CA-CALLUM! Whit in th' hell's bells happened tae mah daughter?!" Rayla was so bug-eyed and ferrous, no one had ever seen her like this. She stood there in awe, looking at her daughter. Her arms covered in bandages and the more evident bruise on her cheek. Sarai looked down at her feet. Callum thought long and hard what to say to his very angry wife. "She won the fight?" He smiled nervously with a shrug, hoping to ease the tension. "W-won th' rammy!? how come wis she fightin'?!" She asked flabbergasted. Soren walked up to Sarai and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Now as your older brother it's mah job tae protect ya, but it looks like you did a pretty good job on your own. Did ya use any spells?" Soren was so eager to hear what had happened but was also ready to pound whoever hit his sister. "Nope had to stop her from using her zap hand," Callum said while wiggling his fingers. "WHY ARE YE HUMORING HIM?!" Rayla rubbed the sides of her temples and let out a loud groan. " howfur did ye let this happen?" She started. Callum tried to get a word. "mah ain daughter is fightin' noo" He knew he was in trouble by the fact that Rayla's accent only came out when she was angry."Ralya, love you are doing it again" He finally chimed in. "WHIT!" She glared at him for a moment then sighed. "Kids go wait in th' living room for a moment... ah have to speak to your father," she finally said, calming down for her motherly outburst.
The kids looked at their father with concern as they walked into the house and threw a thumbs-up as if to say good luck as they disappeared from sight. Rayla sat down on the front step still in shock. Callum sat down beside her, wrapping his arms around her shoulder pulling her close. She laid her head on his shoulder. "Callum, What happened? She asked with a saddened tone in her voice as if she might have an inkling. Callum took a deep breath. "Some kid bullied her for the way she looked." He replied. Rayla closed her eyes trying to hold back the tears that began to sting her eyes. Callum gently rubbed her shoulder. "We had a talk, she knows now that fighting isn't the answer, but I will say she has your spirit, it looked like really did a number on him. I don't think we'll have to worry about her when it comes to boys" He tried to lighten the mood. "Callum ah don't want our children tae be bullied because they ar' different. We need tae take a stand and talk with the elders." She grabbed his hand and gently kissed the back of it. "okay, we'll talk to the elders" Callum replied now rubbing her back. With the sun now setting the two stood up and embraced each other. "We will get through this," He said gently cupping her face, he then placed his forehead on hers. "alright?" He added reassuring her. Rayla nodded.
She grabbed his hand and led him back into the house. "dinner is ready" Rayla called. As Rayla moved to scoop up Luna, her older two siblings raced past their mother competing to get to their seat first. "What have ah said about runnin' in th' house?" She called out to them. "sorry ma!" Sarai called. Rayla just shook her head and sat Luna into her seat. "what are we havin'?" Soren asked. "Stovies'' His mother replied, serving everyone their bowls. Soren and Sarai, of course, had to play "who could finish first" then asked for more. Luna, on the other hand, was having none of this. Rayla tried desperately to get her to eat but to no avail, It just ended up in her hair, on the table, or somehow on the other side of the wall. Callum scooted over. "allow me, madam," He said, giving Ralya a sly grin. Rayla smirked, handing him the spoon, then served another helping to their older two. "Here comes the big dragon," Callum said waving the spoon full of stew around Luna with his mouth agape. Luna giggled and FINALLY accepted dinner. Rayla glared at Callum for a moment but decided to pick her battles with this one. He couldn't help but just smile back at her.
Once everyone was done, Callum and Ralya cleaned up the kitchen from Luna's hostilities with tonight's dinner. "I wonder where she gets it from," Callum said whipping the wall down. "you obviously, Elves are nowhere near as picky" Rayla stuck her tongue out at him with a wink. Sarai and Soren were busy playing in the living room with Luna. Callum stopped cleaning for a moment and grabbed Ralya's hands pulling her close. "hey ther' what ar' ya doing" He just smiled and began to twirl her around as if they were at a grand ball. She smiled warmly as they danced. Their dancing came to a slow dip and a sweet kiss when their attention was taken away from each other and drawn towards the living room. "gerrrrr! gerr" coming from the living room. "Oh no! It's the marshmallow monster!" Sarai cried in a very dramatic voice. Rayla decided to peek her head into the living room. "Don't worry citizen I shall slay the monster!" Soren said with the deepest manly voice he could muster. He then began to tickle Luna who rolled over laughing. It made their mother smile for a moment as they played but also pained her realizing the other kids in the silvergrove may not be as kind. Today was evidence of just that.
