"Oh, Wune, do you have to go tomowwow morning?"

Rune cradled Duram in her lap. She kissed his nose. "Silly, of course I do. Eragon's leaving, and so is Súndavar."

Duram – the very same little boy Rune had rescued from the fire – sighed, laying his head against her. "But I don't want you to go."

"Neither do I!" Alanna piped from her place on the bed. Her quick fingers braided and unbraided Rune's hair in her nervousness. "Why don't you just stay here with us?"

"Don't you wove us anymore?" Duram asked sadly.

Rune smiled softly at him. "Of course I do. But say I did stay here. Where would that leave Eragon and Súndavar?"

Duram's eyes filled with tears. "They'd be aww awone," he whimpered.

"But they're all grown up!" Alanna protested. "Can't they take care of themselves?"

"Don't talk bout the Widers dat way!" Duram told her sternly. Eragon had become the little boy's hero since the fire.

Alanna still held Rune in the highest regard. She cared little about the Riders, although Rune had noticed the girl's eyes on Súndavar numerous times.

That surprised Rune. The elf children that had become her friends were rather like humans in every way. Alanna was stubborn and just a bit boy-crazy, while Duram was whiny and affectionate. Give him a cookie, and he would be your best friend for life.

Rune hugged him tightly. "I'm going to miss you both so much," she said. "Will you promise to be strong for me?"

"I pwomise."

Alanna folded her arms over her chest. "I don't think you'll miss us at all. You're happy to leave."

"That's not true."

"Yes it is. You care more about Eragon and Súndavar than us. If you didn't you'd stay here!"

There were angry tears in Alanna's eyes. She got up off the bed and ran out the door, slamming it behind her.

Rune sighed. She picked up Duram, putting him on the bed, before following Alanna.

"Will you be bwack?" he asked before she closed the door.

"Yes, Duram. I'm going to find Alanna. I'll be right back," Rune answered.

It wasn't hard to find Alanna. Her favorite place was the big dead tree, which stood outside her old house. She sat high in the branches.

"Alanna," Rune called, "Alanna, please come down."

"No."

"Come on. Can't we talk about it?"

"No! You love them more than us!"

Rune leaned against the tree. "Come on, Alanna. I want to talk to you."

"No!" she cried again.

"Then I'm going to wait here until you come down."

Rune sat on the ground at the base of the tree. Ten minutes passed. Alanna finally came down.

Her face was streaked with tears. Rune hugged her tightly as soon as she reached the ground.

"I just don't want you to go!" Alanna sobbed into Rune's chest.

"I know," Rune whispered. She clung tightly to the little girl. She felt the tears begin to slip down her own cheeks, into Alanna's hair.

They held each other for a long time. The night was cold, but neither noticed.

Hours later, Súndavar opened the door to Rune's room carefully. He nearly laughed at the sight that met his eyes.

Rune was snuggled tightly between two small forms. Duram's little arms were around her neck, his face nuzzled into her side. Alanna lay close.

Smiling, he closed the door.

ooooooooooooooooooooooo

Alanna mounted the little shaggy pony, eyes beaming. Eragon looked at her incredulously, then switched his gaze to Rune.

"What's going on?" he asked.

Rune stared at him defiantly. "Alanna's coming with, of course. Her mother's already agreed, so don't you dare say anything otherwise."

Eragon sighed and continued to pack his saddle.

Rune was brushing Eridor's coat lovingly. "Thou beauty," she whispered to him. "Thou dragonheart."

Eridor nickered, happy to be reunited with his rider. He threw a disdainful glance at Súndavar, who was grooming his own mount – the horse kidnapped from Lily – then turned his liquid eyes back to Rune. He rode me, the look seemed to say. Rune patted him gently. His tossed his head, stomping a foot in good humor.

Slate was fidgeting, standing near Saphira. The sun glinted on their scales.

How dashing he looked, Saphira was thinking. His scales were the color of the blackest night sky and the greenest leaf of Du Weldenvarden. His neck arched boldly, and his muscles bunched beneath his scales. His ivory claws were sharp as daggers.

He caught her looking at him and gave her a puff of smoke. She snorted, turning away.

Have I wronged you, Brightscales?

She glanced over her shoulder at him. No.

Why do you turn away as if I have evoked your anger?

Saphira snorted again, this time blasting him with smoke. He sneezed, and she laughed. He gave her an affectionate lick on the nose.

It was about then that the two dragons caught sight of their Riders. Both were staring at them in unconcealed astonishment.

Slate didn't meet Súndavar's gaze. Saphira nipped him playfully, hoping to continue their game. Slate hissed at her, before taking to the skies.

Rune watched them, half sadly. She went back to grooming Eridor.

Vanir mounted his horse. "We'll ride as far as we can tonight," he said. "We're going to avoid Lillendale." His eyes were sad. "We aren't welcome any longer."

Shay swung herself onto Bane, before touching Vanir's shoulder reassuringly. He squeezed her hand.

Rune smiled and tightened the cinch on Eridor's saddle. She put one foot the stirrups, before touching down lightly in the seat. The horse pranced in place, glad to have the girl on his back once again.

"Thou art mighty," she purred in his ear. "Thou run like the river and the wind, dragonheart."

"Daughter!"

