Chapter 4: The Distant Future
50s
After serving tea for herself and her guest, Chromie places the shard in her palms again.
"Thrall is already fifty years old and still in good shape. Typical for orcs, I guess. Look at Duran and how tall and strong he became. He is nearly as big as his father. It seems he tries to emulate Thrall but behaves a bit more extroverted. This results in a big step for the orcish kind. He meets a neutral draenei and befriends him."
"No way. Those races cannot stand each other after all the war and suffering for centuries," Chromie's visitor comments loudly.
"Maybe never in our timeline. However, keep in mind that the alternate timeline progressed differently. Azeroth has become a better place after the Legion war. Duran at least tries to solve the last remaining centuries-long conflict."
"What is Anduin doing? Is he still a good leader?"
"Yes, he is. Anduin, now in his late 30s, helps him and they even manage to decimate the Legion on Argus due to Anduin's now perfect understanding of the Light. His mentor Velen has become a very close friend for him. A tauren and a draenei. What an interesting choice of close friends. Oh, now that we speak about Baine. His friendship to Anduin gets even more intense when he visits the human king in Stormwind sometime. Let me show you…"
Baine and Anduin walk the halls of Stormwind castle while having a friendly conversation. They smile and giggle and have a good time together on this autumnal afternoon. When they reach a balcony, they make a halt and watch the panorama of Stormwind and its bay.
"This place and view is my favorite in your hometown, " Baine says and takes a deep breath, "one can even smell the sea from here."
"I like it, too. Father never wanted me to be here. 'Too dangerous, son', he always said."
Baine chuckles.
"My father was furious when I played or ran around too close to the cliffs in Thunder Bluff. He even ordered me to stay in Bloodhoof Village once in a while."
The king turns his head around and looks at his giant friend.
"Tell me. Why are you here today? Do you want to discuss anything of importance?"
He notices how Baine gets very nervous all of the sudden.
"There is something I need to tell you," the bull says while playing with his fingers, "but I do not know how. My life is about to change."
Anduin takes the huge hands and looks into his eyes.
"Do you mean…"
"Something wonderful is about to happen for me, Anduin. You are the first person I want to tell. I-"
"But Baine, " Anduin yells in joy and flings his arms around the mane, "this is wonderful. You are going to be a pa. I am so happy for you."
"I am honored by your kindness," the tauren says and joins the embrace, "but there is one more thing. An offer on my part."
The king makes a step back and listens carefully.
"As a symbol of friendship and a thank you for opening my eyes back when we were young, when you taught me to be tolerant and to think beyond the Horde, I want you to be part of the ceremony. I want you to be the… how do you humans call it… godfather of my child."
"I do not even need to think about it. It would be an honor, my friend."
They smile at each other and then lean on the railing of the balcony.
"Papa Baine…," Anduin speaks for himself. They both chuckle and look down to the city of Stormwind once again.
Chromie's guest smiles while watching the scene fade.
"Their friendship still lasts after the Legion crisis. At least in the other timeline. I am so relieved to see them so close and carefree."
"Yes, my tall friend. They preserve their friendship as good as they can. It works pretty well as you can see," the small lady replies happily.
"And does Anduin appear when it finally happens?"
"Yes, he does. The human king has the honor to become the baby's uncle. The tauren accept and welcome Anduin with open arms. Shortly after the baby is born, all of Baine's friends visit him in Thunder Bluff on a sunny day. Thrall holds the daughter and feels like he holds Duran for the first time. More than twenty years ago in that timeline. He and Jaina offer Baine to take care of her whenever it is necessary, rewarding his everlasting love to Duran - who also attends the visit and is the first, even before Thrall, who is allowed to hold the baby. It is unclear who Baine's wife is and how the daughter is called though. I cannot see those details."
60s
The timewalking lady takes a sip and jumps several years into the future.
