#moonshadow hair

[m4rs-ex3]

shoutout to lujanne for having the most gorgeous hair of all time

[miyanaxxi]

Rayla braiding Soren’s hair on the Banther Lodge bridge while she lets him vent is this anything to you guys

[hinge]

Hinge presents an anthology of love stories almost never told. Read more on https://no-ordinary-love.co

[darkcrowprincess]

Thinking about the possibility of Rayla living up to a 100 more years than Callum gives me so much angst. But not going to think about that. Mostly thinking about the fact that Rayla is going to love every gray hair and wrinkle Callum gets because not only does it mean he's still alive to grow old with, it just makes him hotter in her eyes.

Rayla kissing the crows feet that appears everytime Callum laughs: My hot old mage.

Callum laughs: What even when I'm old and gray and start really looking like some wise old mage, you'd still think your husband is hot?

Rayla just attacks his face with kisses: Of course. Because it's you. I love everything about you.

Callum smiles soft and sweet and holds her close.

[soulsbleedink]

𝙇𝙐𝘿𝙄𝘾 | 𝙍𝙐𝙉𝘼𝘼𝙉 𝙓 𝙀𝙏𝙃𝘼𝙍𝙄

Prompt: Runaan returns from a mission; exhausted. Ethari braids his hair and they have a soft and slow night in the meadow. Then Rayla decides to join them.

Warning[s]: None, all fluffy <3

Pairing: Runaan x Ethari & Rayla [Rayla's scene right at the end]

Word count: 1.5k

masterlist

this is what was mentioned in orphic. the memory rayla was reminiscing about. and i just had to, i think it's beyond adorable. i love ruthari so much <3 have fun reading. :)

Ethari’s hands were gentle as he combed through Runaan’s mane of silky white hair, weaving his fingers through the slightly tangled locks. The moon gleamed above them, the clock ticking on while nature paid no heed to that. Neither did they. They didn’t know how long it had been since they had sat out here. But neither of them cared, or minded. Runaan returned from a mission, tired, but wanting desperately to bask in his husband’s warmth, of course Ethari would never deny him of that simple joy in life. Although an elfling Rayla did. She wouldn’t stop tugging at Runaan’s hair, to the point that the already messed up hair was now practically falling apart. Somehow Runaan had found it in himself to tuck the very… enthusiastic elfling into bed. Huffing and snaking his arms around Ethari as the craftsman waited at their kitchen, chopping some fruit for him. 

“It took so long…” He yawned, pressing his face onto Ethari’s shoulder, chin resting there. Ethari hummed, placing the knife away and turning back to his husband. 

He ran his hands through his white curls of hair, one of the silver cuffs slipping off and onto his palm. “You should’ve let me put her to bed.”

“It was my turn,” Runaan reasoned, but the way his eyes drooped begged to disagree with the words leaving his mouth. He leaned into Ethari’s touch, barely noticing how the tip of one of his horns poked him. Ethari didn’t react, just continued carding his fingers through his husband’s hair.

“It would’ve been fine, but she’s asleep now. Here.” His warm hand left the plain of Runaan’s face and hair, the assassin frowned from the loss of warmth, but his eyes followed the hand anyway. Ethari held up a plate of nicely sliced fruit for him. How endearing, he smiled. Gently, Runaan accepted the plate, Ethari’s arm snaking around his waist and leading him to the table. Runaan sat down wordlessly, Ethari opposite him as he smiled at his husband.

Runaan picked up a slice, taking a slow bite, but his hand shook slightly. He hurried with the next, until he was on the next slice. And he did it with the rest of the fruit on the plate. Ethari frowned softly, he opened his mouth to say but Runaan smiled at him. 

“I’m fine,” He insisted to Ethari’s silent plea. Ethari wasn’t particularly convinced anyway. 

“I wouldn’t think so,” He said, standing up. He made his way over to Runaan, pushing the plate away. He held his hands out. Runaan eyed them, glancing at the blacksmith before he accepted the hands. Ethari intertwined their fingers, pulling Runaan up. The assassin stumbled into his chest, cursing himself for the imbalance. “It’s okay, you just need some rest.”

“I don’t want to head back to bed just yet,” Runaan whispered.

Ethari chuckled. “You sound a lot like Rayla now, and no, we’re not heading back to bed just yet.” He tugged Runaan forward, leading the tired assassin out of their humble abode. Into the meadow just outside the Silvergrove. Runaan wasn’t even sure how he managed to keep on walking, but as long as he was with Ethari, he supposed he could do it. 

The flowers tickled Runaan’s ankles, but it felt like a breeze to him, with the way Ethari hummed ahead of him and then sat down, pulling Runaan with him. A soft gasp left Runaan’s mouth as he dropped onto the soft grass beneath him. When he hit the ground, Ethari laughed, pulling the assassin’s back closer to him, until he could rest his chin on Runaan’s shoulder, brushing the hair to one side. 

“Let me do this for you, just relax.” He twirled some of the white hair around his fingers. Runaan relaxed into the grip, shoulders slumping. Ethari squeezed his shoulder, softly moving the long white hair back over his shoulder. He inched back, just a bit. Runaan missed the warmth, but he didn’t mind. 

The assassin watched the moon, the stars twinkling beside her, and he smiled, the soft gleam that she casted down on the grass dancing with the breeze that swept through the meadow, hitting Runaan’s skin like the drafts that swept through their house in the early mornings, when he’d be draped safely in Ethari’s arms and warmth. Who was humming behind him, effectively lulling him into a near sleep state. Although the soft tugs on his hair did anchor him in the real world. He just wanted to fall back, watch those hazel eyes as he slipped out of consciousness for the night. 

“Runaan?” The humming stopped, his husband’s soft voice whispering against the shell of his ear. He shivered, nodding in acknowledgement. “Just a bit longer, alright?” Ethari continued, picking up his pace. Runaan wished he’d take longer, he didn’t mind this. It felt incredibly nice. 

He didn’t realise when Ethari had finished his braid, already slipping back on the silver cuff that always held it together. He glanced towards his side and noticed a flower getting plucked out. He turned around, but couldn’t fully. Ethari had his hands on the assassin’s shoulders.

“Hold still, please.” He smiled softly.

