Before going back Rayla guided Callum to another part of the forest filled with large fruit filled trees.
"There. Those are sanguicots. You stay down here while I climb up and throw the best ones down." Rayla instructed and without waiting for a response she already leapt from the ground, gravefully jumping from tree to tree till she was in the top of the one she wanted to be.
As she did so Callum couldn't help but watch in awe at how easily she did so.
Even if he himself had flown she'd probaby still reached the tree before him.
"Oi! No daydreaming, doofus! Hold a bag open!" Rayla called, snapping him from his trance and he quickly rushed over to do as she told him.
One by one she tossed down large yellow-orange fruits that were almost as big as Stella, who by the way nearly dropped on Callum's head.
Luckily for him this task only took a few minutes before Rayla jumped down again and told him to follow her back.
When they reached the tree house they once again rushed past the forge and quickly went into the house.
They were greeted by a wide arrange of scents, finding Runaan in the kitchen with several pans on the stove as the assassin was rapidly cutting up a large amouth of vegetables Callum had never seen before with expert precision.
"Uhh... We're back!" he greeted.
"Yes, I know. I already heard you before you came up the stairs." Runaan answered and Callum found himself having no problem believing that.
"Rayla, come taste this." he said, holding up a spoon for the girl to taste.
She did so and moaned happily, "Are you making sugar-root soup?"
"And ruby potatoe rumbledethumps, a mushroom quiche and fried summer vegetables. I figured that regarding what happened I'd better make all of Ethari's favorite dishes. What's the weather like at this moment?" he asked while cutting what looked like a purple pear with blue polka dots.
"Cloudy with a still a chance of thunder. There were less loud noises but I could still hear him curse in ways that would make him wash my mouth with soap if I repeat them." Rayla answered before holding up her bag of fruit. "You want me to stew these for dessert for you?"
"Yes please." Runaan nodded before getting back to work.
"Is there anything I can to to help?" Callum asked, trying not to jump as Runaan looked back at him with those sharp eyes that held a clear disdain for him at the moment.
Considering how their whole day had gone thanks to him Callum honestly didn't even blame him.
"If you insist, I suppose you could set the table. Do you think you can manage that?" Runaan asked and he quickly nodded.
"Right away!" he agreed and also went to work.
As soon as they were all as good as done the front door slammed open.
Both Callum and Rayla jumped, though Runaan barely reacted.
"Hey, there you are. Come sit and eat." he instead right away greeted his husband with a tenderness Callum didn't think was possible for him.
"Thank you. It smells wonderful." Ethari sighed as he tiredly stumbled to the chair his husband held out for him.
As Runaan plated the food Callum made sure to sit as far away from the smith as possible.
Just in case.
"So... How's the forge doing?" Rayla asked after a few moments of everyone silently picking at their food.
"Maybe not as bad as I first thought but still bad. I'll definately need to spend everyday this coming week in there to make up for everything that was lost or ruined." Ethari groaned as he rubbed his temples.
"What?! You seriously think you can't spare a day!?" Rayla cried, jumping to her feet.
"You might not have to spend all the time working. Some adoraburrs got into town and I let some people think one of those adoraburrs got into the forge so they'll know their orders might take longer. I also stopped by the training-fields and they all agreed to go easy on the weapons they have at the moment and use the wooden ones for the time being. Several elves already told me to pass on to you to take it easy since they know you were supposed to have the next few days off and that they're willing to wait a few weeks longer. I'll help you make a schedule later." Runaan then told, placing a comforting hand on his husband's shoulder.
Ethari stared at him in awe for a moment before smiling and throwing his arms around him.
"Marry me." he mumbled into his neck, making Runaan chuckle
"We're already married, dear." he said.
"Marry me again." Ethari sighed as he tried to wiggle even closer, drawing a short laugh from Runaan who gently lifted his chin with a finger and kissed him on the mouth.
"Geez, do you guys always have to make such a show of how in love you are? It's both adorable and disgusting." Rayla huffed without a single trace of malice as she grinned at them.
