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So. The last chapter for now. It feels weird. It's not that long, just wrapping things up. I was supposed to put something with Garrow in it but thought better of it. I'll save it for the next book! Please forgive the really loooooong author's note after this, I just finished the first in a series and I'm going nuts!

Chapter 29: Forging a Path Onward

Eragon let out a low moan as the memories of the Shade's dark and bloody past assailed his mind. He saw the young Carsaib lose his family and his mentor. He watched as Carsaib's rage caused him to make a mistake that summoned the wrong kind of spirits and turn into the Shade, Durza. The murders and destruction that Durza caused throughout the years bombarded his mind, making him question his identity. It felt like Eragon was to be lost into the void forever, replaced by the darkness and chaos from the memories that seemed not to be his and yet became a part of him.

Even when his true memories came into focus, his confidence began to waver as his accomplishments and his failures were laid out before him. A wave of pain washed through his mind before a stronger force began to block it out. It left him with too much thoughts on hand. He was young, weak and untrained. How could he possibly attempt to face down the great forces at play in Alagaesia? He doesn't even know about what to do next, now that their training with Brom has ended.

Come to me, young Rider.

Eragon tried to recoil from the touch of the alien mind – a mind so vast and powerful that it felt like he was going against an entire mountain from the Beors. The person who was touching his mind was the very same one who was blocking the pain from the Shade's memories. Music ran through his mind, deep amber-gold chords of sadness, nobility and power. It was different from the music in Arya's mind which was light, clear and passionate.

Who… who are you? Eragon finally found the strength to ask.

I am one of three who would like to help you and your fellow Riders. The stranger brushed away the Shade's darkness like an explorer flicking away some annoying cobwebs. This gave Eragon the chance to expand his mind until he encountered a strange barrier. I am doing my best to shield your mind but all I could do from this distance is to protect your sanity from the pain.

Who are you? Eragon asked once more.

I am Ostatho Chetowa, the Mourning Sage. I am also Togira Ikonoka, the Cripple Who Is Whole. Come to me, you and your fellow Riders. You might not be truly safe until you find me.

Trust Faolin – and Arya, if she is with you. Come to Ellesmera, where I will be waiting. Do not delay. I have been waiting for so long, and if you don't come soon then it might be too late. The stranger paused, before continuing. You and your brother have done a great deed worthy of honor. You've rid the land of a great evil and that is something not even some Riders of old could claim. Many are in your debt though some of them know not of it.

A sense of quiet pride filled Eragon. The stranger was right – he did a great thing despite his many failures before being a Rider and once he became one. He wasn't going to be a pawn that the others would seek out. He and his fellow Riders were independent of any ruler, as Ajihad hoped them to be.

Approval radiated from the Mourning Sage. You are learning, young one. He drew nearer, showing a vision to Eragon. A stooped figure clad in pure white watched from a stone cliff bathed in vivid sunlight. Don't speak of me to anyone but your fellow Riders, understand? A pale silver mist concealed the face of the Sage. He raised a hand, as if in a blessing, and Eragon began to relax. Now sleep. We shall meet soon.

Eragon smiled as he drifted away in his sleep. Brom must have been proud of him – of all the Riders he taught.

Arya still felt sore from the display of magic that was involved in slowing the fall of Isidar Mithrim's shards. The dwarves were not pleased about what she, Katrina and the dragons did, but she knew that they were also grateful that Durza was gone – dead. She and the others were waiting for the brothers to wake and the minutes crept by, feeling like endless hours.

Faolin arrived a few hours after the end of the battle outside, his left arm bandaged but the rest of him unharmed. "I heard about what happened," he said quickly. "Are you all fine?"

"Angela is tending to Eragon and Murtagh with the help of Brom," Roran said, indicating to the locked door in front of them, "but they made short work of our injuries thankfully. My limp will be fully gone after a few days as long as I let Angela tend to it. She managed to patch up Katrina and
Arya really quickly though."

"How fares the battle?" asked Arya.

"Once Durza was killed, the Urgals turned on one another and it was easy for us to push back their forces and cause them to flee. Ferreting them out will take a lot of time though." Faolin sat beside Firnen and Arya. "It seems like our victory came at such high a price."

Arya's mouth twitched. She worried for the brothers, especially for the younger of the two. "They will be fine."

"I wish you girls didn't have to destroy the Star Sapphire. It's one of the many things that I've come to admire and love here."

