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ze-land-fill · 12 days ago

Text

Breathe - A The Dragon Prince Oneshot

Warnings - None

Ships - Ezran and Callum (PLATONIC)

Type - Hurt/Comfort

Adittional Tags - Ezran-centric - Callum had ADHD - Ezran has anxiety - angst - crying - hurt/comfort -

Word count - 4,989

~ * ~

Summary “Now, Welcome our new king, who will reign in an era of peace and prosperity. And lead us all to greatness. King Ezran of Katolis!”

A few more steps, and he would be exactly where he needed to be. Next to Opeli, facing the crowd. The crowd…Oh God…it was massive. He could see people, crowded into the courtyard of Katolis Castle, and even more people, spilling out of the structure, onto the bridge and even in town. And Ezran froze.

Ezran is scared to be king, Callum finds him on coronation day.

~ * ~

“It's okay. I'll be alright.”

Breathe in. Breathe out.

Ezran held eye-contact with his mirror, straightening out his robes. However, it seemed no amount of straightening could ease his nerves. He gathered up his hair and tied it into a ‘presentable’ style. He met his eyes again in the mirror. He really did look like a king.

It hadn't been long since his 10th birthday. Almost a year had passed since the battle at the storm spire. Almost a year since his father had died. Almost a year since he gave up being king. Today was his coronation.

Opeli and his fathers’ old council had taken the weight off him for a year. They'd run the kingdom wonderfully, and for that, Ezran is forever grateful. However, it was time to step back into his duties. Now was not the time to be children. He'd met the Dragon Queen. He'd seen the hope, and the horrors of the battle. He knew that now, of all times, was the most important to push peace. To show his people that there can be peace between the Five Human Kingdoms, and Xadia. For that to happen, he knew he needed to be a leader, a king , for his people. Someone to look up to and think: ‘He is a brighter future’

This had all been a very convincing argument when he went before the Council to explain that he was ready.

Of course, that was then. Looking at himself now. His long, crimson robe, bejeweled overcoat, and tied up hair. He just felt heavy. His heart quickened. He didn't like this. He would be standing - speaking - in front of a million men and women, dressed so formally. Just months ago he was running around with Bait and Zym in the forest.

That calmed him. He missed Zym, he'd stayed with Zubeia after the battle. He visited sometimes, now that he was a stronger flier. Not as much as Ezran would have preferred, but he was with his mother. Where he belonged.

A low grunt came from Ezran’s feet. He smiled and looked down, to find Bait, looking right back at him. He picked him up, and lifted him so that they were face to face. “At least I still have you! Right bait?” Bait smiled his crooked smile and went on to glow a bright orange. Ezran's smile widened and he hugged him close. “Aww! Who's the best glowtoad in the world? You are, yes you are!”

A knock interrupted their cuddling. “Yes?” He called out. “Prince Ezran? The High Cleric says that they're ready for you.” The guard called from outside the door. “R-right! Just- um- ten more minutes please!” He hurriedly said. The guard simply replied; “Of course, Your Highness.” and walked away.

Ezran sighed heavily, and sat down onto his fathe- his bed. Bait spun around in his lap, before looking back up at him, his skin glowing grey. Ezran stroked his back and held him close. “I'm scared Bait…What if I mess up…or I lead us into danger. Or what if I make bad decisions, and the people of Katolis have to suffer because of them, and what if I can't make peace between the Five Kingdoms and Xadia?! Then what?! What if I-”

Bait grunted sadly, and Ezran was knocked out of his pessimistic rant. He blinked. His heart was beating quickly, and so were his breaths. ‘Stop it. Get it under control.’ he thought to himself. Bait grunted again, this time towards his desk, where there was a mess of notes, letters, books, quills, and everything else Ezran had so intently been focusing on in the past months. But Bait was gesturing to the wall behind it. Where the wall was adorned with many drawings. Sketches of Zym, comic panels of their journey. Detailed art of specific things and people. Ezran sighed again, sadly.

“You know how Callum's been. It hasn't been easy for him. You know... since Rayla left. I don't- want to force him…to do this for me.” Bait looked up at him with a sad look set on his face. “But, Hey! It's just one coronation, how bad could it possibly be…?” Ezran tries, as hard as he can, to sound convincing. He doesn't think Bait believes him. And all he does is circle himself and snuggle against Ezran’s robes.

