Chapter Two
"Why would he laugh at me?" Brina fumed as she stormed out of the Prancing Pony. Intent on going home and forgetting this whole day ever happened and anger clouding her mind. She failed to notice her attacker and his friends were following her until it was almost to late.
At the last second she dodged a blow to the head and turned around to find her attacker from earlier with some of his friends. "You are going to pay for humilating me earlier girl." Said her attacker. "This day keeps getting better and better." Thought Brina.
"That blow to the head earlier must have damaged your brain or were you just born stupid?" Brina asked him. "Probably not the smartest thing I could have said." thought Brina "Why you little brat?" The man snarled. "It was a good thing he was still hungover." thought Brina. As he made a swing that totally missed its target.
Fortune did not seem to be smiling on Brina as his two friends jumped in. One man she could handle easily but more than one wasn't one of her strengths. Just when Brina was beginning to think she might be in some real trouble. She received help from an unexpected source.
As Arathorn followed the men out he saw them going after the girl Brina. He saw the man that had attacked her earlier swinging at her. "Whether she wanted his help or not she was getting it."Arathorn thought. "Need some help?" Arathorn said to Brina. Brina was stunned that he would help her but she was also grateful. "Yes I would." said Brina.
With the ranger's help Brina easily sent the men running. "Thank you for your help but why did you help me after I just slapped you?" Brina asked. "I helped you because you looked like you needed it." Replied Arathorn. "I also realised I must have upset you for you to slap me. So I was coming to apologize to you." Said Arathorn. Brina hung her head feeling ashamed that she had slapped the ranger. "Thank you again for your help I do appreciate it and I am sorry for slapping you in there." Said Brina as she tried to cover a yawn.
"Why did you slap me?" Asked Arathorn. Blushing a bright red Brina stammered "I...I...had had a long day... and after everything that had happened. You...you laughing at me was the last...straw. I am sorry" Brina whispered. "I will forgive you if you will forgive me." Said Arathorn. "It is a deal." Replied Brina. "I guess I should properly introduce myself." Said Brina. "Hello, my name is Brina but the people of Bree like to call me Shadow." Said Brina. "What is your name ranger?" Asked Brina. "Pleased to meet you Brina. My name is Arathorn." Replied Arathorn.
"What brings you to Bree Arathorn?" Brina asked as she tried to hide another yawn. Arathorn gave her a small smile and said. "How about I answer your questions tomorrow? When you have rested?" "That sounds good thanks" said Brina. "I will meet you here tomorrow for breakfast and answer your questions. Sleep well Brina." Said Arathorn. "Sleep well Arathorn and see you tomorrow." Replied Brina with a wave. As Brina made her way home she thought over her eventful day. "Who would have thought my day would turn out this way?" Thought Brina
As Brina layed down to sleep that night she couldn't help but feel something she hadn't felt in a long time excitement. Brina was actually looking forward to tomorrow and talking to Arathorn. He seemed different that everyone she had met so far. He acted like he genuinely wanted to get to know her. With these thoughts Brina drifted off to sleep with a smile on her face.
As Arathorn watched Brina walk off into the night and turned back to the Prancing Pony. He made his way to his room that night thinking about Brina not in a romantic way but more of a big brother little sister type of way. He was actually looking forward to talking Brina tomorrow.
The morning was bright and sunny with not a cloud in the sky as Brina made her way excitedly to the Prancing Pony to meet Arathorn. As Brina walked into the Prancing Pony that morning the scene was much different than last night. It was quiet, calm, and very few people were up just the way Brina liked it. As Brina scanned the room her eyes met Arathorn's as he sat in the same corner he sat in last night. "Good Morning Arathorn!" Greeted Brina as she took a seat at the table. "Good morning Brina!" Arathorn returned the greeting with a small smile. "I think I need to answer your questions now Brina." Said Arathorn. "I would appreciate it." Replied Brina. "I have one condition though. I will answer you questions. If you will tell me about yourself." Said Arathorn. "That sounds fair enough." Said Brina.
"In answer to your question Brina I just passing through Bree on my way home." Said Arathorn. "Where do you live?" Asked Brina. "I live to the east in a place called the angle unfortunently I can't tell you much more about my home." Said Arathorn. "Why?" Asked Brina curiously. "There are those who would like to know where my people live and destroy them." Said Arathorn with a sad look in his eyes. "Oh," replied Brina with understanding dawning in her voice. "If someone were trying to kill my people I would do the same Arathorn." Said Brina.
"How about you tell me about yourself Brina?" Asked Arathorn. "Alright," Brina agreed. "I don't remember my birth family." Said Brina. "I was rescued by a man who would become my uncle." Said Brina. "He and my aunt raised me and taught me how to defend myself." Said Brina. "But when I was eighteen I left for the day and came back to find them murdered." Said Brina. "I have no idea who murdered them. It has haunted me ever since." Said Brina. "So I made my way to Bree and by some miracle I made it here unharmed." Said Brina. "I have been living here for the last three years taking odd jobs to survive." Said Brina. "So that is my story." Brina finished.
Arathorn had been listening intently as she told her story. "Hearing her story explained a lot about the way she acted and her distrust of others." He thought. "I can't leave her here. I am going to invite her to come home with me." Arathorn thought to himself. Brina, "I am so sorry about your loss and thank you for trusting me enough to tell me." Said Arathorn. "Thank you Arathorn." Replied Brina quietly. "Brina, this may sound odd but would you like to come to the Angle with me?" Asked Arathorn. "It won't be an easy life nor will my people trust you right away." Arathorn rushed to say before she answered. "But I would like to be your friend if you would let me." Arathorn finished. "Brina was stunned by his offer and a little suspicious. It wasn't like she had much of a future in Bree. If she went with Arathorn at least she would have the hope of friendship." Brina thought to herself. "Arathorn, thank you for the offer I think I will take you up on it." Said Brina. "It is not like I have much of a future here in Bree and I am used to being distrusted so that won't be anything new." Said Brina.
"Alright," said Arathorn. "I am leaving early tomorrow meet me here at the Prancing Pony." Arathorn told her. "I think this is the beginning of a great friendship, little sister." Thought Arathorn. "I will be here and thank you Arathorn." Said Brina. "And Arathorn I would like to be your friend too." said Brina. "Let me help you get the things you will need in the wild." Said Arathorn. "This will not be easy." Arathorn warned Brina. "I know" replied Brina. "I would appreciate the help." Said Brina with a smile. As the two of them made their way to gather supplies Brina felt happy that she had a friend but little did she know that Arathorn would become more than her friend. He would become her brother and her family. But life is never easy as Brina was about to find out.
