Five Years

Five years. It has been five years since I told him that I love him. Five years since the day he left to go on a mission in the name of Silvermoon. Four and a half years since Lor'themar had the audacity to tell us he was killed in the front lines against the scourge, his body being ravaged and leaving no trace of him. His mother didn't take this well. Illana had lost her husband three months before Athrodar had left to go on the mission that would see him disappear from our lives. Now she had lost her son as well. She barely ate in the first two days and when she did, she had ate scraps of what was deemed normal.

Minn'da was taking care of her in the first two weeks, until she was strong enough to carry on living with the grief of losing everyone in her family. Vilandil however, didn't believe the story of Athrodar's demise. He joined the Argent Dawn, now Argent Crusade, shortly after as he didn't want to be at home anymore. He claims it reminds him of the day he let Athrodar go on the mission and his failure to keep him at home.

As for me, the first couple of months were difficult after that night we spent together. I woke up in his bed with nothing more than the note he left me.

Thalina,

Dalah'surfal,

I'm sorry I have to leave early in the morning without saying a proper goodbye. Know that if I had a choice, I'd spend it with my family instead of being shipped halfway across the world on a mission that I have no information about.

I won't forget the little amount of time we spent together before I had to leave. Waking up with you there made it that much harder for me to leave, and know that I carry what you said to me that night in my heart of hearts.

If I don't return, know that I'm proud of the beautiful young woman you have become, and that no matter what you do with your life, I'll continue to be proud of you.

Love,

Athrodar

He rarely used Thalassian, so when he put 'My love' in the beginning, it both shocked me and made me weep more tears. He was effectively saying goodbye to me, whilst also telling me he loved me. I have carried the note around ever since. It gives me light in dark times, knowing that he's proud of me and that he's there.

So when the news came that he had died in the front lines, I knew it wasn't true. Whatever mission he was on meant that he wouldn't be coming home and that he was still alive out there. This surged me forward in my studies of magic, knowing that once I became a Magister, I wouldn't need to stay in Silvermoon for my studies. I could travel the world freely and seek guidance in further improving my magics, whether that be in Dalaran or else where.

Within Four years of getting the title of Adept Fire Mage, I had once again been promoted. I had finally done it, studied as hard as I could and got the title Magister Thalina Dawnstrider. Ann'da wanted me to stay home in Silvermoon with him, so he could train me to further my progress in the arts of magic, hoping that I succeed him and get the title of Grand Magister. I refused him however, telling him that I want to explore the world now, learning things other mages of the world may know that I don't.

Which has brought me to Booty Bay. I heard stories of a neutral merchant town where both Horde and Alliance convene in trade, whilst being in the same area. Somewhere people could get to know others from the opposite faction, whilst also having a drink or two with them.

Somewhere you can hire a blade to do your dirty work, as long as the pay is good. Or to simply find some information on someone. Whether it be their whereabouts or what it is they do. This is the reason I'm in Booty Bay. I want to hire someone who can dig up and find out where Athrodar is, and I'm willing to pay them as much is required for their help. My mother is a Jewelcrafter, and her jewellery is some of the most sort after in all of Quel'Thalas. So money wasn't hard to come by when I told them I was going to travel the world, and would need money to live off.

I made my way to the inn, walking passed a two hooded figures on the way in, almost colliding with them.

"Watch it!" One of them barked at me.

I shook my head and walked into the inn, where I was met with an image I wouldn't forget anytime soon. Gnomes and Goblins arguing about who's inventions were better in one corner of the room. In another, Orcs, Humans, Forsaken and Dwarves laughing and sharing stories of their adventures over a beer or two. The rest of the room was more or less the same as that, members from opposite factions, in a neutral environment, sharing stories over a few pints of beer.

I made my way to the innkeeper, knowing that with the right amount of coin, I can get information on people in the town.

"Excuse me." I said to the goblin serving drinks to those that were waiting.

"Yo." He turned to look at me. I noticed he had one golden tooth, and an eye patch over his left eye.

