13. Offered Job
Sometime later, Serafyna found Roran leaving the blacksmith's house, repaired chisel in hand. Meeting up with him, they departed the village and silently started the long walk home.
Eventually, Serafyna broke the silence, saying, "Apparently, I'm named after a dragon."
Roran glanced towards her, raising an eyebrow. "That's one way to start a conversation, I suppose."
She ignored him. "Eragon was named after the first elf that became a Rider and his dragon was Sera'Feana–though in my case, Brom says the name was likely changed to be more.. normal, I suppose."
"I.. see?" Roran made an incredulous face. "Clearly, you made the most out of your time with Brom."
"Oh, you have no idea." If only you knew, Roran.
They continued to walk up the snow-covered road, the sun weakly beating down on them in a futile gesture, unable to banish the cold.
"There was a stranger at Horst's today, from Therinsford," Roran spoke up, shaking Serafyna out of her thoughts. "A man named Dempton. He was here to commission some sockets from Horst."
"Okay?" She looked up at him, sensing something was up. He wouldn't be sharing this unless it was important. "Did something happen?
"Sure did," Roran grinned, "I was offered a job by him, to work at his mill in Therinsford. Said he was expanding his mill, which is why he needs those sockets and was looking for extra hands."
That surprised Serafyna. Being offered a job was a big deal, especially for them with how they struggled to get by, year after year. Yet being a miller was no easy feat either, they worked all year round, turning wheat into flour and selling it. It was hard, dangerous work; where losing entire limbs to the mill was a very real possibility.
She understood where he was going with this. "You mean to take the job, don't you?"
"I do." Roran gave her an amused smile.
Sidestepping a patch of ice, she slowed her pace and Roran did likewise. Serafyna frowned, saying, "But why? We have struggled, but always managed to get by."
"It's not for our family, Sera," He replied, shaking his head. "It's for me and… Katrina." He met her eyes. "I plan to marry her, preferably sooner rather than later."
Serafyna halted in her steps and Roran did likewise, facing her.
Ah, so that's why. She should've seen this coming, recalling the moment when she walked in on Katrina and Roran kissing during the traders' visit. Eventually, the romantic affair was bound to become large enough to affect their family as a whole. "Garrow won't take the news well. Neither will Eragon. You know how they react to the idea of any of us going away."
"Which is why I'm telling you first. I know you've always been looking for an opportunity to leave Palancar Valley and go exploring." Roran breathed into his hands and rubbed them together, before stuffing them into the pockets of his coat. "I haven't asked her yet–about marriage–but I will. As soon as I have enough money to raise a house."
He looked at her expectantly. "Well, what do you think?"
Serafyna had... mixed feelings about the situation. On one hand, she approved. Firstly, Roran was right, she always had that wandering spirit; which is why she was slightly jealous of him, aiming to one day leave the valley behind, so fighting him on this would be hypocritical of her. Second, she knew that once he left, It'd be a lot easier for her to hide and manage her dragon's presence.
Yet, on the other hand, she selfishly didn't want him to leave. Without his large, cheerful presence, the house would be a lot more quiet, even depressing.
She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, her breath fogging before her face. "I think you should take it."
Roran grinned widely as he put a hand on her shoulder, squeezing lightly. "Thank you."
"Oh, don't thank me, I'm the easiest to convince. You still have to talk to Garrow and deal with Eragon."
He nodded. "Yeah, but hey! One step at a time."
Despite herself, she smiled too. His optimism was contagious. "Well, good luck with that."
They resumed their walk, continuing their discussion until they reached home. The idea of Roran leaving was going to take some adjusting to, but she didn't mind. After all, she was raising a dragon in their backyard; nothing could top that.
By the time they reached home, it had gotten late. The sun had set and there was barely enough light to see by.
Upon reaching home, Serafyna momentarily debated on whether she should accompany Roran inside and help him break the news to the rest of the family or instead leave to find and tend to her dragon.
After a brief moment of indecision on the house's porch, she figured it would be fine without her for the night. She followed Roran inside and closed the door behind her.
They all sat in the kitchen as dinner was being served; mashed potatoes and gravy, with a side of roasted vegetables.
Serafyna's eyes moved from Eragon to Garrow and came to rest on Roran. Their gaze met and an understanding passed between them. He means to tell them now.
She swallowed a mouthful of food as Roran pushed his chair back and stood up. Eyes followed him, questioning.
"I.. have been offered a job in Therinsford," he announced, "and I mean to take it." Serafyna looked at the others for their reaction.
