So this was the second half of my nearly 10,000 word chapter, and I knew I needed to put both of them up rather quick like. If you enjoy, let me know, if not, please know this is entirely fueled by Jaymes Young's music and far too much coffee...also it's 3am...
Sylvanas shifted, huffing quietly as the elven body next to her curled almost possessively over the Banshee Queen. Aelwynn had gotten up to use the washroom and both had pulled on some sleep shorts and sleeveless shirts before the Hunter draped herself over her undead lover. An occasional mumble or groan fell from Aelwynn's lips as Sylvanas attempted to move. The Dark Lady ran her fingers through Aelwynn's short hair, watching the woman sleeping in her arms, the dim candlelight glinting off of the ruby and emerald on her ring. A wave of intense love came over Sylvanas, the foreign feeling causing an ache in the back of her throat. It wasn't a common thing, seeing her Hunter in such a vulnerable state and Sylvanas relished it. Aelwynn was always on the move, always ready for action, her slight form coiled like a spring yet seeing her now, relaxed and nearly worry free for a time brought a strange sense of calm to the Banshee Queen. She shook her head and wondered not for the first time when she had become so sentimental.
There was a knock at the door and she called out an invitation to enter. She glanced at the door, one hand on Aelwynn's back, the other running through her hair and met the gaze of Nathanos Blightcaller. Her eyes narrowed at the open hostility in his gaze and the seething rage flowing off of him and rolled her eyes. "Enough, Nathanos. Is there something you need?" She nearly snapped.
His gaze, once centered on the Blood Elf in Sylvanas' arms, hadn't moved. She repeated her question, impatience coloring her tone.
"I apologize, My Queen." He said, his tone heated with aggression and possessiveness. "They are once again calling for her return to the Broken Isles. Archmage Khadgar is here to speak with you."
After Khadgar's summons, Aelwynn took the opportunity to roam Undercity without an escort, but she knew the guards would be keeping an eye on her for her sake. Sylvanas had not been happy when she'd practically begged to take a walk alone, and after several moments of pleading and promises that she would stay where the guards would be able to see her, Sylvanas had capitulated with a sigh, a nod, and a gentle caress of her Consort's cheek.
Nathanos managed to find her.
"I don't know what your intentions are, and honestly, I couldn't care less. Just know that you aren't the first to share her bed, and you won't be the last." Nathanos sneered as he stepped behind her.
Aelwynn turned, raising a long brow. "And how would you know? Do you have some sort of insight that I don't? Come on Blightcaller, you're smarter than that. If I knew I didn't have a chance, I wouldn't be here." She said, narrowing her eyes. "Now, if this pissing match is over, I'd like it if you left me alone, please. I have little patience, and your constant nagging and whining does little to settle my bow arm."
He grit his teeth."You living are all the same, entitled, selfish, caring only about their own personal gain. If I had it my way, I would strike you down just to raise you as Arthas raised us, without your own will. You gained the rank of champion, and you abandoned your post. Since then, you have been nothing but a thorn in the side of the Forsaken."
He stepped closer, pinning her against wall of the nearly empty hallway and gripping her arm tightly, snapping her bones in his grasp. Aelwynn gasped in pain and dropped to her knees, doing her best to keep her arm raised. She didn't need any more damage done to her arm.
"You ruined the Banshee Queen, took her ruthlessness and hostility. For that, you should pay, in blood."
She looked over quick enough to see Sylvanas coming into view, the sight of her lover's plight fueling a dark rage that passed through the former High Elf's eyes.
"Took my ruthlessness and hostility, did she?" She snapped quietly.
He stood straight, turning and dropping Aelwynn's arm from his grip. "My Queen, I-"
"Enough! From this day forward, all of the Forsaken will give Aelwynn Nightstrider the same respect that I am given. Anyone who refuses to accept this will be free to leave. Anyone who attempts to harm her, physically or otherwise, will deal with me." She said, her voice raised so the people shuffling about in and around the hallway could hear, as well as those surrounding the area.
She stepped closer to Nathanos, glaring up at him. "You will do as I say, and you will respect her and defend her as you have me. It is your duty to protect the Queen, and her consort." She said.
