So...I got hit with an idea that I needed to get out right away, for all the current fics, and so you all benefit by getting a second update within two days. Enjoy!


A woman with black hair and sea green eyes walked into the room. Elan was surprised when he saw her pointed ears. As far as he knew, the elves hadn't been involved in the war with Florina. The woman crossed her arms while he gawked. After a moment, he closed his mouth.

"My Lady," Elan said respectfully. "How can I be of service to you?"

"Please, Elan. I'm not looking for that from you. You are here to see the queen, not me. Well, you will be meeting with me, but not just yet."

"So, the queen is not dead?"

"No," the woman said, almost with relief. "Follow me. She's waiting outside." The woman exited the study and Elan followed her. They followed much of the same route Garrow had taken him on to get to the study. He was surprised that everything seemed so cheery. He turned his attention back to the elf. She had a slight roundness to her face that could be from a swollen face or from her blood. He wasn't sure. But he could tell that she had been in a pretty big fight recently. How recent, he wasn't sure. Garrow had told him that everything was fixed and as it should be. But Elan wasn't ready to believe anything at face value. Rumors were slow to get to Palancar Valley when there is not a war between the most powerful beings in Alagaësia.

The woman led him out into the courtyard and onto the wall where a lone figure was watching over the city. She had long black hair partially held back by a rose with gold petals that were lined in white. There was a tired look in her eyes and he could see several wounds that were bandaged or not. A walking stick was next to her and a gold sword at her hip. He had heard of the queen and that she bore a gold sword to match her gold dragon. The dragon was nowhere to be seen. The elf said something in a strange language and the queen looked at them.

"You may go, Delinnëa. I'll be okay." The queen said. "I'll call you if I need you. Besides, your father is nearby." The woman left and it was just Elan and the queen. She turned back to the city. "Tell me, Elan, how do these people look compared to yours?" Elan looked at the city and noticed that it was bustling with activity. One never would have guessed that a war had just ended.

"They are content, Majesty." He said. "They are happy. Just like the people of Palancar valley." He turned his head to look at her, very aware of the drop to the street below. "Why am I here?" He asked.

"Did you know that your ancestor, Roran Stronghammer is cousin to Eragon Shadeslayer?" She answered his question. "His father was Eragon's uncle through his mother. His mother, Selena, bore Murtagh before him…and before me. Eragon is the youngest of Selena's children, but probably the smartest. Murtagh had many chances to change and he didn't. I should have gone with Eragon to the Valley instead of clearing Vroengard and making that the home of the Riders again. Glaedr chose him to give his help to when it came to training the new Riders."

"You are related to Uncle Eragon?" The queen nodded. "Selena was raped by Galbatorix and she bore the child on her way to Kuasta. She left me there with a blacksmith where I was raised as a common child. I was never a royal in my mind, but I was always wealthy in family. It wasn't until during the war that I found my true family, Eragon and Roran. And then Murtagh and Galbatorix. The last two I refused to believe, but it is true. Eragon and Murtagh are my half-brothers. Eragon the son of Brom, a Rider from Kuasta. Murtagh the son of Morzan, the First and Last of Galbatorix's Foresworn."

"You don't claim the king as your father."

"He has nothing to do with me. I hate that his blood runs in my veins. It was him who caused this whole problem."

"I don't mean to be impatient, Majesty. But why have you asked me to come here."

"I am leaving Alagaësia. Through me, Galbatorix has done much damage. When I leave, the Golden Rider and her dragon will only be myth. A brief dot in the history of this land if any believe in her at all. Only the Riders will know of her. Not even you will remember me or this conversation. But I have one thing to ask of you, Elan Stronghammer. The reason that I asked about your people and if you knew our bloods were shared is that I believe the ability to rule is in the blood of the person who is in charge. Any man can sit on a throne and pass laws and pass judgements, but it takes a special person to keep them happy like we have done. Nasuada and her line did nothing to keep these people happy. I had no resistance when I flew upon the city and took the throne. I have asked you here to take the throne, Elan. I am giving you the throne rather than giving it back to Nadara or giving it to her son. You know how to lead the people and keep them happy. You have done it in Palancar Valley."

"But the Empire is far larger than the valley."

"Elan, there is no one else I trust. I have talked with Delinnëa. She agrees that you are the only one able to do this. The people of Palancar Valley have royal blood running through their veins. Your people followed Roran out of the valley and across the Empire just to find Eragon so he could save Katrina. If he hadn't done that, we wouldn't be having this conversation right now and things might very well have gone differently during that war."

