Authors note: I don't own the things I didn't create obviously. This includes characters from TDP and TEFC.
ao3 has a cleaned version with some better editing and an legit intro.
AU DETAILS-
This is some brain trash: a little SoL drama/romantic fic. Details before hand, humans are fae in this AU. Fae aren't bound to strict fae rules here. Basically I used what I needed too, trashed what I didn't and this came out. I'm borrowing the concept of The Enchanted Forest from TEFC as well as a few of its characters but do not consider this a true cross-over as the world being used and the setting is Xadia. Essentially erasing enough of the world from TEFC for them them to fit this version of Xadia.
Also there's been little to no corrections to this. I've finished a few scenes toward the end of the story, but wanted to go further during these intro chapters before I head back and polish up some of the editing so I can carry that same energy through the whole piece. The stories got a rough outline drafted with roughly 35ish 'planned' chapters and some much later chapters already written to motivate me into building up to those scenes. I say 'planned' because between the original chapters 3-5 I've already introduced 3 uplanned additional new chapters. so yea.
Rated M for scene involving brief nudity and such.
This story is written in a scene style, the reader only catching moments in the lives of the two main characters.
Feel free to complain as this is my first post, if its in the wrong spot or I messed up lemme know! If you have any ideas, see something I've flubbed like a confusing scene or something dumb ive goofed... or just hate the lack of editing enough to instruct me/help out hit me up.
-You Stole My Spot!-
The lithe slip of an elf had been a Forest Guard for a year at this point. Chosen out of other elves for her natural survival skills, familiarity with the woods, and assassin training. All of these combined gave her a solid chance at patrolling The Uncharted Forest and managing to find her way out again.
The forest wasn't dangerous, as in the creatures, plants, and animals in it. Most of them anyway that was, sure there were the rare venomous snakes, and some larger predators that she had to be wary of, and certain plants that shouldnt be eaten or consumed. But that went for any forest in Xadia.
The true danger of The Uncharted Woods was described in the name itself. It was as far as any elf had found, directly traversible. You couldnt enter the woods to a point, but past that it seemed more like the woods were moving around you. Neither the sun or the stars could assure your direction or location in the forest, so only the edges had been properly mapped.
Patrols took up the task of exploration and rescues. While rare sometimes an unwarry elf would wander into far. Accidents were very rare. Usually the lost elf was found by a guard near the edge somewhere else, confused as to how that had traversed so far in such a short time.
Guards were chosen from clans familiar with the deep woods, extensive survival skills, and guts. Rayla had been raised in Silverwood, a forest wrapped in an illusion. Trained as an assassin, familiar with surviving alone and stealthily. These skills combined with her seemingly natural affinity for traveling through the constantly changing forest had made her a small amount of fame.
Her superiors, her peers, even Rayla had to admit. She was good, one of the best when it came to The Uncharted Woods. Thats why her senses were so on edge when she heard something that she had never heard in the forest before.
On a personal mission, one of critical importance. Now was not the time for unexpected guests, especially when she had scoped the spot out extensively for her use.
Splashing, common bath taking shenanigans. Thats what she heard right now. Some villian had ruined her mission. A goal she had dedicated weeks to if not longer.
Rayla had spent so long trying to find a part in the stream just deep enough but not too deep. Gods she missed the streams near Silvergrove, perfect depth to bath but not that kind of deep. She shuddered slightly at the thought of too deep of water. After searching and trailing the various shoots of the stream she had staked it out, ensuring none of the other guards at the guard house knew of its location.
Now as she had finally gathered the supplies to bathe, some costly star-lily soap, a clean towel, and a nice cool stream. The soap had been expensive, the towels? Shite she lived in a guard house. Clean towels were rarer than dragon eggs, and now?
Now some shitehead was in her stream. It had taken a feat to find, Rayla using time in the forest to determine how it was changing around her. She had discovered if she thought about something she wanted the forest had a tendency to provide. Something that likely attributed to the ease of survival for lost elves. I you wanted food, the forest would provide a few berry bushes or a tree laden, ripe for the picking.
Either someone had also been thinking about the perfect stream to lay out and relax for a moment, or Rayla had been trailed on one of her earlier patrols and the elf had lucked into finding their way back.
