Hey guys, this is my first attempt at a story. I'm being beta'd (or whatever it is) by Kayla R. West (using pen name), so half credit goes to her. Also, I own most unfamiliar characters but Altariel, Arya, Nadi, and Morwen (who appear later) belong to Kayla, thanks for letting me use them. I do not own the Inheritance cycle; it is owned by Cristopher Paolini. Please don't flame!
CHAPTER ONE: Nessa and Arya
Alagaësia was a much different place than what many Outside Livers would know it as. Galbatorix had been dead for years. Nasuada was in control of the Empire, with the aid of the riders, who had flourished in a way different from before- they were alert and helpful in all things, with Eragon Shadeslayer and Saphira Brightscales heading them up. But under this seemingly good life, trouble was brewing in the realm of the elves. In the great forest of Du Weldenvarden, the elves were being ruled by the iron hand of Queen Islanzadí, a tyrant worse than Galbatorix himself. There the elves suffered in silent protest, and in order to protect themselves and their loved ones, could not cry for help.
Nashí Anárion, better known as Nessa, a young elf, was preparing to go into the forest to gather food; She was rationed only enough to survive, a rule of Islanzadí's. She was also forbidden to hunt or gather in the queen's grounds (all of Ellesméra and everything in a three-mile-radius) so she would have to venture far. She asked her cousin, Ireth Meneldur, whom she lovingly callled Arya, to accompany her. Arya readily agreed, as she loved Nessa and always looked up to her, as a younger sister might. Nessa was determined, beautiful, and callm and clear-headed in a crisis, in Arya's adoring eyes. Yet, what Arya did not know was that Nessa feared to leave Arya within Islanzadí's reach for long, as they had nobody but one another.
The pair stealthily, yet not suspiciously, made their way through Ellesméra. Once they reached the edge of the city they started to jog into the forest in that untiring manner of the elves. While they journeyed further and further into the forest, in pursuit of a deer, Arya looked at her cousin and thought, Nessa looks so beautiful in her hunting outfit- she is tall, slender, beautiful, with her silvery blonde hair shimmering in the dappled sunlight and her deep blue eyes like pools of water. Meanwhile, Nessa was also admiring her cousin, in her rebellious manner, Arya is so different from the rest of the elves, and yet, so beautiful in her own unique way. She is rather curvier, and has dark-blonde hair by the manner of the humans, and those wonderful pale-blue eyes that shine like the stars on a summer night. She is the only reason I do not rebel against Islanzadí, for if she were hurt, I could not live with myself.
They were so wound up in their thoughts about one another, that they hardly noticed the thinning of the trees as they came to the edge of the Hadarac Desert. The deer they had been following bounded up, and Nessa, the more clear-headed, shot it with her arrow. Before, elves used to not eat meat, but that tradition was forgotten as Islanzadí instituted her tyrannic rule, thought Nessa. How I wish there was some way for me to rebel for these injustices without endangering Arya... If I was slain while rebelling, it would not matter, yet if innocent, agreeable Arya was killed, then I would not be able to live with myself.
They were just about to turn back with their catch, when a faint moaning reached their sharp ears. The girls, following the sound, decided to split up. They ran quietly through the forest. Arya thought she imagined the flapping of wings, though more powerful than any bird. Nessa was the first to spot the source: a young, wounded human. "Arya! Over here!" she yelled, turning to run toward the youth. She soon reached him, and found that he was still , but barely conscious, suffering from two identical wounds on the insides of his legs She knelt by his to see to his injuries and asked "What is your name?" in the Ancient Language. Arya was just within earshot to hear him struggle to say, also in the ancient language, "Eragon... Ancalímon..." Just then, a swift movement in the tree tops caught Arya's keen eye. At first, it looked like a bird, but now, as it dove towards Nessa and the young man Eragon, it seemed much too large, even for a bird of prey. Too late, she realized what it was, and, fearing for her cousin's life, yelled a warning. "Nessa," She screamed, "Look-"But just then, an enormous navy dragon ponced on Nessa and held her under under one powerful leg as Arya watched, fearing for her cousin's life.
So how'd you like it? I'll post more if I get good reviews :)
-Meg