The Honor of Ellemayne
By: Kunimitsu Dawnstrider
(Shadowglen; 2:30am during the season of the Summer Festival)
Flamed lanterns lit the way as the medic rode through the dark morning of the woods in Shadowglen. The medic and his two associates raced down the path in their mounts as they reached the gate where the two guards were awaiting their arrival. One of the guards guided them up the ramp of the great tree, and inside a hollow room where a night elf woman laid in pain as her husband kneeled beside her bed, holding her hand. The medic realized then that the woman was not doing so well. Blood had seeped through the sheets and immediately he knew what was needed to be done.
"Please, help her" The husband beckoned the medic.
The two associates pulled off the sheets as the woman in pain and bleeding profusely held her enlarged belly. It became obvious that the woman was about to lose her unborn child if not cared for immediately. The husband was told to wait outside the corridor of his hallow room while a sentinel on guard waited beside him, hoping all the best for him and his wife. The medic hours later walks out and the look upon his face made it clear that something had gone wrong, but within his arms he held a wrapped child. The husband walks over to the child in hopes that it is alive and well. The medic pulls over to reveal a beautiful healthy baby girl. The father took her into his arms and held her close, but the dreaded look of the medics face worried the now father.
"Master Ellemayne, your wife has lost too much blood and it will not stop. I have tried everything to prevent her from bleeding and all has failed. My associates are trying their hardest as we speak but all is proving to be a complete and utter failure. She is hemorrhaging and…I am afraid we will be losing her shortly"
"No…no this can't be…she…"
"I'm sorry Master Ellemayne, we do not know what else to do" after saying this the associate exits with the most dreadful news to the new father
"She…she has passed on sir. I am truly sorry for your loss"
Master Ellemayne with the infant in his arms enters the room and slowly falls to his knees as his heart has broken for the loss of his beloved wife. As tears began to flow down his cheek a small hand begins to caress her mourning father, drying his tears away. He opens his eyes to see his beautiful little girl smiling and giggling as she wiped the water falling on her face. He held her small body closer and named her after his wife.
"Finalin; that is what I will call you, Finalin Ellemayne"
(15 years later; 8:30am Darnassus at Warrior Terrace)
Huff..huff…focus…huff…must…focus…huff
"Are you going to slouch around or are you going to pick up that sword and attempt to actually dent your target dummy!"
This man is ruthless, can't he see how tired I am! My heart is beating so fast I can barely feel my lungs breathing….
"Must I intervene in your training yet again Finalin! Pick up that sword, focus and stay on your target. The enemy will not be remorseful of your state, they Will kill you where you stand, tired or not, they will take their blade and cut you in half as long as it means taking out a threat!"
He's right…if I don't move I will be the one killed…Focus…Focus…
The young Finalin closes her eyes in concentration as her father stands in watch, training his daughter in the art of a Fury Master…
"CHARGE!" hollered Master Ellemayne as Finalin opens her eyes like a demon let loose from its chains and roars a vigorous roar that stormed and startled the other warriors in training.
Her grip of the two handed weapon she had crafter with her father's help gleamed and sliced right through the target dummy in half, splinting it into pieces. The other warrior students covered themselves or hid behind something to take cover. Master Ellemayne was pleased to see his daughter handle the weapon naturally like himself. It pierced through the wooden target but in a sloppy way as her form was not in sync with her body and speed. Master Ellemayne grinned in content none the less.
Finalin stood before the broken target dummy as it crumbled to the ground from all the chips and remaining pieces. Breathing heavily and holding with a firm grip on her two handed sword. Her father steps forward as his plated armor clanked as he walked towards her. She turns to face her father, gasping slowly for air as she does not let the sword fall off her hand. Her arm toned and firm as she then raises the broad two handed sword over her shoulder and allowing it to rest on it. As her father stood beside her, he crosses his arms, looks to his daughter and then around the area where the target dummy had been torn apart from, including the remains that had flung toward the students.
"It seems I owe warrior terrace a new target dummy, all thanks to you Finalin" Master Ellemayne chuckles and then focus his attention to her "A job well done daughter, but you need a little more work on your form. For you to master your Titans Grip you must focus and improve your skills. All in all, you have done extremely well"
A sudden voice was heard from behind them, they both look back to see a Sentinel escorting a human. The young human stood tall and proud and held a stern expression. He wore basic plated armor for training. Master Ellemayne walked over to the Sentinel as she handed him a few forms that he read into.
"So you're from Gilneas?" ask Master Ellemayne
"Yes sir. I was sent here after I had completed a few basic training on Protection, but my skills were far more excelling to the Fury spec. I was referred to you in hope of perfecting it."
