I want to quickly thank silverhawk88. This chapter was inspired by their review. Enjoy!

quick reminder, bold font is Eragon/Saphira mind converstaion and thoughts

Nasuada dismounted and handed the reins of her steed to one of her guards. She strode inside the shabby building, Arya and Eragon at her heels. The three of them wandered through the building until they found the kitchen which had a window large enough for Saphira's head. Eragon opened the shutters and she rested her head on the wooden countertop. After a few moments, Arya spoke.

"We may speak without fear," she said, having cast spells to prevent eavesdropping. Nasuada rubbed her arms.

"What is this all about, Eragon?" She asked. Eragon swallowed, hating that he had to dwell on what he had just seen.

"Nasuada…Saphira, Kuldra, Florina, and I were not alone… There was another dragon and another Rider fighting against Galbatorix."

"I knew it." Nasuada whispered, her eyes shining. "It was the only explanation that made sense. They were your teachers in Ellesméra, weren't they?"

"They were, but no more."

"No more?"

Eragon pressed his lips together, unable to stop the tears. "Just this morning, they died at Gil'ead. Galbatorix used Thorn and Murtagh to kill them. I heard him speak to them with Murtagh's tongue." Nasuada sank into the nearest chair, her excitement replaced by a dull expression.

"Are you sure they are dead?" She asked after a few moments.

"Yes."

"Tell me about them, Eragon. Please," Eragon obeyed, but as he did, his sense of loss deepened. He knew that it would be easier if Florina had been with him. She had trained under the old Rider with him. As he neared the encounter with Murtagh, Saphira keened again, soft and persistent. After, Nasuada sighed and said, "I wish I could have met them, but alas, it was not to be. But there is still one thing I do not understand. You said you heard Galbatorix speak to them. How could you?"

"Yes, I would like to know that as well." Arya said from near Saphira. So he recounted their trip to the elven capital. Saphira made the occasional comment, but otherwise remained silent. Lastly, he told them of the Eldunarí.

"Well," Nasuada said as she stood and paced, rubbing her arms. "You the son of Brom, and Galbatorix leeching off the souls of dragons whose bodies have died. It is almost too much to comprehend. At least we know the true source of Galbatorix's power."

Arya was stunned. "The dragons are still alive," she whispered, "after all these years. Oh, if only we could tell the rest of my race. How they would rejoice! And how terrible their wrath would be when they heard of the enslavement of the Eldunarí! We would run straight to Urû'bean and not rest until we had freed the hearts of Galbatorix's control, no matter how many of us died in the process."

"But we cannot tell them." Saphira reminded her.

"No, we cannot. But I wish we could." She was silent a moment and then turned to Eragon. "Eragon, was Florina there?" Eragon hung his head. He had hoped not to answer that.

"She was."

"And was she being controlled by Galbatorix?"

"No," Saphira answered. "She fought beside our masters. She was there when they died. Oromis gave her his blade, making her a Rider in full. We do not know what happened to her afterwards."

"I will have to contact my mother and ask her for an account." Arya said. "She will have seen what happened after Glaedr lost sight of them.

"I need you both to answer me something." Eragon said after a moment.

"What is it?"

"When I was seeing what Glaedr was seeing, I noticed two bands on Florina's wrists. They were dragon shaped and there were gems where the eyes should have been. Why was she wearing jewelry from him?" Nasuada and Arya looked at each other but it was Arya who spoke.

"You must understand that she is a prisoner and any word you hear of her could be rumor riddled with lies." Arya reached into her pocket and pulled out a folded piece of parchment. "She sent this to us not long after you left for Tronjhiem. She explains what she can in it. Here, read it." She handed him the letter. He unfolded it.

"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!" Eragon looked at the two women before him. "Is this true? Is she his daughter?"

"We don't know for sure." Nasuada answered. "We have told the Varden that it is a false rumor that Galbatorix believes is true."

"How are you not sure that she is not his daughter? She's fought beside you through countless battles. Her father,"

"Her father, she claims is a blacksmith. But Emily claims that her father is Galbatorix. We don't know if your mother willingly slept with the king or not or if it even happened. All we know is that two men claim fatherhood over her. And right now, only Galbatorix is alive to defend his claim to her. The fact that she was fighting alongside Glaedr and Oromis proves that he has not forced them to swear fealty to him. That and the jewel bands means that he believes a barren woman who said she allowed her husband to sleep with another in order to get a child." Nasuada made a motion to ward off evil without thinking. "We won't know the truth until Emily is found. For now, we head north. We take Belatona and Dras-Leona and then to Urû'bean. Florina is on her own for now." Eragon nodded and left. Nasuada turned to Arya. "Find out what happened to her." Arya nodded and left.

"What word, Arya?" Eragon asked that night.

"She is still his prisoner from what my mother could tell. After Glaedr fell, Florina and Kuldra chased after Thorn and Murtagh. They flew out of sight. Though, many reported that they heard the sound of dragons fighting in the distance."

"And Oromis and Glaedr?"

"They found the bodies a little ways apart. Oromis had Florina's sword with him. Naegling was gone."

"He gave it to Florina."

"Yes, that is what the elves believe as well. If she had been working as an agent of Galbatorix, she would have taking Oromis's blade and not left hers behind. She also left a petal. We are guessing to let the elves know that she had been there and that she was not their enemy." Arya looked at the young Rider. So much rested on him now, with Oromis gone and Florina a prisoner. She placed a hand on his shoulder. "We'll get them back. And then you won't be alone." Eragon nodded and walked away. Arya watched him a moment before turning towards her tent.

A little bit of a filler. But I suspect things have changed for Florina and Kuldra. Thanks for reading and please review!