(A.N.) First, thanks for all of the reviews ( shurtugal88, xxPercyRoxxx, wolfpackof1, Dessert Maniac, Silverwing, d-saintsation-b and Elemental Dragon Slayer)!

Next; This chapter is mostly the battle of Dras-Leona (Eragon and Murtagh) with a little Arya/Eragon fluff at the end :).

Lastly; I would like to thank RaphaeloftheDarkness for beta-ing this chapter! He has truly been a wonderful help for me. Please thank him if you can!

Enjoy!

Ch. 9

Eragon

The powerful roar of Thorn erupted through the night and everyone, Varden and Empire soldiers alike, turned to the direction of the large red dragon. A loud cheered rang throughout the city as the Empire soldiers welcomed their dragon rider, while Eragon remained calm as ever. He was prepared for this. He had a feeling they wouldn't take Dras-Leona without a confrontation with his half-brother.

Eragon tighten his grip on Brisingr. "Saphira!"

"I am here little one." She replied. A gust of wind whipped through the surrounding area and Eragon watched as Saphira barreled through a large mass of enemy soldiers. Eragon leapt onto Saphira's back just as Arya ran towards them.

"Do not forget to stay close so that we may help you." She said mentally.

Eragon nodded. "I know, don't worry Saphira and I wil—"

He was interrupted when he suddenly felt a surge of misery and anger flooding his conscience. "Eragon…"

"G-Glaedr-elda?" Eragon could feel a large amount of energy brush past his barriers.

"It is time for me to help you Eragon, I will not let my mind succumb to madness so easily!" Glaedrs's voice shook Eragon's mind and he tensed up. Arya had heard nothing of Glaedr's voice and to her, it looked as though Eragon was in pain.

"Eragon! What's wrong?" She shouted.

After a moment Eragon regained himself and shook his head. "I-Its nothing, I'm fine Arya. Saphira and I will not need your help."

Arya frowned and her eyebrows met at 'v'. "Eragon…surely you do not think you can fight Murtagh all by yourself?" She looked upset that Eragon had so simply shunned her assistance away.

Eragon sighed and switched to the ancient language. "Forgive me Arya, it is not as you think. Glaedr has returned and will help us in the fight."

Arya paused before replying. "I see. Sé onr sverdar sitja hvass." (may your sword stay sharp)

Eragon smiled and nodded but before Saphira took off Arya turned to them once more. "Be safe Eragon, and….return to me."

Eragon paused momentarily, before he smiled again and placed his right hand over his heart. "Wiol ono." (For you)

Saphira pushed off from the ground just as several soldiers ran towards her. Eragon looked back to see Arya, Blodhgarm and other Varden soldiers fight off the swarm of enemies.

"They will be alright little one. Both Arya and Blodhgarm are strong fighers."

"I know Saphira, I still cannot help but worry for her; just as I worry for you and you for me." Eragon patted Saphira's neck and she hummed with approval.

"Focus younglings, we approach them…" Glaedr spoke.

"Glaedr-elda, how am I to use your powers? Are they a part of me now?" Eragon asked.

"Do you not feel that your power has increased already?" Glaedr asked.

Eragon blinked twice and was soon shocked to feel his powers being multiplied. "If this is the power of just one Eldunar…it is no wonder Galbatorix is so powerful…"

"Indeed…" Glaedr voice was a mixture of sadness and desire. A desire to end the war and end all of the pain and suffering that had taken over the land.

"We have to stop Murtagh and Thorn. Our past encounters with them have been too close for comfort." Eragon spoke out loud.

"Do not worry Eragon, with my powers I believe that you and Murtagh are an even match. As for Saphira and Thorn; while Thorn may close to your size, if not already, it still does not change the fact that you, Saphria, have more experience and knowledge in winged combat. He is a hatchling and I do not believe him to be able to best you." Glaedr said reassuringly.

"I hope you are right, master." Eragon spoke.

Murtagh and Thorn remained several miles outside of city and it wasn't until Eragon and Saphira were in close proximity to them, that Murtagh decided to speak.

"It seems that fate has brought us together once more, brother!" Murtagh's voiced boomed across the vast empty skies.

"You came much sooner than I had anticipated Murtagh. Has Galbatorix become so afraid of losing his precious cities that he had to send his servants so quickly?" Eragon jeered, hoping to hit a nerve.

He had succeeded. Murtagh's eyes twitched dangerously and his hand rested on Zar'oc. "Careful brother or I may just end your life now and take Saphira back to Uru'baen without enjoying the fight."

Eragon gritted his teeth. "Do not think it will be so easy!"

"Be careful little one. I understand that you want him to be overcome with rage and so cloud his own judgment…but anger can be a dangerous thing for all of us." Saphira warned.

