Thanks for the reviews. Enjoy!

She blocked the blade with the shield she had taken from another soldier and swept up with her own blade. It slipped past his wards and into his chest, killing him. She pulled her blade from his chest and ran on. Kuldra was waiting for her outside the gate. She had gone to hunt alone. Galbatorix had surprisingly allowed it, which allowed her plan to move forward. Though, she didn't think that he would have soldiers chasing after her the moment she left the castle gates. She was allowed to leave if she wanted. "Maybe it was that guard I had to knock out in order to leave without the escort. The fool. If only he had let me leave."

"Stop worrying about it and just get out here. The sooner you get outside the gates, the sooner I can spirit you away to the north where they will have to chase us." Florina didn't say anything and continued to run at full speed. Over the past week, she had won back her freedom and was able to wander the castle and the city again. The plan was for her and Kuldra to flee to the north and make Galbatorix look for them instead of focusing on the war. That would give the two armies time to reach and take Urû'bean. Then, once that had happened, she would let him catch up to her and she would kill him once and for all. But first, she had to get out of the city and to Kuldra. If she couldn't do that, then there was no way she would ever be free. If she couldn't escape, Galbatorix would win and she would be forced to marry a man she did not want. The Elves would be dead and Eragon and Saphira would be forced into servitude.

"Though, if that happens and they've sworn to Galbatorix and his blood, I can release them from their oaths and destroy the Black Throne."

"Where is this suddenly coming from, Brave One? Did you have a vision that you did not share with me?"

"How could I share it with you, my other half? It was of you being threatened with death."

"You know that I would gladly die for your freedom."

"I know. But I would also give my freedom so that you could live to help me defy the man who claims me as his daughter. Kuldra, if I cannot get outside the gate, I want you to get out of here. Fly to the elves or to the Varden."

"I'm not leaving you."

"I am not going to let you risk that which is most sacred."

"Our bond is the most sacred to me."

"As it is to me. Which is why I will not let Galbatorix use it against us. If I don't make it out," Florina blocked the attack and countered with her own, killing the soldier. "Go without me. I will not let him use me to get it."

"But,"

"Kuldra, please. Do not argue with me on this. You have to do this, for me."

"I cannot make any promises." Florina skidded to a stop just before reaching the gate and ducked into an alleyway. She peeked around the corner and confirmed the flash of red she had seen. Thorn was sitting outside the gate and Murtagh was leaning lazily against the wall.

"Kuldra, I'm not going to be able to make it out of here. You must go on without me. Save yourself."

"Florina,"

"GO!" Florina jumped into the street.

"Still alive?" Eragon asked, bewildered. The gold dragon turned his head to look at him.

"Unlike with most creatures, a dragon's consciousness does not reside solely within our skulls. There is in our chests a hard, gemlike object, similar in composition to our scales, called the Eldunarí, which means "the heart of hearts." When a dragon hatches, their Eldunarí is clear and lusterless. Usually, it remains so all through a dragon's life and dissolves along with the dragon's corpse when they die. However, if we wish, we can transfer our consciousness into the Eldunarí. Then it will acquire the same color as our scales and begin to glow like coal. If a dragon has done this, the Eldunarí will outlast the decay of their flesh and a dragon's essence may live on indefinitely. Also, a dragon can disgorge their Eldunarí while they are still alive. By this means, a dragon's body and a dragon's consciousness can exist separately and yet still be linked, which can be most useful in certain circumstances. But to do this exposes us to great danger, for whosoever holds our Eldunarí holds our very soul in their hands. With it, they could force us to do their bidding, no matter how vile." A sense of dread settled over the young Rider as he shifted his gaze to Saphira. Oromis and Glaedr noticed but said nothing while the two spoke.

"Why didn't you tell us of this sooner?"

"In order to protect Saphira." Oromis answered as he refilled his goblet.

"Protect her? From what?" Oromis listened while Glaedr continued to explain to the young pair. But his mind was on something else. He had expected Florina to accompany him on this trip. But she was nowhere to be seen. Nor could he sense her mind outside the boundaries of the forest. The day passed and they spoke long of the Eldunarí, but still his mind would not be at ease over Florina and Kuldra. And the growing worry he saw in the pair's eyes did nothing to ease the feeling either. After the talking had finished and Saphira and Eragon had grown quiet did the worry begin to subside. After a few more moments in silence did the worry return to their eyes and Oromis felt his heart sink to his feet.

"Eragon-finiarel, what is troubling you? You have been worried since you arrived and your worry has only grown the more we have talked about the Eldunarí." Eragon looked at the female dragon and she nodded. "Eragon, where is your captain?" Eragon took a deep breath.

"Florina has been captured by the enemy. After the Battle of the Burning Plains, we were celebrating a life event." Eragon said with discretion. Though it was happy news, he did not want to be berated over his cousin's wedding. "Murtagh and Thorn attacked us again. Saphira and I fought them."

"Yes, Arya has told us this. She also told us that Florina is your half-sister and that Murtagh and Thorn attacked before the wedding of your cousin. But that does not explain why Florina and Kuldra did not come with you. After the lesson we just had, you became worried. Why?"