The only ones she could think of that would venture this far into The Uncharted Forest would have to be some of her fellow guard-elves or an expierienced local. Possibly Janai or Kasef if one of the two had managed to track the assassin this far. Doubtful but not impossible, they were both skilled and capable of moving about the forest themselves.
Maybe one of the newer recruits lucking onto her chosen spot returning from a patrol. That or one of some mopey tide elf from the nearby town not wishing to use the river proper. Instead risking getting lost to enjoy the serinity of the glade, also risking Raylas ire unknowingly. Stupid Tideys.
The sounds of splashing water and the sight of boots next to a near by tree was more than enough to goad the irritable elf further. She reached down gathering small stones as she crept forward planning her vengance.
She could make out the back of some males head and his shoulders as she peeked over the base of a near-by root. Her soon to be victim appeared to still be unaware of their impending punishment. Clothes still laid out on the nearby beach of pebbles, boots nearby, hair soaked and matted to their face. Her prey unsuspecting and hopefully with eyes full of soap.
The outfit wasn't of the Forest Guard, no armor or weapons about, the clothes looked plain enough. She figured it was simply that they were out of uniform entering the forest on leave. It wasn't something forbidden for the guards, or unusual for some of them such as Rayla. That or an elf from nearby.
She took a good look, trying to get the aim and angle right.
In a few moments the Bath Thief would suffer the wrath of Rayla trained assassin and Forest Guard. She didnt want to pat herself on the back, but she really was that good, even Runaan had issues tracking her by the time she had finished her training.
She released the stone, hoping to make her mentor proud She wanted to watch and see the moment of her triumph. But a good assassin remained hidded so she ducked down, praying with a little more effort she wouldnt smell tomorrow.
Unaware of the incoming missile Callum sat letting the cool water run over him, he had decided today was just to hot to accomplish any real work. Instead he opted for taking a local group of younger song-weasels out to bathe at their favorite watering hole.
The weasels were rather intelligent, even for their age. They knew an oppourtunity to swim under the protection of Callum, fae, Forest Guardian, and child of the King and Queen of The Uncharted Forest was not one to miss.
Which is why they were so stunned when a small stone came flying by them landing in the water. No respecting creature of the forest was going to throw a stone at the prince. He may have been far to forgiving in his nature but there were lines you didn't cross. Risking injury to a ward directly under his care at the time was one of them.
The prince, Callum, only opened his eyes from his day dreams when he realized all the song-weasels had stopped chittering and splashing and were staring out at the water.
He stood to see what exactly had caught their attention. Maybe a Diamond Bass or something similarily sparkily? He didn't want to have to intervene if something happened, generally the creatures of the forest held a truce when the fae were watching.
His answer came in an unexpected form when he felt a painful *bap* on his shoulder and a stone bounced over and into the stream.
"What in the?!" Callum turned to look quickly as the song-weasels scattered around him. Someone had broken that truce, the stone would
Eager to help their prince locate the vile scum that had ruined swim time with artillery the weasels darted off to search for them. Maybe a bit to eager as most had darted in different directions than the stone had actually come. Callum stood waiting on the next projectile while reaching out through the forest to find his assailant.
There the gentle hum of an elven arcanum. An elf had snuck up on him, not a good situation as a fae to be caught unaware. Still this was his home and far be it from anyone to throw stones in his families house.
He silently directed the song-weasels that had scammpered off to circle back and wait to ambush the elf. Meanwhile Rayla had launched another stone, which unfortunately for her was dead on. It smacked painfully against the crown of Callums skull, leaving him tucking his head and nursing the wound with both hands.
"Take that ye stupid Tidey!" A voice called from the trees, "Dirty'n the water!"
Rayla watched as the figure nursed their now properly chastised skull. Stupid tide-elf coming all the way here to take a bath. Didn't they have the whole ocean or whatever to use? Rayla pulled out another stone ready to pelt the slender-framed tide elf again.
As she peek over past the roots again she was met by a view she honestly wasn't expecting. The figure had stormed across the beach and was now nearly to her concealed position, entirely nude!
