#like we only see them together after ezran was born | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

theredhairedmonkey · 4 years

Text

Thunderfall and the Narrative of Love

I’ll admit, I still have trouble watching Thunderfall, and in particular the scene where Avizandum is turned to stone.

Even during rewatches, I pause to do a quick gut-check and see if I’m up for viewing this particular moment again.

What can I say? This show sometimes isn’t for the faint of heart (of which I am).

But the focus of this episode is actually on King Harrow.

In the classical sense of heroes and tragedies, Harrow is the epitome of a tragic hero.

A hero is simply one who does great deeds, the sort of feats ordinary people could scarcely dream of doing.

But his story is also a tragedy. We tend to think of tragedies as stories with a sad ending, and that’s half right. But in the original definition, what made a sad story a tragedy is that the hero falls due to a “tragic flaw.”

So, for instance, when people read or watch the movie “The Death of Superman,” where we see Kal-El die after his fight with Doomsday, we conclude this is a tragedy because of its sad ending. But while we see Superman die, we never see him fall; he remains true to form, a paragon of virtue and heroism to the very end.

But in Greek tragedies, heroes have flaws that lead to their downfall. Achilles was a courageous warrior and had the strength of a god, but was stubborn and proud, which led to a series of events—him sitting out the Trojan war for a time, the sacking of Troy, his battle with Hector—which led to his demise at the hands of Paris.

Oedipus, probably the most famous tragic hero in history, had what Greeks held to be the ultimate flaw—hubris, or the belief that one could possibly oppose fate and the gods. His hubris led to Oedipus blinding himself and going into self-imposed exile.

In each of these, the tragic component comes not from how the hero dies, but how the hero’s flaws lead to their fall.

And that’s what Thunderfall is really about. It’s the story of Avizandum’s death, but it’s actually about Harrow’s fall.

He was truly a good king, putting the interests of his people ahead of himself.

Viren: “King Harrow worked tirelessly. He told me he thought of himself as a servant of all the people of Katolis. A servant King.”

Fighting to create a just world, one that treats everyone, rich and poor alike, with the fairness and kindness they deserve.

Harrow: Sarai, my father told me that above all, I must be a just king. The night he died, Lady Justice came to me in a dream…She said to me that justice was more than fair decisions and fair consequences. True justice was a fair system. Then she laid before me her scales, her sword, and her blindfold and told me to choose.

Sarai: You chose the blindfold.

Harrow: I did. She said the blindfold gives us a way to test the system.That I should use it to imagine I had not been born yet, and that I did not know if I would be born rich or poor, what color my skin would be, what culture or practices my family would have. That a fair system should be fair no matter the accident of my birth. That the rights, and laws, and opportunities within the system should stand to protect and empower everyone.

But Harrow was only a man. He found the love of his life, and she was taken from him not long after.

And for years he struggled to move past his loss. To be the better person. To look toward the present and the future.

But in the end, he couldn’t let go of his hate. He succumbed to it and let it consume him.

And this one moment of weakness set in motion everything that was to follow—Avizandum’s death and stealing the Dragon Egg; the Dragonguard’s betrayal; the Dragon Queen’s revenge; and the quest to return Zym home.

This all led to the moment when Callum found himself standing on the same field where Harrow once stood, wrestling with the same feelings and temptations that Harrow once wrestled with.

At this moment, Callum struggles to contain his hatred. Even Rayla looks somewhat shocked.

He’s feeling such a wave of emotion—pain, sadness, anger. Maybe even a little gladness that the creature who took his mother is gone.

But this all fades away to sadness and regret: “I feel so sorry that this all happened.”

Why?

That was the moment Callum saw beyond himself. His pain was personal, but it was never only his. Because even for Avizandum, the object of Callum’s hatred, there was someone who mourned his loss.

And someone who’s life was now emptier without him.

They were all bound together now, by both Avizandum’s life and his death.

Just like Callum, Ezran, and Rayla are.

Because of that, rather than succumbing to it like Harrow did, Callum decides to let go of his hate. He instead chooses to have faith that love—his love— could be enough to finally fix what was broken and set right what once went wrong so long ago.

One of the things I really like about Callum isn’t that he’s a strong character who is also vulnerable, emotional, and loving. Even though that’s not as common for male characters as I’d like it to be, it’s still not that rare. Some of the most iconic heroic figures—Superman, Luke Skywalker, Avatar Aang—are powerful characters who allow themselves to be vulnerable and sensitive.

But what’s different from Callum is that he’s not merely both strong and vulnerable, but that his strength comes from his vulnerability. He’s become a powerful mage in a matter of weeks because of his love—he’s always learned new forms of magic in response to a need; his love, and his desire to protect it, helps provide that need, and pushes him to break past the limits to his strength again and again.

He’s able to face so much adversity in his life because he’s not afraid to face his emotions and even his darker impulses—to learn from them and then let them go. And this is the lesson that Harrow passed on to his son; that strength means he no longer has to hold on to his hatred and his pain but look beyond to find something meaningful, something worth fighting for and protecting.

And that something might end up saving their world.

#avizandum #thunder #thunderfall #harrow #harrow x viren #harrow x sarai #sarai #viren #callum #ezran #rayla #zym #rayllum

222 notes · View notes

queenjanai · 4 years

Text

i got stuck after writing 4k of my fic where amaya, janai and her brother purify the sunforge together, and amaya and janai kiss for the first time there, and i haven’t published something for a while now so i decided to give you guys the first 3k words! i really hope you’ll like it, and i’ll really appreciate feedback or comments, it’s the first time i’m writing a really long one shot. enjoy!

Six weeks. Six weeks of darkness. Not complete darkness, thank the Sun, which still rose and fell each morning and each night. Still, the Sunforge was a constant reminder at the center of Lux Aurea, swirling with the hue of corruption, keeping the citizens sheltered inside their homes during the hours of light.

Janai had a perfect view of her downfall from her chambers. Every evening, she sat at the center of her empty bed, gazing at the spot that used to shine during the darkest of nights, drifting children to sleep as their parents told them ancient stories and sang lullabies. Janai watched, clad in nothing but her nightgown, her armor hanged in her closet and her headpiece resting on top of her nightstand.

She refused every one of her advisors. She would not be crowned until the Sunforge was purified. She would not wear Khessa's crown, or move to her sleeping quarters. She had forbidden them all to call her Your Radiance. With a broken city and a throne she denied to sit upon, Janai regretted not listening more carefully during Khessa's meetings. Suddenly she was swarmed with paperwork and citizens requests and holding audiences and calculation of expenses. All of the things Kheesa knew how to handle by heart, while she was left wishing she could cut all of these problems with one swing of her sword.

Needless to say, she didn't get much sleep. Most of the nights, Janai stared at the canopy of her grand bed, wondering when the messages she had sent would arrive to the hands of Sunfire Mages, or pondering why the spells they had tried so far failed to work. Not pure enough, not the right time. Something was holding them back, and only the Sun knew what it was. She thought about her brother too, and her stomach clenched with guilt as the picture of him flooded her mind. She hadn't told him about the Sunforge yet. She hadn't told him about Khessa.

One night, after she dragged herself from her office once the candles began to die out, Janai came to the conclusion that maybe she was the problem. She threw the blanket away from herself, after hours of tossing back and forth, and stepped on the floor, her feet bare, to retrieve her sword. Torches flickered on the empty hallway, the castle so silent in this hour at night. Her destination was the balcony, the one closest to her room as well as the biggest. The coldness of the polished floor struck her in waves, but Janai didn't shiver. Instead, she continued her path forward, walking in isles she knew since the day she was born, and only stopped in front of one room. Not that far away from hers, but not on the outskirts of the castle either. A perfect place for her most cherished guest. Warmness spread across her cheeks at the sight of the closed door, much like any other door in the palace. Her hand clenched and loosened around the hilt of her sword, sparks flying at the tips of her fingers, but she turned away. She wouldn't wake Amaya to spar with her.

Amaya's first visit had been a surprise, despite the letter she had written her. Janai had sat in the room adjoined to her sleeping chamber, morning sunlight washing over her as she finished her cup of tea. It had been less than a week since the battle of the Storm Spire. She held the scroll with both of her hands, shifting it so the light would catch on the crimson wax seal, baring the uneven towers of Katolis.

Golden Knight,

I am happy to announce that King Ezran's party has arrived safely back to Katolis. Thank you for escorting us to the border to avoid any further conflicts. We have taken the misformed soldiers and are working for a solution regarding their state.

I've pulled most of my battalion from the Breach, as we agreed. A platoon awaits at the outpost and the new path into Xadia, to prevent infiltration from both sides. I've ordered my soldiers to interact with yours peacefully.

On a more personal note, if I may, I am sorry for the loss of your sister. The injustice Lord Viren had caused will not be left uncorrected, especially not after your aid and sacrifice. I would like to come to Lux Aurea and help - as a friend and not as a prisoner. I hope you are well.

I will be waiting for your response.

Warm regards,

General Amaya of the Standing Battalion.

Janai could not believe her eyes. Amaya certainly had her way with words. Prisoner had her smiling, and warm regards caused her to roll her eyes, despite her gloomy mood. She left her rooms feeling more cheerful than before, and Amaya's words echoed in her mind as she waited for a small window of time to write her back.

