Chapter 2 – thanks so much for the reviews. BTW, it wasn't Eragon who gave Rose the egg.

As Rose watched the ball of light fly towards her, the only thing she could think was why didn't he just probe my mind? Then the blackness smote her, and she remembered no more.

Rose awoke to find herself under warm woollen blankets. Her head throbbed and she felt very hot. Also, her face felt tight, while her scalp felt strangely cool. An old, wrinkled woman came over to her.

"Good. You're awake."

Rose moaned softly. She had tried to move her arm. The old woman gave her a scornful look and lifted her up in the bed. Rose thanked the Gods that she was dressed in a night shirt. The woman shoved a bowl of broth at her, and then left the room. A bit abrupt, but I suppose I have to thank her for my life.

Rose finished the meal then just sat there, content to think. That soon changed. Memories of the ambush ……… it just didn't bear thinking about. So she coughed loudly, although it hurt, and the old lady came back into the room. She gave Rose two options. Sleep, or see her reflection. That seemed odd to Rose, so she chose the latter. The lady held up a piece of burnished bronze, shiny enough to see yourself in. Rose looked at it, and screamed. Her hair was gone. There were burns covering her face, and one eye was tight shut.

"I did my best. You're lucky you weren't killed."

Rose didn't care. Everything she had to remind her of her mother was gone. Her hair and her face. She screamed again, and two young people came into the room.

"Can't you shut her up? She's scaring the chickens."

"Don't blame the poor lass Miko, she's had a nasty shock."

"Thank you for backing me up, Lily."

"That's okay, mother."

"Kiss-ass!"

Miko whispered to his sister. She gave him a sarcastic grin then pretended to slap him. He fell to the floor in mock agony. Rose tried to smile, but gave up. She pushed herself back down beneath the covers, and shut her eye. The family crept out, Miko doing over-the-top tiptoes out the door.

That night Rose dreamed of her home. She dreamt of the white orchids of her garden. She dreamt of the meadows she, Tom and Draka had played in. She dreamt of her father. She woke with tears streaming down her face. She shook as she lay there, feeling so achingly lonely she thought her heart would break in two. Nothing would stem the flow of tears. She tried to muffle the sound, but the door soon opened. Miko came in. She tried to look around but was forced to just lie there, wondering who it was and why they were there. He said nothing, just plonked a sleepy little puppy on her bedclothes. Her eye shone with gratitude as the floppy little ball of fluff curled up on her pillow. She shut her eye and drifted off to sleep again. This time, she did not dream.

The next thing she knew she was being rudely awoken by Lily. Lily shook her awake and lifted her up in bed.

"Mother says you're not to go anywhere but you've been asleep for nearly a week.

To her utter surprise, Rose found she could move her tongue and lips. She tries to speak. Nothing happened.

"Oh, for the love of God, make an EFFORT!"

Lily looked exasperated.

"So, this morning, you are first going to tell me your name, then you're coming swimming in the brook."

Rose didn't argue. She didn't feel up to it. She was afraid she would lose all power of speech if she overused her mouth too much. She was rudely dragged out of bed by Lily, who then threw some old breeches and a shirt at her.

"Get dressed. Come on, come on, we don't have all day."

Rose was amazed. She had regained control of everything. Maybe my face is healed too!

"Sleep is the best healer of all. Of course, Miko and I played our part, but we just don't have the strength to heal all of you, even between us. Your face was the least badly damaged so we just left that."

Tears welled up in Rose's eye.

"Lord, you're a cry-baby. You cry at ANYTHING! I didn't cry when I broke my arm."

Rose forced the tears down.

"I'm not going outside."

It came out in a painful whisper. Lily looked at her contemptuously.

"MIKO!"

Miko appeared through the door. Rose hurriedly buttoned her shirt. Miko raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. Lily whispered in his ear. He grinned and strode over to Rose.

"Your chariot, my lady."

He grabbed her arms while Lily took care of her feet. They swung her up and ran down to the stream, laughing all the while. Rose struggled but to no avail. They reached the bank and began to swing her, higher and higher. She found strength to shout at them.

"Put me down! Please!"

"Little princess wants to be put down. What do you say, Miko?"

"I'm with you on this one."

They let go. Rose went flying up into the air and landed with a splash in the water. She paddled desperately.

"I can't swim!"

Lily went white.

"That's not part of the plan!"

Miko rolled his eyes. He unbuttoned his shirt and went in after Rose, who had just disappeared underwater. Lilly paced on the bank muttering to herself.

"She would fall in the ONLY deep part of the entire bleeding river."

Rose went down. Miko took a deep breath and dived under. He attempted to catch her hair then realised it was all gone. He kicked down deeper and grabbed her by the belt. He pushed off the bottom of the pool and shot to the surface, dragging her with him. They shot out of the water, gasping for breath. He swam lazily to the bank, set her on her feet, then sat in the water. Rose staggered to the shore. Lily received her and began to make sure she was okay.

"My God, you're such a cissy! And you've been rude enough not to tell us your name. Is there ANYTHING you can do, princess?"

Rose gave him a hurt look.

"Yes, there happens to be something I can do. And my name is Rose. Not princess."

Miko rolled his eyes. Lily did the same. Rose then remembered something. Her face. In the society she grew up in cripples or people with injuries as disgusting as hers were outcasts, exiled. But these people treated her like one of them. She just didn't understand. She put her head in her hands. Miko jumped to his feet, pulled her up, then bowed low.

"Well, princess, do you want to show us what you can do?"

Is this chapter long enough? Thank you for all the helpful points.

Rose is pathetic I know, but she'll improve.