KHandFF&fanforever: thank you for the great idea. it will definately be happening.
Disclaimer: Only own FLorina and Kuldra
Okay, so have to apologize in advance. I know I said I was going to try and put some action in the chapter, but decided to put it all in the next chapter.
Enjoy!
"No, I am not going!"
"You will go with them. The men will need someone to lead them in my and Jörmundur's stead."
"Ajihad, I will not go. And you cannot order me to. If you could, I still would not go. One, Nasuada can lead the men well enough in your stead. Two, I am the best human blacksmith you have. Three, I am a magician and gods know that you need all the magic users you can muster. Finally, I am a Dragon Rider. One can instill fear into our enemies, yes. But two will strike it into their hearts because they know that they cannot hope to stand against our might. Even should one leave the field of battle, there is still another they have to deal with. I am not going." Ajihad's eyes returned to his map as the door opened. Florina backed away from the desk and stood next to Kuldra and Arya as Orik and Eragon and Saphira walked in. Ajihad looked up and introduced the second in command and the young Rider and then looked at them all. "I have roused the seven of you because we are all in grave danger. About half an hour ago, a dwarf ran out of an abandoned tunnel under Tronjhiem. He was bleeding and nearly incoherent, but he had enough sense left to tell the dwarves what was pursuing him." Ajihad paused a moment. "An army of Urgals, maybe a day's march from here." Everyone was shocked into silence. Jörmundur swore suddenly and began demanding answers the moment Orik did. Ajihad raised his hand for silence. The dwarf and human wouldn't quiet. Kuldra growled and they stopped. "There is more. The Urgals are approaching under the land. They're in the tunnels and intend to attack from below." Kuldra's growl was not enough to quiet the dwarf and human this time.
"Why didn't the dwarves know about this sooner?" Eragon yelled over the din. Florina and Kuldra looked at him. "How did the Urgals find the tunnels?"
"We're lucky to know about it this early!" Orik bellowed in answer. The din quieted to listen. "There are hundreds of tunnels throughout the Beor Mountains,"
"Did I make the right decision to stay, Kuldra?"
"I wouldn't have let you leave. You crossed the Spine by yourself a number of times. You were brave enough to carry a hatched dragon into your hometown. You fought off two would be intruders into your mind. Most importantly, we are a dragon and her Rider. We fight to protect those who cannot protect themselves. It is like you told Ajihad, you fight with the Varden, not for them." Kuldra and Florina returned their attention back to the meeting.
"I've already talked to Hrothgar and we've decided a course of action. Our only hope is to contain the Urgals in three of the larger tunnels and channel them into Farthen Dûr so they don't swarm inside Tronjhiem like locusts. Eragon and Arya, I need you to help the dwarves collapse the extraneous tunnels. The job is too big for normal means. Two groups of dwarves are already working on it. Eragon, you're to work with the group outside. Arya, you'll be underground. Orik will guide you."
"Why not collapse all the tunnels instead of leaving the large ones untouched?" Eragon asked. Florina rolled her eyes and answered.
"Doing that would force the Urgals to clear away rubble. Though it may tire them, it would also give them a chance to decide to go in a different direction than we want them to. Also, if we cut ourselves off, we cannot help other dwarf cities should they be attacked."
"Also, Hrothgar warned me that Tronjheim sits on a dense network of tunnels. If too many are weakened, the city would sink under its own weight." Ajihad answered
"What of our families?" Jörmundur suddenly asked.
"The women and children are being evacuated into the surrounding valleys. If we are defeated, they have guides who will take them to Surda."
"What of Nasuada?" Florina asked. Ajihad looked at her, the argument still fresh in both of their minds.
"She is not pleased, but she is going as well." He swept the room in a glance and squared his shoulders. "The Urgals will arrive in a matter of hours. We know their numbers are great, but we must hold Farthen Dûr. Failure will mean the dwarves' downfall, death to the Varden, and eventual defeat for Surda and the elves. This is one battle we cannot lose. No go and complete your tasks! Jörmundur, ready the men to fight. Florina, you are needed in the forges. Go!"
They left the study and scattered. Jörmundur and Florina and Kuldra to the barracks. Orik and Arya to the stairs leading underground and Eragon and Saphira to one of the main tunnels that led outside. Florina didn't worry so much about herself as she did the men. She had seen some of their armor. She had ordered it to the forge and had been working on it, but there was still a lot to do. "Rider Florina!" Florina and Kuldra stopped while Jörmundur went on. Florina turned to the dwarf.
"Yes?"
"King Hrothgar has given you a station in our smithy. He has had your projects moved there as using dragon fire will be safer there than at the barracks. Come!" the dwarf ran off. Florina and Kuldra followed. He led them toward a tunnel that led underground and finally into a large hall where hammers could be heard. The dwarf pointed her toward a large empty station before going to his own. Florina and Kuldra easily made their way to it. Florina tied her hair back and got to work. Kuldra breathed on the metal and Florina hammered it stronger. She didn't use magic. That would leave her next to useless when the fighting started. Once she was done with the men's armor, she was given dwarf armor to fix. Kuldra's fire, Florina soon discovered, actually strengthened the steel. She was pleased with the results, as were the dwarves who praised the both of them. A pile of blades found her after she was done with the armor. She worked through these quickly. Once she was done with the swords, she wiped her brow with the back of her hand and accepted the water bucket when it was passed around. The dwarf that had led her to the smithies walked up to her.
