Previously:

The lights dimmed. Lines on Galabatorix's face deepened. "What have you done?" His voice was hollow and strained. "What have you done?"

Eragon grinned tiredly. "Made you understand."

Galabatorix looked at him with horror. His body was shaking, face contorting. "You will not get the better of me, boy. You...will...not..."

My eyes widened. The magic was gathering around him and his dragon. I knew he was going to blow himself up but Atropos would kill me if I let him to that. So I did the first thing that came to my mind.

As the build up of power coming from Galabatorix was cut off and the echoes of the Word I had said mere seconds ago faded away, the king's eyes widened.

"What have you done?" He demanded, his voice much higher than it was before.

"I took your magic away." I told him carelessly. "My sisters had plans for you and they can't exactly carry them out if you blow yourself up, now can they?"

Galabatorix's face started turning red. "No!"

I clapped my hands and turned to Ethan. "Tie him up, you and Bianca can take him over to my sisters as soon as Nasuada is done with him."

"Yes, My Lord."

"Shut up."

"I can't believe it's over just like that," Eragon said, staring at where Ethan was leading the former king out of the throne room.

"Oh, we're not done yet." I said, rubbing my face with my hand in anticipation of the exhaustion I would be feeling in the next few weeks. "We need to fix Shruikan, appoint someone as a ruler in Galabatorix's place and take care of some logistical details that I won't be doing, thankfully."

"Oh, we know who is going to be the next ruler, don't pretend you don't know," Silena scolded.

"Yes, Nasuada is going to be excellent, now let's get cracking." I said. "We need to clear the treasury of the insane Eldunarí that Tori has and find Jack and Jessie's parents." I eyed them to the side of the Throne room, waiting nervously next to Silena. "Come this way, kids," I called as I started for the doors. "We'll go find your parents first."

Two pairs of scampering feet followed me and Blackjack as we left the Throne room and eventually entered a courtyard outside the citadel.

Stepping into the city, I glanced at the two children to see what they thought about what they saw. Jessie was likely too young to know what it all meant but Jack might know.

Fires had risen up around the rest of the city. Large pillars of smoke created a haze of blackness that almost blocked the sun. People ran from their houses to the outer wall, the soldiers and servants from the citadel joined them, giving Blackjack and I a large berth.

With a suppressed groan from the tightness in my muscles, I crouched down to Jack and Jessie's level. "Do you know where your parents are?"

They nodded and Jack pointed to a smoldering house on the left.

I frowned, an uneasy feeling came over me as I saw the house. It didn't look too damaged but no one was trying to put out the many fires that were spotting it like so many other people were doing.

"Wait here," I told them. "I am going to make sure it's safe and that they are there."

Without waiting for an ok, I dashed to the doors and tentatively opened the door. The smell of burning flesh was the first thing I noticed. I didn't want to look further, as my heart had sunk so low, I knew hope was lost. Yet, I pushed forward. I needed to know for sure.

I saw the bald man with a sword in his chest first. This must be their father. He stared with empty eyes up at the ceiling. There were dried tear streaks on the undamaged parts of his face that was frozen in a look of anguish. I dragged my eyes away only to see what I assumed to be their mother, burned just like her husband only there was nothing left to identify the body as anything but a body.

"Papa!"  The shriek tore at my soul and I closed my eyes in an attempt to keep back the tears.

All efforts immediately abandoned the second I saw the two kids in the doorway I just walked through. Moving quickly, I ripped off my cloak and covered their father. As my hands brushed against the sword protruding from his chest, I saw the scene in which he was killed.

Protecting his kids.

The soldiers had disarmed him after he put up a surprisingly good fight and wasted no time in taking the kids with them. One soldier thrust his sword into his chest aggressively. He died a hero.

"Mama? Papa, no!" I snatched the father's sword, attaching it to my belt and extended my wings to block the sight from the kids. When they tried going around me, I brought them into a hug and let them cry.

'I thought I told them to stay back.'

'I warned them,'  Blackjack said sadly. 'I even growled! Jack just stuck his tongue out at me and ran after you.'