Rayla had a decent moonelf upbringing, loved, secluded, and sheltered. Thats why she had joined the Forest Guard to begin with. She had enjoyed the training, meeting the many different elves, but nothing yet had prepared her for full nudity of the opposite sex.
She knew what a males chest looked like but her eyes focused on the particular bits further down she didn't possess. Oh she was not about to have a fight with someone waving that about, she paniced as the naked elf approached her. Reaching for something to save, her she settled for a painful sacrafice.
She did the only thing she could think of, she threw her precious clean towel at the horrid dirty 'elf' that was approaching her and ran. She had been trained to fight multiple opponets, sneak up on multiple enemies, kill, but nothing had prepared her for 'weaponized nudity'.
So panic had chosen decency over lethality.
Callum was surprised at his attackers next choice of missile. He knew some one was in the thickets next to the tree, quickly nearing his target when the towel unfurled. he had almost screamed when a large lightly stained off whited stiched thing came flying at him only affording him a second to witness his attacker.
A scarlet faced wide eyed elf had peeked past a root, covered her eyes and launched tolietries at him before ducking back behind cover.
While less painful than a stone it may have been more effective as it hit him in the face and wrapped him up for a second. Confused and incapactited by the surprise bath item, he struggled long enough to hear someone running as he pulled the soft fluff off his face.
He wasn't to worried, the elf may have seen him but they wouldnt get far.
Running was only an option for so long, and escape had been off the table after the towel tosser had scared the young weasels. That had earned his ire, the throbbing on his head reminding him of how that stone could have laid one of the little weasels low. For them it could have been a life altering injury, deadly even in the right spot.
The Forest had already responed to his request: halt the intruder now. Callum rarely directly ordered the forest, but it was his privledge to do so and his alone. He could feel the forest moving around him, it had various clumps that like to stay together. These 'strings and knots' moving around in the webs that created the woven fabric of the forest itself.
Soon the elf would find themselves turned back toward the stream or simply halted bound by the forest itself.
He took a moment to pat himself dry a bit before continuing his pursuit and a quick walking pace, towel thrown over his shoulder. A few weasels had grouped together, he could feel them like a pulse running to cut off the elf, the forest shuffling under them to afford them a postition. The elf might be armed, the weasels were children now playing at a true hunt.
He would need to arrive quickly indeed.
Rayla was a moonelf from Silvergrove. Her home was literally a hidden by a magical illusion in a magical forest. So she knew when a forest was fucking with her mind. Silvergrove itself would twist and bring an outside back to where they had entered.
She stopped her sprint, falling into a slide through the moss. This was something else, this wasn't an illusion. Ducking low as a tree actually rotated, swinging a branch toward her. She had heard stories of the forest turning against elves, forcing them to get lost in its depths.
As her foot caught on another root that she kenw wasn't there a second ago she felt a twinge of actual fear. This didn't feel like the forest wanted her to get lost. It felt like something had directed it toward her, she had seen earth elves control the ground before lifting walls of stone and earth. Maybe it was possible with the proper arcanums or knowledge to control trees themselves?
Escape would be difficult but if she could at least loose the mage he wouldnt know where to direct the trees. Arcanums while powerful weren't omnipotent, he would surely exhaust his powers searching a wide area. She just had to lose him and remain hidden.
It would be a task but not impossible for her an assassin, she thought just before she a rustle from a bush to her side moving faster than her. She tried to stop but it was too late,
"HEY!" A group of voices called out a brown and tan blur jumping suddenly infront of her, sending Rayla screaming as she fell launched herself to the side attempting to avoid crashing into whoever it was she hadn't seen.
Panic tasted like the dirt and moss that roughed the side of face. She curled trying to roll and keep her momentum. Escape or at least get her footing and prepare to fight.
The twinge of actual fear turned into a creeping dread as a root lashed itself tightly around her wrist.
What the actual fuck, the forest itself was attacking her, not just the trees. Several roots crept closer as vines tried to pull her back. The vines broke and tore away but stalled her enough. She only managed to get her knees under her before a second root snagged her ankle. What manner of elf had she pissed off
She turned back toward where the voice had been pulling a dagger out with her free hand trying to menace the clearing between the tree and bushes where she had fallen.
