A/N This chapter has been written with the help of @AmyLibertyHolmes and @KayCAuthor

While father was negotiating with Hamor, we were whisked away by his wives, concubines and daughters for tea. It was my first experience with this beverage, prior I had only water, milk or watered-down wine.

I enjoyed myself immensely as we discussed fashion, men and cooking. The girls wanted to know who my handsome brothers were, mostly Joseph though. Of course, it had to be him...even though he is young, you can tell he is going to be extraordinarily handsome. If they were not asking about Joseph, they were asking about Judah.

I have to admit, I did not like Joseph much, his dreams seemed to demean the rest of us. It did not matter what we thought as he was his father's favorite child. Father would dress him up in a technicolor coat, and he would lord it over us all. Judah, well he was like a lion.

My personal favorites, amongst my brothers, were Simeon and Levi as they always had time for me. When I was little, they held my had and walked with me at my speed, always encouraging me to go that little bit further by myself as we moved the flocks around. When I was really tired, and unable to go on, they would carry me on their backs, using a sash, like a backpack and I would often fall asleep on them trusting them to keep me safe. My trust was never destroyed. What impressed me the most was that they never complained about doing this either.

Even now, Simeon and Levi were extremely kind listening to me prattle on about nothing with smiles on their faces. They always smile when they saw me coming with their lunches and would encourage me to eat with them as they told me what was worrying them about what problems they had with the sheep.

One of the ewes, they called her Shefa, was lambing and they were concerned that she was becoming weaker by the day. They hoped that she would recover once she had given birth and not die leaving orphans. They suspected that she was carrying twins. This was the only reasonable reason they could come up with. All the other sheep who were carrying were healthy, it was just Shefa who was different

The girls, Elat and Llisha became close friends in that time and I was invited back to visit the next day. I refused and invited them to our place instead. Admittedly we were still in tents to travel with but with Father buying the land we should have something more permanent shortly. With father when he decides on something it is done. Everyone has to help. I wanted to know what my new friends thought we should make for our future new home.

The next day I looked out for my new friends and when I saw them coming with at third person, it looked like a tall male figure with them, I hurried to greet them.

"Hey Dinah!" Llisha sung out to me, "Its good to see you! Thanks for coming out to meet us!" She noticed me looking at the tall, well built male beside them. "Oh! Introductions! Dinah this is our brother Schecem, he kindly agreed to escort us today!"

He smiled at me as they introduce him, he looked at me with clear interest in his eyes. 

"Well hello there," he said, stepping forward. "My sisters told me that Jacob had a daughter. But I didn't realize you were quite so stunning." 

I felt my face flush as he winked with the compliment. His sister Elat eased the tension a little in that moment by scolding her brother in a friendly way, "Schecem! You flirt!"

He chuckled, asking "Is it my fault the gods have blessed me so?"

I nervously smile at them, "The gods?" I asked confused, as I had momentarily forgotten that these people were not Hebrew. I glanced up at Schecem feeling like his eyes could devour me whole, "I-I mean..."

It seemed I was momentarily rescued by Llisha "Oh! That's right! You only worship One God!" with genuine curiousity in her voice she continued on, "What is that like? One God... Surely that is an oddity to you?"

I glanced down at my Sandler feet and shrugged, answering "I suppose, it is all I have ever known."

"You don't wonder at the other gods at all?" they asked with genuine puzzlement in their voices, as if to say, "Is your God that powerful and awesome that you do not need any others?"

Schecem moved over to my side and shook his head softly. "What is an oddity to us, is normal to you, and for your family, it is the same, I'm sure. Though I would hope you believe your God has blessed by meeting us."

My eyes snapped up to his as I felt a fierce protection of my beliefs rise up and sweep over me, "Of course not! How could I after hearing the stories of Yaweh's faithfulness?" My voice coming out stronger and firmer then I had intended. I could feel myself blush again as I saw the surprise lighting up in his eyes. I instantly bow my head and apologise, "Forgive my boldness my lord!"

His sister, Llisha, sensing the tension between us, broke it by laughing, "Shem isn't that faithful in his beliefs - trust me on that!" she exclaimed, "He'll give anything a go if it sounded right!"

I smiled, and upon hearing her words, was now determined to win him over. Oh abba would kill me for trying to persuade a man with my looks but...."It seems our God has blessed you" I teased him.

His sisters laugh at me saying that. Elat eventually explained, "Every God wants to bless Shem! Too much so if you ask me, someone aught to punish him!

I did not know it then, but her words were a foreshadowing of what would happen to him. I blush a third time. From both his sisters words and his wink. My, but he could make a girl swoon. "You are too kind my lord," I say with a seductive lilt in my voice.

We arrived at our home's building site and the tent we were to go in was just there. I paused, wondering what to do. Thankfully, his sister seemed to understand my pause and confusion as she stepped up and shooed him away, "Well we are here now! Shoo shoo Shem you have successfully seen us here safely! Its us girl time now! Surely you do not want to discuss curtains and bed sheets with us?"

He look down at me, gazing into my eyes. Gosh he is so tall! He reached up and gently pushed a lock of my hair behind my ear. "Goodbye for now Dinah. I hope to see you again soon." he gives me a warm smile before slowly walking towards the tents where the menfolk had gathered.

While I watched him walk off, a shiver races through me and I unconsciously place my palm on the burning skin where he had touched my cheek. Levi and Simeon would have killed him for being so forward. But me? Well I kind of liked it.

His sisters watched my reaction in amusement. Elat eventually teased me, "Blushing? Really? You will give Shem the wrong idea, Dinah?" 

It was then that it dawned on me that they had endearingly shortened his name from Schecem to Shem. I liked it, it seemed to suit him better then the formality of his full name. I smiled in response and showed them inside where we talked about what we liked in men and what and how to make furnishing covers for our home. Eventually we decided to start making a rug and I gathered the things Llisha said we needed and we made a start on a colourful rug. 

Time ran away on us and it was not long until Judah came to get Elat and Llisha for Schecem.

🍀A/N Please vote if you enjoyed this chapter. Please let me know of any errors if you see them🍀