Childhood Innocence

It was in the years when Azeroth was in the calm before the storm that Zyane Theron met Rillen Rommath. Both were the offspring of very powerful blood elves: Zyane being the only daughter of Lor'themar Theron and Rillen being the son of Grand Magister Rommath. Lor'themar and Rommath never made it their business that their children should meet, but it was inevitable that they should. Neither had mothers, both lost during child birth, so they were constantly shadowing their fathers. The Grand Magister had returned from the Outlands as the lost Prince's herald and Lor'themar had become the regent to Quel'Thalas. It was only natural that the two should have constant business since Kael'thas had betrayed his people.

"I understand your skepticism, Theron, but I assure you that I had no idea that the Prince was serving the dark forces," the Grand Magister said as he strolled the halls of Sunfury Spire with the regent lord.

Theron sighed. "We had such hope in Kael'thas. This is quite a blow."

Zyane stopped listening to her father's boring conversation and instead, started to trail behind him. She was sure to stay near him, but Zyane stopped for a few seconds every so often to peek out the high windows or look into a door that was curiously cracked open.

Lor'themar stopped at the entrance of a room – a room Zyane knew very well as the Spire's library – while Rommath entered.

"Where's he going, Daddy?" Zyane asked.

"The Grand Magister is retrieving his son, dear," Lor'themar answered, rubbing Zyane's full head of dark red curls.

"He's got a kid?"

"Hm? Oh yes; a young warlock. Rillen is your age. But be kind to him, darling. Rommath will be your teacher soon, so I suspect you'll be seeing quite a lot of the young lad."

"Yes, Daddy," Zyane replied politely. She rocked on her heels beside her father, interested to meet this boy.

Rommath exited the library, apologized to Lor'themar, and then introduced the scrawny little boy beside him.

"This is my son, Rillen. He's a quiet one, but he is very gifted and smart."

Lor'themar bent down to greet the boy. "Hello, Rillen. It's very nice to meet you."

"Bal'a dash," Rillen replied quietly, shaking Lor'themar hand.

"This is my daughter Zyane." Lor'themar thrust his daughter forward, nearly right into Rillen. "She's your age. Perhaps you two can become friends."

"Hello, Rillen," Zyane smiled. "I'm a mage. One day, your dad is going to teach me."

"Nice to meet you," Rillen smiled back.

Lor'themar looked at Rommath. "I think they'll get along just fine. Shall we continue?"

While their fathers continued talking and walking, Zyane and Rillen had trouble following them. Zyane wanted to know everything about Rillen while Rillen was trying his hardest to answer her.

"You've really been everywhere in Silvermoon?" Zyane asked while she walked backwards in front of Rillen.

Rillen shrugged. "Well, sure. Father's busy a lot and sometimes I can't come with him, so I explore the city."

"Oh," Zyane replied, a hint of jealousy in her voice. "My father won't let me leave Sunfury Spire without him. I have to sit through very boring war meetings and stuff like that. But maybe he'd let me come with you! He's always scolding me for not sitting still during the meetings or being too loud, so I bet he'd be happy that I'd have someone to play with!"

"Well," Rillen started, rubbing at the back of his neck, "I usually go by myself, but I guess you can come along sometime."

Zyane smiled behind the waves of untamed curls. She joined Rillen and put her arm around his skinny shoulder. "You're my best friend, Rillen."

"I-I am?" Rillen stuttered.

"Yep!"

Rillen didn't say anything – keeping his head down – but he did smile; the biggest smile he ever remembered making.

"Please, Daddy! I don't want to sit through another boring meeting!" Zyane cried.

Rommath and Lor'themar stood in the regent lord's council room, feeling hostage as the wild young blood elf threw her temper tantrum.

"It's not safe, Zyane," Lor'themar groaned. "How many times have I told you that?"

"Not to undermine you, Theron, but she'd just be in the city. Rillen knows not to go beyond our protection. Why not let the girl play for an hour or so then she's to come back to the council room?" Rommath suggested.

