Chapter Text
Have a mystical, magical birthday
Have a wonderful, whimsical birthday
Have a fun and fantastical birthday
With wishes and kisses and laughing and love!
Ezran proudly finished up the little ditty as everyone clapped. He bowed dramatically, and Bait let out a very distinct harrumph as his body glowed all sorts of colors.
“That was wonderful,” Rayla clapped as she bent down to pat the glowtoad on its head. “You too, Bait! Wouldn’t be a show without ya.”
The glowtoad agreed with a low croak that emanated from his toothy mouth. Rayla rose from her spot on the floor to turn around, only to find Soren clutching a rather large baked good, aflame with what looked like little fire sticks.
“What is - - “ the elf started, and Soren simply beamed.
“Your cake!” the Crown Guard explained excitedly. “You know, for your wish!”
“I don’t,” said Rayla dryly, but her face glowed with humor.
“There’s one for each year that you’re alive and then one for good luck,” Ezran explained, sidling up beside her. “You make a wish, and blow them out!”
Rayla looked quizzically at the elaborate dessert, all decorated and covered in something brownish, fluffy, and sweet-smelling. She wrinkled her nose up at Soren, who was still clutching the cake with a wide grin. “Is this your doing, Soren?” she asked, smiling despite. “It looks bread -flavored?”
Soren barked in laughter. “HA! I’m not that much of a genius!” he stated. The young man glanced behind him to address another. “But, like…bread cake would be kinda good, no?”
“I believe it’s called bread pudding ,” another voice quipped. Corvus came from behind, and put his hand on Soren’s shoulder. “It’s nice. A bit sweet and savory.”
The blonde let out a nervous chuckle as the dark-skinned young man retrieved his hand. He coughed to regain composure, and turned his attention back to the birthday elf. “Well!” he exclaimed. “Blow ‘em out. Make a wish!”
Rayla thought for a moment, and then inhaled. “I wish - - “
“No, wait!” cried Ezran, “Not like that. You think it, you don’t say your wish out loud.” The child king appeared genuinely worried at this new development, and it only made the elf’s grin wider. “Or else it won’t come true.”
“Ah, yes,” agreed Rayla, approaching the twinkling cake. “Because that’s how wishes work. Of course!”
She then paused as her eyes closed in concentration. With a breath, she huffed, and the candles were blown out in one fell swoop.
“Happy Birthday, Rayla!” the small crowd whooped, and everyone descended into more applause.
Soren led the cake away, asking aloud if he could grab the second slice after the birthday elf. Corvus said something too distant to hear, and then a male voice caught Rayla’s ear.
“Happy Birthday, Rayla.”
She glanced around, and was so pleased to find it was Marcos, her new guard friend, who had joined in the celebration.
“It’s a pleasure to be here,” the man said, tilting his head in recognition. There was a soft smirk on his face. “It’s like you’ve breathed new life into the castle.”
With a nod, Marcos led himself away, and Rayla scanned the room, his kind words settling in her mind.
Everyone, indeed, seemed to be amicably chattering and socializing with one another. Ezran laughed at something Barius the Baker said, and the older man loudly guffawed in response. Opeli, the High Cleric, began chatting with Marcos as the guard approached, and they settled into conversation. And in a corner, Soren stood with a big slice of cake, ready to take his first bite - that is, until Corvus came along, said something no doubt in admonishment, which led the blondie to roll his eyes, and set the cake down.
The dark-skinned young man smiled at Soren, and Rayla could see his hand emerge from behind, and gently pat the Head Crown Guard on the cheek. Soren immediately blushed in response, and in a second, the hand was gone.
It was nice seeing everyone together like this. Really, really…nice.
Rayla let her eyes wander. The company was lovely, and the promise of delicious cake was even better. But there was something missing.
Or rather, someone.
…Callum.
And there he was.
The young mage was in the room, quietly observing the festivities. A content simper alighted his face when his eyes met Rayla’s, and he turned to walk out onto Ezran’s balcony. The Moonshadow Elf instinctually stepped forward, unable to help herself.
