Rayla helped Callum into his saddle, the prince still sniffling and coughing. At least the night he had spent snuggled up next to her in a warm cabin had finally erased the shivering and reduced his hoarseness. Zym was trying to catch slowly drifting snow until Rayla heaved him off the ground to drop him in Callum's saddle bag.
"Good to see you on the mend", she smiled at him from below, patting his thigh.
He smiled back. "Best nurse-butler award goes to you, fawn"
She gave him a puzzled look, then recognition lit up her face. "Whew. The crack. That feels so long ago!", she patted her chest guard where her broken rib had been pensively, then walked over to her saddle bag to pull out a small calendar she had kept.
"October seventh… hm… Oh. Callum. That means we've been together for a month!", she looked up at him, a mixture of disbelief and adoration in her eyes, "Aww, dummy, an entire moon!"
The adorable sap returned her loving smirk, "Yeah. Hard to believe that kiss was just a month ago. So much happened! Wait - you put that down in your calendar?!"
"As one does with important events?", she winked and swung herself into the saddle to spur her animal.
Today was going to be much better. The clouds above them were separating a little and soon enough, the sun was shining into their faces. It was still very cold and Rayla made sure their skin was covered, not just for warmth. Sunburn didn't care about temperature.
They rode for a while in silence, their eyes wide in awe at the landscape that was now appearing from under the dispersing fog.
To the left and right, two majestic mountains still ruled, but they were getting less impressive now. Ahead, the slope of the pass dropped further until it turned into a serpentine road that would deliver them quickly to lower ground.
In the far north-eastern distance gleamed the silver spires of a city too large to be obscured even by the lush canopy of the jungle that spread to the horizon. Towards it snaked a gleaming river, the eastward Ibalin, springing from the same source as the river they had followed this entire time.
"Veltis-Tiram", Rayla said, pointing.
"It's huge! I've never seen a city that large!"
"Well, it's the capital of the Xadian Republic", she smiled sadly, "Trust me, we'll see it up close sooner than we'd like. I doubt they'll ship me elsewhere for the process."
Callum looked at her, worried and she shook her head. "Sorry, I didn't wanna be a killjoy. I'm fine."
'Just remember his eyes when he said it! He'll be there', Rayla thought, a stupid smile blooming on her lips.
Callum was still awestruck by the city. It was far enough away where there really was only one building that one could make out a little. Parliament. The huge structure was dome shaped and sat atop a slight elevation that made it stand out over all the other buildings in the city.
"Look over there. That's Mons Ornatam.", she pointed south-eastern and his gaze followed her arm and finger to find a somewhat unremarkable, short and rounded-off mountain.
"I… I kind of thought it'd be bigger"
Rayla shrugged. "It's where the Dragon Queen is, so, I understand why you'd say that."
Callum swallowed hard. Seeing it made it real. The idea that their mission was a few short days from closing out with no certain outcome really didn't make him happy.
His girlfriend apparently thought the same, given her look of worry.
"Hey, so.", he said to get her attention, 'Soon we're gonna be done. Do you feel ready to go to Katolis? Maybe meet Amaya?'
'Ready for that?', she replied with an unsure smile, 'Never really ready. She killed me.'
Callum shook his head, 'Almost killed you. Almost.'
'Almost. Right. Not all dead yet I think'
They snickered - and both their expressions sunk. Where they really both so pessimistic now that something as dire as that counted as humor?
'That was dark', he continued with a sheepish smile.
"Eh", she said out loud, then signed, 'It true. Dark. But true. Bad things happen while travel.'
She bent over to rummage in her saddle bag and pulled out one of the Mallorn Apples they had gotten from the Ranger's ration packs.
"Think fast!", she shouted, throwing the apple.
Callum flinched and fumbled at the fruit, barely managing to catch it.
Rayla nodded with satisfaction and Callum knew why. Since they had left Otark's place, she made a point of teaching him the basics of hand-to-hand combat on odd days while on even ones they would dance.
They hadn't really done much of either while the prince was sick, focussing almost entirely on sign. Either way, he had started to understand a little bit more about how to fall and his reactions had gotten faster and more precise.
He chucked the apple back at her and she started eating it with some self-satisfaction.
Unlike him, she seemed to quickly pick up every dance he'd thrown at her. It would be interesting to see how she would do with music. Hm. Music?
