Chapter Text
Princess Rayla looked down at the courtyard from her balcony, forearms and hands swinging over the railing. Her light seafoam green dress was ruffled by the slight wind. She looked up at the blue cloud-filled sky and sighed. The Skywing elves high up in the air, they had been holding flying practice near the Katolis castle do to the usual course at the school being under maintenance.
They looked like they were having fun. Rayla brought a five-fingered hand up to her ear and felt the roundness of it, the humanness of it. She sighed, despite the rigorous training she had to do on the daily Rayla felt like she hadn't done much at all.
She felt like a shapeless blob, is what she felt like.
Rayla was the sole heir to the throne of Katlois, she was supposed to be learning how to run a kingdom right about now, but instead she was being dramatic on her bedroom balcony watching winged elves have a good time. Maybe she could find a sparring partner? Out of all the tasks she had to do she always looked forward to sparring. But the will or want to do anything had left her in the throne room that afternoon after a meeting on new shipments for the kingdom from sunfire elf territory. So she stayed where she was.
Rayla looked back down at the courtyard, she spotted two guards sparring, Asin--who was a pale peachy pink human with long white hair that had a shaved side-- and Leland--a human with medium brown skin and shaggy short white hair-- matching each other blow for blow, blades almost sparking at the fight. Though the guard Leland prefered a bow, they were also comfortable with a medium sized blade provided by the armory in the castle, and though Asin liked close range daggers, he knew his way around those blades as well. They both wore the Katolis sparring gear: Red loose flowy shirts made of cotton, and dark grey trousers.
Watching the two spar with such elegance and grace made Rayla want to hop out of the dress she was in and put on her own gear, get down there and feel the comfort of blades in her hands, but she stayed where she was.
A shadow fell over her balcony and she looked out, a hand blocking her face. Through her fingers Rayla could see it wasn't a cloud that blocked the sun, but an elf.
A skywing elf; one of the ones that had been practicing their flying near castle grounds. Rayla gazed at his face. He had green monolid eyes and a broad flat nose which bore no bridge. White markings that began at his temple and end of his brow dripped down and mirrored each other on both sides of his face, ending at his chin. His mop of messy dark blue hair like he just rolled out of bed rustled against his navy horns, his silvery wings akin to those of a dove flapped behind him. He was wearing a red scarf that was stark against his pale blue skin.
"Hey sad princess." He said with a smile and a salute.
He was also kinda cute.
Rayla turned a shade only a few lighter than the boys scarf. "I'm not sad." she protested, embarrassment creeping into her voice with a crack on the word 'sad'.
Flying over to her, coming to sit right by her side on the railing like he'd known her her whole life, the elf said, "You sure look sad." He couldn't have been much older than Rayla's seventeen.
"Well I'm not, so, sorry to disappoint." Sarcasm leaked all over her voice.
"Oh, I'm not disappointed that your not sad, actually it's a really good thing that your not sad." The elf said. Words maybe a little rushed with trying to prove his point.
Rayla was about to reply with a quick remark when she remembered that she didn't know this elf, "Who are you?" she asked, brow raised.
"Oh I'm one of the Xadian exchange students." He said, blood red scarf flapping in the wind, feathered wings in a relaxed position.
Well I guessed that much. Rayla thought.
She gave him a look that said elaborate.
"Oh I'm learning sky magic from the best in the business."
"The best sky mage lives in the human kingdoms? Yeah right."
"Yeah well, she is a human so…"
Rayla went quiet, the air turning awkward with the unfamiliarity of each other. The elf felt it too, twiddling his thumbs and flexing his wings. He took off his red scarf and set it on the balcony.
"Hey, why did you come and talk to me?" Rayla asked, wanting the awkward air to evaporate.
"Like I said Princess, you looked sad."
"And like I said, I'm not."
"Uhh...than my bad?" The elf said, scratching the back of his neck. "I can go if you want me to."
"No, no, it's fine, I like talking to new people."
"That's good to hear."
Again the air filled full with awkwardness, the elf was watching the other elves flying the air, his eyes on the smallest one in the sky.
