Now, to check on the Varden. Enjoy!
"That's terrible. What if it is true?" The curls bounced on Angela's head as she walked by the two women who were talking.
"If it's true, then we are doomed. She will take after her father no doubt, tempted with all that power. She's powerful enough already, being the leader of the Riders and all." Angela and Solembum stopped and looked at the two gossiping nurses.
"Just thinking about it gives me the shivers. And if it is true, then that would explain why she disappeared after the battle. The Elves guarding her were found dead afterwards. She has to be at least in league with them." Angela couldn't take any more of it and stormed up to the two women.
"Who are you two needle-brains talking about?" She asked sweetly, trying to keep her calm.
"None of your concern, Witch." The older one said.
"If only they knew how bad my temper is." She told the werecat at her feet. She turned her attention to the women again. "You can't honestly believe that the Golden Rider is the daughter of that monster, can you?" The two women paled, confirming Angela's suspicions. "She is no more his daughter than she is either of yours."
"And how would you know, Witch? She could have easily fooled you."
"Because I have met her parents. Her mother is the captive of the Mad King and her father is now dead. But he was a damn good blacksmith and he passed those skills onto his daughter. If you want to question anyone again, I suggest it be yourselves and your motives." Angela turned on her heel and walked towards her tent. Everywhere she passed, she was hearing whispers about Florina. They were mostly coming from the new recruits. Some of the senior members of the Varden were trying to convince them that what Galbatorix was claiming was false. But the ones that had not fought beside her in the past few major battles were doubting her allegiances and believing the rumors. "What do you think we should do?"
"I'm not sure there is anything we can do. These rumors will persist as long as there some truth to them."
"What do you mean?"
"Florina was taken away by Murtagh, her brother. No one else knows this. Nasuada has been telling the Varden that she has been kidnapped. But because the Elves who were there when it happened are dead, there is no one to support Nasuada's story. Not even Lifaen could support it because he was not there and now has left."
"But that Elf loves her. It is best that he is not here. Otherwise, he'll have killed quite a few of the new recruits by now."
"And you feel about ready to do the same."
"Mooneater!" Angela turned at her name to see Nar Garzhvog walking towards her.
"Garzhvog, what is the matter?"
"Is it true?" He growled. "Is Gold Rider the cub of the lack-horned betrayer?"
"No, she is not."
"Then why has she been claimed by him as his cub?"
"Do you honestly believe the words he says?" Angela hissed. "He betrayed you and let a Shade put you under a spell! He did not hold true his word to you, what makes you think he tells the truth about this?"
"Then what do we do about it?"
"Convince your rams that Florina is not his child. I will deal with the ones that are spreading this rumor. Aside from Eragon and Kuldra, I know Florina the best of all of us here. I will talk to Nasuada."
"Make it quick. If these words persist, my rams will not be willing to fight alongside her."
"I understand." Garzhvog walked off, leaving Angela standing outside her tent. "We need to stop this fire before it gets out of control."
"I need to speak with Nasuada and Arya immediately." Angela said as she walked up to the pavilion.
"Lady Nasuada is busy now. You will have to wait, Lady Angela." Angela huffed at the title. They only treated her with respect because Nasuada valued her council.
"Then tell me, what do you think of the rumors that are being spread by the mad king?"
"The king has lied before," the captain on duty said, "so he could be lying about this."
"But?" Angela prompted.
"But I did notice how much Lady Golden Rider's eyes resembled his. It may not be that far from the truth that she is his child by blood even though she was not raised by him."
"And a good thing to otherwise we would be in trouble. Now let me in or we will lose all the recruits we have gained." The Urgals and Dwarves looked smugly at the Humans. The Urgals respected Florina and so did the Dwarves on account that her work in the smithy saved many of their kinsmen's lives. The captain finally nodded and announced her.
"Angela, can't you see we are busy?" Nasuada hissed as the older woman entered the tent, Solembum at her heels.
"You had better be busy figuring out how to stop these rumors that Florina is in league with the Mad King."
"What are you talking about? Jörmundr is supposed to be suppressing those rumors."
