Let it go, please, let it go. All that strength; she doesn’t need it around him. His little girl has grown up to be so strong but he wishes to take some of that weight away from her. Be the father he was never quite allowed to be before it all. 

“It’s okay, it’s okay…”

There was no way she could have known about what had transpired. The events at there were clouded. They were private – his wife was responsible for saving the prince one last time and the price they paid were their lives, their reputation, with everything they had… life had been sucked out of them in those coins but now they can breathe and be free. To be free with his daughter once again.

“You are so brave, and so strong… my light,” his throat is thick; laced with guilt. The guilt of not being the best father he should have been. The weight he and his wife must have left behind to Ethari and his husband. No one knew – no one knew what had happened, and that is the truth. Being shunned, even after all the suffering, feels right if it lead him back to his daughter. To this moment of this possible peaceful co-existence.

“Do not apologize for moving forward the only way you knew how. I am just grateful you found us.”

They’re together again; with a brighter future. there’s no need to worry about what their people think of them now. For their home is with each other – it always has been.

“I love you, Rayla – none of what you thought, or felt, before will ever change that.”

       “  But dad, I..  ”  How could she tell him she harbored anger all these years towards them ?   How could she tell them she saw them as cowards until recently ?    She had adapted to growing up with Runaan and Ethari, she didn’t even know what to do with herself knowing they were back.   She let them down, and it was so hard to let herself feel small again after everything she’s gone through.

       “  I let you both down, I..  I wanted to forget you.  I told everyone you were dead to me.  I can’t.. forgive myself for that.  ”   She focussed on her breathing, holding everything in.  She did her absolute best to keep everything in that once things started to fall apart, it made it difficult to let it all overflow.   It wasn’t their fault, Viren had them.   In fact, she harbored anger towards Viren for keeping them, and Runaan, away from her like this.    She thought they were all dead, and nothing was more earth-shattering than the realization your family was dead.

@lunheld​

          ❝ oh ! ❞ shoulders rose sharply , a jump back at the other’s surprise , ❝ i didn’t mean to startle you ! ❞ bare , delicate hands had risen — palms exposed in a surrendering way as another step was taken away from the stranger .    

@trasic​ said: when they finally have a moment alone; he's going to hug his daughter - a little tightly but can you blame him after /everything?/

       There was so much emotion than ran through her entire body, and in that embrace alone.    It took every single ounce of her to not want to cry, and to not give in to the tears that stung at the corners of her eyes.   Just when she thought she had lost so much, she gained something so precious, that she never knew she’d even want in the first place.

       It it wasn’t for Callum, she wouldn’t even want this embrace.   She wouldn’t have even known of her parents’ bravery, and how much they fought to help protect and save the Dragon Prince.  For years, she was convinced they ran away.   That their banishment was justified.    That couldn’t have been further from the truth.   Her arms move to wrap around him, squeezing just as tightly.    The distance memory of these hugs started to feel warm again, just as they did now.

       “  ‘m sorry.  ”   she muttered through with difficulties, choking back the tears.  She had to be strong, right ?   “  I ... I was so mad at you and mum.   They said you both ran away.   They called you cowards and I.. I believed them.  I’m so sorry.  ”   It was then that the tears began to flow down her cheeks.   They had nothing to be proud of, she let them both down.   It seemed to be a reoccurring event of letting everyone down.

       She knew how everyone else in the village felt towards her now,  how the smallest misconception would lead people to believe she, too, was a traitor just like her parents before her.  She wanted to shout to Ethari, to prove their innocence, to show that she had found them and they didn’t run away.  

@trasic​ said: dad vc: what'cha got there hun? / from dad , who may or may not be giving the disapproving smolder at the human boy currently

       “ Uhhhhhhhhhh..  ”  She trailed off, gaze moving to look over at Callum, then back at the father she hadn’t seen in so long.   She knew this was going to come up at some point and time.   Rayla couldn’t dodge questions forever.   She moves to gesture towards her human friend in a dramatic fashion, hoping to intervene before he decided to introduce himself as an Earthblood elf again.

‘ hello friends it’s me.. yer ol’pal human ruby!!’

@trasic​ said: ❝You’re really brave.❞ from Callum ! ↳ PERSONALITY STARTERS

        “  Well, so are you.  ”  A finger moves to jab lightly into his shoulder, unaccustomed to compliments no matter how many times she got them.   A joking response was always given, but this time she did mean it.    She’s rather admired how far Callum has come in their journey.  She gives a small chuckle, moving to fold her arms across her chest.