Hey guys! Here's Chapter 5 of Fate's Divergence! Thank you so much for the support for this story! Also, I updated the other chapters with Ethari instead of Tinker to be season 3 compliant. Hopefully I got all of it. Let me know if I missed one and where.

Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Prince

Rayla made a face at the clothes that were provided for her. She didn't want to wear dresses or human garments. She stubbornly kept on her dirty clothes, hoping the snub wouldn't change the minds of the humans to execute her after all.

The human male and his wife exchanged a look before giving her smiles, though it did nothing to ease Rayla, despite their promises not to hurt her.

"We'll get clothes you like." The human male promised, but to Rayla, it was nothing but gibberish. She didn't know what they were saying, and it continued to frustrate her as they led her and the human boy to a large dining area. Any doubt they were not royalty left Rayla's mind the more she took in of the castle, leaving her with more questions.

If these humans were royalty, did that mean they were planning to attack the Dragon King? But then they would've held her as a hostage, wouldn't they? So many questions circled Rayla's head, and she grew more and more frustrated with the language barrier imposed on her.

A tiny hand took hers, and Rayla was yanked from her thoughts as she met the human boy's gaze. He gave her an excited smile.

"Moonlily, after breakfast I'll show you my room okay? We'll have lots of fun!" the boy promised. Rayla furrowed her brow, catching he kept saying 'Moonlily'. Was he insulting her?

She wished more than anything to know.

"Now Callum, you have lessons after breakfast." Sarai lightly chided him, her eyes sparkling playfully.

"But I want to play with Moonlily!" Callum protested. He didn't want to leave Moonlily alone again, afraid she'll be lonely and start sobbing again. Callum couldn't describe it, but when Moonlily cried it made his chest ache.

"Moonlily needs to go to the tailor after breakfast." Harrow told him smiling. "It seems she's more a fan of pants than Claudia's old dresses."

"She's speaking sense." Sarai grinned at Harrow. "Pants are much better than dresses!"

"Speaking from experience now?" Harrow quirked an eyebrow, teasingly.

"Of course! After all, I don't wear dresses for that reason!" Sarai winked. Harrow and Callum laughed while the elf girl watched them with a frown, her brow scrunching up.

"Are you all right, Moonlily?" Callum squeezed her hand gently. As for his Moonlily, she gave him a pensive expression.

"Amin delotha sut amin uma il- rangwa mani lle naa ilya sayien!" Moonlily said with a sour expression. "Amin merna an edhel a' talk a'…"

Callum studied her, stroking her hand with his thumb like his mother would do for him to soothe him. His Moonlily stared back at him, irritation and perhaps a bit of sorrow in her gaze. He wished more than anything he could understand her and her understand him.

An idea came to him then, and he grinned excitedly, squeezing his Moonlily's hand to reassure her.

"I beg your pardon, Prince Callum?" Opeli blinked as she paused in setting up for Callum's lessons.

"I want to learn Elvish, Miss Opeli." Callum repeated, his expression determined.

"Prince Callum, I'm supposed to teach you politics and Katolis's traditions." Opeli told him, though not unkindly.

"Well, shouldn't being able to communicate with other nations count as politics?" Callum wasn't giving up. Opeli gave him an impressed look.

"Very good point, Prince Callum, but I still can't teach you." Opeli told him.

"Why not?" Callum was shocked. "Miss Opeli, you're the smartest teacher on the king's council!" Callum protested.

"Well, that's very sweet of you, Prince Callum." Opeli smiled softly at the young boy. "But the reason I can't teach you is because I don't know Elvish."

"What?" Callum blinked, but straightened his shoulders, trying to appear more like a prince. "Well… is there anyone who does know Elvish?" he asked politely, but with a professionalism he's seen King Harrow use when addressing his subjects.

"Humans haven't needed to know Elvish for centuries." Opeli replied, eying him sadly. "I doubt there's any human tutor that could teach you."

Callum's shoulders slumped, and he appeared sad. Opeli watched him in pity. She had seen the little elf King Harrow and Queen Sarai had brought home. She knew eventually it would have to be brought up in the council that King Harrow was housing an elf. She knew some of her other council members wouldn't be as welcoming to the prospect of an elf in Katolis as the King and Queen were, and she couldn't help but pity the poor elf. She was just a child, and Opeli knew despite being taken in by the highest authority in Katolis, it wouldn't be enough to deter others from showing her spite.

"However," Opeli began, catching Callum's undivided attention. "The castle's library has many ancient books, some collected before Katolis was formed. I wouldn't be surprised if there was at least one book on what you are looking for."

The smile that spread on Prince Callum's face was brighter than the sun, and Opeli found herself smiling as well.

"Thanks Miss Opeli! I'll check out the library!" Callum said happily. Opeli smiled, and they began their lesson.

Rayla made a face as she was directed to hold still as the unknown male appeared to be measuring her. To occupy herself, she watched the man who spoke with a condescending tone to her before speaking to the human king and his wife. She squirmed unconsciously when his children surveyed her curiously.