“What are you doing?” Runaan asked, raising an eyebrow at him. His husband laughed, voice a gentle breath that flushed warmth against his face. Runaan smiled too, reaching back gently, tracing a hand over Ethari’s jaw. “You’re incredible, love.” 

Ethari blushed, his face getting warmer under Runaan’s touch. The assassin leaned forward, capturing his lips in a gentle kiss, as a thanks, as a reminder, as many things that he couldn’t put into words. He just wasn’t up to task for that, but Ethari did that. Ethari spoke his appreciation, and his love existed in all the words he spoke every day. In the way he weaved words together, love was prominent. Runaan didn’t do that, he touched, and he gave, and he did. His love was in the way he would leave an extra plate of moonberries every morning before training, and in the way he would take extra time to fix Ethari’s clothes, or when he lingered at the door of the forge. And maybe that’s why they were married. They were different, but perfectly the same. 

“I can see a whole ocean’s worth of thoughts behind those eyes, Runaan,” Ethari whispered, grinning. Runaan smiled.

“There are, and all of them concern you,” He said in earnest.

“Alright, let me finish this. Just a few more flowers.” Ethari turned him back around. He closed his eyes, “oh gosh.” Ethari’s voice was much quieter. And then Runaan heard it too. The shuffling. He opened his eyes, glancing at the elfling standing in front of him. Purple eyes gazed up at him in confusion.

“Rayla, you woke up?” He asked, although it was pretty obvious that yes, she was awake—He opened his arms for her, the elfling lunged for his chest, tackling him with her hug, putting as much force as she could, although there wasn’t much force being exerted, to begin with.

She nodded against his chest, relaxing. “What are you doing?” She asked, voice still laced with the last traces of her sleep that should’ve lasted the whole night. 

“I’m just doing Runaan’s hair, we were intending to head to bed right after,” Ethari explained softly. He rechecked the flowers that were woven in, letting the braid drape itself over Runaan’s left shoulder. The elfling stood up, using the assassin’s lap to seem taller as she looked up at Ethari, who leaned closer.

“Can you do that for me too? Can you teach me?” She asked, excitement obvious in the way her voice was growing in volume. Runaan traced shapes on her back, making her relax. She yawned, letting him law her down on his lap, her head resting against his chest. 

“Of course I can, Rayla. Tomorrow though, alright?” Ethari whispered, now beside Runaan. He brushed strands of Rayla’s hair off her face. “We’ve got a whole night to sleep through. He intertwined his fingers with Rayla’s, squeezing her smaller hand as he watched her fall back asleep. 

“Next time, we ought to be more careful…” Runaan said, nodding at the elfling asleep on him. “What if she got lost?” 

Ethari nodded, “true, well, she’s here now.”

Ethari smiled at him, and Runaan’s whole heart warmed, along with his face. He let Ethari pull him up gently, snaking an arm around his waist as they walked back to the Silvergrove. 

Runaan didn’t speak much, he never did, and Ethari’s voice was soft as he recounted the whole day with their Rayla. The wind hummed in their faces, the usually loud and bustling Silvergrove quiet in the early hours of the morning, or late hours of night. Or whatever the time was. To Runaan, that didn’t truly matter. He was back with his family, and he was sure he would have the best rest with them. Rayla moved in his arms, maybe once, or twice, but it meant near nothing. She always did that in her sleep, he’d noted over the while she had been with him and Ethari. 

He looked to his side, Ethari looked as beautiful as ever, animated as he spoke in a soft tone. Runaan smiled. Letting his own words die out in the breeze while his husband became his lullaby for the night. How he was every night. One he never got tired of, he never could.

[faragonart]

Heyyyy Sorry I haven't posted anything lately... been spending the last week or so stressing over work AND getting things ready for FanFest, and just touched down in Vegas today. @pali-himbo and I are beat... But also I'M EXCITED!!!

Enjoy some exhausted and sleeby boys in the meantime~

[beautifulterriblequeen]

Runaan's Last Secret

*smokes bubble pipe* I suppose you're wondering why I've gathered you all here today. It is simple, mes amis. We've waited six years to find out what really happened inside King Harrow's chamber the night the assassins attacked. And with the release of S7, all these long years later, I finally have the last pieces of information I need to find the full truth.

We all thought there was a murder to solve in the king's chamber. But I'm here to tell you now, that is not the case.

Let us begin at the beginning and assemble our evidence:

The night Harrow died, Runaan tried to convince Rayla to give up the egg, tried to scare her off from returning it.

He couldn't sway her from her journey of redemption, though. They came to blows.

But he chose his mission over killing her. He wasn't even out of breath when they stopped fighting - if he'd truly wanted her dead, she'd be dead.

He left her behind and led four assassins up the front steps of the tower. There, he executed a frontal assault on the king's chamber, when they're built and trained for stealth.

The fight dragged on loudly. It drew extra soldiers from around the entire castle, who left their posts unguarded. But it had a purpose.

Delaying his own victory would cost lives on both sides, but clearing a path for Rayla to escape with two soft human princes in tow would ensure her survival. Runaan had already committed himself to this course when he refused to force her to complete the mission. He couldn't back out now.

Alright, that's the catch-up. For years, we had no idea what actually happened inside Harrow's chamber. But in S7, we finally got a peek. And I'm afraid it's told me everything I need to know. *more bubble pipe noises*

Let's consider these newer clues from S7:

When Runaan finally breached Harrow's door, two other assassins rushed in with him: Andromeda and Skor. Only Callisto, it seems, had fallen alongside Ram out in the hall.

Runaan drew his bow and killed Harrow - or so his binding ribbon believed -

- but the next we see -only moments later as the reinforcements have not yet arrived from below - only one assassin staggered out of that chamber and onto the balcony.

The other four members of the squad died in this battle, and their bodies were recovered by Viren, along with their weapons.

Which means, no one else survived that room. Only Runaan.

The assassins weren't attacked by human troops, either. Runaan had time to stagger out to the balcony at his hobbled pace. No guards caught up to him until he'd already shot the shadowhawk arrow.

When he burst into Harrow's chamber, this is what he was wearing.

When he left it, this was all he had.

Moonshadow assassins are some of the deadliest fighters in all of greater Xadia. No one survives them. No one.

No one... except Runaan of the Silvergrove.

Remember when I said we were not here to solve a murder in the king's chamber? That is because we are here to solve several murders in the king's chamber.