"When I fainted, Florina and Kuldra took up the fight. Only, she somehow wasn't strong enough. Eleven of the twelve elves sent to guard them were killed. Lifaen is the only one who survived. When they were leaving, after I came to a few moments afterwards, he told me that he had what he had come for. At the time, I did not know what he meant. It wasn't until Lifaen asked if she was injured and Arya told me what she had done that I realized what he had meant. He had not been sent to capture me and Saphira. He had been sent to capture Florina and Kuldra. They are now in Urû'bean where they are prisoners of Galbatorix. I have no idea what he is doing to her at this moment. I hoping that she has escaped by now."

"I hope that she has to. But what does this have to do with your increased worry?"

"If what you say is true and Galbatorix is using the Eldunarí to strengthen him and Murtagh, he will want to take Kuldra's from her." The elf paled and Glaedr growled deep in his throat. The four of them sat in silence, each realizing the danger the eldest Rider pair was in.

She opened her eyes and looked around her. She was back in her room and chained to the wall. She pulled but the chain refused to break. Galbatorix had spelled it. "As long as Kuldra made it out and to the elves. I do not want him to have a chance at getting her Eldunarí. Surely he was educated on them when he was a part of the order." She sighed and hugged herself. She hated that she was a prisoner and now separated from her closest friend. She sat against the headboard and stared out the window. She barely remembered what had happened when she and Kuldra had tried to escape. She remembered telling Kuldra to leave without her. Then she was fighting Murtagh. He was about to lose and he would have. The strange help that Galbatorix had given him did not help him against her. But then Galbatorix showed up himself. He had knocked her to the ground from behind. After that, the soldier had pounced on her, pinning her to the ground in her shocked state. He had merely stood over her and glared. She spat on him once she was on her feet again. "Maybe that will get to the Varden and lift their spirits."

"Brave One, are you awake?"

"Kuldra? I told you to leave."

"I couldn't. Galbatorix saw me as I tried to get away. Magic didn't even come to me. I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It's my fault. I got us into this mess. I will find a way out."

"But Brave One, he has stopped us at every turn. How can we possibly get past his guards?" Florina looked at the bracelets.

"I have to break the gems."

"What?"

"If I break the gems, the spell loses the energy it needs to be maintained. Break the gems and we gain our freedom."

"Surely he will have spelled them to prevent just that thing."

"I'm sure, but-" the door to her room opened and Galbatorix walked in. She scowled. "What do you want?"

"I wanted to see if you were well. You hit your head pretty hard on the stone by the city gate."

"Well, as you can see, I'm fine."

"Yes, I can see that. Come with me." The shackle on her arm opened and the chain fell to the floor. Florina stayed where she was. "Florina, do not make this harder than it needs to be."

"Where is Kuldra?"

"She is safe in the Dagon Hold above. No harm came to her in the little stunt you tried to pull. Besides, there is no danger to her as long as you live and don't put yourself in harm's way."

"What is that supposed to mean?" She snapped. He only shrugged and grabbed her arm, pulling her off the bed. She pulled her arm from his grasp and followed him down the hall. Kuldra joined with her mind and they memorized the ways they were taking. He led them deep into the castle and then into rock she Florina guessed was the rock the castle was built into. After passing several room, Galbatorix stopped at a large door.

"In this room rest my most prized possessions. They have helped me do many things."

"Like destroy the Riders." Florina spat. She almost missed the hand that flew at her. She leaned back and felt the air of his passing hand. It was a touchy subject in the castle, his rise to power. Their faces remained calm and he opened the door and walked in. She followed him, ready for anything that he might have waiting to attack her. He lit the candles with a single word and the room lit up around her. She stared around in wonder at the many gemlike objects each in its own alcove. "Eldunarí!"

"So, this is how he gets his strength. This is how he was able to capture us through Murtagh though he was here." Kuldra growled in her mind. Galbatorix beckoned her to the center of the room. She remained where she was. She could hear their whisperings. Some were completely mad, broken by Galbatorix. But there were few that only pretended to be broken. Many shards littered the floor. Dragons who had killed themselves rather than serve the Black King.

"Golden Rider?" Florina didn't move at the mention of her title. She wondered if Galbatorix had heard. But he was looking at the shards, toeing them with his boot.

"Who's there?" She called back out softly. The ones who were not broken reached out to her, all asking to be saved. But the one who had spoken first quieted them. Before it had the chance to speak again, Galbatorix turned to her.

"Well, what do you think? An impressive arsenal if I do say so myself."

"You're the only one who thinks so. I knew you were mad, but I never thought that you would be mad enough to enslave the dragons in this manner."

"So you know what these are."

"Of course I do. I received a different education than the others due to my position."

"Yes, of course." He cleared his throat. "As an act of goodwill, I am letting you have one. Be careful though, which one you choose. Some of them don't take kindly to strangers. I'll be waiting outside." He walked past her and out the door, closing it behind him.

"Choose? He must be crazy. I am not going to use the dragons in this manner. If I could get away with it, I would destroy the lot of these, just to free them."

"Golden Rider, I am here. Bottom shelf." Florina looked where she was instructed to and saw three Eldunarí; white, purple, and green.

"Which one are you?"

"The purple one. Quickly," Florina hurried across the room to the Eldunarí and picked up the cloth that was next to it. She wrapped the stone in the cloth and held it close to her.

"Say no more until we are safe. I am not sure where I was allowed to choose from."

"I understand." Florina held the Eldunarí to her chest and hurried out the door, following Galbatorix back to the castle.

I would say that this just got interesting. Thanks for reading and please review!