#rayllum angst

[brynnsasha191]

Friendly reminder that Rayllum is enemies to allies to friends to best friends to lovers to strangers to lovers again

I'm gonna go rewatch tdp brb

[sorinethemastermind]

Deepest Depths (1/4)

In which Callum hatches a plan that will save them all, but doom himself. And Soren decides to save him from that doom at his own expense. Blame @adashulaz for this angsty mess of a fic.

 “There is another option.” Callum says, and hopeful faces turn to him from every corner of the table. But the optimism in their eyes dies as soon as he brings out the unicorn’s horn and sets it on the table. Soren himself shivers, knowing now what those can do. And the blood that was spilled to wrest it from Aaravos’ grasp.

 “Callum.” Rayla says, voice hollow. “People died.”

 “And that’s exactly why we should use it.” he says, earnest. Desperate. “So that their sacrifices mean something. We all know what Aaravos is capable of now. What he’s really capable of. With this-” he hefts the horn again, offering it to the table. Several people flinch away. “-I could cast a spell to get rid of him. For good, this time.”

 “The spell that killed Avizandum.” Ezran says, voice ringing through the silence that had descended as soon as Callum finished speaking. “That’s how this started. It’s not how we’re going to end it. That spell is evil.”

 “It could kill Aaravos, permanently. Isn’t that what we’re trying to do?” Callum argued, turning on his brother. Soren hated to see them fight like this, especially when they needed each other most.

 “Yes, but I’m not going to let us become monsters to do it.” Ezran told his brother.

 “So you’re calling King Harrow a monster?”

 It was like a slap in the face to the young king, and Soren knew that Callum would regret it later. He stepped forward, putting himself physically between them before things could escalate anymore than they already had. 

 “Let’s all just cool it.” he said, arms out, forcing them both to step back.

 Rayla backed him up, placing a gentle hand on Callum’s shoulder. “This isn’t going to help anything.” she murmured in his ear, quiet enough that Soren only barely heard her. The mage deflated somewhat, shoving the unicorn horn back into his satchel.

 “I’m just saying we should consider it.”

 “No.” Ezran said with a shake of his head. “I won’t.”

 “Fine.” Callum snapped. He turned and stalked off, and after a moment Rayla followed, casting an apologetic glance over her shoulder at Ezran. The young king turned away, unable to look at either of them. Things had been strained between them since Runaan, even without this.

 Once the pair of them had gone, Ezran resumed the meeting; acting as though the conversation had never happened. Everyone followed his lead, unable to do much else, though Soren caught a few anxious glances passing around the room. More than the castle was crumbling, he thought. Their resolve was too. They could only take so much more of this before it broke entirely. Callum and Ezran needed to be working together instead of against each other.

 To that end, he went to find the High Mage once the meeting had adjourned; no more fruitful than any of the others they had held over the last couple weeks. Thankfully Callum and Rayla weren't hard to find; Soren could hear their voices trailing out of the library from all the way down the hall.

 "-he'd thank me later." Callum was saying. Soren could hear the distinct clip of his stride as he paced back and forth as he spoke. "They all would. I'd be doing them a favor."

 "Callum, even if it wasn't that spell in particular, it wouldn't work."

 "I know that dark magic is bad-"

 "Not just that." Rayla cut in. "Callum. You would die."

 Soren stopped short, hand hovering over the doorknob. He let it fall to his side, instead peering through the small crack in the door they had left, the door not entirely closed. Rayla was leaning against a bookshelf only a few feet away, arms crossed over her chest. Callum had stopped his pacing to turn to her, eyes determined.

 "Rayla, you made me promise to do the right thing. To make the sacrifice. If this is what it takes to win, to protect you and Ez, then it's what I have to do."

 "That's not what I-"

 "You're not the only one who's willing to sacrifice everything, Rayla. You know if things were different you'd make the same call."

