Chapter Two

Sareh and Brom picked their way through the paths of Carvahall, laughing and talking. Brom had never found anyone, outside of Saphira, that he felt completely at ease with. Her easy-going manner (once she had relaxed in his presence) and her ability to find humor in everything were refreshing. They had been swapping stories on the long trek to her home, and even so, Brom had yet to tell her that he was a dragon rider. Normally, people knew instantly, usually because a large mouth, filled with just as over-sized teeth was with him. That particular illustration of his occupation was currently missing. Although riders were revered for keeping the peace, Brom hadn't met a single person who's demeanor didn't change the minute they knew. Many became simpering and annoying, hoping to make their way into the good graces of the ever-powerful dragon riders. Many riders found this flattering and enjoyed the attention. Brom on the other hand, found himself imagining what would happen if Saphira "accidentally" ate them. As he was thinking this, he vaguely heard the tail end of Sareh's sentence.

"…And, I never realized what a great friend I had until he and his family left Carvahall. Have you ever had that feeling? Have someone that you love and if you lost them it would feel like you would change?" Brom didn't realize until he started speaking that his mouth didn't seem to be in tune with his mind, the words that were passing his lips, most definitely hadn't been approved by him.

"I feel like that from time to time, when my dragon leaves for longer than a day." He didn't notice until the silence was obvious, that Sareh was no longer with him. He backtracked to where she stood, head tilted, staring at him.

"You're a Shur'tugal?" she asked, using the Ancient word for dragon rider. Brom nodded, awaiting harsh words for not sharing this information earlier. They never came. Instead Sareh shrugged and walked on, leaving Brom where he stood. To be honest, he was a bit taken aback.

Surely that wasn't all she was going to do, was she angry he hadn't said something, did she think he was joking? What was going through her head?

Brom tightened his grip on the market basket he was carrying and quickened his pace to catch up.

"I haven't offended you have I?" mentally kicking himself, Brom looked at Sareh concerned for her reaction. Sareh didn't say anything for a moment, taking a great interest in the trees they were passing. Brom turned to face her, walking backwards,

"Sareh?" She stopped and looked to Brom.

"No, I just thought we were talking." Brom looked at her puzzled.

"Really?" Sareh nodded, smiling.

"Did you want me to start complimenting you after finding out you were Shur'tugal?" Brom looked at her horrified.

"Absolutely not! I just… I didn't exactly introduce it that well." Sareh gave a slight pffting noise.

"We've known each other for all of an hour, unless you come from a village where strangers share everything all at once, it's not my place to be outraged you didn't tell me right away." Brom shook his head in wonderment. A rare find she was, not caring in the slightest that he flew astride a dragon, keeping the peace between all in Alagaësía, it was lovely.

"I've never met anyone quite like you." He said shifting the basket that was slowly cutting the circulation to his fingers off. Sareh flashed him a smile.

"I should hope not. Everyone is unique in their own way, how dull would it be if we were all the same?" Brom agreed,

"Have you ever met a dragon rider?"

"Outside of you? Never." Brom was impressed, the number of dragon riders was high these days, even with the quota of eggs the dragons gave for hatching. Living anywhere without meeting one for so long, was strange for Brom.

"That's odd, for me anyway." Sareh shrugged once more.

"My family depends on our own land. What we can't grow we get from the market. Our needs are little so travel isn't necessary."

"Oh." After telling himself he hated the celebrity, Brom found he was slightly sore that dragon riders weren't that important to her. It might have been he was subconsciously hoping she was attracted to men such as he. He killed the feeling and the two continued on. Sareh sensed he felt badly and laid her hand on his arm.

"It isn't as though we've never heard of dragon riders Brom, my brothers adore the thought of being a riders, flying on the back of a dragon, staving off war and protecting a fragile peace. They still hold a hope that they might one day become a riders, even though the chance of peasants ever being called to be given an egg is slimmer than most." Brom smiled at her attempt to make him feel better.

"You seem to be talented in everything, vegetable picking, conversationalist and now counselor… Is there anything you can't do?" Sareh drew his attention to a small hovel at the top of the hill they were on and as they reached the door Sareh turned to face him, opening the door without looking.

"I can't swim." With that Brom was ushered into a cozy little house filled with mouth-watering scents you could positively swim through. Sareh took the basket from Brom and headed for a scarred wooden table at the center of the room. Brom rubbed his hand, encouraging the blood to flow its course once again. Sareh set the basket down and called for her mother.

"Mama? I'm home!" Brom moved his attention away from his hand in time to see a short, plump woman with dark hair that was just beginning to gray. She came into the room wiping her hands on a piece of cloth.

"You were able to find everything, good. Your father will be pleased to see carrots in his stew today." The woman began rummaging around in the basket, oblivious to the guest standing in the doorway. Sareh looked at Brom and rolled her eyes, she laid a hand on her mother's shoulder and then whispered into her ear. The shorter woman looked up from the basket and straight to Brom.

"Oh! Sakes alive! I didn't know you were there lad, come in, come in." Her eyes flicked back to Sareh, her hand fluttering with sudden anxiety.

