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She looked up from the scroll as someone knocked on her door. It had been four days since she, Eragon, Kuldra, and Saphira had arrived in Ellesméra and three since they had begun their training. She and Eragon trained at the same time, but she would stay a while longer and Oromis would test her on her leadership abilities. He would have her practice giving commands. So far, he had been compelled only once in the ten different scenarios he had presented. "Come in." She said in the ancient language as she carefully marked her place with magic. Lifaen entered and greeted her. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I was wondering if you would like a tour of the city." He responded in the same language.

"I would like that." She accepted and stood. He turned to Kuldra.

"We will await you outside, Skulblaka."

"I think I will stay inside tonight. But thank you for the offer, Lifaen."

Lifaen nodded and offered his arm to Florina. She accepted and he led her out of the house and down the street. Kuldra closed her eyes and smiled. She knew the young elf respected her Rider a great deal. She wondered if he was the one Angela was talking about when she said love would find her.

Outside, Lifaen enthusiastically pointed out the various landmarks of the city. He pointed out the blacksmith, Rhunön, and warned her that the woman hated company and rarely left her forge. Florina was able to relate as she also enjoyed her craft. "I would love to meet her." She said. "I wouldn't mind learning from her if she would let me."

"But you have other studies to attend to while you are here."

"I know. Maybe after this mess with Galbatorix is done with." Florina rested her head on the dark haired elf's shoulder as they walked. Lifaen didn't break the silence and was content to have her head resting upon his shoulder. He struggled not to blush.

"How do I ask her to be my mate? We haven't known each other that long, but I would wish to be with her and make her happy." He changed direction and led her deeper into the forest. Her head lifted from his shoulder and he knew she was taking in her surroundings. "There is nothing to fear, Florina." They walked a little while longer before he stopped them. Florina looked around the clearing and saw a lone pine tree in the middle. The trunk was thicker than those of its brethren and a blanket of roots spread from it. "This is the Menoa tree. We hold the Agaetí Blödhren under her shade." Florina took a breath and extended her consciousness. She had had little more success than Eragon in this area of their study. The conscious she encountered was enormous, greater even than Oromis's.

"I guess I shouldn't be surprised that the tree has a consciousness." Lifaen smiled and helped her onto one of the roots where they sat together in the silence. "Thank you, Lifaen." Florina whispered.

"For what?"

"For not being afraid of me like others are."

"Why would they be afraid of you?" She shook her head, a clear sign that she did not want to talk about it. He accepted her choice and they sat in silence, listening to the creatures of the night. He gently took a seed from his pocket and sang softly in the ancient language. When he was done, a golden rose lined with white sat in his hand. He nudged her and placed it in her hand. "There is no reason for any to fear you." He whispered and kissed her lightly on the forehead before helping her off the root and leading her back to the city and her tree house.

The loud buzz of the timepiece jolted her from the sweet dreams of her new home. She jumped out of bed, drawing her dagger at the same time. It took her a moment to realize that it was only the timepiece Oromis had given her to wake her. She reset it and went to the bath, finding new clothes for her outside her door. She knew that these were not made by the same woman who made the others. They seemed just a little simpler, but no less comfortable and regal. She wondered who had sent them to her. She shrugged and took a pair with her to the bath. She soaked for what seemed like an hour but was only five minutes before she scrubbed herself clean and dressed. Back in her room, she put on her boots and placed her dagger in her boot and her sword on her belt. She loathed being without her weapons even though she knew she was safe in the city of the elves.

A knock on her screen brought her from her thoughts as she finished braiding her hair. Today, she and Eragon would be sparring with others that lived in Ellesméra. "Enter." She called as she tossed her braid over her shoulder. Her eyes lit up as Lifaen entered. "Good morning, Lifaen." She said after they had gone through the greeting. "I would love to walk with you again, but I am to be meeting another of your kin who is to take me to the training fields." Lifaen began laughing. She placed her hands on her hips. "What is so funny?"

"Forgive me, Florina. But Oromis sent me to guide you." Florina smiled. Kuldra looked at them knowingly. She jumped out of the opening and Florina and Lifaen met her. Together, the three of them walked to the training fields. Florina immediately noticed Eragon was there as well and the elves were bowing to Saphira. They bowed to Kuldra immediately afterwards. "Don't expect me to go easy on you, Silver Hand." Lifaen chuckled as they each guarded their blades.

"Don't worry. I would hate to win because you let me." She jumped at him before he could react. He barely had time to block it. She pulled back and attacked again. He jumped at her at the same time and their blades met in a shower of sparks. She shifted and attempted to disarm him but only managed to disarm herself. Before he could deliver a killing strike, she jumped to the side and rolled to her feet, grabbing her sword in the process. She attacked him again. She stopped when she noticed Lifaen was no longer paying attention to their fight. She turned and say Eragon and another dark haired elf facing off.

"Coward, I say." The elf said. "Your blood is as thin as the rest of your race's. I think that Saphira was confused by Galbatorix's wiles and made the wrong choice of Rider." Florina immediately moved to get between them. She reached them as they made it to the middle of the field. She blocked Zar'roc as Eragon made to strike another blow to compliment the one on the elf's hip.