Rune turned. Islanzadí approached her. Without pausing to think about how it would look to the others, the queen enveloped Rune in a tight hug. Rune hugged back.

Only when she had kissed Rune on both cheeks did Islanzadí turn to the others. "We have sent messages to our cities of the destruction seen here. All but Lillendale. Such is your job to deliver."

Eragon paled. "You want us to tell Lillendale about—"

"Yes. It is my request of you all."

Rune clasped the queen's hands in her own. "Yes," she said. "We will. I promise."

They set off at a good pace, Vanir and Shay side by side, leading, with Eragon behind them. Rune and Alanna followed the Rider, and Súndavar took up the end. The dragons flew ahead.

oooooooooooooooooooooo

Rian chewed on her lip. The dead rat in her hand felt heavy. "Come on," she urged.

The bird stared at her distrustfully. His wing, bent and broken, trailed on the ground. She could tell he was hungry, but he didn't move towards the rat.

She reached out to touch his mind. Surprisingly, it pushed her away. A barrier. The bird had set up a barrier against her. She drew back in surprise.

Again she probed. He strengthened his mind block, and gave a screech of annoyance.

The hawk scratched at her with one talon. It tore a trail of blood on her hand.

"Look what you did now," she snapped. He ruffled his feathers, pleased.

"I'm hopeless with magic, and I don't suppose you're any better," she said. "I can't heal this. I've got half a mind to leave you here for the wolves."

The hawk gave her an amused, haughty look, snapping his beak.

"You're—"

Rian broke off. The hawk's gaze darted to the sky.

Above, two dragons flew. Slate and Saphira. Rian recognized them from their previous visit.

"The Riders!" she cried under her breath.

"Behind you."

Rian spun, coming face to face with a man on a horse. She bowed to him.

"Argetlam!" she gasped.

Eragon dismounted, smiling. Rian looked past him, at the party that followed.

The Rider stared at the dead rat she still held. Giving him a nervous laugh, she tossed it into the bushes, where it landed with a thunk. Eragon raised his eyebrows, but didn't press the issue.

A pretty girl with auburn hair riding a roan horse pulled up at Eragon's side. She blinked down at Rian, before catching sight of the hawk. A gasp caught in her throat, and she was at its side in moments.

Rian felt awkward and nervous around the Riders and company. She scratched the back of her neck, embarrassed. To hide her burning cheeks, she turned to the girl.

She was young, probably only fifteen or so, with a slight build. Her hands were gentle as she felt the hawk's wing. He didn't protest, and for a moment Rian felt jealousy flare in her. How come the creature had let down his barrier to this girl – who was clearly not elf – when he would not do such to her?

"Rune," Eragon said softly. "His wing is beyond repair." Already the Rider was reaching for his bow.

Rune stared at him. "No," she said, fixing him with sorrelfire eyes. She turned back to the hawk.

Rune was in her own little world. She reached out to the hawk hesitantly. He prickled her mind with his own.

Hello, she told him. She didn't expect a response. But a clear burst of affirmation rushed into her mind.

You're conscious! she yelped.

He blinked at her. Yes.

Like Blagden, then. Have you a name?

He shrugged his good wing.

May I give you one?

Yes.

Rune thought for a moment. I call you Tawnyclaw.

Yes.

Does your wing hurt? It is broken, isn't it?

Yes.

It was about this time that Rune realized everyone was staring at her. She moved towards Tawnyclaw, before picking him up. He perched on her arm, talons digging into her skin lightly.

"This is Tawnyclaw," she introduced proudly.

Súndavar looked at her in a mixture of amusement and confusion, but shrugged.

Eragon sighed. "May I ask your name?" he asked Rian softly.

"Rian Brisnífr," she responded.

"Rian. We have much to talk about."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Rune watched Shay and Vanir dancing. The music was lively, but she felt her heart sinking. Tawnyclaw clutched her arm with his talons.

Why do they rejoice? she wondered. All the elves of Lillendale were dancing and spinning, having a wonderful time. It felt as if the destruction of Ellesméra made them joyful.

Hope.

Rune looked at the bird, cocking her head. What?

He blinked, but didn't respond. He shrugged one of his wings. The other had been bound tightly to his body with a scrap of fabric.

It feels wrong to celebrate.

Tawnyclaw shrugged again.

Rian settled onto the bench beside Rune.

"Kvetha," Rune greeted her softly. Her eyes didn't move from the dancing.

Rian watched her. She moved to pet Tawnyclaw, but the bird scratched at her with one talon.

"He is not a pet," Rune said.

"I see that. What troubles you?"

"The joy," Rune replied with a frown. "Ellesméra is no more, and yet the dancing and joy continues."

Rian smiled. "The forest feels our joy. It wants us not to be sad, but to be happy. With our joy is will grow. From the worst destruction springs the strongest hope."

Rune thought about this for a moment, then shrugged, and returned to watching Shay and Vanir.

The two were dancing closer than any other couple. Shay's chin rested on his shoulder, and Vanir's lips were in her hair.

Rune knew the direction the night was going to go.

Wordless, she slipped away from Rian and moved towards the couple. She worked Vanir's ring off her finger, set it in Shay's hand, and left. Not a word was exchanged.

Shay opened her mouth to protest, but Rune was gone.

Vanir laughed. Entwining his fingers with hers, he pulled her away from the dance floor.

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