Author's Note: I would like to dedicate this chapter to Lily Shay, for her encouragement and reviews, and for coming through with a great character. It means a lot to me. Hearts to you, Kittie

Rune watched the healer carefully, not moving from her place on the bed. It hurt to move, hurt to breathe, hurt to lie still, but the pain had faded from a coursing scourge to a dull, aching hum.

Her fever had subsided, along with the vomiting and ranting, but Rune hadn't yet found enough strength to talk. Angela went about her day blabbering aimlessly, just to keep Rune from being bored, it seemed, and had never expected the girl to answer any of the questions posed to her.

The princess was growing rather fond of Angela. She liked her voice, and her curly hair, and the way her hands moved so quickly. Solembum, too. By day we would curl up at her side, speaking to her silently. She had never responded to him, but it didn't seem to matter. It confused her how he could talk, as he was a cat, but she had seen stranger things and dismissed it. He had offered to catch a rabbit for her, an offer she had politely declined.

Rune wasn't sure how long she had been laying there. Sometimes it seemed like no time at all, while others it seemed like years. Her wounds were nearly healed, but still she stayed.

Angela was still talking. "…all toads are frogs but not all frogs are toads. Well, no frogs are toads…"

Rune let her words fade again. She closed her eyes. It seemed like only a few moments before she heard the door opening. Súndavar poked his head through the open doorway.

"Knock, if you please," Angela said tartly, not turning up from her work.

"I'm here to see Rune. May I come in?"

Angela glanced up, then down again. "If you must. I'm going out to collect some herbs I saw earlier, so don't touch anything while I'm gone." She bustled out the door, leaving the two alone.

Súndavar sat down by Rune's bed. He was silent for a moment, then smiled. "How are you?"

Rune blinked, biting her lip. She wasn't sure if she was ready to speak yet. She might be able to, but doing such would effectively end her sick days. No more listening to Angela talk, no more having Solembum flick his tail in her face. Was she ready for that?"

"You don't have to talk if you don't want to," Súndavar assured her, as if reading her thoughts. "I just wanted to know how you were. How are your scars?"

Rune shrugged, wiggling down under the blankets more to cover more of her chest. Súndavar noticed her bare shoulders and turned pink. "Oh…I see. I can leave, if you want."

Shaking her head emphatically, Rune smiled at him. Her mind was bursting with things to say, but she held them back. Finally she settled on a short, simple sentence.

"I missed you."

Súndavar smiled back at her. "Me too. Eragon's checked on you every day. I think he feels responsible."

Rune frowned. "I don't remember him coming in. What does he look like? Is he as handsome as they say?"

"You were sleeping. I spied on him from the doorway…" Súndavar didn't answer the question about Eragon's looks.

Rune cocked her head. "You don't seem to like him."

"Not much," Súndavar admitted. "But he doesn't like me either, so it's okay."

Solembum hopped onto Rune's chest. Who is this, Rune?

My…my friend, Rune answered in her thoughts, without meaning to. Solembum looked pleased at her progression. He hopped to the floor, and skittered out the door, promising to return with a mouse of celebration.

Rune made a face at his proposition. Súndavar laughed. "What's wrong?"

"Oh, that's—" she paused. "You mean you couldn't hear him?"

"Who, that cat?"

Rune nodded. "His name's Solembum. You're sure you didn't hear him talking?"

"Cat's don't talk," Súndavar said, brushing Rune's hair away from her face. "You've been sleeping too long, friend."

Rune laughed. "Angela will be back soon. You'd better go, or risk being caught in a discussion about the virtues of frogs and their untoadliness."

Súndavar grinned. "Alright. I'll see you later then, right?"

"Count on it."

Súndavar pushed his chair back from the bed, standing up. He leaned over, bringing his face dangerously close to Rune's. Pressing his lips to her forehead gently, he retreated without a word.

Rune swallowed. Murtagh had kissed her like that countless times, but for Súndavar, this was a first. She wasn't sure how she felt about it.

"I see you can talk, little Rune," Angela said, coming back through the door. Rune didn't ask how she knew.

