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The summer day dawned bright and sunny though inside the magical barrier that protected the Silvergrove is was perpetual twilight as always. But the moonshadow elves didn't notice. Not only were they used to it but they were too busy. the Summer Fair was the next day and they were busy getting everything ready. Not only was this the eighth anniversary of peace between the Panarchy and Xadia but Callum and Rayla (the prince and princess of Katolis) were coming with their daughter Sarai who was a few weeks away from celebrating her fifth birthday. The Silvergrove was too small for a fair as extravagant as the Summer Fair so it was being set up between the Silvergrove and the Adoraburr Meadow.
"This is going to be perfect," Tradrin said resting baby Jonna on her hip.
She and her husband Lian had been looking forward to the Summer Fair ever since learning that Callum, Rayla, and Sarai were coming. They hadn't seen their son-in-law, daughter, and granddaughter since Christmas. Not only do Callum and Rayla have duties in Katolis as the prince and princess but it was difficult for Tradrin and Lian to travel that far with a six-month-old. Not only that but Rayla was six months pregnant with her and Callum's second child. Even with the war the war over, things were still very busy.
Everyone was talking about the visit by the prince and princesses; everyone except the elders. Even now, eight years after the fact, they weren't happy that the Ghosting on Rayla had been broken. Though they would never go against the dragon queen, they didn't like Rayla being free to return to the village. However, they had no say in the matter.
"I can't wait to see Sarai," said Artemis, Runaan and Ethari's six-year-old daughter.
Her younger half sister Diana nodded excitedly. The sisters were very good friends with the young princess. Whenever they were in Katolis or she was in the Silvergrove, they would always play together. The last time the three friends had bee together was nearly three months ago when the sisters had traveled to Katolis with their dads for the Spring Festival.
The elves have been busy. They wanted everything to be ready when the prince and princesses arrived. They also didn't know if the family would be coming alone or if Callum's brother King Ezran would send members of the Crownguard with them. The last of the booths was being set up when one of the children came running up.
"They're coming. The prince and princesses. I saw the royal carriage."
Sure enough the royal carriage came into view being drawn by Moon Lily, Shadow Runner, and Moon Rose, Rayla, Callum, and Sarai's moonstriders. Several Crownguard were with them, including Sorren with his moonstriders Eclipse. This was a little strange since Sorren stayed close to Ezran. Some of the elves wondered if the young king had come, too. The royal possession came to a stop and Princess Sarai got out of the carriage followed by Little Amaya.
"Artamis. Diana," the princess called as she ran up to her friends.
The grown ups went up to the carriage as Callum helped Rayla (who was starting to get heavy with their second child) down. Despite this being her second child, it was Rayla's fourth pregnancy (the first ending in a miscarriage and the second was a still born).
"It's good to see you," Tradrin said giving her daughter a hug. "All of you."
"The girls insisted on coming to the fair together," said Kazi, Amaya's mother.
"Congratulations on your promotion," Runaan said to Commander Gren, Amaya's father.
"Well it's just temporary. Until General Amaya comes back in the spring," the commander said.
General Amaya (Callum's maternal aunt and Little Amaya's namesake) was six months pregnant as well. Her wife Janai and Ezran's wife Apolla (Janai's niece) were also six months pregnant. All of Katolis was excited about the four babies on the way.
"How are you feeling?" Ethari asked Rayla.
"Pregnant," Rayla said. She gasped and put a hand to her stomach. "The baby just kicked me."
Rayla had been feeling the baby move for two months.
"Sarai can't wait until she can feel it," Callum said. "She's so excited about being a big sister."
"I remember someone else who was excited about having a younger sibling," Commander Gren said.
It was true. Callum had been every bit as excited about having a new sibling when his mother and King Harrow (or Prince Harrow as he was at the time) told him he was going to be a big brother. The only difference was that Callum and Ezran were half-brothers while Sarai and this baby would be full siblings.
"Are your brother and sister-in-law going to be joining us for the Summer Fair?" Liam asked.
"No. They had to stay in Katolis for the Summer Festival," Callum said.