"Well I should go, my little brother likes to think he can. fly longer than he actually can soo...bye?"
"Bye stange elf boy and I hope you have a nice day"
Strange Elf Boy hopped up and stood on the railing, he walked off it. Rayla gasped only to see him flap his wings and fly over to what she assumed to be his brother. She eyed at the spot he had just been.
He had left his scarf.
/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\
The next day Rayla went out on a trip.
To visit the human/elves schools for magic and art near the castle. In search of that curious skywing elf, the path she was following was to the closest human/elves school to the castle she could find and she hoped her mystery elf would be here.
She needed to return his scarf. She was twiddling with it in her hands. The scarf was worn but still soft and downy.
When she reached the door to the school--named after some Xadain philasifer--the door elf greeted her with all the pleasantries given to a royal. Rayla gave a practiced graceful bow in response and the door elf smiled.
The schools main hall was grand, paintings and text told the story of how the elves and humans came together and fixed their relationship two hundred years ago, how at first it was taxiing, and humans hated elves and elves hated humans, and then Sir Phineas the great opened the first humans/elves school after the war in Del Bar and how much of a turning point is was for humanity and elf kind and blah blah blah, all stuff she learned in the beginning of her education.
Rayla walked up the front desk, and gazed at the woman behind it. She was a human with dark skin and coily hair and a nice easy smile on her face. She was very pretty. Recognition filled her gaze, she stood abruptly, and Rayla reached out a hand in a feeble attempt to stop her from the pleasantries.
"My princess, it's an honor to have you here." An expected response.
"No, the honor is all mine, this is a fine establishment." A practiced reply.
Sitting back down the lady aksed, "What can I do for you?"
"I need to return something to somebody who might attend school here."
"Not a problem, what's their first and last name."
"Uhh…" Rayla faltered, she didn't know his name. The pretty lady looked up at her from the book.
"His name," She said gently, not sure if she should repeat things for the Princess.
"Well you see I don't know his name, but he has this red scarf," Rayla held up the fabric as proof. "And I need to return it to him."
"That's a very good thing of you Princess Rayla, but I still need his name and if you don't know it, I can't help you."
"Well he's a skywing elf, and he has silvery wings--"
"Sorry to interrupt Princess but I'm just the desk lady, I don't have all the students appearances memorized." The pretty lady said, tone little worried at speaking with the Princess in such a way. "You could leave that scarf here if you want and I could give it to the first person that claims it."
"No, no, it's fine I'll just find another way. "
"So sorry to disappoint my Princess."
"It's fine really. Thank you for your help." Rayla said.
The fresh spring air whipped her face as Rayla walked out the school entrance and into the plaza near it. The air smelled faintly of frost. She sighed, now what was she going to do? Mind adrift with thoughts on how to get that elf boy back his scarf, Rayla made her way back to the castle.
/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\
Callum
Callum had lost his scarf.
He’d finally noticed when he’d gone to bed the night he had met Princess Rayla, he'd been striping himself of his school uniform when he had reached for his neck to place his scarf on the hook for coats and such as he did every night only to realize it was gone. He’d been losing his mind since then.
I can’t lose my scarf, I can’t. His fractured thoughts only came together to worry him about what had happened to it.
He must have lost it flying, but than he tied it to his neck every time he went flying so that’s be a no.
The history teacher drawled on. The woman was a good teacher, though Callum loved to learn she had managed to keep the interest of not only him, but of the whole class. Callum didn't know how since her voice was that of a bored person quite finished with their life. She had a knack for making every history lesson feel like a story of some kind. But today Callum tuned her voice out subconsciously to worry of his scarf.
"--Blah blah blah, Princess blah blah blah--" Callum barely took in half of what the teacher was wording.
Finally hit him, he must have left it on the Princess Rayla's balcony. The bell rang and the teacher called class to an end.
One more class and you’ll find the scarf. He told himself, wondering how he’ll make it through another hour as he gathered his books.
/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\
When school was finished Callum raced to the castle’s front gates, and stopped short. Now how was he going to get in?