 She couldn't argue and Callum knew it. "So it's settled then. Tomorrow morning you and I set out. I'll cast the spell, and you'll make sure it hits it's mark. For Katolis. For the world." his determination wavered. "For Ez."

 "What if-" Rayla began, but Callum cut her off with a shake of his head. 

 "It won't work, I already thought of that." he said, frustrated. "The Dark Magic, it hits you almost immediately after the spell is cast. If you do it, then you won't be able to make sure the weapon finds it's mark. You're the warrior, Rayla. So let me be the mage. Remember?"

 "Callum-" she tried to protest, but his voice just climbed higher to drown her out, rising in pitch and anger.

 "The warrior and the mage, Rayla. This was always how it was meant to be. The warrior and the mage will pierce of the heart-"

 "I know the dumb prophecy, Callum." Rayla snapped, voice rising to meet his.

 "-and melt the threat forever." he finished, putting extra emphasis on the last word. "Forever, Rayla."

 "That's not what it was about, Callum." Rayla argued. Soren, still glued to the door, could almost hear their voices morphing into those of his mother and father. Saw their shadows moving under the door like he'd seen theirs; angry and arguing, and him, outside, looking in and unable to fix it. Unable to understand. If they loved each other, then why…

 But he understood now. It was because they had loved each other. But Dark Magic had driven them apart. Pain had driven them apart; grief, fear. 

 It was all that filled the halls, now. You could feel it all around you; fear and pain and loss. And darkness. Not Dark Magic, maybe. Not yet. But soon that would make it's home here as well. His own name called Soren back to the present and made him lean against the door again, peering through the crack at the pair of them.

 "Soren... do you think he still loves Viren?" Callum was asking, turning to Rayla. He was holding a book now, one that Soren remembered well. It was one of his father's. 

 Rayla, she'd stepped away from the bookcase during the heat of the argument and now paced across the opposite side of the room, turned to look at him. "Callum?"

 "It's for the spell." he explained. "We need blood filled with hatred, but not just any blood, the blood of someone who loved the victim. And after what Astrid told us about the pearl being here, well, Viren is the closest we have to a victim right now. I already managed to find the rest."

 Rayla's back was to the door, so Soren couldn't see her expression, but she hunched her shoulders in as she answered; "Even after Runaan tried to kill me, even after Ethari made me a ghost, I still loved them, Callum. It made that love hurt, but it didn't go away. They're my family. I'll always love them. No matter what they've done."

 Callum let the book fall shut, turning to her. They shared a long glance until, finally, Rayla looked away first.

 "It's settled then." Callum said, voice final. "We go in the morning. At first light, so Ezran can't stop us. I'll ask Soren right before we go, in case he sides with Ez. If he says no, then we'll figure something else out."

 Callum tucked the book into his satchel as he crossed the floor to Rayla then, taking her hands in his. "I love you, Rayla. Nothing will ever change that. Not even tomorrow. Just know that, somewhere in me, I’ll always love you."

 A small, stifled sound like a sob escaped Rayla's lips and Callum pressed his forehead to hers. Soren stepped away from the door, feeling even more like an intruder. But not before he caught the next thing Callum said.

 "If we succeed and he’s gone, and I mean really gone, then he won't be able to use me; even if I do use Dark Magic again. Maybe... maybe I can find my way back to you. I'll fight to get back to you with everything I have, Rayla. I promise."

 Soren left them to their grief. 

 He couldn't sleep that night, or more, he could; but every time he closed his eyes, half-formed visions played behind his eyelids. Rayla, crouched over Callum's fallen form, shaking him and begging him to wake up. Ezran, tears gathering in his eyes, the horrible surety filling them as he realized that Callum had gone before he awoke. The statue that would stand in the Valley of Graves long after all of them were dead and buried. 

