Author's Note: Hey all. I just wanted to say, please don't think Rune's a spoiled brat because of the last chapter. Well, you can if you really want to, but I'd prefer not. :D See, I tried to portray her as shocked, hurt, and rather in disbelief, as she and Sunboy had feelings for each other practically since they met. If you've ever been dumped, you might know how it is. The fact that she was never really told 'no' just makes it worse for her. Forgive her? Hearts, Kittie

"How do you know he won't simply kill us all?" Eragon cried angrily, hand reaching for his nameless blade as if to guard himself against Galbatorix even now.

"He's insane, not stupid," Rune said calmly, unflustered. She had known this was going to be their reaction. "He needs us. And, as much as we don't want to admit it, we need him."

"How so?" Ieran questioned, voice level. The former Shade didn't look upset about returning to the man who had nearly killed him. Instead, he was nodding quietly to himself.

"Eragon has told me about Murtagh's strength with magic. He healed a gash on Thorn's leg without even swaying. If Sundavar and Eragon can become that strong, we might have a chance."

"I won't swear loyalty to the scum of the ground," Súndavar snorted. "If you're asking me to do that, I might as well kill myself here and save Galbatorix the trouble."

"I'm not asking you to swear to him," Rune said quietly. "All I'm asking is that you control yourselves enough to be civil to him, receive the training he is willing to give. He is going to try and sway you to his side, but I have no doubt we can withstand that. Together."

Shay was very quiet.

"You're the tactical expert, Shay," Eragon said. "Please tell me this plan will work."

Shay blinked at him. "Lily is with Galbatorix."

Eragon hit himself in the forehead. "Alright. I see the good points of the plan. But are they not outweighed by the fact we are willingly traveling to the man who we are trying to defeat?"

"We were traveling to him all along," Ieran pointed out. "As I see it, this is a tactical disaster. If one of you falls to Galbatorix's wiles, it could tear you all apart. But if your hearts have enough strength to endure, then I say, by all means, go ahead."

Rune took a deep breath. "There is one more thing."

"What?"

"I have someone loyal to us inside the palace already."

"What?" Súndavar cried in surprise.

"Shruikan."

Eragon's eyes bulged. "Are you completely insane? Perhaps you take after your father after all! Shruikan is the very dragon who took down countless generations of Riders! He is the—"

"He is a pawn," Rune said softly. "He was violated and twisted by Galbatorix, like countless others. His heart is not dark, Argetlam."

"And you'd know."

Rune touched Eragon's shoulder. "Brother, why can't you trust me on this fact? He could have killed us when we were caught in the castle in Uru'baen after the tournament, could he not have? Yet he did not. He could have killed us when he came to Ellesmera with Thorn, could he not have? Yet he did not. His heart, although not pure for the dark magic Galbatorix has desecrated him with, is more gold than iron."

Eragon blinked at her. "As you wish, Princess."

"Besides, Galbatorix will know what's happening to Súndavar. Maybe he can even turn it around. I think going to my father might be our only hope. For all of us."

Súndavar looked at his hands with his Shade-eyes. "Oromis would murder us here and now if he knew what we were about to do."

Rune smiled. "It is better to ask for forgiveness than for permission," she said. She held out her hand. "Who is with me?"

Shay placed her hand on Rune's first. "For Lily."

Súndavar followed. "For Lexi."

Vanir placed his over theirs. "For Alana."

"For Freoh," Ieran said.

Eragon rolled his eyes. "For the love of goodness."

Rune smiled.

"And for Alagäesia!"

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

It is nigh time you returned to those who share your hearts, Matrix said to the younger dragons, golden eyes flickering in the reflected moonlight off the Place of Love's mosaic. You ache for them.

Slate snorted smoke.

Saphira glanced at him, then back at Matrix. How do we find them? Without our connections, are they not lost to us?

Of course not. Your wings will tell you the way, Matrix said. I cannot lead you this time. You must lead yourself.

Saphira blinked, then nodded. Come Slate, she called, taking to the skies. Slate reluctantly followed.

Saphira looked at the younger dragon. Does not your heart soar with the prospect of seeing Súndavar again?

Slate shrugged. I do miss him, he said. But we were never as close as you were to Eragon.

Because of his cutting?

Slate met her eyes, then looked away. Perhaps. Or maybe I made the wrong choice.

Why do you say that?

Slate shook his head. No reason, he said. Where were you last night?

You're not a very good subject-changer, Slate.

Answer the question.

Saphira wasn't sure exactly how much to tell him. She herself was unsure what had happened and the meaning of the words she heard sung in life-song as she slept with her nose to the Motherstone.

I was restless, she said. I am eager to set my eyes on Eragon again.

You are beginning to talk like Matrix, Slate laughed. So formal.

Saphira returned his laugh with a light-hearted lick of flame and a chuckle of her own. Well, she is mighty, isn't she?