"Saphira is right Eragon, do not waste your energy in useless chatter. You must act instead. You have the power now, though it may not feel like it just yet. Once you are in combat you will begin to feel more confident. Do not forget all that we have taught you Eragon, everything you need to defeat Murtagh is there. My only concern would be if Galbatorix gave Murtagh any more of his Eldunari, but I doubt it. He has grown quite accustomed to his collection and will not give so easily, even to his servants." Glaedr spoke calmly.

"Master, your words gladden me. For you to have such faith in, I feel as though I cannot, no, I will not fail. For you and for Oromis-elda, this ends now!" Eragon said, his own right hand falling on the hilt of Brisingr.

Murtagh laughed. His voice was cold and it carried hatred, but there was something else, something Eragon could not quite distinguish from the rest. "What's this? Have you already given up on your mission to save me? Are you now going to tell me that I must learn to change my name? And so release the grasp that Galbatorix has on me and Thorn?"

Eragon shook his head. "I have already told you what needs to be done, brother. Whether you chose to listen or not is up to you, not me. I have a duty to uphold and I cannot waste any more time! I swore an oath to protect the people and this land from tyrants and other forces that threaten this land since I took the name of Dragon Rider! I wanted to save you Murtagh, even after I found out about our family history. I still love you as I had when we first became friends, but I can no longer think like that. I must keep my promises, even if I must kill you!"

Eragon's breathing had increased as he watched Murtagh. His face was blank and eyes ever as piercing. Whether he was conversing with Thorn or in deep thought, Eragon could not be sure. Suddenly Murtagh looked up at Eragon. "Then let us end this brother, once and for all." Murtagh drew Zar'oc and Thorn flew straight for Saphira. As they closed in on each other, Eragon threw his consciousness out and rammed into Murtagh's mental barriers with all of his might. To his astonishment, he felt Murtagh stagger slightly. Surprise covered Murtagh's face and he gritted his teeth as he doubled his efforts to push Eragon back.

As the half-brother's fought for mental control over the other, Saphria and Thorn had collided with each other and fought for dominance. Thorn snapped his jaws at Saphira, trying to grab her wherever he could, but she was faster. Saphira tilted to the right and craned her head to the side to bite Thorn but she was met with a blow to the head by his enormous, red tail. Eragon staggered and his barriers fell only slightly, but it was all Murtagh needed to gain the upper hand in their mental dual. Beads of sweat fell from both Murtagh and Eragon's face as there intense battle continued.

Saphira shook her head and opened up her jaws to release a jet of hot, blue fire in an attempt to move away from Thorn. When the fire was out Thorn tried again to bite Saphira but she quickly rammed her head into his side, causing the red dragon to groan in pain as he was flipped over in the air. Saphira did not stop there; when the moment was upon her she lunged for Thorn and managed to clamp her jaws around his neck. Thorn released a roar of pain and Murtagh was nearly thrown off balance as all four of them began to plummet to the earth.

Eragon felt Murtagh withdraw himself slightly. He was trying to gauge Thorn's wound. Eragon took the chance and through his mind against Murtagh's even harder than before. Thorn writhed in pain as Saphira dug her large teeth deeper into Thorn's neck. Thick blood oozed from Thorn's neck and Eragon did his best to keep Murtagh occupied from aiding his dragon. It seemed they would hit the ground at any moment and Eragon was just about to commend Saphira on her good work, when suddenly Eragon cried out in pain. He looked around and suddenly realized that it was not himself who was actually in pain, but Saphira. Thorn had grabbed Saphira's underside with his hind legs, his deep claws dug into her unprotected belly and Saphira roared in pain, thus releasing Thorn from her hold over him.

Then something happened that Eragon had not expected. Thorn had not only managed to break Saphira's hold over him, but he somehow pushed Saphira off of him, flipped her around and snapped his large jaws down on her neck. Eragon cringed in pain but he regretfully had to push it aside. He could not risk losing his mind to Murtagh. Thorn suddenly pushed down hard on Saphira. Eragon was too deep in focus and they were too close to the ground for him to slow Saphira down with magic, and so they both hit the ground.

Arya

Another soldier came at her and she sliced through him from soldier to waist. Arya turned towards the direction of where Eragon had been fighting Murtagh. Her eyes widened and her heart quickened as she could see no dragon's flying in the sky. "Where could they be? Surely Eragon could not have lost already? No! Do not think like that! They will be fine." She reassured herself as another soldier came at her. She dealt with him and turned to see Blodhgarm cleave a soldier in half.

"What news of Eragon?" He asked her, fending off more soldiers.

Arya ducked from a strike to her head and delivered an upward slice with her curved blade. "I do not know, he is too far for me to reach." "He will be fine." She tried to reassure herself. "After all…Glaedr-elda is with him…"

"Arya!" Blodhgarm yelled as two soldiers that had been killed stood back up and ran for Arya.

