LIGHTBEARER
I don't own World of Warcraft or any of its associated characters. I do own some of the characters in this story since I created them.
+ Internal thoughts+
"Speech"
'Titles and emphasis'
Sorry I was on a long hiatus. Work has been brutal and going out to sea has really put a hamper on my time to write. This chapter was not easy to write but my next chapter should be easier and a better read.
And just FYI, this takes place many years after Burning Crusade comes to pass without regard to the upcoming expansion soon to take place.
CHAPTER THREE
CAMPFIRE STORIES
(OUTSIDE STORMWIND – SHORT TIME LATER)
(After recovering from his shock, Jar'ian and the female mage began to engage in conversation like good friends who hadn't seen each other in quite some time)
"So Silvas, what possessed you to go to the Dalarian ruins? I'm sure you could afford to buy any reagents you need for some kinda spell or some other type of sorcery."
"'Light', Tomus told you we are searching for some ancient artifacts. You can't just buy these things anywhere, not even in the places we shop. Things that were lost in Dalarian and haven't been recovered yet, spells, secret recipes you name it."
"Dalarian has become a dangerous place Silvas, there are plenty of mages still roaming the area looking for exactly the kinda things you are and they are more willing to do some nasty things to get them. And that's just the mages you have to worry about. With treasure there will always be bandits in the area too. We can't forget that the Forsaken have set up shop just to the north and there is many other vile creatures that inhabit the area since Dalarian's fall. There were many a hideous a beast living beneath that city and with its fall they were released and now they plague the countryside. I myself have gone there on many occasions just to cull as many of their numbers as possible."
"You know I'm kinda surprised to see you with so many kids."
"Well they're kinda my little experiment."
Silva's eyes widened at the word 'experiment.
Seeing this Jar'ian clarified:
"I'm training these kids in the old style. Not like how Paladins are trained today. They will be going through the real training and will be far more capable than this 'run of the mill' type they got now."
"I see." Slightly leaning in towards Jar'ian, Silva assumed a sly grin as she asked. "So 'Light', have you rescued any young damsels in distress lately. You must be falling short of your annual quota by now."
Choking from surprise and embarrassment, Jar'ian replies weakly. "What do you mean?
As they continued on like that for awhile the apprentices were trying to figure out who the mage was and what her tie was to Master Jar'ian. She called him 'old man' but she appeared to be very old herself. Her hair was just as gray as his, strange though was how youthful her face and mannerisms were. Her face and attitude said she had to have been only in her mid twenties, but her hair said she was about as old as Master Jar'ian. Tav'mere decided he couldn't take the suspense any longer and had to risk asking the questions that plague all their minds:
"Excuse me, ma'am, but are you Master Jar'ian's girlfriend?"
Both looked quite surprised and startled by this, while the other mage was chuckling to himself.
"Me? His Girlfriend? Heavens no! Hahahaha!" She started to laugh.
"He's much too old for me; Jar'ian here is old enough to be my father."
Catching his apprentices confused faces; he noticed they directed a great deal of attention to her hair.
"Ho! Don't be fooled by her hair boys. She's far from an old gal. 'Young Silvas' here is scarce old enough to be off on her own."
Face flushing at his choice of words, Silvas decided to add, "What the 'Old Man' here is trying to say kids is my hair is not gray…its silver." Spinning around to face Jar'ian and the apprentices at the same time, she huffed up and spoke. "And I am more than old enough to be on my own, adventuring and traveling." At this, the mage seemed more like the youthful individual that her face portrayed and her hair denied.
All the apprentices were stunned by the revelation, they had never heard of a human with silver hair before.
"Was it always like that?" Tav'mere.
"No, my hair was originally red. You see, back when the High elves were first teaching the first human Mages, one mage's hair grew silver from using magic and it passed to his children. And that kiddos, is where my family got its namesake."
"Does it mean anything special?"
"Unfortunately. No. As far as any one has ever figured out that's it, no extra special abilities, no uniquely powerful affinity for a particular element, nothing…but it looks cool doesn't it?"
As if to emphasize this point the sun seemed to catch just right and caused her hair to shine and sparkle like spun silver as she cocked her head in a fashion.
Despite the anti-climatic answer most of the apprentices still found it fascinating while the couple of girls in the group were both envious and jealous.
At this Jar'ian just rolled his eyes while the male mage just shook his head in mock shame.