"True. It was beautiful."

If we didn't break it, Eragon and Murtagh may not have survived their encounter with Durza, commented Firnen. He laid his head lazily on the ground, his eyes shut from exhaustion.

Another armored figure walked towards them, a bow slung from his back. Nasuada's brother, Melikir, arrived from the battle. "Greetings, Riders, dragons and elven ambassador," he said in a weak attempt at humor. "My father sent me here to rest and relay news. He wishes for you to rest for now as his troops will handle the rest of the Urgals."

"After everything we've been through today, rest sounds so tempting," Katrina said with a groan. "I still can't believe that I destroyed Isidar Mithrim like that."

"Well, it was amazing," offered Nasuada as she rubbed her still sore leg. "I wish we could have been there to help though."

Melikir's eyes roamed from one girl to the other. "You… you… what?"

"Believe me, if there was another way…" began Katrina. "Arya and I had to destroy Isidar Mithrim to help Eragon and Murtagh in their attempts to kill that dratted Durza. The dwarves will probably be screaming for my blood and my head once they find out."

Nasuada felt herself smile, but it was brief. The thing that kept bothering her always wormed its way into her mind, one way or another. She watched Melikir sit beside her cautiously. "You have to know something," she said dejectedly.

Melikir raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "Is something the matter?"

"Have you been informed of – of the Twins?"

Melikir nodded slowly. "Yes, Father told me that they attacked you and ran away – so it seems that they've betrayed us."

Solaris lowered her head and her golden eyes bored into Melikir's pale brown ones. She really was the right person to bring the bad news, since she had no attachment – prior or current – to Himeria. Your other sister was with them.

"And no, she wasn't kidnapped." Nasuada cast her eyes down. "Remember when she said that she was training with them? It seems like they've convinced her to join their cause… whatever it is. We have to look for her."

Would she like to be found? Solaris countered.

Melikir acknowledged the dragon. "She's right, it would be difficult to look for a person that does not want to be found, especially in the turmoil brought about by the aftermath of this battle. I do wish to know what they wanted to do though, it seems awfully like them to attack and betray us at the last minute. Do you think that…"

"That what?"

"That they betrayed us to the Empire?" Melikir groaned. "It would have made a lot of sense – they may have been telling the Shade all along about how they could make a tunnel into Tronjheim and lure the Riders to meet them. When they realized that someone could suspect them, they decided to be ready to escape at any given time with Himeria."

I would loathe to say it but I think that you're right, mused Solaris.

"What would they want with her?"

Nasuada rubbed her forehead in frustration. "She's the daughter of the current leader of the Varden. There could be many things that father could have told her – that she could know simply by being his daughter. They might want her information, and she might be willing to give them all away."

"Why would she?"

"I don't think that the Twins were holding her against her own will. What if she truly had it in her to betray the Varden? The Twins may have planted seeds of doubt and hatred in her mind and… and…" Nasuada didn't want to finish her thought, so Solaris did.

Being my Rider was the final straw for her. And she wouldn't have taken it kindly once she found out that there were twin Riders too. She might be thinking that if I didn't choose her then Firnen may have if Arya wasn't there. But I'm sure that he wouldn't have.

"It's unfair – just so unfair," mumbled Melikir. "We won the fight and lost our sister to the Empire or something just as bad."

"We'll bring her back somehow," Nasuada said with steely conviction.

Roran's leg was still sore. Angela said that she will help him, Nasuada and Brom recover fully but that it would take several days. For the moment, he walked with a pronounced limp. He tried to walk around the corridor for a few seconds while Askanir watched him with a worried eye.

Look, I'm fine. It's still sore and I can't walk straight – for now – but I'm fine. I'm more worried for my cousins.

I understand that, said Askanir, but you really should sit down and rest your leg since it's so sore. Walking around won't do them good, and it could cause more damage to your leg! Ancient dragons help me, I will pin you down if I have to!

With a sigh, Roran sat down by Askanir's feet. Fine. Fine. Who knew that dragons could be so pushy? Do you think that the Twins truly betrayed us and not just – you know – escaped because they thought that we're going to kill them?

You think too complicatedly, Askanir told him in a grand tone. I am not as smart as the other dragons. But – but… I do think that they betrayed us.

They took Nasuada's sister with them, and she followed willingly! What was that all about?