"Jierda!" She yelled. The two soldiers cringed and fell as both their necks snapped. Arya turned and faced Blodhgarm. "Thank you." She said, giving him a curt bow before she resumed her onslaught on the Empire soldiers. Hours of battle had gone by and both side's suffered great loses, but as long as Murtagh and Thorn were still battling Eragon and Saphira, the Empire would not stop their attack.

"Eragon… I hope you are alright…"

Eragon

"Saphira!" Eragon yelled as he clambered up from the ground. He was thrown from Saphira's back when she made contact with the ground and he quickly ran over to her to check her wounds. Murtagh gave a cruel laugh as Thorn landed some several feet away from them. He did not rush for Eragon, but instead tended to the wounds of his dragon, allowing Eragon to do the same.

"Where does it hurt?" Eragon asked, he himself feeling her pain through their connection.

"I-I think I broke my wing when I fell, and my armor is piercing my neck." She replied with difficulty.

Eragon closed his eyes and studied Saphira's body carefully. Eragon found it much easier to heal her wounds and remembered that he now possessed Glaedr's strength as well. Eragon thanked what God's there were and turned to Murtagh. Thorn was already up and looked to be fully healed, but Murtagh had a scowl on his face. Eragon drew Brisingr and slowly walked toward Murtagh. Eragon could not waste any more time fighting Murtagh. The longer their battle took, the longer the Varden would have to fight without the aid of their dragon rider. And with an army of laughing dead that could prove to be fatal. Eragon took a deep breath and ran straight for Murtagh, his sword drawn. Murtagh grinned and closed his eyes, waiting for Eragon to strike him. Eragon slashed his sword and it rang with a resounding 'clang' as brightsteel met brightsteel. A shower of sparks erupted at the sheer force of the impact of the blades. Murtagh opened his eyes and gave Eragon an evil smirk.

Eragon grunted and shifted his weight to the right and pushed off Murtagh. He quickly rushed at the red rider again but this time Murtagh retaliated. He dodged the next blow from Eragon and pushed him back, causing Eragon to stumble backwards slightly. There blades met again and again, and their bodies danced as they each attacked and parried blow after blow.

Murtagh tried to use magic to slow Eragon down but he was too fast. Eragon jumped in the air and delivered a downward thrust so hard that it shook the ground. Dust flew up all around them but Eragon did not let it affect him. He continued to deliver blow after blow, as did Murtagh. The ground around them had begun to warp due to the force of their attacks.

"You have certainly improved since our last fight Eragon." Murtagh chuckled.

"I'm giving it all I've I got, and he's acting like he's playing with me!" Eragon thought as he blocked a sideways blow.

He didn't have time to think as Murtagh swung his sword horizontally, causing Eragon to bend backwards to avoiding getting his neck sliced open. Instead of returning upright, Eragon threw his hands out behind him and pushed himself off the ground, thrusting himself feet first into Murtagh. The attack was unexpected, and completely threw Murtagh off guard. He grunted as Eragon's boots collided into his chest plate and he was thrown backwards. He hit the ground hard and Eragon blinked in surprise.

Murtagh chuckled and stood up. "A fine strike brother, one that will not work again!" Murtagh rushed Eragon with such in-human speed even Eragon had to concentrate to block the impending attack. Murtagh's blows were lighting fast and within minutes he landed three blows; one on Eragon's side, one on his left gauntlet, and the last on his thighs. Blood dripped down Eragon's left leg as Zar'oc sliced his thigh. Eragon cried out in pain and staggered, but he did not fall. Murtagh attacked again, rendering Eragon un-able to heal his leg.

"Eragon!" Saphira cried as his pain flowed through her.

"I am fine Saphira!" Eragon grunted. "It is only a scratch!"

Murtagh jabbed his blade forward but Eragon dodged the attack, grabbed Murtagh's arm and thrust his elbow into Murtagh's face. He grunted and stumbled back as blood dripped from his nose. Murtagh wiped the blood from his face and gritted his teeth.

"I feel that this fight will be at an end soon. Whether by Murtagh's hand of mine, one of us will lose this fight." Eragon thought.

Eragon lowered his guard and his sword arm fell to his side. Taking deep breaths, Eragon felt his power flow through him. Without warning Eragon yelled, "Brisingr!" causing his sword to catch fire and he lunged at Murtagh with incredible speed. He delivered a four strike combo in quick succession. Murtagh blocked three of his strikes, but the last cut through the upper right portion of his chest plate.

Murtagh yelled in pain and in a fury of anger he released a series of complex attacks that Eragon could barely block. Eragon shifted to the right and threw his shoulder into Murtagh's side, hitting his wound and causing more blood to fall. Before he could attack again, Thorn released a jet of fire and rushed for Eragon.