"L-lemme go an I won't hurt ye!" She tried to threatened, a hard sell considering she was being restrained by the trees themselves. With a deadly look and her sharp dagger she tried to appear menacing, then immediately lowered her dagger. As three very scared looking song-weasels came out from hiding, staring at her weapon then something behind her with wide fearful eyes.
These are a distraction shite! Rayla could already feeling the eyes approaching her from behind. Song-weasels were a clever ploy, a certain distraction, and far to cute to harm.
"Please don't resort to threatening the little ones. That would actually make me quite angry." A cold voice said from behind her.
This was just not her day.
"I-I'm sorry i threw stones at ye!" Rayla tensed. She wasn't sure what kind of elf she had earned the ire of but it seemed that had control of several arcanums and... could talk... weasel?
The furry tubes wriggled closer and began to inspect her pinned limbs One of the young musical mustelids approached her and nodded at her dagger before hopping about.
Rayla might have been mad, and scared, but she wasn't about to cut down some innocent weasels to escape throwing stones. She released her dagger and drew the other, setting it beside it. The yound mustelid quickly bit one and started to drag it off.
"HEY! Drooooop it." The mystery mage said as they walked past her, her towel forced to conceal most of their lower half. She was thankful for its sacrafice, it covered their waist and the dangly bits she had seen stomping toward her. They started waving their five fingered hand at the small fur tube which Rayla found quite odd. The weasel stuggled a bit then released its shiney prize and scammpered around.
Wait what. Rayla froze as she looked down at five toed feet.
This wasn't an elf, she couldnt tell if her heart had stopped beating or had just reached a cresendo to fast for her to really feel. Was it really hot all of a sudden or was she just suddenly very chilled?
"OH! Noo! " A five fingered hand reached down around her bownd wrist which had turned raw and red with her previous stuggling. "Let. Her. GO! I didn't ask for you to hurt her like this!"
The vines quickly receeded as the non-elf hand wrapped around her own four fingered one, lifting her arm to look at the bruised and scrapped skin.
She looked up at the same time two far two green eyes locked with her own. No horns, No ears... she saw black before she could discern much more detail.
Callum knelt looking at the now unconsious elf. No armor, a spare change of clothes scattered where she had fallen, a stange bar of sweet smelling something. That combined with the weaponized towel that kept him decent.
Putting most of it together Callum figured she had been trying to chase him from the stream to enjoy it herself. Thinking her was another elf she had resorted to encouraging him to vacate the area with a verbal assault and improvised artillery.
While she had insulted the fae and actually dinged him twice, she hadn't harmed his tiny wards. He gathered her things and positioned her a bit more comforably in the thick moss of the forest floor. Taking special care to pick up her blades with her clothes over his hands and wrapping them tightly. He was in no rush to find out if her weapons would have the sting of iron.
"Come now, lets head back with our new friend." Callum knelt back down as the weasels came forth. Some crawling up to rest on callum while one stood on Raylas chest and nosed into Callums palm.
A second later the lack gentle forest motes falling back through the light to the moss below were the only indication something had been there.
Rayla oppened her eyes slowly, she was dizzy and recalling what had happened just before she had blacked out making no sudden movements might be best.
She was lain up against trunk, while covered in moss one knot had dug into her back and woken her. Surely some clever torture of her captor, she risked a glance about. Judging by the suns position and the deepened shadows around her she had been out for some time.
Her attempt at stealth was quickly shattered as a bright eyed song-weasel shoved its snoot in her face and gave a loud sqeak. Rayla quickly raised her hands looking at the small tube.
"I'm sorrie aye! Sorry I did'nae know ye were wee bits!" She raised her palms and kept them open as several more weasels came to inspect their now awake 'prisoner'.
Now discovered, Rayla was a more open in examining her surroundings. She was back at 'her' spot in the stream. The 'thing' that had captured her and brought her back was, napping?
She looked over at the pebbled beach and saw him laid out acroos a flat stone doing a fine impression of a sun bathing shadowpaw. He was now fully clothed in patchy breeches and a loose green tunic. A Belt and small dagger adorning his waist.
