Eleanor
Darkness
Eleanor
Turned to light
Eleanor
With each passing breath it intensified.
Eleanor
It grew stronger and stronger, so overwhelmingly powerful. She could no longer keep her eyes shut. The high elf opened her eyes and the intoxicating light dissipated and opened itself to the natural glow of her bedroom.
"ELEANOR!"
Her blue flickering eyes danced radiantly as they became accustomed to daylight. Eleanor ripped off her blankets and quietly crossed the wooden floor and down her short stairs to the door of her small home.
"Damn paladin," she murmured under her breath. Did she know what time of the morning it was?
Eleanor pushed open her front door. Standing before her was a human paladin, this was their first meeting and to Eleanor, the paladin wasn't starting off on the correct foot. She did notice her new comrade was already cladded in her armor. It was Stormwind standard issue but with a Knight of the Silver Hand's taste. Her golden armor shone in the morning sunlight, the lion head pauldrons were massive on her shoulders, but not overbearing. The rest was what you expected for a paladin of the Alliance and in its glory the royal standard stitched on her tabard. Eleanor looked her up and down; there was something odd about the human's armor. She had a two handed warhammer strapped to her back and acted as if it didn't bother her in the slightest; Eleanor would be hunched halfway over with its weight. A glamourous hue emanated from the armor that reeked of enchantment. Eleanor cocked her head to the side.
"How much gold did you spend shoring up that shoddy armor?"
Yes, her first words to her new partner were disparaging, but, the high elf wanted to see her reaction. The human pursed her lips and extended her gauntleted hand.
"Liora Hightower."
The shake that followed was weak and half-hearted, hopefully this wasn't to be the tone of their relationship. Eleanor motioned with a hand for Liora to come in. The armored boots clinked with each step Liora took.
Eleanor's house was small, two stories, but still small. The fireplace served as both a pedestal of warmth and as the main engine for cooking. An array of pots were stacked on top of one another near the hearth. One chair was situated in front of fireplace, a comfortable recliner a gnomish engineer made for her. A small table was across the room, near the ice chest that was lightly stocked with food. Her house was overwhelmingly covered in books, they were everywhere. Any free place was stacked with books, shelves were overflowing. Liora fingered the many that were in front of her, stroking their spines.
"You can look at them, not sure if you'd enjoy them; mostly on the arcane,"
Liora picked up an expansive volume, already flipping through its pages.
"I do have an intellectual mind, the Light is not practiced and utilized by anyone."
"I mean no offense."
Liora smiled. "None taken."
Eleanor glided to the stairs. "I shall quickly change then we can be on our way. If you could - no, no, put that down."
Liora had Eleanor's staff in her hands.
"Not wise to keep such a potent weapon idly, mage." She pointed the bundle of crystals toward the ceiling. "Especially one of this magnitude."
Eleanor reached for it, gripping it by mid shaft.
"It's mostly a glorified fire starter, now please, put it down."
Liora placed it back against the wall and watched as Eleanor nearly sprinted up the stairs.
The high elf quickly changed into something more mobile and more fitting for their upcoming meeting. Eleanor started with her base layer, a blue long sleeve shirt and trousers, then added her light chainmail on top and then topped it off with a leather jerkin. She nearly forgot to lace up her bracers, she would usually stuff her sleeves under them, they were always too long. Eleanor pulled on her leather boots and grasped her cloak that was hanging from the wall and nearly silently came down the stairs.
"Shall we head to the keep then?"
Liora was sitting in one of the few chairs still fingering a book. The paladin placed it down and followed behind Eleanor who grabbed her bow and quiver of arrows that were leaning against the wall, right by her front door. She glanced back at her staff in thought quickly pushing whatever was in her mind out and headed outside.
They walked down the cobblestoned street of the old district. Eleanor hadn't lived in Stormwind for very long. Personally she felt old enough, 30, to live by herself. For high elves though, she was still considered a teenager, something her adoptive family didn't forget. She couldn't quite remember the circumstances that lead to her family but she was placed in the care of Rhonin Redhair, the former leader of the Kirin Tor and his quel'dorei wife, Vereesa Windrunner. The circumstances of her being placed into their custody was still a mystery to her, a mystery she didn't want to uncover. Eleanor was quite happy with her life. A former mage of the Kirin Tor she spent most of her time researching and making the occasional trip to see Vereesa, something she made a priority since Rhonin's sacrifice in Theramore. It also allowed her to see her adoptive siblings, Galadin and Giramar.
