I do not own the Inheritance Cycle.

This was a challenge to write. I wanted to make it realistic and not sappy- I don't do sappy...

Edited 1/30/22

Please let me know your thoughts throughout the story, I'd love to hear for you :)

Enjoy,


Fixation

It seemed a very long time before they broke apart, and Rose watched as Selena looked up at the man and pulled down the hood that covered his face in shadow, revealing an old, crankily face dominated by a crooked nose and bushy eyebrows. The man was scowling at Selena, looking most displeased. His face, though darken by the sun, was pale was clammy, as if he were seeing a ghost, and Rose saw him reach his hand into a pocket roughly sewn onto his cloak to pull out a round piece of wood, only to drop it and rub his hand on the cloak.

The man stepped away, not taking his eyes off of Selena. "You shouldn't be here," he rumbled, in a crackling voice. Rose wondered if he smoked a pipe, or if he preferred to stick his head over a fire and breathe in its fumes each night, but then she shook herself chasing away the graceless thought.

His words seemed to bring Selena out of her former reverie as she narrowed her eyes at him. "Nor should you be," she said, looking between him and Eragon. Selena eyes widened then as she stared at boy, and she took a swallow breath. "But you are, and you're likely hungry, so come and eat." She then looked at the man accusingly, seeming suddenly insulted, and said something too low for Rose to hear, but whatever it was made the man's scowl deepen and his eyes narrow.

"Who are you?" Eragon asked, his mouth agape. He looking between the man and Selena as if he had witnessed something miraculous and greatly disturbing. During their embrace he gotten off of the horse and now stood with the reigns in his hand, and his other hand was inching towards the bow slung across his back.

Selena, who had hardly taken her eyes off Eragon since first looking at him, took a step forth but then stopped herself and looked to the old man. For a moment they seemed to have a silent conversation, and the boy looked on with impatience. Rose sat down, then, finding no reason for her to remain standing as they were paying her no mind, and looked, over the fire, at them, disconsolately.

"We are very well met," said Selena, glancing briefly at Brom in surprise.

"Same to you," Eragon said irascibly. "But who are you?"

"That's a hard question to answer," Selena mussed, as Rose looked on. She wondered which Selena would choice; to lie to her son and say she was Ailis or if she would tell him the truth. "My name is Selena." She paused and sucked in her lips, steeling herself as she watched his reaction. Whatever she saw there promoted her to continue and say, "I'm your mother, Eragon."

Rose looked quickly to Eragon, he looked as he were to be ill, his face very pale, and then silently she stood up and backed away from them into a brushwood. A stick crackled under her weight as she stepped on it. Rose, Selena said into her mind, glancing very briefly in her direction. Where are you heading off to?

She stiffened for a just a moment, before answering her back; I need to speak with Thorn. Rose hurried around the brush, out of their sight and stared out blindly in the dragon's direction. I'll be back before sun fall.

Selena didn't answer right away, and Rose didn't look to see what she was doing. Be careful, she said faintly into her mind. Nodding, Rose kept walking wanting to get as far as she could from Selena and Eragon and the man, she presumed to be Brom. We'll be here when you get back.

.

The wind screamed around her, it was deafening sound that forbid any other, and yet Rose found it to be peaceful. Perhaps the wind was the only thing that could drown out her thoughts and feelings, blowing them away as if they something as simple as dust. Around her the clouds rose up like snowy towers into the infinite blue, their mist washing over her skin. Looking behind her, she twisted around and reached her hand back as far as she could, feeling the gusts of wind between her fingers, tickling her skin. She laughed, not being able to help it, and drew her hand back, wrapping it again around the spike in front of her.

Rose was seated on the depression between Thorn's neck and shoulders, as he flew high over the lands. She had been at first very hesitant to fly with Thorn, as she saw no reason to do so, but the dragon won her over, and soon she found herself high in the sky. Now Thorn dived quite suddenly, and she was forced to lean forward, her body shifted on its own accord without a barrier between her leggings and Thorn's slick scales. Perhaps she should ask Brom about the making of a saddle for Thorn, he was, after all, at one time a Dragon Rider.

Rose frowned at the thought of him, her merriment thoroughly diminished. She was not quite certain if she was content with him being alive, and reunited with Selena. Somehow the fact that her mother had fallen in love with him while wedded to Morzan was troubling her, though it should not, it should be none of her concern. As a wife, it was one's duty to remain loyal to their husband, and though knowing that Selena had betrayed Morzan by leaking information about the Empire hardly concerned her, the unfaithfulness did.

I think you should ask him, Thorn said, breaking her out of her thoughts. I'd like for you fly with me more often. The dragon straightened himself before he broke into the tangling limbs of trees, small green buds littered their branches.

Of course, you would. She wiped the wetness out of her eyes, the chill in the wind had burned them until they smarted. She blinked a few times. It'd certainly make flying much more comfortable.

Then you should inquire about it. Rose stiffened, she disliked requiring about something unless she had to but agreed to do so. It may be to our advantage, Thorn said, having a former Rider around.

