a/n: thank you so much for taking this journey with us over the past (almost) year 3 we've had a blast writing it. if you want more fan season esque thoughts, we're currently writing a sort of speculative s6 fic over at "(if time is money) then i'll spend it all for you" focusing on rayllum and rayla's parents and recovery, and all that good stuff. currently the first few chapters are just ao3 but i'll be moving them over here soon.

thank you again for sticking around and all your kind words! we'll see you soon :)

Chapter 21: Going Home Again

After everything, Callum hadn't expected the Dragon Queen to be so… warm.

Well, it was all relative, at this point. And they'd let Zym go in first, so the queen had no real choice but to be happy with whoever had brought him back. It included only one human, but that number would increase. They had to believe that.

He'd been nervous enough about going into the antechamber—Rayla grasping at his fingers and a quick, "Are you ready?"

He'd squeezed her hand back before taking Zym into his arms, the dragonling trilling. "As ready as I'll ever be."

The Dragon Queen had been as large as he'd expected, too, but nothing could have prepared him for seeing another full grown dragon, especially one at the height of her prowess, not ancient in the same way as Sol Regem. Her translator stood at her side, wings primed and horns curved, garbed in what he assumed were royal colours of gold and blue that strangely enough matched the Skywing's elves perfectly.

Zym had flown straight for his mother, after a nod from Callum that it was okay to fly out of his arms. Even if he couldn't understand all their noises, he knew it was happy. They were a family again. Some of the anger he'd felt at the Dragon Queen ordering another assassination on his family ebbed, mostly soothed by Ezran's survival.

Still, he had to hold back a shudder when the Dragon Queen blinked and turned her great eyes onto him, a snarl pulling at her mouth and revealing teeth as big as his body.

Rayla stood in front of him, bowing quickly. "He brought him here, Your Majesty," she said. "He and his brother, but he had to go back, and…" Rayla frowned, taking a breath. "They have both been responsible for your child's survival and safety. Prince Callum was instrumental in Azymondias' successful hatching. The Dragon Prince has a Mind Link with the young king of Katolis." Her jaw tightened. "The one you ordered a second assassination attempt on."

"Rayla." Callum grabbed her arm.

The queen let out a great huff, before looking at her son. He trilled out something that sounded possibly even more scolding, and a little bit impertinent, but the queen's brow rose all the same. She let out a low growl, and for the first time the translator spoke.

"How did you discover her son?"

Callum nudged Rayla aside, but he didn't dare step forward. "My brother did, in old passageways before the castle. He came to get me, while, uh, Rayla was trying to kill me. She followed us down and we found the Egg. My father's High Mage had stolen it. I don't know if my father knew. But we knew what it could mean, so we took it, and… now we're here."

The dragon queen sniffed and snorted. The translator said, "She smells blood. Why?"

"Oh, um. I got…" Callum swallowed, unsure of how best to phrase it. "Electrocuted? We got captured by some of the Crescents around two weeks ago."

The queen let Zym settle along one of her hands, her glistening blue scales bigger than his entire body, before she shook back her head.

"The smell is unpleasant," said the translator. "She has not eaten humans for many centuries because of it."

"I'm… sorry?" Callum said. "Um. I would not make for a good snack."

The queen snorted again, and he thought it might've been a sort of laugh. It didn't make him feel any better. She looked back at her son, and yes, Zym definitely looked disapproving, before she eyed Rayla.

Callum saw her swallow.

The dragon queen rumbled and the translator spoke again, "The sole survivor of her troupe, is she not?"

"Yes, Queen Zubeia," Rayla said, bowing again. "I showed the Egg to our leader, Runaan of Ryling, but he would not call off the attack."

Everything suddenly became much quieter. Zubeia's snarl was back. "You tried to call off the attack?"

Rayla shrank. "After finding the Egg, it seemed like the only right thing to do. The Dragon Prince was—is alive. How could we take vengeance for an act that never happened?"

"The death of her mate still happened."

"Which happened because the Dragon King killed my mother," Callum said, stepping up to stand beside Rayla. "There's no shortage of wrongs on either side. But we're here now, trying to change it. Trying to break the cycle. I never would have made it here and have been able to keep Prince Azymondias safe without Rayla. Nothing that's happened is her fault."

The dragon queen rumbled and laid her head down. "The queen shall… mull over her punishment."

" Punishment ?" Callum repeated sharply. "That's not fair. She saved your son. She's saved him, over and over again. She's suffered enough. Whatever punishment you feel like you have to give, just give it to me—"

Rayla grabbed at his jacket sleeve. "Callum, I can't ask you to do that—"

"And I'm doing it anyway—"

Zym let out a loud chirp and his mother rumbled back in turn, distinctly unhappy. He left his mother's side, standing between Rayla and Callum in a way they could only describe as defiant and protective, before he came to nuzzle his head against their legs.

Rayla looked up at the translator. "What did they say?"

"That…" the translator seemed to struggle with it. "On orders of the prince, you are both to be given a royal pardon and honours."

Callum looked at Zym, stunned. "He can do that?"