"Are there any more?"
"Nay. Word has come from Ajihad. He wants to see the both of you at the gate."
"We are on our way. Keep these in here for me, please." She said, handing her father's tools to the dwarves.
"It would be an honor."
"Thank you. Come on." Florina and Kuldra hurried out of the dwarf smithies and into the city. Florina ducked into the baths to clean her arms and face and then they continued to the gate. They found Ajihad commanding a battalion of the Varden. "Ajihad!" He looked their way and then pointed to a tent. She nodded and ducked inside with Kuldra. Food was sitting on the table. Kuldra found food for her on the other end. Both of them ate as they waited. Ajihad joined them as Florina was finishing the meal. It had been small, but it was enough for the moment. "Let's just hope that it is not a lengthy battle."
"I agree." Florina turned to Ajihad.
"The dwarves are pleased with your work. They are telling me your work rivals theirs."
"That is the reason you asked my father to make weapons for you."
"Yes," he waved and a group of men entered the tent. "Hrothgar has sent you both gifts. These pieces are dragon armor. You may recognize some of them, you just worked on them." Kuldra nosed the pieces of metal.
"Let's try it."Florina took off the saddle and Florina and a few of the men fitted the metal onto the golden dragon. Triangular scales of metal covered her neck. Thicker pieces covered her chest and belly while the lightest ones were on her tail. Her legs and back were completely encased. A single molded plate lay atop her head and left her jaw free to bite and snap. "Take off the head piece. It makes it difficult to see." Florina obliged, much to the chagrin of Ajihad. "Better. How do I look?"
"Very frightening, even more so without the helmet."
"There is armor for you as well, Florina." Florina turned to Ajihad has another soldier placed armor on the table. "Hrothgar made it himself over the past month. A gift from one master smith to another." Florina looked at the armor.
"I am honored that he would do that." Florina unbuckled her sword and set it on the table next to the armor and picked up the mail shirt. It was the same extra-fine mail that she had seen on the legs of the dwarves and was backed with leather. She slipped it over her head and pulled her hair out. The shirt fell to her mid thigh. She belted her sword over it on a belt that went with the armor. There was no helm for which she was grateful. Over her hands were mail backed gloves, the same fine mail as her shirt. Gold and silver bracers and greaves were placed on her forearms and lower legs. Ajihad handed her the shield. It was gold and was emblazoned with a dragon breathing fire.
"I want you with Eragon and Saphira. When the battle starts. Come," Kuldra and Florina followed Ajihad out of the tent and to the battalion just to their right.
"How do we know you're not lying?" They heard Orik ask.
"Because I say so." Ajihad announced in a firm voice. He placed a hand on both Florina's and Eragon's shoulders and led them away from the others. Ajihad ran an eye up and down Eragon's armor. "Good, Orik outfitted you."
"Yes… has anything been seen in the tunnels?" Eragon replied.
"Nothing." Ajihad answered. Florina suddenly felt nervous. "One of the Twins is staying in Tronjheim. He is going to watch the battle from the dragon hold and relay information through his brother to me. I know you both can speak with your mind. I need you to tell the Twins and each other anything unusual that you see while you are fighting. Also, I'll relay orders to you through them. Do you understand?"
"I do." The Riders said together. Ajihad looked at them.
"Neither of you are foot soldiers or horsemen nor any other type of warrior I am used to commanding. Battle will prove different for you, but I think the four of you will be safer on the ground. In the air, you'll be choice targets for Urgal archers. Will you fight dragon back?"
"Kuldra and I will do what we have to, even if we must be in the air."
"I'm not sure what we'll do." Eragon answered. "When I'm on Saphira, I'm up to high to fight all but Kull."
"There will be plenty of Kull." Ajihad looked them over again. "Avoid unnecessary risks, both of you. We cannot afford to lose you." Ajihad turned and left. Eragon and Florina walked back to the others. Eragon and Florina rested against their dragons and waited with Orik and Murtagh. Eragon decided in that moment to introduce them.
"Florina, Kuldra, this is Murtagh. Murtagh, this is Rider Florina and Dragon Kuldra."
"We've met, sort of." Murtagh admitted. Florina said nothing. "She walked past my cell the day we arrived. Though, the men never said your name."
"They felt they were protecting me." Eragon suddenly stood up and walked away. Florina looked and shook her head.
"Why are you here? I didn't know there was another dragon egg that had been stolen."
"Kuldra wasn't stolen. My father found her in the cove near where we lived. She hatched for me when I turned eighteen. We are here because Galbatorix has my mother. This is the only way to get her back."
"Aren't you afraid she'll betray you?"
"If she does, it will be no fault of hers and so not a real betrayal." She fell silent as Eragon returned. She got up and walked around from time to time, always the same motion and same route. Kuldra mentioned creating a new road, trying to lighten the mood. It didn't help. Finally, Orik suggested they sleep. She didn't argue. She was still tired from working in the smithies most of the day. Her sleep was light and filled with dreams of Kuldra being killed before her eyes by the shade, Durza, whom she had never seen before and appeared only as a shadow with a deadly blade.
The battle in the next chapter. Thanks for reading and please review