Pömnuria Hjarta er medh Ono

A/N: Thank you all so much for the support! I hope you'll continue to support this story as it moves forward. As we finally reach double-digit chapters, we're entering a tad more dangerous areas where I enter well-liked characters, hoping that by any means, I can do their characters justice. Forgive me if any characters sound weird at first, it takes me a little while for their voice to settle within my head to where I can write them for anything. Suggestions are always welcome to those who want to give them! Also, if you guys haven't realized it by now, this story is mainly about the relationships between all of the characters rather than the adventure, but don't be discouraged! I promise some action in future chapters to come.

Much thanks to Suma Susaki for helping me write this chapter. I thought Eragon would be the most trouble to write. Turns out, Saphira was. : / Either way, I worry about their personalities, and if Suma doesn't convince me not to constantly change what they say, this chapter wouldn't be done, for sure.

And one last announcement: saphira and shruikan put this story up on the TvTropes website for Inheritance Cycle fanfiction recommendations! Thank you SO much for the support!

Disclaimer: Why am I still writing these? Because in all reality, Thorn has become my favorite character of all time. I just wish he spoke more in Inheritance. I've always loved him, and now he's the most solid and defined character out of all that I've written so far. I wish he was mine. So badly! But alas, he is not. Copyright, CP.

Edit 11/3: Due to the incredible intelligence of my audience (and repeated mentions of this) I went ahead and fixed some minor grammatical errors at the end of this chapter that got MORE than enough mention. Thanks for that!

ENJOY!

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The days passed quickly for the Rider and his dragon. They easily fell back into the routine they had developed for long-distance traveling, taking brief breaks at the fall of night and the rise of morning. They flew above the clouds, just out of the eyesight of those on the land below them, eating away the leagues as the days passed. By the end of the third day, Murtagh started to notice the forests of Du Weldenvarden give way to a string of mountains he did not recognize. They weren't as tall as the Beor, but they were taller than the Spine, the tips of the peaks covered with white snow. Green trees dotted the sides of the mountains, deep ravines cutting through the land between the peaks, crystalline water distantly flowing between them.

I know Nasuada said that Eragon had taken the eggs to the Eastern Mountain Range, but this place looks like it could stretch on forever, Murtagh commented to Thorn. How will we find him?

I am sure that Eragon made it so that If we really wanted to find them, we could. Thorn took a deep breath. I can smell something different about this air. It is faint, but if we follow it, we might find what we search for.

You smell something? Murtagh chuckled. I didn't know you were part dog.

Rude. Thorn huffed. Smell may not be a dragon's strongest attribute, but comparing me to a dog? Insulting.

You know I didn't mean that, Murtagh responded, grinning. You really think dogs are inferior?

All they do is yap incessantly, Thorn said haughtily. What purpose do they serve beyond chasing sheep and begging for food? Useless. They are not even big enough for a snack.

Of course you would say that. Murtagh shook his head in amusement. Where do you think they'll be?

Probably up in the mountains, Thorn responded. The ground is not safe for hatchlings. You can help me look for their lair, even if your eyesight is not as excellent as mine.

Rude. Murtagh smiled, taking a better look at the mountain peaks that passed below them. The deeper they flew into unknown territory, the more anxious he was becoming. He had loved what they experienced and found on their earlier travels, and despite having spent over a week within the walls of Ilirea, he had missed the boundless feeling of just flying wherever they wanted to go. They had a destination this time around, but that didn't take away from the feeling of exploring the unknown. In the distance, he could see a mountain that towered over it's surrounding brothers, nearly reaching the height of a Beor mountain. Seeing no better direction to turn towards, they flew towards the tall mountain.

As they grew closer, Thorn started to comment about the odd rock formation that protruded from the mountainside. They dropped their altitude, weaving their way through the peaks rather than flying above them, searching for hints regarding Eragon's location. Soon, they were merely a few peaks away from the giant mountain, it's sheer size almost daunting in a way. From this vantage point, Murtagh started to realize something quite different about the mountain.

It's here, he told Thorn. We found it!