He turned on them.

Runaan turned on what remained of his own squad - Skor and Andromeda. He killed them. For Rayla.

They wanted Rayla dead. In the show, they believed she should die alongside them. In the novelization Book One: Moon, they specifically wanted Runaan to kill her for failing to do her duty. Either way, if any one of Runaan's squad survived and returned to the Silvergrove to report what Runaan had done - and had not done - when his mission went pear-shaped, he would've had to kill Rayla then and there. Right in front of Ethari.

And that, mes amis, he could not abide. He could not bear to be the monster he feared he had always been, right where his husband could see him.

And so, his only remaining option was for his surviving assassins to perish in battle, with their own honor intact and his in tatters. But they went down hard.

They broke Runaan's horn. They stripped off his tunic. They nearly cut his throat. They messed up his hair. Oui, the most unforgivable.

They wanted to live. Runaan did not allow them to.

He trained them all. He loved them.

And he killed them, to save Rayla's life.

For love of Rayla, his precious daughter, Runaan of the Silvergrove killed his own assassins.

It is no wonder he could not look Keeper Lyrennus in the eye when the man asked Runaan about his son.

He's drowning in guilt. He knows what he did. Even though Ram died from another's strike, Runaan knows he would have killed him himself if he'd had to.

This image of Runaan's fear at the sight of the red spirit Lyrennus cast, it lands differently now, no?

He hasn't told them. Perhaps he never will. But he has committed this sin nonetheless, and he must carry it with him for the rest of his life.

Runaan's last and darkest secret. No wonder he accepted Callum the moment he turned against Ezran and fought his own soldiers for Rayla's sake. He knows exactly what that feels like.

[ccsven]

I’ve noticed something about all of the elfsonas Aaravos has.

The skywing version has antlers instead of horns that curl around the ears

The Moonshadow version his horns turn more upward than the rest

The tidebound version his horns are more sharper than other tidebound elves, and he has arm fins and POSSIBLY neck frill fins

The sunfire version his horns are broken and burn like lava at the tips

And the earthblood version, while this type of elf has varying types of horns or antlers, his hair is more leafy in shape compared to other earthblood elves and his skin has crystals growing off his arms and horns.

This makes me believe that he’s flipping through ancient types of elves, from before he was imprisoned, with qualities that have since been evolved out of fashion.

[forget-me-nightingale]

My favourite things about S7 of the Dragon Prince (part 2)

5: STICKY FINGERS

Runaan going "You've already said that this morning." to Callum- I know I've said it before but I'm so in love with Jonathan Holmes' voice-- it's so smooth and rich and I could listen to it for hours istg

And then Ethari going "Runaan, be kind to the boy!" 😭

"Home for less than a month and she's already tired of my cooking!" I love their banter so so so much gfdghdjk and the face Ethari makes while saying that with the raised eyebrow

And then Ethari introducing Callum to the Moon Cubs I love the fact that we get to see Ethari interacting with other Moonshadow Elves-- I was so nervous that cause of his grief he's going to become guarded and shut out other elves, but he's clearly so loved by the entire village and especially by the kids, and just seeing more of Ethari after living off of scraps ever since Season 3 was just so marvelous And also Runaan's face while he looks at Callum when Ethari introduces him to the kids--- the eyebrow was raised SO HIGH LMAO

Amaya saying "ass" and Gren having to censor her again lmao

Soren going "SALAD GUY" at Terry LMAO Also Soren yelling at Terry both for being on previously being on the wrong side and then for abandoning said wrong side cause it meant abandoning Claudia LMAO "YEAH? WELL I'M CONFUSED TOO" summed it all up so nicely and was freaking hilarious

Terry just casually dropping the Aaravos bomb in the middle of the convo

Callum setting the scene up so that we think he's going to show the kids his primal magic powers but then just going "tickleproof" was SO GOOD LMAO and so wholesome too 😭 I know it's a given considering he has a younger brother but he's so good with the kids it's so adorable

"Ah-ah, I know this trick! You're just buttering me up!" callback to season 2 😭 Loved it, it made me laugh so much back then

Of course the iconic "Rayla! Callum wants to have ten babies with you!!" scene It made me wheeze so much I had pause the show to collect myself istg Not in front of her dads too 😭 Callum's face, Runaan's deadpan stare, Ethari bursting into laughter It was SO good and funny and wholesome gjhdhgfdk And the tiny detail of Runaan's stoic face breaking into a soft smile as Ethari starts laughing 😭 He loves him SO much and he must've missed that laugh SO MUCH

Soren's "How do we know it's not mmmmmagic sap CORVUS CHECK IT." I LOVED THE DELIVERY ON THAT LINE SO MUCH GDJGHDKJ

The fking Moonberry Surprise scene jdkghdjghdk it caught me SO OFF GUARD 😭 Rayla what the hell did you put in that cake

Also excuse me but Ethari smiling at Runaan in that scene? 🥺🥺

"I am only thinking of the future, Miyana. This heir will play a great role in the rebirth of the Sunfire empire!" Karim please I have been patient with you but your character but you're literally in prison being sentenced to death, WHAT future

6: INVERSION

The primal stone in Aaravos' staff now actually looks like a mini-moon and I love it so much it's so pretty

The animation of Claudia's face when she says "My dad left this world without unfinished business" is done SO beautifully, the way her hair blows in the wind, and her her eyes get bigger and then fill with tears and tremble as they close-- I'm in love with those few seconds

"Good question. How about you answer it?" "What?" the way Aaravos said it was so soft and small I love it so much

"For Leola. My sweet baby girl." hfjskfhsjfhsk 😭 and then the flashback of Leola shouting "daddy" to him as she dies And the delivery of that monologue by Erik Dellums--- do I need to say more

Callum and Rayla repeating the exact things they said in Season 6 after they found out about the Pearl before Kosmo rewinded time was SUCH a cool detail

And then Callum having a literal panic attack- it was shown so well and the emotions were so RAW and genuine I loved it, Callum stuttering and hyperventilating and then THE SHOT OF THE DARK MAGIC VERSION OF HIM SMILING UP AT HIM WAS SO GOOD AND SCARY And the "Nothing, I just- I- I need- I just need- Um, I need some time by myself-" said in almost monotone was such good performance from Jack de Sena I loved it

