Chapter 39: Going Home

The trio stood on a hill, overlooking the forest.

It had been three days since Azrael's final stand.

The snow was melting now. The warm temperatures had swept across the land.

Ezran wasn't wearing his new crown. Nor his royal robes. Just a red shirt.

He wasn't a king right now. He was a friend.

"So who's going to stop you from trying to sacrifice yourself all the time?" He asked, looking up at Rayla.

"That's a great question, Ez." Callum agreed, giving Rayla a look. "You can't go more than a minute without a sacrifice play. Who's going to stop you from throwing yourself off cliffs?"

Rayla chuckled heartily, looking down at her new armor.

It was almost identical to the old. Differing shades of green. It didn't feel the same, made from human materials, not Xadian ones. But it would do.

"I'll just have to avoid the temptation. Try not to get caught up in any end of the world type situations."

"Or have to rescue anyone. At all." Callum added.

"Yeah, every time you try to rescue someone, you end up doing the whole..." Ezran began, running out of words, and looking to Callum.

Callum put his hand in the air and struck a dramatic pose.

"Ah must...sacrifice...mah life! For this pine cone. Please...Callum! Remember me! Light...fading."

"Oh forget fadin, your lights about to go out." Rayla warned, shooting him an intimidating, but playful look.

They turned to look back at the forest.

"There won't be any way to keep in touch, will there?" Callum asked, a bit of nervousness in his eyes.

"Probably not." Rayla replied regretfully. "But if there is a way, I'll find it." She said with a firm nod.

"You know...I have a few words I'd like to share." A voice called.

They turned, to see Soren sauntering over.

"Oh just the words I've been dyin to hear..." Rayla replied, putting her head in her hand for a moment.

"Rayla. In honor of your...farewell...I'd just like to say...when I first met you, I thought you were just...the worst." Soren said with a smile.

"Likewise." Rayla agreed.

"But having shared a castle with you for a while, I'd like to say...you're not." Soren finished. "Good luck out there, Rayla."

Rayla let out a snort.

"Oh ya big dummy. Ya tried." She said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Thanks."

She looked to Callum and Ezran.

"Keep these two outta trouble will ya?" She asked.

"Of course." Soren replied with a firm nod.

Rayla turned, and leaned down, so she was face to face with Ezran.

"You are so strong. And so kind. And I am honored to know you, and serve you."

Ezran smiled warmly, looking away.

"You don't have to talk to me like I'm the king right now, Rayla..."

"I'm not." Rayla replied, hugging him tightly. "You're my friend. You always will be."

She tousled his hair, and then turned her attention to Callum.

Her eyes warm, she smiled as she looked across his face.

Memorizing every detail. She would need this mental image when things went wrong.

"Callum...I feel like I've said everything there is to say." She breathed.

"Yeah." Callum agreed. "I love you."

Rayla smiled, blinking away a tear as she pressed her forehead against his.

"I love ya too. Don't get into any dark magic while I'm gone. Don't do anythin stupid that'll keep you from bein here when ah get back."

There was a flicker of fear in Callum's eyes. He looked down.

"When you get back." He repeated. Then he reached behind his neck.

And untied his scarf.

Rayla felt a heavier tear trickle down her face, as he wrapped it around her neck, and tied it loosely.

"For good luck." Callum said, his voice cracking. "But I'm gonna need it back. Okay?"

Rayla sniffed, then nodded.

"I'll bring it back to you."

Callum nodded slowly, straightening it on her a little.

"Try your best."

"No." Rayla replied firmly, gripping his hands tight, and staring into his eyes.

"I promise. I'll bring this back to you."

Callum felt some tears pooling in his eyes, and nodded quickly.

"Please..." he begged.

Rayla wiped the tears away with her hand, then leaned in, and kissed him.

"Oh geez..." Soren grumbled, looking away.

Ezran slapped his hand.

"Let them have their moment." He scolded.

The two pulled away from each other.

"Keep him smilin." She said to Ezran and Soren, pointing to Callum.

"Challenge accepted." Soren replied.

"We'll be okay. We'll take care of him. Good luck Rayla." Ezran assured.

She gave him one last loving look.

"I'll be back before ya know it." She said, before turning to look at the treeline.

Her eyes narrowing with determination.

Then she took off at a sprint, running down a hanging branch.

And leapt.

They watched as she bounced from tree to tree, tearing across the forest.

Toward Xadia.

Ezran put his hand on Callum's back, and Soren put one on his shoulder, as he watched the moonshadow elf get smaller and smaller, before vanishing into the horizon.

"Hey. It'll be alright bud." Soren assured. "You wanna talk?"

Callum shrugged.

"Not really. Can't think of anything to talk about."

"Sandwiches!" Ezran exclaimed. "He really likes sandwiches. That'll cheer him up!"

Callum let out a sigh.

"Sandwiches? What kind?" Soren asked.

"Nobody taught you about sandwiches either?" Ezran said with surprise. "Callum, we can learn about sandwiches!"

Callum's weary eyes traveled from the wide eyes of his brother, to the curious eyes of Soren.

"Neither of you are ready to learn about sandwiches." He said bluntly, before turning to walk back to the castle.

"Aw come on!" Ezran urged.

"Yeah I'm like three years older than you, I should know these things!" Soren insisted, as the two turned to follow him.

Rayla paused a moment atop a tree, and turned to look back in the direction of the castle. Already feeling the doubt clutch at her heart.

She closed her eyes, then turned to look toward Xadia.

"Ah can do this." She said firmly. "Ah will do this."

She charged off the edge of the branch, and swung down.

Leaving behind her doubt, her fear, her hesitation.

It was time to go home.

The End