"Marco is heading up the Crown Guard back home so Soren could come here with us and spend some time with Andromeda," Rayla said.
Andromeda was a moonshadow elf Runaan was training. She and Soren had met when she accompanied Runaan, Ethari, and their daughters to Katolis for Ezran and Apolla's wedding.
"Let's get you settled in. It was a long trip and I'm sure you're tired," Tradirn said.
The trip had been a long one. Not nearly as long as the first time Callum and Rayla traveled there when they were returning Zym to his mother but still long with a six-year-old and almost five-year-old. A quick glance at the girls showed that they were playing. The four rarely got the chance to play together so Rayla decided to let them be. Sarai and Little Amaya knew the forest surrounding the Silvergrove as well as Artemis and Diana did. They also knew to stay within the barrier. And her mother was right. Rayla needed a rest after such a long trip.
The group made their way to the tree house where Runaan, Ethari, Artemis, and Diana lived. Rayla had a lot of fond memories at the tree house having grown up there when her parents joined the Dragonguard. And she was looking forward to making some new ones with Callum and Sarai.
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Callum woke up to Sarai crawling all over him and it took him a minute to figure out where he was. This wasn't their room back at their house; it was the room that he and Rayla stayed in while visiting the Silvergrove. It wasn't the room Rayla had when she was younger (because of it's proximity to Runaan and Ethari's room, it had been given to Artemis and Diana when they were born) but it was just as nice.
Normally Rayla would be the recipient of such a wake up. But, ever since her stomach started to swell with the new baby, she had gotten a reprieve. Not that Callum minded. Rayla had a miscarriage and a stillborn before Sarai was born. The more rest Rayla was able to get the better.
"Sarai," Callum said quietly so he wouldn't wake Rayla, "it's early. What are you doing up?"
"The Summer Fair starts today," Sarai said.
"Not this early. Now go back to bed."
Sarai snuggled in between him and Rayla, being careful of Rayla's stomach. Callum understood her excitement. When he was her age, he would get excited about the Summer Festival. He had loved them. Not many people knew about Callum at first so he could just be a regular kid. Rolling over, he attempted to go back to sleep.
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"I want to go on the rides first," Artemis said as they entered the fair grounds.
"No; games first," Diana said.
"I want food," said Little Amaya.
"After that big breakfast, I don't think so," her mother said.
"We have plenty of time, girls," Ethari said. "The fair lasts for three days."
Though it was hard not to be excited like the girls. The Summer Fair didn't happen everyday and it was a time when craftsmen, artists, and merchants from other moonshadow villages (and in the past eight years, sunfire villages, skywing villages, earthblood villages, startouch villages, tideborn villages, and the human kingdoms) came to sell their wears. In fact, Queen Apolla had requested that Kazi bring back some sun satin while Rayla wanted to get some moon silk. Merchants wer already at their booths and most of them already had small groups around them looking at what they had to sell.
"Are you going to be selling anything, Uncle Ethari?" Sarai asked.
"Not this year," Ethari said. "None of the amulets I've been working on are done yet."
"They looked done to me, Papa," Artemis said.
"I feel like they aren't good enough yet."
"But they are, Daddy," Diana said.
"And you're right. I just need to step away from them for a little while."
The shadowpaw rides caught the girls' attention and they ran to get in line. The adults followed; enjoying watching their children have a good time.
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The royal carriage was being loaded up. The Summer Fair had ended the day before and it was time for Callum, Rayla, Sarai, and the others to return home. Andromeda finished saddling her moonstrider. She was coming to Katollis to train with the Crownguard; or so she claimed.
"Have a safe trip," Tiadrin said as Callum helped Rayla into the carriage.
"We'll see you in a few weeks for Sarai's birthday," Lain said.
"And you'll be staying with us at our house," Rayla said.
"Let's get moving," Soren said once everyone was either mounted up or in the carriage.
Sarai and Little Amaya waved out the window of the carriage as the group left, content in the knowledge that they would be seeing their friends in a few weeks for Sarai's birthday. It was hard living so far apart but at least now the travel between lands was much easier.