Author's note: This is the first chapter of a Warcraft fanfic. I don't own any of the characters. They belong to Blizzard Entertainment. The OCs belongs to me.
Chapter 1: Two Worlds, One Family
In the secluded forests of Shadowglen, Teldrassil, Northern Kalimdor
In the secluded forests of Shadowglen, the well-renowned priestess of Elune Shiromar Oakenoath was wandering the forests searching for someone. As she walked by a large tree, she suddenly snapped once she could see an arrow almost hit her. Luckily it missed her head.
The blue-haired night elf sighed deeply and looked to the left. She fixed a stern look on her face while seeing who it was. Holding a bow with a mischievous chuckle on his mouth was her nephew Hammon Oakenoath. He had long, blue hair that reached to his back.
Shiromar crossed her arms by seeing this. "Why are you out here fooling yourself with the bow again? You are supposed to be back in Aldrassil to study" he asked him sternly.
Hammon approached her while flexing his muscles. "I was just practicing my archery, Shal'nar Shiromar. A priest can't only rely on his divine magic to defeat his opponents" the young boy said while addressing his aunt in Darnassian.
Shiromar fixed a smug smile on her face. "Really?" she asked him. "You failed to miss your target" she pointed out to him.
The young night elf rolled his eyes in return. "I wasn't using your head as a target. I was using that mark I created on the tree" he said and pointed his finger towards the tree.
As the blue-haired priestess looked to her right, she expressed surprise by seeing how the arrow almost hit the mark. It was not far from being a good shot. Shiromar faced her nephew and stroke his blue hair gently.
"A terrific shot, I must admit. If you keep practicing after you've had your lessons with me, you may become a better archer" she praised him, making Hammon laugh in return, as he was proud to have impressed his aunt.
But Shiromar noticed someone approaching them and turned around to see the one in charge of things in Aldrassil, Tenaron Stormgrip. He made a formal bow to her and she accepted it with a nod.
"Priestess Shiromar, your presence is required at Aldrassil this instant" Tenaron told her with a reasonable voice.
Shiromar wanted to know why she was needed. "And may I ask who has come seeking my audience?" she asked him gently.
Tenaron fixed a grim look on his face while facing her. "This is actually a serious matter, priestess. Because it is your brothers who demands to speak with you" he revealed to her, making the blue-haired woman widen her bright eyes.
"You mean…..Ossir…..and Gilraen?" she asked him slowly and he nodded his head as a yes to her question. Shiromar immediately fixed her gaze upon her nephew with eyes of reason, making him confused. "Hammon, as your aunt, I kindly ask you to wait in your room while I have a discussion with my brothers. I will come to you as soon as I'm finished" she requested to him with a gentle voice.
"But Shal'nar, can't I come with you?" he asked while grabbing her cloth tightly.
Shiromar smiled and put her hand on his left cheek while reaching down to his level. She fixed a smile on her face. "No, Hammon. You must stay in your room and refrain from entering the main hall. Your uncles are not as forgiving towards you as I am. So trust in me, for our sakes" she convinced him, as he looked into her golden eyes.
Shiromar had always acted as his adoptive mother, even though she was only his aunt. But following her request, the young boy sat in his tiny room, lying on his bed. His window was open and the sound of nature could be heard even inside Aldrassil. As much as he wanted to honor his aunt's request, he felt like he had a right to know what her aunt would be talking to her brothers about. In his silence, he sneaked out from his room, and climbed down towards the bushes outside the building. The main hall was an open room, so he decided to stay in the bushes, so he could hear everything without being spotted. Hammon had a talent of staying hidden from anyone's eyes.
While staying in the bushes, he created a small opening in it, where he could spot his aunt standing in the main hall along with Tenaron, but they weren't alone. They were accompanied by a couple of sentinels as well as a druid with long, blue hair reaching to his back, and a night elven warrior with blue hair tied into a ponytail. They were his uncles, Ossir and Gilraen Oakenoeath. Shiromar was Ossir's younger sister and Gilraen's elder sister.
Hammon sat still, trying to get every word they said into his long ears. He hated the fact that he had to eavesdrop, but it was worth it, in his opinion.