That's only if I tell him about you, she said jest, leaning back, relaxed at Thorn's low height.

I will not remain hiding, said Thorn brusquely. His chest rumbled with a growl. I'm only do so now because it is the wise thing to do, but I will not continue for long.

I know, Thorn, Rose said. Believe me when I say that I don't wish for you keep hiding. She closed her eyes, letting the wind whip her hair, and brighten her cheeks. She never felt as able as she did when she flew with Thorn. It was a very empowering thing to feel him move beneath her.

The sky is beginning to darken, Thorn informed her. You should get back.

Rose sighed. I'd rather not, she said, as Thorn searched for a clearing to land. Yet, I should.

Thorn's answer was to dive towards the ground and land in a dale of trees, leaning down until she slid from his back. I'll fly above you, he said, glancing into woodland. It won't be a far walk, just continue that way. I landed as close as I dared.

I thank you, Thorn, Rose said with a nod.

She patted his bulk, and stepped away, heading in the direction he glanced in. As she walked, the wood darkened, the trees becoming solid shadows, and she began to feel as if were being watched. As the woodland blackened into the shades of night, Rose's feeling of unease grew, and her skin began to itch. She looked, continuously over her shoulder, seeing nothing but a scurrying squirrel or a flash of a bird. It was not long however, as Thorn had promised, until she reached the encampment though the feeling stayed even there.

A fire was glowing warmly at its center, Eragon sat there poking at it, and near the edge of its glow two figures sat on a low rock, the same one Rose had stood on earlier. Selena looked up as she approached as did Brom, between them sat the bag that held the remaining dragon egg. Rose hadn't seen the bag since the night Thorn's egg had vanished, nor had she inquired about it, though she had wondered where it was hidden.

"How was your walk?" Selena asked.

Rose tensed, and glanced quickly about the encampment. "Well enough," she said. "Thank you for asking."

"There's stew left over if you want to have any," said Selena, with a sigh. "Either way, I'd like for you to come and sit with us, there's someone I wish for you to meet."

She wasn't quite hungry, nor did Rose wish to meet with Brom, but she had a feeling that it wouldn't matter if she refused to do so, she'd still end up doing so that night. With a sigh, she made her way over to them to reluctantly meet Brom. Brom nodded at her in greeting, it was an informal action, and Rose was thankful for that. Formalities, she had learned, only made thing cumbersome, and restricted ones actions and words. Rose quietly murmured a greeting in return. When she sat down, she looked inquiringly at the dragon egg but said nothing, knowing that it was very likely Selena had already told Brom about her venture in the capital, and much of what had happened afterward.

"I think it would for the best if you told Brom about Thorn," said Selena as she moved back to include her.

Rose looked again at the dragon egg. "It seems as if you already have."

"Not everything," said Selena, looking resigned. "I thought it would be best if you did."

"There's not much to say." Rose glanced back at Eragon quite nervously. Selena seemed to trust these men, but she was sure that she did. It didn't seem a wise thing to do, simply taking Selena's word for it, but if she couldn't trust Selena; who else was there to trust? There was Thorn of course, but the dragon could not go everywhere she went, do things she could, and he didn't have the knowledge needed to keep them both safe- nor did Rose. Then there was Tornac, who was dead, it was a simple fact now that he had trusted Selena completely, or so it appeared. It seemed to Rose that she had very few directions to turn, she either trusted Selena, despite the guise she had once laid, or she did not. She had nowhere else to turn to, no place to go that was safe for both her and Thorn. "Thorn hatched for me," she said, with a dismissive shrug. "It was not a matter of choice."

For a moment it looked as if Brom was deep in thought, poking his fingers through a hole in his cloak, and then he shook himself very slightly. For a time he studied her, as if turning over whatever it was Selena had told him about her. "Let me see your hands," he said unexpectedly.

Rose paused for a moment of debate, and then held out her hands. He took them and turned them over in a serious manner, taking more of a notice of the mark on her left hand than anything else. He didn't look long, however, before he released her hands. His face was completely unreadable. "Where is your dragon now?"

"Thorn is flying about," she said undemonstratively.

"I would like to speak with him," said Brom. "Providing that he is willing to meet with me."

Rose looked down at hands, and folded them in her lap, feeling Thorn mindtouch her. I will speak with him, he said. We can meet in the place I left you. She didn't look up as she relied the message to Brom.

The former Rider stood up, using an antediluvian twisted staff to lean on. Rose studied his stooped back for a short moment, realizing that she was looking at a legend. But at that moment as she looked at the man lean onto his staff and scratch his chin behind a brushing of knotted hair, she couldn't help but wonder if this Brom and the one that was a Rider were indeed one and the same.

Rose looked questioningly at Selena for a moment, but the woman shook her head and motioned her forward. "Go on," she said. "I want to stay here."

With a nod, Rose stood also and walked past Eragon who was watching her very closely, his lips pressed firmly together as if he were fighting the urge to speak. She went to Selena's bags, and shifted through one of them until she came across the lantern. After illuminating it she returned to Brom.

