"Where are you headed?" asked the guard from the top of the wall. His armor shone in the bright sun.

"Furnost!" Rune cried.

"What business does a lass like you have there?"

Rune had prepared for this question. "I'm visiting my uncle. He lives there." She kept her voice high and young sounding. Innocent, angelic. Just a little girl, riding to her uncle's house. Not a princess on the run. Heaven forbid that idea.

"The roads aren't safe for a lass all alone," the guard advised.

"Oh, I'm not alone," Rune said, trying to keep up her act. "I've got Eridor! He's the best horse ever. He'll keep me company."

"Very well, pass on. Next!" bellowed the guard.

Rune rode through the gates, feeling free and happy. She was dressed in a rough tunic and boy's hose, with Murtagh's worn cloak draped around her shoulders. Her hair was in the ever-present braid. In town she had bought two saddle bags, which had been loaded with bread, dried meat, and a jar to put water in when she chanced upon a stream. The sack Murtagh had given her was also tied to the saddle. At her belt hung her first ever weapon, a sharp little dagger she had named Fricai.

She spurred Eridor into a gallop, He whinnied loudly, seeming to draw from his master's high spirit. His muscles bulged under the saddle.

"Run, beauty," Rune whispered to him, feeling at home in the saddle. She hadn't ridden often before, just on a pony around the courtyard when she was little, but this was different. This felt right. It was just Eridor and her and the sky and the plains.

"It'll take us nearly a week to reach the Varden, I'm sure," she told him. "Maybe more."

Eridor nickered, as if saying he didn't care.

"Yes," Rune responded, "Yes, I could go on like this forever too. Forget Eragon, and the Varden, and my father, and the elves. Just run and sing and be free. Fly."

Eridor sped up, as if showing off to the pretty girl on his back. Look how fast I can go, he seemed to say.

Rune laughed. She laughed at her father for thinking he could imprison her, at Murtagh and Miriam and Erikkin and their girls. She laughed at herself, and at Eragon. It felt good.

Night fell quickly. The pair happened upon a clear, bubbling brook, and drank deeply. The moon shone down, but neither wanted to stop.

When the sun rose again, Rune's spirits still hadn't dampened. Eridor hadn't tired, but his pace had evened. He was no longer showing off, trying to get ahead. Just running was enough.

"I'm free," Rune said reverently. She spoke to no one, not herself or Eridor. Not the plains or the sky. "I'm free."

Finally. All her life she'd dreamed of this feeling. Now she had it. Her heart sang. She felt light and airy, as if she could just lift off into the sky and be gone forever.

ooooooooooooooooooooo

Murtagh felt the pain crash over him like a waterfall. He collapsed to the ground, but it didn't matter. Nothing mattered. Make it stop! his mind cried. All he wanted was the pain to stop. To go away.

No, I reassured himself. Think of something else. Think of Rune.

He filled his mind with her. The way her body had felt pressed against his in that final hug, the way she smiled. Her face. Her voice. Rune. Rune, Rune, Rune. Thinking of her made the pain lessen. Not stop, but let up. Just a little, but it was something.

Murtagh envisioned Rune riding away, towards Eragon. Eragon. He thought of her in his arms, Eragon holding her like he himself used to. The hurt came back.

Just Rune, he thought. Not Eragon. Just Rune. Rune's hair, Rune's eyes, Rune's gentle lips on his cheek. Nothing else existed. Not the pain, not Galbatorix, not even Thorn. Just Rune, Rune, Rune.

"Stop thinking of her!" Galbatorix bellowed. Abruptly the pain stopped. "Stop your pathetic, boyish thoughts about my daughter."

Murtagh tried to lever himself back to his feet, but didn't succeed. He vomited blood on the floor, before finally getting to his knees.

"You helped her escape," Galbatorix said. His eyes glittered dangerously, his voice was a hiss.

Murtagh didn't deny it. He said nothing, not trusting his tongue.

"Do you know how much Rune means?" asked the furious king. "Do you know how much you have cost me?"

Rune means nothing to you, Murtagh thought angrily. You care only about yourself and your stupid longing for Surda.

Galbatorix had picked up his thoughts. "As a person, Rune means nothing. As my daughter, she is everything. I could have tied Surda to us in a way beyond the law. She could have lead to the fulfillment of everything I have attempted."

Murtagh was still breathing hard. Everything he had attempted. That meant not only Surda's lands, but Eragon and Saphira.

"Yes, Eragon and Saphira as well," Galbatorix said, with a mocking slur in his snakelike voice.

Eragon could have suspected your trap, Murtagh thought. He would never have just come.

"Most likely not, unless I have something of…" Galbatorix grinned devilishly, "value to him."

Like what? Murtagh asked. His breath was still coming in ragged gasps, and he wasn't quite ready to trust his speech.

"I've heard the elf princess is a very beautiful young woman," said Galbatorix with a shrug.

Rune is beautiful too, thought Murtagh sullenly. Eragon would probably fall for her the instant they met. And she would be lost to him forever…

Galbatorix's eyes lit up. "Perhaps you aren't useless," he said thoughtfully. "You've aided my plan without meaning to. Eragon…and Rune…"

Murtagh stared at him. No, no, no! That would be horrible.

"You're dismissed, Murtagh," said the king, motioning him away with a ringed hand.

Murtagh turned to leave, feeling stunned. What have I done now?

Author's Note:

Hey everyone. I was considering giving Rune a travel partner, and wanted you as my faithful readers help with designing him/her/it. Basically, I'm asking for character profiles. You can send them to me using the address in my profile. Stuff I'd like you to include is:

Name:

Personality:

Looks:

Age:

Skills/Weapons:

Extra: (just any extra little facts you'd like me to include or history of your character)

It doesn't even have to be a person, maybe an animal or something. Whatever you want. The more creative the better. If I don't choose your character for the person who's traveling with her, I may use it in the upcoming chapters. So keep on sending even after I post her new partner. You aren't limited to just one, send as many as you like:D Also, I'm always open to a picture or something of your character. Thanx again for reading!

Hearts to all,

KittenofShadows