"He is the future king of the dragons," the translator said. "Even if the queen does not like it."

Rayla smiled, bending down to give Zym chin scritches. "Just the pardon would've sufficed," she said. "But thank you."

It looked like the dragon queen seemed rather nettled, possibly, at having whispered royal jargon and responsibility to Zym, alongside his name, when he'd been in the Egg and nestled by her side.

Callum pursed his lips. "Your Majesty, as the crown prince of my kingdom, I would like to ask for a peace treaty between as many factions of Xadia as possible, and of Katolis. My brother and I don't want war. We can help hold the border and be the buffer while we bring the other human kingdoms toward the same conclusion."

"You are one human prince," the translator said as Zubeia let out a series of grunts.

"True. But I'm not alone. My brother is already trying to help the elven assassins who were captured. I came all this way. The queen of Duren is young and possibly like minded. That would keep the border safe right there. Things are changing. They can. We just need chances to prove it, and my brother and I took the first step. It's your and Zym's turn, now."

Zym let out another chirp. "The Dragon Prince agrees," the translator said. "It's up to the queen for the final decision."

The dragon queen looked between Callum and Rayla, as though considering them. A human willing to vouch for an elf. An elf willing to spare a human. Each willing to protect one another.

Zubeia let out a low growl. Callum expected the worst, until… "The queen wants to give you a chance," the translator said. "You brought her son back. You worked with elves to come all the way here. She is…" The translator glanced at the queen. "Still wary, but she will give you this chance. Do not waste it."

Callum smiled. They'd done it. All of it, all of this, wasn't for nothing. It was over. It was a new beginning. "Thank you, Your Majesty," he managed. "We'll use it well."

It didn't feel totally real as they left the throne room, his knees threatening to buckle. They'd done it. Their mission was complete. And now…

"How do you feel?" Rayla asked. Callum just looked at her for a moment, tracing the soft lines of her face, before he wrapped his arms around her, burying his face in her neck.

She hugged him back just as tight, her fingers burrowing into his scarf. Callum held her tighter and she wrapped her arms more snugly around them. Like they were holding on for dear life, keeping one another upright, just like they always had, but now they could breathe. Now it was over. Rayla didn't say anything. She didn't have to.

Neither let go for a very long time.

###

They spent the night at the mountain. The rooms were a little more inviting, with actual cots and blankets for the Dragonguard and other elven staff that resided. Wren hadn't ever expected to be staying in one of these rooms again, after everything that had happened. Supposed she should be glad Queen Zubeia hadn't faulted her and Arvis for their failure to properly protect the Dragon Prince—at least, not yet, but she had a feeling now that Azymondias would step in on their behalf again, too.

She glanced up at the sound of knocking at their open door. She paused in the middle of her packing, sharing a quick look with Arvis who was refolding a warm tunic before he set aside. She couldn't think of anyone who would knock, but said, "Come in," anyway.

Callum poked his head inside and Wren had to hold back a small smile; she should've known. "Hi. Um. I just wanted to talk to both of you about something. We didn't want to disturb you, we just… wanted to ask if you would want to come to Katolis with us?"

Wren's brow raised. "'We'?"

"Rayla's packing, but she agreed, to me asking you. If… if you wanted."

Arvis and Wren exchanged a glance, before Wren looked back, smiling slightly. "That's good of you both to offer. But…"

"We should get back to Tinker," Arvis finished.

Callum nodded quickly. "I understand. I just thought—"

"But we will come along to make sure you and Rayla get to the border safely," Wren said. "And we'll watch until you've made it across the path."

Callum smiled. "Thank you. For everything. I really appreciate it and I know Rayla does too, even if she doesn't always say it."

"We're glad she has you."

His smile brightened. "Thank you. Even if it's complicated, I'm glad you're back in her life."

Wren gave him a grateful nod. "None of this was what we expected," she admitted. "But I suppose it's not so bad."

Callum shrugged. "Silver linings, right?"

Wren smiled a little. He'd certainly been one for their daughter, amid all this. "Something like that."

He bounced slightly on the balls of his feet. "Well I'm gonna go tell Rayla. We'll see you later for dinner."

"See you then." Wren glanced back at Arvis when the prince had left, and found her husband with a rather knowing smile on his face. "What?"

"He finally grew on you."

Wren let out a quiet snort. "So he did."

###

It was hard to say goodbye to Zym, but somehow they managed. "We'll come back and visit," Rayla promised, refusing to shake under the Dragon Queen's scrutinizing stare at her statement. "Be good to your mum, okay?" She smiled when Zym made a face, even if his wings were already primed, prepared to fly back and cuddle some more with Zubeia. "It's good that you have each other. Besides, a heart can always be changed for the better."

Zym relented, flying back to his mother and immediately nuzzling into her large cheek. Rayla smiled, her eyes stinging a little. In spite of everything, Zym really deserved this. The chance it would give the rest of the world was just another bonus. She gave the queen one last bow—a sincere one, this time—before she and Callum left the throne room and she took his hand in the hallway.