"I would like information about someone, anyone."

"I got what you need, sweet cheeks."

I threw up a little in my mouth as he said that. "Good, I need to know someone who I can hire to find information on a certain someone. Could you help me out with that?"

He grinned at me wickedly at me, I noticed his teeth were razor sharp. "You wish to hire a private eye? That's gonna cost ya more than a pretty coin or two."

I simply paid the goblin five gold coins, his eyes widen as I placed them down, clearly not expecting that much. "Who do I talk to?"

He was rubbing his hands, still staring at the gold coins I placed in front of him. "You see that room behind you, the one guarded by those guys in black?"

I turned around to look at where he was talking about. Noticing he couldn't need me nod I said, "Yes, I see them."

"Good, go to them and ask for The Hawk. They'll let you in, I'm sure of it."

"The Hawk?"

"Yes ma'am, tell them that if they don't let you in straight away. I guarantee you will get in."

"Thank you." I paid him an extra gold coin for his trouble.

"No miss, thank you!" He scooped up the gold coins and stashed them away somewhere secret, I didn't see where.

I started walking towards where the two guards were standing, seeing them notice me and put their hands on their swords, ready to draw them if I posed a threat. I carried on walking towards the door, which is when their sword were drawn and aimed at me.

"And where do you think you're going? Elf." The first one said, he was clad in full leather and had a hood and mask on. Noticing his posture and height, let alone his voice I surmised he was a Human.

"I've come to see The Hawk, If that's okay with you." I looked him straight in the eyes, not backing down when he glared at me. He looked over to his friend on the left, who nodded back to him. They both put their weapons back into their sheaths, nodded at me, and opened the door into a dark candle lit room.

"So... What's a pretty young elf like you doing here?" Came a voice from the figure standing at the back of the room. I couldn't make out what race he belonged to. Like the guards outside, he too was clad in full leather with a mask, but also had a cloak with a hood. Clearly showing he was their leader of some sort.

"I've come to talk to The Hawk, I was told he was here."

He turned around to look at me, walking towards his desk and taking a seat. He nodded over to his left and suddenly the room lit up. It was only when I looked over to where he nodded that I saw a mage standing there. Clearly versed in the ways of fire. "I'm The Hawk, who is it you want to find? Clearly you know who I am, so there's no needing to explain what I do."

He wasn't wrong, I came here because I knew who he was. "I'm looking for a friend of mine who went missing five years ago. He's a Sin'dorei like me, golden hair, farstrider uniform."

He interrupted me. "Name lass. That's why we're here."

I nodded, "Yes, sorry. His name is Athrodar Sunblade."

He looked past me and nodded to the figure standing behind me, who I hadn't noticed was in the room until he had done so. The figure moved to the door and locked it, standing in front of it afterwards, blocking my exit. I tried to remain calm, but my face gave it away.

"There's no need to be alarmed, we're not going to harm you." Relief suddenly washed over me. "I just need to know how you know this man, and why you're looking for him."

I gave him a brief run down of how I knew Athrodar, followed by the conversation I overheard him have with my brother. It was during that part I noticed him looking past me, at the figure standing behind me. I carried on, but made sure to make a mental note of it. I finished off with telling them that we was told he was killed, but not believing it, due to the lack of a body and what he and my brother were arguing about the night before he left.

I could see he was mentally adding up the story in his head. After he was done, he nodded to his mage, and she left the room. Leaving just me with the other two. "I can see this man means something to you lass, which is why it will be hard for you to accept this."

"Accept what?"

"Stop this pursuit of him. It won't do you any good."

"You know something, don't you?" He looked down at his hands that were folded across his chest.

"Aye, I do know the name, and like I said, It won't do you any good to know where he is."

I slammed a sack on his desk, containing one hundred gold pieces. His eyes widened at the amount that was in there. "Tell me what you know."

He sighed. "Fine, seeing as the pay is good and you're not backing down from this, I'll tell you. But remember, you're not going to like it."

"Try me."

