Disclaimer: I am sorry for the long delay…I had a virus on my laptop that killed it and just now got computer access. I did work on hand written stuff while the computer difficulties were going on and I will have a new laptop by the beginning of this week, plus I don't have class until later in the morning. I own nothing except what I have already created in this little fantasy version of what should happen in Paolini's final installment. I still have not read Brisingr, but I want to just to compare my work to that of Christopher Paolini.
"She's a dragon slayer, Eragon," whispered Evandar. He glared at the girl. "But a young one. I thought that they had died out long ago, after the pact was sealed."
"You are a smart one, elf." She smiled.
"Who are you?" demanded Elvira. "We really are in a hurry."
Get out of here! ordered Shruikan. Find Trinity!
"Shut up, dragon!" snarled the dragon slayer. She pointed her sword at Shruikan.
I am not afraid of death, dragon-killer, growled Shruikan.
"Step away from our companions before I cut you down," warned Arya coldly. She stepped forward, holding Zar'roc up.
Do not be stupid, Arya, snarled Galzra.
We cannot do this alone, Galzra, replied Arya. She paced back and forth, glaring at the dragon slayer menacingly.
"Who hired you for such a dangerous job, dragon slayer?" asked Evandar politely. "Was it Morzan? Galbatorix perhaps?"
"They are no more than scum!" spat the dragon slayer.
"Trianna then?" guessed Evandar. The girl's dark eyes flashed with a hint of horror. "Ah, then that changes things."
"I will fight her," growled Arya. She stepped away from her companions. While pointing Zar'roc at the girl, she said, "You and me, dragon slayer; fight to the death."
Arya, NO! Galzra cried.
"Think this through, Arya!" pleaded Eragon.
The dragon slayer considered the offer for a moment. "Fine, I will play your little game, elf. Hljödhr. And lets not forget malthinae."
Eragon and the others tried to move. They could not. They tried to speak. They could not.
"You really should not have done that," murmured Arya.
"Oh, and why would that be, elf?" countered the dragon slayer. She threw a couple of daggers at Arya.
The queen of Ellesmera blocked the blades with a flick of her wrists. She frowned and held a low defensive stance. The dragon slayer closed the gap between them. Swords clashed and clanged. Sparks showered down on them.
"Thrysta vindr!" shouted the dragon slayer.
Arya gasped and fell to her knees. She looked up into the face of her death.
Flashback:
Galzra landed in the courtyard of the Urûbaen castle. A happy little human-elf hybrid girl bounded toward the emerald dragon. "Mother!" the girl cried. Her blue eyes twinkled with delight.
Arya jumped down from Galzra's saddle. She bent down and scooped Trinity into her arms. She was relieved to have the chance to come back to her daughter. But she had another reason to be here.
Katrina would be giving birth to her second child any day. Roran was many leagues behind, riding in with his cavalry.
End of flashback
Arya rolled away from the blade that came crashing down on her. She kicked at the girl's feet, but the human jumped back.
"Tired already, elf?" sneered the dragon slayer.
Arya panted heavily. She had gotten the wind knocked out of her after being hit with that last spell. She got to her feet. What is it that- Her thoughts were interrupted by another barrage of attacks.
She's being fueled by the dragon bane that she put on all of us dragons, informed Galzra.
"Dragon bane," Arya gasped. Her eyes widened with horror. Her reactions were getting noticeably slower. Murtagh! She ran away a few yards.
I can get everyone out if you distract her, replied Murtagh 1.
Arya twirled Zar'roc over her head, challenging the dragon slayer to come at her. She hoped that her brother-in-law's plan would work as the human girl blindly charged at her to strike.
She brought Zar'roc up to deflect the dragon slayer's attack. The two combatants struggled against one another for the upper hand in their struggle. Arya allowed for herself to be pushed back. The further away they got, the better chance there was for the escape to be successful. All that mattered to the elf was that her family would be safe.