His eyes widened and he looked to Aelwynn. "Consort?! My Lady, she is of the living. The Forsaken will never take-"
"They will do as I say. They respect me because I afford them the same respect. They chose me to lead them, and I accepted. Now, if you truly believe she has robbed me of my use as a leader, by all means, attempt to take my throne from me. But know this...should you continue on this foolhardy quest to disparage her name, it will only be too easy to find a new champion, and easier still to dispatch you from your duties, and your life."
She gestured behind her. "Now, you will do as I order and go find something to do, elsewhere. Should I see you near Aelwynn again, there will be no dark hole you can climb into where I will not find you."
He glared at the Hunter and stormed off, disappearing around the corner at the end of the hall.
Aelwynn cradled her arm to her chest, gritting her teeth and watching as the bruises slowly spread across her skin. He'd purposely broken her bow arm, knowing that a quick healing spell could cause irreparable damage. She was going to be out of commission for some time while this wound healed.
Sylvanas rested a hand on the back of her shoulder. "How badly did he hurt you, my love?" She asked.
Aelwynn shook her head quickly, swallowing and hoping to hold back her tears. "I'm fine." She rasped painfully.
Sylvanas turned her and realized it was her dominant arm. Her fury grew, as did her worry for Aelwynn. "You need to sit, I'll find a healer, hopefully they can find a way to fix your arm that won't damage it further." She said.
Aelwynn gripped Sylvanas' arm with her good hand. "Send someone else...please." She whispered.
Sylvanas sent Aelwynn ahead to their private chambers while she dealt with Nathanos.
She stepped in the doorway of the throne room, her bow arm cradled to her chest and looked to Belmont as she walked up. He put a hand on her good shoulder, looking her over in concern. The others did as well. She shook her head. "Sylvanas is taking care of it." She said quietly. She heard her lover's footsteps behind her and turned, stepping back and allowing her to pass, but Sylvanas stopped next to her and wrapped an arm around her waist.
"Come, my love, you need to sit down."
Her guildmates all swarmed her, Esme and Carlisle fawning over her as if she was their child, the priest brushing the hair off of her forehead, the monk standing behind her with a gentle hand on her shoulder, occasionally rubbing her back. Tarin sat next to her on the bed, both facing the doorway while Loki and Sif went to retrieve her Spirit Beast and bring him back to their rooms.
Tarin reached for her cousin's good hand, pausing as she spotted the ring. "Aelwynn...?" She asked. The Hunter turned to her older cousin, the woman she thought of more like a sister. The rogue picked up her hand, examining the ring.
Aelwynn looked around the group, waiting for someone to say something.
"My gods, she has incredible taste." Esme said, looking the ring over. "When did she propose?" She asked gently, smiling.
"This morning. She was going to propose after Hellscream's trial, before all hell broke loose." Aelwynn said, looking down at the ring.
"I take it she gave you a new title then..." Carlisle said softly.
Aelwynn nodded, turning to him. "Yeah...she made mention of that when she gave me the ring..." She trailed off.
The members of her group all looked at her in concern.
Esme spoke up. "Don't tell me she took the proposal back..." She said, her voice taking on a concerned, motherly tone.
The Hunter shook her head, looking to the Priest. She looked at Tarin and the rest of her friends...her family. "No. I'm not sure that I'm in the right state of mind anymore." She looked down at the floor, swallowing hard. "When Vol'jin...when he died, he named her Warchief, and that means that she has so many duties to take care of... I don't want to be in the way if she needs to make a command decision..."
Nikola's eyes widened and he looked to Bulliam, the druid standing gob smacked. Carlisle and Esme looked to one another. Sif stepped in front of her, crouching to her level. She and Loki had come in right after the proposal announcement, her spirit beast striding behind them and running to her before hopping up on the bed.
The Paladin nudged her friend's chin with a small smile, tilting her head up to meet Sif's gaze. "You're worried her duties will come between you...but you should know that if she promised herself to you, if the two of you agreed to commit to each other forever, then nothing about your relationship will change. She gave you this ring with the intention that you two would belong to each other, and if I know her as well as I hope I do, then she plans on that being forever."
"Anar'alah, this was a complete waste of my talents...I can't even go back to the Broken Isle now." Aelwynn said, ripping the sling off her shoulder and throwing it on the desk.
