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Her sword sent sparks flying as it connected with Lifaen's. Their battle had already been going on for the last five minutes as she had risen early. Eragon had yet to arrive for his hour with Vanir. By now, she had been defeated at least twice. Neither had won yet and they were both sweating. She twirled away a moment only to be brought back by an attack from Lifaen. Every time they met, she could smell the spring oak she had smelled when he kissed her two days ago. She had no idea if he had kissed her because the magic had clouded his brain as it had done Eragon's or if he had genuine feelings for her. Whenever she thought about it, her stomach would twist in knots and she would remember Narí's comment on the river and Angela's prophecy.

She blocked him again and pushed against his sword. They broke apart and watched each other, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. From the corner of her eye, she saw a red blade flying towards Lifaen. She grabbed his shirt and pulled him forward only seconds before Zar'roc went flying through the space he had been occupying. She smelled the oak again and looked up into Lifaen's eyes. She suddenly understood Narí's comment and struggled not to blush as the butterflies ran out of room in her stomach.

"I misjudged my strength." Eragon's voice pulled her from her thoughts and nerves. She was curious to see what changes the dragons had wrought in him. She turned and felt her eyes widen. He no longer looked close to a human. Instead, he looked like he belonged in Ellesméra. She took in his elf like appearance. His once tan skin was now alabaster pale. His brown eyes were slanted and his ears had been tapered to a point. His face was now smooth and angular instead of round.

"Are these the changes I am going to see in the years to come?" She thought as Vanir leapt to Eragon, aiming for his right shoulder. Eragon blocked with ease. Vanir struck again and Eragon dodged by leaning backwards. Florina watched in silence as Eragon blocked and dodged Vanir's blows. Florina studied Eragon's speed and strength and noticed that he was growing more confident as his back did not trouble him. The battle finally ended when Eragon struck Vanir upon the upper arm, breaking the bone. Florina nodded and followed Lifaen to the archery range where she stood back with the other elves and shot. It hit the center of the target. She shot again and again, hitting the center of the target again and again. She had gotten good at her aim before the Agaetí Blödhren. Now she had the strength to use her new bow. She only missed when she heard the tell-tale sound of wood cracking. She looked and saw Eragon hallway down the range holding the remains of his yew bow. She chuckled and retrieved her arrows at the same time he did. Together, they flew to the Crags of Tel'naeír. When they arrived, they found Oromis outside his hut, looking out over the cliff.

"Have you both fully recovered from the Blood-oath Celebration?" He asked them.

"We have, Master." They answered. Florina and Eragon sat on their heels as they waited for their master to speak as they often had done.

"Glaedr explained to me, as best he could, what was done to you both during the celebration. Such a thing has never occurred before in the history of the Riders. Once again, the dragons have proved themselves capable of far more than we imagined." He sipped his tea. "Glaedr was uncertain what changes you would experience, so I would like you both to describe the full extent of your transformations." Florina nodded for Eragon to begin. Oromis gave her a look before focusing on the young Rider as he explained his increased sensitivity of sight, smell, hearing, and touch and his altered appearance. He ended with his clash with Vanir. "And how do you feel about this, Eragon? Do you resent that your body was manipulated without your consent?"

"No! Not at all. I might have before the Battle of Farthen Dûr. But now I am just grateful that my back doesn't hurt anymore. I would have willingly submitted myself to far greater changes to escape Durza's curse. No, my only response is gratitude."

"I am glad that you are wise enough to take that position, for you gifts are worth more than all the gold in the world. Now, Florina, what changes have you experienced?"

"I have experienced many of the same changes as Eragon. My strength and sense now match those of a young elf."

"But your appearance is unchanged."

"Yes, they left my appearance alone. But they have given me a gift that none could have."

"And that is?"

"I now understand my nightmares. My nightmares are not nightmares, Master. They are visions that I tried to block by instinct. The ones of my mother broke through because they are of my mother. But now I have control over them and understanding. I did not tell you, but I had a dream a few weeks before the celebration. I am not sure when it will happen, but another egg shall hatch and one of us, Eragon, will be fighting it and its Rider."

"And how do you feel about your transformation and this understanding?"

"I am grateful, Master, that I now know what it is that I have been experiencing since Farthen Dûr. I feel that the visions of the future are warnings and now that I know this, I feel I can better lead the Riders."

"That is good. I believe that our feet, all of them, are now on the correct path. Let us then continue traveling that path. Saphira, Kuldra, Glaedr awaits you at the Stone of Broken Eggs. Eragon, Florina, you will begin with the third level of the Rigmar.

"What is the cost of magic, Eragon?" Florina looked up as Oromis and Eragon approached the brook where she was sitting. Eragon had been meditating for the past hour or so. From the sound of Oromis's voice, Eragon had finally done what she had months ago. She turned back to the spell she was trying to do. It was meant to create a copy of something inanimate. Oromis had given her a chair as her model. She was to create the chair according to her will. She took a deep breath and then felt Eragon's mind brush against hers.

"Hey, leave me out of it!" She called to him. She felt him skirt around her and she extended her own consciousness, taking great care to avoid Eragon and the beings he was connected to and their master. She went into the consciousness of the beings she had chosen, all large beings, and began her spell. She repeated it over and over, as Oromis had taught her, and watched as the piece of wood in front of her changed into a regular wooden chair before the back was carved into upper body of a dragon, the arms of the chair were wings, and the legs were the legs of a dragon. When she was satisfied, she ended her spell and stood. She was a little shaky, still perturbed that some projects could kill animals. She knew that the chair she had just created would have killed dozens of trees and other plants. She had killed several rabbits in the process. She examined the chair and smiled. It had come out exactly like she had wanted without any flaws. "A chair fit for a king." She whispered.