Arya got tired of letting the dragon slayer push her back. She got on the offensive and dealt many blows that put dents in the average sword.
---
Murtagh 1 struggled against the rope that bound his wrists together. He murmured the spell in his mind that freed himself. He immediately tended to Thorn and everyone else.
Brom freed Eragon, Evandar, and Elvira of their magical binds. "Eragon, help Arya," he said desperately.
Eragon was already running to help his mate. He stopped, only to see Arya disarm the dragon slayer. His mate panted with exhaustion. He quickly placed magical binds on the dragon slayer.
Arya looked up at him with grateful eyes. Nothing else of her expression reflected her gratitude. She sheathed the crimson blade the moment that Galzra landed next to her. Her dragon arched his neck and bared his teeth as he snarled threateningly at the dragon slayer. Arya frowned. "How did you come to get your hands on dragon bane? That plant was destroyed long ago."
"I don't have to answer your questions, elf," the dragon slayer spat with disgust.
"I think that you had better answer her questions," murmured Eragon, going to stand next to his beloved. Saphira 2 landed next to him. She looked at the dragon slayer with loathing, yet there was also pity in the dragon's eyes.
"Eragon, I can handle this on my own," hissed Arya. "Go and tend to the others."
"Elvira and Evandar are handling that," murmured Eragon in the ancient language. He turned to the human girl. "What is your name?"
"What does it matter?" snapped the dragon slayer. "Do you enjoy learning the names of your victims before you slay them?"
"You are not much better," retorted Eragon in a low growl. He stepped forward. Watch my back Arya…I am going to look into her mind and find out the truth since she seems unwilling to tell us herself.
He placed his hands on each cheek. The girl stiffened under his touch. "Don't fight it," he advised. He delved into her mind, waiting for the natural reflex to retreat memories to fade. He saw her past.
She was trained from an early age to slay dragons. She had been Trianna's tool from the age of eleven. Her parents were killed by Glonned and his dragon Blade. She spent her life hating dragons and those who were allies. Her name was Niamh.
Eragon pulled his presence out of her mind. He looked grim when he was completely back in his own body. He relayed the information to Arya and everyone else with his mind.
She's too dangerous to be kept alive, growled Elvira.
If we can convince her that not all dragons are evil, she might be able to help us, said Shruikan.
Maybe she knows where Trinity is, added Brom.
Eragon turned to Arya, wondering what she thought of the matter. She seemed to be having a private conversation with Galzra. He waited patiently.
"Niamh." Arya spoke softly, but with the full authority of one with royalty in her blood. Niamh looked up at her, startled. A small smile crossed Arya's lips. "Not all dragons are as evil as Blade…or his Rider, Glonned. We are fighting to get rid of Shur'tugal who abuse their power to oppress the people. We have been fighting for over a century now. If you help us, you will be freed from Trianna."
Niamh regarded Arya critically. She considered the offer for a long moment. "What makes you think that I can trust you?"
"We could have killed you by now if we wanted," replied Arya harshly. She gave her oath that no harm would come to Niamh in the ancient language. Eragon followed suite. "So what will it be?"
A sigh escaped Niamh's mouth. "What choice do I have?" She looked as though she would much rather be scorched alive.
Eragon released the binds holding Niamh in place. He led her back to his other companions. "Mine and my mate's daughter was taken hostage by Morzan," he informed her bitterly. "Do you have any idea where Trianna would hide my daughter?" He looked at her with narrowed eyes.
"Farthen Dûr," she answered unwillingly.
Disclaimer: Ok, there is your very long awaited update. I stayed up late working on it. It is time to really get things wrapped up. I do not plan on writing any sequel…and if I do it will be a long time from now. I will try and update more regularly now that I am getting a new laptop. I own nothing. Niamh belongs to SabreQueen. No copyright fragment intended in the production of this fan fiction and no profit is being made, though I wish I could make money.