The only reason he’d been flying over the castle was because his school's flight course had been damaged, he can’t just barge in there and demand to see the Princess and ask her for his scarf. He didn’t even know if she had it. Callum’s heart sunk. Losing that scarf would be like losing part of his wings. Feet dragging he made his way back down the castle bridge.
“Hey! Hey! You over there.” A pause, “It’s me sad princess!” That voice, a trill people born on the rainy green highlands had.
Callum’s head shot up, looking around. At the beginning of the castle bridge stood Princess Rayla. Platinum hair tousled by the wind, with nose and round ears hued a red like roses. Wearing a light blue dress with gold trim and details, wrapped around her neck was a thick woolen red scarf. Callum's heart soared, it was his scarf.
Callum wasn’t far from her but he started to run, reaching her in a few quick strides and wing flaps. Looking at her red smiling face made Callum want to hug her and spin her around. The Princess was already taking off his scarf. A spike of surprised disappointment ran through Callum, she looked cute in his scarf.
“Here, sorry for wearing it, the weather was getting cold is all.” She said. A little shy. She was cute when she was shy too.
“No, no it’s fine, I’m just glad I have it back.”
Looking at her Callum realized her eyes violet were glossy and her nose was red not from the early spring cold, but from something else. He felt the looming desire to cheer her up, after all she had given him back his scarf.
“Hey what’s wrong?” Callum's words were bold and overzealous, considering this was the--his Princess he was talking too.
The Princess looked at him, features set in a quizzled way from his words,”Nothing. Nothing is wrong.” Her tone was light and airy, but Callum didn’t miss light redness in her eyes. “Here.” She said, handing him his scarf.
Callum looked at his scarf then at the Princess, more boldness building in his chest, “Are you hungry Princess?”
She looked at him again, puzzle all over her face. “I’m always hungry.” Callum smiled at that.
“So am I, come to the marketplace with me. I know a great place for jelly tarts and coco.” He held out a hand to her, waiting. She eyed it, and took it.
Callum glanced at their hands for a second, his pale blue skin a complementary hue to her light purple-peach. It wasn’t that big of a deal, their fingered weren’t interlaced or anything like that. But still she was Princess Rayla, his princess, and he was just a simple wind mage. But none of that mattered because he was hungry. Grasping her lithe hand tighter Callum had a thought of moving his fingers to interlock with hers, it'd be a perfect fit, what with his three fingers and her four.
But he shook the thought from his head and started leading Princess Rayla across the bridge and down the road to the marketplace, picking up the pace as he did so.
“Umm, strange elf boy, why are we running.” She asked, a mockery of worry in her baritone.
“‘Cause sad princess we gotta get there before all the warm tarts go, think of this as our first epic adventure together.”
She laughed at that. “First? You mean I have to put up with more running?”
Callum laughed too, “Yes.”
/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\
Rayla
The tarts were still warm when they entered the shop and brought some along with warm enticing cups of chocolate coco. As Rayla and the elf boy walked the streets of common Katoils, which still active and lively, filled with open shopfronts and people looking for a bargain. The waiting night beginning to steam their coco and breath. The cool evening air filled with awkwardness. The reality of it all hitting Rayla. She didn’t know this boy. Didn’t even know his name.
Maybe I should ask him for it? She thought, anything to break the silence.
Just as she opened her mouth to speak the elf boy opened his, “You know, jelly tarts are my little brother's favorite.”
Jumping at the chance to start a conversation Rayla asked. “And do you like jelly tarts?”
“Well I’m eating them aren’t I?” The elf boy said, taking a bigger bite the necessary out of his jelly filled tart. “But no their not my fave, I like The Seven Cakes Of Xadia better.” He washed to pasty food down with a swig of decadent coco.
“Mmm, I’ve heard of them before but I’ve never tried them. Are they good.” Rayla voiced, savoring her coco and tart with small bit ravished bites.