Aaravos going "A minor inconvenience." as Soren and Terry come out in his deep low voice was SO BADASS

Also there's something about the animation quality in the scene when Claudia passes both Soren and Terry and turns to look at them both- like, the emotion shown on her face, and the movement is so fuild and smooth, I was just in awe

Dark Magic Callum arriving as a dark silhouette with purple glowing eyes was SO INSANELY COOL I AUDIBLY GASPED I love his design so much - and the fact that his voice is a little deeper and just DIFFERENT, you can hear that somehow it's DIFFERENT and it's so incredibly cool And he has a cool coat so

Also that would've been really funny if some random Moonshadow Elf from Silvergrove was just on a night walk and stumbled upon Callum just sitting on a log and screaming angrily at the air lmao

I realized the plan they had with Claudia's mother literally JUST a second before Claudia went "Too exactly" cause I started to think - where's Lujanne during all of this? And then I thought Actually, where's AARAVOS during all of this LMAO

And the scene with Claudia freezing them in place was SO BADASS and tense I LOVED IT The short chant she used sounded so cool, I even reversed it to hear what the actual spell was but I couldn't make the words out lol

Freaking Ziard's spirit coming back as a terrifying skeleton was SO SCARY AND AMAZING

And then Aaravos absolutely TOWERING over Ezran when he's back to his titan form, with his marking glowings and dark blue shadows with the starry sky in the background-- I was so enchanted by this shot I had to pause to just stare at it And then his laugh just BOOMING across the environment- and how he staggers in the background behind Ezran as they fire at him, shielding his face, like there's something about his movements that just shows how absolutely MASSIVE he is SO WELL and it's SO INSANELY COOL

And again, the animation-- like that one shot when it slowed down and focused on the arrows as they flew towards Aaravos' face, with him blurred in the backround and realization and fear slowly appearing on his face before BOOM I just want to appreciate the quality of the shots and the animation cause DAMN IS IT INCREDIBLE THIS SEASON everyone absolutely outdid themselves And the way the orange light of the fire and the explosions contrasted so well with the blue shadows jgkfhdgjkfdhgkfjdhk I am: in love. Also they literally went and pulled a Gulliver on him didn't they

7: THE TITAN AND THE KING

RUNAAN IS BACK WITH HIS OLD OUTFIT 😭😭😭 and he fixed his hair back!!

Silvergrove's owl griffons are SO GORGEOUS I love them so much, their design is so incredible I'm just wondering what happened to the Shadowpaw :(( Cause we didn't see this cutie for the entire season and I loved his soft kitty face so much, it was my absolute favourite of the creatures

"Aaravos is not the only one with a plan. New friends and old friends are working together to help us stop him" Callum narrating the letter over the montage of the Silvergrove team getting ready was so cinematic with the music in the background

It was only during the rewatch tho that I realized-- when Callum narrates about him going to Akiyu for another pearl, there's a shot of Akiyu herself and the shadow of CLAUDIA looming over her, so we were already being given a hint that she's the one who killed her and it was AMAZING

"Aaravos, what do you have to say for yourself?" "I… am innocent." ICONIC THAT MADE ME SMILE SO MUCH HE'S SO SASSY

Ethari's suspicious face with the raised eyebrow as the stone golems are trying to tell him Rex Igneous is not home I LOVED THAT SCENE SO MUCH And him going "Um, are you certain…?" with a slight smile and that lovely Scottish accent ghfdkh And the trick he pulls with the "Ah, what a shame! I brought a delicious gift…" he DEFINITELY used to do it with little Rayla when she didn't want to do something 😭

The shot of Rex Igneous towering over Ethari as he comes out of the mountain-- again, just showing how fking MASSIVE he is compared to Ethari it was SO COOL

"It is the nature of children to think the world must be one way or another. With maturity, we learn that most of life is lived in the space between." YESSS DRAG HIM AARAVOS

Aaravos lifting himself up all of a sudden and everyone just absolutely FREAKING OUT and then him going softly "Don't be scared." HJKFDHJSK

THE LITTLE MUSHPALS SURROUNDING TERRY THEY WERE ALL SO CUTE especially the one on his shoulder with tiny body and huge eyes and hat I WANT TEN OF THEM 😭

"I suppose you've seen that written in the stars?" "No, no… I've seen it written in his eyes." HFKDHGJKSFHGDFKJ

"Pity… I enjoyed our conversation, young king. But I have lingered here long enough. Look… The sun has set." THE WAY HE SAYS IT AS THEY ALL WALK AWAY FDFGFHDFJKHGDK with him lingering on that "t" in "set" and then the slow realization of what that means it was INCREDIBLE, and that sad pitying smile he has on his face as he says it

RUNAAN PUSHING CALLUM OUT OF THE HARM'S WAY GHJKSGHSJK and getting a boulder to the head 😭😭

Callum using the blood freezing spell on Claudia?? And Claudia still being able to cast spells during that??? When Rayla was completely paralyzed from pain when it was used on her?? And the whole duel between them in general?????

THE SHOT of Claudia holding the staff, with eyes glowing purple, face covered in dark cracks, the lighting making her skin look almost blue, and with Runaan coming up behind her, bow drawn, and then going "Don't. Move." WITH THAT LOW AND SMOOTH VOICE THAT WAS SO FKING BADASS JONATHAN HOLMESSSSSSS

"Now what?" "Now, we wait for Callum to catch his breath. And then, he will decide whether you live or die." HFJDSKHGJDK he was waiting for Callum's order cause he's an ASSASSIN HE CARRIES OUT ORDERS GJGHDK

And the scene with Claudia's dragon armor of course--- the way it lights up before she breathes fire gjhgjkf

Dark Magic Callum looking up at him from the reflection before he fades out to reveal the staff gdfhjgfdhjkdfhgjdfk

THE MAGMA TITAN FROM SEASON 3 AND THEN ZIARD RESURRECTING AVIZANDUM I literally audibly gasped like holy shit NOW it's getting even WORSE I was SO EXCITED

8: DYING LIGHT

Aaravos shaking the entire screen as he walks

When he was just staring at Karim with this unimpressed face without saying a single word-- and then he started smirking, and Karim yapped more and more, and I was thinking "okay, he's gonna swallow him, isn't he? As a reference to the third season, cause he said he swallowed Queen Aditi--" AND THEN THE SQUISH THAT WAS SO GRIM AND GRUESOME AND UNEXPECTED I WAS LITERALLY SPEECHLESS FOR A FEW GOOD MOMENTS And the sound of it too?????? The blood??? Janai's screams???????? I don't think ANYONE expected Karim to go out like that and HOLY SHIT the shock factor was HUUUUUGE

