FINALLY

The memory of his fear fuelled her, the flames crawling up her arms in a whirlwind, surrounding her. The vampires that held her arms screamed as they were engulfed, the scent of their burning flesh filling the air before they ceased to be more than ash. There were screams in the crowd, but Lucian's was the loudest, a piercing cry of terror as the flames burst forth.

Lucian's lackeys screamed as they were hit, the fire burning through their armour, through their chest to turn their dead hearts to dust before their bodies were engulfed for express cremation. Freed, the vampire contingent of the wedding party who had avoided the injections of silver shot forth in the confusion, taking their pick of the King's remaining squad.

Sarah had already chosen her fight though, taking steady steps towards the vampire before her, one crazed with the terror of the flames that still clung to her arms, the fine shards of wood crackling and burning from the heat that radiated from her. As she walked, the blood red carpet beneath her feet burned, the acrid smoke filling the air seeming to rise from her feet, as if she were the devil on earth.

'What's wrong, Lucian?' she asked as he stared at her, fangs bared in a harsh growl, as the madness in his stormy gaze intensified, 'don't you like fire?'

He turned, prepared to make flight but Sarah sent a crushing wave of air pressure over him, pinning him to the blood red carpet of the aisle. She flipped him over, using the air that surrounded him to lift him into the air before sending him crashing back down. The ground shook as he landed, the dirt beneath him cracking.

'Stop,' he screamed, arching against the invisible pressure that held him, 'stop at once!'

'You attack my friends,' she said, placing a burning finger on his neck, searing the flesh, 'you try to kidnap me,' another burning finger, his nose beginning to disintegrate beneath her touch, 'and you interrupt the most anticipated day of my life when I am just about to become the wife of the one man I have ever truly loved.'

Her voice had risen, shaking with anger as she grasped his throat with her flaming hand, using the pressure of the air that was holding him to lift him so that she could gaze into his eyes. 'And you want me to stop? To show mercy to you, a merciless man?'

His eyes widened, the terror reaching a crescendo, the white hot flames that burned in her eyes reflected in the stormy gaze.

'Do tell me why I should show mercy?'

A harsh gust of wind buffeted her as the chop off helicopter blades sounded nearby. Men dressed in armour, black from head to toe, descended from ropes, quickly surrounding the area of chairs, weapons drawn. They moved forward, separating the brawling vampires, extracting Lucian's men and injecting them with silver. Once they were neutralised, they moved forth, assisting the vampire guests who had been administered with the poisonous metal.

One of the helicopters landed but Sarah remained in place, refusing to release her hold on Lucian as the armed men approached, but they continued to work for their cause, releasing Eric from the chains that still clung to his neck.

'Put him down Sarah,' a stern voice called, 'you don't want his blood all over your beautiful dress if he dies, do you?'

Nan Flanagan, in all of her leather clad authority, appeared from the helicopter as it landed, her personality as severe as ever. With lips in a thin line she said, 'we'll take it from here.'

'What are you going to do with him?' she asked, tightening her hold in defiance, 'because if you just give him a slap on the wrist, I can guarantee you won't keep me from kicking his un-dead ass into dust no matter what kind of authority you have.'

The woman smiled, the gesture appearing almost painful. 'Trust me, he won't be bothering you again,' she said, glancing at Lucian, 'or anyone for that manner.'

With a flick of her wrist four men marched forward, shackling the vampire King of Arkansas with silver before carting him off. For a moment, Sarah was sure that there was relief in his eyes as he was taken to the helicopter.

'How do you know who I am?' she asked as she felt a wave of anger wash over her, Eric looming just behind her.

'We've been aware of your existence for quite some time now.'

'You want something from me then?'

'No. We respect that we hold no control over you under vampire law, despite your connections to Eric. No one can or will touch you so long as you live. Your existence is far too important in maintaining the balance.'

'What balance?' she asked, feeling exasperated.

'The balance between the human and inhuman powers. You are a True Druid after all, the first for centuries. Vampires, werewolves and all beings alike need your existence to protect them from the other powers, and themselves. Your existence alone maintains the balance of power, which keeps everyone happy. And alive.'

'But I–'

'I'm sure Eric can tell you more: all older vampires know the story,' she said with a brisk turn on her heel, 'Please be assured that you will not be disturbed without due cause again.'

'Wait!' Sarah called, moving after her. 'What do you mean by due cause?'

