Chapter 7-Flashback 2- Happiness Begins with a Glance

How Sihtric and Rhaenyra meet.

Timeline for Sihtric

Meet Uhtred-16 years old

Meet Nyra-18 years old

Marry Nyra- 20 years old

Story begin- 24 years old

Royals arrival- 35 years old

Sihtric POV

It hadn't been that long since his Lord had been freed from slavery when he rejoined him in Winchester and met Finan for the first time. Finan was a jolly sort of Irishman who loved ale and women and, upon meeting Sihtric, decided that he needed to make him the same.

That is how he wound up in the alehouse. Now, while he wasn't a virgin, he was also not very experienced as he'd grown up as largely a slave for his father and, as such, wasn't allowed to touch many women. After abandoning his father and joining Lord Uhtred, he'd bedded a couple whores but again, he also didn't have much coin he was willing to spend.

Now, as he sat in the semi lit room watching Finan flirt with multiple women, he wondered how he'd actually approach any of them or if perhaps he should just leave and seek out his bed. Before he could make up his mind, however, he saw a girl who looked like one of the Christian angels he remembered his mother speaking of years before, back when he was a child. Her silver hair sparkled in the low light and, when she turned to face his direction, he saw that she had the most mystifying eye color he'd ever seen as they were a purple of a shade he had never known.

Somehow, the girl seemed to realize that he couldn't take his eyes off of her as she wandered up to him with her hips swaying softly.

Nyra POV

She had been working at the Alehouse in Winchester for exactly two years that night and had just finished up with her 20th customer of the day and twice her daily quota. Some, due to her unique coloring, feared her as a witch and avoided her while it drove others to desire her more as they wanted to partake of her "powers".

If you were to ask her if she missed home, she would say she missed her mother, uncle, dragon and the soothing presence of Ser Harold Westerling, her sworn shield from childhood. As for her father, not so much. He'd never truly valued her and largely only wanted her around to serve his council and to entertain his court. Otherwise, he never really had time for her. Honestly, her boss treated her with more respect and care than her Lord Father ever had and he did seem more willing to listen to her. In many ways, he had become a father to her as he genuinely wanted what was best for her. He had even told her that he hoped she would one day find a nice young man who would marry her and take her away.

As she wandered into the main room of the alehouse, she felt eyes on her and she turned to see a young Dane staring at her in a way that was unlike all the others. In some ways it was also reminiscent of the way her Uncle used to, but in a less familiar fashion. So she decided to approach him.

"Hello," she said gently, touching his muscular forearm, "I'm Nyra."

"Are you an angel?" He blurted in response.

She laughed and responded, "I do not know what that is. I am, however, a daughter of the lost Valyrian civilization and am of the blood of the ancient Dragon Lords that came from there. I was born of the only house of Dragon Lords to have survived the Doom of our people and am now, forever, an exile, even from our adopted homeland."

"I am sorry," he replied as he reached out to touch her cheek reverently. "I am Sihtric. My mother was a Saxon slave to my Danish warlord father, Kjartan the Cruel. I escaped him and now serve a good Lord, Lord Uhtred and have for two years."

She then gasped, "Two years! I have been here for two years. It's been just a bit longer than that since my own Lord Father banished me from Westeros after he chose to believe a lie rather than me."

"How could your own father banish one so precious as you?" he asked.

"I was assaulted by men loyal to his precious Hand and his second wife, my former maid. They then claimed I had seduced them to try to spoil the wedding. Apparently the truth means nothing since I am spoiled goods now," she said with tears in her eyes.

Sihtric gently wiped them away. "You aren't spoiled goods," and then kissed her.

Soon, she took him by the hand and led him to her bed where he took her in the most tender way she'd ever been had.

After that night, she didn't expect to ever see him again but he would seek her out whenever he was in Winchester. Yes, they did often end up in bed but they would also take long walks through the city and surrounding countryside.

Within a year, she knew she had fallen for him and her boss told that he knew the lad was sweet on her. She could only hope. When she first told him that she loved him, he responded in kind and he told her that, as soon as Lord Uhtred granted his permission, he wished to have her as his wife. This made her eyes fill with tears of joy. The ruined princess whom "no one could ever love" was loved, wanted and desired by a good man.

Then came the day when Lord Uhtred sought her out. He asked her about herself and she told him of who she had been born, a princess and the only surviving child of the King of Westeros and the first wife he'd gut for a son who barely lived. She spoke of how she'd been elevated to heir just before he'd marry her maid, the daughter of a second son with no advantage to their house and within only months of her mother's butcher. Then she continued with the crime she was subject to, the evidence she gathered, her father's reaction and her banishment. Lord Uhtred was filled with rage over the events and then quickly agreed to allow her to wed Sihtric as it would put her under his protection in case Lord Otto, any of his henchmen or her father would ever find her and try anything.

The pair married a week later, much to their great joy and by the way of his Gods, her Gods and the Christian God. With her consent, Lord Uhtred would inform his wife, Hild, Father Beocca, Reaper, Finan and Clapa of what had happened to her and how they were to be wary of any coming from Westeros, a fact he also told his watchmen.