A/N: I must thank SimplySupreme for suggesting a Dragon POV chapter. Also thanks to all the wonderful and encouraging reviewers. InkWeaverabc was especially helpful with her insights. {And she has rather become my unofficial BETA... Thanks InkWeaverabc.}

I also want to take a moment and thank LOTRRanger for her story "Overcome" that has charmed its way into my favorites and inspired the idea for this little 'prequel' fanfictionfiction. Her story is in my favorites.

Lastly, for reasons that I can't fathom, I've decided to post dates on my chapters. Dates of previously posted chapters are as follows... Chapter one: 3-22-2011, Chapter two: 4-12-2011, Chapter three: 4-26-2011, Chapter four: 5-17-2011. Not sure why anyone would really care... but I felt like doing it... and I did. Blah blah blah... Not CP either... Could you tell? XD Ha

Chapter four: Mutual Ground

Thorn could tell that he was causing both amusement as well as confusion with his little ritual. Eight times he had flown off to the ocean front, and eight times he had returned on foot. Even with his smooth loping gait, the vibrations from his rhythmic contact with the earth had gained him much attention. And truthfully, he rather liked it. This attention was far more enjoyable than the kind he had received at the hands of the empire. He and his chosen had been openly cheered and praised in the courts, though only at the king's command. Yet all he ever really sensed from those people was scorn, fear, and loathing.

The people of the Varden were a strange bunch of two-leggeds, though there was something more open and interesting about them. They professed to hate and despise the red pair, but the dragon noticed that his presence was more readily accepted here than it had been in dark-stone-prison Uru'baen. Furthermore, Thorn found that as long as he did not look any of them in the eye, he did not incite their fear, but instead was regarded with stares and curious whispers. Hadn't they ever seen a dragon making a nest?

With each trip to the seashore, the dragon had managed to dig up and carry quite a large amount of damp, cool sand, which he smuggled packed between his body and his wings. Thus was the reason why he always returned on foot to the parcel of land that his rider had chosen. As he reached a particular spot within the warded scrubland, he would drop the sand, shake off the bits, and then fly back to the ocean for another load.

Gliding overhead, Saphira did not even attempted to be subtle in her patrolling the red scales' activities, though if she had any interest in his antics, she hid it marvelously well. Thorn thought he might have caught her reptilian sapphire eyes studying his work at one point. Her expression was a mixture of confusion and disdain, but it was so brief that he might have imagined it. His pile of sand had grown quite large, and he smiled that the female was likely still in the dark regarding his endeavor.

Satisfied that he now had enough material, the dragon used his torso to make a decent indentation adequate enough to accommodate his large body. The sand was already starting to dry out in the warm-yellow-falling-flame evening sun, and the red scaled dragon was tempted to stay there basking in its comfort. But recognizing the lateness of the hour, Thorn sighed, and resolved to make one more trip. Mighty crimson wings lifted him up once again, as he took to the sky, hurrying back to the sparkling waves. When he reached the sea he dove into the foamy surf to bathe in the salt water. It felt delightful to wash the itchy sand out of his scales, and cool off in the rolling waters.

Oh, this had turned into an unforgettable day. First, he and his rider were officially, though provisionally accepted into the ranks of the Varden, and this was something almost beyond their expectations. And then, they had found and settled on a secure roosting place... one they had chosen themselves... with their own freedom. It might seem a simple thing to most, but to him and his rider, it was nothing short of miraculous.

The droplets on his ruby scales lit up like liquid-gold-magma in the rays of the setting sun, and the floating dragon shed the excess runoff with a mighty shake. Within moments the red-fire-globe dipped behind the distant hills, making the blue of the sky begin to deepen considerably. It was time to head back. Great red wings appeared garnet against the deep blues of the now sunless sea, and Thorn sent water exploding-spraying-flying as he pressed himself up into the sky. He soon reached an altitude that let the sun once more strike his wet scales, creating a dazzling display of ruby sparkles. But it wasn't long before the sun had again dropped beyond reach, rendering him almost unnoticeable in the not-yet-diamond sky. It was thus that he glided silently over Feinster and the Varden encampment, headed for the patch of warded scrubland that was his new home.

It wasn't exactly dark yet, but it was getting pretty close, and not seeing Murtagh anywhere, he cast about mentally in search of him... and he found him, still in the tavern, and still in a dark mood.

There you are my clever rider... you have successfully evaded doing any manual labor this afternoon, and all the while I've been hard at work securing us a nest.

What are you talking about Thorn? the rider grumbled.

Come and see... and don't be such a grouch.

The dragon wondered what had marred his rider's mood, and he mentally pried to see what had happened during his absence. When Murtagh closed off his thoughts, a low angry growl expressed the dragon's irritation.

You will not keep secrets from me, my obstinate one. Thorn's mental voice was ominously serious, negating any possibility that this was playful sarcasm the rider was hearing. And Thorn continued.

We have to be completely honest with each other... now more than ever... the dragon insisted. Murtagh, our very survival may depend on this.

Yes, sure... the rider's mind internally snapped thoughtlessly, and next time someone want's to know my secrets, they can just go to you, and see it all...

