Welcome to Rider's War. As the description says, Florina has complete control of the Empire. The War has begun.

Disclaimer: I only own Florina, her Riders (except Murtagh and Thorn), Kuldra, Florina's children and their dragons, the Rider's from Vroengard,and the story line.

bold-italic font is Florina's/Kuldra's thoughts and conversations.

Enjoy!

She walked through the leafy halls of Tildarí Hall. The elves had put up a fight before Arya had called a retreat. They had left behind at least a hundred dead. The elves had not been able to stand much of a chance against the older Riders. Florina herself had lost some Riders, the younger ones. Now her youngest follower was Edan and his dragon, Kilana. She hadn't had much hope for her younger Riders, but they had begged to join the fight, remembering that she and Eragon had not been much older than they when they had joined the fight against her father. They had made stupid mistakes that got them killed. Her spies had been found tied in the dungeons of the hall which had explained why Florina herself hadn't gotten word from them. According to them, they had been seen by Arya who had an Eldunarí and the two of them had recognized the children of the Forsworn and Arya had them captured while they slept. It was a low trick, but it had proven effective enough that Florina had not known that the elves were somewhat prepared for her coming and had the spear that could kill dragons ready. Arya had wielded it herself for a time before she lost it while fighting Florina. That's when she had called the retreat as Asdrina had joined the fight to give her queen time to get away. The elf and her dragon had died shortly after that, but it had been enough to give the elves the chance to get away.

Florina thought about her own Riders. Several were dead. Some were missing, including Murtagh. His absence bothered her and she wasn't sure why. To her, his absence seemed to mean that something could happen that his presence had prevented. She wondered if it had something to do with the blood magic. She knew that Eragon and Arya had kept her prisoner and thought maybe without her older brother, they could possibly capture her again.

"When they captured us, you were weak from fighting." Kuldra said suddenly as Florina's thoughts had been open to her dragon. "You do not need Murtagh here to keep you from being captured. This is just the first time you do not know where your brother is."

"That may be." Florina said. "But that does not change the feeling that it feels like he was protecting me from something." Florina thought about her vision, the one where the sight of the dead elf with her old sword. Florina gripped Naegling's hilt and concentrated on that image as some spell tried to cloud her mind once again. The feel of the twisted metal biting into her hand reminded her of the countless battles she had fought, including the one she had just fought. The pain cleared her mind and she was herself again. She thought about the witch in her dungeons. Maybe there was a way she could be useful. Florina would have to try turning her once she returned to Ilirea and began planning her next move.

Florina saw a door ajar as she walked past and stopped. Peeking in, she could see weapons and guessed that this was the armory for the royal family. She entered and looked around. Most of the weapons were Rhunön's craft as she was the most skilled of blacksmiths. She found an area where swords were supposed to be displayed for choosing or remembrance. There was one missing. Florina turned to go when she saw a gold rose with white lined petals standing on a pedestal. She remembered pulling one from her hair when she and Kuldra left the castle in the north. It had been the same except Florina could feel something different about it. Her fears about Murtagh's absence rose to the surface again and Florina grabbed the flower. If it was in the armory, then it was important.

Evarínya angled downward and landed in the bowl that was slowly emptying of dragons and their Riders. The ones who stayed were injured while Riders rushed to take their injured to the infirmary where they could be healed. Garrow had sent more Riders to Du Weldenvarden after the two spies had been found, knowing that an attack from Florina was imminent. Shortly after the Riders had arrived, Florina and her Riders had descended upon them. Oromis and Glaedr were missing. When Arya had called the retreat, he had been among the few who had stayed behind to give the rest of them time. Delinnëa climbed down from her Evarínya and the silver dragon looked at her, confused as to why her Rider was electing to stay on land while their brothers were missing. Nëa ignored her dragon and helped her father down.

Lifaen cradled his wife's old sword against his chest. The moment the retreat had been called, he had disappeared into Tildarí Hall. Delinnëa had followed him and found him taking the sword with the flower in his hand. By that time the hall had been breached and she had pulled her father from the hall. Lifaen looked around as his feet hit hard ground. So many were injured or dead. Humans, Urgals, and Dwarves worked together to help the wounded Elves. The wounded were lucky that some of their number had had the magic to keep each other from dying and thus losing some of their number. As it was, of the fifty Riders sent to Ellesméra, only half that number returned. Sighing, Lifaen began walking to the cottage that he shared with his wife. He missed her terribly and would do anything to save her, even if it meant giving his life to break the blood bond. He was concerned about the plan Angela and Arya had come up with. If it failed, he would lose his entire family in which case he felt he would rather be dead. No one had said it, but it was feared the Oromis was dead as he had not returned with them.