"This way," Rose said, holding up the lantern, leading him into the forest. He fell into pace beside her as she entered the forest, the trees rose up around them, haunting and bare, the feeling of unease increased. For a moment Rose searched for something to say, but she could not think of anything and so she reached her mind out to Thorn and talked to him silently. You were quick to agree to speak with him, she said to Thorn. Why is that?

I'm curious to hear what he has to say.

He may, very well, say words you won't agree with, she said. What will you do, then?

I'm not worried about what I will do, Thorn said.

Rose nodded and walked on. She looked every so often at Brom, who she found to be quite difficult to feel out. He didn't give any signs that he was warring, nor did he look at her but only ahead, his staff tapping the ground as he walked. He was all at once more present and more remote, his face hidden in shadows and behind a beard, hiding his emotions and secrets. She didn't have much more time to think on it, though, before they reached the grove of scarred trunked rowan trees.

Thorn was resting off the side, red and silver and black in the moonlight. He stood up when they entered the glen, and came over to them. He stopped not far from where they stood and swung his head to Brom, looking at him thoughtfully.

Rose looked quickly to Brom, and then she backed away to allow them the chance to talk with some privacy. She walked wonderingly around the small knoll, watching the sky as the stars began to shine through the darkness. It was a fairly quiet night, not a noise could be heard save for the grousing songs of frogs. She swatted at a biting insect as if drifted close to her and turned back to Thorn, watching him as he swatted his tail across the ground. She wondered briefly what it was that he and Brom were speaking about, but the thought faded and she sat on the ground and waited.

She didn't know how long she waited until Brom and Thorn finished their conversation, when they did however Thorn moved away from the man and stood, looking suddenly quite proud, in front of her. I like him, said the dragon to Rose. He means no harm. I think him to be trustworthy. He turned and looked up at the sky, his tail swatting across the ground in good humor. He knows much, and says he help you make a saddle. It will be good to fly more with you.

Rose raised an eyebrow at him. You asked him about making a saddle?

If I did not, than who? Thorn began to hum deeply in his chest, as she stood and walked towards him. You would not, despite your claims and there are no others who would think to do so.

She smiled and ran her hand down his snout before stepping away. You talked for quite some time, surely you two spoke about more than simply making a saddle.

We did, said Thorn. Sleep well, little one. We'll talk more in the morning. He crouched down then before taking to the skies, disappearing in the night.

With a shiver, Rose turned to Brom and with a few short words they agreed to return to the encampment. As they walked a thick silence formed up around them, and Rose looked out at the wood around them avoiding looking at the man beside her. Once she heard him grunt, and she looked over at him.

"You still displeased about him hatching for you?" Brom asked.

Rose looked away. Selena must have told about him about her reaction to Thorn when he hatched, though Rose wished she would not have. "It'd be easier if he hadn't," she said in truth. "I'm no longer disturbed about his hatching though."

Brom grunted again and they continued in silence for a time. "Selena is worried about you," he said quietly. "She's had a hard life, things haven't been easy for her."

"Life is not ever easy." Rose looked down, watching the shadows on the path.

Brom's staff bang against a root, then she heard a shuffling of footsteps, as he stumbled slightly and mumbled what sounded like a curse. They didn't talk after that, instead choosing to walk on silence until they reached the campsite.

There they saw Selena and Eragon who were seated by the fire. The boy turned to her, and seemingly asked a question, Rose had only heard the last part of it, and as Selena turned to answer him, she saw them come closer, her eyes meeting Brom's. Rose watched as Selena shoot up, her face too shadowed to make out her expression but Rose thought her to be upset, and she quickly made her way to them. Selena stopped in front of Brom, Rose shifted the lantern to glance at her face, which was twisted up in look between anguish and ire. Rose quickly stepped away from them, choosing instead to seat herself across the fire from Eragon, who was watching, with Rose, as Selena spoke briskly to Brom, her voice too soft to her though Rose heard a sharpness in it, and her shoulders were tense.

"What did you say to upset her?" Rose asked after a moment of hesitation. She was racking her brain for something that could upset Selena so, but she thought of nothing. "I don't mean to pry. I only ask because haven't seen her this upset for quite some time."

Eragon turned around and looked at her, his mouth slightly open. "We're hunting the Ra'zac," he said. Rose thought she heard a note of odium in his voice, however she was unsure. "You know who they are?"

"Yes." Rose bit her lip. And now, she thought to say, I know that you are completely mad. The Ra'zac were a race of creatures, beasts who worked under the King Galbatorix, hunting down outlaws to torture for information, or to assassinate. It was a wonder that Rose and Selena hadn't crossed their paths, a good thing too as Rose didn't wish to meet them. Knowing that Eragon, who was still a boy, and a former Rider, who seemed to have a hard time simply walking, were hunting them down, it was almost laughable. "Best of luck with that," she said, darkening the lantern. She looked at the Selena and Brom, who were still talking in angry whispers. "And share some of it if you can, I have a feeling we're all going to need it."