Chapter Text
Tiadrin.
Rayla and her fiancé had just left their room after spending the evening together. She sighed and rested her head on Lain’s shoulder. No one said anything for some minutes.
“Can you believe she’s getting married?” She asked, her voice low.
Lain chuckled “Nope. It was difficult enough accepting she doesn’t need us anymore”
“I know”
“Yet I’m glad she chose someone like Callum to spend her life with. That boy is…”
“Perfect for her” Tiadrin interrupted “As she’s perfect for him.”
Lain passed an arm around Tiadrin’s shoulder “Now I feel bad about how we treated him on those first days”
“Yeah, maybe we were a bit rough on him just because he was a human”
“And a mage”
“Rayla seems to enjoy those particular things about him, though”
“She loves every part of him” noted Lain.
Tiadrin chuckled “She does. I’ve to admit, they’re cute together, even with all the PDA”
“Can you blame them? They’re young and so in love”
“We were also young and had our honeymoon phase and we weren’t half as public as they are now”
“Everything changes, my love” he kissed her forehead “And isn’t it good that our little moonberry gets to enjoy her youth and express herself with such freedom?”
Tiadrin bitted her inner cheek “I guess” she sighed, closing her eyes “I wished I could’ve been there in her teenage years, can you imagine being there during the crushing phase? With her eyes full of love, excitement dripping out of her voice, blushed cheeks and jumping all around the house as any teenage girl would, I wished we were there to see that."
Lain considered the words of his wife for a moment “I know. We didn’t get to see her grow up as most parents with their children. But, we can be there for her from now on, we can be there and hear her talk for hours about whatever she wants to share with us”
“I know” Tiadrin smiled and kissed Lain’s cheek.
“Rayla, wait!” Tiadrin grabbed Rayla’s wrist before leaving the dining hall “Can we talk for a moment, sweetheart?”
Rayla’s face brightened “Yeah, of course” She gave a small nod to Ezran and Callum and they went out.
Lain kissed his daughter's forehead before leaving “Goodnight, Rayla”
“Let’s go outside” Tiadrin proposed.
“Okay,” Rayla agreed.
The fresh breeze of the night swept over them, and the moon shone brightly on the flowers and the garden decorations. Though it was night, the castle was busied with activity, making it difficult to find a quiet and private place to have a mother-daughter talk.
“Have you and Callum already decided on a date?” Questioned Tiadrin as they walked through the bushes of carnations.
“We have some options, maybe late July or late October”
“Oh, that is too far away dates”
“Yeah” Rayla snorted “The reason for July is because, well, our birthdays, you know, and October it’s more of Callum’s idea, he says October has the most beautiful moons, so it could be a great month to get marry”
“Well, he’s right about the moons in October”
Rayla shrugged. They continued walking in silence, hearing the crush of the leaves under their footsteps.
Tiadrin cleared her throat. Usually, she was confident, Runaan sometimes said she was even overconfident in herself, but when it came to being a mother all that confidence turned into doubt. As any mother she wanted the best for Rayla, and she wanted to be the best mother ever, she owed her daughter that at least.
“Rayla” she started “I know your dad and I have apologized before, either way, I want to say that I’m sorry I couldn’t be there with you to help you with the things a mom should teach and guide her daughter with.”
Rayla’s eyes widened “It’s okay, I’m not mad anymore, Mum”
Tiadrin stood before Rayla and caressed her cheek “I know, and I’m forever grateful you forgave us”
“You know, seeing you and Callum and how awkwardly you talk about your future, makes me want to go back in time and stay with you instead of leaving” She laughed humorlessly “It makes me excited that even after all you found a family here, with him and Ezran” She took Rayla’s hands into hers “Your dad and I know you're going to live an amazing, beautiful life, and we will be here if you need us, sharing those happy moments with you, I promise."
Rayla embraced her mother, moved by her words. Resting her head on her shoulder, and feeling Tiadrin’s arms enveloping her.
“I’m so glad you’re here” she whispered.
Tiadrin squeezed her eyes shut trying to keep any tears from falling “I love you, moonberry.”
Lain
Lain had to admit that Callum grew on him. That boy was so charismatic, and cheerful, but also serious and intelligent when needed. And Rayla, well, she was his daughter, for him she was perfect. Though Callum seemed to share that same thought, Lain could tell by the way his eyes lightened up every time Rayla entered a room, or did something small like smiling at Ezran, or talking even if it was to bully him, it was written on his face that he loved her. Lain’s heart was at peace knowing that Callum deserved Rayla, that he would do anything to make her happy and keep her safe, it was all he could ever want for his daughter.
Nonetheless, if he spent too much time thinking about it, a knot formed at the base of his stomach, reminding him he wasn’t there to protect Rayla, that he never was the father or even the man his little daughter must have looked up to. Callum was doing everything he should’ve done, and he was infinitely grateful Ethari and Runaan were there for Rayla when he wasn’t.
Lain couldn’t be more proud of Rayla, every time he thought about everything she had done in her still-short life his heart felt like it was going to explode with overwhelming happiness.
Since Rayla and Callum announced they were getting married, he couldn’t help but imagine walking Rayla down the aisle. Though the picture didn’t last long, his mind was instantly plagued with doubts, do humans also have that tradition? When and where were they planning to do the ceremony? Would it be a Katolian or Moonshadow wedding? And the most imperative, and difficult one, was he worthy of the privilege of accompanying Rayla in those short but intense and beautiful moments? Because he hadn’t been there for her in a decade, he would understand if she preferred that Ethari or Runaan walked her down the aisle.
A knock on the door and it swinging slightly open distracted him.
Rayla peeked at the room, her lips frowned “Oh, I was looking for you” she said.
Lain’s eyebrows lifted “Me?” He asked confused.
“Yup” She entered the room and closed the door behind her “I just talked to Ethari and Runaan, and now I need to talk to you too.”
“Oh?” Lain watched as his daughter took off her shoes and sat beside him in the bed “What do you need to tell me, moonberry?”
Rayla moved closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder, yawning.
“Long night?”
“Yeah, I didn’t know planning a wedding was so difficult”
“I’m sure you and Callum can manage, but if you need help your mom and I will be delighted to help”
“Thank you” A small smile appeared on her lips “Anyway,” she said with renewed energy “I didn’t come here to complain, in fact, I came here to ask you for something about the wedding.”
“Of course, anything,” Lain said, excited, it was the first time Rayla explicitly asked him for help.
“Callum and I finally know how to merge our two cultures and traditions” She made a dramatic pause “We both share the tradition of the bride walking down the aisle along with her dad….”
His heart skipped a beat, feeling what was coming. Rayla caught his eye, a bright smile on her face “I came here to ask if you’ll want to accompany...”
“Yes! Of course! I would love to!” Lain interrupted her, turning his body so he could hug her.
Rayla’s arms wrapped around him too, her cheek on his shoulder pushing him closer to her, and making Lain remember little Rayla asking for hugs at least three times a day. Oh, how much he’d miss having his daughter in his arms. He kissed her hair.
“Thank you for giving me this opportunity, Rayla” his eyes stung with tears.
She giggled “I love you, Dad”
“I love you too”