"That is enough. Both of you." She glared at the elf and Eragon. "How do you expect to defeat Galbatorix if you are fighting each other?" The elf didn't answer. At that moment, Eragon collapsed behind her. She dropped her sword and turned to him, realizing there was nothing she could do while he went through the seizure. Lifaen guided her away to where other elves were practicing archery and handed her an elf bow. None of the elves sneered as Lifaen positioned her halfway down the field, closer to the target. He had said it was because she did not have their strength and so needed the handicap. She accepted the hidden meaning without malice. She had never used a bow before and she needed all the help she could get.

"You are at the head of your army of Riders. Many of them have never seen battle, but must now fight to defend their base and home. You see your oncoming enemy. They outnumber you and your Riders and are protected from magic and dragon fire." Florina sat in thought a moment, carefully considering the situation. It had been a few days since the fairth incident and Arya's reaction.

"This is an unknown enemy who has invaded my home. They have wards of some sort that protect them from dragon fire and our magic. I do not know the nature of this army nor can I find their magicians who have set the wards." Her heart fell as she realized what she must do.

"Well."

"I must order a retreat. I do not know the nature of my enemies as this is the first I have confronted them. Nor can I find the magicians who have set these wards on the soldiers. We must leave and gain information on this enemy. We must leave to fight another day. We must take the dragon eggs and hatchlings and go where they cannot reach us." She looked at her master. He nodded.

"Very good. You have just lost your home, but you saved many lives." He noticed that she looked distracted. "What is wrong, Florina?"

"It's Kuldra." The older Rider looked at the dragons.

"What is wrong with her? She looks well."

"She has not wanted to say anything, but the first day, she realized that Glaedr is her father. But she does not know how to tell him for fear that she was purposefully left in the cove in Kuasta."

"Yes, I remember. We were carrying her egg over the ocean. We were attacked by something. When we arrived at our destination, we noticed her egg was gone. I do not know if we were anywhere near Kuasta. I cannot remember." He dropped off and then looked at her. "What is wrong, Florina?" Florina recognized the workings of a memory spell and told him that Kuldra knew the older dragon was her father. Oromis's face lit up and they went outside to tell Glaedr. The dragon roared in joy, having finally realized why his heart felt empty. Oromis gave Florina a place to sleep for the night and sent word to Lifaen that she would not be on the sparing fields the next morning. Florina watched the dragons until it was too dark to see them, but she could still feel Kuldra's happiness.

"As you command, O Rider." Florina turned from her contest with Lifaen and saw Eragon and Lifaen standing close together. "For eighty years after the fall of the Riders, we held no hope of victory. We survived by hiding ourselves through deceit and magic. But we knew it was only temporary. Then Brom and Jeod rescued Saphira's egg and once again a chance existed to defeat the foul usurper. Imagine our joy. We knew that the new Rider had to be stronger than any of his predecessors. But how is our patience rewarded." Florina stood on the outskirts of the circle, listening. She had heard most of the conversation before Eragon had demanded an honest answer to Vanir's riddles. "We are rewarded with another human like Galbatorix. Worse…a cripple. You doomed us all, Eragon, the instant you touched Saphira's egg."

"That is enough, Vanir." Her voice was calm, but Eragon could hear the anger beneath it. The elf turned to her.

"And what would you have me tell you, Golden Rider." The disdain was evident in his voice. She knew he thought that Eragon's subordinate was coming to his rescue.

"You want to fight Vrael's successor?" She drew her sword. "Draw your sword."

"He is in no condition to fight."

"You are not fighting him. You are fighting me."

"Florina," Lifaen whispered. She shook her head sharply, telling him that she would not be dissuaded.

"How can you possibly be?"

"Look at Kuldra and then at Saphira. Kuldra hatched first, Vanir. Now draw your sword and make sure it is unblocked. This will be a real fight." He obeyed, anger etched on his face. He jumped at her, aiming for her side. She blocked him with the flat of her blade and shoved him back before attacking in turn. She knew she wouldn't be able to win, she had yet to beat Lifaen, but she wanted to prove a point. She jumped back from him and attacked before he could catch his breath. She could see him sweating and laboring to keep up as she didn't let up on her attacks.

A sudden ringing sent her flying to the side as she dodged the blow that she had attempted to block. Vanir flicked his sword to her neck and rested it on her collarbone. She kicked his blade away, knocking it from his hand and drew her dagger. She threw it at him and pinned him to the tree by his shirt. He glared at her. She breathed heavily.

"Satisfied?" She panted. He unpinned his shirt from the tree, threw her dagger in the ground, and stalked off. She was barely aware of Eragon and Saphira leaving as she retrieved her broken sword. Lifaen walked up to her. "Looks like I get to meet Rhunön." She said bitterly as he led her back to the targets.

Well. did you like it? do you want more romance between Lifaen and Florina in future chapters while they are in Ellesmera? thanks for reading and please review.