Okay all, this is the first chapter of the companion piece to my story Eye Contact. I'm working on the next chapters to the story, and I hope to have them up soon. Hope you all enjoy!
Aelwynn Nightstrider was a young girl when the Scourge had attacked Quel'thalas. She had lived in the lower parts of the territory, her father an outrider for Silvermoon. He had faithfully served Anasterian Sunstrider for years.
Aelwynn had been the youngest child, her brothers and sister far older than she. By the time Aelwynn was old enough to remember, her eldest brother Caeledon had become a Blood Knight, her older brother Ryatherion had gone to ranger training and her sister Kierilana had become a mage.
When the Scourge attacked, her family had all been home for a gathering that didn't happen often enough. By the time the shambling undead had cleared she was all that was left of her family. A young girl that Sylvanas Windrunner and her lieutenant Lor'themar Theron had found among the rubble of her home. She had been surrounded by the rotting corpses of her family, who had been killed and raised in order to add to the numbers of the former crown Prince of Lordaeron.
When the Ranger General of Silvermoon had found her she was in shock, pale, shaking and clutching her father's dagger. "I found one Lor, be careful. We don't want to scare her any more than she already has been." She stepped gingerly over the dead, recognizing the recruit from this area.
His name was Ryatherion, and he had been promising. The piles of scourge bodies outside were clearly due to the protective nature of the five adults in the home, and though they had fallen, they had protected the girl.
"Come, little one. You're safe now." The normally stoic, vain Ranger General said softly. The girl scrambled to her, her terrified body curling into Sylvanas'.
"I- I did it...they all died because of me." She whispered. Lor'themar looked between the girl and his General.
"Hush, child, this was not your fault." He stated quietly, causing the girl to break down into sobs.
"Yes it was. Father told me to hide, and I did. I heard the fighting and the screaming. But it stopped, little by little. I thought they were gone, so I came downstairs. M- my father tried to kill me! He tried, and my brothers tried...my mama and sister too! They tried to kill me, so...so I had to kill them! I was scared...I didn't wanna kill them! I want my father!"
Sylvanas looked to Lor'themar, blinking to regain composure and swallowed the burning lump in her throat. "Can I tell you something, young one?" She asked, brushing the girl's unruly hair from her eyes. "I lost my family too. My mother and father were killed. And so was my brother. Sweet one, you are not alone. We've lost loved ones too. But we are strong. We will help you. Come."
Sylvanas had passed the girl off to her lieutenant, promising the child they would be safe soon. Aelwynn was curled up against his back as he steered his horse toward the heavily fortified encampment. She watched warily from beneath the hood of the cloak Sylvanas had covered her with to shield her from the chill.
They had taken her to the inn, setting her up with a room down the hall from Lor'themar. Sylvanas had called a group of young defenders into the inn, telling them of the area and asking if any had family located in said area.
Tarin Proudrunner stepped up. "My aunt and uncle lived there." Sylvanas turned to Lor'themar and nodded.
He pulled the young rogue aside. "It was the Nightstrider estate. Their youngest was the only one to survive."
Tarin sighed sadly. "She's my cousin. Our fathers were brothers. Were they..."
Lor'themar nodded. "They turned and tried to kill her. She was untouched. It was self defense on her part. If she hadn't she wouldn't have survived."
So, what did you think about part 1? Let me know by leaving a review, reviews give poor Aelwynn a better life!