 Soren had known Callum for most of his life; grown up with him and watched him become the man he was today. He was proud of the mage, who was like a brother to him. But with that knowledge came recognition; he had seen that look in Callum's eyes a thousand times before and knew what it meant. When Callum set his mind to something, really set his mind to it, there was no stopping him; even if that thing he'd chosen was his own death. Soren figured that was why Rayla hadn't argued any more than she had; they both knew Callum well enough to know it would be pointless. 

 But the same way that Soren knew he couldn't stop Callum, he also knew what he had to do. He had known when he followed them to the library, he now realized. Before he even heard the first whisperings of their plan. But there was one problem with Soren's new solution; Callum was right. If he cast the spell, then the dark magic would make him go all wobbly long before he could get it to Aaravos. Unless...

 Soren sat up, looking down at his hands; clenching and unclenching them. Felt the air filling his lungs with every breath. This wasn't the first time he'd been exposed to dark magic. It was a part of him. He was a dead man walking. None of the others knew that, of course. How did you bring it up in casual conversation? But maybe if Callum had known, he would have changed his plan. Maybe Soren could cast the spell and deliver the killing blow, all on his own.

 It was too late to ask Callum that now, though. He'd become suspicious immediately. And it was too late to know if the twisted, horrible feeling in his chest was love for his father or hate. He would just have to hope it would work. 

 Soren donned his armor with newfound purpose, or more, a purpose that had always been there, but he had only now accepted. He was a Crownguard. This was what he did. My heart for Katolis, he thought. My life for the royal family. 

 His footfalls were quiet, quieter than they’d ever had to be before, as he crept down the hall and into Callum's study. Thankfully he had gone to sleep with Rayla tonight, so Soren was able to disregard stealth in favor of speed as he searched for the satchel and it's contents. He found it hanging off the back of a chair; and upon opening it, was relieved to see that everything he would need was already there. He picked the book up just in case, flipping through until he found the spell that had, as Ezran had put it, started this all. 

 A unicorn horn, blood filled with hatred, and-

 Soren stopped. lifting the small, empty appearing glass jar from the satchel even as he read the words. A dying breath.

 His own breath caught in his throat at the realization of what must be contained right behind that glass. Soren knew that Callum's mastery of the sky arcanum had only grown in recent years, and that, he supposed, meant mastery over air itself. But to think that he had found the place it happened and- 

 Soren squeezed his eyes shut, willing himself not to feel anything. Not to admit that maybe this was too far, too dark a spell. After all, what choice did they have?

 He tucked the jar back into the satchel alongside the other components, marking which page held the incantation. Then he slung it over his shoulder and he left.

[illustriously-annie]

What if Callum accidentally (or while being controlled by Aaravos) killed Ezran?

Magic, dark or not, is risky. What if Callum learnt that the hard way?

Imagine the guilt, the horror, the shame that would haunt him for years. How could he do that? How could he take the life of someone he was ready to die for not so long ago? He would be forced to don a crown no one wants him to wear stained with his brother's blood, the same stain lingering on his hands

The disdain, the rage Zym would feel against him, especially if it was just a freak accident. Did you hate him that much, Callum? Enough to slaughter him? You could've done something to save him! Zym had felt the pain Ezran did when the blood trickled down his body and he won't forget it either

Imagine Bait grabbing a jellytart, only to put it down when he remembered there was no one to share with. He won't eat with Callum. He can't

The silence that would weigh on the kingdom, the slight sound of carving through hard rock, sculpting in Ezran's honor, and the distant hum of birds as they migrated to a different land. Animals of every kind would linger near his casket that waited to eventually be... Birds settle on Ezran's windowpanes until Callum enters the room. Shops are closed and the only thing you can catch in markets is murmuring. Everyone is considering moving out. They don't want to live under a murderous king, they're sure he's a tyrant.