Sylvanas watched her quietly, stepping up to help her remove her gauntlets. "You'll be well enough soon, my love. In the meantime, this will allow us to talk about our plans for the future." She hissed through her teeth as she saw the bruises on her Hunter's arm, shaking her head. "I should have killed him and thrown his body in the Apothecary." She seethed.
Aelwynn watched Sylvanas' face as the Banshee Queen concentrated on helping her lover out of her over armor. She reached up when her right hand was free, her injured left arm resting against her abdomen, and she cupped her lover's cheek. "You took care of it. Took care of me. And it doesn't matter when we decide to get married. I'm yours. Forever." She whispered.
Sylvanas looked up at her, a small smile on her lips as she raised a brow. "But it does matter, Dalah'surfal." She replied. "Once you're mine, there will be nothing I won't do to you. I will take you, wherever I please, whenever I please."
Aelwynn groaned softly. "You can already have me wherever you want. You could take me on your throne..."
Her lover smirked. "Could I now? Hmm...that gives me an idea..." She said, cupping the back of Aelwynn's head and kissing her deeply.
The Hunter backed Sylvanas against the foot of the bed, sighing softly against her former High Elf's lips. Completely forgetting the healing injury to her arm, she wrapped said arm around Sylvanas' waist, crushing the Banshee Queen against her and pulled back, groaning in agony.
"Gods..." She rasped, backing up and pulling her arm protectively to her chest.
Sylvanas frowned. "Let me get Belmont to grab one of the priests, they may be able to do a bit of healing. At most they can dull some of the pain."
Aelwynn nodded, dropping to the bed and closing her eyes.
She was paler than normal, which concerned Sylvanas. "It's worse now, isn't it?" She asked.
Aelwynn sighed. "It's been hurting off and on since they left, but I forgot about it." She looked up to her lover, a pained smirk on her face. "See, that's how good you are at distracting me."
Sylvanas stepped outside the chambers, and Loki hopped carefully up on the bed, laying his head on her right leg.
Sylvanas stepped back in the door, closing it behind her and striding to Aelwynn. She stepped between the Hunter's knees, cupping her cheeks and kissing her forehead. "You should lie down."
Aelwynn nodded, scooting herself back on the bed, grimacing as her arm throbbed. What had started where the break was, the pain now radiated up into her bicep, which was a cause for concern.
Belmont came in, Esme in tow. "Let me see it." She said, leaning over the Hunter and waving a gentle hand over the break.
Aelwynn grimaced, closing her eyes.
"I'm sorry." Esme said. "I can heal the worst of the break. The Brawler's guild has two officers stationed here in Undercity. They have a technique that they use for the fighters in the pit called casting. We can get this healed up and then I'll go get the materials to create it. I will warn you, it isn't going to be easy. I need to make sure the bone is in its proper place, and then support it until I can put the materials around it. And...well it's going to have to stay on for a while..." She said.
"It won't be pleasant either. It'll hold the bones in place while they take time to heal, and I've heard the materials that are used can cause your arm to itch. But this is the best bet because it will support the bones and protect them while they heal." She said.
Aelwynn nodded. "Okay..." She breathed.
Esme turned to Sylvanas. "You'll probably want to give her a healing potion, it won't do anything to the break to affect it in a positive or negative way, but it will heal the muscle tissue and the nerves around the break and hopefully take the edge off."
Sylvanas nodded.
Aelwynn awoke dazed, turning her head carefully and meeting Sylvanas' gaze. "How long have I been asleep?" She asked groggily.
Sylvanas chuckled. "Do you really need to know? You needed your rest. You've been going nonstop since Draenor. Both Ranger Velonara and Vivianne have informed me of what went on at your garrison. According to Vivianne you looked worse than some of the undead she knew. I would assume it was almost as bad as you've looked since the arcwine."
Aelwynn grimaced, raising her broken arm and glaring in confusion at the wrapping. "When..."
"Two days ago." Sylvanas said. "Esme came in and had your arm wrapped up before you fell asleep. You've awakened on and off but she and I have taken turns keeping an eye on you."
