The Romancer Shadowstep
Episode Four: Something special for Mom's Day
"What's so great about being a mother?" Shadowstep frowned at his girlfriend. Priestess Feathershine got up very early the next morning and began packing Shadowstep's things which he found incredibly annoying. However, he did not dare remind Feathershine she had things to pack at her place and indulged the woman he adored if it meant she would visit with him longer.
"Hmm? What's that dear?" Feathershine raised a critical eyebrow at a pair of raggedy old underthings she was folding then abruptly shook her head and tossed it in the trash.
"Hey!" Shadowstep flared.
"You really do need to take better care of your clothing, dear. And who asks that sort of question? Of course being a mother is wonderful. I adore Opalbane and Onyxbane."
The Master Rogue folded his arms underneath his head and tried to relax. "Well anyone can see you like those orphan whelps. What I don't understand is the act of mothering. Those two are not your own flesh and blood. They aren't adorable chubby-cheeked children anymore. Why do you still waste time fretting over them, and... don't you dare throw that out! That's my favorite shirt!"
Priestess Feathershine turned around to show Shadowstep the black shirt she was folding. A large dark red stain covered the left breast pocket. "You rogues and blood... the least you could do is soak it in cold water after. How old is this stain?"
Shadowstep's brow knit together in frustration. "I don't know... does cold water really make that much of a difference? I just wear it under my armor so no one can see it."
Priestess Feathershine rolled her eyes. "Well not anymore it won't. It's too late to fix it." Then she callously tossed Shadowstep's treasured possession in the trash bin as well.
"Woman!"
"Onyxbane and Opalbane are not orphan whelps now, nor were they ever. I so resent you calling them that. They are children of Elune, precious beings just like you or me or anyone else. When their parents were brutally murdered before their eyes by demons in Felwood, it scarred them deeply. Perhaps the other priestesses in the temple wanted them gone after no one came to adopt them, but I showed Opal and Onyx compassion. I loved them then, and I love them now. In fact, with Zar'teaus loose they still need my help."
"Zar'teaus is not loose, like I told you–"
"And even if I am just their foster mother," Priestess Feathershine interrupted, "I am still their mother. Being a mother means that you make a commitment to raising someone and giving them every little thing that they need to grow up right. Love, support, or even incurring their wrath when you have to stand by what's just."
Shadowstep and Feathershine were quiet as they both recalled the incident she was referring to. Opalbane had run away from Darnassus about a year ago to become a shadowpriestess, forsaking the priesthood of Elune. Feathershine had been heartbroken about it.
"That boy of yours is still a pervert, and I'm not going to comment on Opalbane, that's too obvious."
Priestess Feathershine left off folding Shadowstep's clothing in piles at the edge of the bed.
"Do you know why I do any of this!" she shouted at him suddenly. Shadowstep flinched. "Because it needs to be done. Even if I fail... even if those two never recover from seeing the murder of their real parents..." she hesitated to admit that she was not in fact their actual mother, "If Onyxbane shacking up with that brash con artist Wisthera is still a mark of his fixating on the wrong women after Felwood, and if Opalbane became a shadowpriestess and then married that volatile assassin Alessandre because she still secretly wants murderous revenge on those who hurt her parents... at least I tried! Shadowstep, are you so cruel that you would diminish every effort I've made to save these children? I love them... I feel so helpless because deep down I know that I'm a failure of a mother, but I adore Opal and Onyx. I have to keep trying." Then Priestess Feathershine began to cry.
Shadowstep walked around the bed and held her. He let Feathershine cry into his shoulder.
"Deliah... I'm sorry I teased you about it. I didn't understand until now."
"They mean the world to me, Jebidiath." she sobbed, "I would give everything I had, even my life to ensure their safety."
Shadowstep softened. "I feel that way about you too."
"No." Feathershine pushed out of his arms. "You are selfish. You want to own me. That is not what mothers do. That is not what mothering is." Feathershine pulled open another one of his drawers and began to fold more clothing.
And now, watching Feathershine worry over him was not so annoying. It made Shadowstep happy to see someone do something for him, not because they had roguish motivations and wanted anything out of it, but simply because they cared.
"I guess... I guess I was always jealous of those two."
Priestess Feathershine glared at Shadowstep over her shoulder. "Tell me something I don't know."
Shadowstep patiently pushed forward through the blow to his pride. "You are a good mother."