Amaya's second visit had been a miracle, as if Janai had been holding her breath until her arrival. She had waited for her at Lux Aurea's gates, along with two guards. Amaya was dressed in her usual General armor, silver and blue, with her shield at her back. Janai was so happy to see a familiar face.

Her third visit amazed her, and every time she arrived after. At first, she stayed only for half a day, rushing back to Katolis before the sun would set, but after the fifth visit or so Amaya stayed for the night, then the other. She had been in Janai's mind as she walked from one meeting to another, consulting with her advisors and asking for reports. She imagined Amaya didn't have much to do as Janai read papers and signed with her ink and quill. She came to her door each evening once her duties were done, and they shared a small supper or walked through the streets of Lux Aurea, but never too far from the castle. Janai didn't admit it out loud, though she was sure Amaya could spot it on her face, but she was wary of the city, and so were her soldiers, she told her in the first letter. Only a lucky portion of them won the prize of staying in the Breach instead of having to face the corrupted Sunforge. They paced through the courtyard between high trees and colorful bushes of flowers, and talked, and Janai's smile grew bigger with each step, and each sign she remembered correctly. Amaya would teach her between what spaces of the day she had, and even if she was mistaken it was even more pleasant when Amaya reached to correct the position of her fingers.

In her seventh visit, Amaya came riding her horse with a treasure Janai had almost forgotten about. The Sun staff. If Janai hadn't been so shocked she would have laughed at the irony. Six Primal Sources, the seventh one the humans discovered being dark magic, and Amaya came marching in holding the second thing that was stolen from Janai, not just her sister's life. The void of the Sun staff stood in contrast to every living thing, a dark spot among the bright light and shades of gold. Janai kept her eyes on Amaya as she dismounted, and Amaya gave her what was hers by right, wordlessly. Janai didn't ask. She locked the staff in her farthest closet, as if it was a caged animal. Every time she could sneak to her room, she'd open the wooden doors to find it still there. That day Amaya had introduced her to a pastry called jelly tarts, which the royal family of Katolis was very fond of. Janai took the little triangle-shaped cookie in her hand, the dough well baked and glazed at the corners, and the center was filled with a paste of poppy seeds. Amaya gazed at her with her best of behavior, which almost made Janai giggle, sitting with her hands held at her lap, waiting for Janai to be the first to eat. Janai bit at one of the corners, fearing to insult Amaya if the pastry wasn't to her taste, but trusting her judgment. It was delicious, she found out, and by the end of their talk they had finished a box that was meant for a week, well after Amaya would return to Katolis.

Janai woke up to the wind gently blowing on the lace curtains of her bed. The one at her feet tickled her whenever the breeze waned, and Janai pushed herself up to see the sunrise. Long strokes of yellow and soft pink brought Lux Aurea out of its sleep, coloring her room. She rubbed her sleep soaked eyes and moved the curtain aside, bracing herself for another day. Her hands were sore from the time she spent on the balcony last night- that wasn't so enjoyable. It did nothing to distract her, and fighting against an invisible enemy didn't sharpen her at the slightest.

While she broke her fast with a first cup of herbal tea and a squeeze of lemon, Janai reached out to take one of the jelly tarts Amaya had brought. This time, they promised to ration themselves, and Janai had convinced Amaya to share the recipe with the cookers of the castle, if only as an excuse in case Amaya would forget to bring her own supply. The real reason was that Janai wanted to eat the cookies Amaya introduced her too even when she wasn't around, and to vary them with some of her liked flavors. Janai tilted her head back against the cushioned chair and savored the sweet flavor of the strawberry jam, taking in the serenity before her duties would catch up with her.

The morning council seemed to become duller with each passing day. Every morning she'd take her seat at the head of the table, and gaze at the faces of her advisors, tired of telling the same tales, and Janai knew they were tired of her stubbornness as well.

"The final spells are being cast on the perimeter of Lux Aurea, as well as the main gate," one of her advisors said. She recognized him as Suri's deputy, though he was much younger than their late, royal Sunfire Mage. It was him she told, in a moment of frustration, to pick the less greedy Mage who would do their damn job.

All of her peacefulness left her body as soon as she arrived at the council hall. "How long will it take them? They've been casting spells for weeks now." It was the first sane decision Janai had commanded to be done. The citizens must have been getting weary of seeing Mages drawing protection runes so near their houses every day.

"Today is expected to be the last day," he said.

Janai settled in her chair. Her eyes burned from the lack of sleep, and there was nothing she desired more than to dismember this meeting and return to her chambers, to be alone. But no, not as long as the Sun still shined.

"Golden Knight," spoke one of the ladies. She was only a few years younger than Janai, but smaller, with flowing brown hair and kind eyes. "I went to the city yesterday, and the citizens are worried because of the lack of reports."

There wasn't a lack of reports. Janai knew that an informer went from the castle into the center of the city, each day, to give status about the working being done and answer the people's requests. There was just nothing new to say. They might as well shout "Nothing is working yet."

"Tell them we're still searching for a solution. All of those with problems or needs are welcome to attend the weekly audience." It took all of her strength to keep her posture uptight. The lady nodded.

"Golden Knight, about the coronation-"

"No, I will not have it," Janai cut another one of them and stood up. All faces were drawn to her, frozen. "If there are no more pressing matters, you are dismissed."

All bowed to her, and Janai pushed herself from the seat in one swift move and passed her advisors by, the heels of her boots clicking against the polished floor. She had not changer her clothing, and still wore the same slit tunic with golden scales and pauldrons protecting her shoulders. A part of her longed to come back to the Breach, to sleep again among rivers of lava and smoke, on a hard ground instead of her room full of finery.

Speaking of the Breach, she was headed to bid Amaya a good morning. A smile rose on her face without knowing as she walked by guards and maids and staff of the castle, all who crossed their arms together and greeted her, their smile more uncertain than hers. She couldn't blame them, a smile was a rare sight in Lux Aurea these days.

She arrived at Amaya's chamber, and raised her finger to the unlit torch beside the door. Fire engulfed her finger as her heat being seeped into her skin there, igniting her veins. The heat was enough, and within a second a small fire set the torch alight, as well as the torch inside the room. It was a little trick that was as old as the palace itself, and happened to serve Amaya just right.

The door opened, and with it came Amaya. "Good morning," she brought her hand down from her chin and laid the other as a horizontal line before bringing her left hand towards herself again.

"Good morning," Amaya signed back, with a smile that indicated she woke up a short time ago. Janai followed her as Amaya stepped further into the room, her eyes drifting to her blue tunic with the uneven tower of Katolis sewn on the sleeves, and her black leather breeches. Two weeks ago Amaya had opened the door to her still dressed in her sleeping clothes, a set of soft pants and a tank top. The memory of Amaya's bare arms and the fading scars that decorated them hadn't left Janai yet. Amaya took a seat in one of the armchairs. "How was your morning meeting?"

Janai delayed on her hands, remembering the words for each sign. Perhaps to someone else, Amaya's slow movements would have been insulting, but Janai was grateful for her patience, and Amaya seemed to know exactly where to pick up her pace, with words Janai was already familiar with. "The same," she shrugged. "Did the scroll you received yesterday had good news?"

The corner of Amaya's lips tugged with a smile. "Just Opeli begging me to come back before Ezran brings the kingdom into dept with jelly tarts expenses," she made the letter O and pulled her hands over her head, as if donning a hood, for the name of their High Council Cleric.

Janai laughed, and they lapsed into a comfortable silence, though her worries never strayed too far. There was still so much left to do, and the coronation...

Amaya brought her back, but not to a kinder reality. "What about your brother?" She asked. Janai felt the color fading from her cheeks, then she reddened. "You've been avoiding him." She peeked just to see Amaya, her signs more careful than ever.

"I-" Her voice trembled under Amaya's gaze. She took a deep breath, and straightened herself in the chair. "I don't know what to tell him. It has been too long." And it has. Once she had returned with the remains of Lux Aurea's forces from the Storm Spire, Janai marched to her room, dropped on her bed, buried her face in her hands, and stared at the floor. Ori hasn't left her thoughts since, every time she wrote with her ink and quill. Whenever she tried, she couldn't find the words to tell her brother Khessa was gone, and that their greatest pride had been corrupted. Every unfinished parchment was left crumbled on her desk.

"If there is no other way..." Amaya began, leaning over, the sunlight catching over her.

"I know," Janai cut her off. "I'll send him a message today."

Amaya nodded, a gentle and hopeful smile on her face, which Janai mirrored. She couldn't ignore the faint voice in her mind being so grateful that Amaya was there, as strong as an anchor. Janai knew she had grieved herself, for her sister, then for her brother-in-law. Janai refused to let it consume her, as difficult as it was. Not when her people needed guidance the most, not when Amaya was there.

Her brother deserved the truth too. Janai walked back to her office, and allowed every emotion to flood her, guilt and selfishness alike. She missed Ori more than she imagined, her little brother, so different from her and Khessa, with his kind eyes and everlasting grin. Hatred and suspicion had made Khessa hard, for Janai it was countless battles and pride, but Ori was left untouched. Their mother used to say that Ori was the most light-touched of them all.