"He is required to remain with you Master Ellemayne for three months time. Afterwards he will be escorted back to Gilneas." The Sentinel spoke as she then saluted in respect and went back to her dock post.
"I see, it says here that your trainer has high recommendation of you when it comes to the Fury specialization. I hope you're ready for some rigorous training young man" Master Ellemayne grin as he saw the young Gilnean return the grin back to him.
"Give me all you got Master Ellemayne" The young Gilnean said with confidence
Master Ellemayne looks back to his daughter "It seems you may have some competition Finalin!"
Finalin stares at the young Gilnean and glares at him from far.
"Humph…we'll see about that" thought Finalin as she brings up the sword and stabs it into the ground as she walks away. The young Gilnean watches as she leaves when he hears Master Ellemayne speak to him.
"Don't let Finalin get to you; she is actually excited to know she will finally have a challenge, since most of my students don't dare compete against her…" Master Ellemayne said as he looked over to his remaining students that had suddenly started training after his stare came upon them, he begins to chuckle "See what I mean?"
They chuckle to each other as Master Ellemayne introduces the new comer to the rest of the students.
"Everyone I would like to introduce you to Dimitri, he is from Gilneas and will be staying with us for three months. I want you all to make him feel welcome"
The whole group came up to Dimitri, shaking his hand, introducing them by name and asking loads of questions making him feel a bit uncomfortable. One student in particular pulled the lot away from Dimitri yelling out to give him some space. They all moved away apologetically and allowed Aerion to speak to him. The young night elf extended his hand to greet Dimitri, as he was a bit hesitant to shake back, but none the less did so.
"Hey, sorry about these guys, they can sometimes get a little too excited meeting a new guy. Hope this doesn't make you want to run off screaming and begging never to come back."
Dimitri grinned about the idea. Running off and screaming? Un-think of in his point of view. Aerion sits down on the grass as he gestures Dimitri to do the same. Dimitri simply squats down.
"So what's it like over in Gilneas? I never been there, it's why I ask"
"Well it's no Darnassus that's for sure, and it's nothing like Stormwind. The floors are made of bricks, our homes are packed into one another to make room for housing and there isn't really much of a crowd unless we were in any danger. In my opinion it looks rather shitty at times since it's in the Tirisfal Glades area. Sharing with those fucking undead sure has its drawback"
"Hm…I can't imagine how that can be, living close by to those kind of people…or things. Have they been causing trouble to your home?" Aerion said as he leaned his arms over his knees
"Yeah, they've been trying to get in deeper as of late but so far we've been avoiding any high threat. This is the reason why I'm here. My trainer had told me that Master Ellemayne is one the high commanding officers in the old war. His specialty in the Fury spec has made him an extraordinary trainer, one of the most high ranked in this field."
"Yep, that's Master Ellemayne. But being a high commanding officer wasn't the only title he earned in that war." Aerion said as he stared up to the sky when he leaned back to lie down on the grass "He was also known as the Titan Reaver, as well as he should be called as such. When he entered the battlefield, his Ellemayne sword would slice through his enemies and a ghostly light would follow right after it, as though the enemy's soul was ripped right out of them. Wielding two handed swords in each hand using Titans Grip. Anyone would think that the God of War had blessed his every strike"
"Really!" Dimitri asked astounded to hear of his new trainer, he only knew that of him being a commanding officer, what else did he not know about Master Ellemayne?
"You better believe it. In Darnassian, Ellemayne means Reaver, so it would make sense that the very man that had perfected Titans Grip be called 'The Titan Reaver'. He is a scary man, but lately, his daughter has captured that very same essence. Normally I would hear the term, like father like son, but in this case, it's all about her now"
"Her? You mean that night elf chic called Finalin?" Dimitri asked as he glanced over to her as she practiced wielding two handed swords in each hand and attacking a target dummy
Aerion heaves up slightly to look at the female Dimitri was looking at, to be certain it was her. After seeing Finalin, he smiles and slouches back down on the grass to stare back at the clouds.
"Yep, that's her alright. Keep your distance though, that one sure has quite a bite to her"
"Heh, we'll see about that" Thought Dimitri as his lip curled up into a grin
"Alright everyone, line up!" called out Master Ellemayne as the students got together in a line formation, including Finalin. Seeing how everyone were in their place he continues "We have a lot to go through this month, so I don't want to hear any crying, whining or begging for a break. In war, there is no rest, you either kill or be killed, and I cannot afford to lose any of you should a war break out anytime soon. So I am going to prepare you. Now, if you feel that becoming a Fury warrior is not right for you, I ask that you leave now"
He stared at each one of his students including Dimitri. Not one budge and he was pleased to see his students ready to take the next step. He walks over to where Finalin is standing and begins to give his speech, passing each student slowly, recording each face into his memory, one by one. His students, his warriors. Man and woman alike.