Priestess Feathershine paused, then said, "Thank you. After all these years, and all this struggle you are the only person to ever say that to me."
Shadowstep wrapped his arms around Feathershine and then kissed her cheek. "You're a darling, Deliah. I'll say it every day if you like." Then Feathershine smiled and kissed him back.
That evening across the Great Sea at Pontier Manor near Stormwind...
Onyxbane the warrior belched loudly after dinner and Wisthera angrily jabbed him in the gut.
"Ow!"
Alessandre the rogue chuckled softly and leaned forward on an elbow. He had dark purple skin the color of living shadow and rich blue hair like the unfathomable heart of the ocean. "You know, you two are going to have to stop pummeling each other and having such loud arguments when the baby is born."
"Why! This is my normal tone of voice!" Wisthera flared. Her blue skin and long emerald hair fit her roguish personality as well. While Wisthera was infamous for her con jobs, Alessandre the assassin was widely known for his lecherous reputation. Well, he was married now.
Opalbane gave Wisthera a threatening look, and the wily rogue quickly apologized for shouting at the shadowpriestess' new husband. Like her brother, Opalbane wore her white hair in a long braid that fell gracefully over her right shoulder. Onyxbane's twin white braids and chopped off ponytail had the opposite effect. He appeared savage, like a barbarian ready for war.
"We're not abusive, really. We just... fight. Normal couples fight, unlike you two newlyweds. Besides, you're going to get into lots of arguments when you get pregnant Opalbane, you'll see."
Alessandre grinned devlishly at his wife and Opalbane flushed. "Wisthera, are you surprised that Willypearl sent your dinner up to your room? I don't believe it's because you're expecting and having trouble with the stairs."
At the mention of her rival the Human mage Willypearl, Wisthera perked up instantly. "Oh that jealous homewrecking... well she is our hostess, and it was nice of her to let us stay at her fiancee's home while we wait for the wedding to start, but I think she doesn't want her family to see me. She only invited me because I am dating Onyxbane... and she only invited Onyxbane because he is your brother. You're Willypearl's best friend."
"Can you blame her?" Alessandre smirked.
Wisthera pouted.
"You only just conned her out of good money and fine tailored goods over the last ten years and then stole her boyfriend... er... I mean... her ex-boyfriend... Me. I meant to say me." Onyxbane started well but, always a bit of a meathead, ended his sly comment badly.
Onyxbane, Wisthera, and Priestess Feathershine had gone to rescue Opalbane from Silithus about nine months ago. The kind Willypearl was an old friend of Onyx's and also felt responsible for Opalbane's disappearance so she offered to come along and help. Inevitably Onxybane had dumped the deceptive Wisthera and was well on his way to settling down with the Human mage when the female Night Elf rogue seized her man back in a daring final stand.
All the Night Elves at the table stared at Onyxbane. "Not that I'm... upset about it or anything. Willypearl's nice and all, but–"
"Little brother, just tell Wisthera that she's pretty and you love her before she smacks you again." Opalbane advised. Onyxbane did this quickly and the tension at the dinner table eased.
"Anyways, I'm glad that you all decided to have dinner with me rather than eat downstairs with Willypearl's family members while I sat up here by myself."
"Anytime." Alessandre patted Wisthera's hand. The handsome rogue then leaned back and put his arm around his wife. "We are all family it seems, though we came into each other's lives nearly by accident. And now," Alessandre chuckled, "You, Wisthera--oh mighty seductress who attempted to unravel my career back in Thelsamar--are having a baby. And you, Onyxbane--a man whom your sister tells me never seemed to fall for the right woman--are going to be a father. How about that?"
"Out of wedlock, no less. Frankly, I can't understand why Feathershine hasn't slapped you silly yet." Opalbane put in, building on her husband's idea. She and her brother rarely called Priestess Feathershine mom. However their parents' lives ended in Felwood, both Opalbane and Onyxbane still loved them as mother and father.
Onyxbane sighed. "Wisthera is already the mother of my child. Isn't motherhood enough? I mean... Willypearl's wedding is going to be this big to-do... I haven't money for that yet, and when we get married, I want it to be right." then he turned to his girlfriend. "You deserve the best, Wisthera."
Wisthera didn't seem too comforted by this excuse. "Yes, thank you Onyx."