Elf boy nodded, crumbs sticking to his chin, Rayla got the urge to reach up and wipe them off. When the boy had swallowed the last of his food he said, “My favorite tier,” He lifted his hand up the side of his mouth, like he was sharing some kind of romantic secret with her, "And I’m being completely unbiased here,” Moving his hand to gesture at nothing in particular, he finished with, “is the Sky Magic tier.” Rayla laughed at his theatrical tone.
“And what of the other tiers, do you like those too?” She asked, trying to stop her laughter.
The elf boy nodded again, he opened his mouth to speak, but spotted the canal and his eyes grew wide.
“Oh,” He said, excitement glowed in every feature of his face. “Let’s go on a boat!”
Rayla felt herself make a face, she hadn’t noticed how far they’d be walking, but somehow they made their way to a canal entrance. Looking at the murky water made her stomach turn. The loathsome voice filled with nothing but useless fear within her told her to leave and run away fast and as far as she could.
Rayla thought of water as amoral creature out to get any fool dumb enough to jump into it's depths for pleasure. The liquid held the guise of wellbeing, but Rayla knew water was nothing but evil. Still, it was getting late, and she would be missed at the castle if she wasn't back soon. And she knew there was a canal let out near the back entrance to the castle
Rayla didn't know why the sudden impulse to prove she could best this silly fear overtook her, but the fire was lit and burning. She would go on those boats.
“C’mon.” the elf boy said, his feet bobbing, wings fluttering. He was already moving towards the boats, he gestured with his hands. Rayla’s made a face again, bit she let him take the lead and guide her to the moat and the awaiting boats.
/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\
Callum
The Princess do not look happy. Her face alight in a green glow, her hands gently clutched her sides. The human rowing the gondola had given Callum a weird face when he had made Princess Rayla get on the chuck of wood. Now he knew why, the princess must be prone to sea-sickness. She looked so ill Callum didn't know what to say, he was the one who made her get on the boat. He glanced at the darkening sky and tried to think of the words.
The princess beat him to it, "I don't like the water you know." She sounded as though a fire within her had been damped by the murky canal water.
Callum did a double take, "You what?" The boat driver scoffed.
"Yeah I thought everybody knew, but guess not. " The Princess deadpanned.
Callum had thought she just got seasick easily. But of course he'd be the only one in all of Katlois who didn't know about the Princess's fear, and course he'd be the only one lucky enough to hang out with her and mess it up by asking her to go on the damned water.
"I'm so sorry I-wait but why did you go on a boat with me in the first place?" He wondered.
Princess Rayla shrugged, "I guess I thought I should start to conquer this fear? And I guess sense you didn't know I figured I should be brave? I don't know I Just. . ." she trailed off, hand twisting in her fine dress.
"It's okay, you know, to be afraid of something." Callum's voice a breath away from a whisper.
She scoffed again, "No it's not, not for me anyway." She turned to face him, hair swishing,"I'm the princess, I must be strong and proper, well skilled in fighting, languages and tongues of all kinds. Be smart and kind, I-I-"
"Have a lot on your shoulders?" Callum finished, thinking back to how she looked on the castle bridge. The Princess nodded and the boat driver twitched, clearly uncomfortable at unwillingly listening to this conversation. Callum didn't care all too much. He had to ask.
"Then why did you agree to come with me?" His voice a proper whisper now. Callum was no fool. Humans and elves had been living together for a long while, but despite the stories filled with representation of both humans and elves, and the schools and academics were they courted together, it still was seen as weird to have the two mixed together in anything, friendships, relationships, partnerships. So why had a human princess wanted to go with an elf to get jelly tarts?
Her eyes traveled down to the deck of the gondola, "I just wanted to escape from the castle, go get sweets with a cute boy, I dunno, just live like a teenager for once, even if only for a little."
"Oh." Was all Callum said, he really couldn't blame her for using him to escape, she was stressed and frazzled, she didn't know Callum, so why should she care if she led him on for a little?
"What's it like, being a princess?" He asked, wondering if she'd answer.
"Hard." Was all she said, "What's it like being an elf in the human kingdoms?"
"Hard." Then he decided to elaborate, "Hmm, well not as hard as it was for my parents, but still, I've been called a few names, but only a few, and it's not like being a human is easy in Xadia so." He shrugged as way of finishing his sentence.