Lifaen entered his house and set the sword on the table, watching the golden glow in the fading light. He thought it best to put the rose next to the sword. Keep them together since it was the rose that was supposed to be the key to Florina's salvation. He reached for his pouch and felt inside. It was empty. His eyes widened in fear as he turned the pouch over and shook it. Nothing came out. The rose was not there. He had had it in his hand when he was in the armory, before Nëa had pulled him out of the hall. Maybe she had grabbed it. He ran back to the field where Nëa was looking over Evarínya for injuries and healing those she found.

"Nëa," he asked, "did you grab the rose? The one I gave your mother during the Agaetí Blödhren her first year as a Rider?"

"You had it in your hand, Dad." Nëa answered, not looking at him.

"I don't have it." Lifaen answered and his daughter spun to face him, face pale. She wanted to ask if it was a joke, but the look in his eyes told her otherwise. This was not a joke. The flower had been left behind.

Arya watched as her people streamed into the valley. The dragons had ensured that no spies were among them and so Eragon had let the elves into the valley. Eragon was in the castle, having his young students make arrangements for the elves, so they had somewhere to stay during the war. Arya bit her lip as she sat atop Fírnen. She had been away too long. If she hadn't stayed those five years with Angela, then she would have caught the spies sooner. She would have been more prepared for when Florina and her Forsworn attacked them. They wouldn't have lost their home. Now, because she let her emotions rule her head, she had failed as a queen. Something her parents never would have let happen. She knew that neither of them would have let the fact that Florina was a friend cloud their judgement. They would have been ready for the war that had come upon them. Just like they had been for when Galbatorix had risen to power. It was the same scenario except Florina wasn't likely to make the mistakes her father had made and use her people in a war they did not believe in. She had declared a Rider's War and that is what this would be.

Fírnen turned his Rider away from the exodus into the valley and towards the castle where Saphira was waiting in the dragon hold. Arya was not looking forward to the talk she was going to be having with the blue dragon's Rider. When the elf queen thought of the attack, she couldn't help but shudder at the hatred and anger she had seen in Florina's eyes. She had seen it before. But then, it had been directed at her father, Galbatorix. This time, it was directed at Arya and Eragon for a lie. Arya was sure that Murtagh had told Florina that she had been kept prisoner which was the farthest thing from the truth. But this blood magic was clouding Florina's mind and Murtagh was there to ensure that no one could take her back again. Arya had seen him during the fight, keeping the elves from capturing Florina who was fighting on the ground. Fírnen had been in the sky, fighting with Kuldra. When Asdrina and her dragon suddenly appeared, Arya could do nothing but call a retreat, hoping that Florina would be captured and they could heal her in the valley where she would be safe.

Fírnen landed and Saphira twined her neck around his while Arya dismounted from his back and removed the saddle. He grabbed it and the two dragons went into the dragon hold. Arya walked into the castle after watching the elves for a few moments longer. Eragon met her at the stairs and started checking her for injuries. She assured him she was fine and he began asking what had happened. Arya explained in as little words as she could.

Florina and her followers had arrived in the dead of night. Gilderien had been taken by surprise by them and no word had been heard of him. The elves rumored they had seen him fighting, but they were uncertain as many had been fighting. Once they had gotten past the guardian, hell broke loose. The sentries provided enough of a warning that elves were able to grab their weapons and meet the invaders. Some hesitated when they saw Florina at their head and they were slaughtered by her. That is when the Riders from Garrow showed up and began fighting. The elves on the ground followed suit.

"I lost the spear." Arya said. "Not that I would have been able to bring myself to use it. Florina was about to kill me when Asdrina and her dragon showed up and took up the fight. Fírnen got me from the ground and we sounded the retreat. The Riders went towards Vroengard and I brought the elves here. The forest is lost to us. If I had just been able to kill her, none of this would have happened."

"This does not fall upon you alone, Arya. We are all to blame. When she got the blood magic under control, we fell lax in looking for a way to remove the blood magic from her. It is not your fault alone."

"I stayed with Angela and Nëa for five years. If I hadn't done that, I would have found the spies sooner. We would have been more ready for her than we were. I would have been prepared to kill my best friend!" Arya fell to the floor and held her head in her hands, crying silent tears. Eragon said nothing, not sure how he felt about Arya's declaration that she would have killed Florina in an effort to save her. It reminded him of the bird she had killed in order to spare its suffering the first time he had been to the forest.

"Better off dead, Orik had said." Eragon remembered and mentally prepared himself for the news he was about to give the woman he loved. "Arya, I've got word from Garrow and Lifaen. Oromis and Glaedr are missing. Twenty-five are dead. And the flower is missing." Arya's head shot up at the last bit, her face pale.

"You are sure?" Eragon nodded and Arya moaned into her hands in defeat.

"What is so important about that flower? What flower?" Arya didn't answer. For her, their chances of winning this war had just plummeted to zero.

*insert evil, maniacal laugh* Hope you all enjoyed the beginning of this fic. Thanks for reading and please review.