Fear gripped Eragon and he quickly shouted, "Jierda!" Thorn roared in pain as he fell upon the ground, his right hind leg was twisted. Murtagh yelled in anger and shouted, "Ganga aptr!" Eragon was thrown backwards and he landed on the ground, hitting his head on a rock.

Murtagh gripped his chest and glared at Saphira before running to Thorn. He healed what he could and turned back to Saphira. "When next we meet, Eragon will die!"

Saphira snorted and watched Murtagh and Thorn fly off. Once he was gone she turned to Eragon. "Eragon…" She pushed his body gently with her snout and Eragon muttered something incoherent. She snorted and gently picked Eragon up and placed him on her back. Turned her back towards the horizon, Saphira made her way back to the city of Dras-Leona.

Arya

The soldiers of the Empire grew smaller and smaller and when she heard a deafening roar she turned and saw a red dragon flying away. She sighed in relief and called for Eragon but there was no reply. Again and again she tried but he didn't respond, but another did.

"He will not respond, Arya. "

"Saphira what happened?" Fear suddenly overtook Arya, but she could not feel any worry from Saphira. Confusion and worry gripped Arya before Saphira replied.

"All will be explained when we arrive. How goes the battle?"

"The enemy grows thin. It will not be long before the city is taken." Arya replied.

"That it good news." Glaedr spoke. After a moment's pause he spoke again. "Patience, Arya. We will inform of you all that has transpired in the battle."

Arya blushed as her worry for Eragon passed through their connection. "Of course Glaedr-elda, I am glad that you are all safe." She ended the connection stood beside Blodhgarm as they fought what few soldiers remained.

Arya sat next to Eragon in his tent. She placed a damp cloth over his forehead while Angela washed and bandaged Eragon's wounds.

"They are not severe; however it will take longer to heal as the wounds were inflicted by a rider's blade. I don't think I need to explain the reason that to you, do I, elf?" Angela said as she finished tending to Eragon.

Arya raised an eyebrow, she wondered what that last comment was about but she did not press the witch as she wanted to be alone with Eragon. "Thank you Angela." She said, giving her a curt bow.

"Let me know if his condition worsens." Angela said. "I swear, he never fails to fatal harm himself does he? It must be a family trait." Angele said to no one in particular as she slowly left Eragon's tent. Arya turned back to Eragon and wiped his forehead as more sweat fell from his brow. "Saphira, will you tell me what happened?" Arya asked.

"Let me show you." Saphira replied. She pressed her conscience against Arya's mental barriers and she quickly let them fall. Arya watched as Saphira's memory played through her mind. It surprised her that Eragon had fought Murtagh so well, but as she remembered that Glaedr had aided him she understood the strength he now bares. The memory faded away and Arya opened her eyes to find Eragon staring back at her.

"Eragon!" She gasped. Eragon smiled and tried to sit up, but he was met with pain all over his body.

"Water…" He gasped. His voice was hoarse

Arya nodded and quickly filled a cup of water form a nearby pitcher. She helped him sit up and handed him the cup.

Eragon gasped as the cold water flowed down his throat. When he finished, he placed the cup on the table beside his bed and laid back down. "How long was I asleep?" He asked.

"Only a day, but it is night already." She replied.

"I couldn't stop him…" Eragon whispered.

Arya frowned and took his head in her hands. "Eragon, you drove Murtagh away, and from what I saw he was just as badly injured."

"It won't be the same next time, Arya. He must be defeated, I cannot let him live and if he cannot release the bonds that force him to serve Galbatorix…then I will have no choice but to kill him…"

Arya said nothing, but she continued to stroke his cheek.

"My own brother…" Eragon whispered.

"Eragon…" Arya breathed. She leaned down and kissed him on the forehead.

Eragon opened his mouth to speak put Arya placed a finger over his mouth. "It is late, and you are tired and need rest." Eragon smiled and nodded, and when Arya stood up to change Eragon turned his head and looked away. When he felt her cold hands touch his arm he turned and faced her. "Arya…" He stopped. He wanted to say, "I love you." But he held back, for fear that it was too soon.

Arya smiled and brushed her hand across his cheek. "I am glad you are safe." She said in the ancient language.

Eragon took her hand in his and brought it to his lips, kissing it softly. "I will always come back to you." He replied.

Arya smiled and kissed him softly on lips. They laid in each other's arms for several long minutes before Eragon felt his eyes grow heavier and heavier as his body fell into slumber.

(A.N.) I hope the fight scene between Murtagh and Eragon was good. I tried my best to write a good action scene. I think I'm going to start writing more and more Eragon/Arya fluff scene's now and maybe a small lime soon? A lemon wouldn't come until later, so maybe a lime would be good.

Anyways, I hope it was good!

- Demonzmagic