Jar'ian turned to regard the mage, Tibrus Sal'aan. He was beginning to like the fella, he had a sense of humor that Jar'ian himself could relate to and by the look of him Jar'ian could tell this guy knew what he was about. He stood a few inches taller than Jar'ian himself and his build was slender, not frail like many mages. His face was strong and was the kinda face that would have fit on some adventuring hero. His hair was black with just a bit of gray and he kept it short with a well trimmed mustache. His skin even had a bit of a tan going so Jar'ian knew this guy was up and about more often than hiding out in some library or tower. Jar'ian took this all in and figured that Silvas's new associate was definitely well seasoned, and knew his way around a fight. All in all Jar'ian believed Silvas made a great choice for an adventuring partner.
As night rolled in they finally set up camp. Tibrus Sal'aan and Silvas worked a little magic and had a camp fire up in moments while having the ingredients for a meal ready to be put together. After the meal began cooking both Silvas and Tibrus set up their individual tents while Jar'ian and his apprentices got set up to sleep under the stars. Jar'ian began to set up a watch rotation involving the apprentices so someone was up at all times. After they had all finished their meals, Tibrus gathered the young ones in around the camp fire and began telling them stories. Stories of his own adventures, stories of heroic feats from legends as well as stories of adventurers. Jar'ian was a little startled when he heard a story about himself, one that must have originated from one of those he had adventured with that particular time. Of course the names were changed but Jar'ian could recognize that story very clearly, there was no mistaking it. Silvas caught this one too, as she had a part to play in it. Halting Tibrus quickly:
"Ohh no. That will not do. You seem to have gotten some things wrong with that one Tibrus." Silvas
"Ohhh? And what would be the misconception there hmmm?"
"Well for one thing the young mage's name was not 'Stephanie', I'm sure it was 'Lia'dri Silvas'."
"You!? You were the young damsel in distress?"
At this revelation the apprentices became even more engrossed in the story. Turning towards Silvas.
"Why yes I was."
"Well then who was the mighty 'Knight in shining armor'?"
"Well he was Jar'ian of course."
Jar'ian's eyes bulged out of his head as he looked like he had been caught doing something vile as everyone turned to look at him. +Ahhhh Crap…+ The apprentices just looked at their 'Master' with astonished faces. Even Tibrus seemed to be choking on the soup he had been tasting.
"Jar'ian was the one that save your life?"
"Why yes."
Everyone seemed to become entranced by the story Silvas unfolded of her first meeting with Jar'ian. As she retold the story, both of them were taken back to the time when they first met…
(SWAMPLANDS OUTSIDE MENETHIL HARBOR – FIVE YEARS AGO)
(Jar'ian leads a small force of mercenaries hired to protect a rich dwarven merchant from Ironforge to Menethil Harbor)
"Alright men! Look sharp! This area is crawling with young red dragons who will not hesitate to roast you inside your own armor. Keep your eyes open, we must get our client to the Harbor if we are to earn any of those silvers. Lets pick up the pace!" Most of the mercenaries grew more alert and began scanning the surrounding area. All of them eased their weapons to the ready; wanting every spare moment available to them should they have to throw down with some dragons.
A few did grumble a bit but those that did were usually smacked by those around them. They had just spent the last day and a half dealing with the renegade orcs that inhabited the mountains that they just left and a couple of them didn't make it. Those that didn't usually died before even Jar'ian could use his magic touch on them, they died instantaneously. As they were nearing a fork in the road, Jar'ian heard a cry for help and some loud bursting and crackling noises. Once they got close enough they could see a woman was trying to fend off a small dragon whelpling and not doing so good. They also noticed that their confrontation was drawing other whelplings into the mess. The woman appeared to be an older mage, as indicated by her seemingly gray hair. Jar'ian charged in to her rescue while many of the others set off to lend a hand as well by trying to prevent the arrival of the new dragon whelplings.
(SAME TIME AND PLACE – SILVAS POINT OF VIEW)
(Lia'dri Silvas was off on her first real adventure and wanted to take a look at the island of the Night Elves when she stumbles upon a little baby dragon.)
"Ahhh… he looks so cute."
Upon the little dragon's awareness of the young mage, he immediately became hostile and opened fire on Silvas, spouting flames from his nostrils and his mouth.
Silvas barely has time to raise her ice armor to absorb the heat for the fire blast. As she backs up to give her space to work with and defend herself from the miniature red fire spouter, Silvas begins to call forth some fire of her own.
"So you want to play rough huh? Well I can do the fire thing too little dragon. Let's just fight fire with fire, shall we?" with a large grin on her face and the adrenalin from her first real fight, Silvas let loose all she had on the baby dragon.
They began trading shots for a few minutes before Silvas realized the predicament she was really in.
