Author's Notes: I must say; this story has done much, much better than I expected. Thorn has more character. Since he was given none in the book, I pictured him as a flirt, very… erm, rude, demanding, and straightforward. Tends to point things out, like Eragon. There may be a bit of Arya and Nasuada, if I'm up to it. Most of this chapter isn't very adventurous. I want Murtagh to end up so sad and hurt, that Thorn shall decide to ignore Saphira to help him. So, in the next chapter there will be more Murtagh and Eragon. Again, thank you for reading this. It is much appreciated. Don't forget to review!

I own nothing. This was not made for any profit, ect.

Many thanks to my reviewers.

Aisling-Siobhan: I agree!

x-Laurenne-x: Thanks. 

Anonymous: Thankies. Hopefully this is soon enough for ya?

Andromeda-Dreamer: XD Couldn't agree more.

InsaneBlackHeart: I know! tear Thanks. Hopefully this chapter is longer, and makes more sense. (I wonder if I'll ever get that far?)

Helpful Hints

This story takes place after Eldest, with the end of the battle changed a bit.

It says what happens in the first chapter, when Eragon and Saphira talk.

"Hello, there." –Regular talking

Hello, there. –Saphira and/or Eragon talking

Hello, there. –Thorn and/or Murtagh talking

Hello, there. –Chanting Spells in the Ancient Language

Hello, there. –Dream Sequence or Scrying

'Hello, there.' –Thoughts

Chapter 2

Alone

---

Eragon watched the pair of dragons from where he was on the bed. He had woken up immediately (he had fallen asleep again, watching Saphira and her slumber) after hearing the two dragons roaring at each other. However, that seemed like ages ago, now the two dragons were talking, each reacting as though the other would disappear at any moment, according to Eragon. Saphira had shut her link to him off, making him more and more curious.

While Eragon's poor mind tried to comprehend the two, the dragons were having a very strange and undetailed conversation.

I'm telling you for the last time, I refuse to try and break the spell. I don't have a death wish, thank you very much! Saphira spat dangerously at the crimson dragon, her eyes narrowing sharply.

But sweetie! I'm telling you, it won't go off. And if it does, her Thorn paused briefly, before grinning, causing Eragon to shudder, I promise to protect you.

Saphira snorted. Uh-huh. Big and strong muscle man, eh?

Oh, you know me all to well! Come on, I want to go flying!

There was a pause. Then she retorted, Nope, you know, got to rest these beautiful wings!

Sure, darling! Then why don't you come to the roof with me, to watch? Please? You know you want to! Thorn pleaded, eying Saphira's wings, for the first time noticing a splotch of blood covering her left wing, caused by… him? Wait a minute. You… You're that blasted dragon, the one from the battle!

Of course. What, did you expect some human to fly around in a dragon costume? Saphira joked.

Thorn growled. Yes.

At that, Saphira couldn't help herself. Her laughter broke into Eragon's mind and he sighed with relief. Saphira?

So, why did you choose Murtagh as your rider? Saphira asked Thorn, ignoring Eragon. He, Eragon, had felt the barrier drop, treading softly as he walking into her mind. The words could be heard to Eragon now.

He hesitated slightly. Pain. Agony. Hatred. He needed me. Just as your rider needs you.

As soon as Thorn had revealed that, a loud bang echoed in the room as the door was flown open. The human stormed into the room, his eyes ablaze. Murtagh opened his mouth, ready to scream, but he paused. Then he whispered an ancient word and there was a purple flash. We've been scried! He sent to Thorn.

"Eragon." Murtagh sneered, half expecting Eragon to attack him, the other half expecting another a spell to be flung at him. "I-"

"I'm sorry," Eragon muttered. His eyes were anywhere but Saphira and Murtagh. "I'm sorry I… I said that."

Murtagh froze. Dumbly, he told him, "Huh?"

Eragon bit back his laughter. Shock and disbelief showed on his brother's face. His tenseness gone, he grinned. "Saphira would like me to tell you that she's hungry."

Thorn lifted a wing, covering Saphira's body. Me too! There's a lamb in the kitchen. Could you get one for us?

Saphira growled at him, gently biting his wing. The wing flew into the air almost instantly. Thorn harrumphed before turning away from the female dragon. Eragon chuckled, watching Murtagh with one eye, the dragons with the other. Murtagh gave a weak smile before walking out.

'Well. I guess they don't need me.'

-----

"Arya, I'm so worried!" Arya stared into Nasuada's eyes from where she sat on the meadow. Nasuada was playing with her robe, blood stains still lingering. She was acting much different than one would normally expect, her hair a mess, an untreated scar on her shoulder blade. Nasuada's voice rang out loud and clear, her desperation showing. Arya sighed. 'Here we go again. Please tell me she hasn't declared her undefined love to Eragon.' "He just disappeared."

She was suddenly hugging Arya, whimpering softly. "And I let him go out to battle! This is my entire fault! The last dragon rider is dead, because of me!"

Arya froze, before shoving Nasuada off. She cleared her voice, before saying, "Weirdo. Eragon chose to go out to battle. In fact, I don't think he'd live if he couldn't. Chances are, he's just gone to his home, or he's of to save Roran's girlfriend."

"Oh. Right." Nasuada composed herself quickly; the only sign of her break down was her puffy cheeks.

"But," Arya continued, "I agree. It is a bit weird that Eragon and Saphira disappeared without seeing you. Or me. But this is Eragon we're talking about. I could scry him…"

"Yes! Yes, yes, yes!" Nasuada said excitingly.

Arya bit her lip, before holding her hand out into the open air, whispering the magic words, Nasuada looking on in amazement. "Draumr Kopa."

There was a dark mist hovering at first, before a large room came into shape. There was a bed with a tiny figure lying across it, the head turning to look at them, his hazel eyes burning dimly. Then more figures appeared, in the shape of dragons? Arya gaped, almost breaking the spell.

The blue one was calm and familiar, while the red one, the one from the battle, her mind supplied helpfully, was furious, his snarling face freaking the human out. There was a loud crash from inside the mist, making all heads turn towards the person walking in.

Murtagh had stormed in, glaring at the red dragon paying no heed to the blue one. When his head whipped around to Eragon, his eyes softened for a moment, before clenching his eyes shut. He opened his mouth-

Panting, Arya had felt the spell cancel on her. Like she hadn't done it. Her arm faltered, then fell into her lap, quiet tired. Nasuada lad lost all excitement. "Another dragon. We are so dead."

Arya nodded, falling onto the grass, worried spread across her face.