"Oh, but I've got more than enough love for you too!" Ethari chirped as he hopped off his husband and almost ran around the table, grabbed Rayla's face between his hands and started pressing multiple loud and exagerated kisses over her face.
As Rayla laughed and squealed while trying to push him off Callum sat on the side, watching in slight amazement how quickly the atmosphere had changed.
He really didn't want to disturb the happy family moment but knew that since Ethari seemed to be in a much better mood this was probably his best chance.
"Um... Ethari?" he hesitatedly called, mentally cringing at his awkwardness.
He also had to stop himself from flinching when all traces of joy left Ethari's face as he stood up and stared down at Callum with a stone face that couldn't rival Runaan's.
"Yes, Callum?" he asked with his arms crossed.
"I-I... I just wanted to say that- Um- I- I'm very sorry!" Callum cried out, probably louder than he should have.
At the very least it seemed to catch Ethari off guard who dropped his arms and blinked at him.
"I know I messed up! I really do! Rayla told me to not bring an adoraburr in the house but I thought I knew better and did so anyway and now lots of your work is ruined, you won't get your off days completely off, people in town had lots of trouble and- and-" he ranted, only stopping when a large strong hand gripped his shoulder.
"Breath, Callum." Ethari instructed and only then did Cllum realised he indeed forgot to breath in as he talked.
"I know you had no bad intentions," the smith told him and Callum perked up, "However! That doesn't mean you're off the hook!"
"As you said yourself, you delibarately ignored one of our rules, which in turn caused not only me, but several elves in the Silvergrove quite a lot of grief. We're honestly lucky no one else seems to realize you're the cause. And to be honest, I don't think I can handle having you around for a whole week after this till at least some time has passed. I would like you to leave tomorrow morning." Ethari then told him, catching Callum off guard.
"I second that." Runaan agreed.
Callum took a glance at Rayla who just shrugged in a 'what can you do?'-fashion and he nodded.
"I understand." he sighed.
"If I fly I can even leave tonight and reach Katolis in a few hours." he offered, recieving a rough pat on the shoulder.
"Then it's settled! Now, enough moping and start eating! The food's getting could and I would hate for it to go to waste! Oh, mushroom quiche!" Ethari chirped, immediantely switching to cheerful again and practically skipped back to his seat, leaving a stunned Callum trying to figure out the smith's moodswings.
He glanced at Rayla again who sheepishly shrugged again and started eating, prompting him to do the same.
He spend the rest of dinner mostly quiet to not do anything that could disturb and annoy the elves anymore.
When they were done he offered to do the dishes on his own, but this was turned down by the adults, saying that the longer he stayed, the later he'd be home.
He didn't have to be a genuis to understand that they actually meant that they just wanted him out of the house as soon as possible.
A couple of moments later he and Rayla stood at the door.
"I'm really sorry about all of this, Rayla. I know how much you were looking forward to this trip." Callum once again apologised to his girlfriend who sighed.
"Yeah, well, ay least you learned your lesson, right? Say hi to Ezran and the others for me." she told him.
"Wait," Callum frowned, "Why would I need to- You're not coming with me?!" he cried.
Only then did he notice she didn't have a bag of belongings with her like he did.
"What? You thought I was gonna leave too? Ha, no way! Sorry Callum, but you said it yourself, I've been looking forward to this week for months and I'm gonna spend whatever time I can with my family!" she snorted.
"But I-" Callum tried to protest but was hushed by a finger against his lips.
"Why don't you use this as another reason to never do it again, hm? Now, you be off! See you in a week! Love you!" Rayla told him sweetly before betting him on the shoulder (and Stella leaping into his other shoulder and petting his head before leaping back), kissing him on the cheek and closing the door, leaving him to stare at the piece of wood, trying to process what happened.
"Great..." Callum sighed before deciding there wasn't gonna be any use in trying to argue more and summoned his wings to start flying home.