"What's that like? Living in Xadia I mean." Princess Rayla asked, her face had lost its green color, and she stopped clutching her stomach, she was getting too distracted by the conversation to be seasick.
"Bold of you to assume I've lived in Xadia." Callum said, smile tugging at his mouth.
The princess's face fell. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding I lived in Xadia for the first five years of my life, so I don't remember it all too well."
"Oh." She said, still dejected.
"But I've visited a couple of times, I visit family almost every winter, and it's wonderful, the trees get covered in silver snow, and all the magical creatures hole up for the cold so when you see one it's like a little gift, it's so special."
"I wish I could go."
"Maybe you can one day."
"Yeah, maybe." The Princess said, her face thoughtful, "So why'd you leave?"
"Everyone has their own reasons." Callum said, not willing to go farther.
The Princess took the hint and made a change of subject "Do-do you like the human kingdoms?" Her tone quiet.
Callum nodded.
"We're at the canal let out for the castle, my Princess." The boat driver said, snapping them out of their little trace they had gotten themselves into.
"Oh, well thanks for this. It was nice." The Princess said, jumping to get off the boat in a hurry.
"Yeah, no problem." Callum said. But the Princess was already rushing to the castle.
"Please don't tell me I need to row you back?" The driver groaned.
"No, I can fly." Callum said sympathetically, the poor driver looked so uncomfortable, that Callum resisted the urge to pat him on the shoulder.
Extending his wings, Callum took flight into the darkening sky.
/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\
Callum tossed and turned for most of the night, feeling like a fool and a heartless one at that. For the entire school day he kept thinking of how he made Princess Rayla get on that boat. When he had gotten home from his classes he thought of her face, a hue of green that only some elves reached, when he had crept into his puffed mattress he felt sodden with worry, it dripped from him and soaked his sheets like a physical thing.
"Callum stop moving you keeping me and Bait awake." Ezran grumbled from his perch on the top bunk, Bait voiced a grumbed hiccup as well.
"Sorry." Callum replied in a whispered hush, his voice sheepish.
Callum lay on his stomach, wings twitching. His thoughts fluttered to a distant memory of his dad telling him that a good way to make something up to a girl was to give her flowers and write a sweet letter.
He scoffed internally, maybe back then that was a good idea, when ladies were taught their value lay in a man's heart, if they were lucky enough to snug one. But now women new their worth and expected communication from their partners, like adults. Well his mom expected honest conversation from her husband.
But still, it was the only idea coming to Callum's mind, he needed to apologize to the Princess. He shifted out of his bed and quietly as he could, moved to his desk, grabbed a quill and paper and started to write.
"Hey sad princess, it's me elf boy, like super duper sorry for the other day. Yeah anyway just wanted to say that. Bye! "
Callum cringed, it was awkward and weird, but he didn't have enough paper for a better worded letter. For some reason Callum had thought his handwriting was much better, but in reality it was akin to that of a half blind child. It would have to do.
Moving through his house with silence was difficult, but he did his best and kept his feet light, nobody woke up so he supposed his best was good enough. Slipping on his shoes he stuck the letter on his mouth to hold it and opened the door, moving to the front of his house he took a few flowers from the garden and window boxes. Remembering that his mother had some nice red ribbon in her room Callum trotted back inside to fetch some.
He tied the flowers in a bow and went outside. He hoped his mom wouldn't mind that he'd used some of her ribbon, but he didn't have much time to worry about that, he had to make it to the castle before it got light out.
If Callum was found flying to Princess Rayla's bedchambers then he'd look like an individual with bad intentions.
Stretching his wings out, with his little bundle of garden flowers and the letter held between his lips Callum took off in the dark morning sky.
/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\
Rayla
Rayla woke with a yawn, stretching her sleep filled limbs out she ran a hand through her hair and looked around her room, taking in the sunshine. Shoving the covers off to stand up Rayla found herself drifting towards her balcony, wanting more of rays of sunlight to hit her skin. Rayla loved the sun, not as much as the moon, bit still the bright golden orb in the sky was a happy sight to behold for her.