"Where is the abomination?" Gilraen suddenly asked his sister.
Shiromar only stared at him with a raised eyebrow. "What abomination?" she asked him.
"You know what I mean! The brat Heralath conceived with that wicked witch!" the warrior barked at her, but Shiromar remained calm. Gilraen's face was filled with disappointment. "Are you still keeping him as your cuddle-bear? Give it up, already!" he expressed his dissatisfaction of this.
But their older brother intervened between them. "Restraint, Gilraen" Ossir told him strictly. The warrior reluctantly agreed, knowing better than to argue against his more powerful druidic brother. Ossir then focused his attention on his sister. "We have come seeking your aid, sister. The authorities in Darnassus have issued a call-to-arms. The treat that we thought had perished long ago, has returned…..in Silithus" he explained grimly.
Shiromar widened her eyes by hearing this. "No…..do you mean that the….." she uttered out words in shock and Ossir nodded his head.
"Yes. The Scarab Wall is reopening and the army of Ahn'Qiraj seeks revenge for its defeat at our hands thousand years ago" he revealed to her grimly.
"You remember those days, don't you?" Gilraen asked Shiromar while facing her seriously. "Many night elven lives fell before the Qiraji war machine during the War of the Shifting Sands, and at that time, the leaders of the night elven army stationed in Silithus was our father Orenthil Oakenoath and of course…..Fandral Staghelm" the night elven warrior recalled with words of bitterness.
Shiromar closed her eyes to recall the events, even though she wanted to forget about them. "Yes, but both father and Fandral clashed during the war, and things only worsened once Valstann died" she recalled the memories from the sands.
Gilraen fixed an angered look on his gaze at his sister, and she wondered why he did that. "And apparently now, that selfish bastard is now an esteemed member of the Cenarion Circle while father's influence among the druids is now tarnished, all thanks to Heralath and his stupidity!" he expressed his anger upon his younger brother.
"Brother, Heralath might've been born after the terrible war ended, and he might've been a complete clown to us. But even so, he is still family" Shiromar pointed out to him. "You know very well that even father and mother would've disagreed with you blaming all of our misfortunes upon him and Hammon" she added with a mature voice.
The night elven warrior slowly approached his sister in an aggressively manner. It was almost as if he was about to attack Shiromar. Fortunately, he didn't, as he came up to her face.
"You call yourself a priestess of Elune? Such ignorance! You are a disgrace to the teachings of Elune!" he began insulting her.
The blue-haired woman was facing her younger and aggressive brother with eyes of disapproval. "It is you who are a disgrace to Elune, Gilraen. You and your aggressiveness, it makes you absolutely no different from satyrs and naga" she scolded him.
Gilraen's golden eyes snapped and he drew one of his elven blades and was prepared to assault her. "FILFTHY BITCH!" the warrior shouted and cursed.
But his aggressiveness was ceased immediately by a slam on his head by Ossir. The powerful druid used his strength to knock Gilraen out cold. Once he did that, he refocused his gaze on Shiromar, who was giving him a gentler look on her face.
"Brother, I will gladly accompany you and Gilraen to Silithus. This is something both the Sisterhood of Elune and the Cenarion Circle needs to concentrate on. And soon, the Alliance and Horde will be involved as well" she explained to him.
Ossir stroked the facial hair on his chin while hearing this. "Fandral cares little about what the majority of us archdruids think. He tries to paint himself as Shan'do Stormrage's successor, but he has zero competence" the archdruid expressed his distaste of the current leader of the night elven druids. "He even opposed the introduction of tauren druids into the Cenarion Circle. Remulos has little confidence in him, sister" he added to his description.
"I understand, Ossir. But we will have to restore our family's legacy some other time. Right now, Azeroth is endangered by Ahn'Qiraj and whatever twisted darkness lurks behind its walls" Shiromar tried to assure him. "When do we leave for Silithus?" she asked him.
"We will leave Teldrassil for Southern Kalimdor in three days from now on. You better pack up the things you will need in the battle. Lots of blood will definitely be spilled upon the sands, considering that General Rajaxx will be leading the Qiraji armies" Ossir advised her.
