Chapter Eight
A/N: Sorry it's taking so long to get chapters up. School is kicking my butt right now and my tired eyes won't stay open long enough to crank them out as fast anymore. Short chapter I know, but I thought I'd try to put up what I can. Thanks to my reviewers (new and old), I appreciate all of your suggestions and support. Keep 'em coming!
Brom woke to Sareh trembling in his arms. His eyes opened to a thick veil of darkness. At first Brom thought he had gone blind, until the weak light of the moon filtered through the trees and he was able to see the outlines of the trembling woman he was holding. He attempted to wake her but whatever she was seeing in her mind held her fast. Brom shook her gently, trying to bring her out of it, but to no avail. Her eyes twitched beneath her lids and Brom could feel her racing heart against his chest.
"Sareh!" He tried again, lightly slapping her cheek. He didn't want to hurt her, but he couldn't wake her either. Sareh began to cry out and finally Brom couldn't take it any longer.
"SAREH!" His yells and shaking seemed to have woken her. Sareh's eyes opened and looked around blearily. When they finally focused on Brom, Sareh flung herself at him. Her arms wrapped tightly around him and her face buried against his neck.
"Brom— you're all right." Brom didn't know what she meant, but tried to comfort her as best he could. He stroked her back and kissed her forehead as uncharacteristic tears fell from her eyes.
"What happened? What did you see?" Brom was certain that whatever it was, it wasn't good. Sareh wouldn't speak, couldn't speak. Her fear and shock over what she had seen kept her mouth tightly clenched as she soaked in his strength. Brom called to Saphira who made a witty comment about staying out too late. Brom snapped at her to join them, his emotion evident in his thoughts. Having never had Brom speak to her in such a manner, Saphira knew something serious was happening. She took flight quickly and landed near the couple. Sareh clung to Brom who helped her up and led her to Saphira's side. Sareh had barely swung into the saddle when she leaned over the saddle horn and wrapped her arms around Saphira's neck. Saphira was surprised, although it wasn't an unwelcome gesture, it wasn't normal either.
"What's wrong Sareh? What happened?" Sareh's mind was whirling Saphira could only make out flashes and tiny pieces of what she was seeing. None of it made sense to the great dragon. She saw things that greatly disturbed her and reminded her of a time when Alagaësía was in turmoil. She had those memories within her, and knew what Sareh saw was very much like it.
"Brom, the things she sees… It's horrible." Brom looked at Sareh who had clenched her eyes shut. What was happening to her? Was it because of him? Saphira? What had caused all of this to come to her now?
His questions crowded his thoughts and as Saphira took off, he tightened his grip around Sareh automatically. How strange it was, that even after such a short time, he was already beginning to protect her. He wished he could do it for her now, but what was ravaging her thoughts was beyond his power.
As the cool air rushed around them he felt Sareh shiver and then pull back against him. He held her as tightly as he could, willing his warmth to envelope her. As they neared her home Sareh finally spoke,
"I cannot make of what I saw, just yet Brom. I don't know if what I see is truly what is to be or what might be, or simply my mind making things up to frighten me." Brom rested his chin upon her head.
"Whatever it is, tell me, I will do my best to help you through it." Sareh shook her head.
"I can't, I cannot tell you what I see until I better understand it myself. It would be wrong of me to cause you distress." Before Brom could disagree Saphira landed in front of Sareh's home. The light from the fire could just be seen from the window, and the shadows of someone moving within the hovel were thrown askew into the waiting darkness of the outside. Brom helped Sareh slide off the saddle. The day he had planned, attempting perfection was gone, killed with a single stroke of unknown magic. His sadness in not knowing how to help Sareh shot through him, any pain that might have come to her because of he or his dragon cut him deeply.
Brom walked Sareh to her door. She was oddly silent, thinking. She reached the door. She looked to Brom once more as she put her hand to the knob.
"I know you blame yourself Brom—Don't. What is happening to me is not your fault. When I figure it out, I will tell Saphira, I don't want to alarm you now." Brom met her eyes, his distress clear in his eyes. Sareh touched his face lightly and placed a gentle kiss upon his lips. Her calm was strange, considering a few moments ago she had been attacked with images too horrible to imagine on purpose.
Sareh opened the door, Brom holding her hand until the very last moment when her slim fingers slipped from his grasp.
As the door shut, darkness covered Brom, his head falling against his chest. Finally Saphira called to him.
"Come Rider, trust in Sareh. She will uncover what is happening and when she does, she will tell us. In her own time."
