Rune heard the knock on her door. She groaned, pulling herself out of bed. She would have dressed, but it was probably just Súndavar, and he had seen her in her nightclothes already.

The knock sounded again.

"Coming!" she snapped, feeling angry despite herself. She opened the door and nearly fainted in shock.

Vanir stood there, looking distinctly embarrassed, annoyed, and just a bit angry. Shay stood by his side, a triumphant grin on her face.

"Yes?" Rune asked, trying to keep the blush from her face. Shay seeing her like this wasn't a big deal, the captain had dressed her before when she was sleeping and was a woman as well. There was nothing to be embarrassed about with her. But Vanir…she felt her insides turning. He was a man, and an elf, and one that had insulted her to boot. She fought the urge to slam the door in his face and put on more suitable clothes. But no…that would be worse than just living with it. A true princess took things in stride. Even embarrassing things like this.

"Vanir has something he wants to tell you," Shay purred, sounding pleased with herself as a cat in the cream.

"After his words to me on the practice field, I owe him not. Why should I listen?"

"Wiol iet ilian?" Shay asked. Rune wasn't sure why she used the ancient tongue, but she shrugged.

"Very well. You have my ears."

Vanir scuffed his boot nervously. "I wished to inform you of my apologies," he said nervously. "I was wrong about you and the blood in your veins. Half-blood you may be, but honored I am to call you elf."

Rune raised her eyebrows in disbelief. "How do I know you aren't simply saying so to get back in favor with Shay?"

Vanir turned red to the tips of his ears. "Magic sings within you," he murmured. "We all felt it yesterday when you nearly lost yourself to the magic of Mistress Lycona's weaving. It seems you are more enwrapped in our world than I believed."

Rune wanted to ask if he truly had not known, of if he had refused to admit it. "Apology accepted. Is there anything else I should know?"

"I cannot swallow my words," Vanir mumbled, "but I beg forgiveness for calling you a whore, in edition to my insulting your birth."

Rune shrugged. "I know how my relationships with Eragon and Súndavar may appear. But I assure you I am a maiden, and to my knowledge they share my virtue in this. You are forgiven."

Vanir nodded thankfully, still scuffing his boot on the ground. Shay crossed her arms over her chest smugly, a grin remaining on her face.

"Would you join us for breakfast?" Shay offered. "Súndavar and Eragon have already gone with Oromis."

Rune looked down at herself. "Thank you for the offer. Excuse me while I dress."

Shay laughed. "We'll meet you by the practice fields. Vanir and I will bring the food."

Rune smiled back at her, shutting the door softly.

She moved to make her bed, but something caught her eye. She stiffened. There was dried blood on the sheet. What happened?

It took Rune a moment to realize that the blood was from her. Panic clutched at her heart. What was happening to her? Was she sick? Her heart beat faster.

She slipped into her clothes quickly, running out to meet Shay and Vanir. They were on the edge of the fencing ring, as promised.

Rune's wide eyed stare made Shay stop. "Rune? You okay?"

Rune nodded, then shook her head. "I…I don't know. I think I'm sick."

Shay blinked. "What's wrong?"

"I'm bleeding."

Vanir turned red, and Shay laughed.

"Shay! It isn't funny! What's wrong with me?"

Vanir gave a little moan, turning away and hitting his head against a tree. Shay went over to Rune and touched her shoulder comfortingly. "Don't worry," she said with an amused smile. "You'll be okay. But breakfast will have to wait."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"It's normal?"

"Yeah. It happens to all girls," Shay said softly, settling in to the older sister roll easily.

Rune sighed with relief, sinking into her chair. "So I'm not dieing?"

Shay laughed. "No. You're not dieing. It's just woman's blood."

"Oh." Rune smiled, very happy with this revelation. The fear she had felt faded. "It must make a terrible mess though. And I wouldn't want to get blood on Súndavar's sheets," she said innocently.

Chuckling, Shay nodded. "You'll have to hold off on spending the night with the Riders for a while."

"How long?" Rune asked, sounding like a child asking how long she was grounded.

"Until it stops. Usually not too long."

"Oh. Alright. Maybe Súndavar will leave me alone then."

Shay shook her head. "Don't talk to him about it. It'll just make him uncomfortable. And…"

Rune looked at the ground. "I know he's doing it again. He promised he wouldn't."

Shay touched her hand. "Maybe you should tell Oromis. About Súndavar, I mean. Not your bleeding."

Rune's eyes widened. "You mean tell on him? Not a chance."

