The knight falls.

[Nandon]

William sighed softly, He looked down at his hands, The hands that had killed so much, First in the name of his family, Then in the name of the varden, He had been a respected leader once, He had been the hero of Dras Leona, He had the respect of the varden, The envy of many. But oh how the mighty had fallen. It was all the swords fault, But the sword had abandoned him. William had briefly gone through withdrawal from its influence shortly after being captured, But that had mercifully only lasted a couple of days, And once that was over and he had full possession of his mind once more, William wept.

He wept for many things, For worry of his sister, For his young apprentice, But mainly for the fact that he had let his parents down. He was a failure entirely, And now as he sat in the hut that would be his prison until the death sentence was passed he had little to do but wait.

The elves guarding him had been fairly kind, How could a human guard his mind against such a corrupting influence when even the best of them could not, They had even consented to his request for paper and a quill, he was determined that he would not be forgotten, And that he would be remembered for the many good things he did, Not just the bad.

He leaned forward in his chair and cracked his knuckles softly as he set to work on his biography.

[Quetzal]

Arlyn began his descent when the trees of Du Weldenvarden. A hut sat at the end of his sapphire gaze. Isrydia sat on his back. Rider and dragon had been wary of coming just a few weeks away from the attack on Uru'baen, concerned they would injure themselves and not be prepared to fight for the Varden in time. They'd been persuaded to go when they had heard William's sentence. They could get here and back in time so long as nothing went awry, and this was their last chance to say a final goodbye to their old friend.

Arlyn had only met William on a few occasions, but through Isrydia's memories he cared about the knight. The pair had heard little news of him since last seeing him as he went north. A day before they'd left they had heard someone who had once been high in the Varden had gone crazy after coming back from the north and had killed a lot of people. It was impossible to think William could have done such a thing. He'd gone to the north, what, six months ago now? Had he really been up there all this time? What had he done since? They were determined to discover the truth. Perhaps they could find some reason to declare him innocent.

"This will be tough, Isrydia. We will do our best, but as hard to accept as it is, I can't see how those stories would crop up unless they were true. William was a good man, whatever happens now. Remember that." He meant 'was' as in the who he had been when Isrydia was his apprentice, but Isrydia still resented the use of past tense.

The ice blue dragon landed. Isrydia dismounted, bowing to the guard eying her with distrust. "I must speak with William. In private. My name is Isrydia, my dragon Arlyn. I fight for the Varden," she told them in the Ancient language. She couldn't promise them she wouldn't try freeing William.

It was a struggle for Arlyn to fit through the door. Larger than a horse now, he had to duck but was luckily not yet too wide to pass through the door. He wanted to see William with his own eyes. Inside, the two long spikes on top of his head scraped against the ceiling, so he lowered his head. Isrydia felt a stab in her chest to see William again after all this time. He was writing something.

"William," she said softly, "what happened?" She moved forward with the intension of embracing him. Arlyn snorted and tried to nuzzle the knight. It was good to see him again, even in these circumstances. Without him Isrydia would not have traveled and learned to fight, may not have grown into a person suitable for a dragon to catch for, the person he had dubbed the Dragon Knight. They owed him so much.

((Brenton, I set this a couple of weeks before the battle with Uru'baen so they have enough time to make the battle. That means it's before the Brenton/Isrydia thread we have going atm))

[Nandon]

William looked up as his apprentice walked in, A warm smile crossed his face for a moment as he stood to embrace her, He then smiled at the dragon and pat it upon the head. "Well, I went up north, Got posessed by a evil sword, Which then proceded to take over my men...And then I returned and was a bit more crazy for a time, Before the sword got destroyed." He said simply as he moved to sit down once more.

[Brenton]

Brenton was just getting ready to leave, books in a satchel and weapons strapped onto his body in various places, when he heard that the prisoner was requesting for paper and a quill. So that meant they were either guilty of something and wanted to be remembered for their good deeds or there would be a plan to escape. With his mind made up, the king put the satchel onto the saddle of his stallion and then mounted himself while preparing to be king once more.

So many days avoiding this and now he had to put on the mantle of king once again for fear of a prisoner escaping. The stallion rode toward the hut where he remembered hearing his guards saying they had taken the prisoner to. Inside was supposed to be one of the most dangerous men to grace the presence of the elves and yet these guards were busy not paying attention to him. So the king rode right up to the door and dismounted, drawing Undbitr free and lowering the blade to point at the ground.

Sir, Lady Isrydia wants to speak to the prisoner in private and so we can't let you pass through the doors without king's orders. One of the guards spoke up to Brenton and was slapped by his partner, who pointed to the crown on top of Brenton's head.