The rock formations that protruded out of the mountainside, were more than just rocks. Executed by what looked to be careful magic usage, tall spires erected themselves from the mountain itself, reaching for the sky. Thorn pulled his wings in a curve, following the turn of the giant mountain. The stone architecture was literally built out of the mountain, following the turn of the mountain as well. As they flew, the architecture eventually gave way to a bigger feat of construction: a huge castle built into the mountain itself.

Murtagh could feel Thorn's surprise mirror his own. You have got to be-

A sharp roar, higher pitched than any Thorn would bellow, cut through the air, startling the red Rider and his dragon. They both reacted in surprise as a shimmering blue form turned from the other side of the mountain, flying towards them. Thorn jolted in the air, letting out an excited roar in response. The red dragon dipped downwards, flying towards Saphira as she grew closer to them. The dragons circled each other in a dragonesque greeting, Murtagh spying Eragon perched upon Saphira's back. Even with the distance between them, he could tell his brother was smiling. Eragon made a few gestures to land before he and Saphira broke from the circle, Thorn following in suit.

They coasted towards the castle, landing in the large, grassy opening that stretched out before the stronghold, trotting with the momentum of their landing. Eragon leaped off of Saphira's back lithely while Murtagh spent a longer amount of time unbuckling the straps of his saddle, and stretching his legs trying to return the feeling in his toes before sliding off of Thorn's back. The blue dragon Rider trotted over to the two of them, Saphira following closely behind him. Murtagh couldn't help but feel a curl of anxiety in his stomach as his brother approached. He wasn't sure how to react or even what to say. They had parted on decent terms, but who was to say it would stay that way?

"I have to say," Eragon said with a grin, stopping before the red Rider. "When I woke up this morning, I was not planning to have visitors."

"I should have told you we were coming," Murtagh responded stiffly. "It was sort of a last minute decision."

"Whatever it was, I'm glad you came!" Eragon laughed. He held his hand out in a companionable greeting. "It's truly good to see you again, Murtagh."

Murtagh took his hand, letting a small smile form on his lips. "You as well, Eragon."

"I am curious, though," the blue Rider admitted, releasing his brother's hand as Saphira and Thorn greeted each other just as casually. "How did you know we were out here?"

"I didn't really," Murtagh responded. "Nasuada told me about it."

"Nasuada," Eragon repeated in a knowing voice, giving a meaningful look towards Saphira. Murtagh raised an eyebrow in confusion, noting Thorn's low chuckle as the dragon laid down for a rest.

What's so funny? the Rider asked. Thorn ignored him.

"How is she, anyway?" Eragon asked, shifting the topic a bit.

"Busy," Murtagh responded. "I hadn't realized that she had assumed the crown since I left, but she's really made a difference for the Empire. Things are starting to look… better."

Eragon was smiling. "She really is an incredible woman."

Murtagh let his mind wander a bit, thinking about the way Nasuada had smiled and laughed on their flight. "Yeah…"

Sorry to interrupt, Thorn cut in. But I wanted to know, did you build this place, Eragon-Murtagh's-Brother?

Eragon looked surprised. "Of course," he responded. "But, not by myself. I had a lot of help."

"The Eldunari?" Murtagh guessed.

"That's part of it." Eragon cast a look up at Saphira. She huffed lightly, seemingly embarrassed. "The architecture is one thing, but the heart of this place is truly Saphira's handiwork."

"Truly?" Murtagh asked, looking up at the blue dragon.

I would never raise the hatchlings in a place that was unsatisfactory, she said to him. Her voice was softer and more motherly than Thorn's was.

"Hatchlings," Murtagh repeated in awe, looking back at Eragon. "You have hatchlings?"

The blue Rider's grin grew wide. "Five since we arrived here. Seems as though the wild ones were just waiting for an environment suitable for them to hatch. Saphira's been a wonderful surrogate mother for them. Our youngest dragon hatched just last month." He touched the blue dragon's chin lovingly, Saphira humming lightly in appreciation to the compliment.