Aaravos being forced onto his back and pinned down by Rex Igneous? 👀👀👀 And then him blasting Rex away - like YES finally we get to see Aaravos fighting with magic, even if it was just for a second

Also I love how different Rex Igneuos' voice is from other Archdragons- like it's not as low and booming as Sol Regem's or deep and royal as Zubeia and Domina's, but it's rather sharp, and rocky, and rough, but it has such authority and power and strength in it too-- like it fits an Archdragon so well but in different ways than the other ones

And the fight between him and Avizandum was such an epic battle, so fitting for the series finale, like we finally get to see the dragons in ACTION action after getting just slivers of it

Also Rex's death caught me off guard-- I didn't expect him to ACTUALLY die, I thought he might get defeated and hurt, but not straight up DEAD halfway through the battle It was really good shock value tho, like it showed how SERIOUS this has gotten

Aaravos going "ARE. YOU. WATCHING?" at the starry sky gfdjdlhjkgf

Runaan saying "You've done well" to the owl gryphon 🥺🥺🥺 He was so SOFT in that moment gfjdhgkd the hardened assassin And he gave it a pet and a little smile too 🥹 AND THEN him and Rayla hugging AGAIN 😭😭 I loved seeing him being affectionate with his beloved family so much

EVERYONE GETTING READY FOR THE FINAL FIGHT AVENGERS ASSEMBLE

STELLA CASUALLY DECAPITATING THE DRAKE WITH THE PORTAL GFDJHGFDJK I didn't expect that from HER OF ALL THE LITTLE CREATURES

DOMINA PROFUNDIS' ENTRANCE Like first the water raining down and then this MASSIVE OCEAN DRAGON appearing with such a cool sound too and flying over Rayla's head like a freaking JETPLANE And the clicking kind of sound she made when she landed next to Zubeia was so incredibly cool I got shivers- and her design is so pretty too, especially with that shot!!!

Aaravos going "I do not fall for the same tricks twice." with that low angry voice gave me so many chills

"But I'm afraid you've misjudged your would-be slayer. Your beloved is an assassin who cannot kill." "No. Not Rayla." AND THEN THE CAMERA MOVING TO REVEAL RUNAAN WITH HIS BOWED TRAINED ON CALLUM FJFGHDFKGD I WAS starting to realize what was happening when Callum said "Moonshadow assassin" and not just "Rayla" BUT TO ACTUALLY SEE IT I audibly gasped grjhdk

9: NOVA

"There is no path to victory. It's over." "You're right. There isn't. Not for you, either. Because we will sacrifice anything to stop you, and save this world. My heart… for Xadia…!" 🥹🥹🥹 no words

Aaravos going "Claudia, you must go!"-- I think it's at that moment he realized there actually is a possibility of losing the fight And then "I WILL NOT-- watch… another daughter die." 🥹🥹🥹 I DO think their father-daughter relationship was the tiniest bit rushed, but it's still made my eyes water, and the way he said it too bfhjhjghjdg so soft but sad and like he wanted to reassure her as well

Runaan clutching his side and reaching his arm out towards Rayla to hug her AGAIN when she comes to the ground HFDJKHGJKFDHGDFJKGHD he loves his family SO MUCH And then the wince as he pulls away cause he's still hurting and the fall made it worse again gjfdhgkj it was such a nice little scene but so telling

The way Aaravos looked in his final moment-- all battered and bruised and with blood trickling down from his nose and mouth and his EYE-- it was so visceral and genuinely scary

The fact that when he died it looked the exact same as Leola died--- with light pouring out of his eyes and mouth jffdgjdk I was just so stunned I couldn't even move

Zym crying out for his mom and crying as she burned---- 😭😭😭 and her going "Goodbye, Azymondias… I will always love--" as the camera switches to Zym just looking up with eyes full of tears-- and the fact the she didn't GET TO FINISH AND SAY "LOVE YOU" IN HER FINAL WORDS MADE LITERALLY WEEP

And the soundtrack that played during that entire scene, with the vocalization and wailing--- it was just oh my God so good

And then after that the "Brothers." scene LMAO Like logically I knew he HAD to start talking at some point, since all the adult Archdragons do, but it caught me SO OFF GUARD and it was SUCH A GOOD SCENE LMAOOOO And apparently he's voiced by Zuko's voice actor too which I find absolutely amazing, the voice fits him SO WELL

Opeli going "I say 'potato', you say 'po-tah-to'…" LMAOOO it was so great to see and hear her so exasperated

Getting to see all the characters from the previous seasons<3 Elmer from Finnegrin's ship, Nyx and Villads, teenage Phoe-Phoe

Claudia reenacting the episode openings' shots 👌👌

Runaan and Ethari arriving on the owl griffin, he looked so sad and somber and the blue lighting in that scene was again so gorgeous gjfhdgk

And of course the monologue he gives next I was literally speechless watching it We got to hear about his thoughts and feelings in such depth And is was such a contrast to the stoic and badass cold-blooded assassin we knew from season 1 And Jonathan performance?????? The little bitter laugh at the "A twisted peacemaker, I suppose…", the way his voice started breaking at "My act of violence planted seeds of darkness, seeds of anger and hate, that would grow into a thousand fold the violence I thought I could stop", like you can literally HEAR the genuine TEARS in his voice, how close he is to crying And the shot at Ethari's face in between all of this--- he looked like he was about to break into tears as well, I don't know if he's ever seen his husband being so vulnerable and open about his feelings towards someone else aside from him like in that moment "I was trained to accept that I was already dead, so that I might carry out my dark work without fear. But… I am NOT DEAD! I am ALIVE! I have a family I love!" THE WAY YOU CAN HEAR THE ABSOLUTE ANGUISH IN HIS VOICE AFTER HE'S BEEN A STOIC COLD-HEARTED ASSASSIN FOR SO LONG AND ETHARI'S FACE AT THOSE LAST WORDS AND HIM RUSHING TO HUG RUNAAN And the contrast of the season 1 "I told you, I am already dead" with the season 7 "I am NOT DEAD! I am ALIVE!" 😭😭😭😭