'Lucian Dimitru presented a grave danger to you, the True Druid, and to the reputation of the vampire community. Those like him shall not be tolerated.'

'Does that mean you'll leave us alone? That you really don't expect anything of me?'

'Yes. Enjoy your wedded bliss.'

As Nan Flanagan made to leave again, Sarah noticed a face in the crowd, one attempting to blend with the terrified Bon Temp locals and vampire guests.

Not this time.

'One more thing,' Sarah called. As Nan Flanagan turned, Sarah pointed to Alex. 'Take him with you. He's the reason Lucian found me.'

Alex's eyes widened as heavy hands grabbed his arms, dragging him kicking and screaming towards the helicopter, begging for a mercy he would not be shown.

'Anything else?'

Sarah shook her head and without another word Nan Flannigan climbed back into the helicopter, her severe gaze turning to the chained and bloody Lucian. The armed men carted the few surviving prisoners into the other helicopter before they lifted off, the air buffeting the decorated chairs and guests as they stood.

All eyes turned to Sarah.

Crap.

'Anyone have a problem with my wife being a little different?' Eric asked, 'because if you have a problem with her, then you're no longer welcome at this ceremony.'

The underlying threat of the words seemed to sink in. For Eric, ceremony was, in this case, synonymous with life.

Every guest brushed the dust from their clothes and plucked the leaves from their hair, taking their seats before a voice in the front, Sam's voice, called, 'She's not your wife yet.'

Sarah turned to Eric, feeling a smile burst over her lips as that same voice called, 'you may now kiss the bride!'

Eric grasped her hand, pulling her into his arms. 'You're so beautiful,' he whispered, cheers erupting as he finally claimed her lips in the kiss they had been waiting for all day.

For all eternity.

'Let's party!' Jake called, Bon Temps erupting in further cries, the tough little town acting as if there had been no interruptions, not fear or fighting, just the anticipation and excitement of a wedding that had brought so many together: humans, vampires, werewolves, shifters and even a telepath and a True Druid.

Eric pulled Sarah into his arms, carrying her down the red aisle that still smouldered from her flaming steps towards the house, where music was already playing. Bon Temps followed, their friends, their family close behind.

No one ruins a wedding in this town, Sarah thought as Eric placed her on her feet, just over the threshold. They were quickly surrounded, confetti and rose petals flying over their heads. Sarah raised her hands, making the colours swirl above them.

No more hiding, not in my town.

Bon Temps cheered as wine, beer and TruBlood started to flow, dancing breaking out in every corner of the house until cheers for the bouquet toss started, drawing the girls back outside. Sarah stood on the top step, listening to the huffs as the girls fought for a good place. There were screams of delight as she released the bouquet, turning to see who was lucky enough to catch the carefully arranged roses.

Bright red flushed over the girl's cheeks, Sarah smiling at Alessandra, one of a handful of friends from England who had been able to make the journey. She winked, giving a meaningful glance towards Alcide, who had caught the garter tossed into the crowd of rowdy men earlier in the night: the werewolf had not been able to keep his eyes off Alessandra.

Maybe it was fate?

Just like Sarah and Eric.

She was laughing as he carried her through their house. The night before he had been her fiancé, and now he was her husband.

Her gorgeous, loving, Viking vampire husband.

He placed her gently on her feet, appearing behind her to unlace the bodice of her ivory dress, his fingers drifting over the fine lace as he slowly untied the ribbon. His lips grazed her skin, a shiver working down her spine as the gown slid down, the soft fabric caressing her skin almost as sensually as Eric's lips.

'Sarah Northman,' he whispered, lips brushing her ear, 'I love the way it rolls off my tongue.'

'So do I,' she said, feeling a smile cross his lips as he kissed her shoulder. She turned, her fingertips brushing his cheek before moving to his shoulders, her hands slipping beneath the tailored jacket to push it from his shoulders. It slipped down his arms, thrown casually across the room as her attention moved to his tie. His eyes were fixed on her as she tugged gently, sliding it from his neck. Her hands followed the trail of buttons, each slipping easily under her finger to reveal the sculpted chest beneath.

Before she could slip the shirt from him his arms enclosed her, a delighted squeal escaping her lips as they fell onto the bed. Eric moved over her, soft kisses trailing from her navel to her neck as his hands danced over her thighs, dropping to her calf in a soft caress before he flicked off one ivory heel, then another.

