Death Becomes Her
They came in the night like cowards and slaughtered my entire family. Why any band of humans would dare venture so far North is unknown to me, but there they found us, sleeping in our beds, and attacked. I awoke to the sound of my mother's scream as she died. By then my father and brothers were already dead.
It was unfortunate coincidence that the entire family happened to be gathered in our home that night. Normally my brothers worked in Silvermoon – the elder, Talithas, as a city guard and the younger, Kariel, as a simple kitchen hand in one of the city's inns. They were here only for a few days to visit before they both had to return to work. It almost seemed to me as though the humans had waited until we were all together so that they might slaughter us all at once, but in reality we were only a brief interruption to their march Northward.
Once I leapt from my bed to investigate the screams the first body I found was Mother's. She lay, still warm, in the entranceway. I thought for a moment that perhaps she was only unconscious, but when I began to turn her over I saw the viscera spilling from her abdomen. I dropped her back down in horror, stumbling backwards.
"Captain Gisholme!" came a shout from behind me. "There's another one here!"
"Kill it and move on! We've got to go!" was the answering shout.
I was slow recovering from my first dead body. I only just managed to turn around in time to look at the face of my attacker as he swung a mace into my side. I fell to the ground, hard, and lay there wheezing for a few moments. Then, the move that changed my existence forever, I attempted to struggle to my feet. Seeing I wasn't yet dead, the human soldier cracked me in the skull with the mace and I knew no more.
When I awoke again my head was spinning and my eyes felt glued shut. I had to fight to stay conscious, as though I hadn't had enough sleep, when in reality I felt as though I'd been sleeping forever. When I finally managed to peel my eyes open I was blinded by the sun. It streamed through the open archway to an elaborate balcony, loosely hidden from my sight by a thin veil of pale green cloth.
I tried to sit up and began coughing immediately. I couldn't keep upright due to the dizzying effects of the violent cough and soon found myself lying flat against the bed again. Then, outside my room I heard rapid footsteps.
"Lord Aruman!" a male voice called, "She's awake!"
For a few brief moments I was terrified that the footsteps belong to another human, here to finish me off, but as my mind adjusted to my surroundings I began to put together enough facts to calm me. The words had been spoken in Thalassian, the language of my people. Not only that, but the architecture and decoration here were familiar and comforting to me. Someone must have found me in the ruins of my home and saved me from death.
I had to wait several minutes before said saviour arrived. He wasn't nearly as frantic as the guard outside my room had been, instead sweeping inside in true lordly fashion. When he saw my open eyes blinking back at him he smiled warmly.
"Ah, you are awake. I'm so pleased. Tur'el, please fetch a tray from the kitchens for our guest. See if we can't start restoring some of her strength now that she's conscious."
The slight, even for an elf, man behind Lord Aruman bowed quickly and scampered from the room. Once he was gone His Lordship turned to me again.
"Now, my dear, know that inside these walls you are safe and I will not permit anyone to do you harm." He focused intently on me for a moment so I nodded in acknowledgement. "That said… It may assist me in caring for you if I were aware of the circumstances that put you in this state."
His eyes scanned over me and I became aware of the extent of my injuries. My arms, face and torso throbbed with bruises and stung with healing scratches. If I moved too much my chest ached terribly and I began coughing, though not blood I was pleased to note. My head hurt and felt groggy, and the throbbing increased if I moved too much. Overall, I was in a sorry state.
Lord Aruman, finished his appraisal, returned his gaze to my face and waited.
I cleared my throat, unsure how to begin my story. Images of my mother lying on the ground, insides outside, swam across my mental screen. I squeezed my eyes shut until I started seeing stars then opened them again.
"Slowly, my dear," Aruman assured me, "you can start with the base facts. Details may come when you are ready. You could start with your name, perhaps."
Blushing, and realizing I'd spent all this time in a lord's presence without properly introducing myself, I said, "My name is Ilise, my lord. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
He laughed. "The pleasure is all mine, Ilise, but to my honoured guests I am simply Aruman. More about me later, for now, your story."