Callum walked up behind her and handed her a small glass of moonberry wine. Callum took a sip, "whatcha thinking about?" He looked over her shoulder. Rayla turned around now and faced him. She leaned up against the wall and tapped a finger on the glass. She smirked at him "Ah want another" She said sipping at her wine. "Another glass? But you normally don't drink two" He said raising an eyebrow while downing the last bit of his. "Another baby dummy" She rolled her eyes and snickered at him. Callum choked. As he was clearing his throat his face became flush, Rayla wasn't sure if it was from the wine, choking, or her comment. "Come again?" She laughed while wrapping her arms around him. "You heard me" Callum looked up at her and wrinkled his nose. "Really?" He started to blush a bit. Rayla bit her lip and smiled, she leaned in to kiss him but was rudely interrupted "MUM! MUM! Rayla pulled away with a blank look. Callum couldn't help but laugh. There came a scream and crying as Rayla walked into the living room. "What happened?" She placed her hands on her hips. Luna hung tightly on Sarai's Bait plushie. "Mum! She wont giv' it back" Sarai cried whipping tears from her eyes. Rayla sighed, "ah think a'm done adultin' for th' day" she mumbled under her breath. Callum walked up behind her. "Go take a soak, I got this" He said, giving her a kiss lightly on her cheek. She gave her children a hug and kiss goodnight and excused herself from the room. "Luna that is Sarai's you need to give it back" Callum kneeled down on the floor with his children. "Soren you need to get ready for bed, tomorrow is a big day" Soren smiled "ah thought ye forgot, no one mentioned mah birthday at all today" His grin beaming wider. "Just don't tell your mother, we were supposed to make it a big surprise, now go on" Callum said smiling back. "Aye sir" Soren ran off and got ready for bed. Callum thought of an idea as to how to deescalate the situation."Sarai go get ready for bed moonbug I'll get Bait back" Sarai nodded giving him a hug goodnight. "Luna" He gestured for her to hand it over. Luna shook her head "no! MINE!" She protested. Callum stood up "Who wants birdy?" He said straightening out his arms. Luna immediately let Bait go and threw her hands in the air. "Manus. Pluma. Volantus" His mage wings grew. He then sat on the floor leaning up against the couch, Luna crawled into his lap and he wrapped his winged arms around her. She loved the way the feathers tickled her. "Better?" He asked as he slowly rocked her from side to side while humming a lullaby. Within 20 minutes or so she was out. "Going to have to ask Ellis to make her a skywinged elf" He thought to himself. As his wings dissipated he slowly got up and carried her to bed. Sarai ran up to her father who had just pulled the blankets up for Luna. "shh" He put his finger up. She nodded and ran off to get Bait. Callum then walked into their bathroom where Rayla lay relaxing in the bathtub. Her hair tied back into a messy bun she looked up at him. "No tantrums I see" She said, sitting up a bit. "We may need to commission Ellis to make her a skywing elf doll, She has a thing for wings more than Bait" He chuckled at the thought. "So.. about that baby?" He gave her a sly look.
***Whit in th' hell's bells happened tae mah daughter?: What in the bloody hell happened to my daughter.
How come urr ye humoring him: Why are you humoring him?
howfur did ye let this happen?: How did you let this happen.
mah ain daughter is fightin' noo: My own daughter is fighting now.
WHIT!: What
Stovies: Reminded me of pot roast in a way, using whatever ingredients you have on hand. My grandmother mentioned it to me many times, And how nothing should go to waste.