Rhonin's death had hit Eleanor rather hard. Not only for him being a fatherly figure to her, but for being her one and only teacher. Since his death, Eleanor had to look elsewhere and there weren't many notable mages left in the world of Azeroth that could teach her anything other mages didn't already know. So, with that knowledge, Eleanor scoured through Rhonin's expansive library to acquire and fortify her skills and to also deal with her grief. Eleanor spent hours upon hours each day in the early days of his death devouring his vast collection. It got to the point where Vereesa had to get involved and forcibly remove Eleanor from his library, but she didn't want to let go.
"If you're a mage," Liora broke her from her useless muling and brought her back to the land of the humans. "Why do you have a bow and not your staff?"
Eleanor didn't wait long to answer her question.
"I'm a former mage, I don't practice much magic anymore. That path ended quite a time ago. "
"So the bow and arrows?"
Eleanor arched one of her elegantly long eyebrows. "I am quel'dorei, I know how to use a bow, paladin," she replied icily.
Liora took it in stride.
"That would be like me being a paladin and becoming an agent for SI:7, doesn't make much sense."
Eleanor could hear the humor in her voice, she thought it was funny.
"It's a tad more complicated than that, but that would require me to be three sheets to the wind to tell that story and I don't think Stormwind has enough ale."
Liora laughed, "A special trip to Ironforge will be needed later then, I think it may be against their laws to not have a long standing supply of alcohol."
Liora had quite the easy going personality, Eleanor noted. That would make whatever request that would come to them a tad more easier to swallow.
They had made it to Stormwind Keep and with it its magnificence. Eleanor was always in awe of it. Even having lived in the grand Violet Citadel of Dalaran for a time Stormwind Keeps' enormity kept her entranced. Liora began the long walk up the stone steps that lead to the throne room. Eleanor broke from her trance and trailed behind the paladin as they made their way through the expansive hall that lead to the throne of Stormwind.
His Majesty's throne was empty, but someone was waiting for them. Eleanor immediately recognized who it was.
"Vereesa, nice to see you."
The elven ranger smiled in acknowledgment but her facial expression quickly changed to a more serious look.
"The King wants to speak to us in private; follow me."
Eleanor and Liora followed the Ranger-General down another large hall to a smaller room. It had a large table in the middle with a map of the Eastern Kingdoms spread across it. Surrounding the table were many strong figures in the Alliance, militaristically and politically. Eleanor couldn't identify everyone, she assumed the well dressed people in the back were the House of Nobles or as she heard someone once say in the Pig and Whistle: "Stormwinds worst." A grisled man leaning over the map staring deep into its features was King Greyman of Gilneas, he notably had scared the life out of Eleanor anytime she's ever seen him. Archmage Khadgar was next to him, resting against his staff, he gave Eleanor a graceful nod.
Eleanor had reached out to him after Rhonin's death to finish her training, but he didn't believe there was much more he could teach her that she already didn't know, which had upset her quite a bit. Eleanor recognized Turalyon and her adopted mother's sister, Alleria Windrunner. She had met their son long before she had met them, Arator was a close confidant of Eleanor's. She found herself standing directly across from the King, Anduin Wrynn.
Sympathy.
That's all she could think of when she saw him. Anguish and pain, Eleanor could still see it in his eyes. They weren't as alive as they used to be, the blue was more subdued and filled with sorrow. She had sympathized with him greatly when she heard of his father's death, but Anduin was a steadfast young man and he knew to put duty over his feelings, like his father had.
"Good," Anduin clasped his hands together and wore a warm smile as everyone was situated around the table, "Shall we begin then?"
Silence.
"Khadgar, please explain."
Khadgar cleared his throat.
"You're probably wondering why you are all here?"
Audible groans were heard throughout the room. Eleanor was confused, why were they groaning at Archmage Khadgar?