She cast a somewhat guilty glance toward the floofs next to her as she crept forward. The weasels while flanking her saw no reason to stop the elf. Her weapons had been taken and they had the utmost confidence in their prince. Let the foolish long ear learn.
Rayla was now next to the dozing Callum, she had been right! Five fingers! In her excitement she threw her reason aside, softly picking up callums arm to examine the appendage.
She had actually begun her second round of looking for horns in the mess of his brown hair before she realized his green eyes were wide open and staring at her.
Her assassin insticts kicked in before Callum could properly react. She twisted his wrist, and with her free hand pinned his head against the stone. With a deft twist from her core she spun mounting him.
The element of surprise gone, assassins resorted to brute force and interrogation to get their answers.
"Tell me what'ye are before I deck ye cold, ye dagger stealing thief!"
Callum and all of the weasels yelped in surprsise at her sudden assault. He had intended to stay awake, really, he had seeing as he was now a prison guard and such. It was just difficult, after so much of the forest had shuffled about in a panic to catch the fleet footed elf it had taken a bit of a toll on Callum. Moving bits himself was more effecient but far slower. The forest taxed him heavily for such grand magics, forcing him into a short nap to recover some of his strength.
"I'm a fae! One thats been nice enough until now!" Callum growled against her palm on his cheek. He really didn't want to string her up with vines agian but at this point she was being, gods who DID THIS! She was strong too, stonger than Callum expected and to be frank stonger than he was. He should have restrained her, she was scary.
She was a trained and built fighter, she swung weapons and carried armor all day. He was a forest fae his magic was his strength, elsewise he only tended to the plants and animals.
"Ye- wh- a what?" Callum felt the pressure on his cheek let up as the elf seemed to lose a bit of her fire. He used this moment to move a tree closer
"A Fae, do I need to sting you up again with vines to prove it?" Callum swatted the elfs hand of his face and spun throwing his hand up looking like he was guarding his face a bit. Just enough for him to reach his magic.
Her fists looked mean, and he had felt a bit of the pressure they could deliver. He hoped he could react fast enough if she took a swing.
Rayla paused to look around her, the weasels had scampered off a good ways and a tree had somehow moved itself closer, infact a lot of them had. She looked back down at the fae who had a bright glow behind his green eyes, holding up his hands. He either didn't know how to guard his face properly, maybe not even know how to fight at all seeing as this was the most physical resistance he possed so far.
She heard the solid trunk of the tree moan deeply as it leaned closer, casting a shadow over them both and brightening the effect of the faes visage.
"Really I must say my injury upon you was unwarranted in its level. However you will find I've made amends and you'll heal quickly." Callum nodded to her wrist which had been salved and wrapped in some fiberous leaf. He really hadn't wanted to hurt her. Just yell at her a bit maybe, kick her in the shins for throwing stones during his swim class. The rough scrapes that had left faint splotches of her elven blood on his hands when he tried to move.
He had tasted a bit of cold regret in not reigning in his request of the forest. Trapped was trapped to wether the fly in its we was moving or not to the spider.
"If you continue this, your debt of throwing stones and calling me dirty will not be the only slights for which you owe." The light behind his eyes seemed to thrum as he spoke and Rayla knew enough of fae lore to start choseing her words and actions carefully.
"I- No." Rayla quickly removed herself from the fae, the trees shook and rumbled about. Eventually they returned to an appropriate spacing. She started moving back to the trunk where he had originally rested her. Taking a shakey breath to steady her nerves, wracking her brain for ever detail she could recall about fae lore.
The list was jumbled and disjointed in her mind, but enough details surfaced to possibly help her survive the situation. They were rare, guardians of the forests or other wild places. Words had power with them and had to be used carefully. So were names right?! What about insults? Could she find a way out of this without loosing something dear...
"Y-you might wanna slow down or your gonna faint again." Callum called to her as he sat up, watching the elf slowly begin to hyperventilate. She had started muttering to herself, her back rising and falling quickly as she tugged at her braid.