She sat behind the desk, dark and made out of strong wood. Light washed the room, illuminating little practicals that floated through the air. Janai took a deep breath, the blank scroll laid before her, and dipped the quill in the vail of ink.

Janai leaned back on her chair then, feeling as if a weight has been lifted from within her chest, and watched the ink dry. Her fingers traced the surface of the desk, thinking how much quicker she finished than expected. Searching for any missing words she might want to add, Janai's eyes drifted on the black against the soft yellow color of the page, but no. She pushed herself up and rolled the scroll, then sealed it with a patch of golden wax, the symbol of Lux Aurea pressed into it.

The message needed to get to her brother as soon as possible, fast than what an enchanted arrow could achieve. Janai reached and slid a drawer open, revealing a small red gem inside. Its facets glimmered in the light of the sun, and Janai closed her fist around it.

"Nuntius Ignis." Her words brought magic into life as the gemstone crushed under the force. She wasn't proficient in spells, but remembered some from lessons she took with Ori when they were younger. Khessa was excused from those lessons, while Janai half-listened to their tutor, wishing to practice with her sword, and Ori copied each word into his notebook with dripping enthusiasm. Shards of the gem dropped from her hand on top of the scroll, and ignited when they touched the paper. Soon enough, the entire scroll caught fire, the edges of the page turning black and crumbling. The fire went out, and her letter disappeared, leaving no trace but the faint smell of smoke in the room.

Janai got to her feet, let out a long-held breath, and went to continue her day.

#god knows how i wrote almost 5k for the brunch fic which basically has zero plot but i can't write something with an actual plot #the dragon prince #janaya #janai #amaya

32 notes · View notes

hotbrownmourningpotion · 4 years

Text

The Dragon Prince and History

There’s not a lot of historical references in The Dragon Prince, but I am stuck at home and bored so I may as well put my history degree to good use. I studied European history, and my specialty is the Wars of the Roses, so mostly this is from around that era. Some of these are stretches, really big ones; but if nothing else I hope that this encourages you to read more about these fascinating men and women throughout history. And if anyone has other ideas about historical references in this show please let me know, I would love to open a discussion and hear your thoughts.

Harrow - Edward the Fourth

Edward the fourth was King of England from 1461 to 1470 and then again from 1471 to 1483, until his death. Edward’s father was leader of the York faction of the War of The Roses, who tried to depose Henry the Sixth. But his father was killed in battle and Edward took the throne. Now is when the parallels start to come in. Edward enjoyed military success against the Lancasters during the War of the Roses, a feat we see in Harrow as he did take down a dragon and a magma titan. Like Harrow, Edward’s wife had been married before. However when Edward decided to marry the young widow instead of the woman he’d been betrothed to, his allies turned against him. They deposed Edward and Henry the Sixth was briefly returned to the throne until Edward returned with an army and took back his throne. The remainder of his reign was said to be peaceful, but when Edward died a new conflict arose. Edward’s son was twelve years old when he was set to take the throne but the child king was never crowned because of Edward’s brother, Richard the Third.

Harrow could also be based on King Henry the Fifth for his military prowess and untimely death.

Viren - Richard the Third

Richard the Third was king of England from 1483 to 1485. After the death of his older brother, his twelve year old nephew was set to take the throne. Richard, however, deposed his nephew on the grounds of illegitimacy, as Edward had been betrothed to another young woman before he married the widowed Elizabeth. Richard locked his two young nephews in the Tower of London and neither were ever seen again. It is said that Richard killed them but the bodies were never found. While on the throne, Richard personally drowned his older brother and married the widow of Henry the Sixth’s only son (who he killed.) Like Richard, we see Lord Viren as manipulative and conniving, he is smart and knows how to take advantage of a situation so that things go in his favor. Similar to Richard, Viren locks up the heir to the throne in order to take his crown. Of course he didn’t murder anyone to get to his position (that we know of) except for the creatures he’s used for dark magic, but he is a power-hungry narcissist who did conspire to have his son kill both heirs to the throne. Richard is often regarded as one of the most evil Kings in English history, he was defeated by Henry the Seventh, who then married Edward the fourth’s daughter, Elizabeth of York, and the two of them joined the York and Lancaster houses to end the war of the roses and began the reign of the Tudors.

Callum - Henry Tudor

Okay so this is actually for Callum and kinda Rayla. Don’t worry, I have some for Rayla separately but there are a few parallels in their relationship that I can’t ignore. Symbolically, Rayla and Callum remind me of King Henry the Seventh and Elizabeth of York. The War of the Roses had been going on for generations between the Lancasters and the Yorks, and these two joined the houses of Lancaster and York together with their marriage and ended the War of the Roses. After the defeat of Richard the Third, Henry became the first Tudor King and Elizabeth became his consort. But being consort, she didn’t have the same power as her husband, which is where our second couple comes in.

King William the Third and Queen Mary the Second.

I’m gonna leave the War of the Roses behind now and talk about the couple who co-ruled England. Mary was the older daughter of King James the Second and she insisted that her husband rule alongside her, not as her consort but as her equal. I mention this only because even though I don’t think Callum will ever become King, I think that if he hypothetically ever did he would want Rayla to rule alongside him. Just hopefully no one dies of smallpox this time.

Rayla - Æthelflæd

Before anyone asks no, I am not sure how to pronounce that, so for simplicity sake we’re gonna call her Ethel. A lot of different historical figures come to mind as potential influences for Rayla, Joan of Arc being a pretty obvious one but I feel everyone knows her story so I am going to tell you about an Anglo-Saxon queen who killed a bunch of Vikings. Ethel was born to Alfred the Great, who was known for being great, around the year 870. Usually women were not allowed political roles but Ethel said fuck that and learned how to fight, which was a good thing because her land was being invaded by the Vikings. She fought against the Viking invasion and won because she was strong and intelligent, avenged a bunch of deaths, and was just an all around awesome badass queen. Her crown was passed down to her daughter, who was later overthrown by some particularly awful male relatives. I feel Rayla embodies the spirit of a woman who could outsmart and kill a bunch of Vikings, as we’ve already seen just how smart and badass she is. However as I've said before, a lot of historical figures could also easily fit into Rayla’s character; some of the others include Grace O’Malley, Black Agnes, and some pretty fierce Scottish queens.

Claudia - Lady Jane Grey

The nine days queen was named heir to the throne by her cousin, Edward the Sixth. Edward was the son of the famous Henry the Eighth and his third wife, Jane Seymour, and he feared that his older sister, Mary, would return the country to Catholicism if she took the throne so a plan was drawn up to skip both Mary and Elizabeth and place Jane on the throne. The fifteen year old Jane fainted upon hearing that she’d be queen. This plan was doomed however, as Mary was popular with the people and was already raising an army. After nine days on the throne, Jane was arrested by her own father and Mary beheaded her cousin. Now you might be wondering what this has to do with Claudia. Well like Claudia, Jane had a father who cared more for what his children could give him than he did for their wellbeing. Claudia is also just a teenage girl who wants to make her father proud and doesn’t realize she’s his pawn. That’s not to say she’s naive, she’s smart but she’s scared and will do anything to ensure her family doesn’t fall apart again. In the end, like young Jane, she is fiercely loyal to her father and wants to do right by him. Do I think this means Viren will abandon his daughter the way Jane’s father abandoned her’s? I actually don’t know. I think Viren loves his daughter very much, but he is taking advantage of her love and her loyalty. I also don’t think that Claudia will ever be beheaded (it is a kids show after all) and I don't think she will be queen but there is another parallel as she was heir to a throne for a very short time when Viren crowned himself King.

Amaya - Marguerite de Bressieux

(and Christina of Sweden, pictured below)

Wanna hear about the awesome lady knight who killed rapists during the Hundred Years War? Of course you do, so allow me to introduce one of the coolest women of the 15th century. Marguerite was a Lady whose castle was captured by the Prince of Orange (not to be confused with the prince of banana) who assaulted her and other ladies of the castle. So she donned knight’s armour, rode into battle and killed her assailants, making sure to remove her helmet as they were dying so they’d know exactly who’d killed them. It was a proud moment but she unfortunately did not survive the battle. Amaya will never die in battle (we will rise up and kill the writers if that happens) but the rest of her story fits pretty well as it is about a woman overcoming hardships and wanting justice. Amaya is just as badass and awesome as a lady knight who leads armies and such. Of course, this isn’t the only historical parallel with Amaya’s character but it is the most badass. Another historical badass woman she could embody is Christina of Sweden, who lived how she wanted, dressing as a man, loving women, and smashing the patriarchy.

Ezran - Queen Elizabeth the First

Okay so obviously Ezran isn’t a girl but just stick with me for a second here. Elizabeth grew up in a time of great political turmoil and wasn’t seen much as a princess as she was seen as a pawn. She was locked in the Tower of London by her sister Mary, who was a devoted Catholic who earned her nickname “Bloody Mary” by burning an estimated 300 Protestants. When Elizabeth came to power she promoted religious tolerance, and today we remember her as one of the greatest monarchs in history. Ezran has the potential to be a great monarch, one that Katolis will remember. By working alongside Elves and Dragons in Xadia, he is promoting a message of equality that the human kingdoms have yet to see.

