Disclaimer: i only own the oc's and florina's and kuldra's story.
... and the battle begins.
She slowly placed Kuldra's armor on her. Many of the men had offered to help her, but she preferred to do it alone. She needed time alone to think. She was already in her own armor which Nasuada had remembered to bring along. Her hair was free as she had not been able to find anything to tie it back with. She didn't turn when she felt Nar Garzhvog behind her. Neither one of them said anything while Florina put on the last few pieces of Kuldra's armor. Once Kuldra was ready, Florina reentered her tent and began looking for the leather string she had always used to tie back her hair. She found it next to the last rose Lifaen had given her. Seeing it warmed her. She tied back her hair and tucked the rose into the tie. She turned and saw the Kull leaning against the pole holding up the front part of her tent.
"Yes?"
"I heard you yell at Firesword earlier. I know that had you not been there, he and his Flametongue may have attacked us. We are in your debt."
"We need all the help we can get, Nar Garzhvog. I hold no ill will towards you and your people. And I also know that any acts you committed while in his service were not of your natural doing. But be warned, if your go back on your word, no amount of hiding will hide you from me."
"I understand, Golden Rider." He walked away and Florina walked to Kuldra.
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. She sat on Kuldra next to the Urgals. They were waiting for the signal to attack. The first rays of dawn appeared and the warriors moved forward. She felt Kuldra move with the rest 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. The first was found by Du Vrangr Gata. She felt Eragon help them while she killed another. She didn't miss the cheer from the men as a knot of men went limp.
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. She knew Eragon had heard the same.
"Eragon, it is time to show them the might of the Riders!" She felt him agree, aware that Nasuada had also asked him the same. Kuldra landed hard on the battlefield and Florina jumped off her back and into the throng of soldiers, Kuldra with her. The Kull beside them, Florina lost herself in the tide of battle and Kuldra's mind. She no longer knew who breathed fire and who cleaved with a golden sword. She only returned to her mind when Kuldra launched into the air, pulling her with her. Florina pulled herself into the saddle and Kuldra flew over the back end of the other army and Kuldra breathed her fire, burning those not protected by magicians. Then they heard a trumpet from the east. Kuldra flew to the safety of the Varden and looked. "The dwarves!" She cried mentally as Orrin cried aloud.
"The dwarves are here!" She saw Eragon jump into the air and she and Kuldra continued the attack. She was barely aware of a ship coming up the river. She hadn't seen this in her visions. She commanded Eragon to investigate and continued the fight.
"They are friends. I have asked Nasuada to keep them safe."
"I understand."
A little while later, a flaming javelin buried itself into one of the Empire's command tents. She ignored the ship and searched for her target. It was not lost on her that the soldiers were no longer harmed by dragon fire or her blade. When she couldn't, she steered Kuldra back to hover over the Varden and give them hope. She looked at herself. She was covered in blood and gore. She tapped into the energy in the dawn-red sapphire to rejuvenate her and Kuldra. A drum interrupted her looking for more magicians. She looked and saw the dragon from her vision. She prepared herself as the Rider raised his hand and a shaft of energy shot from his palm. It missed her entirely and hit the dwarves. She gritted her teeth as she heard the dwarf spellcasters cry out as they died. She knew what happened next by the sound of the dwarves. Eragon and Saphira shot into the sky from her left side and at the Red Rider. Then she saw them. She snarled and Kuldra flew at them. It was time for revenge. She jumped at them, only to be blocked by their magic. She grinned and broke the spell with ease. But before she could get close to them, she was blocked by soldiers and was forced to fight. She turned at the bellow from behind her and saw a bearded man who somewhat resembled Eragon jump at the Twins and crush one's head with a hammer. She quickly broke into the other's mind and felt his mind turn to jelly. She as glad when it was ended by the man's hammer who planted a foot on their corpses and bellowed his victory.
She looked around for Eragon as she jumped onto Kuldra, rallying the Varden.
"Perhaps. But before I go…" Murtagh pried Zar'roc from Eragon's grip and unbuckled the sheath from his belt. "If I have become my father, then I will have my father's blade. Thorn is my dragon and a thorn he shall be to all our enemies. It is only right then, that I should also wield the sword Misery. Misery and Thorn, a fit match. Besides, Zar'roc should have gone to Morzan's oldest son, not his youngest. It is mine by right of birth." A cold pit formed in Eragon's stomach as a cruel smile appeared on Murtagh's face. "I never told you my mother's name, did I? And you never told me yours. I'll say it now: Selena. Selena was my mother and your mother. Morzan was our father. The Twins figured out the connection while they were digging around in your head. Galbatorix was quite interested to learn that particular piece of information."
"You're lying!" Eragon finally yelled. Murtagh repeated the words in the ancient language. Suddenly, a cold laughter burst from him. "What irony?"
"What is the matter with you?" Murtagh demanded, turning to him.