What had her lady's maid said, "'Goodness Princess! your so pale you look like you were carved from the moon.'"
Rayla had laughed then. And still now the memory was fond. She liked the idea that she had a likeness to the moon, it made her feel strong, powerful. She supposed that's how moonshadow elves felt.
Gliding to her balcony Rayla spotted something, curious she picked up her pace to examine the mass. It was a bundle of flowers tied together with a piece of lush vibrant red ribbon. And beside it sat a letter weighted down by a rock to keep it from flying away in the biting spring wind. Untying the ribbon from the flowers and wrapping it around her wrist Rayla got excited. Who could this letter be from?
A secret admirer? She thought, picking up a flower to tuck in her hair.
Or maybe a prank? She didn't like the idea of that so much.
She moved the rock and picked up the letter to read it, giddiness bubbled over Rayla and she unfolded it.
"Hey sad princess, it's me elf boy, like super duper sorry for the other day. Yeah anyway just wanted to say that. Bye! "
Rayla laughed, that kind of laugh she only did around herself her or people she was close with. The one with a snort and a bold personality. Had that elf boy worried that much about her?
She felt a little guilty for him feeling so bad about what he did, since he didn't really force her onto the boat, she'd wanted to go, to start beating her fear of water, and she had enjoyed the conversation they'd had on the boat.
Looking at the ribbon on her wrist she realized she needed to clear that up with strange elf boy. An imagine of his personable, dapper face, wrought with worry filled Rayla's mind. She couldn't let that happen.
Maybe I'll write a letter and send it to his dorm.
Yeah that's what I'll do. She concluded with herself.
Dashing towards her desk, Rayla's mind whirred with what to say on her letter to her elf boy.
/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\
Callum
Callum had gotten a what?
"A letter, young sir, it's here for you." The mailman said, looking annoyed.
But from who? Callum wondered, he had friends but they lived close by, and everybody else he knew was from school and they could just talk to him there.
"Just take it kid-sir, please" The mailman correred himself.
"Oh sorry!" Callum worded, taking the letter and the small package in his gloved hands.
Callum trotted back to his school dorm. He read the back of the package, wondering who could have sent it.
To: Strange Elf Boy
From: Princess Rayla
Callums heart skipped a beat. The Princess had gotten her letter. Maybe she hated it so much that she needed to send another letter just to say? Or maybe she liked it?
Sat down at his dorm desk, Callum wished for the latter as he moved the letter opener along the envelope, the paper slit open with ease. He slipped the letter into his hand and unfolded it.
"Hello Elf Boy, it's your beloved princess, Rayla, I need to tell you that I've received your wonderful letter and wish to tell you that I was not uncomfortable with what happened the night we rode the boat together, in fact I feel it was good for me.
It's true I have a deathly fear of water but talking to you made it easier to ride the boat, so don't fret any, you did not cause me harm or put me in a disposition.
P.S thank you for the flowers and ribbon, I wear one in my hair and the ribbon around my wrist as I write this, to say thank you I've gotten the castle chef to make jelly tarts and have sent one in the package, please enjoy! "
Callum smiled and opened the package. Atop the tarts was another note.
"P.P.S Save one for your brother!"
Callums grin grew, she remembered.
/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\
Rayla & Callum
And so that's how it went with the two for a little, sending letters and gifts. Becoming penpals without really meaning too.
(Callum)
"To my beloved Princess Rayla, thank you so much for the extra jelly tart, Ezran and his pet toad Bait split it between the two of them right before dinner.
I'm really glad you liked the flowers, I got them from my dad's garden so I'll have to pick other flowers from a meadow or something.
Thanks for the letter too, I really enjoyed it."
(Rayla)
"To the boy who hopefully didn't get in trouble for giving his brother a jelly tart before dinner, I'm so glad you liked my letter, it makes my heart sing, I've never thought myself a poet so it's nice to hear someone say they like my writing.