"Do you think elves bleed the same way humans do?" the dark-haired girl spoke, circling her. Rayla didn't know what she was saying, but her gut told her it wasn't pleasant with the way the girl watched her like she was a specimen and not a living being.

"Don't get too close, Clauds." The boy told his sister worriedly. "I heard if they bite, you get moonshadow madness!"

The dark-haired girl burst out into laughter, and Rayla furrowed her brow in frustration.

"Pfft where did you hear something so ridiculous?" the girl directed at her brother. He appeared embarrassed.

"Camp…" he murmured. The dark-haired girl laughed even harder. Rayla felt herself grow annoyed with them, feeling like she was the butt of some joke.

The tailor barked at her something, and Rayla assumed it was because her posture tensed up. She grumpily put herself back into her original stance as the siblings continued to bicker.

"Harrow, you can't be ridiculous." Viren pinched the bridge of his nose. "You surely can't present her as your ward to the public."

"I don't see why not. She's under our wing now." Sarai gave Viren a look, not liking what he was implying. "We're not keeping her a secret."

"Think about what you're saying, Queen Sarai." Viren tried to advise. "The elf—"

"Moonlily." Both Harrow and Sarai corrected him. Viren sighed.

"Moonlily." He acquiesced. "Yes, we're now her home, and we all agree we can't take her back to Xadia, but think about it. Humans hate elves. The public would absolutely hate her—your subjects would question your sanity, and your rule could be shaky." Viren tried to persuade Harrow.

"Perhaps that can change." Harrow argued, determined. "She's just a child. She's harmless. Surely no one would hold anger towards a child?"

"No one will see her as a child. They'll just see her as an elf." Viren countered. "Perhaps give her to me? I would be less conspicuous and not as controversial."

"Forgive me, Viren, but before you spoke to Moonlily disrespectfully so I'm doubtful you want to suddenly take her in as your own." Sarai raised an eyebrow in skepticism. Viren sighed in frustration.

"I understand you've grown attached to her, Queen Sarai." Viren spoke, "but you can't let your emotions rule your common sense. Some of the castle is already talking in displeasure about your new ward. It would be better if she was hidden away."

"You mean lock her up?" Harrow was appalled. "She'll be miserable!"

"She'll be safe!" Viren told them, frustrated at their stubbornness. "She'll be safe, and your rule won't be questioned! Everyone wins."

"But at what cost?" Harrow challenged. "I preserve everyone's peace of mind but condemn hers. I will not punish Moonlily for being born an elf. I will not be ashamed of her."

"You can't force change, Harrow." Viren frowned at him. "I'm not speaking to you as your high mage, but as your friend. You may not be ashamed, but there are those who will make sure she feels shame."

"Then they will answer to us." Sarai said, determined. "We're Moonlily's family now. We're all she has."

"Viren," Harrow's stance carried all the authority of a king, "I understand your worries, but I won't turn my back on Moonlily when she needs us." He smiled then at his friend, placing a hand on Viren's shoulder. "The people will see. I'm sure of it."

Before Viren could answer, there was a commotion and the three of them turned to see the elf girl biting the tailor while Claudia and Soren were yelling.

"He's gonna get moonshadow madness!" Soren cried.

"That's not real!" Claudia countered.

"Ow! You savage! I was trying to fit you!"

The elf girl wasted no time in fleeing the room, with the three adults pursuing quickly.

Rayla hurried through the hallways out into the courtyard. She didn't stop running from the human male with the sharp pointy needles. She didn't need new clothes. She wanted her clothes, and she did not need some human poking her every time she fidgets and yelling at her when she moves. Eventually, she grew tired of this and just bit the human. His yell made her feel insanely better about the torture he was putting her through.

However, her satisfaction was short lived when she tripped, falling straight into a mud puddle. Rayla froze, looking down at her clothes caked in mud. Her hands shook as she fingered her clothes. They were her only piece of home, and now they were dirty.

Would the humans now throw her clothes away?

Rayla panicked when she heard the humans getting close and quickly got up, before someone snatched her up.

It was the silent lady who made weird hand gestures.

The woman surveyed her critically before giving her a teasing smirk. She wagged a finger at Rayla, which Rayla recognized as the universal gesture of 'don't be naughty' and recalled the woman did that gesture to her before. Rayla huffed, crossing her arms, giving the woman an intense glare. The woman simply quirked an eyebrow in challenge.

"Moonlily! Are you okay?" her female kidnapper ran up to them. Rayla realized the woman holding her and the king's wife appeared quite similar. Perhaps they were related?

The woman continued to make more gestures with her free hand, the queen speaking out loud, possibly translating for her husband and the stingy man.

"I saw the little one running and tripped into the mud. Seems like she now needs a bath." The queen translated. Rayla tried making out some words she could possibly know, but as usual, she didn't understand. Rayla had to wonder why she even bothered.

The woman holding her turned her gaze to her, poking her nose playfully. Rayla squeaked, scowling.

