Katrina's hand tightened on Angela's as pain shot up her belly. Her face contorted in a grimace, and her sides heaved. She wore no clothing, her bare skin slick with sweat.

Angela bustled around her, tending to her like a midwife. Roran peeked his head around the door eagerly, awaiting the arrival.

Katrina met his eyes with her own fear-widened ones. Angela followed her gaze. Scowling, she closed the door in Roran's face.

Roran gave a hiss of rage, tightening his hands. He had half a mind to burst in. Instead, he started pacing nervously in front of the door. His heart pounded in anticipation.

He wished Eragon were here. His cousin and best friend would help him deal with the mixed feelings that tainted his rushing heart.

He was happy, elated, overjoyed. But this happiness was laced with shame. Katrina shouldn't be in there, bearing his child. Wedlock didn't bind them. It wasn't right.

All the same! He cried in his heart. I'm going to be a father. Me.

He tried to imagine himself and Katrina, parents. Words and thoughts failed him.

From behind the door, he heard Katrina scream. He resisted the urge to rush to her aid. Angela knew what she was doing, he assured himself. Angela would take care of it. He would only get in the way, after all.

He tried to calm his racing heart. It seemed like hours later when the door opened.

The room was lit with soothing candles now. Katrina lay sprawled on the bed, breathing heavily, a sheet tucked up to her chin. Her eyes were closed, her hair tousled. Roran thought she had never looked more beautiful.

Roran's eyes flew to Angela. The witch held a little whimpering bundle, wrapped tightly in a blanket. He stepped towards her.

Angela handed him the child, then wafted out of the room. "A girl," she told him. "I'll be back with another blanket. Take care you don't wake Katrina. She's worked hard enough."

Roran stared down at the little bundle of life in his arms. His child. His daughter.

Rune was right. They were in love, and that made their child as legitimate as any other. He rocked her gently, marveling. He had helped create this. A miracle. Truly amazing. Never in his wildest hopes and dreams had he thought that it would be this wonderful. The shame he had felt evaporated at the feel of his daughter in his arms.

Her eyes were closed. He ran a finger over her soft, satiny white cheek. Her hair was thick and mousy brown, and her features delicate, like Katrina's.

My daughter. I have a daughter.

"She is beautiful, isn't she?"

Roran looked up, startled. Katrina had propped herself up slightly, and watched the two of them lovingly.

"Like her mother."

Katrina laughed and laid back. "I should feed her."

Roran helped her sit up and handed her the baby. He sat by her side as she nursed.

"We have to name her," Katrina said softly. "We should have thought about this before. And she'll need godparents."

"Eragon, of course," Roran said instantly.

"What about a godmother?"

"Rune, perhaps?"

"Yes. Rune and Eragon. What about a name?"

Roran pursed his lips. "You're right. We should have thought about this sooner."

Katrina let out a tinkling laugh, adjusting the baby in her arms. The little girl whined, moving her arms and legs. "She is dreaming," Katrina said softly.

Roran's eyes widened. "That's it," he whispered. What was that word…he had heard Eragon use it.

"Draumira," he said. "Dreamer."

He stroked his child's face again. "My little Dreamer."

ooooooooooooooooooooo

Rune shivered, snuggling deeper into Eragon's warmth. Night came fast and cold on the open desert. The two huddled under Saphira's wings, near the dragon's flame in her chest. It reminded Rune of Thorn, and she gave a little involuntary mew of pain at the memory.

Eragon stirred against her. She was almost entirely enveloped in his sleeping embrace. She tucked her nose against his jaw, still shivering.

"Súndavar, it's your watch."

Shay's voice was soft. Rune untangled herself from Eragon, pressing her lips to his cheek softly, before wrapping her cloak tighter around herself and crawling out from under Saphira. Súndavar was shaking out his hair, blinking up at Shay.

"Don't screw Vanir tonight, Shay" he mocked, a grin on his face, "We can all hear you."

