This is an mildly AU version of the Legend of Stalvan quest chain in Duskwood. Spoilers for said quest chain, obviously.
Some artistic license taken with the lore (chalk it down to AU). Don't like, don't read.
I don't own warcraft, Azeroth, Tobias or anything else. I do own Anyanda's character concept.
When I came to Duskwood, two years ago, I didn't think much of the place. I knew it was a historic human land, touched by darkness and undead, danger around every corner. It had a missing persons rate higher than Redridge, a death toll steeper than Westfall, and an undead presence rivalled only by that of the Plaguelands. Many Westfall transients fled the plains only to be devoured by the ghouls or the worgen or the tainted animals. Their bones marked the border even more thoroughly than the mountains or the river. My assignment officer told me to think of Elwynn forest in a bad dream. Bad posting for a guard, especially since not many were deployed out there. Bad enough to make me wonder who I'd pissed off among my higher ups. Probably someone in the SI7, sore over that Vanessa debacle in Westfall.
But I digress.
I didn't expect to remain in the territory for two whole years. I was an on call soldier, affectionately referred to as a Traveller. I was sent in when the problems were piling up in a settlement, but bringing in a full platoon was either impossible or impractical. I helped the local troops get their shit together, then got reassigned. I liked the arrangement. Sure, everyone expected everything of me, and it had been forever and a day since I had slept in a proper bed, but I enjoyed helping people. I wasn't much of a team player anyway, preferring to have my work go uninterrupted. And if it meant that no-one noticed the occasional magical pilgrimage to Pandaria, well, that was so much the better. I was forever meeting new people, doing new things. It beat standing outside an obsolete building come hail or shine twenty four seven. I don't envy Stormwind patrollers, marching around and waiting for the next raid.
I really didn't expect to find the love of my life in Darkshire.
Tobias Mistmantle his name was. Tall, blonde, handsome, and ever so proper. I met him while I was going around the houses-standard procedure, see if anyone needs 'unofficial' help. He politely declined, then offered me inside for a cup of tea. I eagerly accepted-the natural gloom of Duskwood unnerved me, still does as a matter of fact. We got to talking.
Tobias was from Gilneas, a once human nation that split off from the Alliance about two decades ago, barricading themselves behind a great wall. Tobias told me that he had moved from the city to human lands with his family, just before the nation seceded. He was very young then, but he still didn't think of himself as a Stormwind citizen. It was both curious and admirable how he could be homesick for a country he barely remembered. Both of us being outsiders in the hamlet, we hit it off straight away, meeting down at the Darkshire tavern every Sunday to have a drink and a chat.
Mutual camaraderie turned into open and honest friendship, turned into an intimate, if platonic, bond, turned into the two of us crossing the line into being lovers. We shared everything, did lots of things together. Tobias introduced me to Duskwood in a way no guide could, telling me the finest of details about every graveyard, every abandoned farm, every worgen camp. He seemed very sympathetic with the worgen-he told me that once, most of them were every bit as human as I was. Whenever we spoke of it, he had this very sad expression on his face, similar to people talking of zombified family members. I, on the other hand, told him of life in the Eastern Kingdoms, of all the places I'd been, all the faces I'd seen. He was very curious about the world-he told me that his parents may not have lived in Gilneas, but they still had a very isolationist attitude-Tobias hadn't travelled much.
When my business was concluded in Darkshire, I felt….reluctant to leave. I'd taken lovers in postings before, just casual affairs to blow off steam. Parting was always bittersweet, but this time it felt different. The idea of being apart from Tobias caused me actual, physical pain, like a cold constricting of my ribcage. I'd never been particularly close to anyone, not even another guard-it was hard to form emotional attachments in a job where you're constantly reminded of how fragile life really is. Tobias felt different. Tobias was my rock.
And so, I sacrificed my life as a Traveller for a position on the local force. My rank was frozen at Lieutenant, and I was responsible for every little hiccup in the running of the town. The Darkshire militia didn't know how to work with an outsider like me, so they heaped upon me the jobs labelled 'unrealistic' or suicidal' All this, so I wouldn't have to be parted from my loving, optimistic man. Tobias and I didn't speak much on the subject afterwards, but I'll tell you this-I've never regretted my decision.