"Alright," Khadgar pursed his lips and dipped the point of his staff down at the map. "I recovered some old writings that Medivh left behind when I was searching through Karazhan during the Legion's invasion. They speak of a child who was born during the second war in Quel'Thalas and according to Medivh, a child with the promise of wielding great power."
One of the nobles scoffed from the back of the room.
"How do we know this child, who is now an adult, is even alive? Arthas scourged Quel'Thalas and the high elf population that survived are now loyal to the Horde. I don't like this."
"What do you want from us, Khadgar?" King Greymane asked the mage, his voice almost identical to a growl. Khadgar smiled.
"It is imperative we find this person, we don't want them to fall into the hands of the Horde. If my numbers are correct and my understanding of the high elf lifespan, this unknown person is an elven adolescent. Correct?" Khadgar motioned towards Alleria and Vereesa, expecting an answer out of the two Windrunner sisters.
"This…. person as you so lightly put it, would be around Eleanor's age if the supposed date of birth is correct," Vereesa shook her head, "I truly don't expect this person to be found, let alone alive. Arthas took his toll not only on the land, but our people."
Khadgar grimaced, but a sudden raise in his eyebrows meant an idea had placed itself into his head.
"There is a reason we requested both of you here." The Archmage moved closer to Eleanor and Liora. "The two of you shall go to Quel'Thalas and search for any clues to our mysterious person."
Genn Greymane snarled.
"You want to send them into enemy territory! Have you lost your mind, Khadgar?"
Khadgar smiled at the worgen king.
"No, but, no one knows her face. No one knows she is with the Alliance," he pointed to Eleanor, "but she is a halfling and then the human on the other hand…"
"Illusion magic isn't my specialty," Eleanor interjected. She could feel the glare pierce her very soul from Vereesa, "but I could give it a shot. Just long enough for us to get into Quel'Thelas undetected."
Liora hadn't made a sound since they had entered the Keep, her companion must've been the quiet type. Eleanor mused that information to herself.
"That would be incredibly dangerous, even as a Windrunner we are not revered as we once were." Alleria interrupted her thoughts.
"She's right," Vereesa agreed, "You would be seen as a Windrunner in their eyes if your identity is found out."
"Khadgar, may I have a moment with Vereesa?"
"Of course, yes, let us all take a break and mull our options, shall we?"
Eleanor led her adopted mother into the hallway.
"I will be fine, let me do this." Eleanor was rather excited to get back out into the world. Ever since the Legion's end she had been a bit bored. The Windrunner glare, Eleanor had had it used on her a number of times, but most recently she had seen it used on the twins.
"Traveling into Horde territory with a human on a fool's quandary is less than ideal," Vereesa placed her hands on Eleanor's cheeks, "I lost once piece of my heart, I can not lose another."
"Aunt Alleria, what do you think?"
Alleria came out of the shadows, her green armor matched that of Vereesa's blue armor, with her arms crossed pondering the thought.
"If you stay away from Silvermoon and the highly travelled areas of Eversong, you may go unnoticed for a time."
Vereesa grimaced at Alleria's words.
"I don't like how cloaked in shadow this all is. Sending you both in blind, it doesn't sit well with me."
"Not two going in, but three."
They all looked behind them.
"Arator."
The son of Turalyon and Alleria Windrunner came to a halt in front of them.
"Hello," he greeted them, smiling, "Archmage Khadgar sent me a missive and here I am."
Arator was a pleasant sight to Eleanor, but travelling with three people instead of two would only increase their chances of being caught or worse: imprisoned and executed. She knew the idea put Vereesa on edge, she had been on edge since Rhonin's death and Eleanor going into Horde territory would make it worse. With the inclusion of Arator on their journey and Alleria and Turalyon's recent return to Azeroth, being separated from their son again would likely not sit well with them. But if these writings from Medivh were true, something had to happen did it not?
Eleanor placed her hand on Vereesa's shoulder, softly squeezing.
"We will be fine. I've fought against the Legion, the Horde. I was there at the fall of Arthas, of Deathwing. This is a simple search and seizure mission. If we find nothing in a few days we'll be back; this'll last no more than a few weeks."
Vereesa wasn't happy. Her eyes were blazing more than usual with her lips formed into a frown. She shook her head.
"You're more than capable of doing this, I'm just being a bit… apprehensive towards everything of late."
"You both taught me well."
