AN: This story is dedicated to my good friend, mystery writer 5775, because without her, this story may never have come into fruition. I hope it is to everybody's liking. Enjoy! Also, there will probably be a bit of OOCness, mostly on Brom's part. Other than that, enjoy!

Wyrda

Strangers in Carvahall

She crept up to the butcher shop as quiet as could be, covered in a hooded cloak, so as not to arouse any suspicion of why she was there. Plus, with the hood, nobody would know it was her, which was an added bonus.

She had just put her hand on the doorknob, ready to push it open when something caught her eye. Two large black hooded figures appeared in the distance, ones whom she didn't quite recognize, but which she had learned to fear over the years. She swore under her breath; her debt with Sloan would have to go unpaid for a little while. She swore louder when a cat in the back of the shop knocked down all the trash bins, making quite a ruckus, and waking Sloan. Taking her hand from the doorknob as he yelled, "Who goes there?" and keeping an eye on the hooded strangers, she turned on her heel and started towards her home, but took a detour through the forest to loose any unsightly visitors.

"Grr..." she mumbled, wondering why everything had to be so hard all of the time. Heavens, she was just going to get some meat from Sloan, and see her debt repaid. But, she thoughtfully considered, jumping over a branch sticking out of the ground, maybe that was her problem to begin with.

She cursed again as a rock went through her shoe, cutting into her foot. Those were new shoes, too!

Looking around, she doubled back, and headed back towards Carvahall, taking the hood off of her only after she had made sure that nobody was following her.

She ended up on the road by the blacksmith Horst's, and nearly ramming right into a young brunette boy. She smiled at him as she caught her breath. "Hi, Eragon." she panted. "How are you?"

He looked at her suspiciously, but shrugged it off and smiled brightly at her. "Hi, Emilee. I'm good. How are you?" he asked, eyes sparkling. "Or maybe I should be asking what your running from?"

Emilee blushed. "I just felt like a nice jog," she replied, sweeping her hair out of her eyes.

Eragon again eyed her suspiciously. "Em, are you okay? You look a little troubled," he said, gently placing his hand on one of her shoulders.

Emilee nodded. "I'm fine, Eragon," she replied, taking a worried glance over her shoulder. "But-"

She was cut off by Roran's yell of, "ERAGON!", which made the two both jump.

"Well, I should be running. If your sure your okay," said Eragon. "Roran's probably wondering where I'm at." he smiled at her and waved over his shoulder.

"Eragon, wait!" called Emilee, walking the few paces to Eragon. "You and Roran be careful. There are dark, robed figures wandering about, and I've heard whispers, but nothing more. Just watch yourselves, okay?"

Eragon looked at her, eyebrows furrowed at her worried tone. She was never usually this serious. "Okay... What's really wrong here?" he walked towards her.

Emilee looked at him for a minute or two, then leaned up and kissed him softly on the cheek. "You and Roran just be careful, and watch your backs." she said, putting her hand on his cheek.

A soft smile formed around Eragon's lips as he lingered for a few moments. "I'll be sure to. As will Roran." he bade her good-bye yet again and turned to leave. He turned back to her, and a huge grin spread across his face as he thought of his best friend trying to steal anything, let alone from Sloan. "And Em, if you're going to steal from Sloan, you need to be a bit more sly."

Emilee blushed, then mumbled as she turned. "I'm going to get an earful, too. Cranky old geezer wouldn't know what fun is if danced naked in front of him."

A searing pain shot through the back of Emilee's head.

"Who are you calling a cranky old geezer?" asked a harsh voice from behind her.

Emilee blushed again as she turned to see him standing there with his staff in hand, with a raised eyebrow, scowling at her. "I thought that was obvious," she said darkly, another hit sending stars dancing around her eyes.

"So," said Brom, sitting on the front porch of his little hut, and frowning slightly, though with a mischievous gleam sparkling in his eyes. "You tried to steal from Sloan again, did you?" he looked up at her as she tried to innocently shrug the accusation off, but at the same time going beet red. He gave a hint of a smile. "What stopped you this time?"

Emilee rubbed her head, and sat down next to him. "Well, mostly it was just a stupid cat that knocked down all his trash bins, and waking the old bat," she said, kicking at the dirt. "But, there were also two robed figures roaming the street. They stopped to talk to Sloan. They were creepy, too. And when I looked at them, I seemed to freeze; so in retrospect, I should be thankful to the cat for startling me enough to move." she looked at him. "What do they want here, dad?"

Brom's eyebrows furrowed. "Two of them?" he asked sharply. "Do you have any idea what they were talking about?"

He pulled her into their hut, and pushed her onto a chair.

She shook her head. "Not really, no. All I heard was one word. Eragon." she said, then pulled off her shoe. "Stupid rock."

Brom sat down. "That what you get for stepping on sharp objects. Now, are you sure you didn't hear anything else?" he pulled her foot from her, washed it and bandaged it up.

Emilee shook her head. "That's all I heard..." she trailed off, noticing something out of the corner of her eye. She turned her head and saw out of the door a person in a deep navy velvet hooded cloak walk past. 'Who could that be?' she wondered.

Brom looked up to see what had caught his daughter's attention, and smiled broadly. About time she should show up. Things were about to get a lot more interesting. He turned back to Emilee. "...Are you even listening to me?" he snapped.

Emilee shook her head. "To tell you the truth, dad, I haven't the foggiest of what you just said." she replied, slightly ashamed at the disappointed look on Brom's face. Ah, if only she knew he was just playing with her. She cast her eyes down to the ground. "I'm sorry. Next time I'll pay closer attention," she mumbled, looking anywhere but at him.

"You had better," chided Brom playfully. "because I'm not always going to be around to guide you."

Emilee kept her eyes on the ground, feeling horrible that she had tuned him out so easily. When did that start happening? Usually her and him were inseparable, best friends, always listening to each other. So, when did she start treating him like he didn't matter anymore? "I'm sorry," she mumbled again. "I guess I just got so preoccupied with being worried about Eragon, Roran and Garrow, especially with those cloaked freaks running around."

Brom's eyes softened. "You're forgetting something," he said, and she looked up at him. "Surprising though it may be, I remember what it was like to be your age. You're young; you shouldn't be worried about-" he cut himself off, shaking his head, looking at her. "I understand your concern for your friends, because your concern is not without foundation. But, if they've managed to take care of themselves this long, I have no dbout they will continue to do so."

She smiled at him. "Thanks, dad." she said, then. "Wait, you were just playing around with me? You didn't really care I wasn't listening?"

Brom let out a chuckle or two. "As I said, I remember what it was like to be your age; everything I was told went in one ear and out the other. So yes, I was, as you state, 'just playing' with you." he said, making her roll her eyes heavenward. "Here, take some money and go shopping. I think you're due for some new boots, and there is that-what is it? Oh, yeah- dress thing, or whatever it is, that you have had your eyes on." he handed her some coins. "And spend it all. I hate it when you come home with change. What type of teenager are you?"

She grinned and jumped up and gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "I'll surely have no problem with that. Thank you dad." and with that she ran out the door, him smiling after her.

Alrighty, done with chapter one. Yeah, I know Brom is out of character,...A LOT out of character, but I thought he would be better sweet to begin with. Hope ya'll like!