I sighed. 'I'll take them home with me.'  Leaving them here for potential family would only make them outcasts. Jack could join my hunt, and once she's old enough, Jessie could join Artemis'.

"It's ok, cry," I said, seeing Jack was trying valiantly to stop the tears from falling. "Look," I tilted his head up to look at me, "even I'm crying."

"You didn't know them." Jack muttered, still the tears refused to tall. I could feel his body shaking with the effort. "Men don't cry."

I shook my head vehemently. "That's not true." My voice became firm but not unkind. "Strong men cry all the time. You are strong so you can cry."

Finally an uncontrolled sob racked his little body and the tears that had been welling in his eyes fell, leaving clean trails on his sooty face. "What are we going to do now?"

My heart broke. No one as young as they should have to worry about such a thing. "You can come with me to my home." I closed my eyes, being unable to see through the tears anyways. "Until you decide what you want to do with the rest of your life."

The next few hours were crazy. My mom met Orin, the dwarf king that was Eragon's half brother. I know, I was confused too. Turns out, Orik's father, the previous dwarf king had just adopted Eragon before he had died. Nothing too crazy. When Orin met my mother, he immediately bowed so low, not only his beard touched the floor but his face did too.

"My lady, it is an honor," he gushed.

She only smiled. "It is my pleasure, Master Orin." She said. "It has been a while since I interacted with any of my family's creations. Have you met my son, Percy?"

And that was how I became an honorary dwarf.

Shruikan proved difficult to heal. He had already been in pain due to the toxic bond he and Galabatorix shared but hit grew intensity when his bond was broken due to the magic  being stripped from his bond mate. Silena and Blackjack were working on something together while I was in the meeting with all the major leaders that aided the Varden. He will be completely healed when we get out and will be staying close to Eragon and Saphira from then on.

Arya and another elf were there, representing the elves. King Orrin, representing Sudra, (a neighboring country). Orik and Kílf represented the dwarves, Nasuada for the Varden, Saphira and even Murtagh and Thorn were there. Blackjack had stopped them from running off by grabbing them by the scruff of Thorn's neck since he was big enough to do that now. He and I explained that he was still valuable in cleaning up Tori's mess and he wouldn't be seen in a much better light if he took off now.

We were just waiting for Eragon to get back from whatever he had been doing.

"Eragon!" My attention was snatched from the quiet conversation I was having with Zöe and Thalia to the dwarf king, Orik who was making his way across the room to Eragon who had just walked in. He grasped him by his arm. "I knew you could kill him! Well done! Tonight we celebrate, eh! Let the fires burn bright and let our voices ring forth until the heavens themselves echo with the sound of our feasting!"

Eragon only nodded with a smile and they both moved to their spots. Saphira welcomed her Rider with a nuzzle from her snout.

Speaking first seemed to have been accompanied by a curse of some kind because no one was willing to do it.

"We have a decision to make." The elf with Arya finally said. I was told he called himself Däthedr. He was currently the leader of the elves because Queen Islanzadí had fallen in the battle outside the castle while we were confronting Galabatorix and they hadn't appointed Arya yet.

"That we know, elf." Orik growled.

"Let him speak," Orrin said gesturing with his goblet full of wine. "I would hear his thoughts on how he thinks we should proceed." He tilted his head to the elf.

Däthedr nodded in return. "There is no hiding Galabatorix is gone. Even now, word of our victory wings its way across the land. By the end of the week, Galabatorix's defeat shall be known throughout the greater part of Alagaësia."

"As it should be." Nasuada spoke up. Her presence dominated the room. She wore a red dress that hung off her shoulders and was scattered with rubies and diamonds.

"As it should be," Däthedr acknowledged. "However, as people learn that Galabatorix has fallen, the first question they shall ask is who has taken his place. We must provide an answer before unrest spreads. We do not want this Empire to disintegrate."

King Orrin smiled bitterly. "And what part do you seek to play in this, Arya, Lord Däthedr? Or you, King Orik? Or you, Lord Perseus? We are grateful for your friendship and your help, but this is a matter for humans to decide not you. We rule ourselves and we do not let others choose our kings."

