Hello again! Welcome to the second part of the Delroy Chronicles! This one will be much shorter than They'll Know Me as Joan, as this is heavily influenced by the events taking place in Wolfheart by Richard A. Knaak. If you have not read the novel, then this story contains major spoilers! Since this will be so short, I would consider this as a 'bridge' fic. The next one I have planned will be far, far longer.

Takes place approximately three to four weeks after Joan.

Clunk!

Thunk!

WHAP!

Thud.

"Again!"

Jeanne stifled a pitiful whimper and slowly sat up. A magenta hand thrust itself into her field of view and she automatically took it. Her sparring partner heaved her up onto her feet but she couldn't stop the pained whine from escaping her clenched teeth.

Archdruid Malfurion Stormrage watched her with guarded eyes, observing every move as the young worgen scooped up her fallen staff and square off again. Her movements were slowing with exhaustion and pain, yet determination burned in her emerald eyes. Despite this, the worgen and her sparring partner circled each other. Their eyes never left each others and, by an unspoken and almost unnoticeable signal, leapt at each other with a cry.

The sound of wood smacking against wood filled the sparring clearing as the two students fought for control of the battle. One moment the elven student had the upper hand and the next the worgen did. They traded control as surely and frequently as they exchanged blows and even Malfurion couldn't predict the victor.

With a move that would be a blur to the untrained eye Jeanne managed to simultaneously block her partner's attack and struck his knee with the other end of the long stave. He was knocked off balance for a split second but that was all the time she needed. With a strike to the other knee and a rough shove he fell onto his back, staff flying off into a random direction.

"Good! Very good!" Malfurion called as his apprentice panted from the excursion. Triumph shone in her tired eyes but she helped her partner up before bowing to him.

"Shan'do," Jeanne greeted, striding up to him with as much grace she could muster. A frown tugged at his lips as he noticed she was favoring her right side slightly.

"Heal yourself," he commended gently and, at her wrinkled nose, added, "You will never get better unless you practice, Jeanne."

With a displeased grunt Jeanne's brows furrowed in concentration and she waved glowing green hands. After a moment, the healing glow spread over her entire body. Her posture noticeably straightened and some of her facial features relaxed. Shoulders slumped slightly as the fatigue hit her and she dug around in her pack for her waterskin.

"Very good," Malfurion praised, offering the worgen a encouraging smile. "You seem to be getting better at healing with the new spell."

She shrugged. "Reckon so? Still feels like I'm not doing as much as I should."

"It comes with practice. I am quite surprised with how quickly you are learning."

Jeanne gave him a quizzical look, one jeweled ear rising and the other flattening some. Malfurion gave into the urge to smile at the sight and shook his viridian head.

"I have had very few students learn as quick as you do. What takes another weeks to achieve you achieve in days."

"Ah." Jeanne's ears lowered as she averted her eyes. A small smile played on her lupine lips and the elf was sure that, if she had been in her human form, her cheeks would be pink.

"However," Malfurion continued, grabbing her attention back, "While you are very proficient with damaging spells, your healing still needs much work. In that aspect, you are slow to learn."

The worgen nodded as if she was expecting that answer. An annoyed frown had her baring her fangs for a second and Malfurion raised leaf green brows in query.

She snorted and flattened her ears to her skull. "I don't understand why healing magic is so bloody hard for me. I read the texts on it just the same as the other spells but they don't work like I want them to."

The archdruid shook his antlered head and gently laid a hand on her shoulder. "As with all things, they will come in time. Now, have you worked on your garden today?"

The tension left her eyes and was replaced with a peaceful light. "Yes, Shan'do. The plants you gave me the other day have sprouted and the others are blooming."

"The object of this lesson is to exercise control over your magic, Jeanne. Do you feel like that is what you are getting out of it?"
The worgen nodded though annoyance flickered over her face. "Yes... Shan'do."

"Good." Malfurion examined her for a moment or two, taking in her demeanor.

The worgen proved to be a tough student to teach at first, her impatient and brash nature proving hard to swallow even for him. When he had finally relented and gone to the worgen's previous trainer, Celestine of the Harvest, to unravel the questions he had, she had told him that Jeanne does not learn the traditional way. Everything the young worgen had learned she learned under duress of battle, both training and war. Celestine recommended that he still have her read and understand the texts but make her spar every day. Jeanne's spells would come to her when they felt she was ready for them.

