Quick break from Florina and to Kuldra.

Note/ Bold-italic text is Florina-Kuldra talk, bold text is Eragon-Saphira talk.

Enjoy!

"Kuldra,"

"Yes, Blödhgarm?"

"Eragon and Saphira are returning. They are meeting at the hill where you are now."

"Thank you. I assume you will all be coming."

"That is what he has requested."

"Very well." She severed the connection and sighed. A few minutes later, a whirl of wind scared the nearby sheep away. Saphira and Eragon had landed.

"Kuldra!"

"Do not shout, Eragon. And show yourself. The others come." Eragon and Saphira shimmered into existence as he released the spell.

"What are you doing here? You were captured with Florina."

"The others, aside from the queen, have the same questions. But I have not answered them yet because I was waiting for you. Now that you are here, I will tell my tale." Kuldra didn't stir as Islanzadí, Arya, Blödhgram, and Lifaen rounded the west side of their hiding place. She closed her eyes as Lifaen settled next to her. She could feel Eragon's confusion, but he wisely kept his questions at bay. She listened as Eragon explained everything to the four Mortals of the group. She continued to keep her eyes closed. She listened with interest to Eragon's trip to Vroengard, Angela's prophecy coming to mind again. Her eyes snapped open when she heard what had been concealed within the vault.

"Open your minds." Eragon said. She did so. She picked her head up from the ground when she felt the presence of the dragons of old. She listened as the elves greeted the Eldunarí like old friends. One mind in particular went to her.

"Hello, Daughter of Glaedr and Valdra. My name is Saphira. My Rider was Brom."

"It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Kuldra. My Rider is Florina."

"I know who your Rider is. I also know that the time is coming for when she must leave the mainland. When that time comes, ask Eragon for me to go with you."

"I understand." Saphira's mind left and Kuldra was left pondering the prophecy again. "I think," she finally said as silence ensued after the dead dragons quieted down, "it is time I tell my tale. Of those gathered, only Lifaen and the queen know it. As you all know, Florina and I were captured on the Burning Plains before the wedding. We spent weeks in the castle, with Galbatorix claiming Florina as his daughter. He gave to her an Eldunarí, a dragon by the name of Elduna, Daughter of Vervada and Iormúngr." Saphira shifted but said nothing. She had had no idea that she had a sibling. "After that, we started planning our escape. Our plan was to flee and go into the north and hide there in hopes that Galbatorix would follow us himself to reclaim her. As fate would have it, he sent Murtagh and Thorn to Gli'ead to fight Oromis and Glaedr." She took a breath. "We followed close behind them, knowing something was wrong. When we arrived, they were already fighting. We fought alongside our teachers. In the end, Oromis still fell." She turned her head to the golden Eldunarí in Eragon's saddlebags. "It is good to know that something of my father is left alive." She paused, as if wanting to refuse to go further. Finally, she continued.

"After Oromis gave Naegling to Florina, we turned to fight Murtagh and Thorn ourselves. He led us steadily south, back to the castle. When we were in reach of him, Galbatorix was able to snare us again. He was no longer kind after that. He beat Florina while two guards held her, knowing that she would fight if she was free. When she was pinned by his foot, he made his threat. He placed a guard to her. This guard had orders. Orders that should Florina disobey even the slightest order from him, the guard was to kill me." There was silence. Eragon felt the pain of what Galbatorix had threatened. Arya was pale. Only Orik, Orrin, Roran, and Jörmundr could not grasp the significance of the threat. Eragon and the elves knew what losing their dragon had done to other Riders. Brom in particular. "After we left his presence and went back to the dragon hold above the palace, she told me that I had to leave. She would rather let herself suffer his madness than let me be killed. She took the saddle bags and I left to hunt. I didn't return. I have not talked to her since." Eragon's face changed from grief to worry. "I went to the elves and chose Lifaen to ride me into battle, to protect me for Florina."

"Eragon, you seem worried." Orik suddenly said.

"It is good that I have not told my battle plan yet. If that is the case, once he knows that you are nearby, he will have Florina call you back. She won't be able to refuse him."

"Of course she will. I am not there to be threatened."

"But Nasuada is. We all know that she has not been killed yet. He will use her to bait us. More, he knows that Nasuada is special to Florina. He will surely have made the same threat by now. That is dangerous because Florina will do whatever she can to ensure that Nasuada and Kuldra are safe."

"I think I will go hunt." Kuldra said grimly and flew away, leaving Lifaen behind. He stood next to Arya, grim faced.

"What is your plan, Eragon?" Orrin asked.

