Brooke: I had fun doing this chapter.
Rebecca: I kind of had fun...
Brooke: What do you mean 'kind of'?
Rebecca: Well, it wasn't exactly smart of us, and-
Brooke: Oh, hush! Keeper only owns her girls and whatever else that's not Palolini's.
"It's like your my mirror, my mirror staring back at me. I couldn't get any bigger with any one else beside me. Now it's as clear as this promise that we're making two reflections into one." -Justin Timberlake
Rebecca and Brooke were given permission by Elain to help Gertrude, the healer, with those injured from the battle the previous night. They hated the fighting, but there was little they could do to change the minds of men defending their home.
Baldor had returned with a cut on his cheek and a limp and Brooke tended to him silently. She was pale and quiet, two things that told Rebecca she was scared. That was something they shared.
Roran had about a billion ideas on how to defend the small village and was busy carrying out those plans nearly the entire day.
That night, Rebecca woke to a hand on her shoulder and nearly screamed in surprise. "Shh, I'm sorry, I had to see you." He whispered, taking her outside and onto the porch.
She was not happy with him and had not forgiven him for whatever they had argued about before.
"Look, Rebecca, I know I made a mistake. The thing is whenever I'm away from you, I can't stop thinking about you. Now, I know it seems bad because I spend so little time with you, but every time I'm away, I fear I might lose you to another man." She felt as though she knew where this was going and her heart beat fast. "Rebecca, I mean to ask...will you marry me?"
Brooke didn't leave Horst's home at all the next day until she heard Albriech and Thane arguing on the porch. By the time she went outside, the crowd had parted and Roran was speaking to the boy who had a purple bruise beneath his right eye.
"Oh, Albriech!" She exclaimed. "Are you alright?"
"Fine, Brooke, don't worry." He waved off her offer to help and she rolled her eyes.
"Roran, have you seen Rebecca?" She asked, choosing to ignore the boy and his idiocy. She noted how a smile spread on his face.
"She should be with Gertrude-"
"Thanks, bye!" She sped off, locating Rebecca beside the old healer who bore a glowing smile. "Okay, did you eat Lucky Charms or something?"
"Brooke, I'm engaged."
"Course you are, I—to what?!"
"To Roran."
"YOU'RE WHAT?!"
"Soldiers!" Roran's call drew all the villagers to the blockade of trees when he saw the girls, he said, "Baldor, get them away, put them with the children."
Baldor nodded and practically dragged them both away. He took Brooke's face in his hands, "Please stay here. I can not fight without knowing you're safe." She nodded breathlessly, tears falling from her eyes. He kissed her upon her lips. "I will come back for you. I will." And with that, he left to fight.
The next few days were spent discussing what they could do to escape their predicament. Baldor and Roran had returned safely, but Baldor had a hard time assuring Brooke that he was well.
The village men had a meeting to decide the future and Brooke could scarcely contain herself. Screw stupid village laws! She was about to head to the meeting when Baldor and Roran entered. "We have something to ask the both of you."
They became silent and bid them to continue, "It's been decided to send the children and a few others into the Spine above Igualda Falls, we wish you two to accompany them."
"No!" The girls chorused, then spoke in a jumbled blur resembling something like, "Other women are staying! We can help! You're not the boss of me!"
"Brooke, please," Baldor whispered, taking her hands in his own. He would not meet her eyes. He did not want to be separated from her. "I would not have you leave if there was any other way."
She sighed, her shoulders sagged and her eyes closed. "Fine. I'll go."
Rebecca scowled at Brooke for conceding first and making her look like a fool. "Alright; but only if you swear to return to me when the time is right."
"You have my word."
That morning, everyone who was going into the Spine were prepared to leave, anxious to leave as well as nervous. The trip up was silent, but when they reached the top of the Falls, conversation and farewells ensued.
"Please be safe." Brooke whispered, hugging Baldor.
"Of course," He said with a laugh. "I have to be, so that I can come back to you."
"You be safe, Stronghammer." Rebecca said, pecking his cheek and smiling. "Perhaps if you return in one piece I'll give you a proper kiss."
"Tease." He muttered, hugging her tightly before climbing down after the others, followed by Baldor.
A few days later, Baldor and Albriech came up to tell them of what had transpired when they were absent. "Roran has decided to travel through the width of the Spine to claim a ship and join the Varden by going to Surda." Albriech explained. "Anyone who wishes to go shall."
"That means me." Rebecca said, looking to Brooke. "Who else leaves?"
"Nearly the whole village; and the others have yet to decide." Baldor explained. "We leave as well."
"I shall go with you," Brooke said. "Where you go, I go." The words seemed to bring deja vu, though she could not say why.
A few days later, those in the Spine joined those who were leaving and they started out for the unknown.
It seemed like years before they reached Narda, the town in which they hoped to gain a vessel.