Ezran tries to keep the tears in.

~ * ~

He meets Opeli and Soren at the doors. The great, big doors…with a million people standing below the balcony…was his coat on right? Had he fixed his hair enough? What if he forgot what to say?! Even though he had rehearsed. It could happen-

“I can practically hear you thinking too much.” Soren remarked, startling Ezran out of his thoughts. His sword rested at his side, his signature grin stretched across his face. It was comforting. Ezran just laughed nervously. “Nothings going to happen! You'll go out there, get the crown, give the speech. And…BAM! You're done!” Opeli shook her head in disapproval. Soren really did try to encourage the young prince. It didn't do much, but the effort was appreciated.

“Is Callum here yet?” Ezran asked. Trying to take his mind off his impending doom. Opeli and Soren shared a look, and a frown. “No, unfortunately, the high mage hasn't been seen all morning.” Opeli replied. Ezran nodded, and smiled sadly. “That's okay. I told him he didn't need to come today, if he didn't want to.”

Opeli nodded, and as a loud cheer escaped through the closed doors, she told Ezran it was time. She walked out, and began her speech. About King Harrow, The Battle of the Storm Spire, Ezran, so on and on.

With every word, however, Ezran’s breath quickened. ‘Calm down. Calm down. It's like Soren said. Walk out, get the crown, give the speech, wave a little, then back in again. So just. Calm. DOWN.’

“Now, Welcome our new king, who will reign in an era of peace and prosperity. And lead us all to greatness. King Ezran of Katolis!”

Wild cheers broke out as the double doors opened. Ezran stood still, for just a second, before he forced his legs to take a step. Then another. Then he was halfway across the balcony, and his eye caught the glinting of metal in sunlight.

A servant boy held the Crown in his hands. Ezran had come to Opeli, bearing his fathers’ sword, and requested it be turned into a crown. It was symbolic. A sword. A weapon . Something meant to split apart. Turned into something that gave him the ability and power to put things back together.

He couldn't- his lungs wouldn't work, his breath wouldn't go through him. All he could hear was his heartbeat. And all he felt was the horrible feeling of something cold and sharp climbing up his spine.

There were so many people- so many eyes- looking at him, expecting from him- his eyes darted around frantically. Nothing was clear anymore, everything was melting together, but everywhere he turned. There were people. Staring at him. Watching his every move. Every word-

And he couldn't take it.

He turned on his heel, and sprinted. Past the double doors, and confused guards, and shocked gasps. He ran through every twisting hallway. Every shortcut and open door. His vision didn't get better. But years of doing nothing but roaming these hallways alone had etched every pathway into his mind. There truly was no one who knew Katolis Castle better than Ezran.

He burst through the double doors of the throne room. The guards were all asked to stand nearby the new king, for safety. There was no one but Ezran, the throne, and the portraits of his ancestors along the walls.

He strode up to the throne. It sat empty. And he leaned against the wall in the space next to it, and slid down. He pulled his knees up to his chest and stared aimlessly at the doors.

He was breathing again, but he couldn't feel it. As if the air was there. But he couldn't feel it. Couldn't feel the heavy air meant to fill his lungs. What he could feel, however, was that horrible cold feeling, and his heart. Beating too fast. Too hard. It felt like it was in his throat. He glanced down at his hands. They were shaking. He pulled them into his chest. And his vision blurred again,

but this time. With salty tears.

~ * ~

He didn't know how long he sat there for. And in complete, brutal honesty, he didn't actually care that much. But he flinched when the doors burst open. Only to reveal Callum standing in the entrance, bait following close behind. He stood there for a minute, their eyes met, and in an instant Callum was at his side, kneeling down on the plush carpet next to him. Ezran tried his best to wipe at the tears, but they just kept coming. And he couldn't understand why .

“Ez? Ezran?! Ez, what happened?!” Callum, asked. Ezran shook his head in reply, unable to fully articulate an answer. Callum's voice sounded muffled, like he was standing far away. “Ez, c'mon, you have to tell me what's wron-”

And the voice got further and further. Until he couldn't hear it anymore. He couldn't hear anything. Except the thundering of his heart. He couldn't see anything but the blurred darkness of his eyelids. But what he feels. That's the scariest of all. Because he's feeling everything, and nothing, all at once.