As for the rest, I’m not really sure. I mean, lots of really awesome assassins have existed that could be Runaan but none of them really feel right. And Janai, I’m not too sure who her historical counterpart could be, possibly Arawelo (another awesome queen who said fuck the patriarchy) but that might embody her sister more. Sarai could be Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, who was granted a divorce from her less than favourable first husband and became Queen consort of England but she could also embody aspects of Isabella of France and Cecily Neville. Soren I actually don’t have any ideas. I mean, he could be Richard the Lionheart but I’m not too sure. Ultimately I’m stumped on Soren and Janai.

So there it is, my personal analysis of The Dragon Prince characters and their potential historical counterparts. If anyone has any other theories please share them, I would love to hear other opinions.

I hope that everyone is having a good day. Stay safe out there friends.

63 notes · View notes

kammieceleek · 4 years

Text

Halfling: Chapter 1, Different

Sarai was young but she wasn't stupid.

She knew she was different from others in Xadia. While her interactions with other elves were limited the few she'd had were less than ideal. Many regarded her as some kind of plague or outcast and walked away quickly. Her differences were in the way they looked at her and in the way they spoke. It was in her difficulties with magic that no elf should struggle with. It was in her fear of combat and confrontation. But most of all, it was in her hands.

Elves, she knew, had four fingers.

Sarai had five.

Her father was human and her mother was an elf. It was why she was unusual. Elves and humans hated each other but her parents had fallen in love despite the bad blood. And Sarai's admiration for them was never-ending, just like their determination and spirit.

Rayla, a Moonshadow elf assassin who had once been asked to kill a king and a prince. Instead she'd found her future husband and they'd gone on a journey to end a war that should've never even started. Strong, beautiful, hilarious, and a great warrior, Rayla was what Sarai wished she could be. A fighter, somebody who wasn't afraid of battle or death. Furiously protective of what she cared about, which these days was her husband and her daughter. Sometimes Sarai even wondered how she was her mother's daughter, what with how different they were. But then she'd see her horns reflected back at her and the answer was there, among the locks of long dark hair she'd gotten from her father.

Callum, a human and former prince who had protected his younger brother from Rayla on that fateful raid. He had traveled with her to bring Zym back to the Dragon Queen and end that war. Compared to his wife, he was more scholarly and bookish with an honest face and an aptitude for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. And Sarai took after him in that regard, as well as with her extra fingers and the fact that Moonshadow magic wasn't exactly for her. He was kind and caring and she knew that both he and her mother loved her more than themselves. The only times she ever saw him get angry were when someone threatened her or Rayla.

Their family was small but had plenty of love to go around. On Rayla's side, her parents were gone—not dead but not with her—and there were no other relatives she knew of. Callum's father was unknown to him and he'd lost his mother and stepfather years before Sarai was born. He had a half-brother, but Sarai had never met the man before. Something had happened and they weren't able to enter the human kingdoms safely anymore. It had been the cause of several arguments when Sarai was younger, where Rayla insisted she could protect them and Callum wanted his daughter to live to adulthood. Eventually they'd settled on the border near the Storm Spire, where King Zym (Sarai refused to call him anything else) assured their safety from the elves but not the humans.

Now, however, things were very wrong.

Things were so wrong that Sarai didn't know how she'd ever help set them right.

Her parents had been captured by a team of rouge elves and a human—a human woman whose hair was almost completely white, save for a few locks of black on the righthand side. Callum and Rayla had been shocked and horrified to see her. Not the elves, but this odd-looking human woman who used dark magic. They hadn't gone easy, mind you. Rayla had fought while Callum tried to help her, but she yelled for him to take Sarai and run, to let her handle the battle while he saved their child. He'd obeyed, only for the human woman to catch up and hold them in place with her evil power.

"Callum. It's been years," the woman said breathily.

"It seems magic hasn't been kind to you, Claudia," he spat. She narrowed her eyes.

"Why are you angry?"

"You attacked my family and you didn't think I'd be angry?!"

Sarai bit her lip as she listened to her father. Hearing him speak with such venom and anger and scorn, a tone that her mother usually reserved for herself, was disconcerting to say the least. He was usually joking or giving her advice or even helping her with magic and drawing. Anger was a rare emotion and she was afraid of this woman who could draw it out of him.

"Please, it wasn't my idea. I wanted to just take you and draw your bloodthirsty lover out so we could take your child, too. The elves had other plans. Now, what to do…"

Out of the corner of her eye, Sarai saw her father's fingers moving in a familiar shape—a rune. He was trying to free them. She could already feel the binding spell weakening around her and before Claudia could finish her mutterings Sarai was free. Claudia had yet to notice but the binding was still tight around Callum. Worriedly, he looked to his daughter, who remained by him.

"Sarai, go find help. She's not as interested in you so you can slip away."

"But Papa—"

"Please. I can buy you some time but it's limited. Go now and run."

Running. It was the one physical activity she was good at. Sarai nodded and leapt to her feet. Before Claudia could even figure out what had happened, the halfling was gone and well out of her reach. She let out a growl and turned her attention to Callum, who glared at her defiantly… then she dragged him back to where his wife was lying on the ground, heavily bruised and injured but alive, surrounded by the elves who had brutally beaten her.

"Rayla!" Callum gasped, desperately trying to reach her.

"She's not dead yet," snorted Claudia. "But she may be, soon."

"Touch her and you're dead!"

"Where was this fire when we were younger? Or is it just because your elven mistress is lying on the ground and your hell-spawn is off who-knows-where?"

"Sarai is—"

"And you even named her after your mother. Hmph. Well, we have somewhere to be, don't we?"

The last thing that registered in Callum's mind was a spell.

Then darkness.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It had started as a rumor in the street earlier that week.

An elf is in Katolis—a Moonshadow elf!

Those rumors were never something that Soren took seriously. People made mistakes like that all the time and it was kind of dumb when you thought about it too much. No, the rumors worried him when they switched to they're looking for help. Only one Moonshadow elf had connections in Katolis and it had been many years since he'd seen her. And the fact that she didn't go to the castle, knowing Ezran would gladly help her, worried him most of all. So he posted guards in the streets to find the elf and bring her to the palace.

But it wasn't Rayla deposited at his feet.

"Who are you?" he asked. She looked up at him with wide green eyes.

"Who are you?" she echoed, her voice denoting her youth. She couldn't have been older than six.

"I am Soren, the head of the Crown Guard."

"M-my name is Sarai. I was told to go get help."

"Help?" She nodded.

"I need to save Mama and Papa. S-some…" Her eyes rolled back into her head and she fell to the ground. He realized after kneeling beside her that she was starving and tired and nothing that an eight-year-old girl should be.

"Make sure she gets food and rest. We'll continue this when she's feeling better."

His orders were followed. And out of custom, he informed Ezran of their guest. The young king insisted upon seeing the girl, and as soon as he did he backed away in shock.

"Why is she here?"

"To get help for her parents or something." Ezran reached out and touched one of the girl's horns.

"Do you know her name?"

"Sarai."

A shaky breath was inhaled by the king of Katolis.

"I… I think… I know who her parents are."

"Who?"

(Really, Soren had not gotten any sharper.)

"Rayla and… Callum. No doubt about it—everything about her is just like them."

"Huh. Weird. I didn't know they had a baby."

"We haven't talked to them since they were forced to cut contact eight years ago. I can't figure out why their daughter would be here unless something bad happened."

Sarai let out a groan as she came to and Ezran smiled.

"Hey, feeling better?" he asked.

"I… I don't know…"

"Your name is Sarai, right? I'm Ezran."

"You're Ezran?" Sarai's eyes widened.

"I'm guessing you've heard of me?"

"Papa talked about you a lot. So did Zym. You can talk to animals, right?"

"Yes, I can. How old are you, Sarai?"

"Five. Almost six."

"And your father's name wouldn't happen to be Callum, would it?"

"Yeah… and my mama is Rayla. Papa told me to come to Katolis to get help. He and Mama were taken away by bad elves and a mean lady named Claudia who wanted to hurt me and Mama."

"Well, then, you've found your help. We are family."

In truth, however, the news that Claudia had resurfaced troubled both king and guard. Soren was glad to hear his sister was alive but furious to learn she'd tried to harm a child…again. Ezran was bothered by the fact that Claudia had apparently overpowered both mage and warrior, though the fact that elves were helping her made sense. None of them wanted the uneasy peace that had settled over the human kingdoms and Xadia over the past decade and a half. It made sense that they'd go after the human-elf couple and their halfling child. But at the same time, they'd made the mistake of going after his family, the only family he had left other than his aunt Amaya. Sarai was his niece and he'd protect her.

"Soren, send word to Aunt Amaya and the Storm Spire. We're going after Claudia." His eyes turned to Sarai. "In the meantime, let's get you rested and fed. And some new clothes."

Sarai looked down. Her knee-length blue dress was tattered and filthy, its hue dulled by the muck and mud. Her eyebrows knit together and she smiled up at her uncle.

"Thank you, Uncle Ezran."

"What else is family for?"

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Word had spread that she was in the castle over the past several days. Sarai noted the stares and whispers as she walked through the hall in the clothes that Ezran had said once belonged to her father. Her long hair had been braided to keep it out of her face for the time being, horns still up and standing proud and denoting her elven heritage alongside the blue markings she'd inherited from her mother. To so many she appeared the enemy, despite the years of tentative peace between the human kingdoms and Xadia her family had led. War had once been the way of life for both places, for both races, but now that was over.