"Well, it's obviously not working. I am hearing many people say that Florina is his child and that she will become like him now that she is at the castle."
"Nasuada," Arya said softly as she pulled out the letter. "I think you need to read this to them. It's a copy I made of the letter Florina sent us that I gave to Lifaen. This is the original with her emblem on it. This should dispel the rumors."
"And then what? Now that he has claimed her as his, no one will want to fight with us."
"We spread word through the Empire." Elva said, coming from her place behind the curtain. "If we spread word through the Empire that Galbatorix is lying and claiming the Golden Rider as his own, the people will see that he is only trying to gain more power. That will drive the people to us and it will keep us our allies."
"She's right. If we get these words to the people, they will spread like wild fire." Angela said.
"And it is written in the ancient language. Any spellcaster alive would know her words are not false."
"Alright," Nasuada conceded. "I will address the Varden tonight. I must go and speak with Orrin."
"I think they have the right idea. If you read the words to the Varden and my own troops and everyone here, it should dispel these rumors that Galbatorix believes is true. We know that Emily is not Golden Rider's birth mother and that she is Eragon's half-sister. We know that the blacksmith raised her as his and she sees him as her father, not the Black King."
"But with Galbatorix claiming the Florina is his blood, that throws doubt onto Eragon. They share a mother. What if they share a father?"
"I don't believe that is the case. And if it is true, that Florina is his blood, she has made it clear that she fights against him. Those who have fought with her know this and these words will give them the support they need to help discredit these rumors."
"Arya says the letter was written in the ancient language."
"No lies can be told in that language. That is good. Announce that to them and we shall see what happens."
"Are you sure about this, Orrin? What if the letter drives people away?"
"It won't. You've known Florina since you both were children on your fathers' knees. You and Arya give credit to her words by reading them for her. Speak for her. Rally the Varden to save her. If not, then we are doomed." Nasuada nodded.
Arya looked at those assembled. She held Florina's letter in hand. Nasuada had told her to tell the people that the letter had been written in the ancient language where one cannot lie. She took a breath as Nasuada stepped forward.
"People of the Varden, I have gathered you here today to dispel the rumors that have been spreading throughout the Varden since The Golden Rider was taken from us. We have heard that Galbatorix has claimed her as his daughter. But she is not. She has sent us word, warning us of his lies." Arya stepped up.
"Nasuada has asked me to read this letter to you as it is written in the Ancient Language, a language where the speaker, or writer, cannot lie. Listen to her words." Arya cleared her throat and began. "Arya, as you might have guessed by now, I am a prisoner of Galbatorix. He has claimed me as his daughter. He gets this idea from Emily, who betrayed me to him and so now he knows who I am. I had planned to join your mother and fight with the elven army, but he has put a stop to that plan. I now wear jewelry that keeps him informed of my location. The only way to get them off is to kill him. I will play nice for now. Perhaps I can get him to take them off. Once I have them off, I will join your mother and her army. Warn Nasuada of Emily. I have heard hints that he plans to send her out into the field. I don't know where he will send her, but more likely, he will send her to the Varden. If she comes, do not let her in. Lock her up or kill her. It doesn't matter which. Warn Islanzadí. If I cannot escape before the two armies meet at Urû'baen, I will see you when you get here. Assume nothing!" Arya looked up from the letter and showed the golden dragon on the bottom of the page. "This letter come straight from the Golden Rider. She is a captive in the Empire. Galbatorix used the Red Rider to capture her and spirit her away from us. She cannot escape and she cannot fight back. We and Rider Eragon and Dragon Saphira are her only hope. If we cannot save her, then she is lost."
Nasuada stepped forward again, Orrin and Garzhvog next to her. Orrin spoke first. "As king of Surda, I will help the Golden Rider."
"As speaker of my people, the Urgralgra will fight for Gold Rider against the betrayer."
"People of the Varden," Nasuada asked, "will you fight for The Golden Rider?" The cries of affirmative were deafening.
May have been a bit of a filler. but thanks for reading and please review!