Theron sighed, obviously defeated. "The gods granted you far more parenting skills than I, I think." He turned to Zyane. "You may go out with Rillen for an hour, Zyane, and no more. I will let the guards know that you are not to leave the city and I swear, if they see you step one foot beyond the walls I will paint your backside the same color as your hair, girl. One hour and you're to return here, understand?"

"Yes, daddy," Zyane replied, trying to control her excitement.

"Good," her father said, exasperated. He took the cloak that was folded over a chair and pinned it around Zyane's neck. "Behave yourself and stay safe." Lor'themar placed a long kiss on his daughter's forehead.

"I will!"

Within minutes, Zyane had bolted out of Sunfury Spire and into the city of Silvermoon. The golden and opal colors of all the buildings in Silvermoon City were painted in the dusk's yellow glow, giving it a blush of calm. The city was anything but calm, though. Merchants were trying to sell the last of their goods, warriors of all kinds were finishing their last hour of training with gusto, and the young adolescents were gossiping and giggling their way home or to a tavern. Even in the waning light, Silvermoon was alive.

Zyane found Rillen waiting for her at the glorious fountain that the Spire overlooked. The golden light shined off his dark black hair that framed his young face. She waved to him gleefully.

"I was starting to worry your father had said no," Rillen said as Zyane approached him.

"He almost did," Zyane admitted, "but your father convinced him. I have to come back in an hour, though."

Rillen shrugged. "I can show you my favorite places anyways."

And so he did. Rillen and Zyane ran through the city like the young innocence they were. Zyane would laugh loudly and uncontrollably, while Rillen just smiled and occasionally giggled to himself. He showed her a hidden corner in the Walk of Elders where the butterflies fluttered and the smell of flowers was strong and overwhelming beautiful. Rillen showed Zyane the enchanted brooms that swept the city's cobble paths unendingly and how he loved to pretend they were chasing him. By the time Rillen had showed Zyane everything he wanted to, they both were so tired that they simply lied down in the middle of a walkway and stared up into the sky.

In the quiet, Rillen turned on his side to look at Zyane. "We better go back so you don't get in trouble."

"Yeah," Zyane agreed. She picked herself up and brushed off her cloak.

The pair began to walk back to the Spire, despite both wanting to continue their play far into the night. But Zyane, and Rillen, knew that it was better to obey their fathers' wishes than to spend a day in trouble.

Two guards waited outside the Spire for them. They escorted the children to the council room, where they were reminded to sit quietly and not fuss. Zyane took her usual spot in the corner, as far from the table of arguing warlords and generals, and Rillen joined her.

"What are they talking about?" Rillen asked in a whisper.

"I don't know," Zyane shrugged. "I never really listen, except when Prince Kael'thas went to the Outlands. He left, and then something really bad happened. He was defeated by Arthas and then he decided to ally with the Burning Legion," she explained, eyes growing wide. "I guess that's when you and your father came here, huh?"

"Yeah, I guess so. My father was with the prince a lot, but I was too little to be, so I was in a lot of different places in the Outlands. I don't really remember a lot."

The children were interrupted by the snapping of the regent lord's fingers. He turned his head to give them a stern look that said, "Quiet yourselves," before turning back to the table.

They didn't need to be told twice. For the rest of the meeting, the children sat there quietly and politely. Occasionally Zyane would whisper something into Rillen's ear and he would say something back, but they didn't push it much farther than that. At one point, Zyane became very drowsy and sleepy. She rested her head on Rillen's shoulder, trying to get comfortable. Rillen yawned above her, making sleep irresistible. Zyane closed her eyes and slept.

She felt warm, big hands wrap around her and lift her up. They carried her for awhile until she heard a door open and close. Then she felt the soft comfort of her bed. Zyane opened her eyes to see her father in the dark, tucking her into bed.

"Hi, daddy," she cooed tiredly.

Lor'themar smiled. "Did you enjoy your time with Rillen?"

Zyane nodded. "He's my very best friend now."

"I'm glad to hear it. Goodnight, dear."

"Night, daddy."

And it was that night, in the calm cool of September, that Zyane Theron decided she would never be far from Rillen Rommath.