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Lights clung on the strings that stretched across the area, stopping at each pole to add a curved posture and then proceeding in a different direction; torches lit at each other as the dancers spun their fire ropes in the stage and the audience who were watching clapped their hands. The newly married couple — Queen Janai and General Amaya — sat together in their spot, laughing at each other as though they had a world of their own. Janai placed her hand on her wife's and Amaya leaned forward to plant a kiss on her forehead.
Callum stood by the table with a golden cup in his hand. He brought the lid to his mouth to drink the raspberry liquor, the liquid sent sparkles on his tongue as it was sweet and won't make him drunk, he withdrew the cup and continued to watch the crowd. The wedding was probably one of the most breathtaking events he'd ever been to, Zubeia was there to give her blessings to the newlyweds and stayed to immerse herself in the celebration as she chatted among the humans and elves, and Zym was playing with Bait while Aanya taught Ezran a dance that almost ended the young king losing balance if it weren't for Zym catching his best friend immediately. Pyrrah stood by to watch over the young dragon.
Humans, elves, and dragons altogether — no boundary barricading between. Everyone was happy. . . As they should be.
Callum smiled and took another sip, he noticed he just finished the rest of the drink, he looked sideways and sighed. He was too lazy to ask for another pour which left him leaning against the table with his fingers scratching the cup's smooth texture. Perhaps he could wait for a servant to pass by and offer him another drink.
"Why so lonely, Step-Mage?"
His eyes drifted to Soren, who held a cup and a plate filled with jelly tarts in his other hand. "I'm not lonely." He answered. "I'm actually having fun being by myself."
"You're the only one who doesn't have someone to talk to, you know?" Soren said. "Look at the party, man! Everything's beautiful and shining. . . What's left missing is an Arch Mage standing alone like a statue."
"I'm not even that important here."
"Dude, you're General Amaya's nephew!"
Callum rolled his eyes and chuckled. "What I meant is that I don't hold a reputation just like Ezran, not everyone wants to have a chit-chat with a Mage and that's fine by me."
"I don't see it as fine." Then, the corner of Soren's mouth tugged into a smirk. "Maybe you're just waiting for her to arrive because she's not here."
He felt his heart sink. It had been months. . . Callum remembered how Rayla had to depart from Katolis to go and see Ethari, she brought along the coins with her because she knew her foster father deserved to know what happened to his beloved and his close friends. She left with a proper goodbye rather than leaving a note while he was asleep. The feeling of her arms still ghosted around his neck as he recalled watching her leave the castle; pain swirled in his chest.
She hadn't mentioned anything about when will she be coming back. And he utterly understood it. She got a lot of things to catch up with Ethari and she deserved those moments more than ever.
"It's not about that." Callum finally shot his reply.
"But you can't deny that you miss her." Soren snickered and nudged his friend with his elbow. "Come on, Step-Mage is sad and longing over his—"
"Alright, alright, you need to shut your mouth now." The Arch Mage shoved a jelly tart into the Crownguard's mouth and pressed his hands on his back to direct him to the crowd. Then, he shouted. "Corvus! Corvus! Where are you? Come and pick him up!"
Corvus eventually appeared and stared at the two of them puzzled. Soren muffled against the pastry as Callum fought his weight then shot the former tracker a desperate look. Corvus groaned and shook his head before heading over to grab Soren by the shoulders to drag him out, mumbling how on Earth he still had patience with the two's childish antics every single damn day.
Callum released a huge sigh of relief and leaned back while his hands pressed the velvet table mat to balance his weight after resisting someone as muscular as Soren. His mind drifted to the conversation he just had, he wondered what she'd been doing back in the Silvergrove, he was sure she must be helping Ethari with making weapons and telling stories to him while trying to fill the empty gaps left in their family.
She'll come back, don't worry. He reminded himself. Then, his head jerked upon realizing the thought — surely, things between them were now okay, right?
But. . . Were they, really?
He still loved her, but he didn't know how to. Callum scoffed at himself and called himself an idiot for thinking that way. Maybe he wouldn't be very conflicted if he could've just manned up and released these buried feelings.
"Rayla!"
The name made him spring up on his feet and caught Ezran running through the crowd, followed by Zym with Bait atop his head, Callum gently pushed himself between two people to make his way to follow the direction his younger brother had taken to greet the new arrival.
Could it be?
What if I'm hearing things after thinking about her too much?
There was laughter when he got close. And his heels scratched against the ground once he halted, only a small group of elves blocking his way, but it was enough for him to spot her.
There she was. . . Embracing Ezran and Zym nuzzling her side as Bait wiggled his tail. Stella sat on her shoulder with a smile on her adorable face. Callum noticed Ethari was next to her as well, worn in a midnight purple suit with a black tie and a dark green undershirt, his hair looked the same as the last time he saw the elf.
Once Ezran and Zym pulled away from her, Rayla met his gaze through the elves, who started to move aside to present Callum with awestruck eyes whilst his mouth parted. His legs froze and his heart pounded so that he could almost hear the vibration in his ears. The elf pursed her lips and then tucked her hands to her back, Stella chittered as she maneuvered to another shoulder, her purple orbs shining with curiosity.
