Chapter Text
Author’s Note: During SDCC 2019, Aaron Ehasz announced that the Dragon Prince Saga will be divided into three subsections, with the current subsection ending after Book Three. Book Four will pick up after a time skip, and is entitled “Earth.” This inspired me to write this three-chapter piece exploring Callum and Rayla’s life in the Earth Nexus, deep in Xadia, following their returning Zym to his mother. This doesn’t entirely line up with the show; all the major characters are aged up three years at the start of the saga (so, for instance, Callum is 17, Rayla is 18, and Ezran is 13 at the start of Book One). However, I think this story is true to the essence of the Saga, and fleshes out some elements of the show, particularly how a human-elven war would impact Callum and Rayla, and how Callum’s magical and physical abilities would progress as he connects to more arcana.
Additionally, this piece isn’t a stand-alone. It is part of a much larger story that I had in mind, “The Heirs to Aaravos.” I haven’t yet decided whether to write that story, but the following three chapters take place somewhere in the middle of that saga. Things are alluded to that have either happened or will happen. Please let me know what you think; I greatly appreciate constructive criticism and feedback!
After returning Zym to his mother, the grateful dragon expressed her sorrow that the gesture has come too late to stop the war.
Rayla and Callum knew as much themselves, as they had witnessed the destruction of Posedia, the capital of the Ocean elves, by the new Neolandian king Tublacain. Were Callum not able to forge a connection to the Sun arcanum, the human, elf, and dragon would be lying beneath the rubble of the great city as well.
Nevertheless, the Dragon Queen saw another great hope before her. Standing only a few feet away, she could sense a powerful connection that Callum had with the sky, the sun, and even to the Moonshadow elf.
Even if there was no chance to stop the war, there was still the chance, however small, however frail, that this human could show his kind was capable of much more than Dark Magic, death, and despair. Perhaps these two could, together, end the millennia-long exile of the humans, and make Xadia one land again.
She offered this chance to Callum and Rayla. My keep, she told them, lies at the foot of the Meraxes Mountains. The road through the mountains is dangerous, the path itself strenuous and blood-pumping.
Yet, the Meraxes Mountains surrounds and protects a lush, green valley that contains phenomenal power. This valley is the Earth Nexus. Should Callum and Rayla make it to the other side, Callum will have the chance to connect with the Earth arcanum and continue his journey to master all six Primal Sources.
As Rayla and Callum climbed to the peak, thunder beat against the mountain path as they traversed through the storm itself on their way up Meraxes.
For three days, they braved the elements. During the day, they scaled the cliffs and mountain passes together. At night, Callum would use the spell dant calorem to keep them warm. When at last they reach the peak, they both collapse in exhaustion.
Rayla was the first to get up. She lifted herself into a sitting position, still out of breath, her face still flushed from the effort. Before her, she saw the sun setting, yet still shining over the dangerous journey they took, both to the Dragon Queen as well as the mountain itself. They are so high up, she can feel the clouds and can see hundreds of miles in each direction. The sky was finally clear, and the stiff breeze feels was calming. She found the serenity intoxicating, as though a lifetime of preparation and training and combat couldn’t measure up to the peace she was feeling at that very moment.
Callum then rose to his feet, distracted by the sight behind Rayla. He helped her to her feet and gently tugged her to the opposite side of the ledge. There, below them, they saw the valley below, filled with trees, fields, rivers, and small Earthblood elven homes. The valley stretched for miles in every direction, and they could barely see the end to it. At the center lay a massive temple, looming large over the valley. Even from such a great distance, they could see the intricate, geometric designs on its sides. It’s supported by columns of swath made of turquoise tiles. The base of the temple splits into four parts, as the building stretches to the sky.
Above the temple, the clouds cleared to reveal a full moon, its nascent shine drowning the Earth Nexus in its light. Callum looked as Rayla began to fade away, turning invisible under the moonlight.
Having spent so much time with her, and so close to her, he was used to this sight. But when his own features disappear, he is caught off guard.
Callum could partially see Rayla’s surprised look as she can barely make out the outline of her human companion. Callum, in his private thoughts, had reflected on Lujanne’s words about reality and appearances. He was not sure when his thoughts sparked a realization, nor was he aware of the significance of that epiphany. But he had now forged a connection to the moon arcanum, without even realizing it.
He could barely make out Rayla, nor she him. Yet they had never seen each other as well as they can now. Before their journey to the peak, it seemed as though all the secrets between them had been uncovered, all their feelings made known. He loves her, and she knows it. She loves him, and he knows it. And yet here, they saw each other anew, and though it’s faint, Callum couldn’t mistake Rayla’s smile as anything else. They come closer together, embrace, and kiss under the sky, sun, and moon.
***
For Rayla and Callum, falling in love was always going to be easy. Their decision to marry, in the Earth Nexus, about six months after they arrived, was not.
During their journey with Zym, they only learned a few details about the world at large, The Pentarchy is in a crisis, and the elves are amassing an army to march across the Breach.
Amidst all this, even the elves they met were aware that King Ezran was being pressured to arrange Callum’s marriage to form a political alliance with one of the other human kingdoms.
Rayla was at a loss. Moonshadow elves were raised to hold duty as the highest priority. By all rights, Callum must do what is best for Katolis. As much as it hurt Rayla to admit, being with her does not help his kingdom.