His breath quickens, and it's uneven, he can feel his chest heaving, but not the air that's meant to fill them. His hands are shaking, but he can feel the fabric of his coat. He can't feel himself . Where has he gone, why is this happening this wasnt supposed to happen he tried so hard what's going on why is this happening why is thIS HAPPENING-

A sudden jolt forced him to open his eyes. Callum is holding onto his shoulders tightly, his mouth is moving, but words aren't coming out. Then they do.

“-ran?! Ez! Hey, look at me! Please look at me, okay!” He uses one hand to still hold onto Ezran, as if his little brother might float away if he lets go. He uses his other hand to motion to his own chest. And he holds his gaze with Ezran. Then he takes a breath. A long one, and holds it, then he let's it out again.

“Ez, I know it seems really hard, but just- look at me, okay! Breathe, Ez. Breathe in… Breathe out.” He makes the motion again. And Ezran takes a shallow breath, holds it in, and lets it out.

“Y-yeah! See, you're doing great Ez! Breathe in, breathe out.” He does it again, and again, and again. Every breath that Ezran takes, he takes with him.

And slowly, after several minutes. Ezrans breathing becomes even, his sobbing quietens down. And his tears stop streaming down his cheeks. But his eyes won't meet his brothers. And after a few more silent minutes, he says the only thing he trusts himself to say without crying.

“I- I'm sorry.”

Callum just stared at him, a bewildered look on his face. “Sorry? Sorry for what?” he asked, genuine confusion in his eyes.

“For the coronation. For the nerves. For this !” He gestured wildly with his arms at himself. Frustration laced into his voice.

Callum furrowed his brows. “Ez…None of this is your fault-” “But it is, Callum! It is!” He cried out, finally meeting his brother's gaze. “I shouldn't be feeling like this…Today's a happy day! A good day. A hopeful day… and- and my job was so simple! All I had to do, was walk onto the balcony, get the crown, say some words, wave, and come back. Easy! But instead, I'm here. Crying. And I don't even know why! I'm being pathetic! Just like they all said. Maybe Opeli was right… Maybe I'm not ready for this-”

Callum cuts him off with a hug. It was the first one since the morning of Callums birthday, several months ago. “Dont- don't say that sort of stuff! You are so much more than that, and- and I won't stop saying it to you until you believe it!” he tightens his grip on his little brother. And Ezran can't help himself, and he tries to resist it. Resist the urge. But he succumbs, and wraps his own arms around Callums back, clutching tightly at the fabric of his coat. His forehead pressed into his brother's shoulder, and his body shakes with sobs, as tears begin to seep through the blue fabric.

And- Gods, He’s missed this!

Missed the warmth of someone's arms wrapped around his little body. Whispering soft nothings into his ear, and wiping away his tears as they stream down his cheeks.

And he knows he's pathetic and weak for wanting it, for wanting this. But he knows it already. So does everyone else. What's the point in proving them wrong…

So he lets himself be held, be comforted. He lets himself fall and cry into someone else's shoulder. And for the first time in months…

He lets himself feel like a kid.

~ * ~

A soft grunt catches both boys off guard, and they lift their heads in unison to the grey glowtoad sat in front of them, a sorrowful expression on his face. Callum let out a laugh, and Ezran cracked up a smile while wiping his tears. He then reached out his arms and picked up Bait, pulling him close into his chest. He looked up at Callum, who was smiling to himself.

“Callum?” Callum hummed in reply.

“How did you know that I'd be here?”

He opens his eyes and taps his chin, like his deeply on thought, then he turns towards the doors and shrugs. “I was on my way to the balcony, 'cause’ I was, y'know, running late.” He grinned sheepishly. “Then I got there and Opeli looked really confused, and apparently you'd ran away. And then…I don't know, I just thought you might be here. So I grabbed Bait and ran here. Ezran smiled sadly.

“Sorry that I worried you.”

Callum opened his mouth to say something. Then he closed it. And then he opened it again.

“Why'd you start without me, though?” He had this funny pout. Not really upset, just there to draw out a smile. And it does. A little bit.