Murtagh smiled, looking up at Thorn in a moment of unabashed happiness. Through their link, he could feel Thorn's excitement and pride for his race, an undeniable joy sprinkling through his thoughts.

Could we see them? the dragon asked timidly. Murtagh looked to see his brother's response.

"How could I possibly deny that request from another dragon?" Eragon asked sympathetically. "Regardless, you both must be tired. We'll let you have a moment to regain your strength before you see the hatchlings. Trust me when I say you're going to need it. They're quite a handful."

Murtagh laughed a bit at that thought. "I'm sure they are. Thank you, Eragon."

"You're welcome to stay anywhere that you like. We have plenty of rooms," Eragon continued. He rubbed the back of his neck, looking a little embarrassed. "I may have gone a little overboard during the building process."

Murtagh took the moment to truly observe the place from up close. The whole place seemed to be connected to the mountain itself as if Eragon had merely called the stone to grow itself out of the mountain. The walls were high, but every spire and long wall had several huge windows big enough for a full size dragon to easily fly in and out of. Eragon had obviously listened to Saphira when he built the place; the ceilings were high and the entranceways large. Murtagh could tell that the borders outlining the every opening was decorated with depictions of dragons and riders. Some still remained un-carved, indicating that Eragon was still in the process of adding in his personal tastes.

"It really is a place unlike any other," the red Rider commented.

"I tried to make it so," Eragon responded. "But I must admit, the idea wasn't mine. Blödhgarm suggested the idea to make it part of the mountain itself. The place reminds me of Ellesméra in a way. Maybe that's what he was going for." He seemed to think for a moment, looking at his creation. "We were hoping to have the Order of the Riders moved out here. It's a safe place, I made sure of that, and there's a lot of untouched land and wildlife out here. It's peaceful. And, if Alagaësia ever needs us, we're not so far away that we couldn't reach the Empire in time."

Murtagh contemplated the idea, noting Thorn's interest. "What would you call it?" he wondered aloud.

Skulblaka Nidum, Saphira answered firmly.

"Dragon's nest," the red Rider translated quietly. Thorn hummed lightly at the sound of it.

Eragon chuckled. "Saphira's been quite adamant lately about which name she prefers. I wanted something more… intimidating, but she threatened to leave me behind on our flights if I didn't take her suggestion."

Simple but appropriate. I think it fits, Thorn commented.

Saphira puffed her chest out a bit in pride. See, I told you so.

"Okay, okay, I'll concede." Eragon rolled his eyes. "But honestly. Let's stop standing around in the courtyard and go inside. There is much I wish to show you, and we have to get started sometime."

The two Riders continued to speak as they entered the mountain's castle, keeping up what Murtagh considered to be awkward, lighthearted conversation. He couldn't help but feel tense walking beside his brother. For so long he had struggled with the dark voice that whispered in the back of his head, encouraging him to kill Eragon on sight, that he could hardly look him in the eye. Thorn remained close to his rider, providing support through soft, understanding touches of his mind. Murtagh kept a hand on Thorn's scaly hide, finding rationale and comfort from being in close contact with his dragon.

Despite his uneasy atmosphere, Murtagh couldn't help but feel a sense of awe for the building they entered. The interior was just as stunning as the exterior with a spacious layout, the many floors all interconnected and easily reached from nearly anywhere they stood. The castle was deceiving, stretching deeply into the core of the mountain itself, making the whole place seem even bigger on the inside. Eragon explained that he wanted the place to be large enough to accommodate dragons in flight, allowing the whole structure to be a home for both Riders and their dragons. As they walked deeper into the castle, he mentioned that the true nest where they raised the hatchlings and protected the eggs was within the deepest part of the mountain, the heart of the Skulblaka Nidum itself.

"You can have whichever room you like," Eragon said, gesturing up at the long hallways stretching away from them. "I'll have some of the elves start a meal for you." He glanced over at Murtagh for a moment before clearing his throat. "If you don't mind, I'm going to leave you for now. Saphira and I have some things to attend to for a while."

"Go ahead," Murtagh responded, trying to hide the relief he felt at his brother's words.

