So this is an updated version of my first six chapters. I was working on my ExA chapter (Chapter 10) and went to reread these original ones and realized... they sucked. So I changed them. The story is still the same but the wording and structure is a little better.

For those that are finding me for the first time, here's a brief intro: Its a redo of the fight between Eragon and Galbatorix, then the aftermath of the battle, Eragon and Arya's rollercoaster romance, and some new training scenes of Eragon becoming a badass (did you say dragon fights?). And to finish it out, we will return to Vroengard to set up the next generation of Dragon Riders. We might also get to meet Eragon's child who is a badass in their own right.

This has been a loooooong pet project because I procrastinate... a lot. But the rough draft is finished so at least there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Please leave me comments so that I have some feedback, good or bad, on how your experience reading this was. You guys are my only motivation for coming back to the keyboard.

Enjoy!

Murtagh was hunched over on one knee, blood seeping through the hand over his stomach.

"Why couldn't you just let me win?" he whispered while looking at the ground.

Eragon stood, Murtagh's blood still fresh on his sword, noticing something different in his half brother's voice. Underneath his normal steely tone, he detected a touch of sadness.

Murtagh raised his eyes up and over to Nasuada chained up against the wall.

"You care for her, don't you?" Eragon asked.

Murtagh looked up at him with defeated eyes and nodded. He had fought in their duel harder than he had ever fought against Eragon. He was fighting to win at all costs. Maybe if he won he would have been rewarded with Nasuada's release.

Eragon felt sorry for his half brother, but there was nothing he could do. They would always be on opposite sides as long as he served Galbatorix. Murtagh had sworn loyalty to the king in the binding tongue of the ancient language and nothing could change that vow. Unless…

Eragon leaned over to his brother and whispered, "Has your true name changed?"

"Eragon! Murtagh!" interrupted Galbatorix, "Come over so that we can finish the business at hand."

Murtagh slowly got up and eyed Eragon. "Get ready, brother," he said under his breath.

Murtagh might not be bound to the king anymore, Eragon said quickly to Saphira and Arya in his mind.

Are you sure? Saphira asked.

He cares for Nasuada more than I have seen him care for anything. If it's strong enough, his True Name might have changed.

And his oath of fealty would be bound to a name that no longer exists. He would be free, Arya added.

"Well done, Eragon. That was almost impressive fighting which is more than I can say for you," Galbatorix said with a wave in Murtagh's direction. Eragon saw Murtagh's jaw muscles clench but otherwise gave no clue that he noticed the king's remark.

The king lifted his arm towards the pair and said something under his breath. Immediately, Eragon felt a tingling sensation as his cuts and bruises mended themselves. He glanced at Murtagh and saw him stand up straight and take his hand off his stomach, blood no longer seeping through his clothes.

"Now that that's settled it's time to pledge yourself to me Eragon, and with you, so will the rest of Alagaesia," the king said with a smug smile.

Eragon was about to say something in return when Murtagh stepped forward and spoke the Name of Names. As soon as Murtagh had finished saying it, Eragon forgot it. However, one look up at Galbatorix and he knew instantly that it was right. A mixture of shock and fear spread across the king's face, then just as quickly it turned to rage. An evil snarl formed on his face and Eragon could see his lips starting to form the first parts of a spell. He never got the chance to finish.

Murtagh lifted his hand toward Galbatorix and Eragon followed his lead.

This is it, Eragon thought. The only way to get to the king. The element of surprise.

Eragon reached deep into his mind, farther then he had ever before. He worked on gathering as much energy as he could and kept on pushing further. He could feel Saphira, Arya, and the Eldunari sending him their stores of energy as well.

Eragon was in the far depths of his mind, searching for all the stores of energy he could possess when he sensed… something. It was far away, like seeing mountains from a distance, yet it was there. It was a presence, noticeable even across the immense void between him and it. He couldn't help but feel a certain pull towards it, as if it were drawing him in.

Eragon snapped his attention back to gathering the remaining energy. Once Eragon had amassed as much as he could he brought himself out of his head and back to his body. As the world seemed to slow to a crawl, he looked up at the king, red faced and furious, trying to finish his spell, then over to Murtagh. His half-brother looked back at him and then, as if they had planned it, they both yelled out a spell. Eragon felt like he was holding onto a chaotic tempest and then just let it go at the king. Their spells exploded from their outstretched hands sending two glowing jets of energy, one blue, the other red, towards the king's chest. Eragon saw Galbatorix's eyes grow large with shock just as the force of the impact knocked him off his feet and threw him backwards into his oak throne. He broke through the backrest sending splinters exploding everywhere and continued on until he crashed into the far wall. Cracks raced outward from his impact and pieces of stone fell to the ground along with his motionless body.

Eragon was shocked. He just stared at the mass of debris on the ground all around Glabatorix's body. One glance at Murtagh proved that he was not the only one having a hard time believing what he was seeing. Was the mad king really dead? Had they actually done it? War made Eragon suspicious, but he allowed himself a slight glimmer of hope, that maybe, just maybe by catching the king off guard they exposed his only weakness. The fact that even a king cannot plan for everything.