Now do I really have to give orders to my guards just to get into a building? I am king and so by that right should be able to walk through any door I please even when someone has asked for privacy in their conversation. Step aside and let me in. As the guards moved to either side, Brenton walked through it and was assaulted by the image of someone he hadn't seen for six months. Sir William, I trust that the elves are treating you fairly enough at the moment. Now what is it that our old student has to speak to you about alone?

[Nandon]

William gave another ghost of a smile as he gazed at the king, But he did not rise to meet him. "They are treating me much better than I expected." William responded honestly then gestured down to the paper and quill. "Even gave me paper and a quill so I can write." He then looked down at what he had written and sighed again, The sudden influx of emotions that filled him after being so devoid of them for so long left him fairly sensitive.

"Why not have them bring in a couple chairs so you can both sit?" William said with a gesture to the door after eyeing the two for a moment. "I would say Three but I doubt any chair could fit you Ariyn"

[Quetzal]

Isrydia's eyes widened. "Funny you should mention that. Arlyn and I got possessed too, by witches. They killed a bunch of people, even helped an Empire Rider steal a dragon egg. We know how guilty you must feel, but it was the sword and the witches who did it, not us," she said firmly. The images of the people her body had killed while she herself had been forced to watch helplessly would never leave her.

"Somethinf weird happened to Eragon in the north too. He had marks where his wrists and ankles had been chained, but no one knows who did it or why," Arlyn added.

"Brenton, this is a bit of a surprise. When I heard what happened, I had to go see William. I haven't seen him in so long, I had to hear the news from his point of view, and... from what I heard, I might not get many more chances to speak with you," she hesitated before saying the last part, hating to bring it up.

"A chair would be nice, thanks," she smiled.

[Nandon]

William sighed a bit and leaned back in his chair, He looked up at isrydia. "It was different than that, I willing did everything I did, Because the sword promised me it would all bring peace...When I left I swore to myself that I would bear any burden if it would help save my people and end this war so that I could go home and live with my sister in peace." He then smiled fondly as he thought of his dear sister.

"I bore the burden, And I am now paying the price...It seems fate was not kind enough to let me die as a Hero in Dras Leona, Or in any of the other numerous battles I have fought."

[Brenton]

Brenton grimaced at the thought of what had happened to Isrydia and even to William, or to what had been going on in the North that no one could figure out. Two people had been possessed, two swords had appeared that could cause such chaos and now one of them was missing with the owner still assumed to be holding it, a dragon and rider had been captured and they didn't remember anything, countless soldiers had died up there, and the only ones who survived were those who were possessed or those who rescued Eragon. This was a dangerous land that rested above Du Weldenvarden and yet Brenton didn't have enough emotion to actually worry about it.

Sighing, the king looked at the paper and then at William before he spoke carefully so as to not anger the knight. People make mistakes and if I had the authority to do so then I would pardon you but the families of those you killed would see me strung up by the neck within the hour. I'm sorry that it happened this way and that no one can help you through it. Still remember that people do know you as a good man and someone who did many good things. Word of mouth spreads quicker than paper which can burn. If you wish then write the biography and I will have it bound in leather and sent to your family so they remember as well.

Not caring to wait for chairs, Brenton waved his hand and two seats formed from the earth while he waited for a response to Isrydia to form. As the chairs finished being created, the king spoke once more. Isrydia, don't worry. You will get to speak to Sir William as much as you wish until...well that hour is approaching. Still as king I had to come and make sure that nothing was going on. Can't have the elves thinking I'm shirking my responsibilities for idle reasons such as magic crystals.

[Nandon]

William nodded his head slightly, He hadn't expected to be pardoned, Nor did in all honesty he want to be. "I wouldnt ask you to pardon me, A man must pay for his crimes." He looked down at the paper again and nodded again. "I would be much in your debt if you would do that for me."

He then sighed again and thought for a brief moment. "I have a request for you actually."

[Quetzal]

The situation didn't look like one they would get out of easily. Isrydia stared at the chair that Brenton drew up from the earth for a moment, then sat down. Something with cushions would have been nicer, but there were far bigger things on her mind. She frowned at Brenton. Taking many lives willingly outside the battlefield was punishable by death. A life for a life. That would be justice to the grieving families. She understood that. She had wanted Ashendale and Nelfarion to die when she had thought they killed Brenton and Grazael. She had wanted the witches who possessed her and Arlyn to die, too. Now seeing the story from the other side, she had a lot more doubts regarding that system. Killing those people made their fanilies grieve, but killing William would make her and others who knew him grieve. More grief would have been created, and the victims would stay dead. She had never got revenge herself, so was unable to say if that would make anyone feel any better. Probably, but their upset would continue.

