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They could use a little indulgence once in a while.
Callum, of course, would let Rayla have whatever she wanted any day, but neither of them had expensive tastes. Rayla was beautiful but preferred her silver in her swords. Callum was a prince but found the best thing in life was a hot bath and a book- not exactly fancy wines and expensive dishes with too little food and too much plate.
However… for Rayla.
“I've heard there's a really nice restaurant with rooms to stay in around where we were thinking of making camp. Like, it’s so fancy the Katolis kings of old recommend the place,” he said. Callum needed most of his focus for staying in a generally upright position on his horse, but he spared Rayla a glance, smiling. “Think about it— we can get a nice couple of beds there and a good dinner!”
“Didn't we just stay in an inn last night?”
Callum shrugged. “Well… yeah, but it's no problem. There aren't many places to stay after this considering where we're going.”
North of the Frozen Sea.
Not many bed and breakfasts up there, to his understanding.
Rayla hesitated.
Callum didn't want to force her to do anything, but it was genuinely no problem. “I'm sure they have pillow mints,” he added, readying his big eyes.
“Okay, okay, I surrender!” Rayla made a show of almost falling off her Shadowpaw, pretending to swoon. “You've convinced me to sacrifice a night of rations and sleeping on the ground.” Callum grinned and she met his eyes, expression soft. “Thanks, Callum. I suppose we better keep our strength up and all that.”
“Hmmhmm. A very reasonable cause.”
It took his mind off the weight of Aaravos’s prison in his backpack for a few moments.
It let him forget the ever present simmer of fear in his gut that Aaravos would possess him again.
It even stopped him from thinking of shackles biting into his wrists, of the most horrid moments on Finnegrin's ship.
No, no it didn't actually, it didn't do any of that, but it was nice to pretend. Maybe all those awful moments and the weight of the world on their shoulders was the reason they should have a nice evening.
Who knew how many evenings they had left?
“You okay?” asked Rayla, riding closer to him.
Callum wasn't able to lie. “I will be. I think. Things are always just kind of going on, aren't they?”
Rayla sighed with camaraderie. “They sure are.” She snapped her fingers, brightening. “Alright, I've got it. Tell me allllll about this fancy place that's so much better than Moonberry juice.”
“It's called The Brightbell Nest. They have cuisine from everywhere, I've been told.” Callum's chest loosened up as he spoke. “I bet you can judge their Moonshadow dishes, or try something completely new!”
“So you've heard- so you've never been?”
It was tradition for Katolis royalty to dine there- a tradition that Callum had never gotten to have before King Harrow died. Perhaps it was silly to carry on the family tradition at a time like this, but he needed it.
“Nope. An adventure for us both, huh?”
Callum didn't know how much of an adventure they were on.
They approached a small, cozy town, lit well by charming little lanterns, flowerbeds lining the cobbled streets. Sunset tinted shop windows with rosy light, promising a perfect dinner view. Rayla had grown up in Xadia where Callum thought everything was more beautiful, but even she took it all in with sparkling eyes.
The Brightbell Nest was by far the nicest place to eat on the block they meandered into. The sign hanging out front was hand painted with little blue birds outlining the name. Chatter and candlelight from inside were so inviting that Rayla almost walked right past the elegant host that greeted them.
“Do you have a reservation?”
Disappointment flashed across Rayla’s face.
No, it couldn't be like this after a long day of anticipating dinner together.
Before Callum could intervene, the host continued. “Well, we do have some space in the couple's section- with a sunset view over the valley, of course. And a suite for the night-”
“That's great!” Callum exclaimed without thinking. “We are… um.”
“Two people!” chimed in Rayla, siding up to him.
“Yeah! A couple!” Callum fumbled for Rayla’s hand, face hot.
Rayla also blushed, squeezing Callum’s hand. It hadn't been that long since they’d held hands, but with this context… “Right! We do things like eat together and go on long walks on the beach all the time!”
Their host raised his eyebrows but led them inside anyway, winding between cozy tables and waiters carrying trays of plates and glasses. Rayla leaned close to Callum as they walked upstairs, whispering in his ear. “Are you sure about this?”
Callum winked. “Yeah. It's like… an infiltration mission.”
It didn't occur to him that she might've been asking about the declaration he'd blurted out that they were, indeed, a couple.
Thankfully, Rayla took it in stride, winking back. “On it!” She struck an exaggerated pose, as if she was going to be sneaking around rather than walking in at his side. “Operation Fancy Dinner is a go!”
Callum had been hoping that they’d be dining somewhere secluded, and it was sort of true- in a sense. Candlelit tables set for two lined a pristine balcony, view of the valley and sunset as promised. The tables were all set rather cozily together and Callum had to make an effort to not trip on someone else’s chair, suddenly feeling a little underdressed compared to everyone around them.
