The Death of a Dragon
Sihtric and Nyra wed. Nyra dreams of her dragon. Syrax tells her that, due to Nyra's mistreatment by her father and Sihtric's love, Sihtric, Nyra and their line will be protected from fire.
Nyra could hardly believe her good fortune. After her mother's brutal death, her brother's death, her Uncle's last banishment, her "best friend's' ' betrayal, her father's betrayal, being brutally violated, losing everything and having to whore just to survive, things were at last looking up. She was to be a bride.
Oh, her sweet young Dane who loved her so much despite everything, well, he was her world and soon, she would belong to him. When he told her he had found a Valyrian priest to marry them in the traditions of her ancestors, she was overwhelmed. He wanted her to have her dream wedding of blood and fire. Yes, they were first to wed by Father Beocca in Christian tradition to make it fully legal in Wessex and then again by Sihtric's Gods but that was fine. She'd rather be overmarried to him and joined to him in as many ways as possible so that it could never be undone. Knowing that her wonderful man was willing to let her cut his lip, slice open his palm and then drink wine infused with their combined blood just showed her how devoted he really was, especially since she hadn't even asked it of him. He had asked her if she wished to marry in Valyrian style as well, as he knew of a priest visiting Winchester who was willing to perform the rights for them. She had then asked if he understood what all would happen and he explained that the priest had told him and that he actually liked the idea of being bound to her for eternity. That way not even death or their different Gods could part them.
So they met with Father Beocca, Abbess Hild, Lady Gisela, Lord Uhtred, Finan, Clapa, Reapa and the Valyrian priest at the church. Father Beocca then married them in the Christian way and immediately followed it by the Pagan way.
The group then headed to the site that the Valyrian Priest had set up. He lit the traditional 14 fires and filled the goblet half way with wine while setting the dragonglass blade in the flames. Then he explained the right to the witnesses and that he would be speaking in Valyrian. He also showed Sihtric how to draw the rune on Nyra's forehead with the blood from her lip. After that, he began his chanting. When the blade was presented to Sihtric to cut Nyra's lip, he hesitated for a moment, before cautiously bringing the blade to her lip. Not realizing just how sharp dragonglass is, it sliced very easily and quickly blood was welling up and Sihtric was able to use it to draw the rune. Then he passed the blade to Nyra who repeated the steps though with less hesitation. After that, the priest took the goblet of wine and passed it through all 14 fires before holding it between the couple, all the while speaking and chanting. Sihtric understood the message and swiftly took the dagger and sliced his left palm over the goblet and let his blood flow down into it before passing the blade to his bride. She, once again, repeated the act before they gripped hands over the goblet where the priest then bound their hands together. Once again, the priest passed the goblet through the 14 fires before passing it to Nyra to drink. After she gulped down some bloodied wine, she passed it to Sihtric who also drank some before handing it back to the priest. The remains were then distributed among the 14 fires. Lastly, it was time for them to kiss. Yes, the kiss did sting some from the cuts but both were too overjoyed at being wed to care about a little pain.
Soon they were back within the city walls with their palms bandaged as the group went out to celebrate the union.
Later, after a couple hours with the group, the newlyweds retired to bed for the final thing to ensure their marriage was entirely secure and consummated it, many times over. After they finally were worn out and all of the emotion from the day finally left them drained, they fell asleep in each other's arms, fully satiated and overjoyed.
As she dreamed, for the first time since she was forced away from her dragon, Syrax, she dreamed of her dear companinon. However, she was a bit different as she was able to actually communicate much better and was able to give her beloved rider critical information.
The first thing Syrax passed onto Nyra is that she, Syrax, had passed from the living world into Baeleron's domain after having been sealed for the last four years into the deepest cave within the Dragon Pit, chained and left without food or water. This caused the new bride great pain as she had missed her dragon and the feeling of freedom she gained while flying. However, it did comfort her that at least now her dragon was free.
Second, Syrax revealed that the Gods had looked into Sihtric's heart and had found him worthy of a gift from them. They knew he was loyal, kind and loved her dearly and had been greatly impressed that he had chosen to marry her by them as well. The Valyrian Gods had ended Syrax's suffering to grant Nyra, Sihtric and all of her line who stayed loyal to their family the gift of being unburnt. Neither the couple nor their children, so long as they didn't pull a Viserys would ever again fear fire until long after the next long night was a distant memory.
Last, Syrax revealed that the Gods had turned their back on Viserys just like he had turned his back on his blood. She would never have a sibling. Also, they had cursed the womb of Alicent so that she would know some of Aemma's pain but would never see a pregnancy go beyond the fifth month nor a child draw breath regardless of who sired it. Alicent would never be a mother.
Just before Nyra awoke to her new husband's kisses, Syrx promised that Nyra's womb would be very fruitful of children who'd live to adulthood all of whom would be sired by Sihtric, Nyra would see old age alongside her love and that she, Syrax, would always be looking out for Nyra from the Great Beyond. Someday, they would once again fly together and they would take Sihtric with them.