"If I say yes, you said that I won't remember this conversation."

"Delinnëa is going to approach you as the leader of the Riders. A position which is hers by right. When I am gone, you will remember being asked here by the leader of the Riders because they succeeded in overthrowing the queen, the Black King's Daughter. But that is all. Will you do this, Elan?"

"I will, Cousin." He said and she looked at him and smiled.


"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you, Mama?" Delinnëa asked as her mother climbed onto her dragon. Lifaen settled behind her. Arya and Angela were already seated in Fírnen's saddle. The Riders who had hatched during Florina's reign were already heading toward the Valley with Oromis and Glaedr.

"Delinnëa, you are the leader of the Rider's now. You can't be coming back to the Valley with me. You have a responsibility. Besides, you have to make sure Elan will still take the throne and that word spreads that the queen has been overthrown." Florina smiled as she looked down at her daughter. "You can do this, my darling. You have done much. You saved me. Not your brother. Not your uncle. Not even your father. You. I know that you can do this. Just keep history in mind so you don't repeat it."

"But what if I want to come see you?" Delinnëa challenged, a grin on her face. Florina and Lifaen laughed.

"If your responsibilities permit." Lifaen half-scolded and Delinnëa pouted. Florina's smile fell from her eyes. Her daughter was the only one to make it out of this mess unscathed. Oromis and Glaedr had nearly died. There was no telling if they would ever be whole again. Lifaen had been beaten to almost within an inch of his life. Florina and Kuldra would have to forever live with the fact that Galbatorix had gotten the best of them. He had won for a time, getting Florina on a throne that she never wanted. He had taken over their minds and forced them to fulfill his goals. The elves were slowly returning to the forest. After she dropped Angela off in the Valley, Arya would be returning to her people. Everything was beginning to right itself.

The Riders and dragons bid a final farewell to the new Leader of the Riders and took to the sky, circling until they were at the right height. They angled northeast and flew with the wind at their backs. They had to turn at the forest and fly alongside it due to the enchantments that were still active. They camped on the hill that over looked a river that flowed out of their home. Only Arya would be returning this time. The Golden Rider was finally flying into the myth she had always been with her husband at her side. Only the elves and the Riders would remember her and the elves only because most of them had lived long enough to know her. It took most of the day for them to reach the Valley which no longer had a barrier that Eragon needed to open. The two dragons flew through the arms and landed outside the castle. Eragon and Saphira were waiting for them. Eragon hugged his sister, saying the others had made it safely and that her enchantment had taken effect and would hold even after she had died since she had used the Word to enact it. No one knew that the Golden Rider had stayed in Alagaësia after Galbatoix had died. To most, she had never existed. Eragon also told them that Elan had accepted the crown and his rule was accepted by the entirety of the Empire along with the dwarves and the Urgals. Arya had already given her support to the new king, but would make it official once she had gone back to check on her people.

Eragon and Saphira led Florina, Kuldra, Lifaen, Angela, and the werecat towards a secluded part of the Valley that was forested. In one clearing was a hut with all of Angela's things inside which she promptly went into and locked the door. Eragon led the couple and Kuldra to another clearing closer to the mountains where Kuldra would have a cave to sleep in. At the edge of the clearing was a thick stand of trees with a house sung into them. Eragon and Saphira left and Florina and Lifaen looked at the house.

"He must have done this a long time ago." Lifaen said. "There is no way he had the strength or the time to do this within the few days that he had after you made the decision to leave."

"Either way," Florina answered, "we're home and we're never leaving it again." He kissed her and they walked into their new home and life.


For those of you who might be wondering, Florina and Kuldra began helping to train the new Riders who were only sent to Delinnea after they had received their blades. It was a process that took years to complete and so the Riders grew slowly. Delinnea continued to lead the Riders and learning from her father when she had time to contact him. She never returned to the Valley to see her parents or her brother since her responsibilities were numerous. Oromis and Glaedr secluded themselves from all including Florina and Lifaen. Oromis never fully healed and was never ever to use magic again. The two would often be seen flying around the mountains if they were seen at all. Florina and Kuldra, with Lifaen, finally learned to control the blood magic, but still very aware of the damage it could cause should they ever become lax in their vigilance.

And so ends the tale of Selena's Daughter. Thank you for coming with us on her journey and thank you very much for reading.