"You okay, Sarai?" Ezran asked as she entered the dining room.

"It's weird, being around so many people."

"How so?"

"For as long as I can remember, it's just been me, Mama, and Papa in our little cottage by the Storm Spire. Zym babysits me a lot when they had to go do things because he likes me. Mama said it was because they did the same for him when he was a baby."

"I remember. I helped them take care of Zym when he was newly hatched." She sat down next to him. Opeli looked slightly unnerved at the breach of protocol but said nothing.

"I miss them…"

"Me, too. I haven't seen them since before you were born."

"Mama was fighting the bad elves, and Papa told me to run away and get help in Katolis while he faced Claudia. I'm fast."

"Really?"

"Yeah!"

"Well, then, we'll have to have a race once this is over. And you and your parents will have to come visit."

Sarai nodded in agreement and began to eat some of the food that had been set out. Ezran noted the way she ate was so much like Callum; no doubt his older brother had instilled manners into his daughter in case she ever came to Katolis. But the way she held the knife and the markings under her eyes—it was pure Rayla. His heart ached to know just what Claudia had done with his brother and sister-in-law. Sarai was the last thing he had left of them at the moment (save for a couple of portraits done before they were forced to leave). Already he was growing attached to her.

"When are we leaving?" she asked. "I wanna know so I can pack."

"Sarai…"

"You don't want me to go?"

"No, you're coming. It's just… we need to figure this out. I don't want you near the battlefield when you're so young, especially not if we're going against Claudia. She's a dark mage."

"I understand. That's why we live near the Storm Spire. Zym protects us better and Papa didn't want me to see how ugly fighting is."

That sounds like Callum.

"We're leaving tomorrow morning. You'll have to guide us to your home and we'll start looking from there."

Sarai nodded and went back to eating.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Ezran."

The young king sighed as Soren approached him in the throne room.

"Soren, we're doing this. It's Callum and Rayla."

"That's not my concern. My concern is you going along."

"Why?"

"If… if something happens to you, you have no heir. Who's going to rule the kingdom if you don't come back?"

"Oh, that's easy. Sarai will." Soren blinked. "Look, she's Callum's daughter. That means in terms of succession, she's after him."

"But Sarai is coming with us."

"And she'll be staying with someone at the Storm Spire. I'm not risking her life, but I'm willing to risk mine."

"…you're just like Harrow, you know. He was the same way." Ezran faced his old friend. "Viren offered him a way out, the night the assassins came. A snake that could put his soul in another body. But he refused, saying he'd rather die a king than a coward who let another die in his place."

"Then that's what I believe, too."

"I'll prepare to head out. Should I alert Amaya?" Ezran nodded.

"Send a message to her and Janai. They can meet us on the Xadian side of the border and guide us the rest of the way."

Soren nodded. Ezran eventually left the room and wandered until he passed his niece's room. He could hear her sniffling. Out of concern, he entered her room and found her curled up with one of Callum's old stuffed animals; no doubt Opeli had given it to her.

(She may have appeared reserved, but she had a soft spot for children.)

"Sarai?"

"Uncle Ezran?" She sat up and rubbed her eyes.

"You're upset, aren't you?"

"I… I just want Mama and Papa…" Ezran pulled her into a hug.

"It's going to be okay. We'll find them and we'll make sure they're safe."

"But elves are mean. They talk about me and Mama all the time. They say Mama is a traitor to Xadia and that I'm an… a-bomb…a-bomb-in-ation?"

"Abomination. And it's not a good word, especially if they're using it to talk about someone."

"What does it mean?"

"It means… unnatural. Bad. Like something never should have happened. You're not an abomination, Sarai. You're a little girl with two loving parents and a family who cares about you. There's nothing more natural or good than that."

She smiled up at him and that smile was pure Rayla, especially the way her eyes crinkled when she did it. He held her tighter for a moment, then sighed.

"Tomorrow, we're leaving for Xadia. And I promise you we will bring our family back together, no matter what."

Ezran stayed with her until she fell asleep, tucking the stuffed dragon under her arm before he left.

I promise, Sarai.

#published on ao3 #the dragon prince #dragon prince rayllum #fanfiction #family #rayllum child #rayllum #callum x rayla

36 notes · View notes

iwillhaveamoonbase · 4 years

Text

We Could Be Heroes ch 3

“Does my hair look OK?” Callum had fussing with his hair for the past five minutes. Rayla had finally gotten him to sit on the couch and had her hands on his shoulders.

“For the last time, Callum, it looks fine. Shouldn’t I be the one that’s nervous? I’m meeting your family after all.”

“Yes, but I have never introduced anyone to Harrow before. Everyone I have ever known has been someone he also knows.”

“Is Janai going to be there?” Rayla released his shoulders when he stopped squirming and reaching for his hair.

“No, she had a last-minute conference with the other leaders of the Sunfire Army. Apparently, the press in Xadia has started to question if their marriage is all a ploy to get Katolis into the Dragon King’s good graces. Gren probably won’t be there, either.”

Rayla shifted her shirt a bit before running a hand through Callum’s hair. “That’s Amaya’s interpreter, right?”

“Yes, and thank you for messing up my hair.”

“You’re welcome. I’m going to sit in that chair,” she pointed at the same one she sat in when Runaan told her to leave, “and you’re going to relax, got it?”

“Yep. Totally relaxed and ready.” Callum moved his shoulders up and down and rolled them forward. He couldn’t help but be jealous at Rayla’s cool as a cucumber attitude. “Are you really not nervous?”

“I’m just better at hiding it,” she sat down with a shrug. “Part of Runaan’s training regime.”

“I’m going to have to take lessons from him, then.”

“Probably.” They stopped as they heard the incoming call sound from Callum’s computer. “You gonna answer that?”

“Yeah.” Callum pressed the answer button and his frozen smile caused Ezran to laugh. Ezran sat in the middle with Bait firmly in his lap. Amaya was on the left while Harrow was on the right. They smiled and waved to him. It wasn’t often the four of them were able to spend time together anymore.

“What did you do, Callum?” Ezran asked, a mischievous smile on his face. He had grown since Callum had last seen him and was that a bit of peach fuzz on his chin? Had it only been a few months? That was the only thing Callum couldn’t stand about living on the border; he was too far away from Ezran and was missing these little moments.

“What makes you think I’ve done something, Ez?”

“You have that guilty look on your face. Is it about Raayylllaaa? Dad, you remember me telling you about Rayla, right? Callum’s definitely-not-girlfriend even though she came over several times while I was staying with him.”

Harrow chuckled as he put his hand on Ezran’s head. “Yes, Ezran. You’ve told me all about Callum’s not-girlfriend.” Amaya signed her acknowledgment from the side.

Callum’s eyes went wide. “He told you, too, Aunt Amaya?”

Amaya nodded before continuing. “To be fair, Ezran only told me after Janai and I announced our engagement. It’s just the four of us that know, well, five because Janai knows. Now, does this have to do with Rayla?”

“Yeah, Callum. Does it?” Ezran’s smile was so big it looked like it was trying to take over his whole face. Bait was squirming in Ezran’s lap before turning bright red.

“Actually, it does. Um, Dad, Aunt Amaya, I want you to meet Rayla. My girlfriend. Ray.” Rayla came over and sat next to Callum, her callused hand meeting his. “We’ve been together for about a year now. I didn’t want to hide it for so long, but with how much animosity is still going on with me going to school on the border and-”

Harrow raised his hand before smiling. “You don’t have to explain yourselves, Callum. Amaya and Janai have kept their relationship a secret for a long time, as well. It’s nice to finally meet you, Rayla. Ezran hasn’t stopped talking about you since he met you a few months ago.”

Rayla dipped her head as she took in Callum’s family. “It’s nice to meet you as well, Your Majesty. I wish it could have been in person, but Callum and I didn’t feel right hiding anymore.”

“Are you two happy?”

“Yeah, your son makes me happy. He also makes me want to pull my hair out when he starts getting really into arcana and primal magic.”

Callum translated as Amaya signed her input. “‘He did the same thing as a kid. Every time he picked something new to draw, it was all he talked about.’ I am not that bad.”

“You are. But you’re cute, so we forgive you.” Rayla gentled patted his hand as Ezran started jumping up and down in his seat.

“So, are you going to be my sister, Rayla? Because there is so much I want to talk to you about. And I’m definitely going to you for relationship advice because Callum was a total mess with Claudia and he doesn’t seem to be much better with you.”

“One day at a time, Ez.” Rayla looked over at Callum as a resigned look came over him. “What, no ‘I was not that bad?’”

“No, I was pretty bad. I’m still a mess half the time.”

“Called it,” Ezran whispered to Bait.

Harrow coughed, causing Rayla and Callum to turn towards him. “That’s a good sign, though. I know I seemed to be pretty smooth with your mother, Callum, but I had a hard time talking to her the first time I met her. And the second. And the third. I think the only time I wasn’t a mess on the inside for the first month was when we were sparring. And when I met her again after she had you, it was like I was that love-struck teenager all over again.”

Amaya nodded her head. “Your father tripped over his own feet after his first date with Sarai. The first time he showed her one of his scenic paintings, he looked like he was going to faint from nerves.”