A year was spent keeping my things in the guard barracks and sleeping in Tobias' cottage. After that year, he invited me to formally move in with him, an offer I eagerly accepted. Dashing down the hill from his cottage to the town hall, clutching my clothes to my chest at the early hours of the morning so no-one would see me in my nightgown got old after a while. Disparaging whispers spread in the village, as we never married or had kids. Like the status of my womb was any of their business!
And as for marriage….
One day, I found a wedding band hidden within his waistcoat. It was a simple thing, a delicate silverite band with a single diamond inlaid at the head. Tobias had a similar ring, a family heirloom, but that was ancient, with a chunkier band, and in any case, he wore it on his fingers. This ring was brand new-it must have cost him a fortune. I never pressed the issue, and he never said anything. But once in a while, I couldn't help but notice him staring at me with a wistful expression.
One day, after I had lived with him for a year, I came home-home, when did Darkshire become home?- to find Tobias pacing in front of the fire, an expression of tense concentration on his face.
"Something the matter, love?" I asked, removing my helm, weapons, and cloak. He looked up at me with an alarmed expression, as if I was the last person he expected to see at the door.
"Anyanda!" My eyebrows raised at that. He never called me by my full first name, not even when he lost his temper-which was extraordinarily rare. "I thought….never mind." He shook his head rapidly, as if dispelling a dark fog.
I removed my breastplate, gloves, and boots, so I was standing before him in only a tight fitting pair of leather trousers, and a well worn linen swallowed as I walked over and wrapped my arms around his broad shoulders.
"Is something the matter?" I repeated, prompting him to speak of what bothered him so. Tobias was infuriatingly closed-off at times. It wasn't that he hid his feelings from me, not exactly. He just required a bit more coaxing to voice them. Touch had worked well, I'd found. A gentle kiss, or a roll in the sheets, or even as little as a soothing hand on his bicep. He sighed heavily and relaxed into my embrace.
"Did I ever tell you why I first came to Darkshire?" He murmured, like he was half-hoping I wouldn't hear him.
"For the sunny weather and delightful wildlife?" I jested. He huffed in laughter, and I could see the worry lines that crinkled his face visibly smoothen.
"I'm here because I received a letter from my brother Stalvan, who I haven't seen in years. On arriving here, I was told he was dead…." His hands balled into fists and his hazel eyes screwed shut. I recognised too well the posture of a man repressing waves of grief, and tightened my hold on him for a split second.
"The entire town refuses to offer any further explanation. Any mention of his name is met with terror and suspicion." He grimaced disdainfully, and pulled away from me. "As if I didn't have enough of that myself!" He spat out, throwing one arm in the air, frustratedly.
I had never seen this side of him, this bitter, angry persona-I was speechless. He was usually so optimistic, always looking on the bright side of life. What pressures did he hide behind the smile? What was it that he couldn't share with me?
He took a deep breath, and pinched the bridge of his nose between thumb and forefinger, attempting to calm himself.
"I'm afraid of what will happen if my frustration and anger grows any further. You-" His voice was small, broken, defeated. "You wouldn't like me when I'm angry." He looked into my face, desperately. His face, his posture reminded me of a street urchin I'd met in Northshire, pleading with me to free them from an abusive parent, their very last hope. "I beg you, help me get to the bottom of this. Implore Clerk Daltry for any information he may have on my brother-he's more likely to speak to you than he would to me."
I surged forwards to hug him before he could protest.
"It's gonna be okay." I whispered, reaching upwards to gently stroke his blonde hair, remembering how Mistress Nora would comfort me after a nightmare. "I'll talk to Daltry-say it's for an investigation or something. It's gonna be okay."
Tobias wrapped me in a near bone-crushing hug, his face pressed into my hair.
"Thank you." He whispered. "Thank you. Whatever I did to deserve you, it wasn't enough."
It was only when I stepped outside and felt the moisture in my hair that I realised he had been crying.