#in which we celebrate winter in katolis

[blutopaz15]

drawn to you

chapter 6/8, 1.9k, rated T

All Callum really wants to do is draw.

And, at first, it’s like he can draw anything but her.

//

Callum wonders about Rayla while she’s gone, told through drabbles of Callum drawing Rayla over the course of the two years they’re apart.

chapter 6: seventeen months

December is a busy month, and Callum can’t say he’s surprised.

Read on AO3

[beautifulterriblequeen]

Do you think we're gonna see Runaan grieving the other assassins once he's out of the coin? He and Calisto seemed like good friends and according to your headcanon he and Adromeda were siblings. And in typical Runaan fashion he probably still hasn't processed yet what happened that night. Unless he did it in the coin.

I didn’t need my heart tonight, anon, no worries. :’c 

Discussion of PTSD under the cut.

I think he will mourn them, in his way, whatever way that is. He has a lot to be sad over, so he may do all his mourning at once and just let it out without differentiating one tear from another. But he might also funnel his sorrow into negative things like distancing himself, or rage, a thirst for revenge, even depression and self-blame. And he might do all of these things at once. Even Runaan, with all his emotional barriers and his meditation, can’t control his emotions perfectly. 

He knows it, too, which is why he locked them down in the first place. He has five months of stress lurking under the surface. On top of that, all the mission fiascoes. Then the dungeon and all the mistreatment he suffered there. And then, there’s the coin. My current guess for Coin Time is that there isn’t any, since the coin functions as a metaphor for PTSD. And that’s not counting whatever it was that taught Runaan to put his mission above all else, and any other angst in his past that made him so good at meditating in the first place.

What looks like mourning to us may not be how assassins mourn. From what Lujanne said in TTM, life deserves reverence at its ending as well as its beginning. Runaan’s assassins didn’t get that reverence, so perhaps there’s a ritual he’d like to do for them, into which he can pour all his feelings. More of a celebration of the years that he knew them than sorrow at their loss, maybe. If anyone is truly comfortable with death, it’ll be a Moonshadow assassin. 

But he may be very angry about how they died, how needless it was--not just because of Rayla’s actions, but because of Viren’s actions in the Storm Spire at Winter’s Turn. The S1 novelization’s take is that Xadia would absolutely avenge Zym’s death, but they were far less interested in avenging Avizandum’s. If not for Viren faking Zym’s death, Runaan may never have been sent to Katolis at all, and his team may never have perished there.

He’s got a lot to be angry about, and sad about. I do hope he finds time to mourn, to sit with the broken parts of his life, to recognize his part in them, and to accept that. If you don’t move all the way through the mourning process, it’s harder to become truly free and happy, harder to move forward. And the arcanum of the moon is about change. If he gets stuck in one phase, it could be because he’s not completed all the steps before it. Which could happen, if he pops out of that penny and feels that he urgently needs to deal with some slish slash or vengeance or something before sorting out his entire tree house’s worth of feelings. They will catch up with him, one way or another, if he doesn’t go to them first.

But like I said: the coin is coded as PTSD. And you can’t just kumbaya that away with a quick bit of meditation and a pretty dance. Hopefully, Runaan already possesses the skills he needs to navigate that, and/or he’ll have help and support from people he trusts. Because he deserves to recover, and to mourn his team, and to find himself amid the rubble of the life that fell down around his ears. He deserves to move forward, just like everyone else with PTSD does.

And I do hope that some of that process makes it on-screen. I do hope we get to see that it is a process. Stepping forward, falling back, failure, courage, trying again, wanting to live, because life is precious. It deserves to be mourned when it is lost. And it deserves to heal when it is broken.

[iwillhaveamoonbase]

The Long Game ch. 3

“You called, Dad?” Claudia announced her presence.  Viren turned to her, sighing as he faced away from the mirror he had gotten back in Xadia. He still hadn’t figured out it’s secrets, but he had seen a cloaked figure appear every once in a while.

“Yes, Claudia.  We need to talk about relationships.”

“Oh.”  Claudia blushed, putting a few strands of her dark hair behind her ear.  “Did you hear about the girl at the bakery?  I know it’s unorthodox, but-”

“You don’t have time to be worrying about bakery girls, Claudia.”  Viren sat in his chair, gesturing for Claudia to sit beside him.  “Ever since Rayla got here, Prince Callum’s attention has drifted from you to her.”

“I know.”

“That’s not acceptable.”

Claudia looked down at her hands.  “He’s my friend and I didn’t want to embarrass him, but I never liked him, Dad.  I like girls.”

“I know.  But we’re a different cut above people who work in bakeries.”

“That’s not what Harrow says.”

“Claudia, please.  In order for our families to be closer together, in order for us to keep living a life you’re accustomed to, I need you to make an effort to get Prince Callum’s attention again.”

“Dad…I don’t want to. If he wants to be with Rayla-”

“Soren wants to be with Rayla.  You’ve seen how he makes a fool of himself around this castle when she’s in the room.  Don’t you want your brother to be happy?  It frees Rayla up if Callum’s taken.”

“How would I even do it?” Claudia put her arms around herself. Viren got up, wrapping an arm around his daughter.

“Callum wants to learn magic.  Though both he and Harrow are deeply opposed to dark magic, start teaching him how to use the primal stone.  Private lessons.  Do whatever you can.”

“I don’t know….”

“Claudia, look at me.” She finally did, confusion in her green eyes.  Viren shook his head.  He hated that he was asking his own daughter to sacrifice her happiness, but he had plans. Harrow was growing more and more distant from him.  Killing Thunder and taking the egg hadn’t done their friendship any favors.  If anything, it had deteriorated it.  They argued constantly and Harrow had threatened to send him out of the castle.  Viren couldn’t let that happen.  Harrow was becoming too against dark magic and was starting to doubt everything they had built towards.  What if Xadia attacked and Katolis was defenseless?  Or worse, Harrow tried to make peace and Xadia used it as an excuse to invade the entirety of the Pentarchy?  Viren couldn’t let that happen.  “Please. It’s important that you do this.”

“OK, Dad.  I’ll try my best.”

“Good girl.”

-----------------------------------------------

Rayla watched from the window as the royalty from the other kingdoms came to the castle.  They were coming to celebrate Ezran’s eleventh birthday. “They’re here,” she whispered to Callum and Ezran.  They both looked over at her, interest on their faces.  “Have you really never met any of them?”

“I met the former Queens of Duren when I was four,” Callum started, “but, besides, that, no.  This party for Ez is pretty unorthodox.”  

“Why?  Seems counter-intuitive.  You get a stronger alliance when you all know each other, right?”  Rayla glared at herself in the mirror.  Was that too obvious?  Callum and Ezran were really trusting individuals, but she really could be slipping as she grew comfortable here.

“There’s a concern about influencing the other kingdoms.  There’s a desire to be friendly, but to also be separate and to respect differences.  Duren and Katolis have usually had a reasonably close relationship compared to the others. But when you have a country like Evenere, which is far out compared to everyone else, it can lead to concern about plotting and alliances.”

“Fair, I suppose.”  

“We’re going to get ready for the party.  You coming?” Rayla nodded, keeping her eyes on the window for a moment longer.  This was the other reason she was here; information.  As she followed the princes to their rooms, she noticed just how rushed everyone was.  They were moving about and it felt like the whole castle was being remodeled.  “Good thing I moved out months ago,” Callum said to Ezran.

Rayla raised a brow.  “‘Moved out?’”

“Oh.  You didn’t know?”  Rayla shot him a look of confusion.  “Ezran and I used to share a room.  The day I turned 15, which was right before you got here, I finally got my own room. It’s next to Ezran’s, but I needed space.”

“Why did you two share a room for so long?”

Callum shrugged.  “Maybe because of our mom’s death.  I know I had nightmares and didn’t like being alone and when Ezran needed a room because he outgrew the crib, I offered mine.  I only moved because the king suggested it.”