Askanir laid flat on the floor. I know not, but I believe that they may have brainwashed her into believing their cause – whatever it is. I'm sure that they're up to no good and whatever they are planning, she will be involved.

Katrina put a hand on Roran's shoulder as he sat down between Luneria and Askanir. "Are you fine?" she asked.

Roran nodded. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me."

"Well, I should. You and your cousins have been my friends for as long as I can remember. Now that I think of it, I'm worried about Eragon and Murtagh too! Do you remember when we were seven or eight years old, and the three of you were fighting outside Horst's shop with Albreich and Baldor?"

Roran felt himself grin. Albreich, son of Horst, was a good two years older than the three boys from Garrow's farm, and his brother Baldor was the same age as them. While Baldor was generally mild-mannered, Albreich was brash – though he was also a good friend to Roran and his cousins. "Didn't we argue about who was going to marry you when we grew up?"

"Ah, yes." Katrina chuckled. So many things have changed since their carefree youth. "You five were all claiming that you would marry me. Albreich and Eragon got angry and started to argue, and when it escalated in a fight…"

Let me guess, said Luneria. The others tried to restrain them and ended up joining the fight? How typical of males.

Ah, you wound us, grumbled Askanir.

"Well, she got it right. Albreich ended up with a bloody nose, and I think one of Murtagh's milk teeth got knocked off. If Brom wasn't there to stop us…" Roran chuckled. He was good-looking when he did that. "And I remember you screaming at us."

Katrina fondly remembered that. "I told you that I would never marry imbeciles like you."

"That was embarrassing. But is that still how you think of us?"

"Oh, silly. We grew up."

You should tell him, you know – that he makes you dream of things. Luneria nudged Katrina's shoulder teasingly.

Don't be ridiculous! It's not my place to do so, snapped Katrina.

Ah, that's more like it. You're not so gentle anymore, gentle one. You're becoming more like a dragon.

Katrina threw up her arms. Just don't speak of that again, understand?

Luneria looked genuinely baffled. Dragons – whether male or female – tell a potential mate of their intentions. You two-legs really are confusing at times.

"Having an argument with Luneria?" Roran asked with another of his mischievous smiles.

"Stop smiling at me," Katrina growled.

Before Roran could give her a smart comeback, the door opened and Brom peered out with a tired smile. "They're awake."

"Rise, Rider Murtagh."

Murtagh stirred irritably. He was comfortable and warm, so why would he want to wake so early when he could sleep off the fatigue? "Ugh, Uncle Garrow, you know that it's too early to plant the onions and we don't have any potatoes to plant yet. There's three of us so we'll handle all of the crops without problems."

"Murtagh, you've been sleeping too long!" Brom's rough voice barked.

All at once, everything came rushing in – dragons, their flight from Carvahall, saving Garrow, outrunning armies, Urgals, and Tronjheim. Murtagh's eyes flew open. "W-what's going on?"

"How are you feeling?" Angela asked as she moved away from the other bed, where a yawning Eragon was lying down. She strode towards Brom, who was keeping watch by the door. Both of them were still wearing their armor.

Murtagh felt disoriented and confused. He rubbed his chest, right where Durza's spell struck him. "I don't know but I feel a little sore."

Eragon groaned and coughed. "Ugh, I'm dizzy."

Angela lifted a drinking horn to his lips. "Drink."

"W-what happened to the o thers?" asked Murtagh. "I saw them shattering Isidar Mithrim but where's Thorn? Are they all fine? I thought I saw the dragons falling and Durza was there and he was so angry with them…"

"Oh, they're all waiting for you to wake right outside this room. If I didn't get mad, they would've disturbed us while we were trying our damned best to save your lives. Do you wish to see them?" Without waiting for their agreement, Brom opened it and called them with a few words. He motioned for Angela, and the two of them left.

Everyone filed in except the dragons, whose heads were all that could fit through the doorway. Thorn gave Murtagh a look of pride. You and your brother have done well to rid the world of such a vile creature. And it's good to see you fine.

And you breathed fire! That was amazing, said Murtagh.

"How are you feeling?" Nasuada asked as she scrutinized him with those pretty golden eyes of hers.

"About time you were up," Roran added with a growl. He limped towards Brom's vacated place and crossed his arms with a small grin. "We've been sitting out there in the hall for hours just waiting for you to wake up and talk."

"What happened to your leg?" Eragon asked.