Shiromar nodded her head in return. She and Ossir knew very well who Rajaxx was and what he had done to their friend Valstann thousand years ago. To be able to face him again was a dreadful thought inside their minds.
"Very well, I will join you in Darnassus in three days. But in the meantime, I will have to find someone to look out for Hammon in my absence" she told him.
The blue-haired druid sighed deeply by hearing this, which made Shiromar raise an eyebrow in return. "Shiromar, be honest with me now. Do you really think raising that…..half-breed….is something you truly desire?" he asked her deeply.
Shiromar faced the floor while thinking, before facing him again, surprisingly with reasonable eyes. "Hammon doesn't deserve to be hated because of mistakes his father did. We both know that killing an infant would be something Elune herself would've not tolerated. Do not forget that the goddess herself is a mother, Ossir" she reminded him about the demigod the druids were worshipping.
As much as Ossir wanted to clash with his sister on this subject, he felt no need to, as he realized that Shiromar was not giving up on raising Hammon. He surprisingly fixed a slight smile on his face while looking at her.
"I am glad to see that you remain loyal to Heralath, even though it was you who caused him to be banished from our lands" he expressed his admiration for her, but he could see that his blue-haired sister was feeling sad as she faced the floor again. This made Ossir try to think of something to lift her spirits. "Another reason for me and Gilraen to come here was to tell you something that father did not want you to know. It is about…Herelath's whereabouts" he revealed to him.
Shiromar immediately fixed her eyes on him again and her eyes widened in surprise. She had really wanted to know where Heralath had gone off to, as she missed him deeply, even though Orenthil had encouraged her to forget about him.
Ossir took a deep breath before speaking. "I will only tell you this once, sister. The last time Heralath was spotted, he was skulking around the snowy plains of Winterspring. Rumors has it that he now lives there as a hermit, away from civilization" these was Ossir's words that caught both Shiromar and a curious Hammon by surprise.
Even though the young boy had been silently crying after hearing his uncles speak negatively about him, Hammon was filled with curiosity over his father's whereabouts. It was the same father he never knew, even though Heralath had held him as a baby when he was born and brought back to Kalimdor. But he also wondered why Ossir had referred to him as a half-breed. Was he not just a night elf? This only led him to ask himself: who was his mother?
In the lush Eversong Woods, Quel'Thalas
The people of Quel'Thalas had been divided since the aftermath of the Third War. Those who joined Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider and his legacy named themselves blood elves (or Sin'dorei in their native tongue) in honor of those who had perished during the Scourge's invasion of their kingdom. The Scourge had also corrupted the Sunwell, thus forcing the proud people to destroy their source of magic.
However, one group of blood elves didn't join with their prince to Outland. They stayed back in the ruins of Quel'Thalas and tried to retake their homeland. It was a very difficult case. But in the aftermath of the Third War, the blood elves had begun rebuilding their ancient kingdom with the help of newly trained magisters from Outland. Silvermoon City was rebuilt and new regency led by the well-known ranger named Lor'themar Theron. Aided by Ranger-General Halduron Brightwing and Grand Magister Rommath, Lor'themar managed to bring stability and prosperity to the once-ruined kingdom. But some of his policies, including the banishment of high elves were considered authoritarian.
In the woods of Eversong, we will visit a beautiful mansion located closely to the Sunsail Anchorage. The mansion belongs to one of Quel'Thalas's most prominent families: the Ithillien family. Formerly a member of the Convocation of Silvermoon, the Ithilliens had preserved their legacy in the wake of the horrifying undead invasion.
The current head of the house was a blonde-haired blood elf named Aravas Ithillien. He was the oldest children of Arma'dar and Floria Ithillien. His parents had been killed by the undead in cold blood, thus leaving him to take care of his younger siblings. He had two younger brothers: Helikis and Beloron and two younger sisters: Tyrene and Kaileena. Of all of his siblings, Kaileena was the one he didn't see much eye to eye.
Once Kaileena had returned to her people with her newborn son, most people didn't seem at least offended or disgusted. But when her strict family became aware of her relationship with a night elf, they completely distanced themselves from her. But Aravas knew that he couldn't suspend Kaileena or her son given the fact they were related to the Ithilliens by blood. They were both welcomed in the mansion, but most family members didn't necessarily give Katsin much attention.