Ezran sighed.  “Call him ‘Dad,’ Callum.  He liked it when you did that one time.”

“It felt weird,” Callum whispered.

“Because you made it weird. You apologized right after and everyone could tell that you were thinking about it for a long time.  He liked it.  For all the Big Feelings Times we have, the two of you are so hesitant to be open about this.”    

Rayla was quiet as they argued about whether or not Callum should call Harrow ‘dad’.  What was she going to do while the royal families were here? If she mingled too much, it would be obvious that she was trying to get information.  Viren was already suspicious of her.  But if she stuck with Callum and Ezran she would be missing out on an important opportunity.  When they approached their rooms, they saw Soren and Claudia arguing in the hall.  “Can we help you?” Rayla called.

The two turned, smiling at the trio.  Soren cleared his throat.  “Rayla, I was wondering if you would like me to accompany you tonight?  Usually, for these things, people take dates and-”

“Callum already asked and I said ‘yes.’”  Rayla’s eyes widened a bit.  It was the perfect chance.  If Callum was her date, then she could meet the royals and have an excuse to not be too conspicuous.  But, that hadn’t been why she had said that.  She didn’t want to go with Soren.  She looked over at a sputtering Callum.  “Right?”

“Yeah,” he muttered.  “I asked a little bit ago.  Sorry, Soren.”

“Oh,” Claudia interrupted. Rayla’s eyes narrowed.  “That’s a shame, I was hoping you and I could go together, Callum.”

“Really?”  Callum raised a brow.  Rayla looked at her door.  She didn’t want to hear this.  “Why?”

“Well, you and I have known each other for a long time, so…maybe the two of us could start thinking about dating.”

“But…Claudia I saw you in the bakery last week.  You and the helper were very clearly flirting and making-out.”  Claudia flinched.  “I don’t know what’s going on here, but I’m sorry, I’m not interested in you like that anymore.”

Claudia’s jaw dropped for a moment, biting her lip when the shock probably wore off.  “OK.  That’s fair. Ezran, will you be my date?”

Ezran looked down at Bait. “Can Bait come?”

“Of course,” Claudia smiled.

“Sure!”  Claudia, Soren and Ezran moved on, heading to their rooms to get ready.  Callum hung back, still looking at her.

“Rayla?”

“Hmm?”

“I never asked you.”

“I know.”  She said it so matter of factly it probably shocked him if his continued stare was any indication.  “I didn’t want to go with Soren.  I’m sorry I put you on the spot like that, but I didn’t see any other choice.”

“Is that the only reason?”

‘No’ almost escaped her lips.  He needed to stop looking at her like that, like she was something to be admired and adored.  “I trust you. Is that not enough?”  Callum held her gaze for a moment longer, finally nodding. They stood in the hall a bit longer, static crackling in the air between them.  “Besides, you need a good guard.  Who better than me?”

Callum chuckled.  “True.  You can take anyone in the crown guard.”

“Yes, I can.  And don’t you forget it.”  Rayla turned away, entering her room.  She leaned against the door for a few moments, pressing her clenched fist to her heart.  Her heart was beating too fast.  It always did that when he looked at her too long.  ‘Does he see?  Can he see through the illusion?’  She couldn’t tell.  Ever since that first night on the balcony when he said something about her appearance was off, he sometimes looked at her like he could see through to her true form. He never said anything, so Rayla had no way of knowing if she was being paranoid or if he was quietly observing.

That wasn’t it, though. They talked on their balconies almost every night.  Their winter at the Banther Lodge had been cozy and intimate and she had gotten to know him, Ezran and Harrow more.  She liked what she saw.  Liked it too much.  Also….Ezran. Oh, gods, Ezran.  Was she really here to kill Ezran?  The more time she spent with him, the more she realized he was just a child and how wrong all of this was.  The Dragon Prince hadn’t deserved to die, but, would justice be achieved by killing another innocent?  

‘Stop it, Rayla!  You’ve been having too many Big Feelings Times with them.  You are here for a job.  It’s not your responsibility to judge what is justice and what isn’t.’  It wasn’t her job at all.  Rayla pushed away from the door and made her way to the bed.  There was a blue gown on the bed.  The gold embroidery on the skirt was obviously meant to be reminiscent of the uneven towers of Katolis.  She ran a hand down the expensive silk.  ‘Too much…’  Rayla pulled her clothes off and dressed in the gown.  When she looked in the mirror to make sure it sat correctly, she was startled by her reflection.  Human…she looked human.  Would she ever get used to seeing blue eyes, rounded ears and blonde hair staring back at her?

Rayla stepped forward for a moment, hand touching the reflection and the other touching the necklace.  What she wouldn’t give to pull it off and see herself looking back at her.  Lujanne’s warning screamed loud in the back of her mind.  ‘If you take that necklace off, the illusion will break.  If you put it back on, you will not look exactly the same. There is no way of knowing if that difference could be explained away or not.  You can never take it off as long as you are on this side of the border.’

Rayla quickly put the necklace under her dress.  She didn’t need people asking questions.  She did her hair in a loose bun, several chunks framing her face, and her small braid used to wind it all together.  She had never thought about her looks before coming here.  It was a distraction.  There were most important things to do than having perfect hair.  There were a few tubes and jars of, what she assumed, was make-up. “No way.”  Rayla was not going to paint her face with human cosmetics if she wasn’t allowed to wear the dye of her people.  

She put on the low heels Opeli had most likely picked out for her.  The dress covered the heels.  What was the point of wearing them if no one would even see them?  She shook her head; just thankful she hadn’t been given anything with a corset or laces.  She had seen that fashion here in Katolis and it didn’t interest her at all.

She looked in the mirror one more time and walked out the door to the hall.  Callum was waiting for her.  Her eyes widened as she took him.  He was in a red jacket and a fancier version of his black pants.  There was clear padding on his shoulders as well as the same embroidery of the uneven towers.  His eyes scanned her form, slowly taking in every detail.  She both wanted to hide and stand firm in his attention.  “You clean up pretty good,” she finally said.

“You look beautiful.” That wasn’t fair…he couldn’t say things like that.  Not when she was fighting her heart against him.  Her heart was so desperate for her to run into his arms, tell him the truth, and maybe, just maybe, it would all work out.  That wasn’t how things worked, though, was it?

“Thank you.  I’m just hoping I don’t trip on this dress.”  She lifted the skirt a bit to show the shoes. “I’m not used to heels, either.”

“You’re a pretty good dancer, though.”  Rayla smiled. Callum had been tasked with teaching her how to dance since he wasn’t terrible at it.  Rayla had taken to it quickly.  It may not have been the same steps she knew, but Silvergrove was full of dancing.  It was in their keys, their celebrations, their harvest, everything.  

“You need to stop complimenting.  You’re going to make me think you mean it.”

“I do.  You’re amazing, Rayla.”  Callum cleared his throat.  “Shall we go?”  He held his arm out, giving her the crook of his elbow.  “I can’t wait to for you to show me off.”

“I’m showing you off?” Rayla chuckled.

“Of course.  I’m the step-prince of Katolis.  I need to be shown for the whole world to see.  Oh…is the whole world going to see?”

Rayla looped her arm through his.  “No. Just the important people.”

“Same thing.”  Rayla laughed as he stuck his tongue out at her. They waited for Ezran and walked with him to get Claudia and Soren.  The group of five exchanged pleasantries, Soren stumbling on his words as he complimented Rayla.

“The dress really suits you, Rayla.”  Soren bowed a bit.  “You sure you don’t want me to escort you?”

“I’m sure.”  They walked behind Ezran and Claudia, who looked back at them every once in a while.  Rayla didn’t know what game Claudia was playing, but she didn’t like it. It wasn’t acceptable to play with Callum’s heart like she was.  “You got a problem with this?”

“No,” Claudia said too quickly.  “Just wasn’t expecting it.”

“After seeing you give lingering looks to half the girls in the castle, I wasn’t expecting what you asked either.”

