The Story picks up after Eldest:

King Galbatorix was not seeing the map his eyes were staring through, he was thinking of victory.  The Varden has left their hiding refuge and were on the move north.  They must have been on the move for quite some time, because they had passed Uru-baen 2 weeks ago undetected my man or beast and were now approaching Gil’ead.   The humans planned to rendezvous with a force of elves that had appeared from the north.

“Murtagh, it is time to end this.  We’ll crush the humans, elves, and take Saphira and Eragon alive so that both problems are solved at the same time.  This rebellion will be over and we can start building on the Return on the Dragon Riders.”

The humans and Urgals loyal to Galbatorix filed out of Uru-baen and the move for a showdown at Gil’ead has all of the players on the move, almost.

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Flying over the line of march with the forces of the Varden stretched 4000 feet underneath them, Eragon on Saphira are jolted my some strong, unknown magic.

Saphira:  That was very powerful, and it came from Uru-baen.  There is no immediate danger, it came from far away.

Eragon:  That is what you think, that was powerful magic.  There is no magic user in Uru-baen that wishes us well.  I think it spells trouble for us.  Lets head back to Brom’s Grave, I need to think about how he would proceed.

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The EGG, Thorn thundered into Murtagh’s mind, An elf stole the egg!

In Uru-Baen, King Galbatorix KNOWS what the magic was, and his rage has nothing to vent itself on.  The thieving elves, along with the LAST Dragon egg, were gone.  And he could feel the waves of Magic streaming toward Gil’ead.

“Murtagh, we ride NOW, the army will follow.  The elves stole the last egg.  Mobilize!”

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Arya, meeting the returning party of raiders holds the dragon egg in her hand and feels some kind of inner connection with the dragon inside.  But there is not time to get these warm feelings with an unhatched dragon, there is a magic disturbance coming from Uru-baen and no doubt the Empire is coming with everything.  If the Varden arrive at Gil’ead on time, there is a slim chance of surviving.  If not, then all are doomed and the Empire will rule the world.

“Protect the egg, hide it someplace safe and weave many layers of spells to hide the egg.  I hope the rest of the elves will hurry to meet us here in Gil’ead.”

Angela smiles and tells the werecat, “The elves just took the last egg from Uru-baen. “

Somembum smiled showing his sharpened teeth, “Are you going to tell the Varden or Eragon?”

“No, they already have enough to worry about.  I can feel it in my bones; Saphira will not mate with any of the current males.  Shruikan is held under many magic spells, Thorn’s rider is under Galbatorix’ thumb and Glaedr is too old.  Saphira’s mate is as yet unhatched.  The future of the world is tied to that one egg.  The egg is going to hatch, it has chosen an elf.

But do not count Galbatorix out, his magic is powerful.  Much more than any of the Varden can match.  Right now the Return of the Dragon Riders is riding on a razor’s edge.  It can go either way.

Kneeling before the crystal encased body of Brom, Eragon gathers his will to do what is forbidden.

Saphira:  NO, THIS CAN KILL US BOTH! Saphira roared in Eragon’s head. STOP.

It was too late, the power was flowing through Eragon and the crystal was opening, or rather, Brom was coming alive and moving thru the crystal as if it were air, or water.

Eragon was weakening, and Saphira poured energy into her rider, and before their strength was sapped, Brom was standing before them, alive and angry.

“Eragon, this is wrong, if I had not died to protect you and Saphira, I’d strike you down right now.  WHY DID YOU REACH ACROSS DEATH AND BRING ME BACK!”

“The last egg has been stolen, Galbatorix is on the march, the elves are marching to meet the Varden at Gil’ead, and we need you.,” Eragon replied.

Brom spoke softly,”Eragon, you do not know what you have done.  I am not really alive, my spirit will flee back across the barrier in a couple of days, this is a bitter reminder of what life was to me.  And while I am here, I am as mortal as anyone else.  Still, if Saphira will bear us, let’s go to the Varden and see if we can send Galbatorix to death before death reclaims me.”

Saphira:  I am at your service, friend Brom.  You have more sense than

Eragon: SAPHIRA!  I wouldn’t complete that thought

Brom: Quit this bickering and let’s go.

With a leap into the air, Saphira bore Brom and Eragon, toward Gil’ead and the coming battle.

Inside the Crystal, the ghostly form of Brom was faintly visible

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Characters:

The Empire:

King Galbatorix (Charles from the Dead Muppets) on Shruikan:

Murtagh on Thorn

The Ra’Zac (2)

Drunkum, the Shade, spirit brother to the slain Durza. (MUST BE PLAYED BY A RED HEADED PLAYER, SHADES HAVE RED HAIR)

Ukura-bot, King of the Kull Urgals loyal to the Empire

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The Varden:

Brom, back from the dead to General this battle:  Jerry from Colorado Silent Legion

Nasuda, leader of the Varden

Eragon Shadeslayer on Saphira

Oromis on Glaedr

Ayra the Elf

Roran Stronghammer, Eragon’s cousin

Angela

Solembum

Du Vrangr Gata (the Magic Users Society)

Nar Garzhvog, Urgal, leader of a band of Kull Urgals sworn to fight Galbatorix