Nodding slowly, I began. Lord Aruman listened to every word, nodding in some places and questioning me in others.
"And then I lost consciousness. I have no idea what happened after that."
He smiled at me again. "There, I believe I can help you. After your brother Talithas failed to return to the city the next day he was reported as a deserter and his name and description given to all patrols in Quel'Thalas. It didn't take long before a young general leading a troupe South to the Ghostlands discovered the ruins of your home and stopped to investigate. There he found your family members.
"He and his men set about burying them and would have done the same with you had you not coughed when they moved you. Realising you were alive, they brought you to the next nearest settlement on their route, which happened to be my home. You have remained here for a week since then, not returning to consciousness until now."
He waited while I absorbed the information. I was happy, at least, that my family had been given a proper burial and that their corpses weren't simply littering the forest floor.
As I was trying to come up with a response, his servant returned bearing a tray of food and drink. It was all, blessedly, light food that I shouldn't have too much trouble eating in my current state. Although the amount I managed to eat would be an indicator of my progress towards health. The tray was placed on my lap, and I nibbled at small pieces and drank small sips of water while I listened to Aruman chat amiably.
Though his forest home was peaceful, there was little for Lord Aruman Mirthbrook to do out here other than overseeing his servants maintaining the house and grounds, or relaxing by himself. He missed his younger days when he occupied a small apartment in Silvermoon with only a single manservant. My presence in his home, therefore, was a blessing rather than a curse as arranging my care gave him something to occupy his time with.
After several days at Mirthbrook House I was still only managing to consume small amounts. Aruman had spent what I considered to be far too much acquiring several health potions, but the small sips I'd been able to swallow didn't seem to be doing much. My health seemed to be dwindling rather than improving as time went on. Aruman, of course, never voiced this opinion; if he did at all share my thoughts on the matter. He remained positive as ever, avidly researching new methods of improving my health.
After a further week at his house, however, my cough seemed ceaseless, the pain almost unbearable, and I spent most of my time sleeping to avoid it all. Towards the end of this week, Aruman came and sat by my bed to talk to me. He did this a lot, whether I was awake or not, and I often came to in the middle of some story about his days in Silvermoon, causing havoc as a rebellious youth.
I turned to face him, focusing on whatever he might have to say. His stories did help distract me from the pain sometimes.
"I do wish your condition would improve enough that you could join me in the dining hall," Aruman told me. "Another distinguished guest will be gracing us soon, for only one night as she journeys South. I'm sure meeting her will be incredible, and I do wish I had someone to share it with."
Who could he be talking about? Some high-ranking member of the aristocracy, perhaps? Maybe a war hero of the Horde? Then again, given the enforced tranquillity of Aruman's estate, even a Ranger with a few years of training under their belt might get him this excited.
"Who is this guest of yours?" I asked.
There was a pause, no doubt for effect. "Lady Sylvanas Windrunner."
Aruman left while I was still processing this information. Before I'd had a chance to reply he heard sounds of the Banshee Queen's arrival from outside. He kissed my forehead and swept away to greet her. Reeling from the day's activities I found it all too much and lost consciousness again.
When I woke again I heard more than one voice in my room. It took a few moments, but once I realised who they belonged to I kept my eyes closed. The eerie tones of an undead woman speaking Thalassian drifted towards me across the room ad I listened intently.
"Who is she?" Sylvanas asked.
"She gave her name as Ilise. From what I have been able to gather while she is conscious, her family were peace-loving commoners from the Eversong Woods. She doesn't deserve what has been done to her."
There was a cold silence in the room, then Sylvanas answered. "None of us deserve our fates, Lord Aruman, yet here we are. We either rise above and continue with what we have been given or we wallow in self-pity unable to move on."
I felt her move beside me then. I desperately tried to hold back a shudder, but it escaped and my entire body rippled with it. Then I began coughing violently. Feeling that I had been caught, my eyes flew open and stared right into the glowing red orbs belonging of the Dark lady herself.
Caught in her gaze like a startled rabbit, I waited. She stared me down for several moments before she broke eye contact. When she turned back to Lord Aruman I found myself taking a huge breath.