Callum started humming, a bit of folk tingling the back of his mind.
Rayla listened intently. He wasn't a great singer, obviously failing to hit notes here and there - but nowhere near terrible either. Thinking that he looked a little forlorn, she prompted him.
"What are you hummin', dummy?"
"Ah, it's a military song that my mom and aunt used to love. It's kind of like Bait in that it has a really messed up name. It's called `Lovely Companion`. The Swoop goes really well with the first part and then it kind of turns into a slow Overstep song."
"Why's the name messed up?", she wiggled her eyebrows at him, sassily, "Does it have wooords?"
He flushed. "Do I have to?"
"Awww! Please! For our monthiversary?"
"Uh, I guess it's fair. You sang to me-"
"-if you still want to call it that!", she interrupted with a snort.
"Come on, you're not nearly as bad as you think. I liked it. Enough to wish you'd do it again. But, eh, here, watch me embarrass myself."
With that he cleared his improving throat and sang, quiet and hoarse;
Saw you dance 'mid the fire and the ashes,
were you - there to enamour or efface?
See, your grin wasn't quite as I recalled it, but;
I knew - by that cursed edge of your blade.
So pyre me where it pleases my lover,
near friends - or deep within our quarry's land.
Oh, my task didn't end with my life, So;
how can - I pass to endless final rest?
He coughed for a moment, then said "There's more but… Yeah. The name's messed up because it's really a song about death and how it doesn't frighten those who face it for the right reasons."
"Death as a lovely companion. Whew, I see what you mean. But, hey, you're my lovely companion and not a bad singer, even with the cold. The song has some odd breaks in it though?"
Callum snickered at her smooth compliment and said, "It comes with a lot of clapping and guitars, normally. Maybe we'll get the chance to hear it at some point, like it's meant to sound", he chuckled, fondly remembering the scene, "Around a fire with the Crown Guard, all a bit too happy cause of midsummer and an open barrel."
His mien sunk as he remembered who had sung the song, then.
"My dad was a great singer. My mom not so much... but she tried. I guess I'll never get a moment like that again."
Rayla kneaded her hands. There was so much in their lives that evoked sadness, now.
It was hard to be cheerful.
"Do you think your mum would be proud of you, doin' what you're doin'?", she asked, resolving to work through it with him.
"Hm. I'd like to think so. We're bringing a baby back to his mother. She used to get really annoyed at Viren when he suggested Dark Magic as a solution. I… I remember her fighting with dad about a magma titan. They used to hack at each other in the courtyard when they had reached a point in their arguments where there was more shouting than progress."
Rayla smiled. "Gettin' those aggressions out by sparrin' isn't the worst idea. Though, I'm not sure if it's a good idea to hand two angry people weapons."
"Yeah, nobody ever got seriously hurt, but they definitely had a few dicy moments. What about your parents?"
His girlfriend frowned. "I'm not sure I wanna talk about them."
"You must have some good memories with them, right?"
She nodded, slowly. "It's not like they didn't love me, dummy. In so many ways, that makes thin's worse. It's not easy, dislikin' them. They were just gone a lot. So much so that I call my father by his name and R-Runaan...", she sighed deeply, "I used to call him `dad`. But yeah, to answer your question; There's some good memories I used to have of them. I just feel so bitter thinkin' about them now. It's all… tainted. After everythin' they sacrificed for their duty, includin' me, they just... run?"
Callum nodded empathetically. "Do you think they would be proud of what we're doing?"
She shook her head and scoffed. "We know Runaan's opinion. My parents are kinda similar. They all really hate humans. If they're still out there somewhere and they ever heard of us as a couple, no number of dragons bein' brought home would save us from them. They'd do everything to break us up, I'm sure."
Callum made a non-commital noise. "I would've said the same about Amaya, a month ago. People change. I think your family could, too. Plus, who would refuse someone as adorable as me?"
At this, she leaned over to gift him a kiss that he happily accepted.
"I'd agree. Who would?", she snickered, "A month, Callum. Feels like we've been together forever."
He nodded, "Yeah. That day in Larwein I felt a bit uneasy with the idea of sleeping next to you in a bed. Now that just makes me giggle."