"Well, you can't go on referring to Wisthera as your 'baby's mamma' forever, Onyxbane." Alessandre laughed, then got up from the table. Opalbane stood with him.
"Feathershine's wrath and your bastard child aside," Opalbane teased her little brother further, "Al and I are headed over to Stormwind. We still need to get Willypearl a wedding present. You guys want to come?"
Wisthera groaned and patted her very large belly. "I would but... my ankles are swollen. I'd better just stay here and rest."
"Onyx, you coming?" Alessandre prodded, " I think I'm going to get Willypearl's husband a sword or something from the weapon dealer. I bet Woo Ping is over there. We could go get a drink."
"You know the Woo Ping?" Woo Ping was Stormwind's mysterious Weapon Master. Everyone held him in high regard, but few people knew just what great feats he'd done for the Alliance to make him so important. Weapon jocks like Onyxbane lived to learn about these sorts of things.
"Yeah, we go way back." Alessandre shrugged. He was about a thousand years old, but was so handsome with his dark skin and midnight blue hair no one could tell just by looking at him. "Come on, we'll get him some ale at the tavern and he'll open right up about his better days in Outland."
Onyxbane's eyes bulged. "Woo Ping was in Outland? Before the Burning Crusade started? How?"
Alessandre rolled his eyes. "Those Four gigantic statues at the city gates aren't there for nothing, Onyx. They stand in honor of a campaign to defeat the old demonic Horde in Outland before this whole mess started, and Woo Ping was there I think. He mentioned it to me in passing some years ago when I got sword training."
Onyxbane nearly frothed at the mouth on hearing this. He leapt out of his seat at the table. "I could bring the Reaper, and–"
"Bring the Reaper. Woo Ping loves Arcanite Reapers."
Onyxbane was torn between a once in a life time chance to talk weapons with perhaps the coolest Weapon Master in all of the Alliance and his agonizing wife. Wisthera sighed, sensing she knew who was going to win this battle.
Onyxbane sat back down. "No, I should stay. Wisthera shouldn't be alone."
Alessandre started to object, but Opalbane tugged her husband's arm.
"Onyxbane... you live for that axe of yours. I don't want to hold you back." Wisthera frowned.
Onyxbane thought about this for a very long time.
"No. It's not about me anymore is it? I'm a father now. We have a family. We are living in Willypearl's house as wedding guests but she's treating you very badly. And, you aren't feeling so well, Wisthera. I want to be there for you. I love you and you are the mother of my child. The Reaper can wait."
Everyone gasped. All Onyxbane ever talked about was his precious Arcanite Reaper. He made that incredible battle axe by himself years ago. Wisthera had been jealous of it more than once. As his sister, Opalbane knew the feeling too.
"Oh Onyx!" Wisthera embraced her boyfriend.
Opalbane smiled and ushered Alessandre out of the room. "You can play weapons with your brother-in-law later, Al." she smiled. The door closed softly behind them.
When they were alone, Wisthera gasped in pain.
"What's wrong, Sara?"
"Oh, he... or she has been kicking me all night."
Onyxbane smiled. "Really? Our kid is a natural warrior then."
"Or rogue," Wisthera narrowed her eyes. "Ouch!"
Onyxbane held Wisthera through the worst of it, but it didn't seem to help. Finally, he reached around and placed his palm on the spot, to feel for himself. He raised his white eyebrows and smiled. Wisthera smiled too.
"You... do you feel it?" Wisthera asked in a small voice.
"Yes. That's the most amazing thing..." words could not describe how Onyxbane felt so he stopped trying to explain it all. He leaned in and kissed the mother of his child.
"Thank you." he said.
"For what?"
Onyxbane shrugged. "I don't know... it just seemed very important that I say it today, right now to you. Does that make you feel better?"
Wisthera looked like she was about to cry. "I know Feathershine worries about you and your sister but the two of you have changed a lot... I wish she was here to see you like this, with me. She would be very proud of you Onyx."
As they felt the baby stir in her womb, Onyxbane and Wisthera felt closer than they'd been before in life. It seemed to bond them across the tumultuous events in their relationship over the last year. Her motherhood healed many old wounds. The baby itself seemed to understand this, and was eager to live, eager to come into the world and share a new life with its parents.
"Let's name him Reaper." Onyxbane began to tear up too.
"No." Wisthera firmly asserted, and the moment was gone.