"Damned Twins betrayed us and attacked. They left Farthen Dur with Himeria – Nasuada's sister."

"Faolin says that the Urgal army disintegrated right after Durza died since they turned on each other and got easily routed," added Arya. "They're still in the tunnels so the Varden has a lot of work to do, but otherwise, it's a victory for us."

Eragon smiled at her. "Ah, it will be more work for another day."

Murtagh spotted Katrina standing by an empty shelf. "That was some amazing magic out there, young lady. You basically blew up a big sparkly piece of rock."

"I've had help!" Katrina said with a blush. "The dragons did most of the work by breathing fire! They were so amazing."

Did you hear that? She called us amazing! Firnen let out a low, coughing laugh.

"That you were," agreed Roran. "The Varden can't stop talking about how Durza was killed."

"Aye, they keep talking about it. Probably won't shut up until another feat topples it." Arya rubbed her forehead. "It'll be a headache."

"You're another one who did an amazing feat," Eragon croaked. "You used magic to slow down the pieces of Isidar Mithrim, right?"

The elf girl shrugged. "I had help. Dragons really can manage strange feats and displays of magic."

"How long have we been here?" groaned Murtagh.

"A day and a half, give or take," said Katrina. "Angela was most, er, displeased by your state – both of you, and the scar on your torso won't be that noticeable since your armor took most of the spell. Eragon will be keeping a scar on his back though."

In panic, Eragon's fingers ran over the skin on his back. Horror was clear on his face as he sat up and glanced at the ropy scar running from his right shoulder to his left him.

"You've paid a terrible price for your success, Shadeslayer," Nasuada said sadly.

Murtagh rubbed the star-shaped scar on his torso. "That's what they will be calling us from now on, right? That's… something."

Eragon looked like he was ready to burst into tears for a few moments before his face became composed. He gave his brother a strange look. "We should talk about something. I – I had this strange dream about what we should do next."

"That's what I like!" said Nasuada. "Let's talk about our next step."

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

Robert Frost

End of Bloodkin

I have to admit, I didn't expect this to get support. When I first thought of Bloodkin, I was seriously hanging around this site and coming across so many great fanfics that set my brain whirling. It was a welcome distraction to my self-harmful thoughts which were coming up due to the fact that I'm a stressed 20-year-old college graduate who isn't earning enough to help out my parents with their expenses and with letting my kid brother continue my studies. When I sat down and began typing about this fic - which was born from a random idea of a possibility that there were more Riders and existing Forsworn - I seriously didn't expect you guys to find this fic, read it and keep reading! Seriously, I love you guys.

As a girl with Chinese descent, the concept of yin and yang interested me since I was a kid. I haven't really incorporated it in the story, but it explains the many comparisons and balancing in my tale - like a pair of heroic twins against the evil Twins, and a female hero who has an evil twin sister to balance them out. It's also the reason behind Eragon and Murtagh's ice and fire motifs. Eragon is the more passionate brother, while Murtagh tends to use his head more. But Eragon is ice, and Murtagh is fire, because even though they rarely display it, they have a rational and passionate side too though it may not be that evident in here right now. My upbringing in a big, very extended family also made me want to experiment with the themes of family and friends who are great enough to be considered family, which is why Eragon, Murtagh and Roran's kinship is as important as their closeness with Arya, Nasuada and Katrina (and these girls' family)

Bloodkin was a writing exercise and experiment to see if I can still write, and at the same time, it was a distraction that kept me from doing things that I'll probably regret. It may seem too fairy tale-esque at times, but please bear with me, I needed a welcome break from all the emotional turmoil, disappointments and frustrations I had during the time I started this out, up until last week. On the side of my family, things may still be quite stressful, I'm glad that I did mature during the course of writing this in other things, such as handling stress and heartbreak.

You guys are amazing. I hope you watch out for the coming days, since I will be uploading Bloodlines soon. :) And I'm still going to read any review for Bloodkin that may come up.

-CS

PS: Hello, dear reviewer who is about to get Pokemon X and Y, I'd love to hear if it's good once you get it! I might not be able to buy a 3DS and a GenVI Pokemon game 'till I switch jobs, but I'm hoping for a third version instead of the sequels that we were given in GenV! :) It's so hard to choose from two versions instead of waiting it out for a third version that's as good as two versions combined... and more! Though the sequel was pretty fun too. And Charizard X looks really epic...