By the time Rune arrived at the Lion's Barrel, she was a sorry sight indeed. Her dress was soaked, her hair scraggly. She had lost her shoes while swimming through the moat, then been chased by an angry neighborhood dog and fallen in the mud. She had a scratch on her face where she had accidentally bumped into the stone of the grate.

Her heart was pounding. She knocked on the door, rubbing dirty water out of her eyes.

It didn't take long for Erikkin to respond. He opened the door, a lantern in hand. Taking one look at her, he pressed his lips into a thin line. "Come in, lass."

Rune stepped through the door, feeling awkward and out of place. The bar looked different now that there weren't so many men in it. A fire burned in the hearth.

"Miriam!" Erikkin called. "Miriam, come here please!"

In nigh but a moment, a stout, dark haired woman with kind eyes entered the room. She was still wearing her night dress, but when she saw Rune, she was fully awake. Erikkin left to his bedroom, content his wife would take care of their guest, at least until she was dry and clean.

"My goodness!" Miriam cried, tsking at Rune's wet dress and disheveled appearance. "You must be chilled to the bone! What's your name, dear?"

"I'm…" Rune paused. How much should she tell? Thinking of Murtagh made her heart ache. Would he want her to tell her real name?

"Come now, sweet," said Miriam, unlacing Rune's dress and hanging it by the fire, then wrapping her in a warm robe. "I won't hurt you."

Suddenly Rune knew the right answer. "I'm Dove," she said. It wasn't the truth, but it wasn't a lie either, so Rune didn't feel too horrible about it.

"Dove," Miriam repeated. She smiled, forming little crow's feet around her eyes. "Caryn! Mauve! Get in here!"

Two girls poked their heads out from around a doorway. Rune recognized the older as the serving girl from before. They scurried over to help their mother, wringing out Rune's dress and emptying her pack so it could dry. They laid the map out flat on the bar to air out. Rune was about to say something, but they didn't even touch the pouch with the money in it. They laid it aside, near her other things.

Erikkin came back into the room, bearing a clean rag. Dipping it in the pot of water by the hearth, he began to clean Rune's scratch.

Soon Rune was clean, dry, and warm. She smiled brightly at her helpers. Caryn, the older girl, had settled at her left, while Mauve was playing with her long, freshly cleaned hair. "Thank you," Rune said softly. She got up, grabbing the pouch that held her money. "I can't pay you much…"

Miriam folded Rune's hands over the coins she held out. "Dear, this is what we do. Tell us how we can help you."

Rune looked at the ground. "I'm not safe here. I need to leave the city."

"Is someone chasing you?"

"I'm afraid I can't say," Rune murmured. "I'm sorry, I wish I could tell you everything, but I just can't. Please understand."

Caryn placed a hand on her shoulder. Miriam nodded considerately. "Don't worry, Dove. We understand perfectly."

Erikkin grinned, handing her a cup of warm milk. "Tomorrow we'll take you to the market, get you ready for your journey. Where do you plan to go?"

Rune shrugged. "I suppose I'll head to Furnost, by lake Tüdosten. From there, who knows?" In reality, Rune had no intention of stopping in Furnost. She was headed straight to Cithrí, then onto Lithgow and Aberon in Surda. Although she wanted to trust Miriam and Erikkin, something in her wasn't ready to reveal her real plans. After all, she hadn't met many people. Who was she to judge character?

"I understand your need of secrecy," Erikkin said, reading the lie in her eyes. "We'll see if we can't get you a horse tomorrow. For now, I suggest we all get some sleep. Dove, you can share the girl's room."

Several minutes later, Rune was snuggled down under the warm covers, Caryn and Mauve on either side of her on the pallet.

Mauve fell asleep almost instantly, snoring lightly. Rune giggled.

Caryn seemed deep in thought. "Dove, what were you doing with the Dragon Rider, earlier? When you came to the bar?"

Rune shrugged. "He was a friend of mine."

"Was?" Caryn asked, "Did he hurt you? Is that why you're running?"

"No. Murtagh would never hurt me. He loves me."

"So you're lovers?" inquired Caryn.

Rune tucked her hands under her head. "Something like that."

Caryn nodded. "I'm to be betrothed soon. You're lucky to have a Rider. Even if he is loyal to Galbatorix."

Rune nodded, silent. She still couldn't understand what was so wrong about being loyal to Galbatorix. He was not a nice man, that was for sure, but she had never thought of him as evil.

"But that's all over now," Rune sighed. "I doubt I'll ever see Murtagh again."

"Don't talk like that," Caryn admonished. "Love always finds a way."

"I once thought that too," Rune said, realizing for the first time how feeble that argument was. "But I'm not sure anymore."

"Everything will work out. You'll see."

Rune smiled softly in the darkness, feeling somehow older than she ever had. "Yes. Maybe it will."

ooooooooooooooo

"I want sixty crowns for him," said the man, placing his hand on the stallion's neck. "His tack is included in that deal. It's a steal, for sure, but I can't afford to keep him any longer. Too many horses, not enough space."

Rune touched the stallion's nose, feeling his warm breath. What a beautiful creature. "How old is he?" she asked, rubbing his head. The horse blinked his liquid eyes at her.

"Almost three years. He's broken and mountable, but hardly a lady's horse."

Rune laughed. "As I'm hardly a lady I don't think that'll be a problem."

Erikkin inspected the horse. "I'll give you forty for him."

"Fifty-five."

"Fifty," Erikkin countered.

The man thought for a moment, then nodded. "Done."

Rune stroked her new horse's roan coat, rubbing him in much the same way she used to rub Thorn. He nickered at her, stomping his white socked hoof. A sort of fire was held in his black eyes.

"Thou beauty," she whispered, "Thou art a mighty fighter."

"I'll get his saddle," said the man, disappearing into the stables. He returned with a heavy saddle and a bridle, both well crafted. He set the saddle on the horse's back, and handed Rune the bridle. "There you go, lass. Care for him well."

"I will," Rune assured. She slipped the bridle over his nose. "Come, beauty."

Later, in the square, Caryn stared in wonder at the horse. "He's lovely," she said, touching his mane. "Does he have a name?"

"I'll have to think of one," Rune said.

Rune recalled her only fond memory of her father. When she was about six, not a baby anymore but not quite a lass either, Galbatorix had taken an entire day out of his schedule, just for her. They had curled up together on his throne, and he had told her the legends of the dragons of the past. Of Vanilor the Great, Ingothold and Miremel.

"His name is Eridor," she stated, recalling her favorite story.

"But Eridor is a dragon's name!" Mauve giggled.

Rune grinned. "It's his name too."

"Eridor is a fine name," Erikkin said. "For he is a fine horse."

Rune smiled happily, patting Eridor. "Thou art more than a fine horse," she whispered, "Thou have a dragon's heart."

Author's Note:

Just wanted to mention that Eridor, Ingothold, Miremel, and Vanilor are really the name of dragons in Eragon. You'll find them when Eragon is listing off names to Saphira in the chapter A Name of Power, in the first book. I liked Eridor the best, and I really wanted to use it. But since I didn't make Rune a Rider (and have no intention of doing so as it would cross the Mary-Sue line) I decided it would be a good name for her horse.

Also, as regards to Rune's archaic speech with Eridor--I read in another book about dragon riders (not nearly as good as Eragon as the dragons couldn't think or talk) that talking in Old English, with the thou's and art's is supposed to bring a dragon closer to its master. I figured hey, why not Rune with her horse? Hope it doesn't bug anyone too much, I know I drive my brother crazy when I talk like that.

Hearts to all, KittenofShadows