The Dragon Prince - Soren x reader (f)

- Newfound Friends In Old Enemies -

The Silvergrove is the most beautiful at night. It's fitting, for Moonshadow Elves. It makes sense. Yet in all the memories that returned to me, they never truly captured the essence of this village tucked into Xadian nature. I have never felt more at peace.

Or so I thought.

There is information that weighs heavy on my chest. The stark image of Aaravos - his form large and threatening - remains on the forefront of my mind and I can't seem to shake the anxiety in my system.

"What's wrong?" Soren's voice infiltrates my thoughts. We're not alone out here tonight. In fact, we're having a celebration party after the day we spent sleeping. Whilst my friends and family have taken to the party spirit, I remain sitting on a log.

"I can't stay here," I say, slipping straight to the point. "I mean, I can," I restate. Both of us smile at the sentiment, sparring a glance to the scene around us. "Very easily I can ignore the problems of the outer world. Yet there is a part of my me that is so torn," I emphasise. Runaan's laugh echoes through this glade and I twist to see his arm slinked around Ethari as they share a conversation with Rayla and Daeron. Callum is actually playing with Daeron's daughter - one of the many in the Moon Cubs group that Ethari looks after.

"Explain to me," Soren says. He kneels infront of me. Unlike my own waning attention, his focus is wholly on me.

I turn to face him. "You saw him, Soren," I emphasise. "His titan size; how do we stop that?" I have trying to imagine the magic it would take. The weapons we would require. None would take him down. 

"I'm unsure..." Soren agrees. It's not the most ideal response but a validating one nonetheless. He takes a deep breath before lifting my hands into his own. "All I know is that Moonberry cake is calling my name and we both deserve a slice."  Soren rises then, planting a kiss on my left cheek.

From that moment, the evening goes fairly well. Soren has officially sparked conversation with Ethari - who is much keener to get to know Rayla and I's partners compared to Runaan. I can tell by the barks of laughter that the little kids love Soren's jokes just as much as Ethari. I talked to Runaan for a little while. Then I spent some time telling Callum what I knew of Aaravos, and asking him questions on his knowledge. He was not very helpful. I find it nice to play with the little ones. They were born in the time that I never existed, and as a result conversation comes so easily. With Fay, for example, it is tough. I dont have many memories of the woman but she knew my mother very well. Fay's grief is palpable, which makes our conversations beautiful yet strained.

Again, I find myself sitting alone on a log.

It's a different fallen tree this time. Whilst the other was was plain, this one has little blue mushrooms growing out of the ridges, and moss consuming areas of bark. Finding all the details of the small ecosystem is a great use of my time. The task, however, is interrupted when Rayla approaches me. She doesn't speak at first, merely sits to my right side. After a short while - hearing the jeers and laughter of our friends and family - she sighs. "Your stress is tangible, you know?" She says with a chuff. "It wafts off of you like the stench of a Hooblewog in summer."

I don't question the saying. I do have the inclination to laugh at her words with her accent, but my thoughts are too overwhelming. "The Pearl was in my grasp, Rayla," I murmur. No matter how many times I voice this memory, they go silent, and we don't bring it up again. "Aaravos was there."

Right now is no different.

"He wasn't there, (Y/n)," Rayla whispers. I think she's regretting coming over to this slump side of things. "You said it yourself, all you found was Sol Regem's bones." The bitter fact hangs between us for a couple of seconds. "Let's stop fretting on what will be," Rayla suggests. She gets promptly to her feet and my eyes follow her swift form. "Let's just go back to how it was. At least for one night..."