Hearing him behind her, he really didn't sound so angry did he? More authorative, like he had wanted her to know he was still in charge, not so much a jailor as a peeved educator. He had even taken the time to bandage the wrist she had scuffed during her attempted escape. Looking down she realized how little it hurt. A slight tingle on her skin from under the leafy bandage let her know he had applied something to it.
"D-did ye magic me wrist up?" Rayla asked turning to look at the fae holding her hand out accusingly. If he had already magiced her into some fae contract or sorcery she wanted to know now.
"No, its just something my friend makes for cuts and such. Its. Its not something you owe me for." Callum replied. He knew what the elf was asking. Fae were known for being coniving predators, granting wishes or healing then capturing elves or taking such unbelievable things like children. Using the elves foolishness or carelessness with words and the faes magiced promises.
Really fae didn't do that anymore. Who in their right mind was going around snatching up toddlers, stealing them away from their healed mother or whatever else. There were a few crazies, and occasionally a fae might use their magic to snag something from the mortal realm. Something slight a tiny shiney that had caught their fancy. No screaming, poopy, elf babies the fae learned that lesson long ago.
Callum similarily began to run through a familiar script in his head. Really it was just some basic instructions on dealing with fae stuck elves and avoiding sticky situations.
"Fer what do I owe ye, should I think owe ye then?" Rayla tried to avoid admitting the insult directly but she knew even an elf would ask for an apology for the stones at the very least. It had been a bit childish.
"Two small stones and a headache worth of something." Callum snarked back, chuckling as the elf started playing word games with him.
"I-" Shit Rayla thought to herself. She had hurt him, and now he could claim she owed him for such an insult.
"So-" No she couldn't just apologize either that just admitted the debt was owed.
Another sacrafice then? She reached into her belt and pulled out her precious item.
Star-Lily Soap, and broke the bar in half. Throwing on part to Callum, who caught it eyeing her suspicsiously until the smell hit him. Rayla was pleased to see his eyes brighten at the smell.
"Its good for yer skin, to make up fer the bruises it makes ye clean to make up fer calling ye a dirty tidey." Rayla hopped her offering was enough, feck that shit was expensive and she had to ask a trader to bring it to her special from home.
"It smells, fruity? I kinda like it," Callum sniffed the blue flecked white bar as the sweet twang of the flower hit his nose. "and I know what soap looks like thanks. Wheres it from?"
"From the forest I'm from." Rayla threw a hand over her mouth. Could you tell a fae where your home was?
Callum noticed how quickly Rayla was to stifle her responces. Honestly it was a bit irritating, this never happened. Ever. A elf not running and screaming at the first sight of him? Being decent and admitting to their fault? Still being a bit of an ass and NOT taking back the comment about his smell? Thinking he didn't know what soap was?
He really just wanted to talk as fae were curious, and callum was especially so. Callum immediately decided he was going to stick around long enough for them to at least take back the stinky comment. In fact he could smell her! Stinky elf running around his forest causing trouble, it reminded him of a few animals he delt with on a daily.
She seemed too quick to pounce before thinking, like one of Morwens kittens. Before they started listening and after they started talking back. Maybe one of the beaver clan leaders, quick to take misguided action, but truely apologetic when they caused a flood or other issue.
To be honest the stones hadn't really been that bad, the soap had more than made up for it. He had been more upset with her scaring the weasels and wanted to stop her before she did something bad or risked injury after drawing her weapon.
"Listen lets make a deal. Ok" Callum watched as the elf froze her eyes locking with his as he raised his hand. He had really wanted to see an elvish reaction to those words. It was hard to stifle his giggle at her wide eyed fear and anticipation.
"I promise no fae stuff, bindings, dangerous magics, or anything you do not personally ok before and during our meeting today. As long as you elf, treat me like you would anyone else and are nicer to the weasel you threatened." Callum said holding her gaze, before he broke down not being one for such classic fae speeches his snickering breaking the air of mystiq.
"At least anyone you like enough not to throw rocks at ok? Lets just be decent for a bit. Friends maybe?" Callum said his head rolling to the side as sarcastically as his eyes. It was a decent offer, no funny buisniess from his magic, and no more daggers and roughouseing from the elf.