Also please don't worry yourself with picking flowers every time, I like them don't get me wrong, but I don't want you over exerting yourself for my sake.
P.S I'm sorry I was only able to give you one tart, the castle baker is getting quite annoyed with me!"
(Callum)
"To the adventurous princess who risked the wrath of the castle baker for me, I didn't get in trouble with my parents.
I'm not even sure they know I gave my little brother a tart, and don't worry about me hunting down flowers for you, I like exploring, (flying over the kingdom can be quite calming) finding new places is something I love doing, and if you means you get to have pretty flowers in your hair it makes it that much more worth my while.
P.S Sorry I've had to tie the flowers with plain string instead ribbon, I fear my mother might notice her ribbon has gone down a little. "
(Rayla),
"To the winged explorer, I'm glad you like looking about the kingdom, I wasn't sure I could give up the flowers in my hair, they make me look very pretty. (As told to by not one but four servants.)
And don't use anymore of you mothers ribbon for me, I like these letters and wouldn't want to suddenly find you've died under mysterious circumstances.
I've also asked the baker to make little sponge cakes today. I hope you like them!"
(Callum)
"To the princess with beautiful flowers in her hair, don't worry my mom won't kill me for using her ribbon, she simply loves me too much. (That's the hope anyway.)
I loved the sponge cakes you gave me, and I hope you know I've discovered a rather interesting place near the meadow I use for your flowers.
I hope to show it to you someday if you'll let me.
P.S please if you can send the sponge cakes again, I've told my little brother they were the best baked goods I've ever had (better than jelly tarts much to his disbelief) and now he won't stop begging me for some."
(Rayla)
"To the boy who (hopefully) won't get killed by his Mom, I've asked the cook (sense the baker has officially had enough of me) to make more of the sponge cakes.
She's agreed, thankfully, so your brother now may know the taste of baked goods better than jelly tarts, and to answer your other question I would love to go exploring with you, I've gotten quite good at sword fighting and know my way around hunting knives too, so if we were ever to get in danger I shall protect you.
I started making flower crowns out of the flowers you've given me, everyone around the castle loves them, (my dads most of all) and finds me most pretty in them."
(Callum)
"To the Katoils baker's biggest pain in the ass, my brother has tasted the cakes and finds them on the same level as jelly tarts.
I would also like to let you know in advance that I'll be bribing my brother into convincing all the forest creatures to hunt us down when we go exploring, for I would like to see your excellent fighting skills, (I hope that's okay.)
P.S I've drawn you in your flowers crowns. I hope you like it. "
(Rayla)
"To the master of art, I've now convinced both kings to let me have my way with the baker, so from now on your brother and you will be getting the best cakes in all the human kingdoms. (and maybe all of Xadia?)
I've asked the baker to try and make you lemon sponge cakes. (Save one for your brother.) and they agreed, ('cause now they have to.) so I hope you like them.
P.S I really liked that drawing you did for me, its looks just like me, but for some reason it also reminded me of my crush, she was a moonshadow elf who used to be a servant.
P.P.S She looked nothing like me. (which is why I say it's weird.) Who was your first crush?
(Callum)
"To the Katoils baker's torturer, Ezran loved the lemon cakes (Still not as much as jelly tarts though.)
I've now wish you to stop abusing the castle baker for us, me and my brother love the baked goods but not at the expense at another person.
I'm glad you liked the drawing, I'm tempted to do another.
My teacher said I'm doing wonderfully with my sky magic, and said I'm going to be a great mage.
P.S To answer your question, the reason why I liked boats and water so much and why I wanted to go on one that night was because my first crush was a very handsome Earthblood elf who loved water (Cause it helped the plants grow.) He helped me learn to swim with my wings."
(Rayla)
"To the should be ocean elf, don't worry about the baker, they secretly love making goods for me (My lady's maid told me so.) and it doesn't take them long at all. so
I'm very glad to hear that your teacher loves you sky magic, I would for you show me it sometime.
I now keep the drawing you made for me by my bedside table, it reminds me of my favorite penpal.
