Chapter Thirty Two people, has arrived. i want to end this story soon, so pay attention to everything in this chapter. You guys still confused as to what going on? PM me! Tell me in your review, constructive criticism is always welcomed with opened arms and freshely baked cookies! Without further ado, chapter 32 ;P


Chapter Thirty-Two

Death of a Rider

Murtagh closed his eyes and rushed out to Thorn.

Thorn! We need to get to the castle! NOW! he bellowed with his mind.

Murtagh? What is it?

Come on, I'll explain on the way, Murtagh replied as he mounted his dragon. It all made sense now, the scrolls had lain everything out nicely. Damn if they didn't get to the castle quickly, the whole of Alagaesia could fall into Merithuros' hands. What were they going to do?

Tell me, little one.

There were scrolls Thorn, all of them depicting this massive plan. It's horrendous!

Tell me about it!

For one, Mortalitas is as bloody evil as her damned rider.

Hmm, that was unexpected.

Apparently, Merithuros is the daughter of Galbatorix and this plan was set in place even before we brought him down. Merithuros just waited til an opportune moment presented itself and leapt upon it. That being, the princess, Estarael. Galbatorix created a potion that was able to transport people through time.

Estarael is in the past...

Yes, and Merithuros cleverly disguised herself as Estarael and plans to raise her father from the dead, somehow and seek revenge.

This is crazy Murtagh!

Yes, we need to tell Saphira and the others, we can't fight alone, she's too dangerous.

The dragons and their riders have already left for Uru'baen. Saphira has her ways of finding out everything....

Well that's a good thing, let's just get there as quickly as possible.

The journey back to the castle was torturous for both Dragon and rider, each anticipating perhaps the most dangerous battle they had ever participated in. Even the lush foliage beneath them that Murtagh had always looked upon for relief on long journeys seemed to slip his eye. He was tired and afraid and damn it, he needed Estarael. The deep bond between them had grown sigificantly stronger in the past few days and she wasn't even with him! He heaved a sigh and searched the the town of Uru'baen.

Both dragon and rider stopped in cold, dead silence. Before the gates to the castle Merithuros and Mortalitas were waiting.

"Ah! The son of Morzan has finally joined us! We've been waiting for you rider," Merithuros taunted. Murtagh could feel it in his bones he either outmatched his opponent or was of equal strength, one way or another he just wanted to beat her to a bloody pulp.

"The daughter of Galbatorix and the son of Morzan, you see what makes me different is that I'm not a carbon copy of my father," he replied smoothly.

"And what a shame that is, you know you could have been ruling here by now, Murtagh, yet you chose the hard way, the unaccomplished way. I'll be honest, if I was in your place I would have been running it since day one. You just let a great opportunity slip you by, that is the difference between you and me Murtagh," she laughed.

"Either we talk or fight, take your pick, wench!" Murtagh growled. But she laughed, her voice tinkling like diamonds.

"Eager to die? Maybe I shall be merciful, I have had my eye on you for quite a while," she whispered seductively.

"Are you ready?" he growled, his patience weraing thin.

Mortalitas flapped her wings and rose in the air, Thorn soon following. Everyone in the town seemed to have left...or were killed. Murtagh drew Za'roc and blinked away the cloud of dust that had pervaded him.

Mortalitas zoomed forward and crashed into Thorn pushing the pair a smidge. Mortalitas was a big dragon, but hardly any female dragon could midget him. The dragons flew in a small circle around each other, each assessing their opponents. It seemed as if the huge red dragon and the smaller green one were in some sort of ritualistic dance. But no, they were contemplating the ways of killing eachother. Murtagh's mind had been hit repeatedly and he was trying his best to block her pout but she was strong and he was almost positive that he had the same effect on her. He ground his teeth and whispered the ancient language. Merithuros swallowed as the feeling of being suffoicated overwhelemed her but she quickly whsipered a counter spell and dashed forward on Mortalitas, ready to strike. Her sword clanged against Za'roc creating sparks that flew every where. Merithuros striked again but Murtagh only parried and blocked. The bombardments on his mind hadn't ceased but he couldn't stop. If she only got through to his mind...he was dead meat.

