Hello everyone!

I will be posting two chapters today! Let me know what you guys think in the reviews!

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We stayed another week in Teirm. Brom and Jeod spent a lot of time catching up for missed time. We didn't spar at all during this time but I did manage to get brom to magically make me a copy of Domia abr Wyrda. He agreed when I offered to supply the energy from my necklace, as much as he needed. I think he's enjoyed the time we spend trying to engineer spells for the things I want. If I were being completely honest, he was becoming like a second father of mine.

With all the free time we had while Jeod was handling his business affairs we spent the days designing ward schemes and enchantments for our weapons, barring Zar'roc of course. Brom taught me the wards he used for himself, we improved on them with my input of bodily systems and how they can be manipulated to incapacitate or kill someone. He taught me the concept of singing in the ancient language, which has a surprisingly broad range of applications, the one I was most interested in was enchanting. So I spent my alone time designing different things like a lamp that activated by touch and shut off by touch, little things to make everyday life more convenient. He would review my notes and use his broader knowledge of the ancient language to improve and perfect the concepts, it was a great way to help learn the ancient language and how to frame spells.

My dagger was the thing I had him change the most, the enchantments on it were mainly to help its durability and sharpness. I had him change the metal in some spots to make it softer in some places while more rigid in others to help distribution of stress on the weapon, a concept not quite recognized by the blacksmith who forged the weapon. I also added more carbon to the weapon to make it higher quality steel, little things to help the overall efficiency of the weapon.

The night before we were set to leave Teirm I decided that I would visit Angela. I was cautious beforehand for fear of the timeline but surely a conversation with the witch wouldn't change much.

Walking up to the herbalist shop I noticed that the bench Solembum was on the week before was gone and replaced with some potted plants that looked like it might try to kill you if you got too close.

Broadcasting my mind across the area, I made sure they were in before I opened the door. I could feel both of them just beyond the door. Both of them felt the touch and their eyes were on me as I stepped through the threshold. Angela was busy cutting on a plant and Solembum was lazing about like a typical cat.

"Sorry, I wanted to make sure you were here before I walked in." I started before they could get too angry at me.

"I'm still working on making the touch fainter and less noticeable." I continued.

"Well isn't that interesting, a fledgling magician. One who isn't afraid of letting others know." Angela stated towards the werecat.

A flicker of a tail was all she got in response. "So what brings you to my shop."

"Curiosity mostly." My response was quick as I browsed over the shop looking at the different herbs.

A traveler? I heard a voice that obviously belonged to the werecat. Solembum was visibly sitting up at this point.

Angela seemed undisturbed by the information. How could you tell? I responded.

My kind has always been the most in touch with nature, even more so than the dragons. Well that was interesting information, and wasn't at all helpful.

Have there been others before me?

Of course. Although none have come from where you have been, nor will there be another. Was his response before he jumped down and went into the back. Well that only leaves me with more questions.

Feel honored he spoke to you at all. Angela's sharp mind cut into mine.

"What is your name?" She asked.

"Names are powerful things, you may call me Roran…..You have no idea how long I have been waiting to say that." I said with a grin.

Her laugh cut through the room. "You are interesting, aren't you?"

Before I could respond she spoke again. "Why are you here?"

"I told you, curiosity."

"No no, what is your purpose in being here." She corrected.

Realizing what she meant, "I have been asking myself the same thing since I arrived." I answered.

"Would you like to know? I can read fortunes, I offer it to everyone Solembum speaks to. You're only the third he's talked to." She said walking to the back. "Where did I put those things" I could hear her rummaging around in the back. "…..ah found them."

I wasn't sure if I wanted to know my fortune. On one hand it would be nice to know my fate, whether I succeed or fail, on the other, I didn't want to live my life by prophecy. "No I don't think I want to know." I finally stated after a few minutes of consideration.

She seemed genuinely surprised. "No one has ever said no, never. You will be one to watch, very well if that will be all I have a toad to examine." and just like that she was gone.

Numbly walking back to Jeod's house, I was greeted by Brom. "Is everything alright?"

"I just talked to a werecat."

Carvahall hasn't changed a bit. I wonder if they'll recognize me. I doubted it. I stood at 6 foot 1 inches, 3 inches taller than when we first set out. I was also covered in muscle, sparring nearly every night for 4 months was a great workout program. My hair was pulled into a man bun with a few strands framing my face. Tanned skin was pulled sharply across my cheekbones and a well maintained beard hugged my face. A high quality dark brown leather jacket opened at the top to show a white undershirt on my torso, black breeches reached down to my black boots. My sword stayed sheathed on Cadoc while my dagger was in its sheath on my lower back. I cut a handsome and intimidating figure. Not even 16 and almost done growing already. People mature faster in this world, it's a hard life for most.