Callum nodded his head from side-to-side. At least he wasn’t alone. “Well, it’s good to know that both of my dads were completely useless when standing next to my mom.”

“Your mother was a beautiful woman, Callum. Smart, strong, and compassionate as well. She was an excellent queen for the short time we had her.”

Callum gripped Rayla’s hand a little tighter. “I wish she was here.”

“She would be proud of you.” Harrow completely held Callum’s attention as he leaned forward. “Sarai never felt right about dark magic, but respected my friendship with Viren. It was the one thing we never could agree on and you have picked up exactly where she left off without realizing it. You have inherited her compassion and conviction. Never forget that, Callum. Now, Miss Rayla, you should know that I don’t approve of just anyone dating my son.”

Rayla grinned before ruffling Callum’s hair again. “I’m pretty sure you’ll approve of me. I’m pretty daring after all. I’m sure Ezran’s told you all about it.”

The laugh that escaped Harrow filled Callum with warmth. “You’re right, he has. Ezran already loves you like a sister and I can see that you make Callum happy. Just take care of each other, that’s all I ask.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“None of that. Please call me Harrow.”

Callum smiled. Rayla was getting along swimmingly with his family; he couldn’t have hoped for anything more. The dark storm cloud that had been over their heads since Bandlr came into his apartment suddenly made itself known. “Dad, there’s something else we need to talk about. It’s really important.”

“What is it?”

Callum felt guilty as he saw his family suddenly become dead serious. This should have been a happy moment, in person. Instead, he was going to have to ruin it. “Claudia and another Moonshadow elf on campus know. Claudia isn’t going to say anything and she’s beyond ecstatic, but, this student…he’s going to start telling people about us tomorrow.”

“Why would he wait until tomorrow?”

“Because I asked him to wait until I told you three first. Family is important in Xadia and he agreed to wait until you knew.”

Rayla sighed. “His name is Bandlr. His uncle has been friends with one of my uncles since they were kids and the town we grew up in is pretty small, so we tended to be in the same social circles once we got into high school. He’s been quite adamant about me dating him and Callum’s ability to use Sky magic without a primal stone has done nothing to endear him to the masses.”

Harrow ran a hand down his face while Amaya’s went through her hair. Ezran’s concerned face almost tore Callum apart. He and Ezran had always been a team; he never wanted his brother to look scared for his sake. “Do you think someone will hurt either of you two?”

“Dad-”

“I’m serious, Callum. Do you think someone plans to hurt you?”

“We don’t know. That’s the biggest reason why we’ve kept this secret for so long. The only real rules on the border is that humans and elves can’t kill each other. There is almost no violence.”

Rayla pushed forward a bit, clearly not content to let Callum try to make it seem like less of a big deal than it actually is. “But it doesn’t change the face that there are elves all over Xadia who have deemed your son dangerous, Harrow. His rejecting dark magic isn’t good enough; they think he’s playing with something he really, really shouldn’t.”

“What do you think, Rayla?”

Rayla paused for so long Callum wasn’t sure if she was even going to answer. “I don’t think Callum would ever hurt anyone on purpose. I also think that his repeated rejection of dark magic is a step in the right direction. His desire to learn how to use all the arcana, however, is something that I don’t understand when I think about it from the Xadian standpoint. We are born into one primal source and can only use one primal source. Those who try to get access to other arcana, outside of primal stones, tend to stop having the world’s best interest at heart. When I think about it from Callum’s, it’s because he’s curious and being a mage is something that he was meant to be. He’s also in a unique position because there have been no other human mages who are capable of using primal magic without a primal stone. I know he hasn’t accessed anything he isn’t supposed to, but neither humans or elves are going to just take our word for it.”

Harrow gave a small smile as he mulled her answer over. “A good answer. A wise answer. My son is quite lucky to have you by his side, Rayla.” The light purple blush that appeared on Rayla’s cheeks almost made Callum forget what the conversation was about. It had been a long time since he had seen her blush like that and it was just as adorable as the first time he saw. “I can’t send the Royal Guard, because it could be seen as a threat or Katolis trying to exert power on the border. The point of the university was that it is supposed to be a neutral zone and the surrounding area was supposed to follow suit. If I pull you out, it will undermine what you and I have worked so hard for, Callum. It would undermine what your mother had dreamed of. This university was her brainchild before we even got married. What do your parents think about this, Rayla?”

“My uncles know I can take care of myself. They’re more scared for Callum than they are for me, in terms of physical danger. Their main concern is how the press is going to react to me. We don’t have nobility or royalty besides the Dragon King in Xadia. All of our leaders are elected officials who could be replaced at any time, so it’s new territory for everyone. They don’t want to pull me out, but they’ll do it if they think it’s necessary.”

Amaya quickly began signing, her eyes betraying the concern she was trying to contain. “The only real option we have, politically, is for the two of you to stay there. If you run away, then it will give everyone more ammo against Callum, Katolis, and all the work that has been put into peace talks. I know that Moonshadow elf culture does not take kindly to cowards and deserters, Rayla. So, you’re just as trapped as Callum. This is different than when Janai and I got together. There is more at stake given Callum’s position and where you two are. I don’t like it, but it’s the only advice I can give you.”

The silence was deafening. Callum had never wanted Rayla to feel trapped. He squeezed her hand again as he looked at her. “Ray, we have until tomorrow. You can send messages to our professors that you had some family business to take care of. Runaan and Tinker can protect you and I’ll tell the press we broke up.”

Rayla turned to him with a raised brow. “I’m not running away, Callum.”

“It wouldn’t be running away if you were trying to save yourself. No one has to know what happened tonight. No one here will say anything.”

“Then what was the point of us doing this? What was the point of me telling my uncles I’m with you? You told me that you didn’t want to hide anymore. I agreed not to hide and now you want me to walk away?”

“What do you want me to say? ‘I’m sorry that I didn’t realize just how much bigger this was than the both of us?’ I am! I didn’t want to do this to make it so you can’t leave me.”

Rayla snorted, giving Callum a ‘are you kidding me?’ look. “Do you think I wouldn’t leave you if I wasn’t happy? That wouldn’t be taking the coward’s way out; that would be making a smart decision. No one is making me stay in this relationship. We made a choice and we have to stick with it. If you give up on us now, I’m not coming back. I’ll pack up my stuff and I’ll go back home. You will never see me again. Is that what you want? If it is, I’ll get started right now.”

“Of course it’s not what I want. But-”

Rayla quickly turned away from him and back to the screen. “Harrow, is it possible for Soren to be officially stationed up here? We need one more person in our corner besides Claudia, and Soren can technically come and go as he pleases. We will also need to talk to the press, on our terms. I don’t know if TV is better, but I know Callum has always exclusively dealt with the newspapers. I’m all in, and I’m not sure how to go forward.”

Callum felt like the world had gone upside down as Harrow, Amaya, and Rayla discussed their next steps. Rayla had completely taken control and wasn’t going to back down. Ezran nodded his head and gave the names for his favorite newspapers and photographers. “You guys should also be interviewed by Opeli. She’s done a lot of press work lately and will only ever state the truth. She’s always been either honest or silent, so I’m sure everyone will believe what she says. She only does press releases, though.”

Harrow nodded along with Ezran’s suggestions. “There is also no one more loyal to the throne and the good of Katolis than Opeli. She would be a good choice, Ezran.”

“You’ll have to get a new wardrobe, Rayla. Callum once wore a suit that was a little tight around his ankles and he was laughed at for months.”

“Just for interviews. There is no need to get anything more formal. We’ll let everything die down until the summer before either bringing you to Katolis or Ezran and I will go up there.”

Rayla looked down at her clothes and grimaced. “I don’t really have the money for anything expensive.”

Amaya quickly interjected; a smile had made its way back to her lips. Ezran translated for her as Callum was taking everything in. “Janai and I will take care of it. We both have money from our time in the military and it would keep Harrow from getting into hot water with the public for using taxpayer money to buy clothes for someone outside the royal family. I will also send over our favorite journalist. They’re in an elf-human relationship themselves and will give the outmost respect to the situation. They’re pretty busy covering relations in the Oceanheart capital, so it might be a few months.”

“Thank you, General Amaya. That’s very kind.”

“’Amaya’, please. Just promise me you’ll make my nephew happy as long as you two are together. And don’t talk to anyone that we have not approved. It’s not that we don’t trust your intuition; you just can’t trust the press.”

“Got it. They’re all the blood-sucking leeches humans used to believe elves are.”

The snicker that went through the room finally brought Callum back to reality. “Just don’t call them that. They’ll eat you alive.”

“Are you still alive, Callum?”

He nodded before sighing. “I’m here. Just shocked that you seem to be so on top of this.”

“I’ve been thinking about this since Claudia and Bandlr found out. I’m not going to let someone else dictate our choices. So, I’m going to make sure that we take back control of this situation. We’re in this together, right?”

“Right. What about radio? Does anyone listen to the radio for this stuff?”

An hour later, Callum and Rayla had finally signed off with promises to keep everyone posted. Rayla had begun texting Runaan with the information as Tinker looked up the most reputable Xadian papers close to the border. Everyone was ready.

Rayla gently tugged on his scarf to get his attention. “You still alive?”

