Sera sighed, squeezing Elaya's hand as they stepped out of the the tent, "We do my love. It's for Tatia's health. That's what matters."
The goodbyes were heartfelt. Everyone took turns hugging Lairia, then Tatia, then Rythert, and making sure Ebony and Rhaegal got scratches too.
"Next time you see them they'll be huge," Lairia smiled at Elaya, sounding sad, "I will see you soon friend."
She looked to Rythert then and nodded, taking one of their hands while her other rose, her voice loud and clear as she spoke in a long dead language. Before her the thin air ripped apart, swirling within itself as a portal erupted.
"Focus on where we are going," she told Rythert, knowing they knew the place, "Tatia don't let go of them or Ebony till we are through."
Lairia let go of Rythert's hand to grip Ebony's scruff, making sure she would not lose them. With the final goodbyes they all stepped in...and were gone.
"It's time for us now," Sera murmured to Elaya, holding her close, "Let's go home."
~
Arya had pulled Narxis to the side as everyone else was packing, off to where they were alone and unheard. Then she held her hand up with the ring, wiggling it in his face.
"You just had to surprise me with this gorgeous little gem," she grinned, pulling her hand down a bit, "Knowing I could never say no to such a handsome face. So yes, my prince. I will be yours. But I am no princess. Frills and girly colors aren't for me."
She winked, holding her head up high, "I'm your queen baby."
~
The road north was a long but beautiful one. As the landscape got colder, the nights seem to get brighter, and the sunrises and sets were always gorgeous, having it take them two days now of travel, going on foot. After saying goodbye to Lairia, Tatia, Rythert, Rhaegal and Ebony, they made them promise to visit as soon as they were settled, and of course to come to the wedding, which Sera was hoping would come sooner than later, having many plans in her mind but wanting to get North first.
So along with the court, Elaya, Sera, Gerry, Amitiel, Narxis, and Arya all ventured North. It was a little surprising for even Sera that Arya agreed to follow along without complaint, but something had changed in the death hound, making her far more trusting and loyal to Narxis, and neither the demon nor the death hound had truly explained what had happened that day Arya had disappeared.
As they got closer to the border of the Metuzi territory the air was already rather cold, and she could see snow in the distance, although their path was still speckled with green and yellow grass. Pulling the fur coat closer around her body, Sera never thought she’d actually be struggling to stay warm. But with the colder weather her only choices were turning to flame or the fur coat. And as she was still terrified to do the former choice, fearing her baby’s life, she chose the warmer clothing. The fur was actually from a fox, to her relief – if it had been wolf’s fur she would have been mortified. She could also turn into her bird form, after much arguing on her and Elaya’s part the day they left camp -if she didn’t shift once in a while it would hurt Sera – and when she had tried she had found it safe, fortunately, to transform to her bird form.
“I’m going to take to the skies for a bit,” she stated to Elaya, one hand clasping her mate’s, the other buried within the coat as she stared up at the evening sky, wanting to feel the wind and warm her bones with her own heat, “You know how to call me if you need me love.”
Kissing Elaya she shrugged off the fur coat and handed it to her before branching off from the group so that she could shift. A few were’s paused to watch, and she didn’t mind, knowing for them it was a unique, maybe even once in a lifetime chance to see a Phoenix sprout their wings. This was only her second time doing it as well since they had left camp. The first had been alone with Elaya, away from all eyes. Now she felt the shift and her flesh fell away to flaming feathers, a shrill cry escaping her throat as she flexed her wings and dug her feet into the ground, scorching the grass.
“Damn,” Arya breathed, having never seen the sight before herself.
Sera shook herself then chirped and hoped towards Elaya, now twice the height of her lover, looking like an enormous hawk on fire. I love you, is what Sera wanted to say but she knew Elaya would understand, as she pressed her beak to Elaya’s hand, no longer afraid to burn her.
Then she took to the skies. Her wings pumped and she quickly flew higher, soaring and circling the group below, enjoying the winds as her body warmed. She had needed this. Truly needed this. As she flew and soared above them, she noticed the front of the procession was halting, and there seemed to be people in the way, although from here she couldn’t make out who. Her group and Elaya’s parents were actually in the middle of the procession, surrounded by the court. They would not have noticed the halt yet, too far back. Sera changed that as she let out a cry of warning and dipped down, diving closer. Her group would recognize the call, having been around her long enough. She had used it often when scouting. Her cry meant something was approaching. As she dived lower she pulled up only feet from the were’s shooting over their heads as a few ducked and others gasped. Now all the were’s were halting, the whole procession coming to a stop for whatever reason. Sera had to know.
As she got closer to the front she let out another warning cry, calling back to Elaya to make sure her mate would meet her at the front. She wouldn’t be surprised if Elaya was already there, always the fastest one. As she did another cry came out, this one above her. She pulled up in surprise, her massive wings pumping hard to keep her midair as sparks flew out of them and she could see another fire bird diving from the sky, the dark plumage familiar.
“Jeziah!” she called out in their language as he neared. But he didn’t pull up to greet her in the sky. He plummeted down, only pulling up in the last second as he bursted into flames and then flesh, directly beside Elaya, feet from the front of the procession. More gasps could be heard, having never seen such a thing. Sera did a back flip in the air and righted herself, landing on Elaya’s other side with much less of a show and turning straight to flesh, skipping the fire show Jeziah had given them.
