#grark

Aanya and her adoptive brother, maybe? (Who seemingly does have a stache)

As adopted-older-sibling-to-the-monarch, Grark and Aanya's relationship is an obvious parallel to Callum and Ezran's. What if Grark was present and supportive to Aanya, to serve as a contrast to Callum, a similarly protective and devoted older brother, but one who is repeatedly missing in action when his younger sibling needs him:

Shout out to Soren for stepping into Callum's place to support Ezran in both of these examples; but particularly Soren's exhortation to Ezran that "You deserve time to do kid stuff."

I don't think it's a stretch to imagine that Ezran would feel resentful toward Callum for his serial absences (and the implied emotional unavailability), or that he might perceive that his brother is indifferent to his struggles and has abandoned him, leaving Ezran to shoulder the burdens of ruling alone.

I'm having fun imagining Ezran and Aanya trading gripes about their overbearing older brothers who treat them like little kids... and then Ezran sadly, painfully realizing that his brother hasn't been there for him like he should be, while Aanya's brother is.

Broyals angst is delicious, of course, but why let Callum and Ezran have all the fun? Because this is where Aanya and Grark's relationship could get extra interesting:

--Tales of Xadia, p. 34

The two phrases in particular that caught my eye: internal treason and isn't old enough

So, hear me out: Grark will be the protective older sibling who steps up, but eventually oversteps, in a misguided attempt to relieve Aanya of the responsibilty of the throne.

Et Grark semble être curieux de Callum et à un moment donné, Callum parle de ses recherches sur la magie. Et du coup, Grark se met à parler de ses hobbies. Mais Callum essaie de garder ses distances alors que Grark se rapproche. Et là avant que la saison 4 commence, Grark demande si il peut le courtiser. Et le jeune mage est genre "wtf ?!"

So in the wikia, it says that Aanya has a brother, Grark (we don't know if it's true, we'll have to wait and see him in the series to confirm it). But just imagine, for example, two years from now between seasons 3 and 4. Ezran wanted to strengthen its ties with the other kingdoms, so Aanya arrives with her brother. Callum is present because that's his role as prince and high mage, but avoids getting too close. He's still hurt by Rayla's departure. He keeps himself busy as best he can, but they spend time together. He also goes to see Soren, since he's also a military man.

(love your metas btw)

thank you!! and I feel the exact same way about Aanya's older brother, I can't wait! I'm very curious if he'll be more of a Karim like figure or a Callum like figure, since I'm wondering if it in addition being a warrior he's also a mage (though the two do seem to be mostly separate categories so hmm)

I've also written him before in this chapter of fanon s6! Relevant sections here:

Grark had encouraged her to make friends with [Ezran]. “It might do you well,” her older brother said, dark hair falling over his eyes, “to have someone your own age around. He’s a monarch, too.” “Yes, I’m aware of that,” she’d replied dryly, but much to Grark’s fond smugness, they had become friends.

Grark’s eyes swept over the familiar Summit room, lingering on the exits and entrances (like always), and the one elven throne that had been added in the post-war Pentarchy shuffling.

Aanya removed her hand, brushing her brother’s elbow instead. “I suppose we should get to our seats,” she said with an apologetic sigh. “Perhaps your feet will finally touch the floor this year,” Grark said out of the corner of his mouth, and Aanya snorted and swatted at him.

I think for me the biggest difference is whether Grark, as Aanya's adoptive older brother, was adopted by her mothers OR someone Anaya chose to make family as a security measure (an heir if anything happened to her) / out of love.

If he was adopted by their moms (which is the option I currently lean less towards, but I could still see it):

Grark was the orphaned child of two of the queens' friends, and they took him into their family to ensure he'd be cared for. He wasn't viable as an heir on account of being 1) a boy and 2) not blood related as Duren is a hereditary monarchy, but he never had a big love for politics anyway.

If he's 5-10 years older than Aanya, he's significantly remember their mothers more and (like Callum to Ezran) is the chief proponent of telling stories about them and ensuring their memory lives on

He sings the same lullaby to Aanya growing up that their mothers used to

He's extra overprotective because she's queen and the only family he has left

If he was adopted into the family by Aanya and not by her mothers (admittedly, the more interesting route to me):

Grark is older than Aanya by 10-12 years and was her most trusted guard throughout her childhood. He was her fiercest protector alongside her regent and always looked out for her / had a soft spot for letting her be a kid on occasion

After the assassination attempt in S3 with the smoke Moonshadow assassins, Aanya realized she needed something in place in case anything ever happened to her. She then chose to adopt Grark as her older brother and make him her heir to the throne as crown prince

Despite the bigger age difference here, their initial difference in status pushes them to have more of a peer-esque dynamic. Aanya was (and still is) above him, so Grark is more likely to defer to her, even if he can be overprotective

He also still manages her guard and oversees kingdom affairs when she's away

He had recently joined the guard / become captain shortly before her mothers died ("For Aanya!") so he didn't know them that well or personally. However, he does remember the grace Queen Annika always carried and the kindness Queen Neha showed him as a new recruit / her favourite dish was fruits dipped in chocolate, so he still passes on what tidbits he can to their daughter