That careless thought had just slipped out. It had not been intentional, and it certainly wasn't meant for Thorn to hear, but the rider had thought it, and the dragon had heard it. The stunned heart-thudding-silence that followed, left both feeling empty and lost inside. Instant regret filled the rider, and Thorn sensed rather than saw his chosen pound his unfinished mug of ale loudly on the wooden table. Ignoring the sudden stares from the others in the tavern, Murtagh squeezed his eyes shut, attempting to manage all his recent emotions.

Thorn... I didn't mean it...

Just the act of trying to hide the memories had merely served to revive the cold heartache. And now the red rider had lashed out at his only true friend and confidant. The revelation of his 'not brother' and the rejection that came with it, would eventually be discovered anyway, so it made very little sense to put off informing his scaled companion of the incident. In light of this fact, Murtagh relented, and opened his inner self to Thorn. The son of Morzan exposed all that had happened to him that afternoon and evening... all that had happened and all that he had felt... including the guilt now washing over him at his harsh words to the dragon...

I'm so sorry Thorn.

Thorn poured over the new information as he circled above the city in the dark-night-diamond sky, and his own mood darkened to match the surroundings. Waves of anger seemed to roll off of him, and Thorn had to fight his own urge to search out the rider of the blue dragon, and rip him apart... Freedom was a good thing, but now that he was no longer chained by other forces, he was finding it necessary to restrain himself from doing anything rash.

Murtagh had been too deep in his own regret to notice the dragon's ire, and after several long moments of silence the rider reached back out to his partner.

Thorn?

Murtagh's gentle contact pulled the dragon out of his anger for the moment. Normally Thorn would have given his rider a hard time for making such a hurtful accusation. He would have teased-lashed-guilted him till the dragon's pride had been satisfied... but the images he saw made him want nothing more than to comfort his chosen.

I am fine, my brother, the dragon said, hoping the new title would help to ease his rider's pain. And his efforts were rewarded with the response Murtagh sent him over their still-strong life-bond. Immense relief and gratitude flowed from rider to dragon, helping to further cool the ruby-scale's anger. Relief, gratitude, and love filled the bond between them, and no words were needed in that moment.

Take your time brother, Thorn told his rider as he completed one last circle over the area. I will be waiting for you at the roost when you return.

Thorn could almost see his rider's eyes blink-owl-wide in bewilderment, wondering at what exactly the dragon had been up to, and this image lightened his mood once again. The dragon never held a grudge for very long. Angling his wings, he made a steady descent towards the barren ground not far from the sandy pile that would be the nest site. His touchdown only slightly made the earth tremble, and he stretched out his neck and long body to loosen the ache-tired-tightness he had acquired through all of his labor.

Saphira's landing next to him took him completely by surprise, for the water-scales' approach had been flawlessly silent. His instinctive hiss and defensive posture lasted only a flash of a moment, but it was enough to boost the confidence and self satisfaction of the sapphire dragoness.

Oh... it's you... Thorn snorted, before turning casually away from her, and facing the section of camp that Murtagh would be coming from. Slowly the ruby dragon hunkered down to wait for his bonded partner's return.

Is there a reason for your visit Saphira?... other than displaying your awesome stealth and your dazzling lack of courtesy and decorum?

The sapphire dragon bristled at the insinuation. Narrowed eyes pierced the air between her and the male, as her sleek and perfect tail tensed up and whipped to one side. She looked ready to strike out. Body language spoke clearly of her displeasure, and the ruby dragon's lack of reaction only increased her already aggravated demeanor.

If you were in possession of any manners or civility, I might not have had to barge in 'uninvited.' Besides, who gave you permission to build a dwelling here? Or erect wards? How do you expect to be trusted if you won't first trust us?

Thorn's snort of irritation left the scent of hot-fire-brimstone on the air. His rider's memories of Eragon's rejection resurfaced to stir the sparks of his anger.

My rider and I are free now... free to do as we please... sleep where we like. You surely don't demand that every member of the Varden secure your permission in order to pitch a tent.

Thorn's previous air of disinterest had transformed into a snarl of spite. The dragon had become accustomed to being abused mentally, emotionally and physically, but the fact that it was happening here and now was enough to snap the usually good natured dragon's resolve. He had turned his back on his previous life, and he was supposed to be free and happy. But things were going so wrong... His bared fangs, and his gravelly growl bore testimony to just how wrong things had gone.

I refuse to be silent while you sit in judgement over my every move. I am tired of being the recipient of your demeaning and disparaging attitude... What, in all of the skies above, do you have to be so contemptuous about?

When the female didn't answer right away, he added a dismissive snort.

You were more fun when we were enemies.

Saphira had held her tongue, letting her anger simmer into a furious rolling boil, before finally turning her livid gaze on the obnoxious male. Though her tone was almost dangerously even and controlled, there was a hint of a snarl of loathing in her demeanor that made her words sound ugly.

I do not have to answer to you. And I don't appreciate your insulting accusations. You seem to think that you and your rider are the only ones who have known pain? How little you know... and how selfish you are. You are the cause of my pain...