It seemed most of the patrons there were nobility, both from Katolis and Duren, and all of them twice their age or better. Rayla was the only elf in the building from what Callum could tell. She drew a few lingering stares as they sat down.
Rayla looked like she was considering jumping over the railing. Callum didn’t blame her.
But…
The aroma of the food wafting out from the kitchen kept them both sitting there, Rayla closing her eyes as Callum caught a whiff of fresh bread and savory stew. A waiter came by with menus and a water pitcher, bowing before leaving. Rayla picked hers up, examining it carefully. “I think there's a problem.”
“Huh?” Just at first glance, Callum's mouth was already watering. He was sure they'd find what they both liked.
“I'm a vegetarian.” Rayla tapped the menu. “I can't have whatever a horse doovray is.”
Callum coughed, covering his mouth as he fought down a laugh. “Those- those aren’t made from horses. Hors d'oeuvres are like… appetizers.”
“Ooooh. Humans have the weirdest names for things,” said Rayla, reading with renewed interest.
In such an intimate setting, it was inevitable that fellow patrons could overhear them, and Callum was aware that they were still being gawked at. He tried to ignore it, focusing on pouring them both glasses of water. They’d gotten in and gotten seated, so it wasn’t like they had to keep acting, right?
I mean, thought Callum, it’s not really acting for me, is it?
Heat spread across his cheekbones and he hid behind his menu, not reading any of the words in front of him.
Rayla set her menu down. Callum assumed she must’ve made a decision, but he wasn’t ready for her to take a deep breath and call out, “ Excuse us! We’re ready!”
Callum’s eyebrows shot up. The chatter around them hushed.
“What?” she asked. “Some other way you’re meant to get their attention?”
“Er- no.” Callum glanced around. People gradually resumed their conversations. “It’s just that they normally come over to us when they’re ready.”
“Oh. Oh.” Rayla blanched. “Oh no, you see in the Silvergrove, they think you want to be left alone unless you ask.”
Their waiter appeared again, unimpressed expression on his face. Rayla shrank back, smiling awkwardly. “I- um. Hi. Sorry. Elf custom.”
Callum rushed in to save her, without any idea of what he was doing. “We would like the um- what were you thinking of again?” He looked at Rayla. They were supposed to be dating, right?
He reached to hold her hand.
He wasn’t looking at the table.
His fingertips made contact with his glass of water and knocked it over with a thunk. Water spilled across the tablecloth and onto the floor, making their waiter step back to avoid. “Oh no- sorry!” He quickly drew an Ocean rune with one hand and righted the glass with the other. “Recuperare aquam!” The water flew back into the glass, leaving the tablecloth and floor dry.
“Nice save, Mr. Mage,” said Rayla, smiling. He had saved her by just embarrassing himself more than she had- at least it worked, he guessed. “I’d like to try the little bread things with the cheese and grapes on them, please.”
“And we’ll share it! Of course,” added Callum, radiating awkwardness.
Their waiter seemed relieved to flee their table as proudly as possible.
“I’m so sorry,” murmured Rayla.
“It’s fine,” insisted Callum. “I’m excited to try those too. This night is for us, and I don’t care what anyone else thinks.”
Rayla averted her eyes, but she was still smiling to herself. If he wasn’t mistaken, her face was a little warm too. “Thanks, Callum. I’m just not used to… this.”
She reached to pet Stella on her shoulder, but her hand passed through the air. She froze, glancing around in a panic. Their eyes locked. Callum looked under the tablecloth, trying to not outwardly be alarmed. Turning to look inside the restaurant, he spotted a flash of star magic lavender.
Stella was perched on the edge of a table, hiding from a couple eating their meal. She happily shoved a breadstick from a basket off to the side of their table into a portal.
“Stella!” whispered Rayla, waving for her to come back.
Stella didn’t seem to hear her, scampering off further back- into the kitchen.
“Stay here.” Callum stood up. He wasn’t the sneaky one, but he’d rather be caught than let her take the fall on their date. He walked sideways around tables, passing through tight walkways, everyone’s eyes on him as he stumbled through the dining room. Upon reaching the kitchen, he peeked in, watching Stella crawl behind pots and pans. She stole a spoon, happily chittering to herself.
“Do you need something?”
Callum chuckled, flustered, hands behind his back as their host stood in front of Callum’s path to the kitchen. “I, um. I really wanted a spoon.”
That didn’t actually make sense, since they hadn’t ordered anything requiring one yet. He wanted to kick himself.
Stella seemed to get an awareness that she needed to leave, but she bumped a couple of dishes, drawing the attention of the cooks as she hid.