Aelwynn nodded tiredly. "Well, that's the last two days in a row I'll be spending in bed..." She said, sitting up and swinging her legs off the side of the bed. Sylvanas watched her get up and stretch, drinking in the narrow shoulders and hips, watching her core muscles stretch and flex as her tunic raised above the waistband of the leather short breeches they had put her in. Her hip bones stood out in stark contrast to her flat stomach, which worried Sylvanas. Her collar bones, knee and elbow joints, and the bones in her bare wrist and ankles were more pronounced. Sylvanas had noticed when they'd made love that Aelwynn's ribs were far too visible. She'd improved quite a bit though, her skin slowly coming back to her normal pale color, and her eyes had started to return to their arcane green, although there was a bit more blue in them than before. Her hair had started growing back in blonde, though Sylvanas would say that she enjoyed the lighter color.
Aelwynn would have smirked, had it not been for the flash of concern that had shown in her beloved's crimson gaze. "Sylvanas?" She asked.
The Banshee Queen rose from the bed, coming over to her Hunter and tracing her collar bones through the shirt. As she looked her lover's face over, she could see more signs of malnourishment. Aelwynn had always been slender, yet strong. Something that was a result of her training and life as a hunter. She was equal parts fierce agility and flowing grace, but that grace had turned awkward now. Where her movements were smooth before, due to the thin, lankiness of her limbs, now it was almost harsh. "I hadn't realized how little you weigh..." She said quietly.
Aelwynn raised a brow. "I suppose it's a part of aging..." She hedged, looking down at her body. She knew it wasn't, but this argument was not one she wanted to have right now.
Sylvanas shook her faded blonde head. "No...this isn't weight loss due to aging...I need you to make me a promise..." She said to her love. Aelwynn watched her intently and nodded. "Please, eat something. You look as though a small wind could take you away...I hadn't realized before, at least not consciously. You're not healthy, my love, and that scares me." Sylvanas finished.
Aelwynn nodded again. "I promise. It won't be easy...I haven't been eating because I was so busy trying to stay busy. And I'm sure that with the arcwine, it's been eating away at my muscle tone and whatever fat I had. I didn't realize I looked so terrible."
Sylvanas leaned down and kissed her love, tracing a pronounced cheekbone with her thumb. "I am glad you're looking better. Your hair is coming back in blonde...though I must say I rather enjoyed the lighter color...something about your hair almost white is...captivating. And your eyes...Surfal, I don't know if it's the arcane energies you're giving off, but they're turning a bit blue. I must say, you would make a rather attractive High Elf..." She said.
Aelwynn smirked. "So tell me, Banshee Queen, had I been born closer to you in age...would something have come of it?"
Sylvanas scooped her up, chuckling. "Oh most definitely. I would certainly have noticed you. And upon noticing you, it is entirely possible I would have gone out of my way to court you and make you mine."
Aelwynn smiled, the smile falling quickly. "To be honest, I'm glad I wasn't born sooner. I don't know how I would have survived losing you to Arthas. It took everything in me to wait until we were strong enough to take him down, if he had taken you from me I would have gotten myself killed going after him." She said, cupping Sylvanas' cheeks. "I know for a fact that you still would have done everything you could to make sure he didn't get past the elf gate. If I had been your lover...your wife...I would have fought tooth and nail to make sure you were away from him."
She stood in front of the mirror, straightening her armor and smoothing down her tabard before she put her belt on. Sylvanas had asked the leatherworkers to take her armor and adjust it so the set would fit her thin frame. She sighed and stood straighter, nodding to herself as she grabbed her gauntlets.
Sylvanas watched her quietly from the door, chuckling softly and shaking her head, silver-blonde hair swaying with the movement. "You know, surfal, if you pull on it any more, you're going to need it adjusted again.
Aelwynn turned, her gaze meeting Sylvanas'. She held out her hand, opening her fingers. Her ring and a chain were sitting in the palm of her hand. "My gauntlet won't fit with my ring on, would you?" She asked, gesturing to the ring.
Sylvanas nodded, taking the ring and chain out of her hand before draping it around her neck and fastening it into place. Her Hunter tucked the ring beneath her chest armor, turning and smiling slightly, leaning up and kissing Sylvanas' cheek.
"Thanks." She said quietly.
Sylvanas cupped her cheek. "I know this isn't how you planned to return. Truthfully I want you to stay here with me, but I know they need you."