"I will not lie to you, in this training there will come a moment where you will feel as though you are not capable of completing this training, and may actually quit, but I guarantee if you stay you will not regret it. You will not show fear, but give fear to your enemy. You will not feel remorse to the enemy as they will not return the emotion to you, and you will survive as long as you are as sharp as your blade, axe, or mace, it makes no difference what you wield in your hand. We are warriors, and as such, we are strong, honorable, and show pride for our nation and our people. The people we call home"
He walks to the middle of the group and stares at all of his students from his spot "We are not gifted with the holy power that Paladins are capable of using, but our rage is just as good to us as any mana plate using alley. Our rage not only builds us strength but our strikes can even grant us life, as long as it means to keep oneself alive long enough to pull the final blow to our enemy. But, strength is not the only thing a warrior must possess or the rage, to survive it requires skills. Skills are needed to exceed the enemy. You are not the only ones receiving this kind of rigorous training. In my time I have met up with many like myself from the enemies' eyes, and although I was undefeated, I respected their skills and courage to face me."
Master Ellemayne took in a deep breath and slowly exhaled. His takes one last look at his students. All attention on him and the words of wisdom which held many years of experience in the battlefield. He reaches behind his back and pulls out both of his Ellemayne and Jai'alator swords, placing the edge of its broad blades together which glistened with the suns ray. He closes his eyes and around the ground to which he stood, a sphere of wind began to circulate as though the ground was in his command. Master Ellemayne then raises his swords and pulls them apart from one another as he let out a commanding shout followed with a thunder clap, collapsing the ground causing a large crater which had made the warrior students pull back in amazement, all except Finalin, Dimitri, and Aerion.
The ground cackled with electricity as it traveled through his body as it did not faze him. The swords glow a faint light to what was believed to be the souls that had been ripped from his former opponents. All students watched in amazement, pride, and honor to be at the presence of the one they called 'Titan Reaver'. The mere sight of his of power, his glory and most of all, his pride, they felt invigorated with confidence and knew that with his guidance they can become the strongest warrior anyone has ever known.
Master Ellemaynes cold narrow stare had even given his students fear, but not the fear to run for retreat, but the fear they assumed the enemy would have when staring down at such a person. His Titan Grip was beyond what most students had ever seen and they understood now more than ever, they could never have ask for a better trainer than him.
"We are Warriors…and my greatest advice to you is to always remember these words. Should you ever find yourself at a loss, defeated emotionally, physically and or mentally, that as warriors, to lose faith in one self brings weakness, weakness comes failure, and failure brings upon dishonor." He then walks towards his students and stands before Dimitri "Never forget this, because the day you forget…will surely be your last"
Dimitri gulped heavy. His body felt as though it was trembling with anticipation. He had long been searching for this very feeling and it had enlightened him. Finalin frowned of thought that her father would focus his attention on the new comer as Aerion smiled with inner excitement. Master Ellemayne then takes his attention to all his students.
"I ask you once again…Is this what you seek!"
"Yes sir" everyone called out mildly
"Am I surrounded by a bunch of cloth wearing pansies!...I asked you a question…IS THIS WHAT YOU SEEK!"
"YES SIR!" Shouted all of his students but Dimitri and Finalin had called out louder than the rest, almost trying to outshout the other.
"Good, that's exactly what I wanted to hear." Master Ellemayne pulls away from his students and grins proudly at them "Very well, we will begin tomorrow morning, be here at 4am sharp. No matter what the weather conditions are. You are dismissed!"
After everyone had pulled out to go their separate ways, Aerion had nudged Dimitri in the arm to get his attention.
"So where are you staying tonight?"
"I was told that I can settle in the inn during my training time. All the expenses have been paid for but I doubt food was included. Knowing my budget, it didn't really put enough for it" Dimitri stated as he frowned over the thought.
"Well you know, instead of going to the inn tonight, why don't you stick around with me and we can have a camp out with the other guys. We planned it last week and I'm sure they wouldn't mind having you around."
"I don't know…"
"Oh come on, it'll be fun!" Aerion patted Dimitri in the shoulder nodding his head convincing his friend until he said yes "That's the spirit!"