"Your Highness." Ethari's voice broke him out of his stupor.
Callum shook his head to meet the elf. "Ethari." He said. "It's. . It's great to see you again. I hope— I hope you're doing well."
"I'm doing all right, thank you," Ethari nodded and smiled, "and I hope you're doing well as well."
"Yeah. . . "
Ethari looked between his ward and the mage, albeit noticing how their eyes were glued to each other in an instant. He cupped his hand and cleared his throat. "I assume I must leave you two alone?"
Neither of them spoke.
Sighing, he grabbed Stella off Rayla's shoulders and the cuddle-monkey trilled as a complaint. "Now, now, Stella. That does not include you. Let's give them some space, shall we?"
Stella whined as the elf departed with her in his arms. Callum felt Ezran's hand ghosting over his shoulder and he didn't dare to bat an eye on the trio walking past him, nor he noticed whatever expression he was given. His eyes stilled at the elf in front of him. And the next thing he knew. . . He was making his way toward her.
Rayla remained on her ground, breath hitching as the human got closer, until there he stood — a foot in proximity and she adjusted her head to meet his eyes that haunted her for two whole years. Yet grown handsome as ever.
"Hi." She spoke.
"Hi," Callum said, not entirely certain if she had heard it.
He took the opportunity to see her appearance. She wore a navy blue dress with an illusion neckline that was accentuated with small gems that sparkled at the touch of light, the dress reached down to the center of her lower legs that showed a pair of black strap sandals, and the fabric hugged her waistline and curtained down. Her snow-white hair was pulled into a bun with a pair of braids on each side of her scalp, strings of curls dangled down and the front large tendrils were pulled back on the back of her ears, but small strands still framed her face.
Ever so beautiful, like the rarest gemstone.
She took his breath away.
"So, uh. . . " He began. "You—"
"There she is! My favorite assassin!" Soren draped his arm over Rayla's shoulder which greatly took the elf back. "I thought you weren't coming, this party is fantastic and Sources, you missed the ceremony. Amaya's speech was a tear-jerker that Gren couldn't keep up translating because he broke down."
"Oh, did he now?" Rayla burst out a laugh. "Ez actually sent me a letter asking if I could come even if it was just for a bit and then Ethari said we should both go."
"I'm glad you did. The Dragang didn't feel complete without you here." Then, the crownguard's eyes fell on the mage. "Oh. . . I didn't interrupt an important moment, did I?"
Callum tore his eyes from the elf to his friend. "Not really."
"Welp, suit yourselves." Soren shrugged his shoulder and flashed the mage a knowing look before he walked away. "Enjoy each other's company!"
Rayla pursed her lips and tucked her head down. Callum stared at her while she refused to meet his gaze, as though she felt she didn't belong there, he inhaled and took another step toward her — resisting the itch to lift her chin with his two fingers.
"Do you. . . " He swallowed. "Do you wanna get out of here for a while?"
I wanted to talk to you.
Her eyes flickered to his and nodded her head. Callum held a bit of breath as he led her out of the area, keeping several inches of space between them, he could notice through the corner of his eye how she had her hands on her front with a straight posture, but her eyes. . . There was solemn in them and probably hid a lot of emotions deep inside.
He remembered how cold he was toward her. How he avoided every chance she had given him to talk or have a moment alone.
He acted as if he was the only one hurting; selfish and cold enough not to lend her his ears and hear the words she'd longed to say.
Callum brought her to a secluded place not far away from the party, Rayla first sat on the stone while he made his way around to sit on the other side — a frigid space still between them like a glass barrier, able to see each other, but not touch.
Rayla was silent and not meeting his gaze. Didn't she want this? To talk with him? Why hadn't she spoken anything?
It aggravated him.
"How have you been?" Callum broke the thick atmosphere and hoped his tone didn't come out as bitter.
"Good. Caught up with Ethari on everything, showed him the coins, and there had been a lot of crying between us." Rayla answered, eyes still low.
"He must've missed you."
"So much. When I was on his doorstep, I first elected to turn away, but then I have the rest of my family with me — people whom he hadn't seen for a long time. I was afraid that he might reject me for not showing up," his heart suddenly ached, "but when he opened the door. . . He embraced me."
Callum frowned. "He loves you so much, you know?"
"I thought things between us won't be the same. I thought he was going to blame me for everything, but if he was ever mad, I'd understand." She murmured. "I left with no trace like my parents."
His hand moved from his lap but stopped when it reached the center of their distance, only to be propped on the stone. Callum bit his bottom lip before speaking once again. "You did what you had to do." He mumbled under his breath. "Try to protect the ones you love even if it hurt them."
"I'm sorry, Callum," Rayla's voice cracked, "I know my apologies would never be enough for the pain I've caused you. I'm sorry for leaving, but know that I did it just for you."
