As Iormungr sat down while nursing his wounds, his thoughts turned to his recent fight.

I really ought to be more careful. My raging tendencies will be the death of me. But I just can't help myself, not after all that has happened…

He sighed, gazing over the results of his rampage. Then the elf he spoke to before came and stood a respectful distance away from him. He bowed, then said

"I see you have no love for the Empire, dark one"

No elf, I do not. Galbatorix has taken everything from me. My rider, kin, mate, and children. Now the only thing left for me is... revenge.

Iormungr sighed, licking the small gash an unfortunate soldier left on his leg.

I once felt similar rage toward your kin, but now it is caution that I feel. 10 years or so after I met Ruidrik my rider and brother, we found a group of elves who weren't too happy with us. I never figured out why, but only one of them escaped to tell his friends of us. But perhaps times have changed...

Now much calmer, Iormungr regarded Mandrake with interest, trying to discern if the elf shared similar feelings and convictions with his ancestors, or if such beliefs dissipated over time.

By the way, what is your name again?

"Mandrake."

Iormungr noticed a smile creeping over the elf's face as he looked over the dragon before him. Clearly he respected and loved all dragonkind.

"I, too, seek the downfall of Galbatorix. He has taken much from everyone, and has all but eradicated your proud race. For that, I wish to kill him. You need not fear me, nor other elves, who are now going to war for what the king has done to the dragons. I've always admired your kind, Iormungr. Dragons are the embodiment of all that humans and elves strive for. Speaking of them, it may interest you to know that some of your kin has survived Galbatorix's slaughter."

So things really have changed said Iormungr, breathing a sigh of relief. It is good to know that the conflicts of the past won't plague me anymore. And I thought I was the last dragon left alive after Galbatorix's slaughter. It does my heart good to know my race will once again flourish. Though it will not bring back my dear Vervada...

Iormungr took off and flew north, refusing to show any weakness. He would be flying for a while, until past nightmares sorted themselves out within his mind. Mandrake watched him go with concern, then remembered something he read in a scroll that would cheer the black dragon up.

"Long ago, one of your hatchlings was sent to the riders, a magnificent blue. That egg has hatched, and Saphira came to be.

Mandrake sent an image of Saphira during the Agaeti Blodhren along with this message. Iormungr didn't hear most of it, for he was already disappearing beyond the elf's sight. By the time the message reached him, the black dragon was too far away to hear it completely. He only heard the part about his daughter hatching, but immediately dismissed that, for he thought there was no chance she survived Galbatorix's slaughter. He had lost all hope for such things after seeing all those he cared about killed before his
very eyes.

Iormungr flew aimlessly around Alagaesia, trying to settle his frazzled mind, but to no avail. His journey eventually took him back to the Spine, where he had fallen next to his rider. Sighing, the black dragon once again mourned his deceased brother. Then something on a nearby cliff caught his eye. Leaping up to it, he noticed an intricate grave melted into the very rock.

May you rest in peace, dear Ruidrik said Iormungr silently, laying his chin on the headstone. But who buried you? It was then that the dragon saw the note carved into the rock above his rider's grave. He had to squint to read it, for the text was old and almost
too eroded for him to see. A good portion of the middle was completely illegible, and was beginning to crumble off.

"As you are reading this, great dragon, no doubt you are wondering who has buried your rider. After he died, I contacted his soul and had him sacrifice himself to preserve your life. He gave up everything to ensure your safety. As for why he did this… And to ease your broken heart, let it be known that Galbatorix didn't take everything from you."

Whoever did this, with the help of my rider, gave me another chance at life, and to take revenge upon Galbatorix. But what was said in the missing part of this note? And what was meant by the last part?

I can tell you.

Tensing up, Iormungr looked around for whoever spoke to him. The voice was female, and sounded like a dragons, but seemed much too warped to be of his kind.

And you are? asked Iormungr, knowing that the source of the voice must not be an enemy.

Lifis. I live deep in the Du Weldenvarden, though the elves don't know of me. Talking this far in my current state is quite draining, so I can't be with you for long.

What do you mean? wondered the black dragon.

To put it simply, I am one with the forest, in a state of suspended animation. My body is sealed away deep within the woods in which I reside, and to reunite with it is quite troublesome. I've not much time left, Iormungr, so I will tell you a few things, and if I should falter, worry not for I will contact you later. I've watched you over the years, sharing your sorrows and pitying your losses. Death has occurred too much around you, so Ruidrik and I gave you another chance at life. As the note explained, Galbatorix didn't kill everyone that loved you. And there is another, more important reason, one that you may not believe, but sadly is true. Deep within your soul…

Iormungr roared as a strong force he never felt within him before banished the voice from his mind. Breathing heavily, he tried to regain contact with Lifis, but she was gone. He wondered if that force that had attacked her really came from within him, and decided he would think about it later, for there were other matters to contend to. Iormungrs thoughts drifted back to Mandrakes last message to him, and what Lifis discussed with him.

Is it really possible that the one egg we gave to the riders survived? But what if it hatched for a rider under Galbatorix? I could never harm my own flesh and blood... I shall go see for myself the fate of my only surviving child.

So thought Iormungr as he flew south, intending to meet up with Mandrake once again. As he passed over the burning plains, the carnage below brought feelings of despair to his mind. However, in the back of his mind lay a small shimmer of hope. Iormungr couldn't shake the feelings that Mandrake's words were true.

He landed on a cliff which were scarred by claws other than his, and surveyed the surroundings for the elf. He sensed the presence of one, and when he turned to it, Iormungr saw that he was sitting on the back of a magnificent sapphire dragon. The black dragon's gaze hovered over his blue brethren as ancient memories came flooding back.

Vrael and his dragon sat at the entrance to Vervada's cave. She sat over her clutch of eggs, holding one in her hand. This egg was of the same color as she, and the dragonet within was female. Iormungr watched on as his mate laid her muzzle on the egg, muttered a few words, then handed it over to the leader of the riders. As the exchange was made, the memories faded away.

My daughter. Saphira.

Iormungr shook his head as he came back to the presence, and noticed that quite a few eyes had turned toward his direction. Ignoring them, the black dragon jumped off the cliff and landed on the plains below. The crowd quickly parted as he walked over to Saphira, who turned toward the new arrival. At first she thought it was Shruikan, but there was no rider on his back.

Who...are you? she asked, tensing up in case the dragon was an enemy.

Iormungr didn't respond right away, and instead gazed into the eyes of the dragon before him. His face took on an expression of joy, astonishment, and love, for Saphira's eyes were exactly like her mothers. This was his daughter, alive and well.

I am Iormungr, mate of Vervada, and your father.

Saphira was stunned. She thought her father was dead, killed by Galbatorix, yet here he was standing before her. She knew for sure that this was her parent, for he looked similar to herself, and she could sense a faint bond between them.

Father

Hesitant at first, Saphira laid her neck along her fathers and sighed, as he draped a wing over his daughter.