For a moment while walking away with Aerion, Dimitri felt as though someone was staring at him. He turns his head slightly to notice that Finalin was watching him go with her arms crossed. Her stare boggled his mind, he couldn't pick up what it was she could possibly be thinking, but he went on ahead with his new friend and finally thought nothing of it.
(Teldrassil; Lake by the Oracle Glade 9:30 pm)
A bon fire was made in the middle of the group, an area normally surrounded by Harpies who had been taken care of by the group of warriors that decided to camp out there. Aerion had placed a few logs for everyone to sit on as Madeline brought in a few of her favorite feasts for everyone to eat. Lauren and Micah came with the drinks while Falcor handed out dessert treats. A bag full of blankets and small soft pillows were placed on the side, but the only one who knew that brought it was Aerion. Dimitri sat as he gazed into the bonfire, thinking and wondering how his brother was doing without him in Gilneas. He had missed him and only hoped things were going well for him, since the undead had been trying very hard to penetrate the forces in his home. He thought that perhaps he should have stayed, but missing this opportunity to learn from the Titan Reaver himself would be outrages.
Aerion slumped his back onto the ground and leaned back on the log where Dimitri sat, rudely awakening him from his thoughts. Dimitri frowns and looks over to his friend as Aerion passes him a Strider Jerky with a grin. Dimitri sighs and takes it as he nibbles on it. In his thought it actually tasted kind of spicy but sour. He suddenly had the urge to take a leak but he didn't want to do it anywhere near the group. Aerion told him the safest spot would be the trees near the lake but to avoid un-wanted spiders that tend to roam during those hours.
Walking down the path Aerion sent him through, he found a perfect spot. While he was doing his business Dimitri noticed a few dead spiders on the ground on one side and a few more leading towards the lake. He leaned slightly from the tree to view his surrounding before he finished. He realized there were a few armor placed nicely in the ground. He zipped himself up and watched carefully as he heard something coming out from the water. To his disbelief, he saw an ivory skin night elf with long silver hair emerge from the lake exposing her upper body. She was nude bathing in the glowing water that shined among her skin as the moon shined above it. His eyes widen as his jaw dropped slowly. He felt his heart beating fast as the young night elf pulled her hair away from her shoulder revealing her firm toned body and breast.
Dimitri rubbed his eyes telling himself he had been seeing things but as he removed his hands to double check, the young night elf still remained. He soon realized that the woman was none other than Finalin. When he was about to slowly sneak in a little further to get a better view, Aerion comes right behind him and shoots a hard pat on his back.
"Hey Dimitri, are you done yet!"
Hearing someone talking Finalin quickly looks over to where she heard the voice. With lighting speed Dimitri immediately grabs Aerion covering his mouth and pulling him behind the tree where they stood.
"SHIT!" thought Dimitri as he could imagine what Finalin would do to them if she found out he was staring at her as she bathed nude "This fucking moron is going to get us killed!"
His heart beating fast he almost felt it on his throat as he could hear her coming out of the water. He hadn't realized that he was cutting off Aerion circulation and he couldn't breathe. Dimitri leans again to see if she had noticed their presence there. Before he knew it she was nowhere to be seen. He pulled out a little more to make sure he hadn't missed her, pulling a now slowly suffocating friend who was nearly passing out. Dimitri gave a sigh of relief. He hadn't realized his friend's condition as he spoke to him.
"God damn it Aerion, next time be a little more subtle about approaching me!" Dimitri looks down as his friends eyes had turned white, in a panic he lets go of him and Aerion falls to the ground "Fuck! Aerion wake your ass up!"
Dimitri checks to see if his friend had a heartbeat, hearing it still beating, he then begins to do what he feels would be the best thing, he begins to slap him around. Aerion's cheeks begin to turn red as it didn't seem to work. Dimitri then lifts his friend up by his shirt and starts' shaking his body as drool begins to fall out of his friend's mouth. Dimitri didn't know what else to do when suddenly someone stood behind him. He paused to what he was doing. Frozen in place, eyes widen and his heart beating in his throat started again. This feeling…was the same as before. He knew a dreadful feeling was about to approach him.
"What exactly is going on here?"
Dimitri swallowed hard; he looks around with his eyes finding an excuse that won't get them both killed, or at least him.
"We were uh…." Looks over to see a pile of sticks that Aerion had brought with him, guessing for the bon fire "Gathering sticks for the bon fire you see….and…uh…" Dimitri then looks over to his friend lying almost dead in his arms as he thought to himself "Fuck! What am I going to say about him! ….think, think….think!"
"And what's wrong with Aerion? Why is he looking like that in your arms?" A glare was felt on Dimitri from the warrior behind him whose voice seemed to bare ill judgment on him.