“Jeziah what are you – Mom? Dad?!” Sera’s eyes popped open, recognizing the two red haired beings standing in the path’ way, both their arms crossed. The man looked just like Jeziah, tall and thin, with copper hair like his son, and faded freckles on his nose. He looked no more than Jeziah’s age though, maybe a few years older, but the wisdom in his blue eyes gave away his age. His lips were thin and frowning, his jaw strong like Jeziah’s, but wider. The woman had a much similar appearance, looking even closer to Jeziah’s age, with wise old green eyes and thin lips that were pursed. Her hair was closer to auburn, and she was easily a foot shorter than her partner. With both of them standing there the resemblance to Jeziah was remarkable, and the lack of resemblance to Seraphina was easily seen. No one would comment on it though, as the only one who could truly notice was Elaya. The other were’s didn’t know Sera well enough, and her group would find similarities in Sera’s height with her mothers, ignoring the fact Sera’s hair was a fiery red compared to their lighter ones, and her eyes were a chocolate brown.
“You can’t do this!” Jeziah snapped without warning, pointing a finger at them, “You’re being unreasonable and-“
“Enough Jeziah,” their father snapped and Jeziah actually flinched back, but stood his ground.
“What is going on?” Sera stepped forward but held out a hand for Elaya to stay back.
“They got your invitation,” Jeziah growled, stepping up beside Sera, “And they are hear to address it. I’m here to stop them.”
Sera’s heart seized and her stomach knotted. This didn’t sound good. She looked back and motioned for those were’s closest to back down a bit, creating space so that it was just the group and Sera’s family, not to mention Elaya’s parents.
“Mom…dad…not here,” Sera begged, her voice soft, “Can we do this elsewhere? Or never?”
Her mother snorted and looked to Seraphina, “No we are doing this now Seraphina, before you throw your life away.”
Sera flinched, not just from her mother’s tone, but from her words.
“She’s choosing love,” Jeziah snapped in her defense, ignoring his father’s glare, “She’s found someone to make her happy. As her parents, doesn’t she deserve that much?”
“This doesn’t concern you Jeziah,” their father snapped, “She is breaking our customs and traditions. We are here to put a stop from it before she ruins her life.”
“I’m not ruining anything!” Sera replied, actually hurt her parents would make this so public, “I love Elaya-”
Her mother made a face and it made Jeziah growl and Sera feel her mood switch to rage as her parents disrespected her fiancé in front of her people.
“-and I will marry her.”
“Phoenix’s are to marry other Phoenix’s,” her mother replied, looking disgusted in her daughter, “All we want for you is to find a nice male Phoenix and carry on our kind. There is only ten of us left Seraphina, and you are risking our extinction for your play time with the stray mutt.”
Jeziah hair burst into flames as his knuckles cracked and Sera pushed Elaya behind her, her own hair flickering to life, “How dare you?! That’s my fiancé!”
“You don’t even know Elaya!” Jeziah chimed in, “If anyone is perfect for my sister and YOUR daughter its her! She’s risked everything time and time again for Sera!”
“I know what I see, and what I see is my daughter’ misguided affections for a loyal lapdog, nothing else,” their mother responded coldly. There had perhaps been a time they had truly been nice people, but Sera knew it would have been long ago. Immortality and their purposeful exclusion from the world had made them old, cruel, and bitter. Neither Sera nor Jeziah had visited them in decades, knowing all they would get is harsh words and negativity. Seraphina hadn’t even planned to invite her parents, but Daniel must have put their names on the list without knowing the kind of people they were.
“You are coming with us and forgetting this nonsense once and for all,” her father ordered, looking only at Seraphina.
“And if I don’t,” she challenged, flames licking her knuckles as rage boiled off of her.
“Then we will disown you,” he stated plainly, his face so calm it was as if they were speaking about the weather now. His words hit Sera like a train. Why couldn’t they understand? Why couldn’t they just love her for her, like Jeziah did?
“You’d disown me for finding love?” she demanded, unbelieving, “For wanting happiness? You aren’t even giving me a chance to show you! We love each other! I am going to marry her, and live with her. We are going to raise our kids-“
“You cannot have kids with a were daughter,” her mother cut in, “No Phoenix has-“
“Well I have!” she snapped, and Jeziah’s head swung to look at her, incredulously, “I’m pregnant mom and dad! Elaya and I are going to have a child!”
Jeziah looked at them stunned for all of three seconds before he turned and scooped Elaya up into a hug, then pulling back, whooping and cheering, forgetting his parents, “Congratulations my dear sisters. I’m going to be an Uncle! Oh you’ll make the best of parents!”
“You are not serious Jeziah?!” their mother snapped, “This is an abomination…this is-“
“Shut your mouth mother,” Jeziah cut her off, turning an icy glare at his mother who looked shocked, “This is a miracle come true and you will not ruin this for them. Leave. You will not hurt Seraphina with your words.”
“Then she is not our daughter anymore,” their father warned and Sera’s heart felt as if it broke, her body shaking as her flame went out and she grasped Elaya’s hand for support.
“Daddy…” she whispered, wanting to beg them to reconsider, the anger leaving her as fear that her parents truly hated her set in.
“Don’t waste your breath Sera, they won’t listen to reason,” Jeziah exclaimed then stomped closer to his parents, “Fine, disown her. I’m sure the family she is marrying into is ten times better than you are. And while you disown her, disown me too. You no longer have children. You don’t deserve them.”
Jeziah turned his back on them and he didn’t need to look to see they took to their bird forms and soared away. When he could no longer feel their heat he pulled Sera into a tight hug, who was already holding back her sobs, trying to look strong in front of the Metuzi. Letting Sera go, he moved to Elaya and hugged her tightly too, whispering in her ear.
“She needs you more than ever right now,” he whispered, “I am sorry your clan had to see our family argument. My parents cannot understand the beauty in the love you and Sera share.”
He moved away from Elaya to introduce and distract the King and Queen, giving them sweeping bows. As he did, Sera shuffled off to the side, away from everyone so no one could hear her heart breaking, or the sobs forming on her lips. For once she wished she could cry, just to release the pain inside of her from the rejection and humiliation her parents had served her.