Chapter 2

((again, the only character I own is Amani, all the others belong to CP. Also, just to clear up confusion (I noticed other characters in stories called Amani) my 8th grade science teacher had adopted a wolf and the wolf's name happened to be Amani. I've used it for multiple characters because most of the time, the name fits the "atmosphere" of the RPG/story. So that's that. Also, I picture Brom as Jeremy Irons depicted him in the movie, and though I plan to follow the book, I will describe Brom as he was in the movie.))

The days had passed into weeks quicker than he had thought possible. He still found his thoughts, when he wasn't able to distract himself, settling on the grief that he could not shake himself of. It was his entire fault, it always was.

He paced the street, there was no one about and the wheel rutted roads were covered with a light crispy snow. Desperately, he searched from something, anything with which he could distract himself, but there was nothing. He felt guilty at trying to avoid thinking of them but the pain still hurt, even after all these years. His knees quivered slightly as a single tear slid down his face. He brushed it off, and his hand left a brown smudge of dye on his cheek.

There was a noise up ahead, and he looked up, concerned that someone might see him, in his 'weakened' state. But there was no one there. His legs gave out, and he remembered one winter, so long ago.

Flashback

He took the stairs two at a time, his breath coming in short gasps. He wasn't out of shape, but his fear and the massive quantity of adrenaline rushing through his veins made is difficult for him to breath. Saphira let out a roar, both vocally and mentally. She sent Brom a mental image of ripping through the stone building, and taking out any creature in her way. Brom reached the top of the flight of stairs. There was a dwarf standing in the hallway, inching farther and farther away from an old battered door.

"She's in the Argetlam. There's nothing—" Brom waved his hand to silence the dwarf and paused outside the door a moment, preparing himself, and then he turned the knob. The large door swung open silently on its hinges.

It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the dim light in the room. He stepped in though, even though he could not see very well, and shut the door behind him. What he saw, when he finally could see, sickened him.

Amani was crouched against the far wall, in wolf form. Her white fur was stained red in places from blood and her eyes were wild with fear. He thought for a moment that his heart might break. He hadn't told her yet how much he really cared for her. Hadn't asked her what he'd been planning to ask her for so long. Compulsively he moved toward her, but she shrunk back against the wall and cowered. He wanted so badly to reach out and hold her, but instead he sat down where he was. Finally, after what seemed like hours, she crawled towards him, hesitating at first, but then running. He reached out and held her, wrapping his fingers in her fur.

"It's okay, it's gonna be okay. I promise." He felt her relax against him, and his mind came up with a few extra suggestions, but he shoved them away. This was definitely not the time for that. She shifted, flowing back into her human form, and that was when he got a good look at all the damage.

She was covered with bruises, and other then some minor cuts, she sported a fairly nasty looking shiner. He noticed, with the revelations of her new injuries that he felt, not increasingly aggrieved, but angry, furiously angry.

"Who did this to you?" he asked words clipped and cold. But she only shook her head and hugged him tighter.

End Flashback

He heard a sound again, but this one was chillingly familiar. He glanced up, breaking the reverie he had sat in. They weren't far, but they were here. He stood up, knees popping in protest. Hurrying now, other worries forgotten, he rounded the corner, and found—

Eragon. That boy was always getting in trouble. But from what he could hear, from the sounds coming from the other ally, he had just bit off more trouble that he could chew. The Ra'zac weren't far away and had maybe even noticed Eragon near by. He stumbled forward, calling out his name. Eragon seemed to be frozen in place, and Brom knew it was possible that they had seen him already. He called again, and let out a sigh as he moved closer and watched Eragon fall to the ground. The Ra'zac must have retreated.

"Are you alright?" he asked. Eragon nodded, and made the excuse of being sick. Brom, thinking fast for an excuse for being in the bowls of the city merely replied that he had been looking for Eragon to ask about the trader. He had his own suspicions about the whole ordeal, but they hadn't really concerned him much. However, now that the Ra'zac were hanging out around in town, it might be worth looking into.