Shay's hands clenched into fists, and she stuck out her tongue, before turning tail and curling up next to her sleeping elf lover. He nuzzled closer to her, but didn't wake up.

Rune hit Súndavar softly over the head. "Don't tease her. You're terrible."

"As are you. Where's your bird?"

Rune blinked at him, frowning in the darkness. "Tawnyclaw is not my bird, anymore than you're my Rider."

Súndavar grinned. "We could change that," he whispered seductively, moving closer.

She put a hand on his chest. "Or I could go back to sleep next to Eragon."

He backed off and shrugged. "You know, someday you're going to decide you like me."

"It's not that I don't like you. It's that I like Eragon too."

"Mmm."

She looked up at the stars. "Remember the first time we watched the stars together?" she asked. "And I told you about Safeguard?"

"Yes."

"Sometimes I wish we could go back."

"Why?"

She shrugged, sighing softly. "I don't know. Did we live each day exactly how we should have? Or did we miss things? If we had acted differently, maybe Galbatorix would already have fallen."

"Maybe. Or maybe we'd be dead."

"Always optimistic, aren't you?"

He smiled and kissed her. "Always."

She rolled her eyes, but scooted closer. "I'm cold."

"It's a cold night. As much as I hate to say it, Eragon's warmth might do you good."

She bit her lip coyly. "Maybe the two of us should curl up with Slate. That would be just as warm. And I haven't spent the night with you in a long time."

"I'm on watch."

"We're in the middle of the desert. What is there to watch from?" She tugged on his hand. "Come on."

"Alright."

He allowed himself to be pulled after her.

Soon the two were wrapped warmly around one another.

"Dream of Freedom," Rune whispered softly into his pointed ear. She kissed his cheek softly, before burying her nose in his neck.

"No. I dream of you."

ooooooooooooooooooooo

Murtagh felt Thorn coming. There was a loosening of the tightness in his heart. The bonds between Dragon and Rider were not meant to be stretched across an entire kingdom. A physical pain had settled upon his chest, like his heart was being slowly ripped from his ribs.

He sighed in relief. Thorn was closer now. The pain was beginning to fade.

Galbatorix sensed the easing of his young bond.

"In time," he said, "Even the pain you feel when he is away will fade."

Never, Murtagh thought. He'd always miss Thorn, forever. His aching for the other half of his heart would never be quenched. Thorn was a part of him.

Galbatorix shrugged unnoticeably. "We shall see."

It was another two hours before Thorn landed in the overgrown garden of Galbatorix's castle. His red scales shone brilliantly.

Thorn! You return! Murtagh cried joyfully.

The dragon blew a puff of smoke at his Rider. I will always return. We are one.

Murtagh hugged his snout tightly. It hurt, Thorn. You don't know how much it hurt.

I do. Your pain is mine.

What of—

Murtagh didn't finish his sentence. With a roar, Shruikan landed. Murtagh only had eyes for the small form tethered to his back.

"Lily!"

The girl loosened the straps, swinging herself of Shruikan's neck and running to embrace the Rider. Murtagh pressed his lips into her hair. He nudged at her mind. She opened to him.

What happened?

I…Murtagh, I tried to stop myself. Really, I did.

But?

Ellesméra is gone.

And Rune? He asked, his heart quickening. If Rune was dead—

I was caught. Rune lives.

Murtagh blinked in surprise. Caught?

Yes. Caught. By…by Shay. She stopped talking, looking away. She set me free. But she caught me as well.

Shay?

Lily would say no more.

I'm just glad to have you back, Murtagh told her. Come.

Thorn watched the couple with a mixture of jealousy and annoyance. Shruikan blinked at him.

You will have your own mate in time, said the elder dragon. Allow him this pleasure.

I will, Thorn grumped. But I don't have to be happy about it.

Author's Note: Hmmmm….Sorry it took a while (I seem to be saying that a lot, don't I?) But I just went through a MAJOR plot change in my mind, and it's taken a while to sort out…so…expect the unexpected, I guess. And I'll see you all later. Hearts, Kittie