"Would it have killed you to tell me? I'm not dressed for a guest and our afternoon meal is just a stew." Sareh crossed her arms.

"It wasn't a planned meeting mama… Now, mama this is Brom, Brom is this is my mother Caitir." Brom took a fluttering hand in one of his, placing a kiss upon the knuckles. This time just to be polite, not to woo, as he had been with this woman's daughter earlier.

"Madame, it is I who is inconveniencing you and your family. I have no complaints about dress or stew. In fact, stew sounds much more delectable than anything I, as a bachelor could cook." The woman gave a slight blush and then gave Sareh a look, wiggling her eyebrows in a manner that suggested Brom was quite the catch.

"Well, if you truly don't mind, your welcome to stay—What did you say his name was?" She asked Sareh who smiled at her mother's forgetfulness.

"Brom mama. His name is Brom." The woman smiled and lightly slapped her forehead.

"Ah yes, Brom. My thoughts wander away sometimes, it's a wonder I remember my own children's names." As the three laughed at her self-deprecation Sareh's mother patted her on the shoulder and pulled the necessary vegetables from the basket.

"I just need to add this to the pot, would you go get your father and the children in?" Sareh nodded and turned to Brom as her mother walked away.

"Join me?" She asked. Brom smiled, at that moment, his stomach growled and the two burst into laughter.

"I suppose it's a good thing mama's making afternoon meal." Brom shrugged as they stepped out into the bright sun.

"I wasn't joking when I said my meals as a bachelor are sparse. My cooking skills, I'm sad to report consist of beans and the occasional rabbit." Sareh shook her head and led him into the land behind the house. From where they were Brom could see the shapes of four other people. As they drew closer he could see two of them were young boys, one a young girl and a man older than all three. Brom could only assume that it was Sareh's father. His thoughts were confirmed when they reached the plots of land that had been ploughed and were now being painstakingly sown and Sareh made her way to the man.

"Papa how goes the planting?" The older man straightened and brushed a dirt-covered hand over a sweaty brow. He effectively created mud as he greeted his daughter.

"It goes child. I will be glad when this part of the task is finished." Sareh reached him and affectionately wiped the dirt from his face. As she did so Brom saw a girl shaped projectile speed towards Sareh's legs. A small girl child grabbed Sareh.

"Saree, Saree! I missed you while you were away." Sareh gave a light laugh and ruffled the girl's hair.

"I missed you too." She gestured for Brom to come forward.

"Papa, Amani, and you two." The two young men left their seed rows and joined the small party.

"This is Brom, I met him at the market this morning and Mama has kindly invited him to join us for afternoon meal. Brom this is my father Kamran, the twins Radwan and Darius and my little sister Amani." Brom nodded his head in greeting when all of a sudden Amani came over and looked up at him.

"You're very tall," she said in a matter of fact way, "are you sure you're not a tree?" Brom laughed at the little girl's outburst. Sareh shook her head and came near, patting her little sister on the head.

"No Amani, he isn't a tree… He is a Shur'tugal." The twins looked at Brom with great interest. Before they could ask any questions the group heard a whistle from the back of the house. Looking back they could see their petite mother waving her arms.

"Mama nearly had afternoon meal finished when we came out here. I suppose it's finished now." Sareh's father nodded and clapped Brom none too gently on the back.

"Hope you're hungry lad," Out of the corner of his eye, Brom could see Sareh hide a smile, "my wife makes a good stew and there's always enough to feed several armies." The group headed towards the house, little Amani skipping ahead of them. As he walked with them, Brom felt something he hadn't before. A sense of belonging, this family, who owed him nothing, treated him as if he had always been there. That was something that was increasingly difficult to come by as one traveled through life, in his line of work you were either hated or respected, but never loved.

He felt the love Sareh's family exuded.

In the end, the family included him in a meal that kings would be jealous of. The laughter and joking, the light poking fun and all around good cheer made the day a good one. It also gave him a chance to observe Sareh, with her family and in her own territory. She was naturally kind, affectionate to her younger sister and fair to her brothers. He also was able to take in the sight of her, dark hair braided down her back, pale skin and hazel eyes that took in all the sights around her. To Brom, she was as beautiful to him as a diamond was to a jeweler.

Brom stayed for the rest of the day, helping Sareh's father chop wood while she and her siblings finished planting the seed. By then Sareh's mother was so taken with him she made him stay for dinner and then later offered him a place to sleep. Such kindness Brom had never been privy to.

As he lay awake, he felt Saphira land in the woods just outside of the family's land. As she settled she spoke to him.

"I see you were able to convince her you're a gentleman." Brom laughed internally.

"All evidence to the contrary, right?" Saphira's dragon chuckle sounded in his ear and Brom found himself not noticing its loudness.

"So when am I to meet this Sareh?" Brom hadn't thought about that. It hit him then that he had two females in his life. One of which had been there since the moment she had hatched, the other becoming more than a passing fancy.

"Tomorrow Saphira. Tomorrow you two will meet and I will teach her how to swim."

Could the two live in harmony with one another? They would see.


A/N: Such a loooong chapter! I'm sorry! I felt a need to keep their conversation about being a dragon rider and the meal together. Thanks for keeping on reading!