“Here.” The employee handed Callum a spoon, clearly puzzled. “Anything else?”
“We…” Stella scrambled to avoid being discovered as the kitchen staff moved dishes and cookware around, looking for what they thought was a rat. Stella was more trouble than a rat. “Are- are celebrating! It’s my Rayla’s birthday. Rayla, who I’m dating, who is my girlfriend, thus making us a couple! That Rayla.”
Not good enough- not when Callum couldn’t get into the kitchen himself to create a larger distraction. He leaned to the side, waving to the rest of the staff. “Hey! Do you guys have any Moonberries- I’m sorry to bother you like this, it’s just a surprise, for my girlfriend’s birthday.”
It really would be a surprise since it was not remotely close to Rayla’s birthday.
Callum had only given Stella a couple of seconds as everyone turned to look at him, but with that time she made herself a portal from under a shelf and vanished into it. He hoped she’d gone back to their table and not somewhere worse.
“We can make a Moonberry dessert,” assured one of the chefs.
“Thank you so much,” gushed Callum, turning away and swearing to never speak to anyone in that room ever again if he could help it.
Thankfully, Stella was obediently curled up on Rayla’s shoulder, eating a breadstick when Callum got back. Rayla stopped anxiously sipping water, outwardly relieved as he sat down. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah.” Callum set the spoon on the table. “I just had to make some small talk. It was very normal.”
Rayla covered her mouth, trying to stifle giggles. “I’m so sorry it’s just- hahaha, it’s all a mess, isn’t it?”
He could agree, but Callum wanted more. “Hey, it’s okay. Really. You don’t have anything to be sorry for,” he said, empathetic. Callum was talking about more than the dinner. “All of that is behind us. I’m just glad to see you again. To see you happy.”
That time he knew Rayla blushed.
Their appetizer arrived without any further issues. Toasted pieces of bread were spread with fresh ricotta and topped with warm grapes and honey. Callum drizzled balsamic over one of his pieces, eyes closing as he bit into it.
“This is so good.” Rayla said, sighing as she and Stella ate in unison.
They made it through the next round of food, which was a salad to share, without any more mishaps either. The sun fully set as they ate, making the atmosphere even more romantic than before. Callum felt hyper aware of how their knees often almost touched, and he tried to not let his eyes linger on her too long as he took note of how the stars and candlelight made a lovely background for drawing Rayla, saving the image forever in his mind.
Main course was a pasta dish, also to share. Rayla and Callum eagerly leaned over it, oohing and aahing as they took in the scent. The elegantly laid out red sauce, veggies, and pasta noodles made that day were so good that Callum managed to tear his eyes away from Rayla long enough to truly appreciate it.
There was a little issue with sharing the same plate of long noodles.
Callum twirled his fork around a nest of spaghetti. As he did so, he seemed to encounter some resistance. Rayla had also been gathering some pasta to take a bite. They both raised their heads. Rayla grinned at him, like it was a challenge. “Oh no you don’t- my pasta.”
“You sure?” teased Callum back.
He took his bite as she took hers and sure enough, there were a couple strands of pasta connecting their mouths. Callum moved in closer, not thinking about the destination as much as the journey. Rayla raised her eyebrows but also moved in, face only a couple inches apart before it dawned on Callum that unless one of them broke it off…
It wouldn’t be so bad, would it? They’d kissed so many times in the past.
Maybe, if he just…
Callum’s eyes fell closed, and he felt hot.
Weirdly, he felt heat more on his arm than on his face, where he’d expected to feel it.
He was on fire.
“Callum!” The moment dissolved, the spaghetti broken as they both sprang back. Rayla grabbed a napkin and patted down his arm where his sleeve had passed over a candle. Callum winced, this time pouring out his glass of water on purpose over himself. “Are you okay?” she asked, eyes wide with concern.
“I don’t think it got my actual arm. I’m fine,” he reassured. Rayla sighed with relief and Callum smiled back. He noticed a few people approaching from behind her and realized he hadn’t clued her into anything. “Oh- um. By the way, since it’s your birthday-”
“My what?”
That was all the warning Rayla got before their waiter came by, armed with a dessert plate and a small entourage of other staff members to sing her happy birthday.
The tips of Rayla’s ears turned pink as they sang. Callum got a sudden spike of anxiety, wondering if she hated the whole ordeal, although she did beam down at the Moonberry pastry presented to her, complete with a few flowers around the plate. “Oh, that’s so cute! Thanks.” She ducked her head until they left and people around them stopped looking their way.
“Too much?” asked Callum. “I’m sorry. I just- I mean I didn’t want to spring it on you, but-”
Rayla sniffled. “No, no it’s perfect. I’m glad.” She took a deep breath, watery eyes locked on his as she continued.
