Werewolves of Alagaesia
Ch. 1- Allies
A/N: Hello all! This is my first fanfic so tell me what you think. Just a crazy start of a story that inspired my pen name.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from the Inheritance Trilogy, but everyone else (Aloysia, the Alagaesian loups-garous) is MINE!!
Eragon, Saphira, and Roran walked through the Varden's ranks slowly as they headed past the tents to Nasuada's. All the soldiers bowed their heads in acknowledgement to them as they pasted. Last night's conversation between the "brothers" seemed to strengthen the bond between them because Eragon had not felt this close to Roran since before Roran left with Dempton.
When Nasuada's tent finally came into view, an eerie howl descended upon the rebel camp. Freezing, the soldiers all unsheathed their weapons as one, making the camp sing of iron. Roran followed suit, pulling out his hammer as Eragon prepared himself to use magic and Saphira bared her teeth.
A group of six hooded figures, flanked by three wolves, advanced into the camp. One of the figures broke away from the group, palms out in a gesture of peace.
"We come as allies to aid the Varden. Please allow us to meet with your leader," the figure, clearly male, said with words formed at the back of his throat. (A/N: The best way to describe it is a French accent.)
Nasuada, Orin, and Arya emerged from the tent and Eragon, Saphira, and Roran quickened their pace to meet them as the strangers waited for an answer.
"Will you meet with them, Nasuada?" Eragon asked. Even the briefest brush against the strangers' minds showed Eragon that they were wild and far from human.
"Yes, Eragon. Although, I ask all of you -even Roran- to be with me when I do," Nasuada replied, smiling slightly as they all agreed.
Nasuada stepped forward and cleared her throat. "I agree to meet with you. Please follow us to my tent."
The soldiers cleared a path as they all filed after Nasuada to her tent. Only Saphira and the wolves stayed outside.
What are they, Saphira? Their minds certainly aren't human, Eragon asked the azure dragon through mind link.
Time will tell us, little one.
As soon as the flaps were closed, Nasuada addressed the strangers, "You said you come as allies, yet you hide your faces. Why?"
"Our Leader wished us to stay inconspicuous," the same figure said.
"Who is your leader? Why doesn't he answer us?" Orin asked sharply.
From the midst of the group a figure appeared, smaller than all the others. "He doesn't existIam the Leader. Do not speak so hastily, human," the figure said in the same throaty accent while removing its hood. A deeply tanned girl stood there, silver hair shimmering in the dusky glow of the lamp. Tapered ears pointed up through her hair as she trained her glowing green eyes on the dumbstruck king.
"I apologize for him. He rarely deals with anyone other than humans and the occasional dwarf or elf," Arya said, sending Orin an "I dare you to comment" glare.
"Allow me to introduce ourselves. I am Nasuada, leader of the Varden; this is Arya, elfin ambassador; Orin, King of the realm of Surda; Eragon Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider; Roran Stronghammer, cousin of Eragon and slayer of the Twins." Each person nodded as their name was called.
Saphira poked her head in and introduced herself, disgraced at not being mentioned.
"A pleasure to meet you all. I am Aloysia Camille Silverpelt, Alpha to my pack and Queen of all the Alagaesian loups-garous. And these are my elite knights and escorts." As she mentioned the escorts, they all removed their hoods. Each knight had the same tanned skin and pointed ears as their Queen, with the only differences being eye and hair color.
Everyone bowed in respect to the loup-garou Queen. The five male bodyguards bowed their heads and pushed their shaggy hair off their necks and swirled it around their head with their left hand while placing their right hand over their heart as a sign of respect.
"I believe having your loups-garous on our side will benefit us greatly. On behalf of the Varden I welcome you as friends and allies. Your army is welcome in our camp. We are in your debt," Nasuada said, smiling for the first time in months.
"As ambassador for the elves, I accept the werewolves as our allies," came Arya's reply.
"Your race is welcome anytime in Surda," Orin added.
Saphira growled an affirmative as Eragon said, "It would be our pleasure and honor to be friends with your race, Your Majesty."
"No, No, Eragon Shadeslayer. It would be my pleasure to befriend such a noble Dragon and Rider," Aloysia replied.
Aloysia turned to the nearest guard and spoke to him in a language made of words slurred by growls; it sounded as with she was singing in the back of her throat.
Eragon found himself fascinated with the loup-garou language.
It's almost as pretty as my growl, little one, Saphira commented, pushing her head farther into the tent to nuzzle her beloved Rider.
You're full of yourself, Eragon said, smiling. Saphira always knew how to cheer him up, although it had been harder to since Murtagh revealed the truth.
The loup-garou Queen finished talking to her guard; he took a step back and hunched down. A shudder ran through his body as joints snapped and lengthened while the hair on his arms and legs thickened and spread. His nose and mouth stretched to form a muzzle and his spinal column extended as a tail appeared. Within seconds, Aloysia's guard became a salt-and-pepper-pelted wolf. The newly transformed wolf touched his nose to his Queen's feet and bounded out of the tent, stopping only to bark an order to follow him to the wolves waiting outside with Saphira. The other four escorts transformed and followed the other guard, leaving Aloysia alone with her new allies.
"I have thousands of garous at my command; those were only eight of them."(A/N: Five guards inside, three wolves outside.)"Aloysia said to the awed Leaders.
"I cannot express my gratitude enough, Aloysia Silverpelt," Nasuada said.
As Arya, Nasuada, Orin, and Aloysia started talking casually, Eragon whispered to his baffled cousin, "That's why their called werewolves."
Roran rolled his eyes. "I shouldn't be surprised; they fit in with your talking lizard."