Arc II

Chapter 6: Another day at Theramore

Asher opened his eyes when the rays of sunlight blinded him and he shut them in a moment and covered them with his left. It took him quite some time to adapt to the sunlight that found it's way to the room through a wide opened window.

He looked at the window, remembering how he sneaked in last night. Rising himself to sitting position, thin blanket fell of his upper body and he rubbed his eyes.

''Where are you going?'', Sophia asked in a sleepy voice and grabbed him by his elbow. He looked at her but her face was covered by her brown shoulder length hair. Asher smiled remembering past night. It was quite an adventure.

Closing his head towards her, he whispered to her ''I can't stay any longer. Your father will notice me.''

The thought of Sophia being nude under the blanket intrigued Asher but he couldn't risk it. He stood up and walked towards the window only to see sun high in the sky.

It is already noon? Damn, Asher thought and cursed silently as he heard knocking on the door. ''Sophia?''

Asher's heart skipped several beats as he heard voice of Sophia's mother.

''Sophia, dear? Are you awake?'', calling continued and Asher sneaked as fast as he could and as silent as he could to grab his clothes and wear it. He was pretty clumsy in doing so and fell as he donned his pants. The sound of cracking on the floor caused another calling from Sophia's mother ''I'm coming in, Sophia.''

Asher died inside as doors opened and Sophia's mother walked in. A woman in late thirties, with several gray hairs decorating her head and heavy wrinkles, she looked quite old for her age.

Asher just stared at her with his jaw dropped. But her face couldn't be described. It was a mix between terrified, surprised and furious.

''Daniel!'', she shouted calling for her husband and ran towards Asher grabbing a broom that was placed beside the door. Meanwhile, Sophia suddenly sit up and asked surprised ''What is happening?''

''Holy mother of..!'', Asher cried in panic rushing to pick up his shirt from the floor and ran towards the window. As he made it to the window jumped straight out of it, not daring to risk and stop to see what's below. Flying high in the air, Asher felt every part of his body shaking from fear as he looked down under himself only to find himself at least fifty paces away from the ground. Fall from this distance can cause death if one lands badly. Luckily, there was a lower roof beneath and he successfully landed on it, on his feet making a roll. As he stood up he sighed in relief and looked towards a window to see Sophia's mother and father staring daggers at him.

''You will pay for this, bastard!'', Daniel, Sophia's father threatened.

Bastard of Lordaeron just smiled at them and waved as he turned and walked away slowly. As he walked, he looked for a way to get down off the roof and realised that eyes of people on the street are set upon him. Realising that this is probably result of yelling of Sophia's parents, he just shrugged and jumped at even lower roof and then landed in the street. Ignoring curious looks of people around him, Asher proceeded to walk to Foothold Citadel, only stronghold in Theramore and a place for regruits and soldiers alike. Ever since Asher came to Theramore, he was living with Deanna, but three years ago, he moved to Foothold Citadel and has since been living there, training to be a soldier. And so far, he's been a prodigy. At least, he's been called that by captain Garran Vimes, one of leading figures of the Foothold Citadel.

Asher cursed to himself as he is going to be scolded and very probably punished because he sneaked out of barracks last night and missed morning's training session.

Captain Evencane is going to kill me, Asher sighed at thought. As he made it to the training grounds where other regruits trained, he caused many angry looks pointed at him. Confused, Asher chose to ignore them and proceeded to the citadel, as angry looks followed his every step.

Foothold Citadel was a classic stronghold, a large building with four towers at each corner, made of stone. Archers could be seen stationed in these towers.

Asher climbed the stairs that led to the entrance but stopped as he saw captain Evencane staring at him furiously.

''Where were you?'', redheaded captain asked with his arms folded. Evencane was a man in early fifties, but didn't have a single grey hair on his head. His ginger hair was cut short and he kept a full beard. His serious face was wrinkled even more as he stared angrily at young bastard of Lodaeron.

''Well, cap'n...'', Asher said and smiled insecurely, scratching back of his hair, trying to think of an excuse ''... I saw something that...''

''You spent a night with Sophia again, am I right?''

''Well, technically... I...''

''Practice whole day! No stopping! No resting! Until midnight! All of you!'', captain ordered and walked back into the citadel, leaving Asher frozen in his place who just stared at the large doors that were shut in front of him.

Turning around, Asher saw already exhausted regruits and other newcomers staring daggers at him. It was his fault that they are punished alongside him. Well, after all, it was captain Evencane's way. One regruit makes a mistake,they all are punished for it.