"The irony." Eragon laughed. "Selena's two youngest children fight against the eldest." Eragon continued to laugh.
"What are you talking about? Our mother was only pregnant twice."
"No," Eragon's laughter faded. "She had another. A daughter. We have a half-sister. She bore the child away from Morzan in a small city and gave the babe to a blacksmith and his wife." A strange fire lit in Eragon's eyes. Murtagh backed away a step. "The babe grew into a woman and became a Dragon Rider." Murtagh looked at the golden dragon and its Rider that was still attacking the army the Twins had led. "That's right. The Golden Rider is our sister, Murtagh. She may be our half-sister, but she is still our sister and we will both fight you and Galbatorix."
"ERAGON!" Florina's mental cry reached them as she looked for him and Saphira. He saw Kuldra rise high into the air and then speed towards them.
"She is stronger than I, Murtagh. Even with your newfound abilities, I am sure she will be able to kill you. She was changed as well." Murtagh looked at the golden dragon and the gore covered woman atop it. Murtagh gave one final look to Eragon before retrieving his helm and flying away on Thorn. Once they were below the horizon, Eragon and Saphira were freed from the magic. Kuldra landed and Florina jumped off and ran to him.
"Are you alright?" She panted. He nodded numbly. "Where is the Red Rider?"
"He fled when he saw you coming. Florina, as one of my commanders, and as my sister, I must tell you," her eyes widened, "the Red Rider is Murtagh. He did not die. The Twins captured him and took him back to Galbatorix. The red egg hatched for him." She stopped him.
"Say no more until everyone is gathered. Come, the battle is over." They walked to the edge of the plateau and surveyed the battlefield. The Empire had sounded the retreat. He felt her hand on his shoulder. "Take your time." She said and hurried back to Kuldra. He saw the rose in her hair as she did and noticed that it was still clean.
"YOU HAVE FAILED ME!"
"I swore to try, Majesty, and I did. But the Golden Rider went to their aid. Even with the help you have given me, I was unsure if I would be able to fight her off."
"AND SO YOU RAN! YOUR FATHER WOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOU!"
"I bear news, of the Golden Rider, Majesty." The hit sent him flying across the room. Thorn looked on in helplessness.
"What?"
"I know who the Golden Rider's mother is and her story." Murtagh stood at Galbatorix's command.
"What is this news?"
"She is my half-sister. She, Eragon, and I share a mother. I do not understand it, but my mother bore a child for a man and his barren wife. I must have only been a year old at least when she went to the small city and agreed to bear this child. And then Eragon was born a few years later."
"Yes, I remember when Selena disappeared. Your father was furious. He almost killed her when she returned almost a year later." The king waved him away and hurried into the dungeon. He knew the spellcaster in his dungeon was barren and could not have a child of her own. "Is it possible that she is the one whom Selena gave her daughter to?"
"What do you want?" She sneered.
"Now, Emily, that is no way to treat a friend."
"You are no friend of mine."
"I've been looking for your daughter." He said, ignoring her. "I am quite interested in getting to know her as I have you. But it seems she fights with the Varden and the Golden Rider. What do you think they will do if they learn that I have you in my dungeons? Does your daughter know? What will she do, do you think, to save you?"
"She'll kill you." Emily looked at him, a cold stare in her eyes.
"And if I were to learn your true name? What then?" Her gut clenched. "She will die, one way or another. But you can save her. If you swear to serve me, I will protect her. I will bring her to Urû'bean so she can be with you." Emily looked at the ground.
"He's right. Whether he figures out my true name or not, Florina is as good as dead, either by my hands or his. But if I bring her here? She and Kuldra will be forced to serve him. But then again, maybe not. Florina is his child. Florina, forgive me." She looked at him. "For my daughter's sake, I will serve you." He smiled and released her chains. She hunched in an awkward bow before him.
"Tell me what you know."
"It is not much, my Lord. But there is something about the Golden Rider that you should know."
"I know that she was given up by her mother, Selena."
"That is true. Selena came to me and my husband, Caleb, eight months pregnant. She gave birth to the child and then disappeared. I named the child Florina, and Caleb and I raised her as our own. When she was learning to swim, Caleb found a gold dragon egg in the cove and hid it in the smithy. When she was older, the dragon within reacted to her presence. We sent her to Dras-Leona by herself and Caleb hid the dragon egg in the back of the wagon. The dragon hatched for her on her eighteenth birthday."
"This is the typical process."
"I was explaining about her. What I have to tell you is much more important. When Selena arrived, she told Caleb who Florina's real father is and he told me. Her father is a Rider."
"Who is this Rider?" he asked smoothly, hiding his excitement.
"The Golden Rider, Florina, is your daughter, your Majesty."
And the secret is out! Well, to the enemy it is. Predictions? Oh, and for those of you who may not know, I have another inheritance fic up called Future of the Empire. thanks for reading and please review!