She is. What do you suppose will become of her?

Whatever do you mean?

Slate frowned. Saphira, Matrix belongs to a generation of dragons that is dead and gone. She has no mate. Eventually, she will die.

Perhaps. Or perhaps she'll stay with us.

There isn't much of a chance of that. She hates humans. She said she could smell them on us, like a plague, remember?

Don't you think if she met Rune and he others she would change her mind?

Slate shook his head. No. I don't.

Don't be pessimistic. Suppose she mates with Glaedr. That's possible, is it not?

We don't know her age, or if she would even possibly be attracted to Glaedr, Slate pointed out. Saphira, perhaps…I have been thinking.

Saphira spun onto her back About what?

…I've been thinking about being a dragon.

Saphira's eyes brightened visibly. Oh?

I've been thinking that perhaps it's time that we carried out our duty to our species. Our lives are both in danger, if we return to our Riders.

If?

When. What I mean is, if you die without an egg, dragons and hence Riders are doomed. Perhaps…

Perhaps what? She knew what he was asking. Her heart beat in her chest as she watched Slate intently with her dragon eyes. He looked distinctly uncomfortable, nervous, and perhaps a bit afraid. He met her eyes hesitantly.

Saphira?

Yes?

…I would like to…er…ask you…and if you say no, it is alright. But I just thought I would ask. Will you—

Slate was interrupted by an otherworldly scream.

Lethyrblaka! Matrix cried, her voice the most urgent Slate and Saphira had ever heard it be. The wine-colored dragon dove, and the draclings saw the reason on the horizon.

Black forms, demon images. Dark as hate and malice, with an aura that made Saphira sick to her stomach.

Lethyrblaka.

Saphira caught Slate's eyes. If we die?

Yes?

I love you.

With that, she beat her wings twice as fast, hurtling towards the creatures with all her strength.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

It was Sundavar who saw them first. Three figures, far enough away to look small, but close enough to look dangerous and unfriendly.

"What are they?" he asked, his fingers clutching the leather of the lethyblaka's saddle tightly for fear of falling off. Rune shook her head in wonderment, glancing at Eragon.

The Rider shrugged.

The shock and fear of riding the lethyrblaka had worn off long ago. Although Vanir looked quite a bit ill, they had all resigned that the demon-bats were the fastest way to reach Galbatorix.

It was Tawnyclaw who identified the approaching forms first.

Come Saphira! Come Slate! Come, come!

Rune stared at him. Her green eyes widened in recognition and shock.

Eragon and Sundavar's faces mirrored her own.

Dragonssssssssss! Hissed the lethyrblaka hatefully. Thousands of years of rivalry was not easily put aside.

The Ra'zac looked from their parents to the incoming dragons, eyes blinking. They glanced at the Riders.

"Land," the taller one demanded.

For a moment, Rune thought the lethyrblaka was going to make him say please and use his manners like a good boy. Instead, it shrieked in annoyance, and dove downwards, almost knocking its child to its death below. The Ra'zac cawed like a raven being boiled, and clung tightly to the ruff of fur, feathers, and slime that encircled the creature's neck.

The lethyrblaka came to a neat stop, the Ra'zac flying off of it and into a tree, where it laid, crumpled, for a moment, before getting up and dusting itself off. It circled the tree and sat down, like a child after being punished.

Call your dragon, boy, it demanded Eragon, eyes full of hate and darkness. Call it before I lose control and kill it. Or you.

I don't have a connection with her any longer. It was broken.

The lethyrblaka eyed him with a mixed expression. For your ssssssake, I hope you are ssssspeaking falsssssssehood.

Rune slipped her hand into Eragon's. "Call her," she said. "She'll hear."

Eragon smiled hesitantly and closed his eyes. Rune squeezed his hand. He searched his entire mind for a tiny trace of a connection, finding none. Instead, he for a memory of a connection in the corner of himself. The memory was so strong – everything Saphira had ever said, everything they had ever shared, all combined into a single strand of power --he held onto it, hoping it would be enough.

Saphira!

He felt Rune's strength added to his own as he called. The girl swirled into him, adding her voice in a brilliant burst of colors in his mind.

Saphira!

In a rush, it was back. His mind tickled.

You do not know how much I have longed to hear my name spoken by you.

Saphira! Eragon barely felt the tears of joy rolling down his cheeks. Rune's hand slipped away from his, but he didn't notice. He was too caught up in his joy. Saphira. Her mind sang in his own.

Are you being held captive? The lethyrblaka, I saw them.

I'm fine, he said. In the quickest way he could, he told Saphira of Rune's plan.

The princess is either very brave or very foolish.

Of perhaps both, Eragon agreed. Can you find us?

My wings will follow my heart, Saphira answered. Thank Wind and Fire we're together again.