Pyrrah getting a cup of dragon-sized tea

Rayla looking so soft with her hair down sleeping in front of the fireplace And the whole ending scene with them standing on the bridge and with the little creatures putting on the show for her<3

And of course Leola's Last Wish--- the music during that scene was so gorgeous I was crying so much and I IMMEDIATELY went to look for that particular soundtrack, with the harp and the strings gfdjhgdhjkdg

In summary: I love this show with my entire heart. I know people have their complaints about this season, there will always be complaints and disappointment, but honestly I'm just focusing on the things I loved about the season - there was SO much work and love that went into making this, so much PASSION, I can't imagine how hard the creators and the artists and the voice actors worked to get it done, and I just want to thank them SO SO much for creating this, for getting their story out there, for giving us so many incredible characters to love, so many incredible moments, the music, the beauty, the shots-- Gonna get a little personal here but I've been struggling with depression for a long few years now and when I discovered The Dragon Prince this year it was the first time in YEARS that I felt so involved with a story, so enraptured in it, so CONNECTED to it, I just love it all with my entire absolute heart- it brought me so much comfort, maybe because it reminded me of the animated movies I used to watch during winter evening at my parents' house, warm and cozy under the blankets in the living room, maybe because it was just so amazing in itself, or maybe both combined. Good stories are the thing I love the absolute most in the entire world, and God, was THAT a DAMN GOOD STORY. @dragonprinceofficial thank you SO much for giving us this world, this story, these emotions, and please know that despite all the criticism there are so many of us that love the show with our ENTIRE hearts.<3<3<3

[zuppizup]

Not Quite Domestic Bliss

Opeli struggles not to let her irritation show as they continue to wait. Even King Ezran is looking anxious by the time Callum bursts through the door, looking flustered.

“Sorry I’m late!” He grimaces at everyone clearly waiting for him.

“No problem, Callum.” True to form, Ezran smiles brightly at him, seemingly holding no grudges for the fact they’ve been sitting waiting for over half an hour.

Opeli watches as Callum takes a seat, noting his dishevelled state. His hair is wilder than usual and he seems to be adopting more and more Moonshadow attire, dressed in a strange mismatched manner, dark leggings that look uncomfortably tight and a crumbled tunic she suspects might actually be a nightshirt.

In fact, if she didn’t know better, she would almost believe Callum slept in that shirt-

It’s morning, but it’s not particularly early.

He would never... would he?

Callum has never been the best time keeper, even back when things at the castle were more formal, but he’s become totally hopeless since moving permanently to Evrkynd. Opeli didn’t really consider his resignation from King Ezran’s council as much of a loss. He’s always been distracted and much of his actual “contributions” are in the form of random tangents or crude jokes.

At least Rayla isn’t with him today.

Opeli feels like a school mistress when they attend meetings together, constantly having to remind them to pay attention… struggling not to lose her temper at their whispering and giggling.

The crude jokes are even more frequent when they’re bouncing off each other.

“Where’s Rayla?” Soren asks, an eyebrow raised, seemingly at Callum’s appearance.

Opeli desperately hopes they don’t end up waiting for Rayla too.

“Em, she’s at home,” Callum winces, finally taking his seat. “She’s, eh, not well.”

“Oh no, is she okay?” Ezran asks, leaning forward in his seat.

“She’ll be fine,” Callum reassures them. “I’m still getting the hang of foraging and I kinda mixed up regularly moonberries with the moonberries you use to make moonberry surprise and well… she’s just lying down in the dark for a while.”

Opeli arches an eyebrow, knowing well by now what’s in moonberry surprise. “Is she safe alone?”

While she is concerned for Rayla, sending Callum to keep an eye on her would hardly be a loss for this meeting.

“Terry is keeping an eye on her,” Callum flushes bright red, avoiding eye contact as he drums his hands on the table. “So... where were we?”

After the meeting has concluded, Opeli overhears Corvus talking to Callum as she packs away her notes.

“Soooo, Callum, how’s life in Evrkynd?” Corvus looks and sounds awkward as he asks this, clearly trying not to look too intently at Callum’s mismatched clothing or ridiculous hair.

“Good!” Callum enthuses, “but busy,” he nods, wide eyed. “Lots to learn, you know? And not just magic either. Barius is coming over again tomorrow to help us with the bread stuff. I told him he doesn’t have to, but he got kinda mad when he saw what we baked the other day. He said we’re killing the dough or the yeast blob or something. You’re suppose to feed it… I don’t get it-”

“Uh huh,” Corvus nods kindly. “And how’s everything else? If you want help with anything-”

“Oh, we’re fine,” Callum waves him off, pulling awkwardly on his pants for what seems like the tenth time in so many minutes. “We’re figuring stuff out-”

“You’re obviously not,” Soren scoffs, folding his arms over his chest.

Callum gapes at him, looking offended. “Yeah, we are-”

Soren rolls his eyes, his lip curled. “Callum, you’re clearly wearing Rayla’s pants.”

Callum’s mouth falls open and he blinks stupidly for a moment before responding. “We’re pretty much the same height!”

“Yeah, well, girls pants fit differently to guys pants.” Soren make a play of shielding his eyes.

Callum goes bright red, making a futile attempt to pull his shirt down. “We’re behind on laundry!”

“What you two need is a roster,” Soren throws his arm around Callum shoulder and starts dragging him towards the door. “I know I can’t rely on you to be disciplined, so that means I have to deal with Rayla.”

“Hey!” Callum protests, trying to extract himself from Soren’s grip. “I can be disciplined when I need to be-”

Corvus sighs, watching Soren herd Callum out the door.

Picking up her scrolls, Opeli joins him, vaguely amused as they continue to bicker down the street.

“It’s good someone is taking the lead with Prince Callum,” she smiles at Corvus. “I fear learning domestic duties has not been high on his or Rayla’s list of concerns.”

Corvus arches an eyebrow, his face sceptical. “You think they’ve been high on Soren’s list?”

Opeli winces, turning her eyes back to the two younger men. “Oh.”

Corvus sighs, beginning to walk after them. “It’s like the blind leading the blind.”