"Are you ready?" she asked.

Callum laced their fingers together. "Yeah. Let's go home."

###

They said goodbye to Wren and Arvis at the Moonstone path. It wasn't as frantic of a journey this time, the moon high above them, with no signs of disappearing anytime soon. They had time to wave at them when they got to the other side, time to look back across the border before they turned ahead.

"Can't believe your parents hugged me," Callum said, a tad giddy. Lujanne was waiting for them at the Moon Nexus, an emptied shadowhawk arrow too, the message they'd sent already received.

Rayla rolled her eyes fondly. "They like you. Is that really so surprising?"

"I mean, a little bit."

"I think every elf that meets you has to like you, at this point, given enough time."

"As long as you always like me the most."

"Dummy," she said, tugging him over by the scarf for a kiss. It was nice to not be in a rush, for once, even if they were each keen to get to Katolis and reunite properly with Ezran. " Iluvoye ."

Callum beamed and rested his forehead against hers. "I love you, too." They stayed like that for a moment, relishing in their time to just breathe , before they finally pulled apart, only their hands still joined.

They walked back towards the mountains, their eyes looking ahead.

###

"Ezran!"

He rushed towards his baby brother, Ezran leaping into Callum's arms in the middle. Callum caught him and held him tight, lowering onto his knees. He took a shaky breath—this really wasn't the time to cry—but Ezran just buried his face in his shoulder and said, "I missed you too."

He felt Rayla's arms around them, and he adjusted to pull her more into the hug, till they were all embracing in the middle of the courtyard, crying and laughing and laughing at themselves crying.

"We were so worried," Callum said, pulling away just enough to look at his brother's face. "You're not hurt?" He took Ezran's shoulders, looking him over.

"I'm fine," Ezran grinned, even if his eyes were watery too. "I missed you both so much." He looked at Rayla, beaming. "I still can't believe you came back, too."

"Of course I did. I know where you live, remember?"

"I got the Dragon Queen's letter three weeks ago," Ez said, slowly getting to his feet and letting Callum pull him back into one more hug before they fully separated. "You'll be happy to know the other leaders and I are starting to arrange for a summit. For peace talks. And Queen Zubeia is going to send a dragon over here to take off the bindings once and for all." If possible, he beamed even brighter. "I have so much to tell you!"

Callum and Rayla shared a knowing smile. "Yeah, we might have some stuff to tell you, too," he said. Ez looked between them and then they took one another's hand laced their fingers together. "Like, um, this is a thing."

"What?" Ezran said quietly, and then looked at the nervous, giddy grids on their faces. A broad smile broke out over his face and he wrapped his arms around each of them again. "You guys!"

Rayla smiled, flushing. "We can answer any questions you have inside. We can't have the new king catching cold, after all."

"I mean, I'm more interested in what Xadia is like than your gooey-eyedness, but sure," Ezran said with a slight chuckle, and they walked inside the palace together.

Callum breathed, deep and steady, as they spoke across him, Rayla's fingers tangled with his own, Ezran's arm brushing his, their faces bright and beaming.

Yes this, this was home.

###

He was surprisingly sleepless the first week they spent at the castle, though. They'd fallen asleep all together in Ez's bedroom that first night, talking and eating jelly tarts till they passed out, and then he and Rayla had been given guestrooms right across from each other (and she'd gotten into the routine of sneaking into his). Falling asleep was just easier in one another's arms.

This time, though, they were sitting on the roof and looking at the stars. "It really does look the same here," Rayla remarked, recalling one of their first nights in Xadia.

Callum kept his eyes on her. "Still just as beautiful, though."

She flushed, turning to look at him. "It really is," she smiled. She closed her eyes even as she took his hand, interlocking their fingers. "Last time I was here," she murmured, "I was trying to kill you."

Callum smiled. "You still might be the death of me. I can see it now. 'Local prince so distracted by amazing girlfriend that he doesn't see runaway cart hurtling towards him—'"

"Shut up," she said, laughing and opening her eyes again. "And we both know I would just save you."

His cheeky grin softened. "You already have."

Her eyes crinkled. "You saved me too." She held up their joined hands. "I was so lost and lonely when I came here." She nodded towards him. "Stuck in a cycle, you could say."

"And now?"

"It's broken. And it's beautiful." She looked back up at the night sky. "I have no idea what's coming, now. And I don't really mind. More magic, for you, obviously."

Callum grinned at her. She'd turned him into a mage. Or maybe he'd done that himself, but with her by his side. As long as she was by his side, it felt like he could do anything. Be anything. "Obviously."

They hadn't been looking for each other, but they'd found one another anyway. The moonlight caught in her hair and turned it silver. Something warm, like honeyed gold, sprang deep and bright in his chest. It felt like her handprint; it felt like her heart.

"Rayla?"

She'd closed her eyes again, breathing in the calm night air. "Hm?"

"I love you."

She leaned against him. Rested her head on his shoulder, perfectly at peace. "I love you too."

He didn't know what was coming next, but he really wanted to stick around to find out.