Claudia was quiet. Rayla wasn’t sure if she was simply refusing to answer or if she had offended her.  Either way, Rayla couldn’t find it in her heart to care.  They arrived at the hall, waiting for Ezran and Claudia to be announced.  “This is so much,” she whispered.

“I know,” came Callum’s soft reply.  “You can stay by my side all night if you want.”

“Thank you.”  They walked forward when Opeli gestured.

“Introducing Prince Callum and King Harrow’s ward, Ms. Rayla.”  Rayla took in the room.  She saw a lot of figures she had seen from the window.  She could hear whispers flitting to her ears.  

‘She’s stunning.  Look at that face!’

‘I heard a rumor she was gifted with weapons, but she looks so slim.’

‘They look uneven, don’t they?  A rare jewel like that next to the step-prince?’  Rayla’s eyes flitted around the room, trying to find that particular voice.  She saw a young man with a crown on his head dressed in golds and creams.

“Who is that?” she gestured with her chin when she got Callum’s attention.  

He looked over and was quiet as he thought.  “I think Prince Kasef of Neolandia.”

“So no avoiding him?”

“No.  Why?”

Rayla looked back at Kasef. He was staring at her with heat in his eyes.  She had heard rumors that Kasef acted like a child when he didn’t get a toy he wanted. “I don’t trust the way he’s looking at me.”

“How’s he looking at you?”

“Like he wants to eat me. I couldn’t be less interested.”  

“Really?  A lot of girls think he’s attractive from what I’ve heard.”

“I’m not into selfish children disguised as men.  I’d rather kiss Soren, and I’m not into himbos, either.”

“‘Himbos?’”  Rayla winced.  Right, that was a Xadian term.  Hopefully she could play this off.

“Not very bright, but muscular and kind.  Well, he’s kind with Ezran.  I don’t like how he treats you.”

“He’s not so bad,” Callum looked down at his feet.  “He can be a pretty good friend when he wants to be.”

“He calls you the ‘step-prince’.  I’ll believe you when he apologizes for that.”  Callum didn’t push it.  They finally made their way to stand by Harrow and Viren, standing off to the side. Rayla tuned out Harrow’s speech about friendship and forging connections to be a united Pentarachy.  She’d heard Harrow practice it a million times.  Watching everyone’s reactions to it was far more telling.  There seemed to be a good-natured attitude in the air.  Kasef, though, rolled his eyes every so often.  Rayla looked at a young girl with blonde hair in a crown. She stared at Harrow with an intense gaze, but moved her eyes down the line.  When she made it to Rayla, they held eye contact for a few moments.  In those moments, Rayla saw a world of strength and pain. Someone who wasn’t willing to back down and didn’t trust because they were betrayed every time.  “Queen Aanya,” she breathed.

Callum looked where she was, nodding slightly in ascent.  “Yeah.”

Aanya held the gaze. What did she see?  Finally, Aanya broke away first, but Rayla felt like she had given Aanya far more than she had learned herself.  “She’s Ezran’s age.”

“She is.”

Harrow’s booming voice broke through Rayla’s concern.  “Please, enjoy the night.  And, again, thank you for coming to celebrate Ezran’s birthday.”  Rayla stood to Callum’s side as the royals came up and introduced themselves.  She curtseyed and kept her head down as much as good as she listened to everything around her.  

When Kasef got to her, he picked up her hand and placed a kiss on it, a smirk that he probably thought was charming on his face.  “May I have the first dance?”

“Already promised it to Callum.”

“Second?”

“Ezran.”

“Third?”  Kasef’s voice was straining, squeezing her hand.

“Harrow.”  It bothered Rayla how quickly lies left her lips lately, but she felt no guilt for this.

“Fourth?”

“Callum again.”

Callum coughed a bit. “Look, she clearly isn’t interested-”

“Was I talking to you, step-prince?” Kasef hissed.  Callum looked down at his feet.  “Thought so.”

Rayla glared at Kasef, snatching her hand away.  “He’s right, I’m not interested.  Pick someone else to annoy.”          

“Rayla, right?”

“You’re bothering me and you’re asking to make sure you got my name right?”

“I just want to be sure I know the name of the woman I plan on pleasuring tonight.”

“Then you’re talking to the wrong girl.  Not happening tonight, tomorrow, or ever.”

King Ahling sighed.  “Kasef, leave the girl alone.”

Kasef cocked his jaw, but moved on.  Rayla didn’t stare after him, looking straight ahead lest he turn back and think she was encouraging his behavior.  Aanya was next.  They stared at each other for a few moments.  How did this tiny human queen make her feel so small?  Aanya nodded.  “I’m Aanya, Queen of Duren.”

“Rayla, a simple farm girl.”

“Not what I hear.  How does a farm girl get so good with a sword she beats a member of the crown guard or so good with a spear she trains a prince?”

“We watch the military and play a lot.  I’ve got good reflexes, I guess.”

“I see.”  Aanya stared at her for a few more moments.  “Has anyone ever told you that there’s something not quite right?  It’s like something is pulling at the edge of my mind when I look at you.”

Rayla nodded.  “Callum said that.”

Soren piped up from behind them.  “It’s because she’s so pretty.  You know how beautiful women make you stop in place.  Same thing.”  

Aanya was quiet, staring long and hard at Rayla.  Finally, she turned away.  “I see.” She turned back and nodded her head. “It was a pleasure to meet you.”

Rayla grabbed her hand, shocking them both.  Aanya raised a brow but did nothing else.  “What do you see?”

“I see someone who was deeply hurt by someone they love but hides it because it’s easier than thinking about it.  I see confusion and anger and hurt.  I also see a heart that’s too good for the world we live in, one always concerned with war breaking out.  Perhaps, if you let go of that hurt and forgave, you could be happier.”  Aanya walked away before Rayla could say anything.

“How did she do that?”

“She’s good at reading people,” Callum whispered.  

“That’s an understatement.”

“You have to be if you live the way she does.  Sycophants, assassination attempts, regents pretending to love her like their own child, whispering in her ears.  It caused a stir when she took the throne last year.  Everyone said she was too young, but she couldn’t trust the regents anymore.  She’s either going to be one of the greatest rulers the Pentarchy has ever seen or she’ll be so clouded by distrust she’ll be a tyrant.”

“What do you think?”

Callum mulled it over. “She’ll be a good queen, I think. Maybe she won’t always make the popular choice, but she’s well-known for loving her people.  She views them as her family because she lost her parents when she was a baby.”

The night dragged on. Rayla meant dignitaries and nobility who stared at her like she was a piece of cattle on display.  Her face hurt from smiling and her feet hurt from the heels.  The biggest reprieve had been dancing with Callum.  A simple waltz had left her imagining they were the only two in the room.  He had that effect on her, like the rest of the world just melted away and there was no one left but them.  She had clenched her fists in Ezran’s clothes when he danced with Claudia while she and Ez danced.  

“Rayla?” Ezran whispered. She looked down.  “Callum doesn’t like her anymore.  I don’t know what Claudia’s doing it, but anyone with eyes can tell her heart isn’t in it.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Rayla whispered.

“Then why are you so upset?” Rayla didn’t say anything.  She danced with Harrow in silence, smiling at his jokes, but unable to get rid of the cloud hanging over her head now.

When she came back to the dais, Kasef was waiting for her.  “May I have a dance?” he asked.  Rayla couldn’t put her finger on it, but she had a feeling he expected her to say ‘yes.’  

“Don’t you give up?” Rayla shook her head.  “Will you leave me alone if I do?”

Kasef smiled down at her. “I can promise you you’ll never want me to.”

Rayla snorted.  “Sure, but promise you’ll leave me alone.”

“If you truly wish it, if you let me have this dance, I will leave you alone for the rest of the night.”

“I’ll hold you to it.” Kasef took her hand and pulled her way too close when they got to the dance floor.  Rayla pushed herself a more than appropriate amount away.  “You’re pushy.”

“How old are you?” Kasef asked.

“16.”

“Marriageable age in Neolandia.”

