Chapter Text
--Rayla--
It had to be past midnight by now but Rayla could care less.
She was a Moonshadow elf for crying outloud and it would be impossible to sleep at a full moon with so much pent-up energy in her. And by energy, I meant really dangerous, not-safe-within-a-ten-meter-radius, at-the-verge-of-exploding, type of energy.
She had already spent the last few hours running through the woods, slish-slashing at every little fig that came her way, screaming her throat dry and some more slish-slashing, yet it did nothing to calm the turmoil of emotion within her.
So there she was. Sitting on the cliffside of a mountain, that she had scaled, which overlooked the valley where her hometown lay, fast asleep with nothing to be worried about. Nothing to cry about.
No. She was not gonna cry.
She took notice of the silent pattern of footsteps nearing her but she'd gotten accustomed to the sound that she didn't even need to look to see who it was. She just knew, even when the silent figure had settled themselves beside her.
"Shouldn't you be sleeping?" Came the usual deep tone she'd come to known in the last few years.
"Like I could sleep through a full moon," came her slightly-raspy voice (due to her screaming). He was silent when she continued, the bitterness slipping, through "Besides, it's not like I'd be trainin' anymore anyway."
"That's not to say that you should stop," he replied, tone softer than usual.
Rayla just couldn't hold it in, the anger now tumbling out in bursts, "Yeh, 'cause I'd be trainin' to hold tea properly, and knowing which fork to use tomorrow, eh? Wearin' fancy dresses and going to fancy parties with stuck-up rich brats. Then I'd have to train myself to smile and let everyone shove me around and pretend everything's definitely fine while they mock me behind my back. While they spit insults at me 'cause I'm forced to- to marry a dumb- filthy- human? For something that wasn't even MY fault?"
She didn't even realized that she'd been shouting till she felt her throat screaming at her to stop. Her companion only waited for her to calm down as she took a few seconds to pull herself together before she finally muttered, "Sorry, Runaan."
"I don't blame you for your frustration," Runaan told her, glancing out in the horizon, "I... am not so pleased myself."
Rayla sighed before turning to him and, though chances were pretty slim, pleaded once more, "Are you sure there's not anything you could do to convince him?"
Runaan let out a small laugh (and he must be so upset considering how rarely he let any of his walls down), "If I were in any position to talk to the Dragon King then I would. But you should know as well as I."
She knew what he meant. Ever since Runaan took her under his care, she'd been training to become an assassin for most of her life, trained to kill an assigned target. To accept they are dead until the end of their mission then to resume training until they were called out once more.
Assassins served no other purpose but to kill. Assassins who were in no position to call what's right or wrong. Assassins who can only do as they were told.
And despite knowing all of this, the words still manages to push through her breaking voice, "It's not fair..."
Rayla angrily blinked back the rise of tears, gripping the edges of the cliff tighter as she glared ahead. She didn't ask for them to-
"We don't decide what's fair and what isn't."
Silence. And then-
"I know."
Runaan never said anything. Maybe it was because he understood.
That's why he let her break down as she cried it all out. And she supposed it brought her comfort to know it was him who was there instead.
She didn't want to but she had to pack anyway.
Rayla didn't bring much though. Just a few pairs of her clothes, some moonberries and a few other elven snacks, a piece of parchment of written down recipes from Runaan, a small little dagger and a map of the Human Kingdoms in case "something went wrong" (with a separate map of a detailed Katolis).
She heard someone enter her room accompanied with a question, "You're wearing that?"
Rayla turned around to find Tinker standing there with an eyebrow raised and she only scowled in response, "What? What's wrong with this?"
She was wearing her normal attire; her assassin's armor-wear along with her dual switchblades hidden beneath her vest. She was not going to give these up without a fight; to heck was she immediately wearing a dress in her first MONTH in that place.
"You look like you're plan on storming the castle and assassinating the king," he couldn't be anymore blunt.
"I mean, that was the original plan, yes."
"Yeah, and the plan now is a peace alliance, yes?"
"I believe that's what the itinerary said."
"Uh huh. And?"
"What are they gonna do?" Rayla challenged, "Take it off me?"
They had a bit of a staring contest before Tinker shrugged, "I mean, that's a good point."
Despite the dreadful day ahead, Rayla cracked a grin, "Glad you see it my way then. I could definitely tolerate you being my father-in-law."
"Har, har, very funny," her grin turned to a smirk at the slight tint of pink on his cheeks, "I came to see you off."
"And now, you have my blessing."