“I haven’t had birthdays for a couple years.” She wiped her face with her napkin. “I know that it’s my fault, but it still means a lot to have this little thing. I hadn’t realized at the time how much I was missing. How much I’d hurt us both, I just…”
Callum wouldn’t have any of that.
“It’s in the past, okay?” This time, he managed to hold her hand without knocking anything over or setting anything on fire. “You should feel cared for and special without any guilt, because you are special, and I do care about you,” he affirmed. Rayla wiped her eyes again, Stella curled up in her lap. “We’ll make up for all that we missed together for… for I don’t know, as long as it takes and then however much longer we want.” He’d wanted so badly to say forever, but he’d barely held back.
Rayla nodded, swallowing hard, but radiantly happy. She squeezed his hand. “Yeah- yes, that sounds nice. However long we want.” She prodded at the pastry with eager eyes, carving a bite out with her spoon. “Let’s have this while it’s still warm.”
As sublime as it was to eat their berry dessert out on the terrace, under the stars, Callum was still glad to finish. He made sure to not leave his backpack containing Aaravos’s prison under the table (worst lost and found item ever ) and paid for their meal and their room for the night, ready to retreat somewhere quiet with Rayla.
In retrospect, he should’ve known before he’d opened the door since all he’d asked for was a “room for two” without specifying, but-
“There’s only one bed.” Rayla stared at it. Stella leapt onto it as if claiming it all for herself. It was just as cozy as the dining experience, set up with a vase of flowers on the bedside table and several sets of curtains framing the window and personal balcony for them to step out on if they so desired. It was very much a place where someone would go for a honeymoon.
That explained why Harrow and Sarai hadn’t brought Ezran and Callum here, knowing now that it was a romantic getaway location.
“It doesn’t make a difference.” Callum slid his backpack off with his scarf, setting them aside. He faced Rayla, taking a deep breath.
“Rayla, all night I’ve been thinking about what it would be like to be with you again. Not just as we are now, as friends, but as a couple too. Whenever I imagine it or wish I didn’t feel so weird and awkward second guessing myself, I realized that I’d feel exactly the same as I do now for you. I already love you so much, and I always have. I always will. This whole time it never faded. I just- I miss letting you be everything to me, and even if you don’t feel the same anymore, I needed you to know. I needed you to know before anything could happen that could keep me from telling you.”
He certainly hoped she felt the same, or sharing the bed was going to be awkward. Callum suddenly felt stupid for letting all of that spill out at this exact time, even though he knew he couldn’t have kept it inside any longer, face going pink.
Rayla stepped close to him. She took his hands in hers, expression soft, vulnerable the way she never let herself be in front of others.
Rayla leaned close.
She hesitated, a slight grin on her face. “The last time something like this happened, I read it a little wrong, but I’m pretty sure there’s only one way to read that declaration, yeah?” she asked, head tilted, inches from his lips.
“Uh huh.” Callum was out of words. She gently pressed her lips to his. Callum’s heart skipped a beat. He was exhilarated and finally home at the same time, thrilled and comforted in one. Letting go of her hands to be able to hold her, Callum brought her in close, cautiously, as if he could barely believe he was getting to feel this again, to have her back in his arms after so long, the contact of their kissing seeming to envelop his entire being.
Rayla pulled back first, slowly, somewhat reluctantly, but embracing him too. She pressed her forehead to his. “Callum, I promise I’m never leaving again. It was the worst mistake I’d ever made. Whatever comes next, we’re facing it together.”
“I know.” Callum smiled, kissing her again, so light he felt he could float up in the air without wings. “I trust you.”
So much of what they were saying they’d already felt to be true, but hearing it made it seem all the more real.
Rayla went in for a full hug, resting against his shoulder. “I love you. I never stopped loving you either- and I know now what I never should have tried to run from.” Us.
A few moments passed. Callum didn’t want to put too fine of a point on getting into the same bed together, but they had to sleep at some point. “I think we have to get another room. Stella took this bed.”
Rayla chuckled. “Seems so. I hope she can dodge.” Rayla fell backwards onto the mattress and Stella scurried out of the way, perching on a spare pillow.
Callum laid down beside Rayla, draping an arm around her waist. Rayla accepted it with a smile, snuggling up even closer to him. It felt right.
Callum tenderly brushed strands of white hair out of her eyes, letting his fingertips linger on her cheek markings. “So. Do you think we fooled them all with our totally dating before actually dating again act?”
“Dragons no! You can’t lie to save your life!”
He didn’t know who burst out laughing first, but they cackled and wheezed together until Callum’s stomach hurt and Rayla could barely breathe, tears of mirth replacing any other tears, a carefree moment when they needed it most.