Vereesa raised her eyebrows, amusement spread across her face.
"I taught you well, Rhonin on the other hand," she winked, "did his best."
The two of them returned to the room of Stormwind Keep where Khadgar was again explaining more of the writings left behind by Medivh.
"My former mentor left very vague notes."
Eleanor watched as the nobles voiced their countering opinions, Greymane would voice his own with Alleria and Vereesa offer small tidbits. But Anduin was mostly silent as he perused over the map of the upper Eastern Kingdoms. His hand, bearing a Stormwind signet ring, traced over a preferred path, over and over. Eleanor watched as he did, her eyes fixated on his hand. She coyly walked behind the mass of people clamoring around the table. Their voices were starting to increase in volume as the discussion progressed into arguing.
"What're you pondering, Your Majesty?"
Anduin took his hand up above the map for a moment and stuck his index finger down.
"You should fly to the border between the Wetlands and Arathi Highlands and than continue on foot to Refuge Point where there will be fresh horses waiting for you. From there you'll travel into Hillsbrad going past Durnholde Keep and once you hit the river you'll go north along its banks, be careful to avoid Tarren Mill. Follow the river until you reach Anderhal." He traced the map as he went through their path, keeping pace with his instructions. "When you hit Eastern Plaguelands follow the road until Light Hope's Chapel. Rest and then continue to the gate between there and Ghostlands. From there you'll have to continue on foot; I can only advise you so far."
Eleanor liked Anduin's proposed path and it could work. Some spots would be tricky, going past Tarren Mill and not tipping the Horde off would be an adventure. Once they made it into the Eastern Plaguelands making it to Light's Hope would only require them to watch out for remnants of the Scourge. Once they made it to the Ghostlands their mission would begin and their senses would be heightened. Thick in Horde territory as well as the remaining Scourge could cause them some problems.
Eleanor didn't notice the ensuing chaos going on between the Stormwind House of Nobles and Greymane along with Khadgar. The Windrunner sisters were conversing with Turalyon. The many Alliance leaders in the room were oblivious of one another but their voices kept increasing.
She found it all amusing. Eleanor was used to the calm and collected minds of the Kirin Tor not the abrasive politics and bureaucratic norms of the Stormwind monarchy. She learned early on in her time her that the House of Nobles were involved in everything whether they needed to be or not. Eleanor had observed in the past how Varian dealt with the nobles, which was him completely ignoring them. Anduin on the other hand was a bit more diplomatic. He listened to their council but more or less disregarded it for his own advisers. At this point in time the nobles were for show; they truly had no power.
"Silence!" The High King roared, raising his hand to quiet the raucous politicians down. "Eleanor, Arator and Liora will travel to Quel'Thalas and take part in Archmage Khadgar's gambit, but they will also take part in reconnaissance as well. There are unconfirmed reports of Forsaken and Silvermoon forces assembling for an offensive strike on neighboring Alliance territories. They will have one week in Quel'Thalas to find any clues to this mysterious figure the former Guardian's writings speak of."
Anduin pressed his finger firmly back on the location of Light's Hope Chapel. "When you're all safely out of Quel'Thalas you will rendezvous back at Light's Hope, but before that a detour will be made. The three of you will travel back near Durnholde keep but go towards the Dalaran crater where Gilnean forces will be waiting for you to help you travel into Silverpine by sailing across Lordamere Lake into Tirisfal Glades. Do your reconnaissance and then return to Light's Hope where Gryphons will be waiting to return you to Stormwind for a full report."
Eleanor leaned on the table scanning their preferred route. It would be long and could taken up to a month for them to return. The rest of the room was relatively quiet except for the huffing and gruffing of the nobles. Khadgar clasped his hands together.
"Good, I shall share Medivh's notes with you and then if there is nothing holding you all back, you should be off this afternoon."
That soon?
Leaving that quickly left Eleanor a bit by surprise, she didn't have her bag with her. She had dressed with the thought of going out on a mission but not one that sent her to the other side of the continent. She did not expect to be heading to the land of her own birth this morning. Arator and Liora both flanked her, each on their own sides. Both of their eyes showed an eagerness to get moving, to go on an adventure. She too was eager, it had been quite some time since she had been on her own adventure.