"What do you want?" She spat as she looked up from the book she had decided to pick up. She hadn't been back to visit Nasuada in the last three days because Galbatorix was messing with her mind. So she had decided to pass the time doing something other than fighting. She had found reading a peaceful distraction. Though, now that peace had been ruined by his presence.

"What have I told you about your tone?" He chided. She bristled but acquiesced.

"What is it that you require, Father?" She said the name with as much venom as she could muster, which was not little.

"I know where Kuldra is. She is with our enemies." Florina had to bite her tongue to keep back the comment that wanted to burst from her mouth. If she mouthed off to him, Nasuada would be the one to pay the price. "I want you to call her back. Her hunting trip is over."

"I will do as you ask." Florina closed the book and swept past him. She kept her mind skillfully blocked as he tried to probe into it as she passed. He frowned when he failed. She smirked and exited the library. "I don't want to do this. I wanted to keep her away. If she comes back here, she will be at sword point again. That will be two that I love in danger if I disobey him." A single tear fell as she entered the dragon hold. She found Murtagh sitting against Thorn's leg. She didn't look at him and went to the mouth of the cave and looked into the dark sky. "Kuldra!" She called into the air, startling the birds.

"Kuldra!" The gold dragon lifted her head. She and Saphira and the Eldunarí were waiting for Eragon to return. Saphira looked at her.

"Eragon's words prove true?" She asked.

"They do. Brave One, is that you?"

"Oh, Kuldra, I wish I didn't have to do this?"

"Do what, Brave One?"

"Galbatorix has ordered me to call you back, now that you are close enough for us to talk again."

"He has threatened Nasuada hasn't he?" Florina didn't answer. "Very well. I am coming. Where are you?"

"I am waiting in the dragon hold."

"Don't go anywhere."

"Wouldn't dream of it."

Kuldra turned to Saphira. "She has called me back. She didn't want to, but he has threatened Nasuada's life. I am returning to her. I don't think I would have stayed away much longer anyway. Not with knowing that my Rider is in the danger she is in. Tell Eragon what you must. And that Florina and I will be waiting for him in the city. Stay safe." Kuldra jumped into the air, running down the hill so she wouldn't gouge the earth. She flew away from the camp and city, steadily rising higher into the air. When she could no longer be seen, she turned towards the city. She knew the elves would hear her flaps, being as large as she was. They would know that she was returning to her Rider. The sound of chains reached her ears. She looked down and saw a large, black shape lift its mass into the air. She knew who it was. Galbatorix must have sent him as a distraction in case other spellcasters had been able to hear her wing flaps. When she was back over the city, he turned back and followed her. He flew into a larger opening. She found Florina at the mouth of the cave that she entered from. There were tears in her eyes. "Do not blame yourself, Brave One. None of this is your fault. Take heart in knowing that I would not have stayed away another day knowing the danger you are in." Florina managed a small smile and Kuldra picked her up like a cat would her kitten and deposited her into the saddle.

"I don't deserve you."

"And that is where you are wrong. You deserve me more than you know." Florina smiled and leaned back against one of her spikes. As Kuldra settled onto her bed, Florina fell asleep. Without waking her, Kuldra moved her Rider to the spot under her wing and covered her. "Just as you strive to keep me safe, I am to keep you safe." She felt Florina's sense of peace and guessed that she had been troubled the entire time she had been away. She knew that it was more than just a self-inflicted trouble. Galbatorix had done things that no person should ever be forced to do.

"What can you report about the happenings in the city?" Eragon asked the werecat. She had been assigned to the castle, along with others, to keep an eye on Florina. He had sent them out immediately after Nasuada had been captured.

"As you suspect, Nasuada is alive. But the Golden Rider is troubled. She is forced to do things she would not normally do in order to keep Nasuada alive and from being tortured to the verge of swearing fealty to him. Three days ago, the two of them tried to escape. The Golden Rider planned to personally walk Nasuada from the castle and the city. But Galbatorix had set wards against the Golden Rider, to keep her from leaving without his permission. Nasuada almost escaped, but was quickly captured by Murtagh. We do not know what torture Nasuada was subjected to, but the Golden Rider was beaten to within an inch of her life. It seems that, even though she may be his daughter by blood, she is not his daughter in spirit."

"Thank you. You may go." Saphira looked at him

"It seems that Florina does not believe the words her mother is saying either."

"The man she sees as her father raised her well. I only fear to think about what would have happened had Florina been raised by Galbatorix with Murtagh. Would she have still become a Rider? Or would she be a foot soldier, fighting against us? So many possibilities that could have happened. I am glad that she is with us."

"As am I, Little One. As am I." Eragon patted Saphira on the nose and laid down to sleep. The dawn would bring an end to their war.

A little bit of a filler, bit it was necessary. Thanks for reading and please review!