"What's ye name lass?"

"Thalina Dawnstrider."

"Well Thalina, he no longer goes by the name Sunblade. He has kept Athrodar, but has changed his family name to Nightblade. Not much of a difference, I know. But that name carries a heavy price with it. Both in coin, and wrath." In wrath? This can't be the same Athrodar I knew. Although I didn't really know him outside of the person I saw every now and then on visits. "There's something else lass, something I don't feel comfortable in telling you, since you've known him for as long as you claim."

"I'm a big girl, I can take it." I also placed an extra twenty gold pieces on his desk. He refused the extra money, pushing it back to me. He wasn't willing to take more money for this bit of information?

"I won't need the money, not after I've told you this." He gestured at the bigger sack of golden pieces on his desk. "That, and it pains me enough to have to tell you this. He's no longer a ranger of Silvermoon. I won't go into the finer details of it, but he's a part of an assassin organisation that requires you to dedicate your life to them at a price." I could see him fighting with himself at this next point to come.

"What price?"

"They require you to willingly give up on everything you had known in your past life, forgetting everything and everyone you had known. Making it all seem like a dream they once had, a fleeting memory of a time long gone. They're never the same after that. All they know is what they were taught. To kill."

No... He wouldn't just give up his family... That wasn't him! He fought for Silvermoon to protect his family, he went on this mission in the service of Silvermoon. What did they do to him whilst he was there for him to just give us up?

I couldn't tell how long I stood there after he told me this bit of information. I was staring at the floor, seemingly focused on nothing other than what I was thinking. It was only when he approached me to take me to a hidden door in the side of his office did I realise I was moving. He placed me on his bed and was talking to me. I didn't hear what he was saying. My heart was breaking, my throat constricting, tears forming in my eyes. I was physically shaking. Had he really just erased everyone he knew to become an assassin? That wasn't him. He wouldn't do that.

He left me on the bed and walked out of the room. I broke down into crying mess. I came all the way to Booty Bay, just to be told that the man I love was gone and all that remained was a killer? I refused to move on for five years because I knew he was out there. I wasn't wrong in that fact. He was out there, just not as the person I had grown up with.

He was out there...

The Hawk said we're just a fleeting memory to him. I have to find him, see if he recognises me at all. I won't give up on him just yet. If he recognised me, that would be enough! I'd know he was still in there somewhere. I have a purpose in life. I will find Athrodar and make him remember.

Meanwhile...

"Is our contact even here yet? The smell of beer is driving me insane. What I would do to just get a pint."

"Soon Athrodar... He said meet him in Booty Bay inn, and that's what we're doing. He's just running late is all."

"I don't care if his house is burning down, Elaria. I don't like waiting around for a scheming goblin who decides to take his time when he asked us for our help."

She grinned at me, removing a dagger from her waste and slamming it into the table we were sat at. "Well, we'll just make sure to get the message across that we don't like to be fucked about."

I smirked at the gesture, removing a dagger from my waste and slamming it into the table next to hers. "Let's hope he arrives soon, for his sake. Or there will be more than a message coming his way." We were sitting there for another ten minutes before I lost my patience. "Alright, I'm done with waiting. Do you know where this time wasting goblin lives?"

"I do, and I think I know where you're going with this. Let's leave." We removed our daggers, sheathing them and leaving the inn. As we left the inn, a young Blood Elf woman almost collided into us. Frustrated, Elaria barked at her. "Watch it!"

I looked at her, amused by what just happened, "And I thought I was annoyed by a goblin wasting our time. You're over here yelling at people who are just walking."

She glared at me, "I'm warning you." she said through gritted teeth.

"Ha, what exactly will you do? You know I'll take you on and beat you. Again."

She quickly drew her dagger from her waste and lay it across my throat. "I'll kill you where you stand, that's what I'll do." She winked at me.

"Will you now? I see you have failed to notice where my dagger is." At the same time she launched her dagger at my throat, I had drawn mine towards hers. She glanced down at it as best she could, realising where it was placed. She let out a frustrated groan and removed her dagger. I done the same, smirking at her the whole time. "Almost had me that time dear. Almost."

