"If they're leaving, so am I."
Eragon looked up from cleaning Saphira's saddle at Rune's declaration. The little princess's eyes were set, her arms crossed over her chest. The pose reminded him of a stubborn toddler. He smiled at her. "Alright."
She looked appalled. "You mean you're just going to let me go?"
"If it's what you want. Shay won't let anything happen to you."
Rune's mouth dropped open. She snapped it shut and scowled at him. It was times like this that reminded Eragon of the little girl he had first met, back in Aberon. She had wanted to argue, wanted to make sure he knew she would do exactly as she wished. He had surprised her by giving in instantly.
"But…you aren't going to try and stop me?"
"Why should I?"
She sat down next to him, looking put out. "Because you're supposed to," she griped.
They sat in silence for a moment. Rune met his eyes playfully, making faces at him. She cocked her head to one side, arching her eyebrows. Eragon pretended to ignore her.
Finally he gave in, breaking out in laughter. She laughed with him, before kissing him on the nose quickly. She turned her gaze to his hands.
"Whatcha doing, anyways?"
Eragon picked up the saddle. "Preparing."
"For what?"
For a moment, she reminded Eragon of a dog, perking up her ears in curiosity.
Eragon planted a kiss on her forehead. "You aren't the only one who's leaving."
Rune jumped up and down, clapping her hands. "Really? Oh, goodie! It would be a shame to break us all up now. Just when we were starting to get along."
oooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Walk with me, Arya?"
The elf princess blinked slowly. She nodded, wordless.
They were silent at first. Two princesses, one ousted from her kingdom, the other dealing with the loss of her own. A sort of companionship settled over the two.
Rune was the first to speak. "Shay and Vanir are not the only ones who are leaving, Arya."
Arya nodded slowly. "I suspected as much," she said tightly.
Rune frowned. "Is there ill blood between us, fricai? Have I wronged you?"
Arya seemed to ponder this. "You have not. Quite the opposite. You returned me to my senses. I am not used to needing such assistance. However, I can admit to such a failure on my own part. I was in the wrong."
"Perhaps we all need help from our friends from time to time," Rune suggested softly.
"Is that what we are?" Arya asked. "Are we friends?"
"I would very much like to believe so," Rune affirmed. "We swore yäwe to one another in the castle of my father."
"I remember."
Rune didn't respond right away. The silence became uncomfortable.
"Arya, are you certain I have done nothing to scorn you?"
"I said as much, did I not?"
"Well, yes…I just, you seem…distant."
"I have much on my mind," Arya said with a minute shrug. "It is not you, I assure you."
"If you say so," Rune murmured hesitantly.
"Rune of Urû'baen, if we are friends, pray I ask a boon?"
Rune nodded, startled. What would Arya want to ask of her? She was young, inexperienced. Hardly comparable to Arya in any way.
"Granted."
"My question is this: Of the Riders, you do not seem particularly fond of either in a romantic sense. Yet you stay with them, sleep at their sides. Why continue to do such, when you have made it clear to them that you will go no farther?"
Rune blinked. That was unexpected. She looked away. "I…It's not that I don't love them. I do. If there was just Súndavar, or just Eragon, I'd court either in a moment. But there are both. It's terrible to wish one gone, but sometimes I do."
"Which one?"
"Neither. Or either. Or both. I don't know."
Arya pursed her lips. "Before he met you, Eragon made numerous attempts for my own hand."
"You refused him?"
"I did."
"Why?" Rune asked. "He is handsome, isn't he? And strong and capable."
"He is. I refused him because such a union would never work. If I had allowed myself to return Eragon's passion, it could have lead to the downfall of my people. Or Eragon's own downfall. Such is not acceptable."
"You sound like Vanir."
"Then Vanir is wise."
"So you truly do like him?"
"I know not. I have not allowed such feelings to bloom. So if they would have, I am none the wiser."
Rune sighed. "Oh. Arya, did you ever feel hopelessly out of your league?"
"I don't pretend you understand your question."
Rune tucked her hair out of her face. "Sometimes I wish I had never escaped. No, that's not right. I'm glad I did. But it would be so much easier if I had never have left."
"What is easy is not always right."
"How so?"
"Trials make us stronger. Are you the same person who ran from Galbatorix?"
Rune was about to answer yes, but she stopped herself. What is easy is not always right. The easiest answer would be yes…but was she? She had changed so much. Was she really the same Rune?
No.
"I am the same soul," she said finally. "But my heart has changed. Confronted with trials of the past now, I would act differently. I am wiser, I suppose, but also stronger. And more sure of who I am."
"A well thought out answer. Have you thought any about what you shall do, when you tire of following Eragon and Súndavar?"
"I don't have any skills I could use to provide for myself," Rune said truthfully. "I am not skilled in magic – Lycona ensured as much. Nor am I a mighty warrior. I suppose my greatest strength lies in my heart. What practical use such could have, I know not."
"You are always welcome back to Ellesméra," Arya told her. "I am staying here now, with my own people. I will sing to the forest, and in time things will return to the way they once were. Should you choose to return, know that our gates are open for eternity."
They continued walking. The silence wasn't uncomfortable, as before.
Without meaning to, they had walked to the Menoa Tree. Rune met Arya's eyes sadly. "I'm—"
Arya cut her off. "No. Look."
Rune followed her gaze. A smile broke her face.
There, at the base of the Menoa Tree, a single green leaf had poked its way through the ash.
Joy blossomed in Rune's heart.
A single leaf, it may have been. But it was the first of ten thousand to come. It was the beginning when all else had ended. In Rune's heart, that single leaf was the representation of Hope itself. She closed her eyes.
Life continues, little Rune.
The forest lives on.