For the first time in millennia, sunlight streamed through the depths of the Spine. The creatures of the forest shivered and stayed in their dens, unsure of what to do. The light flowed over an overgrown field, illuminating a skeleton trapped within the vines of a thorn bush. The skeleton's spine was nearly cut in two, and it lay on its side, grinning eerily.
A short distance from the bones, the suns rays sparkled on the scales of a black dragon. It appeared to be dead, but that was not so. The dragon's heart began to beat faster and faster, until it resumed its normal pace. As functions returned to its body, the beast opened its glimmering sapphire eyes for the first time in about 100 years. He searched his mind for why he was asleep for so long, but nothing came to him. Just as he disentangled himself from the forest, the memories came flooding back.
He was standing at the mouth of a great cave, watching a magnificent sapphire dragon battle with a man garbed in black armor. Horror and anguish flooded his mind as the man plunged his sword deep into the dragon's chest, and proceeded to crush her hatchlings under his boots.
VERVADA! The dragon let off a mighty roar that could be heard across all of Alagaesia. He took off into the sky and flew for miles across the plains and Hadarac, not caring if anyone saw. Eventually he came to the mountains known as Du Fells Nángoröth, where he and Vervada raised their many children. Entering the cave where he and his mate once lived, the black dragon let off a howl of sorrow upon seeing the seeing the bones of many dragon hatchlings surrounding the skeleton of their mother.
What happened next surprised even him.
A bright light enveloped the cave, then disappeared after a few moments. The remains of the dragon mother and her children were now eternally sealed behind a smooth rock wall. On this wall an image was set of what the dragons once looked like. A fearsome deep-blue female dragon lay upon a stone couch, her multi-colored hatchlings sleeping under her protective wings. There were a few unhatched eggs lying in front of her, and one was the same color of her scales. Next to her stood a massive black dragon, watching over his mate with love and care.
I failed you Vervada sighed the black dragon, inspecting his work with grim satisfaction.
You and all our children. He flew away from the final resting place of his mate Vervada, heading south to the Beors to feed upon the gazelle that thrived near the mountains.
Galbatorix has taken everything from me. My mate and children, my kin, my rider, and nearly my own life. I am truly cursed, to have love always taken from me. For that, he will pay.
After tearing through 15 gazelle, the dragon perched on a cliff and thought about what to do next. The stench of death soon wafted across his nose, and from what he could tell, it came from far to the east. Taking his mind off of current matters, the black dragon flew once again through the hot southern skies. He landed on a mountain overlooking the burning plains, his black form blatantly visible against the blue sky. Observing the battle below with indifference, he noted that a lone elf had retreated to the side. He discerned that some of the soldiers fighting must be loyal to Galbatorix, and decided that if they won, they would die by his claws.
The dragon waited.