"Nearly thirty years after the Legion wars ended, Thrall gets old and feels his time is slowly coming to an end. As a sixty-seven-years-old man, his last journey brings him back to the important places of his life. The place where he was born, the ruins of Durnholde Keep, the spot where he entered Kalimdor. He visits the night elves in Ashenvale and Mount Hyjal where he bids Malfurion farewell. Look, old Malfurion even has wet eyes when he realizes that this is the last time he will ever see Thrall in his life. The orc then travels across Durotar and of course his home Orgrimmar where he is welcomed by hundreds of orcs. He has become a living legend for many, with countless honors for his lifework. During his pilgrimage, he retells his and the orcish history for wanderers and helpers around him and preserves what his kind and he himself went through. He wishes that this part of history shall never be forgotten. It is his very last public appearance. Two years later, the legendary orc peacefully falls into eternal sleep in his house."
The spectators close their eyes and remain silent for a moment.
"... And most importantly, he does not suffer, does not frown, is not sad during his final days. He smiles and tries to solace Jaina."
"My Jaina, there is no need to be sad. My time has come and I feel happiness. We had such a good life, together. We withstood dire times, we survived many wars, we showed the world that orcs and men can have a mutual future. Remember all the good years we had. Here in Theramore. Remember that I have always loved you, no matter how disunited we were at times. Yet, you have always been my little girl."
"Remember, Thrall has had a fulfilled and calm life after the wars in the alternate timeline. He sees his children grow up, he never has an intense argument with Jaina again after the Legion crisis. She never becomes mad, never feels betrayed by him and the Horde the way she does in our timeline. They really love each other till death - and beyond."
"Give me a short break, Chromie," her visitor begs, stands up and looks out of the window for a moment. The moon is rising already.
"Is everything alright?" she fearfully asks.
"Please go on with your narration. I cannot see through that shard anymore."
"We can end our meeting any time if you want."
The guest turns around to look at the bronze dragon in her gnome appearance and nods.
"I want you to continue. The last scene just was too intense for a moment."
"As you wish. After Thrall's passing, his beloved ones prepare a state funeral. Thousands of people attend it in Theramore and many more watch it via celestial visions around the planet. It is the biggest funeral ever held in Azeroth, with millions of spectating people. He is buried in Theramore, with a space left for Jaina next to him. She mourns silently but has many people and friends around to help her. Especially her bodyguard and best friend Pained, who comes back after living in Ashenvale for decades."
"And how does Duran get over this situation?"
"Duran, who meanwhile is the elected mayor of Orgrimmar and married with a beautiful human lady, builds a huge monument of his father. It thrones on top of the big city wall and oversees his home of Durotar. The wall then becomes free to visit for pilgrims. No orc guard ever prevents people of formerly opposing factions from walking up the stairs and honoring the legendary hero, not even humans."
"And I am pretty sure Duran becomes just as respected as his father before him."
70s
They both breathe deeply. There is one more sad event to explore.
"Are you prepared for the finale?" Chromie asks. Her counterpart nods determined and takes his seat again.
"You know what comes next… Jaina's daughter comes back to Theramore and takes good care of her in the next years. Her mother enjoys her remaining years. The lady of Theramore retreats soon after her husband passed away.
Jaina dies three years after Thrall and is, as he desired in his last will, buried next to him. Her library in Theramore tower becomes a public place. She does not want a huge ceremony, monument or statue like every other hero of the past. So a subtle memorial stone is placed in front of the tower, honoring them as the first neutral couple of once hostile factions in history. The heroes who achieved peace among the races of Azeroth. Her death marks the end of an era. The age of Warcraft is over."
Chromie puts the shard aside and folds her hands on the table.
"This is it? Is this the end of the story?" her guest asks.
"Yes it is. Wasn't it beautiful? And remember, all is real in that alternate timeline…
High Chieftain Baine, it was an honor telling you this story. I hope you liked it."
"It… I am speechless."
"But… Baine. You do not need to be sentimental. You can be proud that there is one timeline where all is good. Where you and Anduin remain friends and shatter the factions with mutual efforts. Where Azeroth comes to rest for a while."
The bull nods and shakes her tiny hand with one finger.
"This is the last time I will ever talk about this very sacred timeline. So that the Legion or people from our timeline never find and threaten its positive progress. I want this very special timeline to be saved for eternity and that all goes just the way I have narrated to you. Thank you, Baine. For being my guest and having a close look at this wonderful, real story with me today."
"The pleasure is all mine, Chromie."
Baine nods once more, gives the gnome lady a smile and leans back. He looks into the night sky and feels something he believed to have lost many years ago. His inner peace.