“Cool,” Rayla huffed under her breath.

“You’re quite stunning. Why would you choose to be the step-prince’s date?”

“He’s nice and I like him.”

Kasef pulled her closer again.  “I have experience with women.”

“How nice for you.”  Rayla was going to slap him if he didn’t stop.

“A beautiful woman like you should be draped in silks and dripping in diamonds.”

“Not interested.”

“Come on.  I’m offering you a chance no other farm girl would ever get.”  Kasef spun her, and brought her back far too close.  “If you keep my bed warm every night, I’ll give you all the pretty things you never dreamed of.”  His hand snuck down her back and he groped her ass.  

Rayla couldn’t hold back. She slapped him so hard his head swung to the side.  “DO.  NOT.  TOUCH. ME.”  Rayla held firm as he turned his head to look back at her.  “Learn to take a ‘no’ every once in a while, and stop acting like a child.  Actually, that’s not fair.  Children know that ‘no’ means ‘no’.  You’re spoiled and you need to grow-up.”  Rayla walked away before he could say anything back.  The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.  

“Well,” Aanya’s voice carried throughout the room, “I don’t know about all of you, but I think this party should move on.  I’m tired of dancing.  King Harrow, I heard that Katolis has a beautiful garden.”

Harrow nodded.  “It does indeed.  Let me show you all.”  Rayla stayed back as everyone went to the gardens.

“You OK?”  She was startled back into reality as Callum took her hand.

“I’m fine.  Just grossed out.”

“Not even the jerkface dance could make that better.”

“No, it couldn’t.”  

“What do you need?”

“Can we just go to bed? Or would that be rude?”

“Given the circumstances, I think it would be OK.”

“Did I really just slap the crown prince of Neolandia?”

“You did and it was awesome.”  Callum chuckled with her, gently putting a hand on her upper back.  “Let’s get you to bed.”

“Thank you.”

“Anytime.”  He looked up into her eyes and she almost fell into them. His lips her so close and they were alone.  He moved away before she could let her heart make the decision for her.  

‘It’s for the best, Rayla.  Your heart is a fool.’        

[rayllurn]

To Build a Home

A/N: *dusts cobwebs off of English degree* Hi, all! Welcome to my first ever tdp fanfic! It’s been a little while since I’ve written fanfiction, so this was an experience (but a good one). This is my gift for @imactualfandomtrash for the @tdpholidayexchange. I heard you like Rayllum and Janaya (and so do I), so I’ve included both, of course! I hope you and anyone else who reads this enjoy! Have a wonderful, safe, and happy holiday season everyone! 

Title: To Build a Home                                                    

Ao3: This fanfic can also be read here                                                          

Word Count: 5,688                                                                                  

Pairings: Rayllum, with sprinkles of Janaya and Ruthari                                  

Summary: In which Callum contemplates what home really means to him while attempting to propose to Rayla at Katolis’s annual winter festival; Ezran, Bait, Runaan, and Ethari observe in amusement from a distance; and Amaya and Janai compete to see who will win this year’s annual arm wrestling competition.

***

In his 20 years, Callum had never really been that excited about Katolis’s annual winter festival.

Sure, there were fun games, warm drinks, and amazing treats, but growing up as the princes of Katolis, he and Ezran had never gotten to enjoy the celebration the same way other kids did. It always seemed to come with responsibilities. As kids, they were expected to smile, wave, and make a good impression as the youngest members of the royal family. Though King Harrow had, of course, always encouraged them to go play games, win prizes, and eat winterberry jelly tarts, Callum could never shake the feeling that the entire kingdom was watching everything he did. 

In the years after Ezran became king, Callum hadn’t made it back to Katolis for the festival. Though he usually kept pretty busy in the winter months practicing ice spells with Ibis, he’d never really made an effort to come. Ez would be busy with kingly duties -- giving speeches, conversing with citizens, making political connections, and so on -- so it wasn’t really the best time to visit his brother anyway. He’d always entertained the thought of taking Rayla someday, but it was rare that she could get an extended period of time off from her Dragonguard duties, and he really didn’t have any desire to go without her. 

This year, however, was different. This year was special. 

At king Ezran’s insistence, the Dragon Queen had allowed Rayla to take two weeks off from the Dragonguard to attend Katolis’s winter festival with Callum -- where he planned to ask her to marry him. 

It had been Ezran’s idea, two months ago when Callum had come to Katolis to ask for his permission to marry her. 

***

“Really?!” Ezran asked, smiling from ear to ear, eyes sparkling with excitement. “I mean, we’ll have to be a little careful about how we navigate the politics of it all, but I would love nothing more.” 

“You’re...sure?” He asked. “Is the world ready for something like this? A marriage between Katolis and Xadia?”

Ezran hesitated, and for a brief, terrifying moment, Callum thought perhaps he’d change his mind. That maybe the world wasn’t ready yet. 

“They won’t ever be ready until it happens,” he said finally. “Someone has to take the first step, and I don’t see why it shouldn’t be you and Rayla -- the two people who nearly single-handedly made peace between humans and Xadia possible in the first place.” 

“I mean, you played a pretty significant role in that too, Ez,” Callum smiled. 

Bait, who had been curled up in Ezran’s lap sleeping for most of the conversation, popped open an eye and groaned in protest. 

“And Bait too,” Callum added quickly. “Bait also helped.” 

Bait smiled, growling in approval before sinking back down into Ezran’s lap. 

“So how will you propose?” Asked Ez.

“Oh...um...” Callum hadn’t really thought that far ahead, especially given that the supposed proposal hinged on Ez approving the marriage first. 

“You know…,” Ez interrupted his thoughts, “I hear the winter festival is going to be pretty special this year…” 

“What? You think I should propose to Rayla at the festival?” 

“Why not?” His brother shrugged. 

Callum hesitated. It was no secret that while he held treasured childhood memories of the event, he wasn’t especially fond of the spotlight that came with it for him as a prince. 

“Won’t there be...people?” He asked. “Staring at us when it happens, I mean?” 

“There are plenty of private places where you two could run off and hide,” Ez winked. “I hear you’re both really good at that. Mysteriously disappearing at the same time and reappearing hours later.” 

Callum blushed. “Well...I…” 

“Just think about it.” 

***

Callum had thought about it, like Ezran had asked.

And he’d concluded that no proposal he could possibly plan would accurately convey everything he felt for Rayla. The perfect words, location, method, and timing...they just didn’t exist. Nothing could ever sufficiently demonstrate the love and admiration he felt for his girlfriend. 

So he had decided that the winter festival was just as good of an opportunity as any. 

Ez was thrilled of course, especially since Callum hadn’t attended the festival since his stepfather had been killed, and Rayla had lit up with joy when Callum first asked her if she was interested in going last month. She’d always been curious about the human festival, and seeing her brim with excitement at the opportunity had put Callum at ease for the moment. 

But now the day was here, and he felt a kind of terror that he’d never felt before. 

He wasn’t worried about her answer (he was fairly confident that she’d say yes), but this would be one of the most important moments in both of their lives, and he absolutely had to get it right. 

Callum took a deep breath and looked in the mirror. He hadn’t bothered to do anything different with his hair. After all, Rayla liked it just the way it was -- a bit messy with dark brown locks falling naturally over his face. Tonight, he wore a white vest and a red coat with golden buttons. He was going for a look that represented his kingdom while perhaps also appearing a little more formal than usual. 

He gave himself one final glance in the mirror and hummed in approval. This was as good as it was going to get. He sighed, striding across the room and opening the door to find--

“Rayla,” he jumped back in surprise. Her hand was raised in a loose fist, as if she were moments away from knocking. 

“Hey,” she smiled, leaning in to give him a quick peck on the cheek. “You look dashing,” she teased. 

“You don’t look so bad yourself.” 

Strands of her silvery white hair were braided and pulled back into a low bun while loose bangs framed her face. Tonight was one of the few occasions where he’d seen her wear red, and she looked absolutely stunning. Her crimson robes were layered and lined with golden accents, resting just above her knees in the front and flowing down to her ankles at the back. She wore black pants and knee-high formal boots to help keep warm in the chilled winter evening. 