"Willigly? But... it was still the sword that persuaded you..." she trailed off, realising her words were pointless. Murderers didn't get away with it just because someone had suggested their victim to them. They had still murdered. In that sense, the assassins should technically be arrested too, but she supposed if they were successful then whoever they'd killed would lose control of any law enforcement and there would be no one to arrest the assassins.

"There really isn't a hope, is there? I'll... I'll read your biography. Get some scribes to make copies. Remember when you first met me, how I was a traveling storyteller? I can still tell a tale. You did many good deeds in your life. People love stories of knights too. The best of your life will live on for venturies. Kids will act out the expedition of William Shay into the deadly north, how he helped win Dras-Leona for the Varden. You could be a legend, a name everyone knows," she told him.

[Nandon]

William thought about it before he nodded. "Id like that...Just put a moral at the end of the story..." He said simply. "Warn others not to follow this dark path..." He then sighed again and leaned back, Glancing over at Brenton as he waited for his response.

[Brenton]

Brenton was shocked that William was so accepting of his fate, even though there were people there who cared about him and were willing to help him. Honestly he wouldn't have been able to keep calm like the knight was nor would he want to if those he loved and cared for were nearby. A biography detailing all the good deeds done by someone would never explain who that person was and then there were people who dealt in grey areas. Brenton was one of them. Take for example the cruxis crystal, it was meant to be for a good deed but corrupted him in such a manner that the king was just like the knight. Only he was royalty and so held diplomatic immunity from situations like this one.

I'll listen but it depends upon what your request is for whether or not I fulfill it. After all there are things I can't do or things I refuse to do even for a friend who is using their last wish for something I can do. So what is it, William Shay? As Brenton spoke about things he wouldn't do for a friend, he knew he was lying. Just the fact that Isrydia was one of his friends and he knew he would do anything to ease her pain made him know that he was lying through his teeth.

Then there were situations such as family or subjects or if he was to be in the heat of battle but Rella asked him to leave so he wouldn't die. All of these situations would bring out a more obedient Brenton who would later regret his decisions but would all the same do what he was asked to do. It was one of his flaws and that he knew for a fact. Yet Sir William Shay was someone that Brenton didn't know as well and so there was no reason to hold him to the same standards as the queen or the female rider next to him.

[Nandon]

William stood, Drawing himself up to his full height. "I want a sword and shield supplied to me, And I want you to kill me in single combat, It should not be hard for a Elf to kill a human yes?" He asked

[Quetzal]

Isrydia nodded to William. A moral, of course. Lessons were to be learned from the blunders people made in the past. History was a good teacher in her experience. It meant sometimes you didn't have to try something stupid since another guy ages ago did the same thing to teach the world that the action was indees stupid. Most of the lessons she was witnessing that might be passed down as valuable wisdom for future generations was that it was a terrible idea to strive to become the most powerful by dark magic, and even then by any means aiming for great power was not the best plan. Brenton had taught her that much with his cruxis crystal. Galbatorix and Rerukusu had proved it too. Around her also were messages to take care before deciding to take lives, as William had done, and to not trust the north.

Arlyn watched Brenton. Surely that was true of any request from any person? If someone asked him to start a campfire, he'd happily oblige, but if they asked him to tear off a person's head he would probably decline depending on the person requesting and their victim.

Dying in combat was a knight's death. Isrydia thought that it couldn't be the same, though, fighting for the sake of it rather than dying fighting for a purpose. She was going to remain silent, but a part of her prompted her to speak. This was William's death, for goodness' sake! That was no small matter! "Wouldn't it be more honourable to die fighting for a cause than for the sake of it? Are there no missions resulting in certain death? You could accompany William to make sure he dies, and it'll be for something too. Unless... unless you're happy with single combat to the death," the reality of all this was hitting her and she was blinking back tears.

[Nandon]

William shook his head. "While that would be better, I sense I am already asking alot by asking for a sword and shield with which to fight, If I where to go on a mission there are to many variables, I could escape, I could be captured." He shrugged slightly. "Also I seem to have a talent for going on certain death missions and coming back whole."

[Brenton]

Brenton thought carefully about the request of William's to give him a sword and shield so he could die in single combat like a true fighter. It made sense that one as proud as the knight would want to die such a noble death but Brenton wasn't sure if it was a good idea. Finally he nodded to himself and stepped outside. Guard, relinquish your sword and your shield to me as I will give them back when I done with their services. The guard did as he was told and Brenton nodded in thanks to his compatriot.

With that done he walked back inside and handed the sword and shield to William Shay with some trepidation. This was not a normal procedure and if the knight succeeded at surviving then Brenton would be forced to use magic. That wasn't what he wanted to do in single combat for a friend who wished only to die fighting. Before raising Undbitr into a defensive position, Brenton spoke once more to William. The elves currently hold all of your belongings that you had on you and the Varden have all that you didn't. Who do you wish them to go to when you are gone from this world? I will see to it that Eragon and Nasuada are alerted as soon as I can to what you requested.

