"I am to escort you to your dressing room," Murtagh said to Rune, staring over her head instead of into her eyes. "There is a tiring woman there, along with your companions. They will dress you."

"Arya is a princess!" Rune snapped. "She is not going to dress me."

"They are your servants now. They will accompany you when you sit in the stands to watch the tournament," Murtagh said, his voice neutral. "Come, princess."

Rune followed him with tense silence. He stopped in front of a door. Unlocking it, he motioned her inside. "King Galbatorix expects you ready in two hours. I will return then."

Rune felt the door close behind her. She threw herself into Angela's arms, sobbing.

Angela stroked her hair. "Hush, Rune. It's alright."

"No, it isn't," Rune cried. "I've doomed you all!"

"Don't be ridiculous," Arya said. "Things will find a way to work themselves out in the end. They always do."

The other woman stood up, a hand on her stomach. "You are Rune?"

Rune nodded, wiping her eyes.

"I am Katrina."

Rune examined her. She was beautiful, with copper hair and a soft face. Her dress was stretched tight across her stomach, which bulged unnaturally.

"With child?"

Katrina nodded. "Five months." She smiled softly. "Let's get you ready. Arya is right, all will work out in the end."

"How can you be sure?"

"I can't. But we must go on believing that it will."

Rune nodded. "Alright." She sighed. "But I don't see what good it will do. I am a prisoner, after all."

"You are a present," Angela corrected. "A gift to the winner."

"So you know about the tournament?"

"Murtagh told us. He loves you, Rune."

Rune nodded. "Perhaps, once, I might have been able to love him back. We could have been happy together. But I cannot now, not after what he has done."

Katrina handed her a veil, then tried to help her into a dress. Rune pushed her away gently. "I'll do this myself. No matter what my father wishes, you'll not serve me."

After a half hour of failing to wiggle into the dress, Rune finally accepted help. Arya tightened the corset around her tightly. With each tug, Rune gasped.

"Does—it—have—to—be—so—tight?" she wheezed.

"Rich ladies all throughout the Empire wear those," Katrina said, eyeing the underclothes. "I wish I could have one. They're incredibly expensive."

Rune was turning a bit blue in the face. "If this is what wealth brings, take away my riches. Arya, loosen this! I can't breathe!"

The elf princess laughed, loosening the corset. Rune took a deep, gasping breath of air. "Oh, thank heavens."

Katrina laughed. "There are matching dresses for us as well. We are to sit with you in the stands to watch the tournament."

"Murtagh said as much," Rune said, still catching her breath. "Alright Arya. I'm ready to try again. Not so tight this time."

Arya laced up the corset. Rune bit her lip, then nodded. "Alright. This will do. If I faint, try to revive me before anyone sees."

Soon the four women started to enjoy themselves. Rune was glad that they could lose themselves in the silks, even for a moment. It helped take her mind off things.

They began to joke around. Katrina powdered her hair and cheeks with white face powder, then chased Rune around the room making ghostly sounds. Angela put up her hair in an insane style, then put on a crazy dress and strutted around the room pretending to be a peacock. Even Arya laughed when Rune did an impression of a snobby princess, sticking her nose up at the dress Katrina—pretending to be a merchant—offered her, claiming that "Rubies look simply dreadful with my complexion. It's diamonds or nothing!"

Rune made up for having them dress her by helping Katrina into her dress as well.

Smiling, Rune examined her group. "You are my friends," she stated simply. "I hope we remain such forevermore."

Katrina went to stand by her. She placed her hand on Rune's. "As do I."

Angela clasped her hand over Katrina's. "And I."

Arya sighed. Placing her hand over theirs, she nodded. "And I as well."

"May this union last until the stars burn out," Rune said. "Yawë to you all."

"Yawë."

"Yawë"

"Yawë."

Rune embraced them. She may have been heading to her doom, but she had friends. That was all that mattered.

ooooooooooooooooooooooo

When Murtagh returned, her found them ready, tears in their eyes but grins on their faces. He gaped at Rune's dress.

"You…you look beautiful in that, princess."

Rune looked at the ground. "You know I can't love you, Murtagh."

"I know."

"I'm not mad anymore. But I can never love you again."

"I'm glad you aren't mad at me."

Rune went on tiptoes, pressing her lips to his gently. He wrapped his arms around her to deepen the kiss. She pulled away after a moment.

"Goodbye, Murtagh," she whispered. Handmaidens in tow, the princess of Alagaësia walked away.

Murtagh had the feeling she was walking out of his life. "Goodbye, my dove."