"Oh it was the same here, dummy", she grinned widely, "I remember our stupid looks at each other while we were standin' there, brushin' in the mirror. I don't think I ever told you, but I had a really dumb thought then", she put on a very stupid sounding version of herself, "well this is weirdly homey, next I'm gonna use the lavvy while he's bathin'."
Callum laughed hard at this until coughs stopped him and he had to fight for air. It was something that he had known his parents to do, often bristling at the thought as a child. It was a level of comfort that he hadn't understood then, and it was still not nearly in their grasp.
"You okay?", she asked with a small laugh.
"You're just really funny!", he said, waving her off, "Stopping there was worth it, even though I ended up getting stabbed by Helmond."
"Yeah. Hard to imagine him doin' that sort of thin' now. Remember how happy he was when he and Torlan found us in that clearin'?"
The name made them sad. Darn.
"It's kinda weird to think about him. We know basically nothing about him other than his rank and his family. He seemed nice enough", said Callum.
"He was, what, three, four years older than us? Not an age to go.", she shrugged sadly, "Especially not like that."
For a moment, there was pensive quiet between them.
"Fawn, are we going to continue the Bloom?", Callum asked, a little sudden.
She blinked at him. "I mean, you did collect the flowers. You said you did, anyway?"
Somehow the way she said it made him frown. "... but you didn't?"
She sighed ruefully, studying the ground. "No. I didn't."
"Oh", his frown deepened as hurt grasped at his heart, "Then where did you go?"
"Um. Well. Where you said you would and for a walk. I… had some things to think about. And I like mountain vistas, that's all."
"Ah."
After more quiet, he asked the question that hung in the air. "Why not?"
She rubbed her arm. "Yesterday. Uh. Those thoughts? They've been up here for a while", she tapped her head, "I… was plannin' on breakin' it off once we had dropped off Zym. It all just… exploded outta me in the cabin."
The news crashed into him like a wagonload of bricks.
"Why didn't you talk to me about it?"
She smiled at him, painfully. "Warrior princess?", she offered, "I just… I…"
Rayla took a deep, frustrated breath. "Look. I had this idea in my head that if I told you, you'd just take it. That you'd accept me not wantin' you anymore. That it would be really easy to do the right thin'. Uh, `the right thin'` bein' to not burden you with my gettin' locked up."
She moved from rubbing her arm to doing the same to her neck. "Turns out that you really didn't take to the message. All I wanted is to… keep you outta harm's way. Don't give me that look, I know it was the wrong way to do that, now! Gosh, dummy, I love you, a lot! I don't really wanna break up!"
She flushed, "Uh… especially after yesterday. You, uh… You really… uh,flustered me. Like, seriously. I didn't know up from down when you were done talkin'."
"Well, I meant every word. Don't ever try to break up with me again, fawn", he wagged his finger, trying to lend some levity to the situation, then a sheepish, sad look washed over him, "Oh, uh, unless you really want to, anyway. I don't want you to feel like you have to stay with me when you don't w-"
She lept off her saddle, planting herself down in front of him. Her legs wrapped around his stomach and her arms slung around his neck, she kissed him. While they were busy like this, Rayla's animal stoutly fell into a trailing step with Callum's. It almost seemed exasperated. How dare she jump off?!
"Well this is nice", he said appreciatively, "We could snuggle all day long like this."
"We could", she said, "But my butt's gonna start hurting sooner rather'n later, the saddle's not made for this sort of thin'. We better make it worth it while I'm here."
They enjoyed a few more minutes of kissing and tight embraces.
"The Bloom", Rayla said, firmly, "I'm gonna get you your plants, just you wait."
He shrugged. "I told you, I don't really need them."
"Then… then I'll get you a ring?", she said, less sure.
He flushed a little. This was something that he understood quite well, culturally. It was still very strange to think about.
"The argument we had… before Kel attacked us? Those things are all still true. Laundry list of expectations. You becoming a Princess."
'Or queen-in-waiting', his idiot brain interjected, numbly.
She nodded. "Sure. But… but, you know, maybe I'm feelin' a bit more okay with the idea of bein' a Katolin princess today."
He shrugged, giving her an adorable smile that contained a seemingly ever present sadness. "You know, talking about your parents and Amaya actually gave me an idea about that whole wedding thing. You were sort of right."
"Huh?"
