Still Here

How?

Callum was nervous. Boy, he was praying to Askerius that she would say yes. He couldn't sleep. He just lay awake. He looked at Rayla. Sound asleep. She smiled. Callum hoped maybe it was because he told her a dream-joke. Those were always funny. He stared at the ring he had bought. If she says no, would it ruin what we have? What we've made? The thought troubled him.

That morning, he watched the sun rise. He hadn't gotten a second of sleep. Rayla started to stir. He left before she awoke. He couldn't bear to see her. Not until he planned to ask. Claudia had apologized, and Rayla hadn't forgiven her, but accepted it and found a new respect for her. That was all Claudia asked. Callum was out in the courtyard. He remembered Rayla had training today.  "Aw, fudge cake," he sighed as the soldiers marched out to the courtyard.

He couldn't bear to just leave her there though. She seemed worried. She seemed upset. He knew he shouldn't have left that morning. She noticed him under the shade of the trees during a water break. A look of relief crossed her features. She jogged over there, clearly upset with him.

"Sorry for running off this morning. I guess I just... really, I- I don't know." She sighed and leaned a forehead against his. "Hey! We here to train, or are we on a date?" "Ack! I'm coming! Oh, it never ends." Callum chuckled. He stood and went out for a bit. A walk to clear his mind. The trees provided serenity and calm for the atmosphere. He noticed someone ahead of him, gently fingering the soft petals of a xadiazaelia. Callum knew who it was.

"Hey! Terry!" He flagged down the elf. "Oh, hi!" "So, I'm in a bit of a predicament. I want to ask a certain person a certain question, but I don't know how to ask." "We'll, I'd love to help, but I just need to know the question." Callum sighed. "Promise you won't tell her?" Terry nodded. "Okay. I want to ask Rayla to marry me." Terry let out a tiny squeal, ridiculously happy that Callum had gone to him for help.

"Okay! Got it! Come on! I know I nice, quiet place. You can tell me all about it."
Callum followed Terry to a large flower field. He laughed to himself. Yeah. Seems like a Terry thing. Terry sat, criss-cross-applesauce, and patted the ground next to him. Callum sat beside him, but before he could start, a strange, boney creature tumbled out of the underbrush. It hissed at the bushes. "Blood of child," it muttered as it turned away.

"Sir Sparklepuff?" Terry inquired. The creature turned around upon hearing its name. "Sir Sparklepuff? What kind of name-" "Don’t judge him! Claudia has unusual taste in names." Callum shook away the thought of the strange name and returned to his original issue. "Right, anyway, I was planning on asking tomorrow. I need to find a way to get her out, and away from, the castle. After that, well, we'll go from there."

Terry nodded. "Okay. Here's what I'm thinking. Now, I don't know what Rayla likes, but I do know what most people like. You need to take her to a nostalgic place, but not too far back. To a place you went on, like, your first date. Talk for a while, then, when the time is right, you start talking about how great they are. Then you get down on one knee." Terry's plan played out in Callum's mind. "That could work," he finally deciphered.