Author's Note: Hey, thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. Sorry this one's late. I've been running around with my head cut off trying to get everything done. Also, sorry about the poem in the last chapter. It wasn't very good. I wrote it in the shower. My guy friend had a birthday last week, so this one's to him. HAPPY 15TH BIRTHDAY LUKE! Hearts, Kittie

Rune felt cold. The darkness around her was cold, seeping in through her nose, her eyes, her mouth. It strangled her softly with its terrible embrace, choking and cradling her at the same time.

Hello, little devil.

Rune felt colder.

How have you been?

Rune began to struggle to free herself from the clinch of the shadows, but they only tightened around her.

Do you miss me?

Rune tried to scream, but the darkness invaded her mouth, blocking off the sound. She gasped for air, but found none.

Werecat got your tongue? What a pity.

Rune fought and clawed, but the dark power wasn't deferred. It – He – held her tightly, rocking slowly like one might a cradle.

Where are you hiding from me? he asked. Where have you been all this time?

Rune coughed, gasping for air. The shadows let her go, drawing away so she could answer.

You already know, she whispered. You haunt me.

The voice laughed, a laugh that Rune knew all too well. Do I? Are my visits really so haunting? he paused, I've come to look forward to them. Pity the feeling isn't mutual.

Rune shivered and pulled farther away. The darkness materialized at her back, pushing her into the center again.

I hate you, she said in a tiny hiss, like an angry kitten.

Do you now?

I hate you more than you could ever know.

Rune could almost feel his grin. Really? Then perhaps there is hope for you yet.

What?

Only those who have been hurt can hate, little devil. When you left, you were weak. Useless. You have become what I always wanted in a child.

You have taken away everything from me! she cried. How can you say I am what you want? You've haunted me, you've made me live in fear every waking moment.

Do you fear me? Or do you love me?

I hate you.

That is alright. Hate is powerful. Hate gives incentive.

I am not afraid for my own heart, Rune snapped. I fear for those you will kill in simple cold blood.

Yet you know what you must do.

Yes. I know how to defeat you.

Galbatorix grinned. The shadows grinned. Rune's hands clenched into fists.

We shall see, my dear. We shall see. When the time comes, perhaps you will find you do not hate me so much as you believe.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Rune woke with a fever. Her body shivered under the heavy blankets.

"Water," she croaked.

Súndavar looked up at her. For a moment his eyes flashed evergreen in happiness. "Rune!"

"Water," she repeated.

"Lenori!" Súndavar called. "Lenori, she's up!"

Lenori's head poked around the doorway, blonde hair a wave. She broke into a grin. "I'll get her something to drink," she said, darting away.

Súndavar squeezed Rune's hand tightly with his own. "How do you feel?"

"Like all of the bricks in the castle toppled and landed on my chest."

He laughed and pressed a hand against her cheek. "Eragon, Vanir, Ieran and I managed to heal most everything, but some things only time can cure."

She sighed, snuggling down into the blankets more. "How do I look?"

"Beautiful."

"I mean do I have bruises and scrapes? Will anything scar?"

Súndavar shook his head. "Even if it did, you'd still look beautiful."

Rune groaned. "And you look like a skunk. What did you do to your hair?"

Súndavar touched his hair hesitantly. The red roots were half an inch long now, creating a rather interesting looking streak. "Uhm…"

"Actually, I'd rather not know," Rune said with a smile. "How have you been?"

"Worried. Tawnyclaw has been worried too."

Rune looked to the windowsill. "Where is he?"

Súndavar shrugged. "I'm not sure. He's been gone a lot. Without you holding him here, I don't think he has much of a reason to stay."

"I don't control him."

"If birds can love, he loves you."

"He's not just a bird."

"Of course not. He's a talking bird."

They laughed together, and Rune felt a little bit better. Laughing hurt her chest, but it healed her heart.

"I love him too," she said. "But perhaps not in the same way I might love someone of my own species." She stopped as she realized that in reality, she and Eragon and Súndavar weren't the same species at all. Their blood was so mixed it was hard to tell what species they were at all. "Well…you know what I mean."

"Yes. I think it is basically impossible for anything to work out between you and Tawnyclaw."

"So you aren't worried?"

"Nope. I'm afraid he simply can't compete with me in this matter."

About this time Lenori returned with water. Súndavar helped Rune sit up, keeping the blankets tightly around her naked body. Rune sipped at the water with delight.

"I dreamed of Galbatorix again," she told Súndavar when Lenori had left.

"Oh?"

"Yes. He told me I don't hate him, and that I'm everything he wanted as a daughter."

Súndavar laughed.

"What have you been dreaming of?" Rune asked.

Súndavar blinked. Lexia, he wanted to say. Instead, he replied, "I cannot remember my dreams."

"Really? They must not be important, then."

"No. Not important at all."

He was about to slip under the covers next to her, just for the pleasure of holding her in his arms again, keeping her shivering body warm, when Ieran came into the room. He looked pointedly at Súndavar, as if he had read his mind, before smiling at Rune.

