The riders waited in the great hall on Firewind as Zyrah, Rurik, and Konall returned to the Trygstad household to relay the whole trip and do the best they could to cover the trip without giving away too many details. The sun had begun setting, so the riders were settled in to have a quick dinner together before turning in for the night.
Ana was nervous on Zyrah's behalf. While she knew Zyrah's parents were good people with kind hearts, that didn't mean they wouldn't show anger when Zyrah confessed what really went down. If she would entertain all the details...
"Relax, Ana. She's got Rurik and Konall. I'm sure they're helping her explain everything." Snotlout assured.
"Surprising words coming from you."
Ar0und the firepit in the Trygstad household, Zyrah had anxiously started pacing as she attempted to articulate her journey to not just her parents but her brothers and their wives as well. Rurik and Konall stayed behind her, only stepping in if she asked them to.
Eðla was understandably horrified as Zyrah revealed what Einar and Ragnhild had intended on doing with not just her but Blueheart as well.
"How could we have been so blind?" She exclaimed in outrage. She did feel relief when Zyrah assured her they didn't actually harm her, not physically, at least.
"They were damn good liars, that's for sure," Olsen mumbled, eyebrows furrowed together.
"Well... ironically enough, they told me that lying and manipulation was how they were able to succeed in the army in the first place." Zyrah explained, "That's how they got away with so much. Including essentially kidnapping me."
"So... what happened to them? Where are they?" Alvar inquired. He noticed their absence, not that he missed them.
"They're uh... gone," Zyrah admitted with hesitation, unsure if she ought to explain how or why.
"What? They're gone? Like... dead?" Dalla gasped. With pursed lips, Zyrah confirmed her suspicion.
"Odin's beard..." Murmured Ingrid, cradling her newborn daughter, who'd arrived shortly after Zyrah's departure with Einar and Ragnhild.
"Dare I ask how?" Halvar finally asked. He'd been quiet most of the time, just taking in his daughter's story, processing the shock of it all.
"Uh... well..."
"He was an idiot, tried to take a Night Fury in a fight, and lost." Rurik interrupted, stepping in. While Einar deserved his true fate, Zyrah couldn't bring herself to admit she was the reason why he suffered before his death.
"Oh, well, then there goes any sympathy," Eindride remarked.
"Eindride." Eðla glared at her third son, but he ignored it.
"And... what of Ragnhild? I heard she was a sweet woman." Ingrid inquired. It was at Ragnhild's mere mention that Zyrah began to falter, unsure if she would be able to continue.
"She... chose her own ending..." Zyrah uttered, slumping down on a chair. Eðla straightened up in alarm at the words.
"What?" Zyrah wanted to explain, but her chest felt tight as she valiantly attempted to fight back tears, not wanting to cry in front of her family. But it was futile, as tears fought their way out, slipping down her cheeks.
"Ragnhild... felt trapped in the world of dragon hunting. By Einar especially." Konall explained, stepping up by Zyrah's side to comfort her, "Ragnhild told Zyrah that Einar... took her from her home when she was no older than Zyrah. And... after Einar lost his battle, she felt alone and chose a quick way out." It was a difficult situation, not just in general, but to explain as well.
After he finished, Zyrah pulled out the talisman, revealing it to her family.
"This... is all I have left. My only connection to her. To a heritage I didn't even get to know..." Eðla and Halvar rushed to their daughter's side, taking her in their arms, silently comforting her.
"H-how... how do you... grieve someone... you barely... k-know?" Zyrah choked out.
"It's okay, Zyrah. You lost a family member... you still hold a connection you didn't even know you had with them." Halvar assured, rubbing her head tenderly.
"And... think of it this way... without them... you wouldn't have become part of this family. You wouldn't have Blueheart or met your incredible friends. They were a part of you, even if you didn't realize it."
While Zyrah understood what they were saying, it still somehow felt wrong of her to grieve the people that didn't even raise her.
"Hey... I miss my grandmother sometimes. She was a mean old woman with no gratitude for life of any sort... but there were some good memories I shared with her." Eðla said.
"Feelings are complicated."
"I mean... Alvar and I still grieve the baby we lost before Auðr was born." Ingrid offered, "It was a life we barely got to know... but we still miss them from time to time."
"It's normal to grieve, no matter how long you knew someone." Halvar reminded.
"Even if they weren't a good person?" Zyrah countered.
"Yes. Even then. I know that may not sound good, but you have to feel your feelings either way. Keeping them inside is not good; you'll only hurt more that way." Eðla explained, "It's going to be hard sometimes... but it's okay to experience that. The gods have funny ways of testing us."
In a way, Zyrah did feel better. Her heart felt funny, not in a bad way... but in a way of reminding herself that while everything still felt very raw, in time, she would feel better and that life would turn out okay for her.
With a tiny smile, she gazed up at her mother, gray-blue eyes lovingly watching her. Eðla mirrored the expression, remembering fondly when Zyrah first smiled at her as a baby. It felt so rewarding then, and that same smile still felt that way 16 years later.
After the family meeting was adjourned, Olsen and Alvar returned home, wives by their side. Eindride made his way to his room, and Konall bid Zyrah goodnight with a tender kiss on the cheek.
"Hey, I'll come over tomorrow to check on you, okay?" He said with an adoring smile, to which Zyrah returned it.
"Okay... goodnight... I love you..." She whispered, resting her head in the crook of his neck. His eyes flew wide open as he processed her confession. She said 'I love you', first! By Freyja... his heart pounded in delight having heard her say it.
"I love you more..." He whispered back, giving her a peck on the nose and finally heading home.
Closing the door behind him, Zyrah longingly turned around, pressing herself against the door with a small smile.
"Well, about time on that!" Rurik remarked with a laugh, breaking his sister from her daze.
"I'm proud of you, sweetheart," Eðla comforted, bringing her daughter in for another hug, running her fingers through Zyrah's black hair.
"For what?"
"For being you. Facing a challenge and making a difficult decision. You did what you believed was right. And, of course, finally getting with Konall."
"You're proud of me for getting with Konall?" Zyrah replied in astonishment, to which Eðla just chuckled.
"We all knew, Zyrah." Halvar explained, "You two have been pining for each other for years now. And I'm sure your brother was well aware." He teased.
"Ugh, I came this close to bullying Konall to ask you out!" Rurik said, holding his index finger and thumb together near each other. Zyrah just rolled her eyes.
"Gee, thanks for the support."
"Hey, one thing I know for sure, Konall is never leaving your side." He assured with a raised eyebrow and a wink.
"Whatever. I'm gonna go to bed..." She replied, undoing her braid, "Goodnight, you all... I love you."
"We love you more. Goodnight."
YOU ARE READING
Left In The Night
Fanfiction(REVISED) Even with Drago gone, the aftermath of his reign opens old wounds. Leaving Zyrah, the unwanted child of two of Drago's former hunters, to uncover her history. And her beloved female Night Fury brings Toothless to his roots. A/N: This fic...