"Good," Eragon said, moving to board Saphira's back. "We should be back before dinner. I'll let you know when we return, that way we can meet up before I show you the hatchlings."

Murtagh met Eragon's eyes, feeling humbled by the consideration. "…Thank you."

Eragon smiled knowingly. "Of course." He waved briefly before Saphira launched herself into the air, soaring gracefully towards the entrance. Murtagh watched them go for a long moment before Thorn's nose bumped him in the side lightly.

He knows how you feel, the dragon told his Rider. He is quite perceptive.

"What does that mean?" Murtagh asked suspiciously, recognizing his dragon's thoughtful tone of voice.

That means he recognizes the obvious faster than you. Thorn stuck out his tongue tauntingly. Murtagh raised his eyebrows at the dragon's obvious snub before glaring at him.

"Do not start this game, Thorn," he threatened.

Or what? the dragon sneered.

"Or I will tell everybody your secret," Murtagh announced. "If Eragon's so perceptive, he must know your secret by now."

Thorn lifted his head in confusion. What secret?

"And you make fun of me for being dense!" Murtagh laughed. "You have feelings for Saphira."

The dragon scoffed indignantly, turning his head away. I do not.

"Do not deny it Thorn," the Rider teased. "I always knew you had a thing for older women."

The red dragon gave his Rider a flat stare. You are an idiot.

Murtagh frowned at the dragon's response before sighing. "Fine. You win. I'm getting too tired to argue with you like this."

You just cannot admit that you lost, Thorn commented, lowering himself so that Murtagh could reach the saddle on his back. The Rider ignored the remark, pulling himself up onto Thorn's back. The dragon chuckled lightly before launching himself in the air, gliding down one of the halls. They eventually picked a room on the second floor, big enough for both a dragon and a Rider. The room was mainly a large hay-filled area with a water trough on one side. Above the miniature dragon keep, a set of stairs along the wall led to a lofted area for the Rider with a bed, a wardrobe and a basin and a mirror made out of polished metal.

This is comfortable, Thorn mentioned, settling himself down upon the hay covered surface. Murtagh climbed the stairs, eyeing the gradually more comfortable-looking bed with weary eyes.

"He has really thought of everything," he commented before allowing himself to fall upon the bed, his eyes unable to stay open for much longer.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

He knew he was dreaming. He could practically hear the sound of her voice, the sweet tone of her laugh. He could see her smile, her long dark hair, her sparkling eyes. He could feel her hands on his skin, her breath upon his face, her soft lips upon his. His fingers touched her skin and weaved through her hair. He drank her in, pulling her closer-

Murtagh! Get up!

The Rider jolted, his eyes popping open. He looked around the room in confusion, his mind slowly reminding him of where he was. Sitting up, he groaned to himself, rubbing his head. Thorn's eyes peeked over the edge of the loft.

Did I interrupt anything?

"Shut up, Thorn," he growled, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed. The dragon lowered his head, to give him some space. Murtagh sighed, leaning his head between his knees. It had only been a couple days, but the image of Nasuada had been haunting his thoughts and weaving through his dreams. The past couple days had been significantly worse than the past five years. He could remember a time when thinking about her didn't come with such an ache of longing. Rubbing his head, Murtagh forced himself to stand up, walking over to see Thorn. The dragon peered up at him from below.

"What's wrong?" he asked the dragon.

Oh, nothing, Thorn responded. Just that Eragon's back and says that he wants to meet us out in the courtyard.

"Huh. Why didn't he contact me?" the Rider wondered aloud.

Well, you were sleeping, Thorn reminded him. Murtagh blushed, realizing it was true before turning to find his boots. He dressed quickly, bounding down the stairs to mount Thorn, both of them flying swiftly and smoothly out the door and down the corridor.

"Did you sleep at all?" Murtagh asked his dragon. Thorn shrugged a bit through their link.

Night time is for sleeping. I merely rested while you slept.

