The riders dismounted and walked towards them. Eragon noticed the two men were almost identical to Niaomi, and more so to each other. They had the same curly black hair, cut longer than Eragon's as it hung to their shoulders, pointed ears, brown skin tone, and angled eyes; however, one man's eyes were brown like Nasuada's, while the other's were as green as Arya's. They were dressed similarly, in breeches, boots that were as high as Eragon's, and a simple cloth shirt that matched their eyes.
The women were also similar, probably twins. They both stood at the same height as Niaomi and the men, which was about the same as Arya. They both had long, wavy blond hair held back in a ponytail, and their features were like Eragon's - partly elven and human. One had sharp gray eyes, while the other's were as blue as the sky. They were dressed like the men (but their boots were as high as Niaomi's), and their shirts also matched their eye color.
Eragon also saw that each had a belt that was designed as his and Niaomi's were. Each had a crystal: the young woman with gray eyes had gray-colored gems unfamiliar to Eragon, the blue-eyed one had pink spinels, the brown-eyed lad had topazes, and his green-eyed brother had emeralds. From their belts hung elven swords in their scabbards, and a mirror that was identical to Niaomi's.
"Nia! Glad to see you're all right!" shouted one of the men. Eragon identified his voice as the one who spoken in the scrying. He hugged Niaomi - apparently also known as Nia - hard, and she laughed and squeezed him back.
"It's good to see all of you again as well," she replied as the rest hugged her as well. "Let me introduce you all to Lady Nasuada, Eragon Shadeslayer, Arya Dröttningu, and Saphira Bjartskular."
The four bowed in sync as they pressed their first two fingers to their mouths. "Atra esterní ono thelduin," they said. "It's an honor."
Eragon and Arya glanced at each other in surprise. These strangers knew much about the elven culture to perform the traditional greeting. And Nia knew the proper form of addressing Arya by her elven princess title.
"I welcome you all to the Varden," said Nasuada formally. "You have come to help us defeat the Black Hand, correct?"
"Indeed, my lady. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Nathan, brother to Niaomi and to Nicholas," the brown-eyed man said, gesturing towards the other man, who bowed alongside him. "We are all triplets."
The gray-eyed newcomer spoke next. "I am Renata," she said with a respectful nod. "And beside me is my twin sister Rosaminda."
Rosaminda bowed politely, her blue eyes sparkling. Eragon had to admit that she and her sister were very beautiful, but in a different way than the elves. They were more curves and bright cheeks, while Arya and Niaomi were angles and grace.
"Now that the introductions are done, I suppose we should get on with the gathering?" said Nasuada. She motioned to the groom once again, who took the reins of her own steed. "Your pegasi shall be stabled, as Niaomi requested."
"Thank you, my lady," said Nia. She turned to her Cloud and removed a bag from her saddle. Stroking her mane, she said to the man, "Don't worry about leading them with rope. If you go, they will follow."
The groom bowed, then turned to the winged horses and said "Alright then, come along to your quarters."
The pegasi all looked up and came together behind the man. He looked in surprise at them, then walked off. The pegasi followed him through the camp towards the stables.
"I thought they were just animals," Nasuada said.
"They're as much animals as dragons are," replied Niaomi. Saphira, who had been quiet throughout the whole thing, snorted.
Eragon looked over at her. What do you think about all this? he asked.
They smell more like Arya than like you, she replied, indicating the triplets. The twins, they do smell like you. All seem trustworthy enough, and the one-with-Elva's-eyes did save Nasuada.
They know a surprising amount of elvish culture, Eragon said musingly.
All I know is that they're not elves themselves.
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Destiny (Volume I: Shur'tugalar)
FanfictionEragon was once an orphan who lived on a farm, didn't know who his father was, and had never stepped foot outside of Palancar Valley. But when a blue stone appeared before him in the Spine, hatching a baby dragon, everything changed. Now, he is know...