The two opponents were so equal that every move the other made, they would always counter it. "Looks like we're alike than we thought huh Murtagh?" Merithuros breathed, sweat dripping down her brow.

"Never," Murtagh whispered and dashed forward yet again. But she wasn't ready and he broke the skin on her arm, just about a centimeter given her quick reflexes.

"Son of a bitch! I was talking? What no sportsmanship?" She questioned.

Thorn? Help! What do I do now? Nothing is working.

She likes to talk.

Yes I noticed.

And when did you get through to her?

Murtagh stopped and smiled. It wasn't trhe best plan, but it was all he had and surely she would catch on soon enough so he had to make this perfect.

"So, what would you do if I decide to side with you?"

" I think you've made it quite clear how stupid you are, you wouldn't side with-" And she dashed forward as fast as lightning cutting deep into his arm. He cried out in pain and quickly kicked her away.

Murtagh! Thorn bellowed. Mortalitas had sunk her claws into Murtagh when they had approached. We have to be careful, Mortalitas is very fast. Murtagh only had time to heal his wound before she raced forward. Luckily he ducked when she tried to lsah through him. Dear god what was he going to do?

We have to wait til Eragon and the others get here.

Thorn! We don't know what she has up her sleeve! We could be dead by the time they reach here! We need to think fast!

You didn't let me finish! Murtagh parried and swerved as best as he could while trying to listen to Thorn.

We need to get rid of Mortalitas. Thorn finished.

That is going to be hard!

Thorn flew forward and bit into Mortalitas' neck causing the green dragon to cry out in pain. Murtagh swung his swor to and fro desperately trying to get to Merithuros and block blows sent his way. Sweat was beading on his brow as the two swords clashed repeatedly. He breathed deeply and tried to focus on her body and how to deftly get to it. His arms swung in an all to familiar fashion by now, but he faked the blow and instead drove his sword into Mortalitas' neck. The dragon's scales were thick and smooth so the damge made was little, but enough to make the dragon cry out. Thorn dug his claws into Mortalitas again trying his hardest not to think about who he was trying to kill. For up til a couple of hours before he held her in the highest regards. But he knew being a dragon meant no mercy. And his new found hate for her ran even longer than his admiration.

That's better, Murtagh whispered to his dragon. Murtagh looked down at the ring on his finger again. He didn't even know where it came from but it's energy was so great! He whispered the ancient langage and drank in some of the energy that flowed into him. Was this ring a gift from the Gods whom he didn't believe in? Thorn surged forward yet again and Murtagh slashed Merithuros' arm digging deep into the flesh. He knew now that this was no longer a battle of the more skliful but of the stronger. Who held out longer. And with this ring he knew she now stood no chance.


Eragon was raging. He hardly knew of what was going on! And he was so far away from Uru'baen. He could sense the same distress in Arya and sent a reassuring glance her way. Saphira was the most anxious however. She didn't know if she could live without Thorn and there he was casually telling her that Merithuros might try to take over the castle and a battle would ensue, and he was the only dragon there for crying out loud! She flapped her wings as hard as she possibly could not feeling the pain in her wings. She wouldn't ever leave him there. She had already informed Eragon that as vital they may have been they were making no stops along the way. It would probably still be a day before she saw him again...if she saw him again.


About three quarters of an hour had passed and Murtagh could tell she was getting weaker. Her movements weren't as sharp anymore and her breaths were haggard. Merihuros was wishing that she had her father's Eldunari, it would have come in so handy. But no she had to destroy them! She blew some hair out of her face and parried another blow Murtagh sent her way. Her mind was becoming weaker and it was harder to recall spells. What was worse was that she had a gash in her side and knew she didn't have any energy to spare to heal it. She wondered where Murtagh was getting all the energy from. Even his dragon couldn't possibly possess so much. Her mind went reeling and that was it. Murtagh's sword plunged into her chest and both dragon and rider plummeted.


Hope you guys liked it! Do review please! I feel so warm when I get review and so sad when I don't :( Feed me! By the way sorry about the fight scene XD I know it sucked but....I have no excuse, I really should hav written something better, sorry! Don't kill me! And I didn't get any reviews last chapter :'( Anyways, until next time!