You were preparing for the siege of Urû'baen. The other people had gone to rest for the night. Eragon had flown off, only telling a select few where he went. It was quite strange but not unexpected. 

You had finished putting on your cloak and slipped out of the small tent. It was a rough day. Blödhgarm had forced all of you to practice your swordplay. Even though you were all trying to keep energy for the long trek commencing tomorrow, training was necessary.

He had assigned the elves to train humans. And with the brainpower that you could muster at this hour, you knew you were human. So being a human bean yourself, you could confirm it was tough.

Honestly, you weren't sure if you wanted to fight either. There would be laughing dead, and if that weren't scary enough there were also spellcasters. Though there was a feeling that you had to prove yourself to everyone. So you trained.

Many other people have chosen to stay behind and do other tasks when the battle happens. But despite protest from the few people you knew, you had to go fight.

The concept of magic fascinated you. You weren't sure how exactly it works but could gather that if you had enough energy, you could do whatever you wanted. It was something that could've only been in your dreams until now.

Because of your very limited vocabulary in the ancient language, you could hardly do anything useful. Not to mention your stamina could hardly go for a tick. That was also the reason you kept your magic quiet. It was way too weak to be sensed unless actively trying.

The moment you met the elves especially that wolfish one you were jealous. Beside the fact they all looked flawless, Blödhgarm basically confirmed they could change their appearance. It must've not crossed anyone else's mind though.

It was a power you would kill for. Well, that's a bit harsh but it was something that bogged down your brain every second of the day. Jealous thoughts became second nature. Being in a camp full of passing men does nothing to help.

You took a few steps outside and headed towards the center of camp. You couldn't relax in the splatter of nightlights and snoring. Everyone on the outer edges of camp was much less quiet, especially because a form of authority was at least half a mile away. 

That's how much people that have rallied to fight. Dwarves, Humans, Urgals, Elves, and Werecats, all joined together. The farther you walked away from the center of camp the closer the more important tents and the closer to peace you were.

Normally you could sneak into the infirmary and sleep on one of their empty cots. They were accustomed to your presence. Now though, it seems that there were people still awake in this section of camp.

Pulling your cloak closer to you, you walked faster towards the large tent. As you pass by you heard snippets of the elves' lilting voice and some of Nasuada's guards talking. Not that they had anything to do, with the queen missing and everything.

You felt some of the people acknowledge your presence as you finally entered the tent. The lights were dimmed and you passed some of the people also there for a quiet night. 

As you lied down near the back of the tent you could hear someone rolled over on their bed to greet you.

"You're early." They whispered it was hard to tell any defining features from them, the voice was too quiet.

You ignored them. Most of the people here were curious why you came. They all had injures, sicknesses, or some other thing that could physically show. Not you.

"I've seen you come in here every night. The healers don't check on you either. So why do you make the walk?"

You decided to turn over and give them your best death glare. That changed when they passed into your field of vision. It was an elf, and they looked to be doing okay as well. It took you a few seconds to gather something to say.

"You don't look to require healing yourself."

Instead of giving a witty reply, they gave a soft chuckle and got up. After stretching their spine, they motioned for you to follow them.

You gave a brief hesitation, but curiosity took over. You got off the cot and with much less grace, cracked your spine. The slight stench of the medical tent had become a comfort. One which you were reluctant to leave so early.

However, the elf was already at the door so you quickly maneuvered your way across the tent. They then grabbed your wrist and walked to the sparring place most likely for magic users.

Confusion and fear prickled the back of your mind. "I don't think I bel-" They cut you off with a finger to your mouth.

" Repeat after me."

You nodded warily.

The elf sat on the ground and held out a pebble. The grass tickled you after you followed suit.

Then they uttered a simple command. 

"Stenr reisa."

The rock slowly floated up to their eye level. You now knew why they took you to this arena.

Quietly you whispered the same phrase.

"Stenr reisa."

You channeled your magic into the stone. Trying to focus on the flow that was barely a trickle. In a bobbing motion, your stone moved in a slow state up to your neck. The elf grabbed your hand and the stone fell to chest level.

The rock fell away harmlessly.

"Let me help you." The elf closed their eyes and you could feel raw magic pour from his hand into yours.

It felt amazing, like that feeling of calmness while lying in a field listening to crickets.