Tinker ignored her as he reached into his pocket, "Before that, I have something for you."
Rayla cupped her hands around her mouth, yelling in an exaggerated matter, "Runaan! Can we please keep him?"
"Nice try, princess, but he's at the market," Tinker retorted before pulling out a necklace and handing it to her.
Rayla eyed it suspiciously before peering at him, "First of all, don't call me that. And second, won't I be getting more of these necklaces when I... you know."
"Become a princess?" She threw a pillow at him but he only duck to the side as he continued explaining, "It's not just any ordinary necklace, Rayla."
He waited for her to get it as her eyes widened in realization, "Oh."
Tinker gave her a smile, eyes twinkling with mischief as she took the necklace with a bit more care, "When you see it fit, crush the Moon Opal and say 'mystica-arbora'."
Rayla turned her gaze back to him, "And what would 'mystica-arbora' mean?"
Tinker shrugged innocently, "Dunno. 'Hide me' or somethin'?"
She narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously but decided to let it go as she clasped the necklace around her neck before slipping it in, hidden from view, "In all honesty though? Thank you, Tinker."
"My pleasure," then he bowed mockingly, "princess."
She deadpanned, "I take back having you as my father-in-law. You no longer have my blessing."
Tinker only let out a good-natured laugh before leaving her to finish packing her things. After a few more minutes of seeing if she'd taken everything she needed (or wanted), she slung her light pack over her shoulder and headed downstairs to see Runaan by the doorway, talking to Tinker. They'd been so deep into the conversation that they didn't even notice her until she cleared her throat.
"You better not have the wedding when I'm not here," Rayla teased them.
Tinker crossed his arms, "Actually, I think that idea sounds a lot more appealing."
"What? You two getting married?"
"You not being here."
"But like, you gotta admit. The wedding sounds pretty appealing too though."
“Whatever pleases the princess.”
“Call me that again-“
“Speaking of which,” Runaan interrupted before the banter turned into a wrestling match, “Shouldn’t you be wearing something more appropriate for the occasion?
"I think my attire's pretty appropriate," Rayla stated firmly, crossing her arms with a determined stance.
Before Runaan could argue, a shadow glided over them, accompanied by the loud whoosh of air that breezed by. It was a dragon-- a red-scaled, sun dragon to be exact-- and it landed just a few ways away from the house. Behind it, Rayla could make out the rising sun, signalling the end of dawn.
Her mood dampened slightly as the reality of it began to sink in but she refused to give way to it.
Unfortunately, it didn't take long before Runaan broke the silence that had settled over the three of them, "Your ride is here."
Rayla's shoulders noticeably drooped but she quickly straightened them once again, eyes glaring with determination as she tightened her grip on the strap of her pack. She refused a repeat of last night; she didn't have the undercover of darkness to be vulnerable now.
Turning to both Tinker and Runaan, she shot them both a grin, though it seemed more forced, "I guess I'll see you guys later."
Tinker smiled back, "We'll miss yeh, Ray."
"Rayla-" Runaan seemed to hesitate. If anything, it was the closest she'd seen her mentor and guardian unsure for a long time. The Moonshadow assassin finally settled with a, "Just stay in touch, alright?"
She cracked a more genuine smile and things seemed okay that one moment, "Like I'd want to do anythin' else. Might even overdo it."
"Please don't."
Both Rayla and Tinker huffed out a laugh and the corners of Runaan's mouth seemed to tilt upwards. The moment was interrupted by the loud grumble of the dragon that had neared them, wings ruffling with impatience.
Rayla sighed before beginning to head towards the dragon, walking backwards to glance at the two elves, "I gotta go."
Tinker snorted, "Yeah clearly."
"Enough with the tough act. Yeh know yer gonna miss me."
"Kinda up for debate but I'll let you have this one."
"Please refrain from doing anything stupid," Runaan called out.
"No promises," Rayla then shot them both a smirk once she reached the dragon, "Oh, and try not to keep the neighbors awake. Garlath knows what you'll do with the house to yourselves."
Runaan raised an eyebrow as if questioning what she meant but Tinker seemed to get the implication for he seemed to turn a darker shade of purple. She let out a quick laugh before quickly climbing onto the dragon, who'd knelt down to let her on. She barely had time to settle comfortably when the dragon immediately got to its feet, beating its huge wings twice before leaping up and taking off into the air.
After quickly adjusting to a more secure grip, she turned back to look at the only home she'd ever known, watching until Tinker and Runaan disappeared over the mountain.
And yet she refused to let it sink in.