“Are you ready?” He asked, extending his arm. 

“Yup!” She reached out to loop her arm through his. “Are you ready?” 

“Of course,” he replied a little too quickly, voice faltering slightly. She gave him a quick, questioning look before shrugging it off and tugging him down the hall. 

Was he ready? Truthfully, he wasn’t sure. 

***

Ez smiled as he sat upon an outdoor throne overlooking the festival. He heard soft music and joyful laughter in the distance and smelled the sweet scent of fresh jelly tarts rising in the chilled winter air. 

“I wish we could join them, Bait,” Ezran sighed, stroking a hand gently along the glow toad’s back. Bait groaned, transitioning into a depressed, bluish-green color. 

The festival was lively, as usual. The planning committee had informed him that only the most delicious food, most talented musicians, and most entertaining games would be showcased this year. At a glance, it appeared that the planning committee had lived up to the claim.  

Glancing across the festival grounds, Ezran’s eye caught his Aunt Amaya dragging her elven girlfriend, Janai, to the arm wrestling competition. 

In recent years, one major change to the festival had been the invitation of Xadian citizens. In light of the tentative peace between Xadia and the human kingdoms, Ezran went out of his way to ensure that elves and dragons felt welcome to participate in Katolis’s traditional festivities. However, despite appreciating the invitation, only a handful of elves ever actually came -- usually those who knew Ezran personally. 

He smiled softly. This was Janai’s second time attending the festival, and if he remembered correctly, she had enjoyed competing against his aunt in the many games and tournaments hosted last year. 

The couple appeared to be one of the first to arrive for the arm wrestling tournament. His aunt had won last year, defeating her girlfriend in the championship round after an intense, five-minute match. 

“Think Janai will get revenge this year, Bait?”

Bait looked up at Ezran and growled in agreement. 

Ezran smiled, his thoughts drifting to his brother...his poor brother, who had seemed extremely nervous and uncomfortable earlier that day, despite his assurance that everything would be just fine. 

“How do you suppose Callum is doing?” He asked the glow toad, who rolled his eyes and groaned dramatically. 

Ez laughed. His brother and Rayla had been in love for years. They were soulmates. Callum just needed to take a deep breath and speak from the heart. 

“He can do it.” 

***

I don’t think I can do this. Callum gulped, too consumed in his thoughts and worries to focus on Rayla’s many questions. 

“So why is your annual festival held at this time of year? It seems strange to have an outdoor festival in the dead of winter when it’s so cold. What is that delicious smell? Can you show me what the best human food is! Ohhh what’s your favorite festival game? You should teach me how to play!” 

She tugged him along from stall to stall, asking questions and glowing with excitement. He’d never seen her so interested in his home before, and any other time, he would have appreciated her curiosity. 

“Callum,” her eyes narrowed in concern as she halted to a stop. “Callum, are you okay? You don’t seem very excited.” 

“Oh, uh…no...I- I am, it’s just been awhile, that’s all,” he smiled nervously, scratching the back of his neck in an obvious sign of discomfort. 

She smiled back half-heartedly. He knew she didn’t believe it. She knew him better than that. 

A group of girls around their age whispered as they walked past, presumably gossiping jealously about how an elven warrior was no fit for the prince of Katolis. 

Callum had told her about his experiences as a kid -- how the festival had always been fun but burdened with responsibilities. Even though Ez had freed him from any responsibilities this year given the true motivation for his attendance, Callum still felt the eyes of everyone in Katolis drilling into his back as he and Rayla made their way across the festival grounds. 

Hopefully, she had chalked up his discomfort to the unwanted attention and remained unsuspicious about his plans.

“Oh, what’s this?” She motioned excitedly toward an axe throwing stall. She tugged his arm, causing him to stumble forward. 

“Come on! Win me prizes!” 

He smiled a little at her contagious enthusiasm, knowing that her excitement was, at least in part, an effort to help him have fun. 

“Step right up, throw yer axe, win a prize,” droned the vendor, a short, stumpy man with balding gray hair and a few missing teeth. 

“Do ya wanna give it a go?” He asked Callum, extending the axe he was presumably supposed to throw at the target. 

Callum shot a glance back to Rayla, shrugged, and dropped a silver coin in the man’s hand before picking up the axe and taking aim. 

“I might duck if I were you,” Rayla said to the vendor, looking him dead in the eye with a mixture of seriousness and amusement.

“Hey,” Callum sulked, dropping the axe back down to his side. “What’s that supposed to mean? You think I can’t throw things?” 

“I know you can’t throw things, Callum,” she quipped, crossing her arms across her chest. 

“I guess I’ll have to prove you wrong then,” he replied, raising the axe back into throwing position. He scoffed when he noticed the vendor slowing side-stepping away from the target at Rayla’s recommendation. 

He took a deep breath, just like he did whenever he attempted a new spell for the first time, and launched the axe toward the target with a grunt, stumbling forward ungracefully in the process. 

As Rayla had predicted, he missed terribly. 

Instead of hitting the target, he watched in horror as the axe spun into the ground where the vendor had been standing previously. 

“Good call,” the vendor nodded at Rayla, who stood smirking at a distance. 

Rayla giggled, picking up another axe from nearby and stepping forward to take Callum’s hand. “Here, I’ll show you a trick that will help you hit the target every time…” 

***

“Well Bait, it looks like the arm wrestling championship match is once again down to Amaya and Janai,” Ez smiled. 

Despite being in an intense state of competition, he couldn’t help but notice how happy his aunt looked with her girlfriend. He was truly happy for her and wished them both the best (though he was secretly rooting for Janai to win this year). 

“We’ll see who wins and then we should probably start making our rounds around the festival, huh Bait?” 

“King Ezran,” a familiar voice interrupted him from behind. 

Ezran spun around to see Runaan and Ethari walking toward him.

“Runaan! Ethari! I’m so glad you both could make it this year,” Ez beamed. 

The couple bowed. “We’re happy to be here,” said Ethari, smiling gently. This was the first year he and his husband had made an effort to come to the festival, despite being relatively close to him and Callum in recent years. 

“Yes, this should be...interesting,” Runaan added with a tone that Ezran couldn’t quite place. 

After Callum had asked Ez about the potential of marriage, he had traveled to the Silvergrove to talk to Rayla’s parents, Tiadrin and Lain, as well as her surrogate parents, Runaan and Ethari. In a recent letter, Callum had told Ezran that all four of Rayla’s parental figures had responded positively to the request. However, Ez had a feeling that Runaan was secretly less than thrilled and had agreed to the proposal out of his love for Rayla and his desire for her happiness. Moreover, despite his status as a human prince, Ezran knew that Runaan had a deep respect for his brother. After all, it was Callum who had rescued him from Viren’s coin all those years ago.

“Runaan,” Ethari took his hand, squeezing it gently, “we’re happy for Callum and Rayla, remember?” 

“I am happy for them,” Runaan’s gaze softed, “it’s just...I never imagined that Rayla would marry the human prince of Katolis. It’s an adjustment. That’s all.” 

Ez smiled at the couple. Their love seemed so effortless, and they balanced each other out so well. All it took was one look from Ethari, and Runaan -- one of the hardest and most deadly people Ezran had ever met -- softened like butter. 

Runaan’s eyes sharpened once more, darting back to Ezran. “For the record, Callum is the only human I would ever allow Rayla to marry,” his voice was harsh on the surface but betrayed a hint of softness. 

“I know,” Ezran smiled sincerely, his gaze drifting back down to the arm wrestling competition. 

He appeared to have missed the end, but given the prize in Amaya’s hand and the scowl on Janai’s face, he’d assumed his aunt had swept the armwrestling title for the second year in a row. 

“It looks like my aunt won the arm wrestling competition.”

“Oh, is that what all the commotion was about?” Ethari replied, looking over to where Amaya had now pulled Janai in for an apologetic kiss. 