In fact, Kaileena decided to raise him outside the mansion by living in a house beside it. By that, she could still have contact with her only living relatives while at the same time raising her son. However, Katsin's childhood years became hard. Many other young blood elves at his age taunted him for having an unmarried mother. He was also numerous times rejected by them, because of his somewhat different personality as well as background. This made Katsin very connected to his mother.
Sitting under a golden tree close to her home, Kaileena was reading a book. It was a shining day in the woods of Eversong. She enjoyed reading when relaxing in the nature. Suddenly she heard a cheerful voice calling to her.
"Minn'da! Minn'da!" it called. Kaileena smiled and closed her book. It was her son Katsin. He had short brown-hair and possessed some similar features of his father, whom he never knew.
"Katsin, my lovely child! Doral ana'diel?" Kaileena asked her son while stroking his hair.
"Minn'da, you promised me that we would go out practicing archery! Can we do it now?" he asked gleefully. Kaileena chuckled.
"Of course we can! Just make sure you have your stuff ready, okay?" she asked, but paused at the sight of Katsin carrying both his bow and a bag of arrows. She laughed sweetly.
"I am already packed! Let's go!" he said while showing her his stuff. Kaileena calmed him down.
"Sure! Just let me get my bow and we will be visiting Falconwing Square! Just save your energy for the activity!" she said and rose up from her place.
As Kaileena and her son walked on the path to Falconwing Square, all was quiet around them. The woods of Eversong were known to be among the most serene forests of Azeroth. Despite the taint left by the Scourge, these woods began recovering from the cursed Plague of Undeath. Everything was so quiet around them until they heard noises coming towards them. It was a trio of well-trained Blood Knights. These crimson fighters were paladins of the Sin'dorei. Kaileena fixed a worried look on her face, while Katsin stared at them with curiosity. It didn't take long before the three paladins noticed them and they stopped their steeds. The three crimson knights eyed them with skeptical glances.
"Sinu a'manore, paladins! Is there anything I can help you with?" Kaileena asked nicely while bowing her head in respect. The blonde-haired knight eyed her dispassionately.
"What do you mean by helping us!? We Blood Knights don't need any help from the likes of you! You and your child better show some respect by kneeling for us!" he stated arrogantly, much to Kaileena's distress.
"Why are you all glaring at us like that?" she asked them while trying to stand up for her son. The three paladins laughed at her.
"Hah! Isn't it obvious? You are a Farstrider! Oh how hate those selfish pea-brains! They always speak of protecting this and protecting that!" the black-haired paladin mockingly said.
"Agreed, I honestly don't understand why they are all acting so all high and mighty! Everybody in Quel'Thalas knows very well that we Blood Knights are the true defenders of our realm! I mean, the only thing the Farstriders are good at is playing hide and seek in the forest!" the red-haired paladin exclaimed insultingly while eyeing Kaileena and her son.
"I have no idea what you are talking about! We rangers never scold or criticize our brothers and sisters in this realm!" Kaileena tried to defend her organization.
Katsin eyed the three paladins with interest. He had never seen such elegant fighters such as these. However, he had never confirmed this interest to his mother, given the fact that she was a ranger, or more specifically a Farstrider. There had been clashes among the leading military and political organs of Quel'Thalas recently. Among those clashes, the Blood Knights and the Farstriders were the two most prominent groups. But the groups were all united under the Regent Lord's rule, as they all supported him and his policies.
"Don't play dumb with us, you tramp! The "almighty" Ranger-General himself has openly showed hostility against us! You all know that fact damn well!" the blonde-haired paladin lashed out against Kaileena. She was standing up in front of her son.
"Hey….you look…familiar somehow. Who are you, woman!" the black-haired paladin demanded an answer by her. Kaileena closed her eyes before answering lowly.
"I am the ranger: Kaileena Ithillien. And this wonderful child behind me is my son! Now will you please leave us alone?" she identified herself and Katsin. To her surprises, the three paladins laughed loudly at her.