You focus on the stone and let it rise at a steady even pace to settle above your heads. The elf gave a brilliant smile. You gave a short one back.

"You have this power. You may have hidden it, but it is something that you need. Don't neglect it."

They grabbed the object and handed it to you. Then lied down on the grassy ground and closed their eyes.

Not sure if you were supposed to copy the elf you laid on your back and tried to let a sense of peace settle in your gut.

You heard the person speak again but this time it was a deep tilted accent.

"I know you've tried to hide your ability since we've joined the Varden. Why?"

"That is true, yes, but it's not helpful. I'm not strong enou-"

"Strength will come with practice and you know this. So I'll ask again. Why?"

"There are plenty of other magicians you don-"

"Why?" This time the voice took on more of a growl.

"I can't tell you." Nervousness started to lace it's way into your words.

"You can."

"That's not what I meant."

"Then tell me youngling. My patience isn't at its finest."

"I'm sorry. I have to leave."

With that, you got up and walked away not once looking back at the scene. The truth was something that you were ashamed of. You wanted to keep a low profile. The more people acknowledged you the worse you would feel about yourself. Because what they were seeing wasn't the real you.

You started to jog then run. It was a fact that Blödhgarm would catch up easily. So for your sake, you hoped that they wouldn't.

People and fires raced past your vision. It was going to be a few minutes but you knew you could make it out of camp. Every so often, you'd look back expecting someone to be in pursuit but nobody came.

Stopping at your tent you grabbed your pack of items and broke the room down. The elf would probably tell others about what had happened so it was time to leave. With little consideration, you were planning on heading along the coast towards the spine. You heard there was a small town where some of the people used to live.

After a smaller sprint, you reached the edges and were engulfed in some taller grass. Checking the sun you started heading in the right direction. 

All you could see was grassland. It was going to be a long few months.

~~~

Settling down for a quick break you closed your eyes. Nothing felt right. There was a feeling nagging at you in the gut. Something was calling you back. The farther you went the harder it became to leave.

It wasn't a force of magic you would've felt it. The only logical thing you could think of was homesickness. But that was hardly someplace you could call home.

You tried to pause your thoughts by listening to the world around you. The grass rubbed together making it sound like rainfall. It tickled your back and made the air smell like sawdust. You pushed out further. You could feel the ants in the ground and the birds flying ahead. 

But the feeling wouldn't go away. Straining you threw your senses deep down in the ground exploring the ant nests and felt peace if only for a few more seconds.

The energy was dwindling but you weren't ready to go. Then realization that you didn't have to go back hit. You instead used up all the mana flowing through your body by pushing past the colony of critters and everything started fading to black.

~~~

You woke up disoriented and high-strung. The feeling had faded but it still pushed against you. Strapping the bag back on your bag you saw something tucked under it.

A note.

Unfolding it you murmured the words to yourself.

I wouldn't expect you to understand me, after hiding your secret for so long. But please try to see through my eyes. Just as I can make a form that best suits me, as can you. I was only trying to get you to feel the power that you have. 

You piqued my interested when you came to watch us elves arrive at camp. We're more magically adept than most believe and it was easy to sense your magic.

It's different from any elves or humans for that matter. It's curiously like a herbalist I know. You can continue running north, which won't give you anything but displeasure. Or you may come back and meet me again. Tell me the truth. 

We are going to be marching closer to the castle by the time you read this. If you want to catch up I left a small charm. It will give you only enough energy to reach camp again. 

Choose wisely.

-B

You were stuck in place. There was something that made you want to agree. Probably because it made sense. It was going to be awkward but it was for the best.

You hung the pendant around your neck, slung the bag on, and started a fast pace to where the small gem pointed.