From the looks of it, Janai had already forgiven her, smiling gently as their lips met once more. 

“They make a great couple,” Runaan admitted. 

Ezran smiled, happy to see that Runaan was finally opening up to the idea of elves and humans entering into romantic relationships. 

Speaking of which…

“And...what are Callum and Rayla doing exactly?” Runaan asked, nodding his head in the direction of the other elf/human couple of relevance. 

The two were on the opposite end of the festival grounds and appeared to be engaged in some sort of axe throwing competition. A blushing Callum was holding up an axe in throwing position (which was pretty scary, honestly). Rayla was standing directly behind him, one arm wrapped around his waist and the other guiding his axe throwing arm. 

“She...appears to be teaching him how to throw an axe?” Ez replied. It was more of a question than an answer.

Runaan rolled his eyes. “That looks like an accident waiting to happen. We all know that Callum can’t throw things.” 

To everyone’s surprise, Callum managed to hit the target dead-on (under Rayla’s guidance, of course). 

They watched as the couple cheered in celebration, jumping into an embrace before pulling apart, making eye contact, and slowly meeting in long, passionate kiss. The stall vendor stood just a few feet away, looking mildly uncomfortable. 

“That poor vendor,” said Ez. “Callum has probably almost killed him at least twice tonight, and now he gets to watch the two of them make out five feet in front of him.” 

Ethari laughed gently. “So, when do you think the proposal will happen?” 

Ez sighed. “No idea. Callum is pretty nervous.” 

The three looked back down at the couple, who appeared to have stopped kissing in front of the vendor and were now choosing a prize. 

Ethari smiled. “He’ll figure it out.” 

***

I really need to figure this out, Callum thought in panic as he and Rayla walked hand-in-hand across the festival grounds. 

The prize they’d picked out was a little Zym plushie, which Rayla cradled in her right arm. It was no secret that they both missed the young dragon, so the moment they saw the plushie, they knew immediately that they had to have it. Rayla was excited to show it to Zym when they got home. 

“Do you think he’ll like it?” She asked excitedly. “I bet he wasn’t expecting us to bring home souvenirs. Much less souvenirs that look like him.” 

Callum smiled at her enthusiasm, gently squeezing her hand. It was heartwarming to see her this excited about something. She always worked so hard, and she truly deserved the vacation. 

“I’m sure he’ll love it,” Callum leaned over to give her a quick kiss on the cheek. Ever since their brief makeout session in front of the axe vendor had taken a turn for the awkward, he’d been trying to tone down his acts of affection. They were so used to being alone at the Storm Spire that they’d forgotten how to behave when people -- specifically, the citizens of Katolis -- were watching their every move. 

Rayla cleared her throat. “Wow, it sure is chilly out here tonight. I wish I would have brought a scarf,” she hinted. 

“Yeah, it’s pretty cold.” He felt himself staring into the distance at absolutely nothing but couldn’t seem to focus on the current conversation. 

“Callum,” Rayla stopped walking, tugging Callum backwards to face her. “I’m cold,” she nodded at the scarf wrapped around his neck. 

Her request finally clicked. “Oh, you want to wear my scarf?” 

“If it’s okay, that is,” she added quickly. “I don’t want you to be cold, of course...I just...you just...you know how much I love wearing it and…” 

“Shhh,” he pressed a kiss to her forehead and as he unraveled the scarf. “Of course you can wear it, love.” 

Gently, he wrapped the scarf around her neck before looking up to meet her violet eyes, which were filled with a mix of love and concern. For a brief moment, it felt like he was standing just across the border of Xadia on that fateful day five years ago when they had faced Sol Regem together. Back then, they were just two teenagers in love -- one not ready to admit her feelings and the other painfully unaware of his own. 

“Thank you,” she smiled softly, pulling him into a quick but gentle kiss. 

She hesitated for a brief moment, clearly wanting to say something more. 

“Callum,” she began, gently cupping the side of his face with her hand. It was cold, he noticed, but he wasn’t wearing any gloves that he could give her, and even if he were, they wouldn’t fit her fingers. “Are you feeling okay? You seem a bit off tonight.” 

“I’m...fine,” he forced a smile, but he knew that she could see right through it. Thankfully, before she could question him further, the pair were interrupted by a familiar voice. 

“Rayla, Callum,” the voice called out to them. They spun around to see Ethari and Runaan standing just a few feet behind them. 

***

“Rayla, Callum,” Ethari called out upon spotting the pair. He’d truly missed them both so much and was delighted to run into them on the festival grounds. 

“Ethari! Runaan!” Rayla rushed forward to embrace them both.

 Ethari smiled, extending his arm and motioning for Callum to join them. After a brief moment of hesitation, Callum stepped forward to join the family hug. 

“I’ve missed you both so much,” Rayla said, stepping back to look at them. “I’m so glad you could make it.”

“Like we told King Ezran, we’re happy to be here,” Ethari replied with a gentle smile. 

His gaze shifted over to Callum, who looked noticeably uncomfortable. Given his usual effortless comfort around Rayla and his unashamed love for the girl, it was a bit strange (and somewhat amusing) to see him looking so out of place. However, he couldn’t help but feel a bit bad for him. 

“Callum,” he began carefully, “how’s it going?” He asked in an attempt to inquire about the proposal efforts without giving anything away. 

“Well, um…” Callum stuttered, and Ethari visibly noticed the blood draining from his face. “I...well...I…” 

Ethari watched the young man’s gaze shift from his and Runaan’s intertwined fingers to his aunt Amaya in the distance, who was smiling lovingly at Janai, and then back to Rayla, who was standing next to him with a look of complete confusion and concern. 

“I just remembered that I need to go talk to Ezran about something,” Callum said finally. “I’ll be right back!” He told Rayla, giving her a quick peck on the cheek before literally sprinting in the opposite direction. 

They watched him run, and an awkward silence fell over the group. For a brief moment, Ethari felt bad that he and Runaan knew why Callum was acting like this while Rayla was left completely in the dark. He hoped that she didn’t think it was any fault of her own.

“Um,” Rayla finally broke the silence, turning around to face them both again. “I’m sorry about that.” 

“It’s fine,” Runaan replied a little too quickly, stiffening awkwardly as he spoke. “He said he needed to talk to Ezran, so he must have just remembered something really important that just couldn’t wait.” 

“Does Callum seem...a bit weird tonight?” She asked. “Like...weirder than he normally is?”

“Nope. Nope he seems...totally normal to me. At least by Callum standards.” Runaan answered nervously, purposely avoiding eye contact with both Rayla and Ethari. “That kid has always been weird. You’ve got your work cut out for you, Rayla.” 

Ethari tried to contain a sigh. Runaan was trying his best, but his husband had never been good at keeping secrets from Rayla. If he continued to ramble carelessly like this, they would start to look suspicious. They needed to wrap up this conversation and get out of here until Callum could gather himself and propose. Hopefully Ezran could help him. 

***

“Ez! You’ve got to help me!” 

“Callum?” Ezran turned around. 

Callum ran toward his brother, stumbling to a halt a few feet away and resting his hands on his knees to catch his breath. 

“Callum, what’s wrong? Bait and I were just about to head down there.” 

Callum held up a hand, panting frantically as he struggled to catch his breath. “I just…don’t...know...how...to do this...Ezran,” he said between breaths. 

Ezran sighed, motioning for his brother to sit down beside him. “Would you like a winterberry jelly tart? You know that Barius only makes these once a year.” He motioned to a tray of tarts that he and Bait had clearly been snacking on for the past hour or so. 

Callum usually never accepted Ezran’s jelly tart offerings, but today, he took one off the tray without hesitation, nearly stuffing the entire thing in his mouth before reaching for another. 

“It’s okay to be nervous,” Ez continued, reaching for what must have been his fifth jelly tart, Callum guessed from looking at the tray. “But Callum, Rayla loves you so much, and she’s going to be so happy no matter where and how you ask her to be your wife.” 

