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The leaves were changing color and the weather was getting colder. Fall was in the air and with it the Autumn Equinox. The Autumn Equinox was always a fun time of the year. It was the harvest time and farmers from all over came to sell their crops. With the Great Feast only a week away, it was the busiest of the four seasonal festivals.
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Rayla looked at the scene below her from one of the windows in her and Callum's room. Callum had ducked out quickly to find Ezran and go through the events of the day one last time. A cooing noise came from the basinet near their bed. Smiling, Rayla went over and picked up her daughter Hope. She had been born in early summer and presented to the kingdom at the Summer Solstice festival. Everyone had rejoiced at the arrival of the new princess.
"This will be your second seasonal festival," Rayla said.
Hope looked up at her mother. The Summer Solstice had been her first public appearance, but she really hadn't been seen much since. Aside from being the prince and princess, Callum and Rayla were also ambassadors and had taken Hope with them on a trip to Evener. She was still too young to be separated from Rayla just yet. A few people saw it as odd that Rayla had resumed her ambassador duties so soon after having Hope but there were so few elven ambassadors that she really didn't have a choice.
That didn't mean that there weren't those that didn't agree with her. Several nobles and their wives criticized her for putting her work first. Rayla found it amusing since the noble ladies that were criticizing her did absolutely nothing and had nursemaids and governesses raise their children. The common women went back to work a week after giving birth. They simply carried their babies in a sling across their chests. Rayla loved Hope but she also knew that her job was important. So she & Callum had decided that they would take Hope with them when they traveled. It would be good for her to learn about cultures outside of Katolis & the Moonshadow elves even at a young age.
Rayla looked over at hers and Hope's matching red & gold dresses. Both were trimmed with red, orange, & gold leaves & Ethari had made mother & daughter matching crowns of jeweled autumn leaves. It was time to get both of them ready for the festival.
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The air was crisp & clean as Callum helped finalize the set up for the festival. It felt good to be back home after so long on the road. Work as ambassadors kept Callum & Rayla busy & they were both grateful that they were able to bring Hope along. While there were a few people uncomfortable with having a baby at official meetings, the rulers weren't. When they were in Neolandia, King Ahling had played peek-a-boo with Hope before the meeting started.
"I like it when you, Rayla, & Hope are home," Ezran said.
"Rayla and I like it when we're home, too, Ez," Callum said. "But we have important work as ambassadors."
Ezran knew that this was true but at the same time Callum, Rayla, and Hope were the only family he had. Fortunately, soon winter would be there and travel between the kingdoms would stop until the snow melted. Once the first snows came, Rayla and Callum would remain in Katolis. Ezran actually hoped that the snow would come early this year. That way he could have a little longer to spend time with his brother, sister-in-law, and niece. He didn't like hoping for it but he couldn't help it. It was lonely in the castle when they were away.
"I better get back and help Rayla get Hope ready for the day," Callum said. "Oh, by the way, we stopped by the Cursed Caldara on the way home. Elis says hi."
Ezran turned bright red. He had teased Callum and Rayla enough when they were courting that Callum felt he had the right to turn the tables on him now that he found a girlfriend (even if it was only a little). Smiling to himself, Callum head back to the castle and the suit of rooms he shared with Rayla and Hope. He found Rayla playing with Hope. Downtime was a rarity for them so any chance they got to spend quality time with Hope, they took it. Their daughter was a perfect blend of them, from his brown hair and five fingers to Rayla's horns and violet eyes. He couldn't picture any child more perfect outside of Hope's older brother. Rayla and Callum had loved Harrow with all their hearts; still did. He had been a perfect blend of his parents as well with Rayla's horns and four fingers and Callum's hair and eyes. His loss had been hard, especially now coming up on his second birthday. Callum pushed the thought out of his head. Dwelling on it wouldn't bring his son back and he and Rayla had Hope to focus on and take some of the pain away.
"How are my two favorite girls?" Callum said entering the room.
"We're good," Rayla said as Hope held her little arms out for her dad.
The young princess couldn't talk yet but, like all babies, she had ways of communicating with her parents. Smiling, Callum picked up Hope. He loved his daughter. She was the light of his and Rayla's life.
"How's the prettiest princess in the world?" he said kissing his daughter. "And how's the most beautiful princess in the world?" he said looking at Rayla.
"We're both fine and excited about the festival," Rayla said.
"It will be ready to start in a few moments. We should start getting ready."
They got Hope ready first. It took longer to get her ready. The royal seamstress had made her a cute little dress to match the one she had made for Rayla. Hope tried to grab at the pieces of clothing her parents had like she always did when they got her dressed.
"Hold still, Hope," Rayla said as she brushed her hair and fastened the crown Ethari had made for her daughter to her brown locks.
With their daughter dressed for the festival, Callum and Rayla could get ready themselves. It was a far simpler task even though their clothes were more detailed.
"Ready?" Callum asked.
"Ready," Rayla said picking up Hope.
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The fairgrounds were a bustle of activity. This was the last festival when traders and merchants from other kingdoms would be able to travel since the snows at the Winter Solstice often prevented it. Farmers were also there selling their harvests. There were pumpkins everywhere and the smell of apple cider and roasted corn was in the air. Children ran about laughing and playing with their friends.
"Oh look. A hayride," Rayla said.
"Would you ladies like to go for a ride?" Callum asked.
He and Rayla went on a hayride during every Autumn Equinox festival since the Battle of the Storm Spire. The last time had been with their son Harrow. Before the illness had swept through the kingdom. It had been their very last outing as a family. When the illness came, they kept Harrow in the palace with the hope of keeping him safe. But, even with the chance of the illness coming back, Callum and Rayla weren't going to hide Hope away in the palace. They were going to let her experience as much of life as she could.
"Hold on, Hope," Rayla said. "We're going for a ride."
Hope squealed happily. She loved going on rides (though this would be her first hayride). A few other families joined them. Most nobles, while attending festivals with commoners, didn't interact with them, Callum, Rayla, and Ezra were different. They liked interacting with their people.
"Princess," said a girl of about twelve, "may I hold your baby?"
Smiling, Rayla passed Hope to the girl.
"Keep a firm hold and don't let her fall," she said. "She likes to wiggle."
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It was late by the time Callum and Rayla got back to their rooms. Hope was fast asleep making getting her ready for bed a bit difficult.
"She had a big day," Rayla said as she laid Hope in the basinet. "She'll sleep good night."
"It was a great festival," Callum said. "Hope may not remember today but we will."