Eragon looked confused, while Garrow's expression was more reserved. Slowly, he took a mouthful of food, chewed it, and swallowed. Then, simply, "Why?"
Roran then explained his position and his plan. Garrow's worn face was impossible to discern but the look on Eragon's face throughout the explanation was clear; bewilderment and hurt.
When her cousin was finished, that was silence that stretched for several moments. Then Garrow finally said, "When will you leave?"
Serafyna blinked, surprised. Looking around, she saw that her reaction was shared by the two boys.
"Wait, so you approve?" Roran asked.
Garrow smiled, the expression looking out of place on his ancient face. "Even if I didn't, it is not my right to stop you. I hoped that you would marry soon. You have my blessing, my son, Katrina would be lucky to have you."
Astonishment and visible relief washed over Roran's face. "I– thank you, Dad."
"So, when will you leave?" Her uncle repeated.
"When Dempton returns for his sockets from Horst. That'll be in two weeks," Roran replied, slightly breathless with relief.
"Good. That will give us time to prepare. It'll be different to have the house to ourselves. But if nothing goes amiss, it shouldn't be for too long." Garrow then glanced over to her and Eragon. "What do you think of this?"
Eragon, a look of betrayal aimed at Garrow and Roran, spoke up, hotly exclaiming, "This is outright madness!"
Before any of them could say anything else, Eragon got up and stamped away, out of the kitchen. A moment later, they heard the sound of a door slamming shut. Serafyna grimaced, glancing at Roran, who remained standing, his gaze where Eragon had stormed out of sight.
"Well, it could have been a lot worse," Serafyna muttered, turning to face Garrow. "If you hadn't approved. Neither of us expected you to agree that easily."
"I suppose I should go and talk to him," Roran muttered.
"I could help too," She offered, starting to get up from her chair when Roran shook his head.
"No," he said, "this is my plan and also my problem to patch up. I'll go talk to him, alone."
Before she could protest, Roran left the kitchen as well.
That left her with only Garrow, who rubbed the bridge of his nose, looking tired and aged. "Youth. These days, I find it difficult to keep up with their woes."
Having nothing to say in response, Serafyna instead focused on shoving the remainder of her food down her throat in silence.
A few minutes later when she finished, she got up and helped her uncle clean up the table and the dishes, returning them to their cabinets. The leftovers were neatly packed to be eaten later. Bidding Garrow goodnight, she left the kitchen.
On her way to her room, she paused. On a whim, she instead approached Eragon's room. The door was ajar, and she could hear soft voices from within. After a quick decision, she walked inside.
Eragon's room was identical to her own. It was mostly bare, with little furniture which amounted to a mantle, a bed, a shelf, and a few tables and chairs. Several articles of Eragon's, including clothes, personal items, and his vast collection of polished rocks, were strewn across the ground haphazardly as if they had been thrown.
By the bed were Eragon and Roran, talking. "–And in the end, I'll always be here. I won't leave you, or anyone, behind." Roran was saying, "You're family, Eragon, and family sticks together."
As she watched, unnoticed, Roran pulled Eragon into a brotherly hug, thumping him lightly on the back. Eragon's face glistened in the soft candlelight as he wiped his cheeks on his sleeve.
They stayed like that for a moment, and Serafyna couldn't help but smile warmly at the sight. The three of them were the only family they had left, save for Garrow. They'd always been a tight-knit group, as they never had proper friends in Carvahall, for various reasons.
Now, one of them was leaving, and that hit hard. Most of all for Eragon, who had always followed her and Roran wherever they went.
Upon noticing her standing there by the door, Roran took a deep breath and broke out of the hug, but still kept a hand on Eragon's shoulder. "You understand why this is necessary, don't you, Eragon?" He asked.
Eragon nodded looking at him and then at Serafyna. "I do.. but I just wish it wasn't so."
Serafyna stepped forward, towards the pair, her arms crossed across her chest. "So do all who suffer through undesirable times, dear brother," she spoke softly, "but it is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."
Eragon blinked. "I- wow. I think it's you who should be writing books on wisdom, Sera."
She shrugged modestly. "I have my moments."
Roran grinned widely. "You two are the weirdest cousins I've ever had–though you're also the only ones I've ever met." They all laughed as one.
And so, they remained in the room for a long time, talking and laughing, late into the night, reminiscing about some of the brighter days of their life.
When Serafyna eventually walked into her room, tired but content, she laid down on her bed and drifted off almost instantly with a small smile.