"Better sooner than later. But it needs to be super public and it needs to be a huge deal. People need to see us. Katolis needs to see us, the elves need to see us. We need to make this the biggest thing in the past thousand years."
She flushed. "That's not… I didn't think…", she protested, but he placed a finger on her lips.
"No, listen. Over there, people think that you're a monster. Over here, people think that I'm a monster. We have a chance here. We can show, once and for all, that humans and elves can get along just as well as humans and elves among themselves."
His shushing arm dropped onto her thigh but his girlfriend stared at him for a good minute before she finally answered. "You're right. But I hate that you are. You're thinkin' like a prince there, not like my Callum."
"What do you mean? Your Callum is a prince."
"What I mean is - you really don't want a huge feast or loads of attention. You're bein' political. The worst part is, I wanna be angry about that since it feels a bit like bein' paraded around"
Seeing him wind up to protest she warned, "Ah-bap-bap-bap, I'm not done yet! Dummy, I agree with you! It'd be mutual paradin' and you're right in thinkin' that it would really hit people in the gut. I mean, you've seen the chaos we've caused by holdin' hands, for cryin' out loud!"
"Well look at us scheming like bonafide royals!", he smiled at her, then became pensive, "Helmond switched sides in a snap, so did the town guard. It's like they never even considered it, and seeing it first-hand just… smacked sense into them."
"Lessa's soldiers, too. Ugh… Lessa. I hope her and Honsa are alright."
"I don't even wanna think about how bad I would be doing without her help."
"I know what you mean. Lessa saved my life after Kel's attack but I'm just as grateful for Honsa's help for you. Love, you looked terrifyin' in that cage. I don't ever wanna see that face on you again…"
Their embrace became tighter again.
"I kinda saw it on you, yesterday", he said, quietly.
She harrumphed. "That's my own fault. Stupid head."
He lifted a hand to pet the back of her head, under her horns. For some reason, it gave her goosebumps. She had never considered that part of her especially sensitive.
"Not as stupid as mine after eating Twist Bell", he quipped.
"My, are we nostalgic! What did you say, `just off`? Did you actually think your head was floating away?", she chortled, remembering his face as he'd forlornly stared into the distance.
"To be honest - I don't remember much. That's a weird feeling. I do remember us starting the Bloom after and you giving me this", he tugged at the pendant around his neck.
"Did you just smoothly brag about your memory?"
He shrugged. "It's my best feature"
"What's my best feature?", she asked, more as a joke than anything.
He frowned, thinking. "You know the… hm… one thing I sh… hrm."
Rayla was suddenly worried and puzzled. Did he not actually like anything about her?
Finally, he gave up, his mien sagged and his body slumped into the saddle a little. "I can't decide between your smarts, skills and startlingly good looks, Rayla. I'll take the package, please."
She flushed, laughed and swatted at his chest. "Ya infernal brown-noser!"
"It's true though. You're smart, otherwise we'd be super dead by now. You know so much about everything. You have skill, otherwise… uh. Yeah, dead and stuff. I mean, you knocked out all those bounty hunters, you tied up Ithral! A guy who took out like, ten trained soldiers by himself!"
He coughed, turning to avoid her face, "You saved me from Helmond, you fought Kel and the Templars. You are the reason I'm fed every day and sleep in a warm place and know how to make a fire and-"
"Okay, dummy, I get it already!", she laughed, flushing harder, "You're no slouch yourself. I mean, the Kel thin' alone. It's probably still hard for you. Thank you. You saved my life."
He shrugged, upset creeping into his expression. She grabbed his face and forced him into a pout, then kissed his pursed lips.
Quietly, she continued, "You're patient and level-headed. I've said so many mean thin's to you and you always take me back after doin' somethin' stupid. Like behind Honsa's tent. Or yesterday."
He shook his head, smiling and opened his mouth to challenge her.
"Don't go there, dummy, let me compliment you!", she said, angrily, "You were always there for me, even after everythin' that happened to you. You were always good about my hangups, I never felt judged. That means a lot. I remember your reaction from when I told you about my desensitization trainin', how soft you were with me about the braid"
They both flushed a little at the more recent memory, "You even helped me get a bit better with water. Heh, that was nice."
Rayla leaned forward to rest her forehead against his and soaked in the earnestness of his green eyes.
"You're good for me", she said, quietly, turning their heads' touch into a kiss.