“I didn't want to rush you. I know you're still upset about Rayla…leaving. So I didn't want you to feel like you had to be there.” Callum flinched at the mention of Raylas name. Admittedly, he hasn't gotten completely over her. Yet . He'll be fine. Eventually . Besides, right now was about Ezran. “Ez…Sure, she ran away on my birthday and all, but…This is your coronation! Or, well, I guess…recoronation? Has that ever happened before? Is that a thing? Could you get recoronated a third tim- ack! I'm getting sidetracked!” Ezran giggled, it was amusing when this happened. His brother's mind was amazing. And how he could ask so much about something so little was a mystery Ezran had long given up on solving.

“The point is-” Callum gently grabbed Ezrans shoulders. “-This is your big day. And I wouldn't miss it even if the whole world was on fire!” He said it with such reassurance and determination in his eyes, that it took them both a minute to understand what he said. “Well, maybe not on fire. But, a storm could do. You know, like a thunderstorm, at least I can get rid of that one.” He smiled, then frowned. “As soon as I figure out a spell for it…”

He turns towards Ezran. “But nevermind that. I have a question for you.” Ezrans smile widened, “And what's this one about?” “Why are you in here in the first place?”

Ezrans smile falls, and he lowers his gaze. He shouldn't tell him. It'll just go to show how miserable he really is. How's he ever going to be a good king, if he keeps telling others about his problems?

For just a second, he glances up at Callum. And then he thinks. ‘But it's Callum, he'll never hurt me. Not on purpose. He's my brother. And…he trusts me. So I need to trust him too.’ So he does.

“I'm not…really sure. I just- I didn't want to be there. There were so many people. And everyone was staring. And cheering. And-” he places a hand on his chest. “-I couldn't feel my breathing. And then everything froze, and I couldn't see anything except all the eyes, and they were expecting so much. And- what if I failed as king! What if I make worse mistakes than Dad. Or I can't create peace! There's so much that could go wrong, and I don't know if I'm ready for it anym-”

“Hey!”

Callum tightened his grip on Ezrans shoulders, and started shaking him gently, but rapidly. “Snap out of it! That's my little brother you're talking about!” Ezran just looked at him silently, mouth hanging open from his unfinished ramble. Bait lay in his arms, grey still coloring his skin. Callum sighed heavily and lowered his head. “Ez, be honest with me, right now. Do you want to be king?” Ezran was about to answer. But he closed his mouth instead.

Did he? He was given the option of having a regent. He would be able to go back to being a kid. And playing with Zym, and exploring Xadia. But did he really want that?

“I need to be king right now.”

“That's not what I asked you. Do you want to?”

He was about to say no, but his mind shifted. What would happen if he did say no. Then what? They'd be right back where they were before Viren came to power. A cycle of blind justice and no peace. He didn't want that. He didn't want to become someone who left the lives of millions into the hands of anyone who was an enemy of the state. He didn't want pain. He wanted peace. He wouldn't get his childhood. But then again, he'd lost it anyway.

But…

He would be able to play with Zym, and explore the forests and go on journeys to Xadia. And spend time with Callum. And go on Jelly tart hoists with Bait. And just…

Be a child.

“I…think so…” It was uncertain. But there was truth to it. A part of him truly wanted to be king. To be a good king. But…

“I don't know if I'm ready…” He whispered it out. But as soon as he did. A sense of relief washed over him. He'd realized this a while ago, but being able to admit it to someone was different. It was…freeing. But relief only lasts so long, and Ezran didn't know what to expect with Callum. But whatever he was expecting, it was not whatever Callum did say.

“Then dont be.”

It was so simple. He said it so bluntly. As if it was the most obvious solution to ever have been discovered. As if every problem he had at that moment would disappear at the uttering of these words.

But the strangest thing of all.

He felt like it was true. And a part of him wondered if Callum had put a spell of some sorts on him. He felt a lightness in his chest. He didn't have to be ready . Then doubt reared its ugly head once again. And the lightness was replaced by a new kind of heaviness. Guilt .

“I need to be king, Callum.” He said, his voice was firm. Like the one his dad had used the last time they spoke. When he told them to go to the banther lodge.