The villagers cheered and breathed sighs of rellief while others, like Baldor and Brooke, kissed.
"You've done it, Roran." Rebecca whispered, hugging her fiance. "You're saving lives."
Everyone was tired and weary, though glad that they had at least reached Narda where they could rest for however brief a time.
Reluctantly, Rebecca let Roran go to Narda in search of a ship with only Horst, Gertrude, Baldor and a few others. She wished Baldor had stayed to comfort her cousin, but he was persistent.
"Becs?" Brooke asked as they sat around a fire, waiting for the others to return.
"What's bugging you, Stream?" Inwardly, she cursed when her voice cracked. She had felt sick for the past few days, but no way would she let anyone know that. She felt certain that it would pass soon.
"Baldor," she replied. "He's asked me to marry him."
"Really?! That's great!" Rebecca said, then noticed Brooke's sad expression. "Did you say 'no'?"
"No, I accepted." She replied with a light smile. "But I've been wondering if that was the right choice. I mean, we're going home in the end, aren't we?"
Home? The question startled her; she had not thought about home in a long time. "I don't know; I just don't know." She wrapped an arm around her shoulder to comfort her, but she knew there was little.
When they returned, Brooke was not overjoyed as she should have been and Baldor became worried.
Brooke woke to Baldor shaking her. She raised an eyebrow and he whispered. "Ra'zac." Almost immediately, she began to hyperventilate. Baldor took her in his arms and rocked her, slowly whispering soothing words as others attempted to keep animals or children calm. Rebecca was among them, keeping a wary eye on Roran.
As the foul beast came closer, the villagers hid and the animals became still, save for one stupid donkey that made its unique sound once before Roran killed it swiftly. It was too late.
A Ra'zac stalked towards the camp, searching. Brooke and Rebecca clung to their betrothed and watched without taking a breath.
The Ra'zac reached his hand out for where Albriech was hiding and a second before they were to be discovered, a mass of deer burst through the underbrush and stampeded through the meadow. Seemingly deciding that the deer caused the disturbance, the Ra'zac flew off and disappeared into the Spine. They remained frozen
Baldor and Albriech were chosen to help with the ship work while the other villagers, as well as Brooke and Rebecca, went down with the livestock. The girls found it absurd that Clovis, the captain of the barge, had learned of who they are and their intentions, but most of the people had to remain below deck to keep suspicion away from people on land.
In due time, they reached Teirm, but even upon landing, the girls' betrothed were kept form them by hard work and troubles. On the bright side, as Brooke so often halfheartedly pointed out, they had each other. That much, the were grateful for. When some of the men had the chance, they would teach the girls how to fight, but that only came so often.
When Roran explained that he and only a few others were to go to Teirm—excluding the girls—they were ticked.
"If our lives didn't depend on this, I would...I would-"
"Ease up, Stream," Rebecca said. "It's not like women have any actual power here anyway."
"True; perhaps we should act as women from this world and hope it's a proper punishment."
"You mean say absolutely nothing except 'yes,' 'no,' and 'I love you.' I could do that." A dark smile spread on their faces. This could work...
They were brought to Teirm after being told that a man had offered his residency and a means to escape. Upon entering the house, the girls knew exactly who the man was and ran ahead, throwing themselves into the study where Roran, Baldor, a few others and none other than Jeod stood, wrapping their arms around him in a tight embrace. "Lady Rebecca! Lady Brooke! I thought I'd never see your smiling faces again!"
"I guess this just proves his entire story." Baldor muttered.
Roran looked at Rebecca with surprise, "You knew about Saphira, didn't you?" He asked. She stood silent, her face a mask without emotion. "You knew Eragon was a dragon rider and you didn't tell me?"
Brooke took her hand, reminding her of their pact from earlier. Calmly, she replied, "Yes."
Roran seemed taken aback by her sudden briskness. "We will discuss this when less pressing matters are upon us."
"Of course, Sir." She said coldly, her eyes narrowing dangerously. He sighed and left, followed by the others and lastly, Baldor, who looked to Brooke almost pleadingly, though she closed her eyes and looked away as though she was ashamed.
They did not speak to each other for the next two days in which they and Jeod stole Jeod's own ship and had all the residents of Carvahall board. With some luck, they managed to set sail in time to prevent soldiers from following them by setting the shore ablaze.
Every time Baldor tried to speak to Brooke, she'd instantly find something else to do or disappeared altogether. Rebecca only shrugged when he looked to her for help. She had given him props for trying though, as Roran pretty much decided to completely ignore her.
After another Ra'zac incident, in which Roran wounded but did not kill the beast, Baldor finally cornered both the girls. "You two are being absurd!" He cried. "Roran won't admit it, but he's hurting over you, Rebecca! And Brooke, I need you! Please stop this foolishness."
They looked at each other, then back to him and Brooke replied. "I will, but Roran needs to man up and speak to Rebecca himself if he wants to earn her back."