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Let's just go teach this goblin some manners."

We made our way to where his house was located. Unlucky for him, we were master assassins. Best and most expensive in our trade. Any plan to escape would be met with death. Our plan was simple. I'll make my way into his house through a window, whilst she would simply stroll up to the door and knock. He'd make his way to open the door, which is when I'll subdue him and tie him up to a chair. Putting a portable silencing spell on him. Simple as that.

I walked to the door and opened it.

"Looks like I have the wrong house," She said sarcastically. "I was told a filthy goblin lived here, not his reject cousin."

"Funny, I didn't pay for humour though. Only pleasure." I responded. She chuckled and made her way into the home.

"Well, well. There he is. The little shit who decided to waste our precious time." she removed the silencing spell from him. "What's your excuse Lerx?"

He looked terrified. He was shaking so much I put my boot on his leg to keep the chair still. "Talk Lerx, or it will only get worse from here on out." I pulled out my dagger and scratched it along his cheek. First few droplets of blood hitting the floor.

"I... I was gonna come... But I had second thoughts..." His voice was shaky as well.

Elaria sighed, "What do you mean, second thoughts?"

"It is what it is... I didn't know if I wanted to go through with it! I... I didn't want it on me conscience." His words were flowing fast, clearly scared out of his mind at what may happen to him.

We looked at each other and nodded. I cut the binds from his hands and feet, releasing him from the chair.

"Th...Thank you. Please, I didn't mean to w-"

"Shut up." I hit him over the head with the hilt of my dagger, knocking him out cold. "Let's just take his money and leave. I'm tired and I could use a drink." She simply nodded.

We took his money and headed back inside the inn. We made our way over to a dark corner in the room, a bit cliché but what can you do, hiding in the shadows is our style. We sat down at a booth with couches and a table. I pulled out the sack of money we took from the goblin and started counting it, whilst Elaria made her way back from the innkeeper with our first round, sitting on the opposite couch to me.

"Two gold coins and thirty silver! What kind of cheap goblin was this? We told him at least fifty gold. If I see him again, I'll do more than just cut his cheek."

"Relax, we'll just use his money to buy tonight's drinks, then we'll be off in the morning."

"Fine." I looked around the room and saw a mage walk out from a guarded room. "I see he has a client." I nodded over towards the guards.

She looked over at the two guards, then at the mage. She whistled her over. Complying, the mage, whom we know as Clara Winchester, made her way to where we were, sitting down next to Elaria. "And what can I do you for Shadowbow?" Elaria had changed her family name like I did to fit our new trade.

She put her arm around Clara. "First of all, I'd like a kiss on the cheek," I shook my head, smiling. I knew where this was going. "Then I'd like to take you for dinner, where we wouldn't touch the food, because I'll be too busy seducing you into my bed. You would comply and follow me home, where we would make love for hours until all you could feel were my fingers inside you." She winked at Clara.

"As lovely as that sounds, Elaria, I meant why did you call me over here? I'd presume you'd like to know who he was talking to?"

Elaria folded her arms, slumped back on the couch and pouted. "Yeah, that's what we want to know."

"Well, since you asked so nicely. It's some blood elf woman." She glanced over at me. "Apparently she wanted to know where our seemingly quiet friend is over there."

Elaria looked at me as I did her. Someone was looking for me? It couldn't be anyone we work with. They know where we are. Someone from my past maybe? But I can't seem to think of who it would be.

"You don't think it's the clumsy elf that almost walked into us, do you?" She asked.

"Could be. There were no other blood elves in here when we left." I looked at Clara. "What was her name?"

"She didn't say, but she seemed to know you in great detail, minus the family name. Seems like she didn't know you changed it."

"Clearly..." I was lost in thought.

Elaria threw a silver coin at my face to get my attention. "What are you thinking?"