———

For @m4rs-ex3

Sorry I couldn’t find any fluff for you in my WIPs 😆

[halyasgirl]

Watching 7x05 "Sticky Fingers" I have to wonder what Callum was thinking when he said he wanted to "get to know Ethari and Runaan better."

Callum tries to make small talk with Runaan:

Callum: So, how was your weekend? Runaan (not looking up from his meal): That's classified.

Callum gets his hands on Historia Viventem and sketches Runaan and Ethari's wedding (from the End Credits):

Ethari: Oh, this is beautiful Callum, may we keep this? You're very talented, thank you! Runaan: Why would you pry into our history like this? (To Ethari under his breath) What else is he seeing on our wedding night?

Callum wanders into their kitchen early one morning to find Runaan shirtless with several bruises to his neck and chest. Callum makes some comment along the lines of "Rough night?" when it dawns on him that he's either implied Runaan

a). killed someone last night, or b). got very laid last night, and any attempts to clarify will dig him deeper. Runaan's silent, inscrutable stare does not help and Callum stammers something about eating breakfast outside and bolts. It's raining. Runaan leaves him outside for 10 minutes until Ethari comes down, scolds Runaan, and lets him in.

But in all seriousness, I think they missed a major opportunity to have Callum and the moonfam grapple with some of the darker aspects of Moonshadow culture and their family. You want to get to know them better, Callum? You will find the very selfless, very dutiful war criminal who killed your dad, and the man who happily and knowingly married him.

Ethari (over dinner, stroking Runaan's hair): We don't travel much outside our borders, Runaan's wanted in many international jurisdictions. Though they don't know it's him, he's never been caught. Runaan (catches his hand, kisses it softly): Only once. Ethari: (closes his eyes) Only once... (recovers) Another slice of Moonberry Surprise, Callum? Callum (softly but with a lot of feeling): What the f—

[sliebman10]

Clench

(a bit of birthday spice for Remus)

Sirius let go of him and rolled them both to the side so he wasn’t crushing Remus with his weight. Remus stayed close and breathed him in as their skin cooled. He was pleasantly sated and wrung out, lying there in their afterglow.

They were still joined but Sirius slipped from him as he softened even as Remus gave a half hearted clench to delay the empty feeling. But then, Sirius shifted and he turned to face his husband. They kissed languidly, like the slow, sweet drip of honey.

Remus ran his fingers through the sweaty strands of Sirius’s hair. Sirius leaned into the touch like he always did, sighing softly. He splayed his hand on Remus’s lower back, pushing them closer, until they were entwined again.

“Happy birthday, Moony…” Sirius whispered, a delicious rasp apparent in his voice as they continued kissing.

“Thank you, darling,” Remus said, running his thumb along Sirius’s jaw. It was rough with salt and pepper stubble.

“You don’t look a day over 35.”

Remus snorted. “Flatterer. I wasn’t completely grey at 35.”

“I like it. You’ve aged like a fine wine, Moonshadow.”

It was on the tip of his tongue to respond with something self-deprecating, but Sirius’s silver eyes were so earnest and full of love that he stopped himself and just smiled. “Good thing for you that I like wine.”

Sirius barked a laugh and rolled over so he was on top, pinning Remus against the pillows. He kissed him again pressing into Remus’s hips. He moved his hand between them and Remus’s breath caught. “So do I,” he said.

Word count: 267

@wolfstarmicrofic

[argonblue]

Ok I talked abt this a lil before in another post but THE RUTHARI DESIGN LANGUAGE

Ethari outwardly has changed, but that design reflects more of his grief, the passage of time, and his inability to let go of his husband. It’s also all external—his hair is longer, his Moonshadow markings are now asymmetric/unbalanced, his earrings are gay as hell and really show how he is not over his marriage at all. Most importantly, his armor/shoulder things. He looks prickly, closed off, and that’s exactly how he acts when he thinks runaan is a stranger, which is very un-Ethari.

On the other end, Runaan’s design is hugely the same as season one, with the only two changes being A) his weird ass cutout sleeve is missing on his right, and B) his horn. Unlike Ethari, runaan’s biggest character design change is losing a part of his actual body. Hair can grow, clothes can change, but Runaan’s horn is part of him. His being has been fundamentally altered in a small way, and he’s going to carry that change for ever. Both figuratively, with how he’s seen the true outcome of his assassin work, and literally.

Ethari has a design that communicates his relationship with runaan, he always has. In bloodmoon huntress, runaan calls Ethari his guiding light, but in reality I think it’s the other way around. Because Ethari is the most out of character without runaan. He ghosts Rayla out of grief, which is very out of character, because runaan is gone. But after two years, runaan still comes home to an Ethari who is grieving and hopeless, but not broken.

And after they reunite, Ethari returns to the same state we’ve seen him in for pretty much the entire show. And I get why. He’s a minor character, the plot doesn’t need him to have a paradigm shift like runaan, but I like to read into it as Ethari being the moonfam anchor. He’s the home they all come back to, he’s the warm hug they all need, he’s soft and he’s kind and he’s defined by his love for them. So when he loses his family, he loses himself. He’s and anchor with no ship. Runaan is his heart, without runaan, there is no point for there to be an Ethari, and it makes him lash out and ghost Rayla.

So. Here’s why I’m thinking about all this: Ethari making Runaan a prosthetic horn. Ethari, runaan’s anchor, helping him reforge this part of himself and shine truth onto the great lie of assassin-hood that runaan held so close to his persona. Runaan choosing to replace his belief in precision violence with his belief in love. Most importantly to me, Ethari confronting the lie he helped reinforce for runaan. Ethari seeing that he’s been making weapons to fuel the cycle of violence that in turn took his entire family and his heart from him. And Ethari and runaan deciding to help build the new world, Everkynd, where the lie and the cycle don’t have to dictate their lives.