Finishing his evaluation on his apprentice, Malfurion nodded once and reached into a small pouch on his belt. Jeanne's ears perked in interest and she straightened up. Her emerald eyes reflected an intense curiosity as he withdrew his hand and extended his fist to her, palm down.

"I was planning to give these to you at a later date, but I think you should have these now."

He dropped several small somethings into her palm and she eyed them curiously.

Malfurion smiled at her confusion. "They were gathered by some of my druids when your people were evacuated. They are seeds of the roses that grow wild there."

Shock and disbelief flittered on her face before her features settled in gratitude. A small smile played on her lips as she carefully poured them into her pouch pocket and bowed deeply to him.

"I... Thank you Shan'do."

Malfurion dipped his head in acceptance of the thanks and glanced at the moon shining high overhead. He quickly calculated the time left in the night and how long hes had his apprentice that day.

"You are excused for now Jeanne. I will let you rest for the next few days. Much still has to be done for the summit."

He didn't miss the way her nose wrinkled in distaste at the mention of the summit but nodded anyway. With another low bow the worgen dropped to all fours and bounced gracefully away, leaving Malfurion behind with his thoughts. With a shake of his viridian head he turned and started for the forest just beyond the limits of Darnassus.

He had a feeling about this summit and not all of it was positive.

Jeanne's heart raced as it always did when she was allowed to run. It set the part of her that remained feral free and bloody hell did she ever miss the feeling. Her joy was short lived as she came upon the small secluded area she and her brothers shared, just a short walk away from the Howling Oak.

The druid slowed to a trot, stood back up onto her hind legs and changed back into her human form. Jeanne stumbled slightly as her boot caught on a root and she wrinkled her nose in distaste. She shook her head and carefully picked her way into the small tree like structure. A tiny smile flittered over her lips as she saw both of her brothers fast asleep.

Cerdic was curled in front of the dying fire in the fireplace still in his pack form. Ammon was tucked in a dark corner, head leaning against the wall. Neither of them had thought to sleep in their hammocks, strung up right above them, and the absurdity of it all made her huff in laughter.

Jeanne quietly slipped off her boots and belt, keeping an eye on her slumbering brothers, and picked her way over strewn limbs to curl up against Ammon. Her twin eased out a sigh and shifted so that they could lie comfortably together. With a final small smile Jeanne allowed her exhaustion overcome her and drag her into sleep.

The summons came at dawn.

Loud rapping had all three siblings jolt up from their sleeping places. Ammon, being the quickest out of the three, was already on his feet with knives drawn. Her twin moved to answer the messenger as Jeanne and Cerdic rolled to their feet. He was back a few moments later, an annoyed look on his freckled face.

"The king wants an audience with us," he supplied shortly, thrusting a small scrap of parchment at Cerdic. "Eadrik was quite insistent."

"Does the prat ever sleep?" Jeanne growled, staggering towards the washbasin and splashing some cold water on her face.

"Be nice Joan!" Cerdic grumbled, skimming the parchment briefly before tucking it in his pocket. "I'm sure it's related to the summit."

"I'll be nice if the tosser is!"

Cerdic sighed and shook his head, choosing to simply let it go. Jeanne harrumphed and went back to untangling her hair, which she'd forgotten to brush through before going to sleep.

"Genn better have some tea on," Ammon sighed, tying his own long hair back with a strip of leather cord. "Light forbid if Joanie doesn't get 'er morning tea."

Her only answer was an irritable growl as she resisted the urge to throw the hairbrush at him and instead set it down. She took a deep breath and tried to find her inner peace, or rather that's what Malfurion called it.

"Ready to go?" Cerdic asked and the twins gave each other a short glare before nodding in unison.

The siblings left and were at the Howling Oak, where the Royals were staying, in good time. Not many Gilneans had the bright red hair the Delroys often sported and so they were recognized long before they got there. The other members of the pack had cleared a path to where the three surviving Royals plus Gwen Armstead and Eadrik were taking their morning tea. The siblings sat themselves down at the rough wooden table and served themselves.

Tess smiled sleepily at Jeanne across from her and made a silent toast with her tea, to which Jeanne responded in kind. Silence stretched across the table as sluggish minds were kick-started into wakefulness. Finally, Cerdic carefully set his teacup onto its saucer and turned to the king with brighter eyes.

"You called, Your Majesty?"

Genn snorted into his tea and took a moment to set his down and compose himself. "I am a king in name only, Cerdic. King to an abandoned kingdom."