I looked up at her and shook my head. "Nothing. I was trying to remember her face as we walked past her. But I didn't catch it."

"You two could always stay here and wait until she leaves the room, then you can see if you recognise her or not."

"Couldn't hurt. What do you say?" She looked at me and waited for an answer.

"Get me another pint, and I'll say it's a good plan." I picked up the silver coin and threw it back at her.

She grinned. "That's a good boy." She looked at Clara, "Don't move, I won't be long." She winked at her and made a kissing sound.

I shook my head, laughing. "Leave the poor woman alone and get the drinks." She got up and went over to the innkeeper. I pulled my hood down from my head. It was the same ranger cloak I had when I arrived at the manor all those years ago, except it was dyed black along with the rest of my gear. I took off my daggers and placed them on the table, along with my sword, bow and quiver. I then stretched and lay back against the couch, putting my feet on it as well.

"Comfortable?" I looked at Clara, she was clearly amused by what I was doing. I merely nodded and closed my eyes.

Elaria made her way back and placed the beers on the table. She sat down, and laid back against Clara, putting her feet up as well. "And now we wait."

Clara put her arms around Elaria, shaking her head at the elf who decided to lay against her. "You just can't leave me alone, can you?"

I opened one eye to look at them, seeing Elaria snuggle up against Clara and let out a loud exhale. I closed my eyes again, shaking my head and laughing. "Apparently she took that as an invitation to get closer."

"You assassins don't know what personal space is, do you? I have her laying on me and you placing what can only be described as an armory, onto the table."

"Honey, we're paid to kill, not make the room like nice. Now shh whilst I sleep on you."

"You don't mind staying and telling us when this Blood Elf leaves the room do you? We haven't slept in almost two days."

She sighed. "Fine. As long as this one," She poked Elaria's ear, making it twitch "Doesn't feel me up, I'll stay."

"She couldn't leave even if she wanted to, she's mine now until we have to leave."

"Have fun with that one Clara. She doesn't like to leave until she gets what she wants." I grabbed one of my daggers and place it on my chest as I welcomed the embrace of darkness and slept.

I was rudely woken up sometime later by a light frost spell to the face. Thinking I was in danger, I unsheathed the dagger that was on my chest and sat up in lightning speed. "Easy tiger, it was me." Clara was chuckling, "The door's open."

I look at Clara and saw Elaria was still sleeping on her. I raised an eyebrow. "Now I see why you hit me in the face with that spell. Thanks for that by the way." I looked over to the guarded door and waited for the Blood Elf to leave.

"You're welcome." Without looking at her, I stuck up two fingers in her direction. This just made her laugh even more, which woke up Elaria.

She yawned. "See I told you, you were mine." She sat up and stretched, "What did I miss?"

"The door's open, she should be leaving anytime soon." I glanced over towards Elaria, seeing she was eyeing Clara up and down with a smirk on her face. I raised my eyebrow "Good dream?"

She licked her lips, "Aye," She leaned in towards Clara, "I could demonstrate it to you later if you'd like."

Now that Elaria was off her, she got up and sat next to me. "I'm good, thanks. Keep those dreams to yourself."

I laughed, pulling my hood up and placing my daggers, bow, quiver and sword back on my person. "Don't think coming over here will stop her from pouncing on you when you least expect it."

She looked at me, "Wait, seriously? You mean you won't defend me if she comes after me? Some skilled fighter you are."

Elaria stood up "He's a skilled fighter alright. He just knows better than to stand in the way of a lioness and her prey." She was slowly making her way towards Clara.

Distracted, I was watching the events between the two woman transpire. Only when I saw the door was shut and the guards had left did I realise she was gone and we missed her.

"Shit!" I threw a knife between the two women, sticking into the wall. They both looked at me. "She left whilst you two were fucking about!" I got up and quickly made my way out of the inn.

"Damn it..." Elaria got up and made her way towards me. Only stopping and turning around to grab the knife and to give Clara a long kiss. "I'll be back for you." She winked at Clara and made to catch up to me.