"I agree," Nasuada said, "this is something we must settle on our own." She glanced around at me and the elves and Orik. "Surely you understand. You would not allow us to tell you whom you ought to appoint as your new king or queen."

I sat back and let my mind wander as they established that the allies would only be offering advice. I knew this to be false in my case. My sisters had stressed to me not an hour ago when we passed over Galabatorix that I had to make sure Nasuada became queen. Not that I thought it would be a problem, everyone else looked like they wanted Nasuada to be the queen too. Except maybe Orrin.

I suddenly sensed an increase of tension in the room. 'What happened?' I asked Blackjack.

'The elf-dude suggested Eragon!'

I rose a brow. 'Really? They're worried he'd say yes? Eragon?' My snort thankfully went unnoticed by everyone but Thalia and Zöe who sent me annoyed looks. 'Do they know him?'

"No, it would not be right," Eragon said eventually, confirming my thoughts.

"Well, done, Eragon." I said with a proud smile. "You know that was not the fate set out for you anyways." I let loose a laugh. "Besides, someone else has already been chosen."

"What do you mean by that?" King Orrin demanded.

I narrowed my eyes. "Exactly as I say." I stated. "You expect me to let you make a choice over who takes the throne without making sure it stayed in line with the fate my sisters planned for Alagaësia? No, king Orrin. My sisters have charged me with making sure you make a wise choice or correct you if it happens to be wrong."

"Correct it how?" Arya asked.

"By any means necessary." Zöe said for me. "You forget, he is the heir of the Ancient One. If he so chose, he could take the throne of anyone in this room."

If it was tense before, it was ice cold now.

I rolled my eyes. "Thank you for that, Zöe." She only shrugged carelessly. "I do not intend to take Galabatorix's place on the throne but if you intend on putting anyone but Nasuada on the throne, we will have an issue."

I leveled my wolf glare on King Orrin, who looked very put out.

"Why?" Orrin became red in the face. "My people have housed, fed and equipped the Varden. They have fought and died alongside your warriors and, as a country, we have risked far more than the Varden. The Varden have no home; if Galabatorix had defeated Eragon and the dragons, you could have fled and hid. But we had no where to go other than Surda. Galabatorix would have fallen upon us like a bolt from on high. We've watered the ground between here and the Burning Plains with our blood, and now we'll have our recompense."

He had a point. Unfortunately. Sighing, I shared a look with Nasuada. "You're right, Sudra has contributed much to this cause. Without you, the Varden would not have been able to breach the walls. Just as they could not without the elves or dwarves. You have your country, we won, everyone in Sudra is safe." I stated firmly. "And you deserve some sort of payment for aiding another country in reclaiming their home. Which is why I suggest you have some of the land we have taken. Which ones, I'll let you decide. In return, you unite yourself to Alagaësia. I'm sure Nasuada has a very similar offer."

"I do."

"Very good." I stood up. "I trust we agree on this?" I had not taken my wolf glare off the king still drinking wine from the goblet in his hand.

Reluctantly, he nodded.

"Wonderful." Thalia said happily. "Now we can go pack so we can head home."

She and Zöe left the large room and I followed. I turned back around right before I left.

"A breach in this agreement will result in my father and sisters sending me back here to take the throne myself." I told them. My glare darkened and even Arya shivered. "Do not force me to be stuck in a castle to rule a country. I've grown rather fond of my tent."

-            -            -

"Nasuada, we have everything set up for any communication you need to do with me after I go," I said, barging into the office she was in with Vindex on my heals. He's hardly left my side since he saw me again after I left to rescue Nasuada. I stopped short upon seeing her in a deep conversation with Eragon. "Oh, hi."

"You may go now, Eragon, you have much work to do." Nasuada said.

"Farewell, my lady," Eragon bowed with a twitch of his lips. "Lord Perseus, Vindex." He bent to ruffle the winged dog's ears.

"Goodbye, Eragon." I smiled. "I don't think we'll see each other when you return."