Walking towards weaponrack, Asher tried to evade angry looks pointed at him. They surely aren't going to be easy on him after this. While other regruits stared at weaponrack trying to figure out which weapons are they going to use, Asher picked a bastard sword without second thought.

''You really had to do it, didn't you?'', Bran asked as he came from behind and poked Asher with his sword on the side. Asher twitched as his friend poked him and turned around to look at blonde he's bonded a lot over those five years spent in Theramore. Bran wasn't Dain, but he was Asher's best friend here, on the other side of the world. Bran was shorter for a whole head than Asher, which latter used for mocking and making Bran mad since he hated being called short. He was a son of farmer from Lordaeron. His house was in outskirts of Brill and was one of first places that were hit by a Scourge. Bran barely survived, saved by patrols that late lord Uther Lightbringer sent out in search for survivors.

Young farmer proved to be quite a talented fighter. He used only a short sword with his left and was very fast and agile. Living through nineteen summers, just as Asher, Bran has lost a lot in his life, his family, his home and almost his life on several ocassions. And still, he was cheerful and positive. But that look in his dark blue eyes wasn't happy. He always seemed troubled by something.

''I don't regret it.'', Asher replied and two of them exchanged quick blows with their swords.

''Well..'', Bran said and parried Asher's attack from above ''That is a good thing. This hell of a training ain't gonna be worth it if you're going to regret it.''

Asher jumped in side, dodging Bran's stab ''I always wondered if you are ever going to tell something smart.''

Branfaked a laugh and made a face ''Very funny.'', and closed in to Asher and elbowed him in the face, knocking him on the ground. Bastard spat blood on dirty ground and looked up at Bran ''Not bad, farmer.''

''Still better than you, bastard.''

Asher jumped from the ground at Bran, and they both fell on the ground, with Asher on top of theBran, pinning him with his knee on the ground.

''Don't call me that.'', he ordered.

Bran rolled his eyes ''I didn't mean to offend you.''

''Whatever. Just don't call me that.'', Asher replied and stood up ''Now pick up your sword and let's continue.''

xxxx

It was a sunny day. And it was pleasant one, which was rare for Theramore. It was often rainy and quite cold for this area of Dustwallow Marsh, which is the most wet and rainy area in Kalimdor.

The view from the window in Jaina's tower was beautiful. In fact, there were several windows in her room. She could see Theramore from each window, since her tower was built in the centre of the port city. Theramore has grown a lot in the past five years. When her father Daelin, was it's governor, it was just a military stronghold used as a human base of operations in Kalimdor and raids on Horde were launched from here.

After a brief war with her father, Jaina became lady of Theramore as it came under her rule. And during her rule, coastal town greatly prospered. Trade routes were established with kingdoms of Stormwind and Khaz Modan.

Since farmlife wasn't really prospering in Dustwallow Marsh, importing grain and another food resources was very important. But it wasn't just a trade that prospered. Life standard overall prospered. Theramore's population increased. Crime rate was low and so on. Citizens were happy under Jaina's rule.

But Jaina wasn't happy. She has lost so much in those five years. Her love, her family and her home. She tried to be happy, though. But it just didn't work. Not without Arthas. Fallen prince of Lordaeron was love of her life. And he still is. But it was a desire for revenge that corrupted him. What he sought to protect, he destroyed.

Jaina sighed and stepped away from the window and walked towards table and poured a cup with wine and drank it all at once. Thinking about past always affected her mood. Wine helped a bit.

''Lady Jaina.'', female voice said knocking behind the door.

''Come on in.'', lady of Theramore said and sat at her chair and started sorting out papers on her desk.

Doors opened and revealed her apprentice mage, Katherina, who walked in. Katherina was a young eighteen years old girl from Stormwind. Just two years ago, she couldn't even do a slightest magic trick. During her visit to Stormwind, Jaina spotted her in the Trade District and sensed her magical potential. The next day, Katherina was on her way for Theramore.

Young apprentice walked towards Jaina as her waist long black curly hair waved behind her back. She wore her scarlet dress gilded on sleeves and waist in shape of vines.

''Take a seat, Katherina.'', Jaina said and young apprentice pulled out a chair out of desk and sat.

''Did you practice as I told you?'', Lady of Theramore asked as Katherina sat on the chair on the other side of the desk.

Apprentice mage nodded and replied ''Yes, my lady.''

''Good. You will show me later.'', Jaina said and added ''Now I have another question for you?''

