Godric spat into Harry's mind.

The pause in combat is what Brom needed as he spun his blade, killing two of the riders that had killed so many of their brothers in one stroke of his blade.

"Brom! We need to leave!" Harry said, calling two large rocks to him. He saw Godric flying to him. "Have your dragon touch it with you!" Harry said, as he created two portkeys. He grabbed Godric as Brom and his dragon touched the rock. Both of them felt the pull behind their navels. He saw the three riders move to stop them but they were too late at least that is what Harry thought.

As the world reformed around them, he heard Brom cry out "Saphira!!" Harry turned and to his horror, Saphira had a blade in her chest. The dragon fell on her side, twitching. Brom knelt next to her, his hands upon her chest as he attempted to heal the damage. Harry knelt next to Brom, his own hands glowing as he called upon magic however, the damage had been done.

/It is too late…/ He heard in his mind. The female voice he knew was Brom's dragon /Let me go…./

Harry though did not stop attempting to heal Saphira. He felt his eyes well up in tears as he felt the dragon's life force fade away. Brom lifted his head as his own howl of pain rivaled the dragons that had cried out a few days prior.

"Harry…" the voice behind him spoke. He snapped around, ready to kill the person that spoke. It was Vrael.

"Not all of the children were killed. There are twelve that were not in the hall. However they cannot remain here. They must be protected." Vrael said "Take them though to your home land." The rider commanded Harry.

Harry shook his head "What about stopping.." Harry started

"They are not ready. They must complete their training before facing the foresworn and the egg breaker…"

"He broke…"

Vrael nodded. "We found the dragon hold…Most of the eggs there have been broken. He has destroyed the Riders… I fear there is nothing that will stop him. You must take the children and protect them."

Harry nodded. His hand found Brom's shoulder "Old friend, I will return. Stay alive and help stop that monster." However Brom was far too distraught to even hear Harry.

"I have already sent the young riders ahead to the obelisk." Vrael said.

"Doesn't Galbatorix know where that is?" Harry asked

Vrael nodded. "Yes he does. If you can please cast that spell to hide things, which should protect it."

Harry nodded. "I will gather my things."

Vrael shook his head "We have already sent them ahead. Just ride upon the wind rider."

Harry sighed as he took a last look upon his friend. "As you wish Master Rider." Harry said as he climbed up on Godric's back. The dragon took off in the air. The two of them flew for two days non-stop before arriving in Du Weldenvarden. The king and queen of the elves were waiting for him at the obelisk.

Harry greeted the leaders of the elves in the traditional elvish way.

"I will hide the Obelisk from the egg breaker." Harry told the King and Queen "Please step back." He told them. The young riders that were waiting for Harry to arrive also stepped back.

Harry closed his eyes for a moment before moving to the four corners of the tract of land. He drew the runes that he needed with his wand into the ground. He carved another set of runes into a large rock that he lifted above the obelisk. He stepped outside the runes before starting a chant. The chant lasted more than an hour.

"Amazing magic you can do Harry." The king said. "I know that you came though something but I can no longer remember how." The elf leader said.

Harry pulled a parchment out and wrote upon it "Hogwarts can be found though the obelisk in Ellesmera" He showed it to the King and Queen before showing the paper to the student riders.

"What is this?" The queen asked.

"Think about what you read." Harry said.

The King and queens eyes widen as the obelisk appeared before their eyes. "Galbatorix will not be able to find this place as I am the only one that can tell him how to find it. I will not be in the land for him to find." Harry told the elves.

"Come." He said to the riders. He stepped forward and knelt before the obelisk. "Protector of Hogwarts, teacher of the riders of old, I request protection for my students and to return to my homeland." He asked the magic of the obelisk.

"Very well." The deep voice said. The land of the elves faded from view as the bright light engulfed them all.

Outside of Hogwarts, Ron and Hermione were walking back from a Hogsmead weekend trip when they saw the castle glow. They broke into a run, worried about their home.

Deep inside Hogwarts, Harry appeared with the twelve students. He sat down, a slight shake to his hands as the last week washed over him. He felt a presence in his mind that he had not felt for thirty years. However, Harry had a plan for both Voldemort and the Minister.

At Riddle Manor, Voldemort was holding his wand upon Snape. "You still do not know where the boy is!?" Voldemort lifted the wand that was the brother of Harry Potters to cast an unforgivable, when he fell to his knees, pain ripping though him as he felt Harry's grief and loss, a feeling that he did not know. However, it did bring a smile to Voldemort's face "He is back…Find him Severus!" Voldemort commanded.

A/N Ok, so I made a bit of a mistake with the leader of the riders. I attempted to correct it with this chapter, but Anurin had lead the order prior to Vrael. In this fic, Anurin was another powerful rider but not leader. Reviews and comments are welcome! I am not 100 happy with this chapter and it might be re-written later.