Callum took a seat next to him, wedged between Ezran and the throne. Bait looked between the two princes. The grey glow faded into yellow. Callum turned to look at Ezran.

“Yeah, maybe you do. Or maybe you think you need to. But the point is…You don't have to be king alone .”

Ezran blinked in confusion. Callum smiled. “You know…Harro- Dad, had a council. They helped him with hard decisions, and stuff. But they also helped him when he didn't know what to do.” The young prince squinted his eyes. Obviously he knew. He'd been studying the laws and customs for months now. He'd had to work up the courage to consult the council. After Saleer's treason, and Virens coup, Ezran had been wary of the council's standing. The only person he truly trusted was Opeli. And maybe the thought of having people he didn't fully trust be his closest consultants was…terrifying at the least. He didn't want to mistrust them. He wanted them to know that they were a vital part of the kingdom. But he couldn't help the fear.

And Callum, practically reading his thoughts, replied. “He chose his council.” Ezran's brows furrowed. “I know?” he stated, or, maybe it was a question? Was Callum playing tricks on him?. Callum shook his head, smiling. “No, I mean- He chose his council!” He said again, as if saying it again would magically clarify what he meant. Another confused look from Ezran prompted him to explain. “You can make your own council too, you know.” Ezran is about to say something in objection. Then he stops, because. Well. That…wasn’t something he’d actually thought of. But…

“I don’t know everyone that well though…How am I supposed to choose a council?” Callum smiled again. “Anyone can be on the council.” Ezran stayed silent, so Callum continued. “Anyone you trust can be on the council. Friends, family, important people, and so on.”

Ezrans eyes widen in shock, he turns to look at the carpet under him.

He could do that. He could actually do that. He wouldn’t have to rule alone. Sure he would have to call some of the shots. He would have to make some difficult decisions alone. But, he didn't have to do that all the time, he wouldn’t be alone. He could have friends. That he trusted. And he wouldn’t be so alone. And then another thought.

He turned to look at Callum.

“...Will you be on my council, Callum…?”

“Of course!”

~ * ~

Bait grunted happily as Ezran carried him down the hall, Callum at his side. Both princes spoke animatedly about old adventures, friends, and what Ezran wanted to improve about Katolis.

“I want to fix the relationship between Katolis and Xadia.”

Callum nodded in understanding. But Ezran wasn’t finished.

“I know it’ll take time…But I know we’ll make it happen!”

He smiled a close-eyed smile at his older brother. And Callum blinked in surprise, but he smiled twice as bright. It had been a while since he’d seen his little brother smile so brightly. Since he’d seen him smile at all . It was lovely. It was a lovely smile. All teeth and crinkled eyes. Bright and hopeful.

Yeah…Callum smiled, but he knew it couldn’t compare to Ezran’s.

It didn’t falter as they met a frantic Opeli, at the great double doors. She was talking with a pair of guards. Or- Talking, is the wrong word. She was technically yelling, but her posture and her (almost superhuman) ability to keep herself composed, masked the reality of her words. She turned as the princes approached. Her face had a hard expression and her features said that she was annoyed. “There you both are.” Her words were cold, but her eyes had a glint, as if what she wanted to ask was, ‘Are you alright?’

Ezran nodded, and bowed his head, “I’m sorry for running away.”

Opeli’s features softened, and she placed a gentle hand on the young prince’s shoulder. “Nevermind that…Are you ready?”

He lifted his head and nodded. Opeli’s brows furrowed, as if to say; ‘Are you sure?’

Ezran smiled. He handed Bait to Callum, and pushed at the double doors.

~ * ~

He was met with a panicked Soren, along with Corvus, attempting to calm the restless crowd. They were asking about their king. Where was he? Why hadn’t he appeared? Had something happened?!

The whispers and shouts were all silenced as the doors opened for a second time, This time, with Prince Ezran at the front.

Soren turned around, and let out a sigh of relief. Opeli followed after Ezran, and finally Callum walked through the doors, with Bait in his arms. Soren took his place, on the far right of the balcony, Corvus took his on the far left. Opeli stood at the edge, and addressed the crowd once more. Ezran got closer and closer to the railing, and when he finally reached it. He stopped breathing.