Katherina looked at her waiting for the question.

''Where were you last night?''

Kat felt as if boulder hit her, as she hoped that lady Jaina didn't hear anything of her feat from last night.

''I.. well... sneaked out with Mira as she had got her hands on... some wine.''

Jaina's face was serious as she stared at young apprentice. Then, the lady of Theramore bursted in laugh ''Oh, Kat... You remind me of myself when I was your age. Don't worry. I am not angry at you. But try to keep it at a minimum. Your training is the most important.''

Katherina sighed in relief and wiped the sweat off her forehead. ''Yes, my lady.''

Someone knocked on the door of the office. ''Come in.'', lady of Theramore said and doors opened to reveal a young man who walked inside. Judging from his dirty clothes and the looks of it, he was one of recruits at the Citadel. His short fair hair made him unique among people who lived in Theramore. There is only one man Jaina knew that had hair like this. And she didn't want to think about him.

''M' lady.'', young man said. He looked quite nervous from what Jaina could see. It must be his first time visiting a noble in the office. ''I have this letter from captain Evencane, m' lady.'', he said holding the warped piece of parchment and handed it over to Jaina as he walked towards the desk. As Jaina broke the wax seal and opened the letter, with the corner of her eye, she spotted young recruit eyeing Katherina and smiled.

Before she read the letter, Jaina asked ''What's your name?''

''Bran, my lady.''

She nodded ''I remember you. You looked familiar to me. Do you perhaps know Asher, or so called Bastard of Lordaeron?''

''I do, my lady. We're friends.''

''I see. Well, send him my regards.'', lady of Theramore said before dismissing young recruit. As Bran left the office, Jaina looked at Katherina and smiled.

''Why are you smiling, my lady?'', apprentice asked.

''He made me smile. The way he looked at you...'', Jaina stopped for a moment and smiled again ''You know, Kat... He's quite handsome.''

Katherina blushed in a second.

''Don't tell me he isn't.'', Jaina mocked her apprentice.

''He is. But that doesn't mean anything. I don't even know him.'', Kat explained as her face returned to normal color.

Jaina sighed ''Well, Kat. To be honest, there is quite a lot of boys staring at you as you walk through the town I spotted.''

Katherina smiled and joked ''Well of course. My beauty is such a rare sight.''

Two of them smiled. And then finally, Jaina took the letter to read it. It was yet another one from captain Evencane, asking for resources since the Citadel is running low on them.

As she wrote the reply, Jaina said ''I have a task for you, Kat. You will take this letter to captain Evencane, if you don't mind.''

Young apprentice nodded her head and took the letter after Jaina finished writing it and sealing it with wax seal. ''After all, you may see that boy again.'', lady of Theramore mocked.

Katherina smiled and walked out.

xxxx

Asher was lying on his bed in his room in the barracks. It was a bunk bed. Bran slept on top. Today's training was one of hardest in Asher's life. Bran was lucky to have captain Evencane send him to do a messenger job. At least he didn't have to suffer two hundred push ups in less than two minutes.

Asher barely made it through the day. He felt as if he is going to die out there. But thankfully, it is over. Now the comfort of his bed is something best Asher felt in a while. Right now, he wouldn't mind eternal sleep. The moon was high on the sky and moonlight sneaked it's way through the window and lighted the room a bit.

''I saw her today.'', Asher heard Bran talk from top.

''Who? That mage apprentice?''

''Yes. I was standing next to her in Jaina's office.''

Asher smiled ''Good. Did you do anything about it?''

''Yes I did. I watched her.''

''And?''

''What and? That's it.''

Asher sighed and rolled his eyes ''And then you whine how you wish you could meet her. You had a perfect chance today.''

''I know, I know. You don't have to tell me anything.''

''Grow some spine. Don't be a coward.'', bastard said.

Asher felt as Bran moved on top of the bunk bed. ''Damn me if I don't approach her next time I see her.''

''You say that every time.'', Asher replied and laughed.

Bran frowned ''Well this time I'm serious.''

''It's about damn time.'', Asher said and kicked the top of the bunk bed so Bran shifted on his bed. The two of them smiled then when someone in the room said ''Can you two shut up for Light's sake?''

The two of them didn't had any further troubles falling asleep. They were very tired from the exhausting training captain Evencane forced them to do. Sleep came to them.

xxxx

Author's note: Sorry for the long wait guys, again. I hope you like it. Follow, favorite it, tell about it to your friends and so on :D

Cheers