"She has some strength remaining but she will fade soon. Though not before I leave for the Undercity. If you wish to leave her to end her suffering naturally I will be on my way, but otherwise… surely you know the only way in which I invite new soldiers to my army. Whether I will find any use for her there is another matter. She has no formal training in any school, be it magic or swordcraft."
Aruman looked worried. Which was odd considering it wasn't his life being so casually discussed. "Please, my lady. The power of the Valkyr is strong but is there nothing you yourself can do?"
Sylvanas lowered her eyes and shook her head. "I believe tales of my powers over life and death may be exaggerated, Lord Aruman. If she joins me then her fate is death." She turned to me then. "And that, my child, is something you must decide for yourself. I have sworn to allow no-one to force this fate upon one of my own ever again."
Sylvanas swept from the room. A large, armoured skeleton man grabbed Aruman by the shoulder and forced him from the room as well. No matter what decision I made, Sylvanas would not let Aruman interfere.
Hours later, well into the night, I still had no idea what it was I wanted. I wasn't ready to die, be it naturally or otherwise, however, I wasn't sure if I could bear the unending torment that came as one of Sylvanas' soldiers. She had been kind to my people, providing us with supplies and protection whenever necessary, but many still cautioned against the lure of the eternal life service to her offered. She herself spoke of undead life as a torment. Why would I wish that upon myself? I would have to truly desire to stay in this world, no matter the cost.
Gentle footsteps alerted me to someone else's presence. Aruman stood in the doorway. He held a finger to his lips and then came closer.
"Please do not misunderstand my earlier conversation," he said quietly. "I do not wish death upon you, far from it. I simply hoped that Sylvanas might have access to magics capable of prolonging your natural lifespan. It appears not, but I may have a solution…"
He pulled out a bottle of some sort, a strange, pink liquid glowed gently inside.
"I've been doing research in my library this past week. This is known as Juliet's Tears, a draught said to bring temporary death to anyone who drinks it, reviving them again the next morning. It is merely an illusion, but it may be enough to fool the valkyr into thinking you truly are dead. Surely then their magic would restore you to health. By tomorrow morning the potion's effects would bring you back to yourself."
I considered his proposal. His words seemed to make sense. After all, he had spent days poring over books to reach this conclusion. However, I was unsure whether the valkyrie would really be fooled, and what punishment Sylvanas might inflict for the attempt. Knowing I was dying either way, I decided I had no other option.
I reached out my hand for the potion.
"Careful, now," he said. "You must make sure you drink the entire draught, and quickly, before it starts to take effect."
I nodded and he handed it over. Uncorking he bottle I tipped my head and swallowed the potion as fast as I could. It tasted like the sweetest Summer wine. Then the flavour changed. Blood and ash seemed to fill my mouth and it was all I could do to keep the potion down. My vision blurred and I fell backwards, but I was dead before I hit the pillow.
I'm not sure if I really was truly dead, but several moments later I found myself hovering next to the bed, looking down at my own corpse. Aruman hid the bottle and then ran from the room, calling for Sylvanas.
It took less than a minute for the Banshee Queen to appear in my quarters accompanied by Aruman, her Undead bodyguard and a Valkyr.
"Was her passing natural?" Sylvanas asked, looking at my body with an unreadable expression.
Aruman shook his head. "It appears she took her own life with poison. Where she got it from I do not know."
Sylvanas watched him for several minutes, looking for a lie. Really, though, he was being mostly truthful. He seemed to be using that fact to keep any trace of his deceit away from his features. Eventually Sylvanas nodded to the Valkyr who pulled out a horn and began to play it. The sound was awful and I wanted to cover my ears to block it out. It rang through me even in spirit form, although perhaps that was its purpose. The more I strained not to raise my hands and block it out the louder it seemed to call. When I finally gave in and allowed myself to move, I found myself drawn rapidly and painfully back into my body.
I blinked with my own eyes again, and sat up in my bed. A strange power flowed through me, healing my scars and knitting tissue back together. After stepping out from under the sheets, I turned to Sylvanas, dropping to one knee to acknowledge her as my new queen.