Nevertheless, as they grew more and more in love, Rayla became more sure that no one could ever replace him in her life. This human, who defended and befriended her, who protects her and confides in her, who’s warmth and sincerity had moved her since the very first day with his “heartfelt speeches.”And as much as she understood if Callum were to obey his brother’s commands, she felt guilty wanting Callum for herself. As impossible as that was.
So, it was natural for her to be surprised when Callum listened to the Dragon Queen and headed to the Earth Nexus. It was even more shocking when, soon thereafter, he wakes her up, pulls her from the bed, and asks her to marry him.
She thinks she mishears him, or that Callum must have lost his mind. This is all a dream that I’ll have to wake up from, she tells herself.
But he’s here, right in front of her, and it’s real. All too real, as Callum smiles and says everything she hadn’t realized she wanted for so long.
“Rayla,” he told her. “I’m not going back to Katolis to get married. I don’t want to go back and marry some noblewoman I’ve never met. I want to marry you.”
Her breath hitches in her throat. She fumbles for words. “Callum - I -”
“It’s okay,” he whispers to her, tugging her towards him. “I’m not going anywhere. I was lost without you, Rayla. I didn’t know who or what I was before we found each other. Now that we have, I’m not running away, no matter what you say next.”
His words settle her as she finds her voice again. Her eyes find his as she speaks.
“Callum, I thought that, after we returned Zym, you were going home. You were going back to Katolis and all I could think was: He doesn't know what he means to me. He's going away forever, and I haven't told him.”
Callum smiles, and his hands cup her elbows. “Well, I’m here now.”
She isn’t sure when the tears started, but they’re there now. “You are everything to me. I want-I want to make a home with you. I want to make a life with you, through anything and everything, from this day forward for the rest of my life.”
For a moment, Callum doesn’t speak, merely looking at her in stunned silence. “Wow, that sounded a lot like a…”
Rayla smiles and pulls his head close. “It was, Callum.” She whispers as she kisses him. “Yes.”
***
It takes Callum six hours before he can finish even one draft of his letter to Ezran. Most of that time, he spends staring at a blank page in his sketchbook. How does one even begin a letter telling your King – your brother, he reminds himself - you won’t be able to fulfill one of your princely duties?
Don’t think that you’re writing to a King, Callum tells himself. He reminds himself that he’s only writing to his brother. That’s the only way he’d be able to get through this.
He takes a deep breath and started putting pen to paper. When he is done, he exhales in relief. Yes, this is something that could work:
Ez,
I’d be a terrible person if I tried to sugarcoat the news I’ll be giving you. I wanted to let you know that Rayla and I are safe and that Zym has been returned to his mother. That’s the good news. But we won’t be coming home, at least not yet. We’re in the Earth Nexus right now, and I’ll be working to make a connection to the earth arcanum. We know that there’s a war going on. We’re doing what we can so that, hopefully, we’d be able to help end the bloodshed and stop the cycle of violence.
That also leads to the other news I’m going to have to give you. I heard that you were seeking to arrange my marriage. If that’s true, I understand why. You care for our people, you always have. I know you will always do what is best for them, and that’s what has made you into a great King. Our father would be so incredibly proud of you. I know that, if you have to arrange my marriage, it’s because it’s what’s best for our people.
But I’m afraid that an arranged marriage won’t be possible. The truth is, I’ve decided to marry Rayla. I love her, with all my heart, and every fiber of my being. I don’t know when I arrived at that moment when I realized I can’t imagine life without her, but I’m here now. There’s no one in the Pentarchy or in Xadia that could ever mean to me as much as she does.
And as much as it pains me to say, I’m not asking for permission. Only for forgiveness, because while I’m more sure about this than I’ve ever been sure of anything, I want you to know that I don’t love you any less.
You are my brother, as well as my King. I’ve loved you since the day you were born. You always knew just what to say to cheer me up, and no matter how much of an awkward fit I made as a “step-prince,” you were always there to show me that we’re family. You will always my best friend, and I know that you will leave the kind of legacy as King that would make our parents proud. Say the word, and I’ll come back to you as soon as I hear from you. Ask anything of me, and it’s yours. All I ask in return is that you accept our decision here, and celebrate the love we discovered in each other. One day soon, I hope the war will be over, and we’ll all be together again.
Love,
Callum
***
Callum was so fixated on the letter, he didn’t even notice when Rayla walked in, and positioned herself right behind his chair.
“Whatcha doing?” She asks him.
Startled, Callum turns around. “Oh…uh, I’m writing a letter. To the King- I mean, to Ez”
She pieces together what Callum is doing “Oh.” Her voice grows solemn. “You’re doing the right thing, then. Ez…has a right to know.”
“I know,” he remarked sadly. “Want to read it over? Just to make sure I’m going about this the right way?”
“Sure,” Rayla answers. She walks over and sits right in Callum’s lap.
“Oof!” Callum exclaims. “Uh, I could get up first if you’d like?”
“No, this suits me fine,” she playfully remarks.
As she reads the letter, he hears her let out a faint gasp, followed by a soft sniffle. She turns around, her eyes welled up, and puts a hand on his cheek.
Her voice cracks as she speaks. “Ezran is so, so lucky to have you as his brother.”
He pulls her close. “And I’m double the lucky one to have you.” He plants a soft kiss and feels her melt against him.