If they don't recognize me they definitely won't recognize Brom. He had gotten rid of the long beard, trimming it closer than my own on his face. Previously all grey hair had cut closely to his head and turned into a salt and pepper look. He looked like he had gotten 15 years younger. All from 4 months of traveling and using magic. My theory seems to hold true, maybe it's his constantly casting magic for me that did it. His clothes were just as high quality as mine with a maroon and black theme. Zar'roc was hidden amongst his saddlebags and he carried no weapon but aren shined as a warning to those who knew its meaning.

It was mid-day as the farm came into view, spring time meant making the rows for the seeds that would grow into food for most of the town. Garrow and Eragon were both with hoes in their hands working the fields hard. They never noticed that I had already tied up Cadoc to a tree as I dismounted and went to grab a hoe from the barn. Standing beside Garrow and starting on a row exactly the distance as I was taught as a boy he looked up and saw me.

After a few seconds of staring he realized who I was, "Roran?!"

Laughing I swept him up in an embrace. The top of his head barely reaching my shoulders showed how much I had grown. Eragon noticed the disturbance and ran over to join us.

"Hello Father, Eragon. I'm home." I said as I saw Brom heading to town, no doubt to rest in his house. I will see you soon. I broadcasted to him. A wave of his hand was his response.

"I have brought gifts!" I said as we separated.

"Gifts? Have you truly done so well already?" Garrow stated confused.

"Money is no worry for us anymore father." I stated matter of factly. Walking over to Cadoc I started unloading several packs. "Finer quality clothes for both of you. Come let's go inside and we can look at everything."

As I opened the door to my childhood home I noticed nothing had changed. The layout of the room was the same as when I left, it's only been 3 months, although it felt like a year. I set out the packs on the table and started unrolling the clothes. "Eragon can you go look on Cadoc and bring me the meats from my saddlebag?" It was from a healthy doe that we had hunted a few days prior, preserved through magic.

As he left I began unrolling his pack as Garrow did the same with his. Inside his pack were 3 changes of clothes, more than he had ever had at 1 time, normally wearing one change until he wore it out. Past that was a whittling knife made of very good quality steel with his name magically engraved into it by Brom. "This is more valuable than anything I own, I can not take it."

"We will talk about it tonight, Eragon is about to be back." I said as I finished unrolling and stringing his bow. As soon as he walked in he noticed what I was holding, it was sung from a tree by Brom and it was absolutely gorgeous. I asked him to do it for me and he didn't even hesitate to start that night, Eragon is his son after all. Eragon was staring at it with his mouth wide open.

"An early gift for your birthday." I told him.

"My birthday isn't for another few months." he responded.

I didn't respond as I handed it to him. "Go on, I know you wish to practice. The sun will be up for a few more hours." He practically sprinted out the door.

"You have to take it all back." Here we go. I knew this was coming. He's never accepted any help.

"I will not. You deserve all this and more." Let go of your pride you stubborn fool.

"I do not need your charity. I can provide for us alone."

"Aye and you did it for 15 years, now you don't have to do it alone anymore. Be grateful you did such a good job raising me." I said light heartedly trying to lighten the mood.

I cut him off before he could respond "We can argue about this later. I just got back, I'll be in for another 2 weeks or so. We will have plenty of time to discuss this later. Use it or throw it away, it's yours. But if you try and take anything away from Eragon we will have more than just a discussion." I didn't want to threaten my own father but I wouldn't let him take away what little happiness I can give Eragon in preparation of the future.

"He can keep his gifts. I do not wish to argue son. Come, sit and tell me of your travels." He said as the mood did a complete 180. I was all too happy to oblige.

In the end, Garrow relented at Eragon's happiness with his bow. I had even seen him whittling away with his knife a few times. Soon enough it was time to leave again, it didn't hurt as much as last time nor was it as hard a decision. Eragon's personality hadn't looked like it changed, he was still the optimistic fool. The light the world would need.

"Do you have to leave so soon?" Eragon asked as I was climbing in Cadoc's saddle.

"I've been here a whole 2 weeks. It's time for me to go visit some of Brom's other contacts." I replied getting settled into the saddle.

"When will you be back?" He responds with his head down.

"It will be longer than last time. Maybe 6 months or so, I'm not completely sure." My answer only seemed to upset him more.

Before he could respond I added "Everything I do is for you and father, Eragon. One day you will understand." I turned Cadoc and started down the road.

"You said that last time." I heard as I rode away.

"And it's still true!" I yelled back.

A/N: From this point on, assume anything said between Brom and Roran as being in the Ancient Language, unless specified otherwise.

Are you ready? I heard as I recognized Brom's familiar mind.

After a moment of concentration I switched to the ancient language. Almost to the meeting location. Where are we going this time? Brom told me he had plans but I still didn't know where he planned on traveling.

North.

A/N: Review please. We're going to be getting closer and closer to the beginning of the books in the next few chapters.