"You awaken, maiden."

"If I had a crown for every time I heard someone say that, I would be a good deal richer than I am at the moment."

Ieran laughed. "And where is my son?"

"I'm ri—"

"Freoh?" Rune asked. "Mistress Keladry is caring for him. I didn't want to put a baby in danger. Plus he could give us away, if he started crying at the wrong time. I hope you don't mind?"

"Not in the least," Ieran said. "She'll take good care of him, I'm sure."

Súndavar was staring at them, open mouthed. "You mean Rune's been carrying around my bloody half-brother without me knowing?"

Rune blinked, but didn't look surprised at this revelation.

Ieran nodded. "Yes. Freoh is my son. Cladi was my lover."

"Lover or victim?"

Ieran looked away.

"So I thought," Súndavar snorted. Rune laid a hand on his arm.

"Hush," she told him firmly. "Don't rub salt in other's wounds. You of all people should know that, cutter." She said the last word lovingly, almost like an endearing nickname.

He smiled at her, and she smiled back.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Rune was up and walking the next day. Her muscles ached, but she found that if she was careful, she could sit down, stand up, and move around with only minimal difficulty. Súndavar discovered a tiny scar, right above her heart, but other than that she was unscathed.

Lenori had appointed herself Rune's guardian, going everywhere with her, never leaving her side.

"Where's Eridor?" Rune asked at the breakfast table.

Everyone exchanged hesitant glances.

Rune caught them. "He's…he's dead, isn't he?"

Vanir was the first to speak. "When an animal wounds an elf in Du Weldenvarden, it is assumed the animal was acting in self defense. The elf is at fault. Here, there are no such laws. Your horse threw you off—"

"I fell off!" Rune exclaimed. "I fell off because I thought I could race but I couldn't! It was my fault."

Shay stepped in, putting a hand on Vanir's shoulder. "Rune," she said, "Be that as it may, Eridor was considered feral. His left hind hoof clipped your chest. You were stepped on by another racer. The racer was charged with assault fined, and his horse was hamstringed. It's Tabor's law."

"What about Eridor?"

"He disappeared. Ran off, after the race. Several people tried to catch him, but they couldn't."

"We'll get you another horse, Rune," Eragon said softly. "The fine—"

"I don't want another horse!" Rune cried. "I want Eridor! No one would say, 'we'll get you another dragon' to you!" she started sobbing into her hands.

Eragon broke off, staring at her.

Shay and Lenori shared an understanding glance.

"She'll be alright," Shay whispered in Eragon's tapered ear. "She's just getting her—"

"I am not!" Rune screamed. "I am not! I haven't since my night in the glade with Eragon! I am not!" with that, she got up from the table, fleeing as quickly as she could. The door slammed behind her.

"Now look what you've done!" Súndavar yelled at Eragon. "You've gone and upset her!"

"I—"

Ieran laid a hand on Eragon's shoulder, then Súndavar's. "Both of you, calm down."

"I'm going to talk to Rune," Súndavar huffed.

"No, you aren't."

Everyone looked at Vanir in surprise.

"I'll talk to her."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Vanir sat down next to Rune by the oak tree. She was staring into the distance. Neither acknowledged the other.

The silence dragged on.

"What?" Rune asked finally.

Vanir shrugged. "How are you feeling?"

"Terrible."

"I mean about Eragon and everything," the elf man said. "Not about your wounds."

"In that case : Terrible."

There was silence.

"Eragon was only trying to comfort you," Vanir said. "Why get so angry at him?"

"Because he…I don't know."

"He loves you like a sister," Vanir said. "You should apologize for being angry at him."

"How can I be anything but angry at him? What if I carry his child?"

Vanir shook his head. "You would know, by now, believe me."

"And how would you know? You don't have children."

"I could tell, if you were with child, Rune. Believe me. You are not."

Rune started crying again. "I dream of Galbatorix at night," she said, "He tells me that I am everything he wanted in a daughter. What if that's true?"

"You share many of Galbatorix's qualities," Vanir admitted. "You are stubborn, willful, strong, courageous, and have a clear definition of what you want. But you also share Lycona's qualities. Her goodness is in you."

Rune paused to think about this. "Vanir?"

"Yes?"

"Do you know what we must do?"

Vanir nodded. "I take no joy in such knowledge, but yes. I know what we must do."

"I think we should leave tonight."

Vanir looked at her, and saw the steel in her eyes. "You're right," he said. "So shall it be."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"Ieran."

"Yes?"

"Are you journeying with us, from here on?" Vanir asked.

The young man shrugged. "Perhaps. If I am welcome."

Súndavar opened his mouth to protest, but Vanir cut him off. "You are welcome if you swear loyalty to our cause. You must be one of us."

"My heart is united with that of you and your mission," Ieran said in the ancient language. "So mote it be."

Vanir nodded in satisfaction.

Súndavar was hitting his head against the wall.

"Kill me," he said. "Just bloody kill me now."