"You are going to your home world." Eragon observed.

I nodded. "I may visit from time to time." I said off handedly.

Eragon nodded hesitantly. "We shall see."

I smiled in understanding. His time in this land is running short. Soon, he will be on a journey to another land to raise more Dragon Riders away from the influence of the world here.

Once he left, Nasuada turned to me. "Thank you." She said. "Are you leaving now?"

I nodded, looking on sadly as she bent to mimic Eragon in ruffling Vindex's ears.

"Do not let Murtagh run off," I warned. "He can do much for you if he stays."

She nodded. "I will come see you off."

We arrived in the courtyard to a whole crowd of people seeing us off. Roran, his wife and his new baby were there. Arya, Angela, Orik, Horst and his sons, Murtagh and Thorn and even Gharlook, the Urgal that had fought side by side with me at the Burning Plains were all there.

"Don't be so sad," I smiled at the villagers from Carvahall who all looked like I killed their favorite pet. "You'll have a direct way to contact me if you want."

"And he's technically a deity so you can just pray to him," Thalia added from her spot next to Vindex.

"And you stole my dog." I said flatly. Vindex sat happily, wagging his tail at Thalia's feet. He looked up at me with his tongue hanging out and seemed to understand what was said but not care. "You ready?" At my words, he stood up and wagged his tail more, shaking his whole body.

"By the gods, yes!" Ethan sat on Blackjack's claw, stretching his back over it in a very dramatic way.

"Nakamura, stand up." Zöe's voice snapped across the courtyard. I blinked so I missed him standing up. One second he was being dramatic, the next, he was standing as if nothing happened.

"How are you going home? You won't all fit on Blackjack." Nasuada pointed out.

I had to agree with her with a little amusement. There were seven people from my world, including my winged dog, plus two small children and a goddess(my mother) coming with us from this world. Not including me.

"My sisters are picking us up." I said. "They should be here any-"

"We are here."

I whipped around to see Atropos standing alone with a smug grin. "We?"

"Yes, Perseus, we all came." Lachesis said, sounding mildly offended. Her voice came from behind me, startling me into jumping nearly six feet.

"Did you think we didn't love you?" Clotho asked, sounding hurt. She stood next to Lachesis with her hands on her hips.

"Yes." I said with a smile while accepting the hug Lachesis offered. I held on for a few moments longer than usual. I didn't realize how much I missed them until they were in front of me.

"You ready?" Atropos asked.

I sent an amused look Ethan's way as I heard an exasperated groan. ("If I have to answer that question one more time-")

Clotho turned to the people gathered in the courtyard. "We will give this warning now."

"If another Galabatorix rises to the throne, we will send more than just Perseus."

"We will come ourselves," Atropos said coldly.

"We have placed precautions, my ladies, you needn't worry."

I raised an eyebrow at Nasuada, impressed by her self control. A few of the men present had almost wet themselves with the force of power the three of them were showing.

My sisters nodded, satisfied and in the next second, everything went so bright, everyone had to close their eyes. When they opened again, we were in the middle of a camp full of golden tents.

"My Lord!" There was the sound of something clattering to the ground and the voice sounded two octaves too high.

"Luke," I nodded, unable to hold in the grin I had at his face. He had a pile of wood at his feet. "Missed you, buddy."

"Beckendorf? Silena?"

"Hey, Castellan."

Smirking, I ignored my lieutenant going through his crisis to say farewell to my sisters.

"Blackjack will be able to morph into a dragon at will now." Atropos said with an amused smile.

"We saw how he loved his dragon form." Lachesis added.

I glanced at a Blackjack now in pegasus form and laughed at his dejected appearance. "Thanks, I guess." He was going to be intolerable when he found out. "See you for dinner at grandpa's this weekend?"

"Yes!" Clotho said rapidly. "It will be a while until we see you like we used to so we need to hang out as soon as possible."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

Atropos smiled even as Lachesis slapped a hand over Clotho's mouth. "You will have a marvelous time getting to know the mortal heroes in the coming years. That is a part of your domains you have not realized existed and you need to check in on them."