Her Hunter sighed. "I don't want to go back to the Lodge. I'll go back to the Shore, I just don't want to be near that place again." Aelwynn said almost desperately. She closed her eyes and swallowed nervously, relaxing as she felt two chilled hands on her cheeks.
"Surfal, look at me." Sylvanas said quietly.
Aelwynn opened her eyes, taking a deep breath as her lover nodded.
"I'll be joining you at the Lodge today, I want to speak with the Rangers there and see how the recruits are coming along."
Aelwynn eyed her suspiciously, tilting her head when the Dark Lady smirked. "Are you sure that's why you're going?"
Sylvanas chuckled huskily, leaning forward and giving Aelwynn a soft kiss. "It's the main reason. Does that bother you?" She asked, raising a blonde brow and eyeing her lover.
Aelwynn scowled playfully. "I guess it should..." She grinned, shaking her head.
Aelwynn stepped in the door of Trueshot Lodge, annoyance radiating off of her in waves. Sylvanas had insisted that she accompany the Huntmistress under the guise of 'checking in with Velonara personally'. Aelwynn knew otherwise.
She headed up the ramp where her personal quarters were, opening the door and lighting the lamps. Her room was a mess, further escalating her annoyance, and she stepped out the door, calling for the Dark Rangers.
Velonara came up the ramp, Sylvanas and Lenara in tow.
"What in the name of Azshara's teeth happened in here?!" She snapped.
Velonara looked displeased. "Shadewarden sent two of her personal guard in here. We weren't allowed to interfere." Aelwynn turned to Lenara.
"Get her up here, and her guards are to remain at their posts, at arrowpoint if need be. Take Moorgoth with you. He can prove he's useful."
Lenara nodded and headed down the ramp.
Shadewarden entered, smiling falsely and held her hands out. "Huntmistress, I'm so glad you're okay."
Aelwynn grabbed her by the neck of her mail armor, slamming her against the wall and drawing her skinning knife.
"I demand to know why your minions were in my room. And I'd better like the answer, Night Elf. I don't suffer fools." She said.
Emmarel's countenance turned furious . "You rose through the ranks far too quickly, took command as soon as you arrived here. The Unseen Path is mine to command, it belongs to no one else. I needed to know what power you had over the members so I could expose you as a fraud and then take back the respect I was owed."
Aelwynn grit her teeth, muttering an expletive in Thalassian. "There is no 'power' to be had. If you can't gain respect from your followers, you aren't fit to lead. I don't want to command them. But, a true commander will not ask their subordinates to do tasks the commander would not do themselves. That's a very simple way to garner respect."
They heard a knock on the door and the Huntmistress sighed in barely restrained annoyance. She nodded to Velonara and released Shadewarden, turning to the door.
Addie stood on the other side and Aelwynn's features softened. "Sorry to bother you, Huntmistress, you're needed downstairs."
She nodded. "Thank you, Addie."
She turned to Sylvanas and Velonara. "I'll be back in a minute. If you do anything to her, make sure it doesn't leave bruises." She said, raising a brow before heading out the door.
She grit her teeth and sighed. 'Great...this is not going to go well.' She thought, eyeing Vereesa Windrunner as she came in the door of the Lodge.
"There you are. Where have you been, your troops-"
"They're not my troops. Just ask Shadewarden. I'm not in charge of this establishment and quite frankly I should have left the week I arrived. Now, Windrunner, why are you here?" Aelwynn snapped.
Vereesa looked the other woman over, noting the lack of weight and the ashen color to her skin. "What happened to you?" She asked.
Aelwynn's ears flattened against her head. "A lack of control and a generous stash of arcwine. I'll ask again. Why are you here?" She said.
"I heard you were coming back, I wanted to see you."
Aelwynn frowned "Why? I would have thought that after our failure to find your sister you'd be the next Windrunner to ignore my existence."
Vereesa shook her head. "I remember talking with you back at the temple, before the trial. When we were on that mission together you told me what...what Sylvanas had done..."
Aelwynn scoffed. "Wasn't really a surprise, was it. She's here. Up in my quarters probably beating Shadewarden into submission for going through my room."
"You told me not to leave marks, so I scared her." Sylvanas said from behind her, smirking as her Hunter turned to look at her.