Brenton glanced over at Isrydia, knowing that if William tried for an attack he would be able to block it with ease born of elven blood. Isrydia, single combat can oft times get out of hand and people who are too close can get injured. For both William and I, please step back where you can observe but not be hurt if a stray cut happens to go near where you are. Brenton didn't want to hurt someone he cared about and there were few people who could claim that right but only one claimed it as him caring the most. And that was Isrydia. Yes he was married to Rella but Brenton had been through more with the female rider than he had with his own wife.

[Nandon]

William spent the time while brenton talked getting a quick feel for the weapons as they were handed to him. he then thought carefully about who he would want to get what...But almost immediately he knew. "Isrydia will get my shield, And my Sister all the rest of my possessions." He said simply. He then waited for Brenton to finish speaking before he gave a soft, True smile. "Thank you very much for this Brenton, And before we fight I have one final request...That my Body be taken back to Surda and buried upon the remains of my family's home."

[Quetzal]

Isrydia and Arlyn watched in silence for a while. It was hard for this all to sink in. They knew why Brenton was unemotional, but William's calm in the face of death was odd to them. Being a seasoned knight he would be used to the risk of death, but this one was a certainty. There was no escape for him. Mention of her name brought Isrydia back to the moment. "Thank you, William. I'm sure it will serve me well," her voice was sad. Being of low birth, she had no sigil of her own, so there was no issue with her wearing that of William Shay. In time perhaps she would earn her own as a knight or as a Rider, but even then she would keep his shield for the same reason she kept a few pieces of Arlyn's eggshell and two of Grazael's scales; sentiment.

Everything was happening so quickly. She wanted to talk more with William, tell him the many things she had done in the past six or seven month, hear what he had done, laugh and joke and have a good time. She knew that however long she had to talk with him, she would never be ready to stop for good. Prolonging his death would not prevent her regret at not spending more time with her friend.

"I'll take your biography with me when I leave, and keep it safe until I find a good scribe. I can't speak for any funeral arrangements," she said. As the elves' prisoner, William and his corpse belonged to them to deal with as they saw fit. The decision there belonged to Brenton. "You should go outside for the fight. Whenever you're done writing and with anything else that has to be done," if it was possible to be ready for this. She doubted she could ever be. If it were her in his place, she would be making arrangements for every tiny little thing, last letters to friends and family, a will, writing up every last thing she had learned for others to share the knowledge and making notes of all her ideas in case one held the key to some further knowledge. She would stall her death for ages and would never be satisfied that she'd left behind enough of her thoughts and discoveries. Her voice sounded weak and resigned when she spoke, but she refused to cry. Not while William was still alive. She didn't want their last moments together to be just sobbing, they had to have more meaning than that.

[Nandon]

William nodded as he sat down once again, Writing furiously for a few more minutes as he put the finishing touches on his life story. When he was done he looked up and beckoned Isrydia over to him, And when she arrived he would give her a hug, Before whispering softly to her. "You've done your mentor proud Isrydia."

[Brenton]

((Ugh I had 1000 words typed up for this two nights ago after sitting here fighting my muse for an hour and then the servers crashed on me. Now I have to start over from scratch.))

Brenton watched the exchange while he pursed his lips in careful deliberation. He knew that William wanted to be sent to Surda after he died which was a perfectly reasonable request but would the citizens of Du Weldenvarden see it that way. To them, the knight was nothing more than an enemy who had killed in the name of dark magic so should be awarded no rights. That wasn't how the king thought, after being in similar situations, and so he knew what he would have to do for Sir William. Brenton would have to take control of the situation and send the body himself so as to make sure it got there safely.

That was what a good king would do in any situation that warranted a decision like this one. They would look at things from all perspectives and then take control, later taking whatever heat came from those actions. So Brenton would do that and be willing to accept whatever happened. With a sigh, the king watched as William finished writing and then said his farewell to Isrydia. As that was done, Brenton walked toward the door and looked back at William with a thoughtful gaze.

You know there are ways to gain clemency past what I can give you and should you succeed in besting me then I suggest you take those ways. Brenton didn't honestly believe William had a chance of winning in single combat, especially with the cruxis crystal on his side, but the king wanted to be polite anyhow. Finally he opened the door and walked outside, leading the knight out with him, where they could stand in a clearing.

The rules are simple really. This is a battle of strength in weapons. Each opponent gets a sword and a shield if they so please to fight or defend with. The purpose of this is to fight to the code of the knights, single combat to the death. Sir William of the Varden, I, King Brenton of Du Weldenvarden, have issued these rules as they stand. Do you accept them as is or do you have something else to add?