"For me? What about my feelings?" Callum said, his heart clenching. "Rayla. . . Do you know how excited I was the day before my birthday? I'd never been so looking forward to it until I met you. I was so excited to share a brand new day with you." He swallowed the lump in his throat. "But when I found out you were gone. . . I didn't know how to go on with what was supposed to be one of the happiest days in my life."
Rayla momentarily squeezed her eyes shut and her hands on her lap clutched into fists. She still refused to look at him as though she were hideous to be looked at. "I was hurting too, Callum, you weren't the only one. I've acted like I'm fine when you kept avoiding me because I know I deserve it. I was prepared for you to yell at me and everything. . . You've been through so much and I did nothing but increase your pain."
But you made me happy more than anything in this world.
Shaking his head, Callum got up and headed in front of her, reaching his hand out for her to take. "Dance with me."
The elf blinked in surprise. "Callum, I—"
"Just give me this chance, Rayla." Please. . . He internally begged.
After a moment that felt forever to him, she finally took his hand and allowed him to pull her up. He'd grown taller than her now. Her breath brushed against his chin and that was when he realized how close their faces had gotten more than the distance they had seconds ago. The music distantly rang in his ears, yet still audible enough for the two of them to hear from their spot.
His left hand went over her waist while the other held her hand, her palm was cold against his skin that managed to deliver shivers in his veins. Sources, how he missed the feeling of her hand on his. Rayla's hand touched his shoulder and a pair of plum orbs finally met his green ones, Callum gave her a soft smile.
His right foot took a step back which she instinctively followed, his left one followed until he managed to steer her around and the hem of her dress brushed against his pants. Callum wore his smile as his heart was on his sleeve. Rayla was smiling as well, but not the smile he wanted to see, there was pain and immense regret on her face even though she masked it with a small smile.
Sources, he had known her so well enough to tell the difference between her real expression and the fake one.
If there were a spell to wash that pain away, he would've wiped that away.
They wouldn't have been hurting like this.
The moon watched from above as they danced along the soft music, the air thickened with their feelings, so palpable, so fragile. Callum stared at the beautiful face of the woman who had his heart all this time, who left and took his love with her. She was delicate under his touch — deserving to be held and loved despite everything; Callum wanted to love her, kiss every inch of her skin to make her feel appreciated, and wrap his arms around her frame while he sleeps.
"I'm sorry, Rayla," he whispered as if he was afraid to shatter the air surrounding them, "for treating you harshly and refusing the times when you wanted to talk."
She shook his head. "You don't have to be sorry, Callum, you have every right to be mad at me and I'll accept it."
"No." Callum's voice cracked this time. "If I hadn't been a jerk to you, we would've been okay much earlier. I became heartless and built a wall to keep you away."
"But did you keep that wall for long? Callum, you've opened the door for me after I came back to stay."
"But not in a way like this." His hand squeezed hers and slowly pulled her closer to him. Desperation flavored his tone. He hated how she held no hatred against him, he hated how she just accepted the treatment he'd given her. His hands traveled to the back of her waist and her arms snaked around his neck, their faces inched closer.
"I know, Callum," Rayla murmured and buried her fingers against the locks of his hair to press his forehead on hers. "I know." Her hand slid across his shoulder until it reached his upper arm, caressing it. "I'm sorry for leaving. . . I truly am."
"Then stay."
The word became a barrier of silence. Their bodies continued to sway until Callum grabbed her hand from his neck and spun her around the air, her dress twirled in the wind, and he caught her with his arm now around her waist. Callum's heart fluttered once he witnessed her breathe out a chuckle that left a broad smile on her features, he looked at her as if she was the missing light — the reflection of the moon in the lake and the first thing he wanted to see when he opened his eyes.
"I'm not going anywhere," Rayla spoke. "I want to be by your side, Callum."
With that, he engulfed his arms around her frame, burying his face in her neck to nuzzle the smooth skin with his nose. He breathed her scent and took in her body being pressed to his, fit so perfectly like a puzzle. He didn't want to be with another woman. Rayla was the person he saw himself spending the rest of his life with and no one else, he saw through his bitterness and saw how amazing she was.
"I love you, Rayla," Callum spoke and felt a tear streaming down his cheek. He took her face in his hands, his thumbs caressing her cheekbones, his smile was not enough to express the emotions that came back from the dead. "I really do. I still do."
Rayla smiled and stood up on her toes to capture his lips. Callum adjusted his grip around her as he returned the kiss with tremendous passion, he tilted his head to get better access to the sweet taste whirling in her lips and he felt her smile against him. Her tear met his cheek and he immediately wiped away using his thumb, a groan erupted in his throat when she clutched his hair. She retracted her lips away to look into his eyes, overwhelmed by passion, Rayla panted for a few moments until she opened her mouth. "I—" He shook his head and leaned in to take her lips in his own, shutting her up from any words.
He didn't need to hear her say it back.
Rayla being there with him was enough, swearing to never leave him again.
Not even the most powerful magic could keep them away from each other. Callum knew he'll always find his way back to her and so did Rayla. He was hers as she was his.
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