So sorry for making you all wait but as the old saying goes "Procrastinate now, don't put it off!" So forgive me for taking so long school just started and I am lazy so here it is!
Storyteller
Brom looked about his new temporary home with disgust plain on his face. Even though he was now a dragon-less rider they were still sending him out on missions! Damn the Varden and Galbatorix! Brom's grim visage softened as he thought about the members of the Varden. Joel, whom he may never see again, all the members so ready to die for what they believed in, and Angela the herbalist. The thought of Angela brought a tiny smile dancing to Brom's lips. Brom shook himself from thought though and continued on to the small hut that he would soon call home.
About to open the door Brom sensed more than saw the flicker of movement behind him. Turning slowly so as not to attract notice Brom saw to hunched figures heading around the town. Grabbing Zarroc out of his pack Brom followed the pair cautiously incase they were indeed spies of Galbatorix. It was fully dusk by this time and it was easier for Brom to move without being seen by those he was pursuing. He, of course, couldn't have known that he was following a shade fully trained in the fighting arts.
Fara knew that she was being followed but she was just too weary to do anything about it. It didn't feel malicious and there was no reason to worry Selena when she was so close to the birth of a child.
"How far away is this house?" Fara whispered leaning close so that Selena could hear her clearly without this man hearing.
"It should not be much further." Selena replied squinting into the darkness searching for any hint of Garrow's home in the shadows of the spine.
Looking forward Fara could make out a tiny pinpoint of light in the distance. Picking up the pace slightly Fara quietly took some of Selena's baggage to take off some of her load.
Looking over in a query Selena shrugged at her good fortune and made now argument to the contrary.
"It should not be much further"
The statement was all that Brom heard of the whispered conversation and it was all he needed to condemn them of a misdoing. Living in fear of Galbatorix your whole life can twist perceptions like that.
Quickening his pace to catch up to these 'evil' people he soon saw the light from the windows of a distant farm house. Brom broke into a sprint to stop this terrible duo from hurting anyone. He was too far behind thought and they were already knocking on the door before he was 100 meters away. The bright flash of light from an opening door almost made him yell a warning but as one of the figures was huddled in protectively he realized that he had made a mistake. But one figure still remained in the shadows of the house. Closer now Brom could see that the figure cloaked in shadow was of a slight figure quite well hidden to any normal human. Trying to figure out if this person was an elf he realized that if he didn't know where that person was standing he wouldn't have seen him.
Brom staggered a moment as a terrible piercing scream came from the house. He apparently made enough of a scuffling noise for the figure to glance over his-its shoulder and soot him as evil silencing glare. Another shock came as the wail of a baby also floated over to his ears making Brom wonder. How far did she come? All of a sudden all the noise abruptly ended. The cry of a loved one lost then permeated the air ending that tense silence piercing even the heart of war hardened Brom.
Brom his cheeks tear stained as the figure gasped and fell away as if wounded. Clutching its face, the figure, chocking back tears, stumbled away and taking one last look at the cottage, dashed away, sprinting as if death chased it toward the Spine.
Amazed Brom didn't even give chase. Turning slowly he shut his eyes as the new sun rose and burned his tired eyes. Walking as though his feet weighed a ton, Brom slowly made his way back to his new shack promising himself that he too would help this child whose mother worked so hard to save.
Five years later Brom finally was able to meet this child whom he promised to help all those years ago. It was the midwinter festival at Carvahall. Brom was to take up his new position as story teller and weave tales of dragons and their riders. This year Garrow brought Roran and Eragon. Brom looked at Eragon as he walked around with wide eyes amazed at all the people and wares. He and Roran were close together, Roran definitely looking like a smug older brother. Well, as close as you could get to smug at the age of 7. Brom thought with an amused smile. He frowned though as Roran left leaving Eragon standing out in the cold to go play with his friends and Katrina. Hobbling over he realized that this boy was almost a spitting image of none other than Morzan! But this boy unlike his father looked innocent and unsure. Brom reassured by this boy's insecurity finally made it over to where Eragon had been standing and decided to strike up a conversation.
"Hello lad! What might you be doing sitting out in the cold all alone?"
Eragon looked surprised at first that someone was talking to him but he immediately smiled at this stranger and replied as any other five year old would. "Hi!"
Brom chuckled and knew that Eragon was not the evil man that his father had become. "How is your uncle Garrow young Eragon?"
"How do you know my name?" Eragon demanded before flushing a deep red realizing that he was being rude to his elder. "Uncle Garrow is fine sir." He added meekly.
"Your uncle has told me all about you lad." Brom responded to the youngster good naturedly.
"Then how did you not know how he was doing?" Eragon said losing a fight against his tongue.
Garrow had said that the boy was smart and inquisitive but Brom was floored. Not many adults he knew would have realized that Brom was only making small talk for ulterior reasons and now a five year old was reasoning such things out was amazing. "Your uncle did say that you were clever lad. I am glad that you proved him right."
Eragon frowned at the comment but made no comment as he heard his uncle's voice in the crowd.
"Roran you were supposed to be watching him! I trusted you! You just left him who knows where and go off with your friends! I am ashamed of you! This is the last time I take you to the festival!"
"Uncle!" Eragon cried worried for his cousin who was in trouble.
Brom rested a hand on the boys shoulder and leaning over whispered. "Tonight make sure that you come and listen to my tales of dragons and riders!"
Eragon looked at Brom with a wild gleam and nodded his consent as Garrow came over.
"I am so sorry Brom! These two are quite a handful. I hope Eragon wasn't inconveniencing you too much." Garrow waved away Brom's dismissal of any problem. "We will see you again tonight then."
"Yes tonight." Brom murmured under his breath in anticipation.
Hah ha! I updated! Congratulate me with reviews! Many, many reviews! FYI: my other chappies will be coming back revised soon and I will put up a notice for when that happens. Things will change I guaranty! ttfn!
