The Dragon Prince - Soren x reader (f)

- Kingdom Of Ashes -

Soren and I crouch side by side, peering over the edge of the cliff to the horrors beyond. Aaravos has become a titan. The question is no longer; how do we kill a Startouch Elf. It has become, how to we defeat our largest nightmare? "Death alive in darkness thrives," I mumble under my breath.

"At least the sun has risen," Soren replies quietly, trying to stay positive. Yet I feel the way his shoulder presses into mine. The way he holds his breath in anticipation. We're scared.

We should be.

"No, that's not my point," I tell Soren softly. "It's an old dark legend..." I voice from memory. My voice trails off as I watch Aaravos interact with the pair. He lays down - creating a mountain on the shore - as he watches Claudia and Terry intently from where they stand on the dais. "I just can't remember how it goes," I conclude dejectedly.

"Oh." Soren takes his eyes away from the scene in order to stare at me. I meet his gaze. It is a needed rest from the spiralling of my mind due to what lays down below. "Maybe it'll come to you," he mutters optimistically.

"Maybe," I agree.

We are lulled back into silence for a few moments longer. The purple and orange hues across the sky give the impression of quite a beautiful day. The dread regarding Aaaravos dampens the mood. "Can you hear anything?" Soren wonders.

The murmurs from down below don't translate into proper words. I shake my head despondantly. "No... You would think that his size would allow his voice to transmit across this space," I say. Aaravos leans closer to Claudia and Terry. What I wouldn't do to hear the plan that they're formulating.

"He must be whispering," Soren deduces. I nod my agreement despite the fact that he isn't looking at me anymore. "I can't believe my sister is there," Soren scoffs. After seeing Claudia back in the rubble of Katolis, I think a part of Soren wanted me to be imagining the encounter. This is a hard punch in his gut - especially following Viren's death. "She's still with that Elf guy."

"Terry," I voice. Who seemed so different to Claudia, like he is capable of actually being a good perosn. Although, love is one's greatest weakness, and can corrupt his decision making. Aaravos looks up towards the sky in contemplation. Yet then his gaze moves until it lands on our cliff. "Down!" I urge Soren, pulling him closer to me as we flatten our bodies against the cold ground.

"Do you think he saw us?" Soren puffs out a tight breath.

"I don't know," I have to painstakingly admit. We would be so small from this distance. He could just as easily mistake us for the rockface.

"Should we go down to further investigate?" Soren wonders. We exchange a long look. I'm just about to peak over the top of the edge when a shadow passes overhead. "Is that...-?"

"Callum," I finish Soren's sentence. "He'll be headed for the castle. We need to speak to him," I say. Keeping hunched over, I shift my weight in order to move away from the cliff and yank Soren along with me.

"Do you think Opeli's crow reached them?!" He wonders as we start to run. The building still emits smoke from its wreckage as if the cruel evils of this world are prolonging our kingdom's death.

"Callum wasn't with Ezran," I say in a sort of disagreement. I just don't know how Callum would have heard of the destruction... Or why he would fly over here alone. Yes, I am questioning where my King is - surely his aunt would have told him my theorises and thus make their way here with haste. Yet moreso I question Rayla's whereabouts. "CALLUM!" I scream louder now as we make out way over the bridge.

He looks younger than when I last saw him. I think its the way his body has folded over as he has crumpled to his knees. Callum's soul mirrors the physical carnage around him. "(Y/n)?" He begins turning around, eyes landing on us as we close the distance in a rush. "Soren?!" My pace quickens at the confused desperation in our friend's voice. Callum doesn't rise, so in order to hug him I fall to my knees. He squeezes my body as if I can heal the ache of this loss. "Guys-" He sobs into my chest.