Callum wrapped his arm around her shoulder as he tried to give the most sauve smile he could. “You still the most beautiful woman in the world?”

Rayla snorted as she shook her head. “Laying it on a bit thick there, Your Highness?”

“Nope. You are also the bravest, smartest, and most sarcastic person I have ever met.”

“And daring. Don’t forget daring.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Callum kissed her cheek before getting up to stretch. “I’m going to the grocery store. Write down what you need and I’ll go in about ten minutes.”

“You don’t want me to come with you?”

“Not yet. We’ll hide out tomorrow and then go to school on Monday. Besides, if you leave and come back with me, Bandlr might assume it’s time to say something. I want just a few more hours of peace.”

“OK. I’ll get started.” Rayla grabbed the pad and pencil Callum had laying around. “It’s so convenient that I can take two steps anywhere in this apartment and there will be pens and pads of paper for me to doodle on.”

“Is that a dig at my art?”

“No. I love your art. It’s a dig at your ‘organized chaos’ lifestyle.”

“Fair.”

Callum took a quick shower as he made a mental list of everything they would need for the week. ‘Maybe she should just move in? No, it’s too soon and Runaan would murder me. We don’t know if we can trust the dorms anymore, though.’ “Callum?”

“Yeah?”

“I just got a text from Tinker. He and Runaan don’t like it, but they think I should move in with you.”

Callum put his head against the shower wall. “Please tell me I’m not thinking the same thing that my future-in-laws are thinking at the same time they’re thinking it.” It slipped out of him so easily. He knew he wanted to eventually marry Rayla, but when had it become a fact in his mind that he would?

“If you are, I might have to start thinking like your dad and Ezran.”

“The world would be so lucky to have another Ezran.”

Rayla opened the shower curtain, causing Callum to drop the soap in his hand and quickly cover himself. “It’s nothing that I haven’t seen before. Calm down.”

“I am calm!” he squeaked.

“Then go back to washing yourself.”

“Why don’t you go back to having the curtain closed?”

“Fine.” She let the curtain fall and Callum felt his speeding heart finally slow down. “You were right. I love Harrow and Amaya. I feel freer now that they know. I also know that I wouldn’t have done any of this with anyone else. You are so lucky I love you; I swear by the Moon Nexus itself.”

“I know. If you’re moving in, do you want to get your stuff tonight?”

“I’m gonna have to. I trust the girls in my suite, but I don’t trust everyone in the building. They’re not there all the time and it’s not fair to ask them to look after my stuff.”

“Do you have a lot? I can get you a taxi or you can take it to the library and we’ll make it work.”

“Claudia offered to help me a few days ago. She’s no stranger to having to move quickly, given how she and Soren had to align themselves with your father immediately after Viren turned traitor.”

“That was nice of her. Just remember one thing about them: Claudia and Soren are Team Claudia and Soren. I don’t doubt that they’ll help us and I know they won’t help Viren. But those two have been through a lot together and they’re first priority is to each other. Especially since Soren’s accident.”

“Right. I’ll keep that in mind. I’m done with the list, so I’m gonna go text Claudia and head to the dorm.” Callum heard Rayla’s footsteps taking her towards the door of his, no, their apartment.

“Where did you leave it?”

“On the kitchen table, next to that stupid bowl of fruit you love so much.”

“It’s for ART!”

“Eat the fruit, human, or I’ll make a fruit salad for you to come home to. And I’ll serve it in the bowl!”

Callum left the shower and dried off, listening for Rayla in case she was still there. He padded over to his kitchen and saw the fruit bowl. The bowl itself was blue and green, filled with apples, grapes, and a few oranges. There were also moonberries to keep Rayla’s craving at bay. “I’m either going to have to draw you all day tomorrow or you’re going to be eaten. Actually, Rayla’s going to eat you either way.” Callum looked closer at the amount he had. “I’m gonna need more of that Earthblood honey.”

#rayllum #rayllum fanfic #the dragon prince #au #we could be heroes #I forgot to post this on here #all five current chapters are on ao3 #I'm almost done with chapter 6 #moonbase fanfics

44 notes · View notes

sage-nebula · 5 years

Text

The reason why Rayllum works and avoids the pitfall of “the main boy and the main girl end up together because they’re the main boy and main girl” is because they genuinely like each other, pretty much from the start.

Of course, at the very beginning they weren’t each other’s biggest fan. Rayla entered the castle to kill Ezran, which understandably upset Callum, and Callum lied to Rayla about being Ezran, which understandably aggravated Rayla. But once they agreed to begin traveling together, and therefore gave each other a chance, we saw that they had easy camaraderie pretty much from the start. The very next morning after they set off, Rayla went out of her way to strike up a conversation with Callum:

And as we see when she sits down and lets him start talking about the Primal Stone, she didn’t initiate that conversation because she had anything in particular to talk to him about. She just wanted to talk to him.

Callum, likewise, feels comfortable enough to open up to Rayla about his insecurities (and his desperation to learn magic therefore) in that very same scene. Of course, part of it was because he was trying to convince her to let him take a detour to the Banther Lodge so that they could pick up the Key of Aaravos (not that he knew that’s what it was called at the time), but all the same, the fact that he didn’t hesitate to open up to Rayla says a lot about how much he was willing to trust her, even then.

This of course isn’t to say they trust each other completely at this point, or that they don’t have their fights. They fight, for instance, after Callum lies to Amaya about Rayla’s intentions, calling Rayla a “bloodthirsty monster” in the process (because Rayla is, more than understandably, hurt by that). They fight, too, when Callum can tell that Rayla is keeping something from them, but she refuses to share it, and even worse hurries them along the mountain (which was particularly hard on Ezran, which again, Callum didn’t appreciate one bit). But even amidst their arguments, we had moments that showed that they already wanted to be friends with one another, such as when Callum tried to cheer Rayla up on the boat:

Season two has only increased this. Their arguments have become much less frequent (and when they do happen, it’s similar to season one in which their arguments are reasonable and aren’t borne from a dislike of each other, but rather of a mistake or misunderstanding that they’re able to work through and clear up), and the times when they comfort or attempt to cheer each other up have become more frequent. Granted, most of these instances have been from Rayla to Callum so far, but I have a strong feeling that now that the two of them are in Xadia in season three (and that Rayla has some painful revelations heading her way as a result), that coin will flip and it will be Callum’s turn to be there for Rayla more in the coming episodes.

Nevertheless, one of the reasons why so many people are so tired of seeing the primary male character enter into a romance with the primary female character is that it’s very often difficult to understand how these two people can stand to even be around each other, with how much they dislike each other, much less actually be in love. Far too many writers to count rely on the audience expecting the primary boy ending up with the primary girl and accepting the relationship purely on that basis that they fail to develop even a friendship between the two characters, much less a believable romance. (And no, showing that the primary boy has the hots for the primary girl (or vice versa) does not count. That does not a friendship or believable romance make.) But the writers of The Dragon Prince are avoiding that with Rayla and Callum. Even those who do not ship them romantically believe in their friendship, because we’re seeing it developed on-screen in front of us. We see that they like each other as friends, that they trust one another, and why they like and trust one another. So if it develops into romance (and that’s still an “if” --- remember, nothing is guaranteed and no one has any right to send nasty things to the creators if it doesn’t happen), it’ll avoid the standard pitfall of “main boy ends up with main girl because they are the main boy and main girl.” Instead, it’ll be, “Callum and Rayla fell in love after establishing a solid foundation of (best) friendship.” Their relationship will be strong both in terms of the bond they share, and in terms of the writing behind each of them and the relationship itself. It works, despite the main boy/main girl cliché, because if their romance does happen, it happens for so many legitimate reasons that the main boy/main girl issue is barely noticeable.

And I, for one, really appreciate that.

#rayllum #the dragon prince #rayla #prince callum #tdp meta #meta #i didn't start really shipping it until s2 #and i'd still be fine if it stayed platonic #but if there is romance in the cards for either of them #at this point i hope it's with each other

162 notes · View notes

thehappyspaceman · 5 years

Text

Assorted Thoughts on The Dragon Prince Season Two

Hey, guys. Spaceman here, and… *sigh* …fine.

Since I reviewed season one of Netflix’s The Dragon Prince last week, I suppose I should talk about season two, which premiered last Friday. But I thought I already told you guys, The Dragon Prince… just doesn’t do much do much for me. Don’t get me wrong; season one wasn’t bad or anything, but it just kind of felt standard and a bit meh, so it was hard to get too excited for the second season, and I’m not going in expecting much—

HOLY SH—okay, wow, um… so, The Dragon Prince season two is actually kind of awesome, so… just… completely disregard everything I said in that last paragraph, because jeezus, I was wrong as hell. Seriously, this season is legit! Nearly every problem I had with season one is rectified in season two, all while still remaining subversive to my expectations. Let’s get into it!

The Animation

Okay, the first big, kind of obvious thing I have to talk about is the animation. That was one of the most criticized aspects of season one, the CGI, semi-2D look that just felt choppy in a lot of places, and I was super critical of it myself. Well, I have to hand it to Wonderstorm, because they really pull through on season two. It looks much smoother and more professional and doesn’t pull me out of the moment as it did in season one. Series creator Aaron Ehasz said in interviews that the animation would be more smoothed out, and I’m glad to hear that those words weren’t just hollow. It seems that the crew behind this show are willing to listen to criticism.