Under him, stood the crowd. It seemed like they had multiplied. Every inch of the courtyard was flooded. Men, women, and children all looked up at him. His heart beat faster. There were the eyes again. A million pairs of eyes, all looking up at him. Waiting. All of them. Expectant. His hands slid off the railing, and he almost inched his way back. Back through the doors. Back through the halls. Back into the throne room. On the to-large throne. Under the portrait of his father. Into his corner, where no one could hurt him-

A playful breeze tickled his neck, the only part of him that wasn't covered in heavy velvet robes, or his unruly tied up hair. He turned a little, only to see Callum, holding his finger up, the same way he did when he cast a spell. He had a smile on his face. It reached his eyes, and Bait smiled with him.

And then he heard it

The cheers.

Then he saw them.

The children. All of them, barely visible from where he stood, but he could see them. Little beings. Bundles of light. All of them, exactly how he had been mere months ago. And he smiled back. Because, that. That was why he was doing this. The children in that crowd, amongst the million. They were the future. He was the future.

“...King Ezran, of Katolis!”

And Opeli took the crown from the hands of the servant boy. The crown. Made from his fathers’ sword. And now a crown. His crown. It was born a weapon, made to split apart. And Ezran had forged it, into a tool, made to bring together.

Ezran kneeled down, The same way his father had, 10 years before him. And Opeli, with her rare smile. Placed the crown on his head. The same way she had done, 10 years before.

And as he rose, a new weight on his head. And a new responsibility on his shoulders. So did the crowd. They cheered, as they had cheered, 10 years before.

Ezran opened his mouth, and took a deep breath. The speech he’d spent months writing, and re-writing. And fussing so much over. It was all gone. Now, he spoke from his heart.

“Hello…I am…Ezran…”

…Alright, maybe his heart was still a little nervous…

He took another breath, a deep one. His eyes flicked to the side, and Callum was there. Right there by his side, smiling at him, and nodding. He made that motion again, of breathing in and out.

So he did.

Breathe in, Breathe out.

“I am King Ezran. And I’ve been given a big responsibility. And…Honestly, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to fulfill this responsibility all alone.”

A chorus of gasps snaked through the crowd. Even Opeli looked a little panicked. But Ezran continued.

“But I’m not alone! I have amazing people around me, and…I know I’m young, but I know that we can achieve peace if we really try!”

Another breath

“I don’t want more bloodshed. I don't want more lives to be lost because of the mistakes of the past. My dad was a good King. But I want to be better. I know that if we work together, not just the Pentarchy, but the elves and dragons as well! Then we can achieve peace. It won’t be easy. I know… But I believe in us, and I believe that we can be better than our ancestors. Better than the past. And…We can be a brighter future!”

The crowd was silent. The anxious butterflies in his stomach fluttered wildly, and with each passing second, his resolve crumbled.

Then a cheer

Then a second

And a third

And before long, the whole crowd was cheering. Loud. Enthusiastic. Hopeful .

~ * ~

Ezran looked to his right, Callum looked right back at him. Smile, broad on his face, Bait, in his arms, smiling his toothy green. Opeli stood on his left, her rare smile, and the beautiful glint in her eyes, smiling right back at him as well. Corvus, and Soren stood at the prin- King's sides.

He let out a breath.

He wasn’t alone. He stared out, over the walls, the forest, and all the way past the border.

Rayla was out there too.

He wasn’t alone.

He closed his eyes.

He took one last deep breath.

When he opened his eyes again. There weren’t a million eyes staring at him anymore. There were a million ears instead. A million hands. A million hearts .

They were ready to listen . To help rebuild . They wanted peace .

And he wasn't ready. But he was here .

And he wasn’t alone.

~ * ~

Thanks for reading! :) ~ Remzy

4 notes · View notes

raayllum · 1 year ago

Note

since Finnegrin sorta took Aaravos’s place in the rayllum development this season, was wondering if you had any parallels between the two figures specifically? :D

Oh yeah, for sure!!

There's the way they both have this almost gentlemanly, still too sinister to be entirely pleasant but like... calmer outer demeanour? But something cruel and volatile lurking right underneath when they get pissed that will be brutally unleashed if you dare disobey in a way that offends or presents an obstacle to them.

