How could anyone hope to stand against such madness, such evil, such raw power? "Do you hear me boy!" Galbatorix roared as he parried yet another one of Eragon's frantic blows. "You don't even compare to my forsworn and believe me, they were even more mad and decrepit than you think me".

"Magic is pointless against him, what more can I do?" His masters had trained him well, but the black king thrummed with sheer might and power. He had the will of magic at his beck and call, the word of all words, and yet whenever Galbatorix called upon its aid, the knowledge of its incantation eluded Eragon.

Murtagh had already been disarmed and knocked unconscious by the king, who then proceeded to throw him carelessly into some unused corner of the throne room.

Arya was being held by the dark king's magic, even as he continued to duel Eragon. The dauthdaert, same as Murtagh, had been flung across the throne room landing closely to Nasuada's restrained form.

The two siblings that Galbatorix had brought simply looked petrified and tried to shy away as much as possible from the ongoing brawl.

Only Thorn and Saphira seemed to be holding their own. Eragon guessed that the Throne room, as large as it might be, was restricting Shruikan's movement, whilst Saphira and Thorn were free to maneuver all they wanted.

The Eldunarya where also tiring same as Eragon. The constant onslaught of the mad dragons against their mental barriers was becoming too taxing, and soon their defenses would falter.

Eragon was promptly pulled back to reality as the king made a swift horizontal cut, and his sword Islingr or Vrangr as the mad king had named it, made contact with his abdomen, cutting through the fine dwarven amour. Eragon's knees buckled as he fell to the hard cold marvel floor.

"You are finished whelp! I have given you ample opportunities to stand by me while we rebuild the dragon riders together, now pay for your insolence!".

"Jierda!"

Immediately blinding pain overtook Eragon as both his legs were broken, rendering him unable to move. With a calculating look in his eyes, Galbatorix began strolling leisurely towards Arya, Vrangr hanging casually at his side. Looking back at Eragon he smirked before speaking.

"As great of a warrior that I might be, I do like to compliment myself on my ability to read people Whelp." He now stood in front of Arya smirking down at her.

"You like her don't you Eragon". Galbatorix slowly brushed the back of his hand down Arya's chin, the magical bonds making it impossible for her to resist. "You think you love her, don't you boy." Galbatorix began chuckling, which then turned to maniacally laughter as if the whole world was a joke and only he knew the punchline.

Arya simply looked defiantly back at the towering figure before her.

"Let me show you what love and disobedience gets you Eragon Bromsson". Then, faster than any human, elf or shade had any right to, Galbatorix brought Vrangr into a stabbing motion and buried it in Arya's chest.

"NO!" Eragon screamed. His eyes locked with Arya's even as her once vibrant emerald green eyes became duller with each passing second. Slowly her mouth curved upwards, giving Eragon a soothing smile before she slumped backwards, Vrangr still imbedded in her chest. Galbatorix stood over her for a couple of seconds just looking curiously down at her. He then returned his attention back to Eragon before pulling Vrangr from Arya's body, earning a large squelch and a shower of blood for his efforts.

"NO!" Eragon roared, his blood boiling with righteous fury, Saphira bellowing her agreement; she quickly disengaged from Shruikan and began charging the black king. By this point Eragon had somehow found his footing, the Eldunarya lending their remaining strength for this final clash. Even Murtagh had found his way back to consciousness and among all this misery, Eragon looked forward to fighting side by side with his brother once again.

But try as they might, Galbatorix was too much for them to handle. He quickly extinguished Saphira's bright blue flames and with a fast "Letta", easily stopped the great dragoness in her tracks rendering her immobile. Moving blindingly fast the king disarmed Eragon with ease, this was then followed up by a blow to his temple with the pommel of Vrangr, knocking Eragon to the floor. Making a quick ninety degree turn, the cape made of Belgabad's wings flowing menacingly behind him, Galbatorix turned towards his next adversary.

"And you." He looked Murtagh over calculatingly before continuing

"The son of my most trusted servant, do you truly think that you have what it takes to stand against me? You are not even half the man your father was" They engaged in what was a rather one-sided duel, for without the assistance of the Eldunarya Galbatorix dispatched him with ease. "I think it is time for another lesson in humility Murtagh" Galbatorix said matter-of-factly.

Looking blearily around where he had fallen, Eragon saw that the black king now stood towering over him, but where some might have felt fear or despair, the only thing coursing through Eragon's veins was his unbridled fury at the man before him. Galbatorix took him by the scruff of his neck and pulled him roughly to his feet, so that the two riders were almost eye to eye. "It is a pity son of Brom, I had such great plans for you, you could have been my most trusted of servants, a spearhead for my new generation of Wyrdfell,"

"Fuck you"

Galbatorix looked him over once more as if searching for something, but Eragon must have been found wanting, considering the next thing the mad king said.

"Follow your elf into the void whelp, I only have use of your dragon to continue the order of the dragon riders, willingly or not." Without hesitation and just as fast as he had done with Arya, Galbatorix readied his blade and stabbed Eragon cleanly through the chest, puncturing his heart.

The last thing Eragon heard was Murtagh's sobbing and Saphira's roars of fury as her mind and soul was split in half. Still through all this, he couldn't stop looking at Arya's eyes now totally devoid of life. "We have failed" his last thoughts as the darkness began enveloping him went to Roran, Katrina and the people of Carvahall, he hoped that they could somehow flee the city in time.