Aelwynn raised a brow. "Think she learned her lesson? If not, it isn't too late to carve her throat out with my skinning knife." She replied, her pale green eyes glittering.
Sylvanas shook her head, looking to her sister. "Not necessary." She said slowly.
Aelwynn looked between the women. "I'll give you two a moment. I have scouts to send out." She said quietly.
She bowed her head to Vereesa and turned to her lover. "Have Velonara come find me when you're ready to leave." She said, kissing Sylvanas softly.
"Huntmistress Nightstrider! We need you down at Thunder Totem. The Legion has invasion ships there."
She turned and pointed to Lenara and Velonara. "You two, with me. Shadewarden, keep those two here. Anar'alah, if you let either one of them out of your sight I will kill you myself." She snapped.
She headed out the door and toward the flightmaster, calling for more of their troops. "Highmountain is under attack, they need our help. Move out!" She shouted.
Sylvanas heard Aelwynn's shout and turned toward the door, glaring as Shadewarden stepped between her and the exit.
"I apologize, but Huntmistress Nightstrider told me to keep the two of you here. It isn't safe." She explained harshly.
The Dark Lady shook her head. "I have no time for your little game, Night Elf. You will move out of my way, or whatever she threatened to do to you, I will do tenfold. You will then be raised and killed again."
She and Vereesa headed out the door as the woman moved.
When the Windrunner sisters landed at Thunder Totem, the fighting had been going on for some time, pieces of Infernals littered the ground and corpses of fel bats were draped over the railings.
"They've gone after one of the fel commanders. Intel says he's a doomlord, Erixtol." Mayla Highmountain explained, pointing to the ship where Sylvanas spotted the shadows of several eagles. She grit her teeth in frustration, deciding that for now they were going to be more useful taking care of the remaining demons. "We may as well help while we're here." She said shortly to Vereesa. Her sister nodded but said nothing.
Dispatching the demons aboard the ship was proving to be difficult. As soon as one was down, another group would filter up from the lower levels.
Aelwynn killed two Eredar warriors, ducking as a blade whipped over her head. It caught the end of her left ear, slicing through it cleanly. She hissed through her teeth, pulling her ranger blade and whirling, stabbing it up through the hulking figure's chest. They heard a cracking noise as a large succubus sprinted down the ramp. Aelwynn dodged the first two swipes from the succubus' whip, quickly sheathing her ranger blade and bringing her bow up to block the third. It wrapped around her weapon and with a harsh yank the bow went flying across the room. She bared her canines, dodging another crack from the whip and rolled to get to her bow. Pain shot across her face like a bolt of lightning as the whip struck, slicing through her chin and up her cheek before the lick from the whip tore through her face. All she could see was blood.
Velonara froze as she heard Aelwynn cry out and turned to see the Huntmistress struggling to her knees, her hands pressed over her face. A wicked looking succubus was grinning maliciously, the whip in her hands dripping with blood. She shouted in an attempt to get Aelwynn's attention and whipped her bow around to fire off a shot at the Eredar behind the Hunter. Her shot was a second too slow.
Aelwynn heard Velonara call her name, but the agonizing pain tearing through her was too much to shake her out of her stupor. She felt the Eredar behind her, felt the heat from his blade and caught the scent of brimstone and sulfur. His grip on her neck was hot, too hot, and she could feel the skin on her neck almost blistering. Her last thought was of Sylvanas as she felt the scorching blade pierce through the mail tunic, the unbearable heat sliding through her chest.
His hand gripped the front of Aelwynn's neck and he pulled her back, the glowing blade skewering the quiver of arrows and erupting from her chest before the Dark Ranger's arrow sailed almost completely through his head. Both Dark Rangers cried out as their Commander's body fell to the ground, unmoving.
The demon behind Velonara cackled before slamming into her, throwing her to the ground where she skidded to a halt next to the Banshee Queen's consort, her eyes meeting the bloodied, lifeless gaze of Aelwynn Nightstrider.
Sylvanas froze, her eyes landing on the ship as if she felt what had happened. She could feel the shock seeping through her connection to her rangers.
Vereesa noticed her sister falter and stepped forward hesitantly. "What is it?" She asked.
Sylvanas looked over, confusion and shock on her face. "Something is wrong."
Please don't hate me...
