hey sad prince.

The royal family goes to the Banther lodge in the winter. 

Thunder was killed during the last Fantasy Winter Solstice.

Viren was definitely there when it happened, Amaya was almost certainly nearby, Harrow was probably there. 

This means Harrow got Callum and Ezran settled in the lodge, all safe and sound, away from danger with a few trusted guards, and then went to kill a dragon. He left them alone, his half-orphaned kids, not knowing if he’d come back. 

Soren and Claudia were probably with the boys- they’re good protection and company (plus Viren wanted his children somewhere safe as well). Callum stressed out when Ezran made snowmen with Soren. Claudia pretended she didn’t know her dad planned to steal a dragon egg and had been working on some really nasty dark magic spells. And Callum just worried. 

Worried that Aunt Amaya would come back alone to tell them they needed to crown a nine year old. Worried neither his aunt or the king would make it back and they’d be left all alone. Worried that something would happen to Ezran while he was watching him, while everyone was away. 

Claudia made him a sleeping potion every night their dads were gone. Soren quietly told the guards to make sure any messengers went to him before the princes, because if someone had to break bad news it should probably be done in a nice way (though he wasn’t about to do it.)

Ezran was oblivious, for the most part, but Bait must have picked up on the bad vibes because he stress ate five pinecones and then threw them up under a bed. 

After the king had been gone for a while Soren started very quietly speculating about how big Ezran’s head was and where you could find a short notice crown maker, until someone hit him.