Disclaimer: I do not own The Dragon Prince, The Dragon Prince: Mystery of Aaravos, its characters, locations, or themes. They are the property of their creators: Aaron Ehasz and Justin Richmound, Netflix, Wonderstorm and Bardel Entertainment. This story is purely for entertainment purposes in celebration of an amazing animated television series. Enjoy!
Callum's room has always been a safe haven growing up. They could play their silly games without criticism, hide out after their latest jelly tart heist or when lessons were dull that day, even sitting in silence, as Callum drew while Bait and Ezran played, was a pleasant escape from the royal responsibilities given with their titles. Here they could just be boys, brothers growing up together.
At night those four walls played another role. As lightning flashed and booming thunder echoed beyond the cold stone, his room was a place where his little brother could feel secure, snuggling tightly with him without fear of reprisal or judgment. Scary monsters and nightmares didn't stand a chance as long as big brother Callum was on duty. A few years later Rayla must have felt the same way, often slipping under the covers seeking the warm comfort of his embrace after a disturbing dream. Callum didn't mind. He rather enjoyed being able to help others feel better; it was something special he could do for those he loved. There were times, however, when the same boundary seemed to work against him.
As a young child his mother was the one he confided in. Always welcoming him into her open arms and chasing the bad dreams away until nothing remained but the warmth of her love. Afterwards he often imagined her standing tall, battle spear in hand, victorious over the demons that plagued the night hours. But then she died. King Harrow tried his best to fill the void, however, always seemed hesitant. They hadn't known each other very long before Queen Sarai's death making their relationship feel out of place and awkward at times. Even when his beloved brother Ezran got older he felt wrong burdening his younger sibling with his troubles. So Callum turned to his sketchbook, letting its pages console him when there was nowhere else to turn.
Then he met Rayla. A beautiful, smart, funny, big hearted Moonshadow elf. As they grew closer the haunting shadows seemed a thing of the past. She would be there whenever the nightmares took hold, listened to him voice his fears and brought a sense of peace. He finally had someone he could go to, to seek comfort from when he was in need. Then she vanished leaving behind a letter which was both heartfelt and sincere, but not the same.
Later he leaned on magic to ease his troubled mind. The thrill of a starlit flight in the cold air warmer than the bed in his lonely room. Sometimes he would spend hours flying over the kingdom watching the lamp lights as they flickered to life in the darkness, then as they were extinguished with the first rays of dawn creeping over the horizon. The royal guard however, wasn't too pleased with the prince leaving at all hours of the night, nor was Opeli keen on his occasional dozing off during meetings.
This brought him to tonight, his second night laying wide awake as the morning hours drew near. Earlier he stood at the door separating his and Rayla's rooms, placed his palm on the wood wanting so desperately to find that comfort they once shared. Uncertainty clouded his mind as he looked out his window across the courtyard to his brother's dark room. Callum backed away, retreating to his bed to wait for dawn. Closing his eyes only brought his latest nightmare to life with accompanying phantom aches and pains. Surviving Finnegrin's torture once was hard enough. He didn't have the stomach for it again tonight.
The next morning dawned in picturesque shades of pinks and oranges as he drew himself out of bed and freshened up. Breakfast was uneventful and he was able to appear functional for the first few meetings, but after lunch was challenging. His eyes were dry and his head felt heavy as the last meeting drew on. Both Rayla and Ezran gave him concerned looks as the day's agenda was finally completed and they made their way to the dining hall. They talked as they ate but he couldn't recall the topic of their conversation, couldn't even recall what dinner was for that matter.
Now he was dragging himself back to his room, dreading another long, sleepless night after wishing his brother pleasant dreams with a warm hug. The younger boy's clear blue eyes held a troubled expression before departing. Callum couldn't help but wonder if he somehow knew. Rayla must have guided them to their rooms as he realized he now stood in the open adjoining doorway in his night clothes. She reached around him, her strong arms warm as he returned her embrace. Violet eyes searched his face with worry before her soft lips pressed against his, providing some comfort to his anxious mind. He hoped it would be enough to get him through until tomorrow. With a small smile he closed the door.
Callum was barely able to crawl under the covers before surrendering his weary body to sleep.