"Common naa y' confusien lammen." Rayla grumbled. The woman didn't appear bothered by her foul mood.

"I'll take her, Amaya." The queen said, holding out her arms, and Rayla understood the gesture. Rayla huffed as she was transferred to her kidnapper's arms once again.

The human queen gave her a gentle smile, and Rayla refused to smile back. She knew she was pushing her luck, but they set her up with the human who poked her with needles, and she was still not happy with that experience.

"I'll take her for a bath while you and Viren cast the spell." The queen told her husband and the stingy man. They nodded, and Rayla was carried off by the human queen.

She observed she was being carried throughout the castle, and she wondered where she was being taken. The human queen seemed to know where they were, so Rayla told herself to relax, despite the irrational fear they would put her in a cell after all.

But she reminded herself these humans also promised not to hurt her. She could see there was no lie on her kidnapper's face when she confirmed that to Rayla. If Ethari was here, he would tell her to stay positive and hopeful, and replayed his soothing voice in her mind to calm her.

However, when they entered the bathroom, and Rayla saw where the human queen intended for her to go, all the calm flew out the window.

"N'uma! amin uma il- merna natul- poika!" Rayla struggled in her kidnapper's arms. She abhorred baths!

"It's okay, Moonlily! It's just a bath!" the human queen spoke, and Rayla didn't care if the woman was trying to reassure her, Rayla was still incensed.

"N'uma alu! amin merna mataya amin dal yeste'!" Rayla protested, grabbing onto the doorframe for dear life. The human queen then snorted, and Rayla glared at her. "Sina naa il- amusien!"

"Oh Moonlily!" the human queen, despite Rayla's complaint, was laughing. "Don't tell me you hate baths!"

Rayla's glare was waspish. She didn't know what the human queen was saying, but she knew it was at her expense. She tightened her grip on the doorframe. The human queen's eyes glinted, and she smirked in teasing.

That did not bode well for Rayla.

Rayla yelped when she felt the human woman's fingers tickling her sides. Rayla hurriedly let go of the doorframe in order to protect herself. Seeing the human woman's triumphant smirk, Rayla realized her error and her eyes widened in horror.

No! She kept falling for this trick! That was how Runaan and Ethari got her in the bath!

Rayla didn't get time to escape before the human woman shut the door and removed Rayla's muddy clothes. Rayla tried the same strategy she had with the human male with pointy needles, but the queen easily evaded her teeth while maneuvering the faucet and filling the tub.

It wasn't long before the human woman deposited her into the huge tub and was scrubbing her clean. Rayla scowled as bubbles surrounded her entire body.

"Mom?" a voice called as someone knocked on the door. Rayla recognized it as the human boy's voice. She realized he was calling for the human woman. "The king said you were in here. Are you okay?"

"Just fine, sweetie! Moonlily fell into some mud so she's getting a bath!" the human woman replied. Rayla took her distraction as a chance to try to escape, but the human woman blocked her attempts effortlessly. Rayla gave her a grumpy look.

The door opened and the human boy peaked his head in. She must have looked a sight because the boy tried to hold back some giggles. He turned to his mother.

"I guess she doesn't like baths?" the human boy asked her. His mother chuckled.

"You got that right. Why don't you come in and help me calm her down? She might like you talking to her." The human woman told her son. Rayla raised an eyebrow when the human boy came into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him. He hurried over to the tub, and Rayla tilted her head.

"No hurt." The human boy repeated, and Rayla relaxed her shoulders, understanding the phrase. "My lessons are done for the day. We should play when you get cleaned up!" the human boy spoke excitedly to her. "Or maybe we can go see Ezran? You seem to like him." He continued to babble in a language Rayla didn't understand but found herself being less tense as she listened to his voice.

The human woman shampooed Rayla's silvery white hair while her son continued to talk Rayla's ear off. Again, she couldn't help but wish she had someone she could talk to that she could actually understand. The boy's voice was very comforting, but she wished she could know what exactly he was saying. It was nice to have someone her age around her in this ordeal, but it did nothing to give her peace the way someone who could understand her could.

Rayla closed her eyes, replaying her family's voices in her mind, the familiar Elvish making her heart ache.

I hope people enjoyed this chapter. I hoped everyone was believable in this chapter since Harrow has a tendency to rule with his feelings and Viren is too pragmatic without considering feelings. They're both extremes and they both bring up good points, but both aren't entirely right because in reality, there is no easy solution. There is no clear-cut answer and Rayla is in the middle of it.

Translations of Rayla's words:

Amin delotha sut amin uma il- rangwa mani lle naa ilya sayien! = I hate how I do not understand what you are all saying!

Amin merna an edhel a' talk a'… = I wish I had an elf to talk to…

Common naa y' confusien lammen = Common is a confusing language.

N'uma! amin uma il- merna natul- poika! = No! I do not want to become clean!

N'uma alu! amin merna mataya amin dal yeste'! = No water! I would want to eat my foot first! (she's basically saying I would rather eat her own foot first instead of getting in water)

Sina naa il- amusien! = this is not amusing!