"Or the leader of the Riders." She heard Oromis say from behind her.

"I cannot take this with me back to the Varden. Kuldra cannot carry that all the way back."

"Nor will she have to. It will be placed in your tree house for your use when you are here in Ellesméra."

"Thank you." She whispered and gave him a gently hug before helping him back to his hut.

She looked at the crimson sky above her. She could feel the emotions of everyone on the battlefield she stood in the center of. Above all, she could feel fear. All the warriors were afraid, including the Urgals. They were waiting for the signal to attack. The first rays of dawn appeared and the warriors moved forward. She felt herself move with them and knew she was on Kuldra, moving with the Varden across the plains. When they had a quarter left to cross, alarm horns announced their presence. She heard Nasuada shout and Kuldra shot into the air. It was time to show the world the Golden Rider. Immediately, the enemy spellcasters tried to break into her mind. She pushed them back and helped Eragon and Du Vrangr Gata kill them. Kulda twisted to avoid a flaming ball aimed at them and she saw the siege engines. She urged Kuldra forward and they attacked, managing to burn two to the ground while an enemy soldier hacked his way through one of the ropes on another. She smiled, knowing Eragon was doing what he could. They were considered the real threat at the moment. She could hear the spellcasters' thoughts. They were not to kill the dragons or their Riders, specifically the sapphire dragon and her Rider. Then the world turned black.

She was looking at a table surrounded by several figures including Nasuada, the Council of Elders, and a black hooded girl. Nasuada and the council, and the other men were dressed for battle. "Confusion will destroy us. Our warriors can afford but one commander during this conflict. Decide who it is to be, Orrin, and quickly too." Nasuada commanded. She looked at the man the dark skinned woman had addressed. He was dressed as she expected a king might be and knew he was King Orrin, King of Surda.

"As you wish." He conceded. "The position is yours."

Florina opened her eyes as the sun's rays peaked into her bedroom. She sat up and looked at Kuldra who was resting peacefully for the time being. She stood from her bed and walked around the room, touching everything.

"What is wrong, Brave One?"

"We may never return."

"Is it time?"

"Yes." She felt a buzzing outside her barriers and lowered them.

"Florina, the Varden,"

"I know, Eragon. It is time to leave. Gather your things and Orik. We will meet at the fields and then say our farewell to Oromis and Glaedr. And do not let Orik talk you into taking horses. We will not reach Nasuada in time to be of any help if we have to spend months traveling."

"I understand." He said and she severed the contact. Kuldra shifted and sat while Florina changed and began packing her bags, glad that she had not brought her armor. She looked at the saddles.

"Which one?" She asked Kuldra. Kuldra looked at the molded one and then at the one Florina had made and imbued with spells of her own.

"The one I have been wearing has not failed us before. We take that one and leave the comfortable one here." Florina nodded, saddled the golden dragon, and slung the bags across her back. Once they were ready, Kuldra jumped out of the tree and landed on the ground. Florina took one last look around the room, her eyes resting on the chair she had made only two weeks ago and then joined Kuldra outside and the two flew to the fields. Eragon joined them moments later and the four of them flew to where their masters waited. None of them hid the reasons behind their actions and Oromis advised Florina to keep her visions secret.

"We have gifts for you." Oromis said after the two pairs had pledged to return to finish their training. He turned to the table next to Glaedr and picked up two silver bottles. "First, some faelnirv. I augmented it with my own enchantments. It will sustain you when all else fails. Savor it. I only had time for a few mouthfuls each." He handed them the bottles and then took the first of two sword belts and handed it to her. "Rhunön bade me give this to you when she heard the tidings. She knew you would need a better belt than the one you have on." Florina took the black leather and examined it without a word. The leather had been braided around a dozen topazes. She did not pay attention as Oromis bestowed a belt upon Eragon as well. She knew the belt in her hands. It had belonged to the first golden rider and had been lost during The Fall. She removed her belt and replaced it with the one she had been given, buckling her sword onto it. Oromis turned to her again, bidding her to remove the trinkets she wore. She did so and he took them before turning his back. A moment passed before he turned back to her, a silver necklace in hand, the dawn-red sapphire resting between the flower Arya had given her and another flower set with a topaz. "This was my mother's necklace. She would be proud that it was given to you, the Leader of the Riders." Florina was speechless as Oromis clasped the necklace around her neck and turned to Eragon, giving him a copy of his poem.

She received their blessings and the two Riders and their dragons made a stop at Tialdarí Hall. Florina and Eragon dismounted and waited for the queen. She gave them yew bows she sang herself. Florina felt overwhelmed and could only bow her head in thanks. From there, they returned to the fields where Orik and Lifaen were waiting. Florina gulped and dismounted and walked to Lifaen. He didn't kiss her, only held her, promising they would live to see each other again. His gift for her and her alone was a third white-lined, golden rose that he tucked into her hair, telling her that it would never leave her as long as she lived. She hugged him a moment more before Kuldra scooped her up and the two dragons, their Riders, and a dwarf flew away. Below them, an elf woman sang.

I really want to know what you guys are thinking about this chapter! Present and Future collide soon. THanks for reading and please review