The dragoness swallowed her own heart-pain-loss that had suddenly flared up at the thought of the golden dragon's death. And in an attempt to reclaim her indignation, she reached for the contempt that had fueled her only moments before.

You and your moping-phobic-recluse of a two-legged partner will have to at least make an attempt at being useful and civil, if you expect to retain your welcome here.

Now it was Thorn's turn to be stunned. Not only was he shocked by the intensity of Saphira's vehemence, but the suddenness of it as well. Her mood had quickly turned from dismissive and haughty to a passionate animosity. And inside the ruby dragon had little time to ponder what had triggered such a change. His own defensive responses had kicked into place at the veiled threat of abandonment and at her verbal abuse of his chosen.

No one tries harder than Murtagh to make something noble out of his existence... but who will allow him to succeed... no one, not even his own brother...

The anger-fury-desperation welled up within the ruby dragon as he spat his thought-words at the inflexible dragoness.

Why is it that your rider chooses to intentionally wound my chosen with his cruel tricks... first pretending to be friends, and then treating him with contempt. He is cruel. You have no idea how it injured Murtagh inside, and he is only just starting to let himself feel again.

He didn't care anymore if he was revealing his rider's pain, for he was hurting too. But the worst part was the realization that all of this was his own fault. It was because of Thorn's insistence that they stay with the Varden, that his chosen was having to endure this ongoing discrimination. And Thorn was beginning to regret his choice.

The sapphire female tensed with her own fury at the overgrown hatchling's attack on the character of her beloved rider. It hadn't been Eragon's fault. All he had done was express his feelings honestly. In her eyes it was Morzansson who was incapable of facing the truth. And the truth was simply this... No one trusted the red pair, and no one was likely to trust them anytime in the near future. They were going to have to earn the Varden's trust anew, and that would take time... time and effort.

Eragon is not cruel. This is hard for him too, and it's going to take time, she hissed furiously. You ungrateful scaled rat... Can't you see everything that we have done to try to help you? Can't you see that it is hard for us too? All of this is new for us... You've had months to process all that has happened to you. We have just endured all of your memories, and all of your pain in the span of a couple days. That isn't easy to work through.

It wasn't easy to live through either, the ruby-scales growled back angrily.

You can't expect to swoop in and be embraced by those you have wronged so severely. You may never be accepted... and you need to face that possibility. You might do everything right from this day forward, but nothing you do will ever be able to erase the past... or return the dead.

Thorn thought he sensed something emotional catching in the female's last words, and then suddenly, truth dawned on him. She had said that 'he was the cause her pain'... and now he suddenly understood. This pain that he had caused her, it was the deaths of the elder pair...

Thorn shuddered with the realization. He and his rider had been used by the king... forced to kill the great golden dragon and his rider. They had been frozen, snared-fowl-netted, trapped within their own bodies while the king spoke through them... attacked through them... murdered through them... It wasn't really his fault, but an overwhelming feeling of guilt settled upon him... guilt, shame, and hopelessness.

I know, the red dragon acknowledged, retreating within his scales. No longer did he project his feelings, neither happy nor sad. He withdrew himself from the world, realizing for the first time just how right his rider had been. Even though the pair was here physically, didn't mean that they were accepted or welcome.

The water-scales must have sensed the change in the red dragon's demeanor, and she couldn't help but soften her own attitude to match.

Understand Thorn, that they were our Ebrithilar... Oromis, a second father figure to Eragon... and Glaedr... the blue dragoness paused, debating on whether or not to explain her own deeper grief to the not-quite-enemy. I had aspirations of Glaedr someday being my scale-sky-mate... after the war... And now, without him, I fear I will never desire to become mother to a new generation. With his death, all of my dreams of the future died too.

Unwilling to discuss the incident further, Saphira turned abruptly, and leapt into the air, making a hasty retreat to find her own rider, and regain her emotional control. Her form quickly got lost in the inky-blue-black of night. Only the blocking out of the stars gave evidence of her passing, and the ruby dragon was left alone in stunned silence.

Thorn couldn't move, such was the shock of Saphira's revelation. No wonder her animosity ran so deep. Not only had she lost her mentor, but she had lost her choice of mates as well. And this didn't just affect her alone. She was the last known female dragon, and because of this deprivation, the dragon race would eventually be lost to the world.

A keening sound escaped Thorn as he pondered this last sad truth. The weight of the consequence of that horrible deed caused him to sag heavily. All the penitence in the world would not repair the damage that had been done, and the world had every right to scorn and reject him, as did Saphira.

Oh no... the dragon despaired. Even seeing the approach of his beloved chosen didn't ease his breaking heart. What have we done?

Updated 5-17-2011

A/N: I am rather unhappy with my dragon POV. I don't feel I was able to portray the dragon mind quite right. I hope I didn't over do it. But I hope the emotional interaction comes across better. I wanted the red pair to see that they aren't alone in the matter of enduring pain. I hope you guys all like this chapter... Next chapter you will see the 'nest' completed. ;)