The Characters

I already talked about the main characters in my review of season one, so I don’t feel the need to talk much about them, since I don’t want to go into major spoiler territory just yet. With maybe one exception: Ezran. I criticized his character as feeling flat in season one, but he actually improves quite a great deal in season two. It’s nice seeing him form a bond with the baby dragon, Azymondias, and how it takes a toll on Bait, his animal companion from season one, who feels neglected. Also, his reaction when he discovers that his father had died seems… very believable. With little time dedicated to it and few words spoken, he goes through the entire spectrum of emotions upon discovering this: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and then acceptance. His acceptance ties in with a very important decision he makes in the last episode of the series, though I’ll get to that in the spoiler section.

Among the characters from season one I neglected to talk about are Ellis and her pet wolf, Ava. They only appear for the first three episodes of season two, but I liked them well enough and they do help out our main characters a great deal. I also like Lujanne, the Guardian of the Moon Nexus. It’s nice to see other elf characters, since we have yet to actually arrive in Xadia, and she’s funny in the kooky kind of way; it’s pretty clear that spending years alone protecting the Moon Nexus has made her go a bit off the deep end.

Some of the more notable characters include Gren, who always seems to maintain a cheerful attitude even when things are going wrong—I remember him saying, “Why see myself as chained down, when I can see my self as chained up?” which was a pretty funny moment—and Captain Villads, the blind narcoleptic pirate who Rayla and the princes hitch a ride with.

Hey, I just realized, I’ve been talking about the characters in The Dragon Prince and somehow neglected to mention the dragon prince himself! Azymondias, nicknamed Zym, is the hatchling from the dragon egg last season and he is adorable. Even Claudia seems to think so!

But okay, time for a full review of the plot. It goes without saying that there will be spoilers, so unless you have seen the new season, read at your own risk.

Spoiler Discussion

I was a little shocked, first off, that this show only takes place a day or so after the first season’s finale. I figured there would be a time skip or something, but no. That said, the story in season two is executed amazingly. First off, the big question from last season was how Ezran and Callum would react when finding out that the elves offed King Harrow. Well, surprisingly, neither one went with the reaction I was expecting. I was afraid that we would go through the clichéd path of “Oh no, what if Callum and Ezran got angry at Rayla because of what the other elves did?” which we all knew would end with them forgiving her, of course. But no, they avoided that trope altogether. Callum’s big struggle was how he was going to tell Ezran the truth without breaking him. Similarly, Ezran’s first thought was whether Callum knew, which was followed by him going on a long walk by himself and talking to Claudia about it. This is when he makes the decision to leave Ezran, Callum, and Zym—yes, leave the Dragon Prince whom he has developed a connection with—and return to Katolis to take over the throne for his late father. This is a major twist and something that nobody was expecting, but I honestly quite enjoy how it was handled.

It was great seeing all the new locations and characters. Possibly the most interesting one was Duren, led by its young ruler, Queen Aanya. This girl delivers some serious verbal blows to Viren and it’s just amazing to see. But also, finding out about her kingdom was really damn cool. We learn about her parents, the Queens of Duren—you heard right—and how Katolis assisted them in a quest to bring food for both kingdoms when they were starving during the winter.

I’m glad to see more LGBT+ characters in animated shows, and while a lot of people criticized it for the Queens’ death, it doesn’t seem too bad to me. They’re treated like heroes, and we knew of their fate beforehand, so it’s not like it was playing their deaths for shock value—hell, they died in the same battle that took the life of Queen Sarai, Callum and Ezran’s mother. Besides, the creators promised before that there would be more LGBT+ characters as the series progresses… and hey, they promised that season two would have better animation, which it did, so I don’t see any reason not to trust them.

Viren was also a nice touch. Like the first season, he comes off as an antagonist but still has his human moments, where he doesn’t seem like he was simply manipulating people for his own benefit. One of the best moments in the show is when Viren tells Aanya the story of her parents’ heroism; this is contrasted with a scene of Callum reading a letter from Harrow telling about his mother. In many of the flashbacks, we see Viren helping Katolis and standing by Harrow’s side, and it shows that he and Harrow truly were friends before Viren’s love of dark magic took over. It’s also revealed later that Viren had a wife, the mother of Soren and Claudia, but she left him. That was another interesting tidbit. You don’t often see divorce in a fantasy environment.

Speaking of baddies, let’s talk about Aaravos, the elf in the mirror. Now, I was immediately impressed with this character for his cool design, mysterious ways, and booming voice, and it seems that a lot of the Internet shares my enthusiasm! Maybe a little too much, in fact… Yes, Tumblr in particular has taken a… ahem… liking to this character, and I’ll be honest, I don’t get it. He’s cool, sure, but come on, guys. Don’t you think you’re letting your love of this fictional character go too far?

Oh, Amaya, you can crush my head between your thighs any day… what were we talking about again?

Yes, we do actually find out some stuff about Sarai here! She and Harrow had a really beautiful relationship. For one thing, it seemed like while she was alive, they ruled together, not that Harrow was the ruler and Sarai just sat around. She was a friend and top consultant to him as much as she was his wife, one half of his whole. I distinctly remember a scene where she basically tells him off, that an idea he and Viren had was a bad one, and both verbally and physically kicks his ass in the process. That was really telling of their relationship and made it all the more heart-wrenching when it shows how she died.

Another major part of this season is Callum’s quest for magic. In season one, he was using sky magic with the primal stone, but he destroyed it in an act of selflessness to hatch Zym. Here, he has once again found himself lost without any clear role in the group: he had noted before that he wasn’t a capable swordfighter and that when he was doing magic, it felt like his true calling more than anything else. He tries multiple times to connect to the primal source, even though he wasn’t born with it. However, possibly the biggest shocker was this moment:

…Oh my god. Callum, what are you doing? Callum, no! Don’t use dark magic! That’s not the way! Oh god, he’s using dark magic. We’re all screwed.

Nearly as much of a shocker moment as this is when, during a battle, Soren gets flung and lands in such a way that we hear a cracking sound. You may not think too much of this, until it becomes increasingly clear that he’s not getting back up again. However, the saddest part is when he reveals that he is actually relieved that he was injured, because it means that he wouldn’t have to go through with Viren’s order for him to kill the young princes.

This scene, man. This damn scene was hard to watch. It really shows the humanity that every character has, exposed as they go through the story and have to be put through so much.

And then… well, no more beating around the bush. Callum and Rayla: It’s gonna happen. Like, as usual, I won’t know for certain until/unless it does actually happen, but it’s looking more and more like it. But so far, it’s been handled really well. Rayla is first angry at Callum for using dark magic in the earlier scene, but it took a physical toll on him and he becomes very ill from it. While she first tries to hide it, over the scene it looks more and more like he won’t make it and she becomes seriously concerned for him and shows that she really does care about him. It looks as though she’s about to say something to him—a confession, maybe?—right before he recovers. To be honest, the way they’re building it up, it could either turn out to be a romance or a great friendship, but it feels very natural and I’m all for it either way. And if it is the former, I’m glad they aren’t pulling the typical romance clichés in cartoons, like having Callum crush heavily on Rayla (hell, he was crushing on Claudia up until she betrayed him this season) or having Rayla act in the tsundere, “I don’t like you, idiot” kind of way. But yeah, I’d love to see where this goes.

(Don’t worry about Callum, by the way. He’s not in danger, he’s just going through a really trippy fever dream that allows him access to sky magic.)

Other Stuff

As much as I’ve talked about everything else, the humor in this season is also really on-point, much more so than the last season! I found myself laughing out loud at a lot of points. That said, some of the more reference-based humor… doesn’t exactly hold up. Like, there’s a scene where Rayla pulls an extended Sailor Moon gag, and another where Callum literally says, “One does not simply walk into Xadia,” and… this Simple Minds reference:

Because in a medieval fantasy environment, everybody has seen The Breakfast Club, right? Perhaps the only one I can get behind is this credits gag with Aaravos imitating the Gatsby pose:

Which seems much more fitting there than in the show itself, since the credits are just filled with little gags like that.

As for questions about season three, most of my questions in my last post have been answered, but it did open up a few new questions. Who is Aaravos and what is his motivation? I’m assuming he’s an antagonist, but he could easily subvert our expectations. Will returning Zym back to the dragon queen really bring an end to the war? We’re only two seasons in out of a presumed six or seven, and I figured it would take a lot longer to get to Xadia than it did, but they’re already there, so it’s going to have to be stretched out a lot further, I figure. Finally, there’s a fan theory going around that King Harrow swapped bodies with Pip, Harrow’s bird. Is there any truth to that? We saw Pip escape in this season, so it could have been, but I don’t know.

Conclusion

Season two of The Dragon Prince was an improvement on season one in every way. The show really came into its own with this season, much more so than with the first one. I loved the characters, the animation, the worldbuilding, the soundtrack, and unlike the first season, which just left me feeling meh, this one actually makes me want to see a lot more, and… yeah, I’m a fan now. Congratulations, show. As Leonardo DiCaprio put it, you had my curiosity, but now you have my attention.

Once again, I implore you: don’t screw it up. But this time, I trust that you won’t.

~Spaceman

5 notes · View notes