It was still dark when he opened his eyes. The moonlight through the window was too faint to discern the shapes around him. Hair on the back of his neck pricked in alarm as the surrounding space slowly came into focus. Dread set in: this wasn't his bedroom. Wood planks creaked hauntingly under the thick, squelching boots of the figure stalking the shadow's perimeter. The smell of salt and decay filled his nostrils and burned like fire as the footsteps paced slowly with purpose around him. Callum made to run but found his arms restrained to the post behind him, securing him firmly in a seated position on the worn, splinter filled floor. When he struggled to free himself a hollow laughter echoed from the abyss.
"Did you truly think you could escape me? That you could insight mutiny on my ship and live?"
Finnegrin stepped out from the shroud of darkness. The sea captain was drenched, dripping with sea water, seaweed and algae clinging to his ragged clothing. An arrogant smile exposed soft tissue and bone where sea life had gnawed the flesh off his decomposing face. A slime coated, decaying skeletal hand roughly gripped his collar, hauling him off the floor with unearthly strength. Callum tried not to vomit as the smell of rotting flesh and benthic silt on his face sent his head reeling.
"There is no escaping me, boy. I will haunt you until the end of time itself."
The anemones were nowhere in sight, but struck all the same. Sending violent, coursing streams of white hot pain throughout his body. He wanted to cry out as his limbs and muscles painfully contracted with the current, but his voice was empty as the merciless assault continued. Finnegrin's sinister cackle accentuating each shocking blow.
This isn't real! Callum tried desperately to reason with himself. Finnegrin is dead. He can't hurt you. Wake up, Callum! This isn't real!
But the shocks still came, his body convulsing to the corpse's sick tune as his willpower weakened. No, he couldn't give up. He had to do something to break free of this madness. Had to do it now. Gathering every breath of air possible into his lungs he found his voice…
…and screamed.
Callum was bolt upright in his bed, shaking and coated in cold sweat. Rayla burst in blades drawn moments before the guards patrolling the hall came running through the other door. In his petrified state he could barely make out their forms, couldn't make sense of what they were saying, before the guards left hurriedly as Rayla set her weapons aside. She sat beside him on the bed, turning his shoulders so he faced her, but his blank eyes were unable to register her presence. Couldn't feel her hands on his face. Her voice was a series of muffled echoes in the back of his mind as Stella tried nuzzling into his neck. Everything was numb except for the aftershocks wracking his torso. It wasn't long before Ezran rushed in, Bait safely tucked in his arms and hair unruly from being roused out of sleep. He sat opposite Rayla on the bed and placed Bait in Callum's lap. The glow toad croaked sympathetically and emitted a soft light in the room as Ezran guided his hand in smooth even strokes over the creature's back. Something cool dabbed across his brow then along the back of his neck. He was finally able to focus on her face as she rewet the cloth and repeated the process. Glistening violet eyes were framed by brows knitted with concern and lips in a small coaxing smile.
Feeling returned to his extremities as he took a few shaky breaths. Neither of them had heard the full story of what transpired while they were separated on the Sea Legs. Guess now was as good a time as any. With another deep breath he tried to steel himself as he began recalling the painful memories that kept him awake, including the latest in the series of nightmares plaguing him. He felt ashamed at their awestruck looks. Whether it was because he couldn't handle this himself or something else he wasn't sure. Red crept onto Callum's cheeks as even Bait and Stella stared back at him.
Then it happened. Their arms were around him and their comforting warmth filled his aching heart with so much love it burst. Tears streamed down his face as they squeezed him tighter, each embrace releasing more and more of the pent up anxiety, ghostly pain, and fear until the weight finally fell from his shoulders fully. A peaceful euphoria filled the room around them like a protective shield as he finally found the relief he'd been searching for.
Callum's bed wasn't large yet somehow the five of them had plenty of space. Stella and Bait slept in the vacant openings while Rayla held him as she nested along his back. Ezran faced him, hugging tight to his chest. Anyone walking in would find the scene comical, but he didn't mind. The two people he cared about most in the entire world were with him, holding him close as they kept him safe and warm and loved. He wouldn't trade this moment for anything.
Dawn quickly approached as they started nodding off. Hopefully Opeli won't be too cross at them for missing the morning meetings…maybe the first few of the afternoon as well. Callum released a content sigh as his muscles relaxed and his eyes slowly drifted closed. A smile spread across his face as he felt them hug him once more.
"Sweet dreams, big brother."
"Goodnight, Callum."