There's their associations with keys and threes (three quasar diamonds, three main mage pawns, three glowtoads, three keys to Finnegrin's door) in addition to being a clearly more rare kind of elf compared to the rest. There's the way they don't actually tend to fight their own battles, per se, but instead use vessels/pawns - for Aaravos, it's his collection of mages, and for Finnegrin, it's Elmer. Ownership and control go hand in hand with both of them. As Finnegrin says, "The chains are just for show," which feels very indicative of Aaravos' whole "I could just possess any of the dark mages in my collection, but I choose to bolster and manipulate them instead" and their reliance on fear.

But the big one, and the reason why I say I can swap them, is that the core prediction I had regarding Callum-Aaravos-Rayla just came true with Finnegrin swapped in for Aaravos - because Finnegrin is pushing forward and developing similar kinds of dilemmas I imagined along the exact same thematic axis those predictions were built off of: control vs freedom tethered together by love.

To me, Callum having a Key of someone who's imprisoned (and its majority negative associations in arc 1, i.e. being the symbol of temptation and dark magic in Callum's fever dreams) as well as Callum's own associations with freedom (wings like Icarus, the sky arcanum, emphasis in lines of dialogue, etc) seemed like an obvious through line of Callum playing into Aaravos' future machinations and setting the Startouch elf free, for some reason (or at least, foreshadowing being unable to stop him). People doing terrible things for love was a smaller undercurrent in arc 1 (largely with Claudia for her family, and Harrow out of grief with Sarai) and Rayla was the reason Callum had the cube in the first place, at risk to herself, so all those things compounded into Callum, under coercion, doing something he deemed terrible but necessary in order to save Rayla being held hostage/captive, no matter the risk.

S4 just added to this in major ways (and S6 could bring it, wildly enough, wholly to fruition - although I could see the 'captive' part be replaced easily with a fatal wound), largely due to the scene between Callum and Rayla in 4x07:

C: I'm not afraid [Aaravos will] hurt me. I'm afraid that he'll use me, to do awful things, or hurt people I care about.

However, it was always very clear to me that if it came to doing an awful thing or saving his loved ones, Callum would 100% always choose doing the awful thing to save his loved ones. And everything Callum was scared of here due to the lack of freedom and autonomy are things that literally happened in 5x08 thanks to Finnegrin.

Callum frames his relationship with Aaravos as one that's an inherent loss of freedom/control: "When Aaravos possessed me, back at the Storm Spire, I felt so weak and out of control." This is also the level of identity, of someone being able to use his body and strip away his voice - "I was his puppet".

Finnegrin's conversations with Callum centre around a similar theme, but he makes the initial mistake in trying to motivate Callum with his own freedom: "Just one dark magic spell, and you go free." He ignores Callum's obvious signs of 'weakness' ( "Tell me where my friends are") by assuming Callum is interested mostly because he wants to be free: "They won't be springing to your rescue" even when that's hardly what he cares about.

He identifies that Callum is deeply attached to his personal loyalties, but I can see Finnegrin thinking he's doing Callum some sort of twisted favour, in giving him the opportunity to sell out for his own freedom and leave his friends out to dry. (Love is weakness, after all. Shouldn't you want to prune yourself from weakness?)

The fact that Finnegrin is targeting Callum specifically because 1) Callum is a mage, 2) in relation to dark magic (when that was Aaravos' in, too) and 3) out of revenge (against an archdragon who's spared restricted him, and Aaravos wants revenge for his imprisonment & against the Startouch elves for also sparing but banishing/felling him) just furthers these thematic connotations between Finnegrin and Aaravos.

+ Bonus framing used to make it look like Callum is the one also in a cage, and a framing technique TDP has used before with always framing it so Claudia and Soren are the ones behind bars upon visiting their father in 3x03:

Then, much like Aaravos, Finnegrin baits a defiant Callum into a test ("those who fail tests of love are simple animals") that he's doomed to lose. Finnegrin's control is immediately set up to be exerted over everyone, yes, but Rayla in particular:

Because Finnegrin doesn't actually care about any of the other kids besides Callum. All he wants to do is break Callum's morale so that the boy will give up the information he needs, whether that's by trying to force Callum to pick someone to lose a hand (which the others remove as a coercive tactic) or by trying to get him to do dark magic again because as he says "You'll do anything for them."