"For now!" Eadrik piped up but withered slightly at the look both Cerdic and Genn gave him.

"What I called you three here for," the old king continued, "Is to discuss the upcoming summit."

Jeanne stifled a yawn and did her best to focus. A tap on her foot startled her and the druid warily eyed her tablemates. Tess caught her eye and gave her a playful smirk, to which Jeanne grinned and shook her head.

"I spoke with Archdruid Malfurion earlier this morning." That grabbed the druid's attention.

"What about?" Cerdic asked, glancing at Jeanne briefly before turning his attention back on his king.

Genn took a moment to answer, grey brows furrowing above storm hued eyes. "Stormwind is coming."

The table went still as all eyes were trained upon the aging king. Everyone there knew Gilnean history, both their triumphs and failures.

"Do you think He will be... understanding?" Gwen asked cautiously, reaching up to adjust her little hat perched on her brunette head.

Worry pinched at Genn's lined face though his eyes reflected hope. "From what the Archdruid tells me he is a changed man; a wise man. There is still hope for Gilneas."

There was an ease of tension in the air as everyone relaxed some. Jeanne bit her lip to stifle a childish giggle as Tess kicked at her feet once again and she responded in kind. The druid felt a glare burning into the side of her face and she gave Cerdic the widest, most innocent smile she could muster. He rolled his eyes, shook his head, and turned back to the king.

"Are we participating in the feast tonight?"

Genn tilted his head slightly as he mulled over the question. After a few moments of thought his grey head nodded once. "I am taking only you, your siblings, and Eadrik. We cannot afford to look arrogant by bringing a full congregation."

Cerdic nodded in understanding and took another sip of his cooling tea. "What are we to do in the meantime?"

"In the meantime?" Genn shrugged. "Prepare for the worst and hope for the best."

"Is Celestine holding lessons today Tess?"

The raven-haired woman sent a sidelong glance to her crimson-haired companion and shook her head. "No. She gave us time off for the upcoming summit." Attentive eyes narrowed slightly with something akin to suspicion. "You miss sitting lessons with her, don't you?"

Jeanne laughed, a short bark-like sound. "Honestly? I do. I miss the way we would sit around the fire and she would read us the history of what we did. I miss how relaxing and mystical it felt out in the forest and learning our calling one spell at a time."

Tess hummed and spun a strand of dark hair around her finger. A wistful air surrounded the two friends as they sat near the edge of their encampment, far enough away to not be disturbed by the preparations around them. Jeanne's lips twisted in a bittersweet smile as she leaned on her palms, staring up at the canopies of green and purple leaves.

"Of course," she continued, voice heavy with memory, "There are things I don't miss in the least. Fending off the feral worgen almost every night is high on that list. Followed by how Celestine was so reluctant to push us past our comfort zone." Jeanne shook her head with a sigh. "I love that woman to death but there were so many arguments we had. She told me that it would come to me with little application and much studying but I insisted that that method doesn't work for me. It comes to me when I'm working my arse off. So we had to compromise; I have to study the texts like any other student would, but I would spar every day."

"Does it...work..?" Tess's voice was small and Jeanne turned a quizzical stare onto her. The princess fidgeted and glanced away. "I... I seem to be having the same problem..."

The worgen's face morphed in understanding. "It does for me. Well, except with healing magic, but I suppose that I cannot be amazing at everything." Tess snorted from beside her and Jeanne's smile widened. "It feels... like a piece of my being just... slides into place quicker. Because I know the texts and the descriptions of every spell by heart I know which one it was and I can get a grasp on it quickly."

The worgen gave Tess a sideways look, eyes suddenly hardening in seriousness. "You need to talk to Celestine about this. You are only damaging yourself if you don't bring this to her attention."

"I..." Tess looked a little uncertain but, after a moment of contemplation, nodded firmly. "Alright. I will later tonight when you and Father are at the feast."

The worgen gave the princess a small smile and swung herself to her feet, holding a hand out to her a moment later. Tess blinked in confusion at her suddenly energetic friend.

"No time like the present to start. Come along, I know a good place to spar."

A wide smile stretched across the princess's face and her dark eyes twinkled in excitement. She grasped calloused fingers with dainty ones and allowed her companion pull her onto her feet. The two women sent slightly guilty glances behind them before sneaking away from the encampment. They did have practically the entire day to train.

Reviews would be much appreciated! Thanks for reading!