"Aerion…he…well he….uh…"
"I'm growing impatient, what in the world happen to Aerion!" Her voice sounding more agitated than before.
Dimitri looks over to a spider that had suddenly crawled out of the shadows. The only thing he could think of was "GOOD TIMING!"
"There! That thing right there pounced on him knocking Aerion to the ground unconscious, before I could kill it; it crawled into the shadows to finally reveal itself again!"
"I see" Finalin steps in front of them with her swords at hand, she prepares herself and tells Dimitri to run back with Aerion to safety. "I'll follow as soon as I am done with this poor excuse of a crawler"
Dimitri lifts Aerions heavy body and rushed over to the campfire. Everyone there were in shock to see their friend passed out. Micah walks up to Dimitri and helps him place Aerion on the ground with his head leaning on the log.
"What happen to him?" Asked Lauren
"A…spider knocked him out…" Dimitri said as he looked the other way with his eyes not daring to look at them in the face.
Finalin then emerges from the shadows of the forest with the spiders legs in her hand. Dimitri and the other girls looked away with disgust, but Falcor and Micah were ecstatic about making their favorite meal; Crunchy Spider legs. Falcor and Micah immediately grabbed the legs and began roasting them on the bonfire. Aerion began to moan softly as he held his head. He sat up feeling a little dizzy. Dimitri rushes over to his side hoping Aerion won't blow his cover story.
"Oh man, my head won't stop spinning. I thought I was going to die"
"You could of have been, if it weren't for Dimitri protecting you from that spider that had attacked you" Finalin told a now confused Aerion.
"Spider? What spider?" Aerion looks over to Dimitri wondering what she was talking about, all he could recollect was Dimitri suffocating him over something he didn't know about.
Dimitri stared sternly at Aerion, grunting his words to his friend. "Yes, the SPIDER that POUNCED on you and KNOCKED you unconscious, Remember" nodding his head trying to convince him to say yes.
"uh…y-yea…the spider…now I remember" Aerion says pondering in Dimitri actions. As soon as Finalin turns her back Aerion asked Dimitri in sign language what he was talking about. Dimitri whispers in his ear what it was he was doing in the forest when he showed up abruptly. Aerion was in shock.
"Was that what really happen Aerion? A spider jumped on you and it completely knocked you out?" Finalin said with an evil grin, almost mocking him. Aerion frowned at Dimitri, as all his friend could do in return was give a faint smile. Aerion knew what was coming next.
"Yeah…pretty weak, I know" Aerion said aggravated as he wouldn't stop staring at Dimitri.
"You should be ashamed of yourself to let a weakling spider get the best of you, but don't worry, I won't let father know about it. Just come to show you need more practice" Finalin spoke as she called out her black war tiger that leaped out from behind her. She mounted up and said her farewell. She looks over to Dimitri with her still evil grin "As for you, Gilnean, I hope picking sticks was the only thing you was doing and nothing more"
Dimitri looked away momentarily and returns his gaze to her smile "Yeah…it was"
"Humph…very well" was all she said as she dashed off with her mount heading to Shadowglen.
Aerion then punches Dimitri in the arm angrily. Dimitri grabs his arm from where he punched him and stared pissed at him.
"What the fuck was that for!"
"For making me look bad in front of Finalin!" Aerion said as he sat on the log upset
Dimitri didn't know what to think of it. He apologized but it didn't seem to make it better. He then understood what he had done to him by making him look weak in front of an Ellemayne. Had he known, he would have thought of a better excuse than that.
"I have worked so hard to have Master Ellemayne acknowledge me, especially Finalin. Now, with that lie you made up I will be looked upon as a weakling" Aerion said as he looked down in disappointment.
"I'm really sorry man; I didn't know what else to say. I mean, can you imagine what she would have done if she found out the truth!" Dimitri said as Aerion saw him place his hand over his throat and chuckled a bit.
"Yea, she would have killed you"
"Not just me, you too" Dimitri said pointing to his friend
"What! Why would she, I wasn't the one staring at her while she bathed naked in the lake!" Aerion shoved Dimitri shoulder
"No, but do you really think she would believe that?" Dimitri then bonks Aerion on the head "Think about it"
Aerion thought hard and knew that seeing the evidence of both being in the same place and time would make things complicated. That would have gotten them both killed, with him being innocent. He sighed and nodded his head in disbelief on how much more trouble he would have been if he did get caught.
"Alright, but you owe me Dimitri!"
The Gilnean smiled as he agreed. That night, everyone enjoyed the bonfire and feast.