P.S no baked goods this time, The baker didn't have time. "
(Callum)
"To my favorite penpal, I rather like being a skywing elf, so thank you but no thank you.
I would love to show my magic some time, maybe over a picnic? With lots of lemon sponge cakes and orange ones too, (Though I've never tried them.) and I'll get my Mom make to make The Seven Cakes of Xadia as well. It will be really fun, maybe I can show the cool place I found too.
P.S Ezran is feeling the loss of those baked goods.(He's fine, really.) He left me a rather obvious clue that he wanted chocolate jelly tarts, so hint hint.
/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\
Callum
Callum hummed happily, bundle of flowers and letter in hand. The air was biting and the wind whipped him, but Callum didn't care. He'd been flying a little --the same route he took every time he gave a letter to the Princess-- and now spotted the castle; more importantly, the Princess's balcony, the night sky glowed bright with stars, and the air tasted fresh. It was gonna be a good night.
Callum slowed his pace and shifted his wings to prepare for landing, how he never got caught by either guards or the Princess he did not know, (though he suspected the Princess had told the royal guard to not worry about a skywing elf coming to her balcony.) Even still he worried some good meaning guard would think he was a holagan looking for the Princess.
Landing softly, Callum placed the flowers and letter A
at the same place on the balcony railing every time--near the doorway. He waited to catch his breath, staring out at the castle courtyard as he did so. The place was beautiful, with the mountains in the distance, the view became magical. Callum sighed, he could get used to that kind of view.
Callum reread his letter one more time, --he was getting better at wording, he had a feeling the way the princess wrote was rubbing off on him.-- making sure the new drawing he had made hadn't slipped out of the envelope. Callum checked over everything one last time as did he every time, pretty flowers, and letter weighted by a stone. Everything was in order.
Callum huffed, preparing himself for flight. He stepped up on the railing, and walked off, extending his wings beforehand to catch air.
"Wait! please don't go!" a voice called behind him.
/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\/|\
Rayla
Rayla just had awoken from a deep sleep when she heard the gentle flapping of wings.
Large wings.
She ripped off her covers and raced to the balcony.
Maybe I've finally caught him! She thought.
She stopped short just before the balcony entrance, there he was, her mystery elf boy, he wore a long coat and sleep pants, but he still had his blood red scarf on.
Does he ever take it off? She wondered.
Her elf looked like he was admiring the view, and a beautiful view it was. He looked so nice outlined against the moon. It was like he had a silver glow around him.
I'm finally gonna ask him! This is it.
Rayla wanted to ask for his name every time she wrote to him, but she wanted to hear it from his mouth, the way it sounded, how it rolled and turned on his tongue.
She was so caught up in her thoughts she almost missed him.
"Wait! please don't go!" Rayla almost cried.
The elf turned, looking pale, he was in mid air.
"Hey sad princess, didn't see you there." he said, his voice cracked and he slipped a hand behind his neck to rub it in embarrassment.
"Sorry if I scared you, but I needed to see you." Rayla said, walking over to the railing.
Elf boy flushed at that. "Please, you didn't scare me, I was just-just shocked. "
"Hmm, okay." Rayla toned a disbelieving huff.
"So why'd you stop me? From going home that is."
"'Cause I needed to ask you what your name was." Rayla was now at the balcony, she placed her hands on the railing and looked up at her elf boy floating in the sky.
"We've been sending each other letters for how long and you just thought of asking for my name now?" His tone wasn't mean, just curious.
"I needed to see how you say it, or rather hear how you say it?" Rayla said.
The elf's voice softened, "Well then," he said, flapping his wings and flying downward so they were eye level, just a railing apart. "Hello Princess Rayla, nice to meet you," He looked at her hands, and swept one of them up in his own, his pale blue skin complemented her pale pink, "I'm Callum." He pressed a soft kiss to her knuckles.
Callum let go of her hand and flapped his wings and started away from the castle.
"Goodbye C-Callum!" Rayla said, feeling the word move around in her mouth.
"Goodbye Rayla!" She liked how her name sounded in Callum's mouth, no princess, no your highness, just her name, Rayla.
She really liked that.