Rayla eyed the fae suspisously, his eyes had given that look he had earlier. He had made a fae promise on this deal: to enact no others. So far the fae hadn't really acted like the stories, no demands for jewels or her future children. No sinister threats of hidden blackmail or other future ill tidings if she didnt bend to his will.
"Whats ta stop me from just leavin now?" She searched for some catch, and found one not nessecarily fae trick up his sleeve immediately. Obvious proof of his fae intelligence, he had cleverly set her up with his own terms and conditions. Perhaps simply unable to contain his innocent prankster nature, he simply had to do something.
"Oh, uh you dont have your stuff? Like the daggers, clothes or towel." Callum responded running his hand through his hair sheepishly. Rayla had a sinking feeling she had something more embarassing than fae issues to deal with.
"Honestly the towels drying over there and the daggers are safe but, I kinda got distracted. Fell asleep and all you see." His oh so innocent smile was more than enough to let Rayla know this was all according to the faes plan.
"Soooo the little ones may have ran off with your spare clothes? We'd have to find them without the fae magic and such." Callum waved his hand as if to dispel any doubts of his involvement. To him it was a fair enough statement, his words were true. No fae magic had caused this mishap and as such it wouldnt be fair to use fae magic to fix it.
Convincing the weasels had simply taken throwing some snacks next to the clothes and turning his back. No magic involved of any kind, it only took an intimate knowledge of the forest. Like how to speak weasel well enough to lay out their mission, and where to find treats for the mischevious agents.
"They wha!" Rayla looked down at the ground searching for a sign of the little creatures. Seeing one off near a bush her bra tangled around its long body, she glared daggers at Callum.
Who was buisily staring holes at the forest floor below him. He would owe the little ones quite the debt for their combined acting prowess, cute and irritating was a hard look to pull off.
He knew where each one of the furry shites were at this very moment didn't he! He was the Shitehead Leader! Forgetting the exact terms of the deal, and in a rush to catch her dignity before it ran off on four legs she made a snap decision.
"Deal! but just like anyone else who I liked enough NOT to hit in the HEAD with a stone," Rayla growled out stomping toward the tangled weasel, "You are gonna help me find my clothes."
She could play this game too, if no fae magics were involved he was free to punish however she would a 'friend' who was being a total, a total. Just look at that shite eating smile on the fae! Not even a sun elf was this bad when it came to being an irritating prankster and gloating about it.
Callum actually giggled as he started to follow her, his new friend was quite interesting. Accepting his offering his company with no magic, even though with using it he could return her clothes immediately? In a rush to catch her clothes she had offered to spend a bit of the afternoon with him. An interesting elf indeed Callum smiled inwardly, happy to run across such a wild elf.
"Deal, I'm Prince Callum of The Uncharted Forest and you are" Callum extended his hand for the elf.
"Rayla the elf slightly ticked at that shite eating grin yer wearing. Fecking Nudist." Rayla rolled her eyes and promptly stuff the Fae Princes hand with a now bra free song-weasel. It wasn't that she didn't trust him as much as they had moved well past a casual handshake as a greeting at this point. She hoped her ending jab had been enough to stifle his mouth for a second.
"So you did see!" Callum cried out as the now mortified red eared elf stalked past him toward a bush that was now giggling at her unintended revelation.
The small fluff spun about in his hands immitaing Callums happy laughter.
She tried to supress her own smile as the fae set the animal down directing him patiently to go find his siblings. Something she was sure wasn't about to happen quickly, but maybe that would be ok she thought, as callum waved her on into the underbrush.
Her earlier stress and anxiety, the need to escape the guardhouse, had been washed away in the excitement and now she was too involved. Caught between embarassment, laughter and Callums 'helping' her search for her lost clothes she had dropped the dreary feelings. The ones that had her ears droopings and wanting a relaxing bath in the stream to begin with.
While she hadnt gotten her bath, ended up sweatier than she had started, and was now walking about with the fae Callum tracking a buisiness of adolecent weasels her day had begun to get a bit brighter. Rayla often found her way through the forest by following her feelings and being patient. It had gotten her this far, so she let it guide her along with Callum in search of a missing pair of pants, two boots and a few other odds and ends.