'You were amazing tonight: so beautiful, so fierce,' he said, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face, 'no wonder Bon Temps loves you. Even when you had to sacrifice your secret, maybe even your safety, you did it because you knew that the people you love were in danger, and after all that has happened, they understood that. I think they respected the strength it took to stand up to Lucian and protect them. That strength…it's one of the reasons I fell in love with you.'

'I think they also know that you would have killed them if they hadn't,' she said, the smirk that crossed his lips matching her own.

'Possibly,' he said, 'but you are a charmer.'

She ran her fingers through his hair, the pale locks soft beneath her touch. His gaze locked on hers, and she could see the questions in her eyes reflected in his.

'What happens now?'

'We enjoy wedded bliss, for however long we may live.'

'But, Nan Flanagan, she said I was needed to maintain the balance. Does that mean you can still turn me, or do I have to stay…human?'

'She said it herself: we're not going to be bothered by them, nor by anyone else either by the sounds of it,' he said, shifting to lean on his elbow.

She faced him. 'So…I can still become a vampire?'

'I promised you eternity, and that's what I'm going to give you.'

'And what if I lose my powers?'

He smiled. 'You'll still be my beautiful, fierce wife.'

She saw the fire in his eyes, the love the burned within them. Her mind was made up.

'Then I can't wait for forever.'

She pulled him into her arms, hands weaving through his hair as he claimed her lips. He growled as she arched against him, her blood heating as his lips danced over her pulse, his instincts flaring when his fangs grazed over her skin.

'Are you sure? Because once this starts, there's no going back.'

She felt the pressure of the tips against her skin, but there was no fear, no reservations as she said, 'I'm yours.'

She felt the pierce of his fangs, the familiar warmth that the first pull of his lips brought to her body. Even as she weakened, her heart reduced to a dull thud, there was no fear. They had talked about this moment, prepared for it, and she trusted him with all of her being.

As her eyes grew too heavy to hold open, she heard the deep lull of his voice, vaguely felt his skin on her lips as he pressed his neck to her. Instinct told her to drink, her tongue and lips working even as she began to lose consciousness, the darkness engulfing her.

When she woke, she felt cold, but no gooseflesh broke her skin. She didn't shiver, even though the shirt she wore was damp. She tried to open her eyes but only darkness met her gaze. Still she knew that she was safe. Eric's arms encircled her, her legs entwined with his. She tried to move but weight pressed down on her, and though her lungs did not ache for breath, panic overrode her senses.

I'm buried alive.

The earth above them shifted with explosive force, a crater left around them in the wake of the force she unleashed.

'Sarah!' Eric tightened his arms around her, 'Sarah calm down. You're okay.'

'We were buried,' she yelled, wiping dirt from her eye, 'I–I panicked.'

'I guess that answers that question,' Eric said as he bundled her in his arms, launching them out of the hole she had left in the middle of the back yard. He turned, both of them staring at the six foot deep, six foot wide pit that had been blown into existence.

'What question?'

A smile crossed his lips as a freight train of realisation crashed over her, her eyes widening as she reached for her wrist.

No pulse.

He was laughing as she touched her lips, poking the fangs that grazed them as a gasp escaped her. 'It worked.'

He nodded, placing her on her feet. She darted around the crater, a surprised yell bursting from her at the speed.

'I'm a vampire,' she said, poking her fangs again before she looked down at her arms, gazing in wonder at the markings that she still wore on her skin, 'but I still have my powers.'

Eric rushed to her, but the speed that had once astounded her seemed normal as he scooped her into his arms.

'I'm glad I married you,' he said as he carried her inside, placing a kiss on her forehead, 'I'd much rather have you as my wife than my enemy.'

'Well,' she said, nuzzling into his chest as he moved through their home, knowing that the love that swelled within her would only grow stronger with the centuries that she hoped would come, 'as long as you do your share of the housework, I'm sure we'll make it through this marriage without any burning problems.'

Together they laughed as they tumbled onto the bed, knowing that the eternity they had promised each other had only just begun.

Til death do us part, she thought, however far away that might be.

THE END

Beloved readers,

I am sad to say that this really is the final chapter of my True Blood fanfiction of 3 parts: In The Blood, Bond of Blood and Eternity of Blood. It has been a long road, with ups and downs. It was the support of those of you who stayed to the very end that gave me the courage to make it this far.

I hope you'll look out for future works, True Blood based or otherwise.

Thanks for reading!

~ Ryuk In Person ~