The cool night air was welcome as Rayla stepped onto the terrace. Callum was already at the balustrade, looking up at the sky as the moon danced above them.
“Hey,” she said simply, fluidly moving beside him.
“Hey,” he responded, now turning to face her. “You don’t want to celebrate inside?”
“I was looking for you,” she said, and Callum’s smile widened in response. He offered a hand, and the elf took it without hesitation.
The sky was a nighttime spectacle, and the sounds of the party were pleasantly distant as they swam in and out of their ears. For the first time in a very, very long time, Rayla felt… happy .
Her head leaned to the side, settling on Callum’s shoulder. In a moment, he did the same, and the two sat in peaceful enjoyment.
“You know,” she whispered, closing her eyes at the pleasantry of it all, “When I blew out the candles, I wished - - “
“Rayla!” Callum corrected, his tone mock-strict. “You know if you say it out loud, it won’t come true!”
“Oh?” she said, now removing her head and glancing up at the mage. “Don’t tell me you believe in that superstition too?”
Well,” Callum reasoned, although his words still held an air of sarcasm. “I mean…it’s kind of like a type of magic, no? And besides…” His gaze broke away from the moon, and he pulled Rayla towards him. “I think you’re trying to get out of something.”
The elf’s fingers laced tightly around Callum’s. “And what’s that?”
“The Moonshadow Birthday Dance,” the young man said, grinning. “You said you wanted to teach it to me.”
“I said…?” Rayla began, thinking back to their conversations over the last few days. She tried to recall what they had spoken about. There was lots of talk about the situation at hand, sure, and some teary reunion heart-to-hearts, but Rayla could recall nothing particular about dances.
…Then it hit. The thought came on slowly, steadily, until it reached the outer concerns of her mind and unlocked a memory almost forgotten.
“You remember,” she breathed, and the realization pulled at her heartstrings. “From my letter…”
“I remember,” Callum spoke softly, now pulling the elf even closer. “We’ve sung songs, and we’re going to eat cake…I think all that’s left is that dance…”
He tugged gently, and Rayla felt his body draw her closer. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and settled into Callum’s warm embrace. Her face snuggled into his collarbone as his fingers gingerly stroked her hair.
“Every day,” Callum breathed, and she could feel his words tickling beyond her ear. “Every day, I read it. And wished that one day, we could celebrate one of our birthdays…together.”
Now Rayla pulled back, and peered at Callum’s face. His eyes were shimmering with unshed emotion, and the sight made Rayla’s own eyes sting.
“Well,” she whispered, her voice weak from her own feelings, “that’s exactly what I wished for…”
Their foreheads touched, and Rayla could feel the young man’s steady, even breaths as she spoke.
“That we may always be together to celebrate…birthdays, or victories, or little moments like this…”
Her voice finally cracked as the warm, lush feeling of tears slid down her face. She stole a peek at Callum, who’s shining eyes finally released as he, too, wept with emotion.
Then, their lips met - sweetly, lovingly, the kiss lingering as the couple held on to one another.
“Happy Birthday, Rayla,” Callum whispered as their kiss relented. He pecked her forehead.
“I love you.”
The moon’s cool aura seemed to glow ferociously as the two stepped back from their embrace. They turned to it, still holding hands and remaining close to one another, entranced by its ethereal beauty.
Rayla allowed herself to smile as she sought upwards, silently thanking her heavenly sister.
All things ebbed and flowed. All things came in cycles, like the moon itself.
And tonight - tonight - as the elf held on to Callum’s hand in gratitude and affection, Rayla would enjoy the upswing of the world’s mystical cycle.
“I love you too, Callum.”
“There is a cycle in the world - life and death. It is at the core of all things. The moon embodies this cycle. Bit by bit, it will fade away; then bit by bit it will brighten.” - Lujanne, ‘Through The Moon’