+ Damn, I'm getting so tired and my ice armor barely seems to last more than three of that little bugger's breaths. That damn scalelly vermin doesn't seem to be slowing too much. I guess fire wasn't my best choice for this one. But I can't just go through my frost spells now, I'm already too tired and my frost spells are still too few, and far from my specialty. I'm having a hard time just drawing manna from the surrounding area as well as myself. Soon I'll be too tired to draw any. +
Silvas jumps to the side as a burst of dragon's breath flies to where she was standing moments ago. As she does so she hurls a fire ball at the dragon. The fire just seems to roll along the dragon's scales and barely leaves any lasting impression on the little whelp. She notices that a large bit of her ice armor has also melted off from the near miss. Deciding to change strategies and use her specialization to her defense and not her attack, Silvas surrounds herself with fire while she begins to summon up some ice magic. The little dragon then unleashes another torrent of dragon's breath in her direction. Her fire ward just absorbs the fire and seems to dispel it around her harmlessly. Smileling at her stroke of genius she lets loose the now formed ice and directs it at the little creature's head and tiny wings. A small portion of the ball glances over the top of the dragons head coating his eyes in ice while the rest slams into his little wings and they quickly become coated with ice. Now unable to maintain flight the little dragon falls to its side on the ground and rolls around trying to free itself from the impeding ice. Using her free moments Silvas rushes closer while she drains a bottle of pure manna enriched water and draws upon pure arcane magic and unleashed multiple arcane 'missiles' into the hindered little dragon. She unleashes as many as she is able, and as each volley strikes the little dragon, it shudders from each blast while crying out for help. Silvas almost felt sorry for the little thing. That was until she began hearing answering calls from the surrounding area. At this she began to worry since she wasn't entirely sure she could beat this dragon still.
As she was readying another spell of arcane 'missiles', the dragon finally broke free of the ice and hopped up and blew a large fireball in Silvas's face, though her ward dispelled most of it, she did feel enough heat that her skin began to prickle as her ward finally failed her. Unleashing her second set of 'missiles', Silvas began readying another ice blast and fire ward. As the missiles pummeled the dragon off balance, Silvas got her fire ward back up. With the ward up and the dragon recovered, Silva knew it all mattered on who got the first next shots in and she planned on being the one. She shot her ice at the dragon's wings for a second time and got ready to draw in more arcane missiles to finish the deal.
This time however the dragon surprised her by flinging its tail in the way and taking the brunt of the attack in the rump. She also realized that the arcane magic was coming to her in a trickle, she had pretty much hit her limit on mana use for the time being and her body was too tired to do more, at this she collapsed on her knees and put what remains of her abilities into maintaining her fire ward as long as possible. The dragon begins to unleash everything it has into overcoming her ward as it senses this is her final move.
Silvas begins to feel the heat from the dragon's breath as it begins to overcome her now failing ward, at this she brings forth her staff to both lean on and provide her with some shelter from the onslaught.
Suddenly just as her ward finally failed she felt the presence of someone else over her, shielding her from the dragon's attempt at her life. Spent beyond reason, Silvas collapses as she hears a voice call to her saying: "It'll be o.k. ma'am. I got you now." At which point she blacks out.
+Why does that voice dispel all fear in me? Why do I suddenly feel so saf-…+
(JAR'IAN)
(As Jar'ian charges in he releases his hold on his Charger, which dispels in a golden glow, and uses the momentum to continue the rest on foot where he places himself between the dragon and the mage, crouching over her and bearing his shield up to take the blast head on)
As Jar'ian crouches over the mage he notices that she appears to be losing consciousness.
"It'll be o.k. ma'am. I got you now" the mage didn't give any sign of acknowledgement before she passed out.
"Luckily for me little dragon, my armor just happens to be warded against fire." With that said the air around Jar'ian begins to glow red as he summons up an aura that diffuses fire magic along with the fire warding enchantments on most of his armor, shield and mace begin to glow red from interacting with the dragon's fire.
Jar'ian watched as his aura surrounded those of his men that followed him into the fray. He watched as they engaged the oncoming baby dragons and smiled when he watched as much of the other dragons fire breath seemed to dissipate away from his men and splash around harmlessly. Then turning towards his new 'little nemesis' , Jar'ian slid his mace in its holder as he began focusing Holy energies into his fist. When he felt he had sufficient energy collected he rushed the whelpling as it was drawing in breath and sent in all the energy accumulated into the little dragon as he laid his hands on its body. The holy 'shock' that the dragon experienced was too much for its tired little to take and it collapsed to the ground unconscious.
With the dragon dealt with Jar'ian returned his attention to the mage, her face seemed to have received the starting of a burn, but not quite. He seemed to think it was almost like a mild sunburn. She was very fatigued and he began to feed holy energies into her to help heal and rejuvenate her body. Upon closer examination of her face as the 'sunburn' healed, he noticed that despite her gray hair her face seemed to belong to a very young woman and not the old woman he originally took her for.