“I know,” Callum sighed, “it’s just...I can’t find the words to tell her how much she means to me. I wish I could. That’s all.” 

“So show her,” Ez insisted. “But if it’s in public, please keep it clean,” he added quickly with a wink. 

Callum laughed briefly, but his smile quickly faded, and his gaze shifted down to his hands resting on his lap. 

“You know, you’ve seemed a bit off since you’ve been home,” said Ez. “Almost like...it’s not just Rayla and the proposal, but something more that’s been bothering you.” 

Callum looked up at him with a puzzled expression. “What do you mean?” 

“I mean, Katolis is your home,” Ez replied. “You grew up here. You know this area. You’ve experienced this festival. You know these people.” 

Callum gazed out over the citizens of Katolis -- smiling, laughing, sharing treats, and exchanging embraces. 

“But yet,” Ez continued, “you seem like an outsider, uncomfortable and unfamiliar with these people and this place -- Katolis...your own home. Why is that?” 

Callum hesitated. Home. What did that mean? Home was the place where you made your life your own. Where you sought comfort and safety from the harsh realities of the outside world. Where you were free to be yourself and live truly and speak honestly and love deeply. Home was a place where you belonged and felt loved and valued and supported. Home was…

“Rayla,” he breathed, just above a whisper. 

“What?” 

“Rayla,” he repeated confidently, abruptly standing up. 

“Okay?” Ez answered, staring up at him in confusion. 

From the first day they met, Rayla had supported him and encouraged him in ways that no one else ever had, calling him a mage and praising his magical abilities. She protected him and loved him and made him feel safe and valued. She comforted him after the loss of his father. She made him smile and laugh, and when he was with her he felt happy. He finally felt like he was home.

And, what’s more, it began here... in the home where he had grown up but never truly felt like he belonged. How ironic was it that he’d met Rayla, who felt so much like home to him, in the place he’d forced to feel like home for so many years? 

And then everything clicked into place.

“I know what I need to do, Ez,” he leapt forward and squeezed his brother into an uncomfortably tight hug. “Thank you. You’re the best, and I love you.” 

“I love you too, Callum,” he replied, clearly still confused by Callum’s sudden realization. 

But there was no time to explain. Callum was running again.

Except this time, he had a sense of direction. 

***

“Callum! Where are we going?” 

“You’ll see!” His voice wavered with excitement as he tugged Rayla along behind him.

The two ran through the castle halls, which were largely empty thanks to the lively festivities taking place right outside the walls. Callum drug her through the great hall, up a winding spiral staircase, and down the nearest hallway. He turned right, then left, then left once more and -- 

“Here we are!” He stumbled to a halt in the middle of a hall. Neither of them had been in this place since the day Rayla’s assassination squad had invaded the castle over five years ago, and he just hoped that she remembered. He hoped that it looked familiar to her. 

She gasped, eyes widening as she took in the surrounding decorations...the curtains...the windows and the halls…“This is…” 

“Where we met,” Callum finished, smiling sincerely for what felt like the first time in a week. 

Rayla smiled fondly, slowly spinning around to take it all in. “But...why?” 

Callum closed his eyes, breathing deeply before taking both of her hands in his own. 

“Rayla, we’ve been through so much together,” he began. “From the day we met when we discovered Zym’s egg until now...we started out on a journey that literally changed my life. You changed my life.”

His breath caught in his throat. Their faces were close now, and her eyes were sparkling with a realization that Callum hadn’t noticed before. She knew what was going on now. And there was no turning back. 

He swallowed, refocusing himself on the task at hand. 

“I grew up here,” he continued. “But this isn’t my home. I’ve never felt as at home as I do with you, Rayla. You make me feel safe and loved and...happy. I’m confident in myself. I feel comfortable with who I am. I feel like I belong with you, and I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life.” 

She was crying now, he noticed. But she was smiling and looking at him like he was the most important thing in the entire world. She laughed through the tears, leaning forward to press her forehead against his own. 

He was painfully aware of how close her lips were. But he couldn’t kiss her. Not yet. He had to finish this.

“This is a pretty big castle,” he continued. “So I have to ask, what were the odds that you would find me, wandering around the corridors that day? Something brought us together, Rayla. You came into my life for a reason. And it all comes back to this moment. Here. Where you found me.”

This was it. He was a little lightheaded and out of breath and wanted to kiss her so badly, but the moment he’d been waiting for since they’d first confessed their love at the Storm Spire had finally arrived. 

He took a step back, keeping both of his hands gripped firmly around her right hand.  

“I want to be with you forever. I want you to be my home forever. I want to be your home forever,” he said, taking a deep breath, dropping down onto one knee, and staring into the beautiful violet eyes of the amazing young woman he wanted to spend forever with. 

“So, Rayla,” his voice cracked, and he felt his own tears prickling at the corners of his eyes. “Can we be ‘a thing’ for the rest of our lives? Will you marry me, Rayla?” 

A joyful sob escaped her lips, and she nodded eagerly. “Of course, dummy,” she managed to say before leaping forward and crashing her lips against his own. He melted into the kiss, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her closer. 

She’s going to be my wife, he thought in amazement, smiling as he kissed her again and again. He just couldn’t believe this was real. It seemed too good to be true. He was really going to get to marry her -- his best friend, his partner, his family. 

And in that moment, he knew for certain that this was where he belonged. This was his home. 

***

**BONUS**

“Shhh! Shhhh! Everyone be quiet! I think it’s happening!” Ezran whispered harshly as the group of elves and humans huddled around a dark corner in the castle. 

Earlier that evening, Ethari and Runaan had been talking to Amaya and Janai when the four of them had seen Callum frantically run up to Rayla, grabbing her hand and dragging her off toward the castle at full speed. At first, they’d been a bit concerned, so they went to find Ezran (and Bait) just to make sure that everything was okay. 

Worried, the six of them had followed the couple into the castle, but by the time they realized what was really going on, it was too late to turn back. 

“No one move,” Runaan whispered, the six of them pressing their backs against the cold stone walls in an attempt to remain unseen. 

Thankfully, Callum and Rayla had rounded the next corner and were now out of sight. However, that did not prevent them from hearing Callum’s heartfelt proposal speech. 

“This must be the cheesiest, most sickening thing I’ve ever heard,” Runaan grumbled under his breath. 

“Shh,” Ethari whispered, pressing a finger to his husband’s lips. “They’ll hear you. Also, I know you, and I know that you secretly think this is very sweet, even though you’ll never admit it.” 

Runaan shook his head. 

To their left, Janai, who had learned Katolis sign language in an effort to better communicate with her girlfriend, was translating Callum’s speech for Amaya, who was smiling proudly. 

“Okay, I think it’s finally over,” Ezran said, peeking his head around the corner to get a glimpse of his brother and his now fiancee (unsurprisingly) kissing. “Let’s move out as quietly as possible so they don’t know we followed them and accidentally eavesdropped.” 

In that moment, however, Bait decided to move directly in front of Janai’s foot, causing her to trip and tumble into Amaya, who fell forward and collided with Runaan and Ethari, who then fell forward into Ezran, and the six of them toppled out into the open hall where Callum and Rayla were presently making out, knocking down an empty suit of armor and a curtain in the process. 

Callum and Rayla jumped apart, spinning around to see six of their closest friends and family in a pile on the floor. 

An awkward silence fell over the group. 

“Have you guys just been...standing there the whole time?” Callum finally asked. 

“Umm,” Ezran stood up, rubbing the back of his shoulder. “This isn’t what it looks like?” 

***

A/N: If you’ve made it this far, thanks for reading, and happy holidays! I hope you enjoyed my extremely self-indulgent holiday rom-com. 

Lots of love, 

Ada

[arcadialedger]

Rayllum One- Shot #4: A Katolis Valentine

A chilly February day almost a year after the battle, Rayla finds herself in Katolis on Valentine’s Day.

“Hey— Rayla?” Callum asked, a nervous crack in his voice.