"He needs help. Oromis is the one who can give it."

Rune shook her head determinedly. Suddenly she felt very sad. Tears started to fall, sliding down her cheeks.

What? Tears?

Usually she wasn't this much of a cry-baby. Shay sighed understandingly, drawing her in and rocking her gently.

"That's another thing," she said. "You'll be sad or angry a lot, when and before you bleed. I usually just get angry…"

So that's why she had gotten so mad at Súndavar.

"Come now, dry your eyes," Shay admonished gently. "Vanir will have eaten all the food."

Rune gave a tight smile and a half-laugh, and followed Shay back to the elf, who was still waiting for them. He hadn't touched the food, but was staring at it cravingly.

He looked up at them. "Done talking? Then let's eat. I'm hungry."

oooooooooooooooooooooooo

"Súndavar?"

The Shade boy turned away from her angrily.

"Súndavar, I'm sorry I got mad at you," Rune said to the back of his head.

Súndavar folded his hands over his chest, refusing to speak.

"You don't have to be a baby about it," she told him.

"I'm not," he grumbled.

She sat down next to him on the fallen log. Touching his wrist gently, she ran her fingers along the parallel scars. Another fresh one – it bled on her fingers when she touched it, and Súndavar grimaced.

"You're doing it again," she said.

"I can't help it. It feels good."

She laid her head on his shoulder. "There are other things that feel good, Súndavar."

"Like this," he agreed, twisting his head and catching her lips.

She pulled away instantly. "There are other things that feel good and don't involve me."

"Not a chance," he whispered. "One or the other."

There was a trace of a joke in his voice, but there was also truth. Rune sighed. "Don't joke. This is serious."

"If you say so."

Rune shook her head in wonderment at how much of an idiot he could be. "Shay thinks I should tell Oromis."

"You told Shay?"

"No. She just knew. She's smart, Súndavar."

Súndavar shrugged. "I don't care. What's she going to do?"

Rune tucked his longish black hair behind his ear, then ran her fingers over his cheek and along his jaw. He shivered under her touch.

"Are my hands cold?" she asked, removing them from his skin.

"No. Put them back."

Rune frowned. "Súndavar, I've told you before. Despite any attraction I might have to you – might­ – it wouldn't work out. Eventually, I'm going to have to decide where to go from here. And you're a Rider."

"You could choose to stay with me," Súndavar suggested hopefully.

Rune shook her head. "I may not act like it, but I've got royal blood hidden somewhere in me. That's got to count for something, even if I don't know what. Sooner or later, something is going to happen. I don't want to spend my life tagging along after you and Eragon like a dog."

Súndavar sighed. She was right.

"Súndavar Eddyrheart, I like you, okay? We're friends. Please don't spoil that."

Súndavar pursed his lips. "As you wish, princess," he flirted with mock formality.

Rune laughed and hit him softly on the head. She got up to leave.

"And Súndavar?"

"Hmm?"

"Don't do it again."

Súndavar groaned. "Spoilsport," he pretended it was a joke, but Rune saw through the disguise.

"Call me what you want. Next time, I'm telling Oromis."

Súndavar got up to follow her. "Whatever you say, princess."

oooooooooooooooooooooooo

Murtagh paced his room nervously. He dared not try to talk to Thorn, in case Galbatorix picked up on his speech. But he was going insane with worry. The dragon could take care of himself, yes. But Murtagh wasn't used to being separated for so long.

He tried to entertain himself with thoughts of Rune, but her picture was even more blurred than before. It scarred him. He thought of Lily instead.

She would be close to Ellesméra by now. She had to be. Unless she got lost and died in Du Weldenvarden. But Murtagh banished that thought immediately. She was fine. This was Lily he was talking about.

Lily, who loved to play damsel in distress when really she could kick your butt without blinking.

Lily, whose hair felt soft between his fingers. Like Rune's hair had felt.

Lily, who had hugged him so tightly when she left, her body begging him to hold her forever.

"I may never see you again," she had said as she mounted her horse. "But you'll be a melody in my heart, for always and forever. Until the stars burn out." Then she had laughed.

"Did I really just say that?" He remembered her smile as she shook her head in mock revulsion with herself. "I don't think I've ever been so sappy in my life."

Then she had kissed him. On the lips, like Rune had. Except Lily's kiss was different.

Sighing, Murtagh ran his fingers through his hair.

You better come through on this one, dragon, he muttered, less to Thorn than to himself. For both our sakes.