The group was rather loud, you could hear them before you could see them. The pounding of hooves and cheers echoed through the air. A few minutes later they entered view. Each group was led by its respective leaders. You planned to trail behind and slip in after they remade camp.

~~~

It wasn't until midday everyone had enough. They wanted refuge from the blazing sun and you weren't any different. Taking your usual position on the outer rim, it wasn't a surprise no one noticed. They weren't keeping track. In fact it wouldn't be surprising if an enemy snuck in unannounced.

Either that or you weren't a threat that could trip the alarms.

You set up camp and headed towards the center again.  Steeling your nerves, you finally reached the healer's tent. Moving row by row you sat in the corner cot and waited. Eventually, the elf came but this time they appear as who they truly were, Blödhgarm. 

He took you through the back exit this time and into the room that was usually there to perform surgeries.

"Would you like a moment to gather your thought or are you able to tell me why now?" They stated simply.

"Now."

"Very well, thorta du ilumëo. Speak the truth." He translated for you.

You let out a deep breath and gave your answer, "I haven't always struggled like this. But becoming . . ." You struggled to find a word then motioned to your body, "This. It's taken a toll. I never knew anyone who could change forms permanently. Well until you. So I stayed quiet, pushed it down, and suffered."

You then drew up memories, " Whenever I tried opening up to someone about how I felt, it was pushed away. They couldn't understand it, many don't."

"One day I met someone like me. They were at a healer and I only caught a snippet of the conversation. It was about being lost in a world where they couldn't explain why they couldn't be themselves."

"After so many years of searching, I thought that I found someone I could relate to. But it wasn't what it seemed. They were talking about something else. We tried to talk but only ended up frustrating each other."

"I stopped looking for an answer after a few more years. I joined the Varden and rose to be a decent fighter. I had finally given myself time to think. And when I found the answer it was hard to take."

"I'm not a woman. No matter how hard I try to pretend."

The elf was nodding. You couldn't tell if it was from understanding or just to signal attentiveness.

"The truth is I'm a man. I'm lost, I can't see myself. I'm a jealous, sad, and I don't really see anyway out of it."

You looked at the elf in the eyes and he stared back.

"I can fix that."

"How?"

He smiled, "Magic."

"That's not possible. I've never seen it. There would have been someone that would have told me." You said in a shaky denial looking at the floor.

"Those are three different statements. Open your eyes, there's plenty of  things that the world can't understand. Magic has a way of making the least likely of things possible."

He held your chin in his hand forcing it up, "Would you like us to fix it? Our elves have had the rare experience of similar feelings not many, but enough. The community would help them. This is the same."

You nodded as the realization finally began to seep in. He smiled showing his canines.

"Excellent. I've notified the others and they've discreetly made their way here."

As to show this he opened the tent's exit and a small group of elves came in.

"This is Vanir, Laufin, Wydren, and Liotha."

He pointed to a young black-haired elf, an older attentive elf, an elf that had sparred with you, and an elf that bore a similar wolfish appearance.

You nodded in greeting and shifted your feet unsure what to do.

"Just lie down on the bed and rest. We will discuss what to do." Laufin tells you.

You do as he said and settle down. No whispers were heard so you were sure they were speaking in their minds. Then one thing is uttered by one of them.

"Gëuloth." Dull.

A feeling of numbness began to fall over you. It was frightening and relaxing all at once. Your eyes slowly closed and you lost your grip on reality.

In the back of your mind, you could hear a quiet song being sung. Some of the words you could recognize.

Verda. Become.

Ilian. Happiness.

Darmthrell. Brother.

Eyddr. Empty.

Draumr. Dream.

You couldn't feel much physically but things started to feel right mentally. It was. . . Nice. You remember Eragon had done something like this. It was a simple fix of a cat lip. Word had spread fast though. This was something on a much more drastic scale.

The feeling of floating was nice. You sank into it and it became a sort of conscious sleep.

Finally, one more word was uttered, something you didn't know but it brought you back. It was dark out. The five elves all sat on chairs circling the bed. 

Sitting up you could tell everything felt different. It was amazing and startling. You stared at your body in awe. It was something that only many hours ago you thought impossible. Realizing you should have thanked them you blushed slightly and looked up.

"Elrun ono." You choked out a thanks to the group. They gave a small smile but stayed silent. The dark-furred elf walked up to you as they left.

"I understand this is a big change. And it's strange of us to use so much time up for one person. But I think we will lookout for more people like you in the future." You were about to ask why but he was already answering that.

"I'm sure we would be appreciated and you all share a similar connection and power. I've felt it before though I was unsure of it for quite a while. It seems just like the werecats you can shift at will." It was a huge step in an unknown direction for you. You let the elf continue.

"I think this phenomenon hasn't happened yet, as none of you have gotten enough power stored to make the shift. I'm sure we can find some way around it. Either way welcome home finiarel."

a/n: Eh. Any good?

-Roy