Rayla, who has been buttoning her cloak before the front doors of the palace, turned to see the crown prince walking towards her. It appeared he had just woken up— his hair laid a bit messy on his head in that way which Callum was embarrassed by, but she secretly found adorable.

“Good morning Callum!” Rayla exclaimed with a grin, “You’re up early. I was going out to get the jump on some training.”

Callum nodded, not surprised by this in the least. Though they all knew Rayla wanted to be a dragon guard in her heart, her time in Katolis was spent doing something else equally as special— training to become the first eleven guard of a human kingdom. Janai would have perhaps been right alongside her, but Amaya had swept up the Sunfire elf as her second in command.

“Is everything okay?” Rayla asked, her hands clasping the top button of her cloak. Though the snow and winter was beautiful, she would never get used to the cold. Xadia was always warm.

“What?” mumbled Callum, snapping back into reality, “Oh, umm, yeah. I was just wondering if we could maybe spend the day together? It’s Valentine’s Day.”

Rayla’s brow furrowed in confusion.

“Valentine’s Day? What’s that?”

“It’s umm... it’s a human tradition, where we take the day to celebrate our significant other. Our loved ones.”

Callum looked down at his feet now, his cheeks redder than a Xadian strawberry.

“Callum— that sounds lovely. Of course. I just had no idea. We don’t have a holiday like that in Xadia. What would you like to do?”

Callum’s eyes brightened. With all of his fears gone, he immediately stepped closer to Rayla and grabbed her hand.

“There’s a wonderful restaurant I know that we could go to, and I asked the baker to make moonberry tarts. I know it’s not moonberry surprise, but—”

Rayla silenced him by grasping his hand and giving him a quick kiss on the forehead.

“Callum, that sounds wonderful. I only wish I’d known— I would have done something for you.”

Callum laughed, “Rayla, don’t worry about it. I only realized what day it was last night and I umm, kind of scrambled.”

“Scrambled for what?” Rayla asked, her hand still resting in Callum’s.

A slight panic entered Callum’s green eyes, and Rayla knew that whatever he was about to do, he was immensely nervous about. Slowly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small object. It wasn’t until he held it up that Rayla was able to discern what it was.

A green cuff.

Oh

“I talked with Ethari and Lujanne,” and they said it was a Moonshadow Elf tradition— a promise ring, of sorts. To put a horn cuff on the person you love and... Rayla, are you crying?”

Rayla has tackled Callum with a hug, and nodded her head against his shoulder. A steady stream of happy tears ran down her cheeks.

“I love it, Callum. You have no— you have no idea how much this means to me.”

Callum hugged her back.

“I know it’s a bit unconventional,” he continued, “Seeing as it’s supposed to go both ways and I don’t have horns and all— but I thought today was the best day to give it to you. Combine our two traditions. This past year has been the happiest of my life with you, and I know you’ll be leaving for the dragon guard soon and I just... wanted you to always know that I’m there.”

Rayla nodded, and gave Callum one final squeeze before pulling back. She suspected her face looked a slobbery mess, but she didn’t mind.

“It’s the color of your eyes,” she noticed, “Oh, Callum, I don’t even know what to say. I will wear it forever.”

Callum smiled, so deeply and genuinely Rayla thought her heart might burst all over again.

“May I put it on?” he asked.

In response, Rayla tilted her head down, so Callum could reach her horns. Rayla felt as Callum gently placed the cuff over her horn and slid it down until it got nice and tightly.

When Rayla looked up again, she threw her arms around Callum, and met him with a kiss.

Callum wrapped his arms around her tightly, just as he had that night on the Ambler. Rayla was glad that they were alone— that they could share this moment just between the two of them.

When they pulled back, Callum’s eyes shone with contentment. Rayla suspected hers did too.”

“Happy Valentine’s Day, Rayla.”

“Happy Valentine’s Day, Callum.”

[mojo72400]

Celebrating the Holidays in Katolis

AO3 Wattpad

It’s the holidays and it’s the first time the humans and the elves celebrate the holidays together since peace was brought on the two sides when Azymondias returned to his mother. Winter has arrived and the whole city is covered in snow.

Katolis decided the host the festivities since the two princes were responsible for returning the dragon prince to his mother with the help of a Moonshadow elf assassin.

During the celebration, the people exchanged gifts with each other, human to human, elf to elf, human to elf.

Ezran and Bait were helping themselves with some food and sweets from the holiday feast. Ezran then saw a tray of mugs filled of creamy, frothy, yellow liquid and decides to get a mug only for Callum to stop him and tell him “Ez, I told you before that the eggnog is for grown-ups”

Before Callum left, he told Bait “Please watch over him”.

When Callum was finally gone, Ezran decided to get a mug of eggnog only for Bait to consistently croak angrily at him but Ezran ignored him and drank a full mug of eggnog in a matter of seconds, without thought due to his excitement.

After Ezran finished his mug of eggnog, he hiccupped and felt dizzy as his speech was slurred.

“My head feels funny” Ezran said before he passed out on the table with Bait croaking in dismay.

Soren just passed by Ezran to get his mug of eggnog and when he saw Ezran, he said while he drank “Wow, that’s some pretty strong stuff…for a lightweight”

“Oh, go easy on him Sor-bear, it’s the holidays” Claudia said as she’s making a snowman with her magic while making a snow angel.

Meanwhile, Callum walking around the festival only to be tapped on the shoulder and to be greeted by a familiar Scottish accent.

“Happy Holidays, Callum” Rayla said.

“Happy Holidays to you too, Rayla” Callum greeted her.

“Here, I got this for you” Rayla said as she gave Callum a spell book.

“Thanks, Rayla, here’s your present” Callum said as he gave her red scarf which is identical to his and wrapped it around her neck.

“Aww, how sweet Callum, thanks” Rayla said as she hugged him.

“Hey, step-prince look up” Soren said as he was drinking what was perhaps his 4th mug of eggnog.

Callum looked up along with Rayla and they both saw mistletoe, they both blushed at the sight of it.

“Come on, Callum, give that pretty elf a big kiss” Soren said.

Callum then took a deep breath and quickly kissed Rayla on the cheek.

Rayla blushed from Callum’s cheek kiss and Soren said “Boo, give her a real kiss, maybe even a wet one with the tongue” only for Claudia to slap her big brother on the back of his head.

“I’m not sure if Rayla would want that kind of a kiss minus the wet tongue thing” Callum said nervously.

“Are you kidding me, Callum? I’d want that because…I like you. I like like you” Rayla said.

“Really, because spoiler alert, I like like you too” Callum said.

“Then kiss me you dummy” Rayla said before the two locked lips under the mistletoe with Rayla popping her foot up during the kiss. Callum could taste her lips, it tasted like cinnamon and alcohol from the eggnog and Moonberry from the Moonberry juice bowl which Soren definitely spiked. He ran his fingers down her silky, soft, white hair as it shone from the moonlight.

The crowd started to feel awkward when both Callum and Rayla decided to let their tongues get in on the kissing action, turning their kiss into a full-out make-out session with Rayla wrapping her leg around Callum’s waist and both teens were moaning. Good thing, Ezran was passed out on the table because what’s happening right now isn’t for kids like him.

The two finally broke off their kiss and were panting heavily.

“Wait for a while” Callum said as he left and went to Claudia and told her “I see that my brother is passed out on the table, can you take him to his bedroom and make him a sober potion because we’re gonna have a talk tomorrow about underage drinking”.

Callum then went back to Rayla and said “Now, where were we?”

“We’re about to slow things down” Rayla said.

“Well, shall we dance then?” Callum said as he extended his hand towards Rayla.

“Such a gentleman” Rayla said as she took his hand and danced with him.

As they danced, Callum said “I like like you, Rayla”.

“Oh, just say that you love me you dummy” Rayla said as she giggled at his awkwardness.

“Very well then, I love you, Rayla” Callum said.

“I love you too, Callum” Rayla said before the two share a small but sweet kiss.