Callum sitting on Ezran's bed, unable to stop looking at his hands. He tries to remember how Ezran felt when he hugged him, how he laughed, how he spoke, how he'd lean into every hug, how he'd go on and on about animals if given the chance. He reads his father's, Damian's poems he once read to Ezran. He keeps reading Ezran's favorite one until he can recite it by heart. He'd spend his days madly searching for a way to cleanse himself of this dark, evil magic if Aaravos controlled him into killing Ezran. He'd stop using magic if it was an accident. He craves holding Rayla's hand but fears inflicting the same fate on her. He's tempted to order a death sentence on himself. It's been a long time since he spoke more than a few lines.

Rayla and Stella silently roam the kingdom dressed as a human. She doesn't need to, but she prefers it; it brings back good memories. She braids and stitches shrouds and flower crowns for Ezran's casket and his future statue beside his mother's. She wishes she could help Callum. She can't forget the way he screamed and cried when he realized what he had done. Stella tries to convince whoever understands her that Callum didn't mean it, few believe her. Rayla stopped looking around after she got in a fistfight with someone who called Callum hellspawn. Opeli bailed her out. Whenever Rayla does leave she goes with Opeli. There's nothing worth fighting for between them. She likes hearing Ezran's childhood stories.

Imagine if Ezran died before Rayla came. She climbs into the king's bedroom, unsure why Callum is there, and finds out Ezran is long gone. She hates herself for leaving, for missing the wonderful person Ezran was growing up to be. She can't believe it when people tell her he was closer to her height before he passed. She wants to hug him, to tell him she's proud of him, but she can only stare at the portraits that litter the castle walls.

Soren and Corvus sit by Ezran's casket sometimes. It wasn't too long ago that Soren could hold him up with one arm. He knows Callum didn't mean it, but that doesn't mean he won't stop thinking about how cold, how limp Ezran's body felt. No child deserves that. He doesn't wish the fate of losing someone so painfully on his worst enemy. He wonders, maybe reaching out to Claudia is a good idea, maybe she could save him. There was one last haiku Soren didn't get to tell him. He doesn't force Callum to talk to him, instead just sitting beside him until he's ready. Corvus doesn't come to the throne room as often as he should. Callum can't bring himself to specially request him to come

Opeli stares at the half-finished letters Ezran wrote and stamped, she drags her fingers over the ink, careful not to smear it, and bows before his paintings and statues. Everyone picked it up from her. She doesn't like looking at Ezran's finished work, the ink seems to be fading.

If Aaravos was the one that caused King Ezran's demise he wouldn't be able to stop thinking about Leola. He wonders if he made a mistake, not he can reverse it now.

[currymunches]

[darkcrowprincess]

part 2 of the dragon prince through the moon and season 4 as gifs:

Callum and what he was hoping for on their vacation at the moon nexus:

What he got instead:

Rayla and her self sacrificing tendencies:

Ezran trying to keep his brother together during those two years:

Opeli when Ezran only left a note telling her where team zym was going:

Soren trying to keep Ezran and Callum together and not dealing with his trauma:

Ezran explaining why his idea to invite Zubeia to Katolis is a good idea

Claudia introducing her just reborn again dad to her boyfriend Terry:

The fandoms reaction to Terry:

Claudia implying she had to do terrible things to bring her dad back:

Callum's first appearance after the two year time skip:

Callum still sad and missing Rayla:

Soren and Corvus interactions in general:

[rayllumswift]

Something that is clear is that in this season we have seen how Rayla and Callum were more united and were literally together all the time, which means that there must have already been an apology, therefore since it has not been seen in the series, the most likely thing is that one of the next short stories between s5 and s6 is the reconciliation of Callum and Rayla

[thatartiststudios]

So... Um...

I should not be allowed to listen to Olivia Rodrigo anymore while in an angsty Rayllum mood

I can no longer be trusted

*jealousy, jealousy plays on repeat in the background*

I'm so sorry for what I'm about to do

Not really tho

[a-very-sparkly-nerd]

Never not gonna recommend "Nothing / Sad N Stuff" as a Rayllum song. Dragons made me listen to Lizzy McAlpine's "reckless driving" and now I'm hooked. So. Blame them.