[m4rs-ex3]

RAYLLUM + MOON FAM HCS 1. So yk how Runaan and Ethari have more markings than Rayla? I imagine they're for large cultural milestones, and since we also know how Moonshadow elves are big on honour and loyalty I feel like they probably get a bunch from marriage. So right before Rayllum get married (like the morning of?), Ethari braids Rayla's hair like he did when she was small, and Runaan paints her arms with wedding marks (cause Callum's getting ready himself + it'd be sweet I guess if it was like a "last time parents get their child ready" kind of moment). 2. To honour Rayla's culture, Callum's wedding ring is a braided silver band. I also like to imagine that the inside has feathers that can also double as leaves engraved, so it represents both of them at the same time. 3. Ethari loves Callum so much that he eventually starts calling him "Son". Runaan is also super fond of him and always has something good to say about him when he's not around (which isn't often if Rayla's near, but the closer Aaravos' arrival approaches the more their separate duties call them in different directions) 4. This is a crack one I just came up with on the spot: while Lira doesn't directly *ask* whether Rayla and Callum are going to have children or not, if they haven't visited for an extended period of time (upwards of 6 months) it's because she's just assumed they've already had one. Like, "oh they're probably not here because they have a new baby to tend to" and then they'll eventually show up, no baby in tow, and she's like "???" 5. General (but kinda moon fam) hc: I reckon across all of Xadia commoners tend to get married earlier (based on the age ranges for "dad-ish" and "uncle-ish"), but since Moonshadow elves don't have any nobility, they tend to get married earlier in life at large. (I've always assumed that Ruthari and Laindrin got married in their early 20s and that was just the Moonshadow norm).

i LOOOOOVE this one. it's like wedding henna i think that's so cool

i mean there is just SO much design real estate with their engagement jewelry it makes me crazy

most certainly. i also love the idea that since rayla and runaan can bond over all their assassin-y and like. tree people. type shit. that ethari is super excited to be able to bond with callum over artistry and magic and being a manwhore and he's like "THAT'S MY BOY!!!"

lira just NEVER giving up on being their presumed "where are my granchildren?" mother-in-law is everything to me. with this i feel like she'd just start assuming they are having babies and are just hiding them from her

definitely agree. in my head rayla was a surprise when laindrin were early 20s, and they only got married either right before or right after she was born. same with sarai and damian (i mean there's no other explanation for how young and hot they all are (tho elves age differently so))

[darkcrowprincess]

Part one of my The Dragon Prince headcanons:

Callum and Ezran are half Korean(or at least the dragon prince version) from their mother and aunt amaya's side.

The boys argue in their mother's language. Rayal at first has no idea what they're saying when they argue like that.

Callum had to be the one to teach his brother their mother's language and culture. Aunt Amaya helped. The boys eventually teach Rayla the language.

Soren and Claudia learned a little from growing up with the boys plus Soren was trained under Sarai a little before she died. Soren can understand it better but it's hard for him to remember the right words. Claudia is better at it them him.

Soren trained a little under Sarai before she died.

Rayla and Callum like to go out dancing as one of their favorite date activities.

Claudia had to do all the motherly chores when her mother left. At least before they fully moved into the castle and had servants.

Callum taught Ezran how to walk, how to tie his shoes, basically raised him. But he would never tell Harrow that because it would hurt him.

Harrow was a good father, it's just he couldn't always be there for them when he was king. King Harrow also didn't hire a nanny for them. So a lot of the times if the servants weren't watching over Ezran it was usally Callum.

There wasn't a lot of kids growing up in the castle. So Soren, Claudia, and Callum only really had each other. Callum was lonely so that's why he really clung to Soren and Claudia even when Soren was being mean or Claudia was being insensitive. He never really learned it was a problem till he met Rayla and after the betrayal.

Rayla didn't have lot of friends growing up either. Callum is really her first friend. Best friend.

Soren has nightmares about the stuff his father uses for dark magic.

Even though Soren was a little bit mean growing up, he never let anyone bully Claudia, Callum or Ezran. He usally beat up anyone who did. Especially someone who made his sister cry.

Callum use to give Claudia flowers all the time when they were little. Some she would save, others she would use for her dark magic lessons. After the betrayal flowers kind of made Callum sick for a bit. Till after he learned about Rayla's favorite flower.

Rayla's favorite flowers are blue roses. Callum eventually gives her a bouquet of them.

Corvus helps Ezran with his hair as he gets older.

Opeli constantly had to shush the children growing up for evening and moring prayers because Soren would always get them to giggle.

Katolis has evening and morning prayers for the gods and goddesses they pray to. It's not mandatory to attend except for the royal family.

Opeli is the youngest Cleric of her generation.

Moonshadow Elf beliefs mostly follow the moon. They pray to it and ask it for things. Not only do they gain power from it but they also treat it like it is a goddess.

There's a Moonshadow elf festival where people dance under the full moon. Some adult elves, usually couples dance under it naked. Usually to absorb all the energy and power from the full moon.

Soren is bi and both has a crush on Corvus and Opeli growing up.

Rayla and Callum are both demisexual.

If Rayla and Callum had met earlier as children they would have been best friends too. And probably would have slowly fallen in love if they had grew up in different times.

Viren and Harrow had ideas of setting up an arranged marriage between Claudia and Callum. But over all Harrow turned down the idea.

There were talks of Ezran and Aanya having an arranged marriage between them before Aanya's mother's and Sarai died and the idea was let go.

Claudia taught Ezran how to sneak around the castle. In doing this she accidentally kick started Ezran into accidentally finding the egg.

Claudia was unaware of all the bridges she burnt down when she chose her father and betrayed the boys. She kept hoping that everything would fix itself. She didn't realize it couldn't be fix till she found her father dead and she was all alone.

Claudia definitely had to kill someone to bring her father back. She also had to do a lot of grave robbing.

Claudia would have gone crazy if she hadn't met Terry. Like she would have had a psychotic break.

[bluefeatheredfeline]

So I was thinking about the tracking spell Claudia used at the end of S1 (and Viren using the same spell to track the magma titan in the S2 flashback).

Soren complains about the cold and Claudia makes a throw away comment that she could “use these incredibly rare components to make him a blanket”. One that would make him “insanely comfortable”

But, the spell itself just has something personal from the target, flint to make fire, and the whisps. The flint and whisps seemed pretty easy and common items to get. What’s not common?

Moonshadow elf hair.

So, if you’re ever wondering what elf hair is used for by dark mages… it’s a blanket.

(Also does this mean moonshadow elves have some amount of magic that makes them resistant to cold?)

[raayllum]

And, admittedly, when the figure steps out from between the trees, his first thought is that it is indeed an elf. Straight Moonshadow white hair falls to the woman’s shoulders, her garb dark and frayed, skin ghostly pale, but then the head turns upwards—and even if it’s been six years, no matter how long it’s been, he will never forget that face.