Page 22 of Rings and Wings and Stardust Things

Before the tension could escalate further, the grand doors of the entry hall swung open with a loud creak. Helko and Sharlar strode in, their presence immediately commanding attention.

“What did we miss?” Helko asked, his beak twitching in what I guessed was amusement. His feathers were slightly ruffled, but his eyes shone with a determined gleam.

Sharlar, standing beside him, glanced around at the stunned faces. “Oh, just a bit of family drama?”

“Where have you two been?” Bhelenia demanded, her wings fluttering with barely contained fury.

Helko and Sharlar exchanged a look before Helko stepped forward. “After the scavenger hunt last night, we decided we worked well together. And we're tired of letting other people decide our future.” he announced, his tone firm yet calm. “So we decided to elope.”

A collective gasp echoed through the room. Alget’s feathers puffed up even more, if that was possible. “You what?”

Sharlar nodded, her blue eyes unwavering. “We got married this afternoon,” she said, her voice steady despite the shocked murmurs. “But we won’t let our marriage be just a business arrangement.”

Varie looked between her son and new daughter-in-law, her expression softening slightly. “You’re saying you married for love?”

“Love and friendship,” Helko corrected. He took Sharlar’s hand in his winged grasp. “We realized we want to build something real together.”

Alget’s beak clicked in frustration. “This is highly irregular. There are traditions.”

“It’s not about tradition,” Sharlar countered, her feathers bristling slightly. “It’s about what feels right for us.” She looked at Bhelenia, her gaze softening. “Mother, I think it’s what Father would have wanted.”

Bhelenia’s stern expression wavered for a moment. Her dark blue eyes searched Sharlar’s face as if trying to find something long lost.

Varie stepped forward, her wings slightly open in a gesture of peace. “Once upon a time, we were all friends,” she said softly, her gaze encompassing everyone in the room.

Alget’s feathers slowly settled back into place as he absorbed Varie’s words. He glanced at Bhelenia, who seemed momentarily lost in thought.

“Maybe it’s time to let go of old grudges,” Varie continued gently. “For the sake of our children and their future.”

Ryon squeezed my hand reassuringly as we watched the scene unfold. His warmth grounded me amidst the whirlwind of emotions.

Bhelenia finally sighed, her wings drooping slightly as if weighed down by years of unresolved tension. She looked at Sharlar with a mixture of sorrow and resolve. “Perhaps you’re right,” she admitted quietly.

Helko stepped closer to his new mother-in-law, his bow as correct as always. “We want to honor both our families by building something better.”

Ryon pulled me closer again, his wing draped protectively around my shoulders. Despite everything that had happened, I felt an overwhelming sense of hope blooming in my chest.

Sharlar glanced at me and gave a small nod before turning back to address everyone present. “If we are to move forward,” she said softly but firmly, “it must be together.”

Varie stepped forward first, her wings extending as she enveloped both Helko and Sharlar in an embrace filled with warmth and acceptance.

Bhelenia hesitated for just a moment before following suit, her own wings joining Varie's in an embrace that spoke volumes about forgiveness and new beginnings.

I watched in awe as Varie and Bhelenia embraced their children, the tension in the room slowly dissipating. It was a powerful moment, one that spoke volumes about the healing power of forgiveness and the strength of familial bonds.

Alget, however, seemed unmoved by the emotional display. His feathers remained ruffled, and his beak clicked with agitation. “This is highly irregular,” he grumbled, his wings twitching. “There are traditions to uphold, and we have guests arriving in a week for the ceremony.”

Sharlar turned to face her father-in-law, her gaze steady and resolute. “Then let them come,” she said, her voice carrying a newfound confidence. “But not for Helko's and my wedding.” She glanced at me, and a mischievous glint sparkled in her bright blue eyes.

My heart skipped a beat as realization dawned on me. Surely, she couldn't be suggesting?—

“They can come for Savannah and Ryon's ceremony instead,” Sharlar declared, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of her beak.

A collective gasp rippled through the room, and my breath caught in my throat. I stared at Sharlar, utterly stunned by her words.

Change the wedding? For Ryon and me? The idea was so sudden, so unexpected, that I could scarcely process it.

Ryon's grip on my hand tightened, and I turned to look at him, searching his face for any indication of how he felt about this surprising turn of events. His eyes were wide, his feathers slightly ruffled, but there was a warmth in his gaze that spoke volumes.

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