"What the….is it possible!? Do you have any idea who that woman is!?" the blonde asked his partners.
"Wait! Now I know! You are the one who mated with a night elf! That little abomination beside you carries Kaldorei stench within him!" the black-haired paladin exclaimed outrageous and pointed his finger towards Katsin. The young boy felt uncomfortable.
"Leave my son out of this! He has nothing to do with my relationship!" Kaileena barked angrily against the paladins.
"Oh yes he does! You should know very well that every Thalassian half-breed is nothing but a disgrace to our people! He should've been executed!" the red-haired paladin said.
The three paladins got off their steeds and moved closer towards Kaileena and her son. Katsin was very concerned about these people's motives. Why would they act so threateningly towards their own people? It was just absurd. Kaileena gritted her teeth in anger.
"Leave us alone, already! I won't stand for Thalassian blood being spilled for political issues!" she said determined, but the three paladins ignored her.
"Perhaps we should introduce ourselves, shouldn't we? I am the Blood Knight Andoran Fireflyer" the blonde paladin introduced himself.
"I am the Blood Knight Varanis Shiningeye!" the black-haired paladin said.
"And I am the Blood Knight Zendarin Dawnsinger!" the red-haired paladin said.
Kaileena stood in front of her son and aimed her bow sidelined. She did that with three arrows aimed at the paladins. They didn't back down. Instead, they unsheathed their swords and prepared their fighting stances.
"Back me up, brothers! We will teach this insolent witch here what it means to stand up against the Blood Knights!" Andoran said while glaring at Kaileena.
The ranger was just about to fire her three arrows at her adversaries, until she noticed how the ground began shaking. She what was about to happen and jumped off the circle along with Katsin. The three paladins were late in realizing that a flame strike had been set on the ground beneath them. Before they knew it, a large chunk of flame erupted from the ground. This surprised the paladins. But Kaileena knew very well who did that. It was none other than her oldest brother and among Quel'Thalas's most well-known magisters: Aravas Ithillian. He had sometimes been called a Blood Mage: a title given to the great Prince Kael'thas himself. The blonde-haired man watched the scene he had caused with his attack and briefly took a glance at her youngest sister and nephew. He closed his eyes and spoke in a calm manner.
"Why are you fighting amongst yourselves? Such reckless behavior is absolutely useless for our people! We blood elves always stick together, regardless of their class" Aravas explained while eyeing the three paladins. They all felt uncomfortable by the stare they were given by him.
"Lord Aravas…what a surprise" Andoran said while shivering in fear.
"This little bitch…..she" Zendarin tried to pin the blame on Kaileena, but it was no use.
Aravas walked towards them slowly and pointed his right hand towards them. "If you wish to remain alive with your skins on, you better mount your chargers and leave" the warned them while his eyes pierced through them.
The three paladins did as he requested and mounted their chargers. They then proceeded to do their daily patrol, not even bothering looking back, at least as long as Aravas was standing there.
With the Blood Knights gone, Aravas slowly walked towards Kaileena, who was standing there stunned. Little Katsin only hid behind his mother, as he was intimidated by his uncle's cold stare. The blonde-haired mage stood a few meters away from his brown-haired sister, not even changing the expression on his face.
"Brother….thank you" Kaileena thanked him lowly, as she had strength to look into his strict eyes.
Aravas was still displeased. "Keep your thanks to yourself" he told him coldly and turned around to give her a cold shoulder. "The reason I only came here is because of the promise I made to our parents on their deathbed: to keep my siblings safe and sound in order to preserve the Ithillien-bloodline" he said while looking over his shoulder at Kaileena.
As Kaileena stood her ground, Katsin had begun to look at his uncle from his mother's legs. He still didn't want to show himself completely.
"Both of you are coming with me to the Ithillien-mansion. You have done enough for today" Aravas suddenly declared and began walking down the road.
Kaileena and her son followed, knowing better than to keep Aravas waiting. But for little Katsin, being told by paladins that his mother was mating with a night elf made him realize something. What if his father was a night elf?
Author's notes: Hope you enjoyed this chapter. The next one will give us a picture of the boys as young adults. Hope to be write more.