"Yes…I can."

The herbalist lifted the blanket, smearing more herbs and mushroom goop on her sores. Rune laid still. When that was done, Angela replaced the blanket and went about her work.

"There was a time there where I wasn't sure you were going to make it," Angela admitted, twisting a chain of herbs into a braid to use later. "You were quite feverish, and you talked in your sleep."

"What did I say?" Rune asked, hoping she hadn't betrayed her secret. Although maybe…jut maybe…she would tell Angela. As payment for taking such good care of her.

"Mostly things along the lines of Galbatorix, Murtagh, and Thorn. I'm insanely curious as to why, but of course you don't have to say anything."

Rune sat up, taking some undergarments, a fresh tunic, and a pair of hose off the back of a chair. They looked like they would fit.

"Eragon left those for you when you woke up," Angela said. She hadn't looked at Rune to see her pick them up, but Rune had learned that often Angela just knew.

Rune put on the underclothes, then slipped the tunic over her head, trying and failing not to catch on her pointed ears. When she had straightened herself out, she fastened the belt around her waist and climbed into the hose.

Rune admired herself quietly. The tunic was in hues of green, while the riding pants were light, supple leather, the color of tea with cream in it. She slipped on her boots she had bought back in Uru'baen—which hadn't been damaged—and grinned. She was ready to journey out of the room. But first—

"Angela?"

"Hmm?"

Rune took a deep breath. "I have to talk to you about something."

oooooooooooooooooooooo

"You awaken, maiden!" Eragon said, taking several long strides to her side.

Rune looked at him and smiled. She had braided her hair like a crown around her head, up out of her face, displaying her pointed ears proudly. Eragon thought she looked great.

"Are you hungry?"

Rune shrugged, not sure who this strange—if handsome—man was. Life in a castle, with dark secrets creeping about, had taught her to be wary of strangers. "Don't think me rude, but may I ask, sir, who you are?"

Eragon blinked dumbly at her for a minute, then extended his hand, gedwëy ignasia up. "Eragon Shadeslayer."

Rune's mouth fell open. She couldn't speak for a moment. Finally she managed to stutter: "You...you look different on the posters," she paused, then hastily added, "Argetlam." She wasn't sure if she should curtsy or bow. In a confused attempt to do both, she toppled over.

Eragon laughed. Rune liked his laugh, rich and deep. She grinned, picking herself up off the ground.

"It won't do to have you with Angela, now that you're healed," he said, still chuckling. "Have you a preference on chambers?"

Rune shook her head. "I'm here to join the Varden. Wherever they sleep is fine by me. I don't want special treatment."

Eragon raised an eyebrow. "That, we'll have to take up with Lady Nasuada, my liege lord and leader of the Varden. I don't think they've ever had a child join the Varden alone. As far as sleeping goes, I would put you with your friend, but I'm not sure about the virtue of that decision."

Rune turned pink. "I'm still a maiden, if that's what you mean. Súndavar and I aren't lovers."

Eragon grinned. "He's told me as much. Though he does seem protective of you."

"We've come a long way together."

"All the same," Eragon said, "Angela made me promise to take care of you. You'll sleep in my chambers, with Saphira and I. That way I needn't worry about you."

Rune paled. "Um…I thank you. But…may I ask why you would do that? You've hardly met me."

"I rescued you and Súndavar from the Ra'zac—"

Rune interrupted him. "Súndavar could have taken care of it all on his own."

"Maybe so. But he didn't, and you got hurt. That wouldn't have happened if I had gotten there sooner."

"I don't want you feeling responsible, if that's what you're saying."

"But it's a Rider's lot to feel so."

"Very well," Rune agreed, not as put out by the prospect of sharing chambers with Eragon as she pretended.

Author's Note: Hey guys. I wanted to point out something I forgot to mention. Everything in the Ancient Language that appears in this book is real, minus some slight variations of grammar ('gánga' to 'gángir') due to using them in different format. This is mostly just to make the words flow, like the Ancient Language should. Hearts to all, KittenofShadows