He looked up just in time to see his men chasing off the other dragons as they gave up the fight and fled the band of humans.
Wondering what to do with the little dragon, Jar'ian scooped it up and placed a collar around its neck to help in controlling it once it wakes. Then turning towards the mage, Jar'ian gently scooped her up and carried her to the caravan and already began to make plans on what he was going to do with her.
The rest of the men were hollering and cheering up a storm as they watched Jar'ian come back with the mage in his arms.
(SAME PLACE – LATER THAT NIGHT)
(Silvas slowly begins to wake from her collapse from exhaustion)
Silvas could feel the warm of a fire nearby as much as she could smell it. That alone told her she was alive, if not whether she was still in danger or not.
She realized that she wasn't lying on the cold ground but propped up against something quite warm. At this she remembered in her last moments before blacking out that a man had saved her at the last moment and now her injuries and fatigue had miraculously vanished. As she opened her eyes she realized she was lying up against him, with him sleeping propped up against a rock. She soon noticed how hard and layered with muscle his body was and how good it felt against her skin.
+You saved my life and I have no way to say thank you but with maybe one kiss. After all, neither of us seems to be wearing much of anything and we are all alone in the middle of the wilderness. +
With that and the passion that was growing intensely inside her she began to slowly move up to bear her lips upon his while he still slept. After barely even beginning to move, his eyes opened up and locked on her's. With their eyes locked, he bent down to meet her half way. She was beginning to be over come with-…
(THE PRESENT)
(Jar'ian and the rest of the group were still sitting around the campfire as Silvas tells the tale of their first encounter)
"EEEEWWWWWW!" chimed all the students at once. Most of them did not like where this once exciting story was moving to.
Tibrus was more than a little caught off guard by the implications of their first meeting and just by what he had heard so far.
Turning a bit red and feeling a bit outraged, Jar'ian spoke up:
"Cut that out Silvas, you know very well that last part never even remotely happened!"
Smiling at his discomfort Silvas grinned as she replied. "I know. But you should have seen the look on all of your faces! It was truly hilarious. Hahaha!"
"Silvas. Those were not the kind of things to be saying around the young ones. They are not ready to hear about such things.
Seeing as how things were definitely going Tibrus got up and started rounding up the young ones for sleep.
The kids, disappointed with the turn of the story, began dragging their feet, sensing this Jar'ian spoke up: "If you're fast enough, I'll see about having Silvas finish the ending, the correct way tomorrow during breakfast.
With that everyone got ready for sleep, while Jar'ian set up a watch rotation for the night for the youngsters before returning to the adults to discuss their own sleeping arrangements.
Silvas and Tibrus watched with fascination as the young ones who just earlier seemed no different than any other youngsters now began to move with a military efficiency and work-like manner setting up sleeping arrangements and watch-lookout positions. They even discussed rotations and roving patterns as well as arranging their sleeping spots into neat orderly rows without making any differentiation between boys and girls. It was after watching them for a minute that Jar'ians comment on them being his 'little experiment' really hit home. Just what did these kids go through?
Almost as if responding on her thoughts Jar'ian spoke up:
"Look at them, so disciplined already, they are growing so fast it reminds me of my childhood." Pride just rolling off his words.
Startled even more, Silvas stared at her long time friend with her jaw dropped open.
+They reminded him of his childhood? Jar'ian's a big softy at heart so he must be going easy on them. At least relatively easy… But if that's the case, then what kinda childhood did he have? What did he go through? +
Silvas watched as Jar'ian settled down and removed the heavy plates of his armor while leaving only the chain mail on as he laid down with his cloak as a blanket and his helm as a pillow, she even watched as his little kitten 'Jimmy' crawled up and curled up on his chest.
He looked so peaceful and calm. He was always so jovial and polite that it was easy to mistaken him for an incompetent fool, but she had seen the scars that littered his body and the lines of strain and age that marked his face as much as those from smiles and his grins ever did. She had to admit that like most others, she believed he must have had an easy and enviable childhood growing up. Though he never made any mention of it, she even knew he was actually a minor noble and she assumed he had a pampered life. That he did the whole adventuring as a means of escaping his lofy life style… now she wasn't so sure.
Silvas was beginning to suspect that the life of a paladin was never easy, and that his was even more so, if the claims she heard from others were true, that he was among the last of those trained as a 'Knight of Silverhand' and that their training was far more grueling than anything paladins today ever went through.
As she settled in on her pallet and drifted off to sleep, the last thoughts on her mind were:
+Just what is it that hides beneath that smiling face of his…+
Please send reviews. I appreciate the feedback and I like to hear what you think I did right and what I did wrong. This will help me to continue to write you my epic story to its end. I will prolly update this chapter in the next few days.