But this, of course, is a false pretense. A lie. If Callum had done it here (and the show seems to imply he would have, or was seriously considering it), all Finnegrin would've had to do was use his blood spell to incapacitate everyone else. This is also an interesting point of note in some ways too, because technically... the episode could've just ended here.

Think of it this way: the overall structure of the episode is to get Callum's back against the wall so he uses dark magic, and accepts that he would use it, so he can gain a deeper understanding of himself and access the Ocean arcanum, leading to him throwing off Finnegrin's ice spell. Right? That's the Plot structure stuff that had to happen. If that was all that they wanted, you could do it in these scenes. The main cast would know Callum had done dark magic, which is the major difference, but surely wouldn't hold it against him. Callum could've done dark magic to get their chains off, could've had an impromptu Ocean arcanum realization, and things could've played out exactly as they do in the final scenes of the episode.

The episode could end here, but it doesn't, because well...

The writers chose to make him give up the information and do dark magic, specifically, to save Rayla. That's what they wanted. That's the relationship they chose to emphasize. Not the group dynamic, or one of the others (Soren or Ezran, mostly, as contenders), but for Rayla. Just like what I always expected Aaravos to prey upon too, even before and definitely after Callum and Rayla's talk in 4x07.

But Finnegrin still miscalculates, still not quite understanding that this isn't enough to keep Callum under control. If anything it spurs him further into continually more violent, escalating action: punching Finnegrin, giving up the spell (control), and when both of those prove futile, using dark magic to free himself (freedom) so he can save Rayla (love). And all of these lead him to the ocean arcanum: "To love is simply to know this: the tides are true as the ocean is deep [...] the Ocean arcanum is accepting there are depths you can't see."

Callum already didn't like doing dark magic, but as he says, "I had to, to save my friend(s)" and now he knows what that cost him: the threat of hurting his loved ones because doing dark magic has let Aaravos possess him. And here, as indicated by the intro change being the Callum pawn one, Callum has played into Aaravos' hands - at least marginally. He's accepted this darker side of himself, his willingness to do anything for the people he loves (including keeping secrets and trying to be "strong alone") - the part of him that Aaravos has arguably known all along. Remember those Tests of Love? Yeah Callum just passed one.

By and large, Finnegrin is a smaller, less smart stand in for Aaravos in 5x08. Revenge driven, focused on control and coercion, unnecessarily cruel, and willing to do anything to get what he wants - forcing Callum into the corner and subsequent choices for the person he Loves, as I predicted. (And there will probably be future parallels between Callum and Elmer regarding being pawns and breaking free and identity, but again: post for another day.) The fact that Callum's had this identity arc running throughout S4 and S5 ("Oh, I know [high mage] is my formal title, but you can just call me by my regular name" -> "I don't know how to feel about Rayla either" -> "I'm afraid, Rayla. What if I'm a path of darkness? -> "I have to go after him" "I know" -> "A lot has changed, but not everything's changed. I would do anything for you" -> "I'm not a dark mage" -> ?) and Finnegrin says that seeing Rayla in danger makes him Lose Himself (and Rayla's been setup to also Find Him & break him free of the brainwashing)? Love is a weakness, too, Callum's weakness (and strength). Finnegrin knew it, and I expect Aaravos knows it too, and that we'll see both of sides of the strength-weakness dichotomy come to fruition. TDP loves reconciling its dualities after all.

So yeah, we're in for a deep, wild, emotional ride.

TLDR; Finnegrin takes all of Aaravos' most direct thematic interplay (freedom, control, tests of love) with Callum from S4 and shores it up (pun intended) for the boy in S5, naturally pushing Callum further onto the "path of darkness" that Callum fears and Aaravos is relying on. After all:

Let's see just how far that anything goes, shall we?

#tdp callum #tdp aaravos #tdp finnegrin #tdp #5x08 #analysis series #the dragon prince #thanks for asking #anonymous #predictions achieved #theme: freedom #captain hostage exchange canon #tdp meta #analysis #parallels #s5 #arc 2 #this got longer than expected and idk why i Keep Being Surprised by it

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