Thorn's response worried him a bit, but he tried not to let it show. They continued their short flight out of the castle, and out into the open mountain air. As they flew into the light, Thorn nearly stumbled out of the air in surprise. He coasted down to the ground, trotting closer to where Saphira and Eragon stood instead of flying, his eyes locked on the glimmering white dragon perched beside them.

The dragon had a wary, creme colored eye upon the red Dragon as he grew closer, backing away slightly when Thorn grew too close. The white dragon let out a low hiss, spreading its wings in defense. Thorn realized he was scaring the new dragon and lowered himself closer to the ground, showing that he didn't mean any harm. As Murtagh slid off of Thorn's back, the white dragon stopped hissing, showing signs of a wary curiosity. Murtagh took a few steps closer to Eragon, his eyes trained on the wild dragon. It was an exotic breed with several spikes lining the line of its body from its snout to the tip of its tail. Its hide was as white as the snow that tipped the mountains around them, its eyes more off-white than the rest of its scales. In size, it was much smaller than either Saphira or Thorn, but had a leaner, lither body type.

"Nothing to worry about," Eragon was saying. "She's just a little skittish."

"She?" Murtagh responded in surprise.

"She," Eragon repeated, grinning. "This is Aranthi. She's about two years old, and was our second dragon to hatch. Don't be intimidated by her. She's a sweet girl." He walked over to the white dragon, gently reaching up to touch her maw. The dragon didn't react to Eragon, ignoring him while she stared down Thorn. Saphira let out a low warning tone, shocking the younger dragon. She broke eye contact with Thorn, gently pushing her spiked nose up against Eragon's chest in greeting. Eragon chuckled, rubbing the underside of her chin.

"See? She's a good girl," he said. Aranthi hummed lightly, her eye darting back to Thorn warily. Eragon turned towards his brother, a smile on his face. "Come! She won't hurt you."

"I'm less worried about that," Murtagh responded, glancing back at Thorn. What are you thinking?

Thorn tried to ignore him, laying his head down on the ground non-aggressively to help calm the younger dragon. His eyes stayed watching her though, taking her in. Murtagh recognized Thorn's feelings of awe and intimidation, along with a touch of attraction. The Rider smiled to himself, feeling happy for his dragon.

Turning back towards his brother, Murtagh stumbled back a bit in shock, realizing the white dragon's maw was merely inches from his face. Her curiosity seemingly overcame her caution as she took a few sniffs of Murtagh's hair. Lowering her head a bit, she sniffed the hand that held the Gedwëy Ignasia, recognizing the scent of a dragon Rider. He carefully lifted his hand towards her, hoping she wouldn't just decide to snap off his hand. Gently sniffing his palm again, she bumped her nose underneath his outstretched hand. Murtagh let a smile crawl across his face.

"Does she speak?" he asked Eragon in curiosity.

"Somewhat," the other Rider responded. "She can speak, but she chooses not to most of the time. She has a really soft voice that she considers to be un-intimidating. Saphira thinks she's self-conscious of it."

"So, you're a quiet one," Murtagh said quietly to the white dragon. Aranthi met his gaze, holding it for a long time. "You don't have to be afraid." Murtagh gestured for Thorn to come closer, keeping the white dragon's eyes. He noticed when she would look away, warily looking at Thorn as he came closer. "He's not scary," Murtagh said, catching her attention again. "You do not have to trust me if you don't want to, but figure it out for yourself if he's truly frightening."

He was gentle as he pushed her nose away from him and towards Thorn, who had come up behind him. He gently released the dragon's snout, watching their interactions warily. Aranthi looked a little nervous, but held her ground while Thorn was being more shy and reserved than what Murtagh considered to be usual.

This is your chance, brother, Murtagh encouraged tenderly. Thorn met his Rider's gaze for a short moment before gently touching his nose to the white dragon's. She snorted in surprise, flinching back a bit at first, but returned the gesture with a spark of bravery after a short moment. Murtagh smiled openly as he felt Thorn's happiness through their link. There were few things that made him happier than knowing his dragon was happy. And he couldn't help but want the best for his brother of soul.

We are similar in that way, Thorn said to him lightly, making him smile.

I suppose so