Author's Note: My god, this must be the happiest chapter I have written and been waiting for since this story began. We finally, FINALLY have come to this moment, my friends. Can you believe it? I certainly cannot. Not only have I broken my curse of never writing more than 5 ish chapters for a single story, but I have now composed a story that has become more than just a story. It is one that I am certainly proud of writing. It's been a long road since Blind Nostalgia. Blind Nostalgia was published on January 4th, 2009. Over a year ago. And now we are here. So read on, dear friend, and hopefully you feel as giddy and cheerful as I do. So thus, cue the music, and on with the show!
Note: There's a lot of pathos in this chapter. I seem to go from both extremes, don't I?
Chapter 10
The Little Lion Boy
Disclaimer: I do not own World of Warcraft. I own my characters and plot, but nothing more, nothing less.
A month later...
Softly the music began, ringing delicately in my ears, echoing through my mind. The piano's chords chimed in symphony and harmony− the player was an expert at his craft, a born keeper of the piano, a person who could bring the instrument to life, letting its beautiful voice be heard. Then the cellist began pulling at the strings, bending them beneath his fingers, a natural indeed. The notes melded with the air particles, enveloped in symphony, dancing with the wind, waltzing to a tempo that by the Light I... that at some point, I knew I recognized. The melody caught me off guard. It was like hearing a song from my past, a whimsical and gracious atmosphere that morphed itself into a small ball of churning flame, fluttering towards my body, entering through my veins, and warming my yearning flesh and heart. Ah, yes, my blood was certainly beginning to quicken and ripen, for the forbidden apple of my eye was just down the aisle, waiting eagerly for me to take a bit of him, to savor the delicious and delectable flavors that heightened by senses.
Bah, I must be awfully boring to Anissa if she went this far to create an overwhelming aura of bathos. By the Light, I was drowning in the fairy-tale wedding she created for me. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. It's just... it's just obvious that she's been waiting for this moment for so long, ever since the early morning rain on the Scryers Tier. Ah, I would nonetheless have to thank Anissa someday for snapping her fingers and bringing this ceremony into the clouds, twirling her magic here and there; she was my literal fairy god-sister, a wonderful friend and an even greater sister who at times made me feel so lucky to be blessed with her. Even if she made this seem a bit overly sentimental. Just a tad bit, I suppose.
Well, okay. By a tad, I mean by a lot. I suppose that's how it's supposed to be right? I'm serious. I'm gagging a bit at the overabundance of roses, still.
It was nevertheless magical, and in my euphoria I knew that I would be drowning in my tears of joy by the time this ceremony was finished. It was overwhelming this moment. Unfortunately, my fingers disobeyed by thoughts and I began to smear some of my makeup that Anissa was working on. It was kind of embarrassing, because Anissa smacked my head, telling me not to mess up the makeup like last time. I glared at her playfully and told her that they weren't the same kind of tears. She laughed and nodded, but still scolded me for not pulling myself together a bit. I of course told her that I didn't need makeup, but she insisted. I retorted and told her that I looked better without it. She told me, with a lovely and devilish smirk on her face, that if I ruined the makeup, she'd end up making me look like a circus act, bind my hands, and let my groom take care of my punishment. Anissa expected me to overreact, gasp, glare and blush bright red. Well, I was indeed blushing but to her dismay, I was grinning wickedly. It wasn't a white wedding, Anissa knew that, but even she was surprised at how sharply my lips were curled.
She took my hand and I stood up, standing infront of the full-length mirror that Anissa brought with her from Azeroth, along with many other ridiculous things, "possessions" as she called them, to the Outlands for this wedding. My auburn hair was carefully draped so that it hanged loosely in elegant curls that rested gently on my collarbone. The gown was phenomenally sewn by Elysia, a dear friend of mine who would be waiting on the other side of the aisle with Allen, Kora, and finally...
"Nicholas." I blinked and noticed that I had spoken his name aloud and my sister laughed and told me I was going to be seeing stars soon while floating on a cloud. As I stood still, relishing in the way I had whispered his name, she helped place the veil over my face, and in the corner of my eye, I saw that she was grinning mischievously and knowingly. Knowingly, because she knew that it wasn't exactly an entirely "white" wedding, as mother would have called it. I sighed. Mother. I sudden lump formed in my throat as I thought about her, and it bothered me again. I turned towards Anissa sharply and asked, "Anissa... do you think mother would furious with me? For marrying Nicholas?"
"Of course, Elirina." She spoke blatantly yet honestly. "He's not nobility, he's not smug, and he's not the biggest jackass in the world. I'll take that back partially, now that I think about it. He's a partial jackass, but that's beside the point. You're marrying the man you've waited over three years for, and he's been waiting for you for probably an even longer time. You shouldn't give a damn about what mother would think! Let's home she turns in her sleep for this."
I clenched my fists tightly, "I know you're right. I don't give a damn about her anyways..." I sighed and looked down, "It's just... it just makes me kind of sad, that's all. That she just couldn't understand ultimately. We grew up knowing mother's occasional good side, and unfortunately knowing the terribly vain side as well."
"Elirina, don't you dare let that woman ruin your day."
"I'm not... I just... I don't know! In a perfect world, wouldn't you want your parents to be there at your wedding? Proud and happy for you?"
"Well sure, but unfortunately Eli, sweetie, this isn't a perfect world. By the Sunwell, we are literally in another world!"
I nodded half-heartedly and rubbed my shoulders slowly. "I'm also kind of sorry I dragged you all the way here to the Outlands for this. We just weren't sure if it would be safe to travel to Azeroth together, with Nicholas and I both wanted certainly by the Alliance."
"Tch, well, I had to come here anyways for a commission from someone else." She paused and chuckled to herself. "And are you kidding me! I take my first few steps out of the portal to Shattrath and I'm bombarded with people trying to swindle my money! And oh by the Sunwell! All the JEWELS...everywhere! I nearly swooned!"
"You would get off by seeing jewels."
She laughed, patting me on the back. "What can I say, diamonds are a girl's best friend."
I rolled my eyes and giggled with her before turning around and hugging my older sister tightly. "Thank you, again Anissa."
The older elf patted my hair and smiled thoughtfully. "Of course, sis." She giggled again and pulled away, looking down at me. "There's actually one last thing I wanted to give you, before that elder shaman comes here and drags you out of here." She walked over to the small table in Kora's second floor room, and opened a wooden chest that she brought with her from Silvermoon City. "Now, I know how much you love lockets...And I know Nicholas proposed to you with a chocker..." She turned around, holding something in her hands and she slowly made her way back to me. "Close your eyes sis."
I obliged and did as she asked, waiting for whatever her other gift would be. I figured it was a locket, since she mentioned that I adored such necklaces. Of course, I was right because she began to cinch a metal chain around my neck with a pendant that fell just above my cleavage. "Alright, open them."
I opened my eyes to see Anissa's lips curved into a toothy grin, her slender green eyes brightly shining with affection and sisterly love. A heart shaped emerald embedded within a piece of light-weight Mithril hanged just as I assumed around my neck, and served as a locket. "Look inside," she whispered. I lifted the pendant and opened the latch, seeing a picture of Nicholas inside. It must have been a picture taken recently, for my eyes met his own emerald orbs that gleamed with fiercely tender love. My heart jumped when I saw the playful smirk on his face, as if he had just told a sarcastic joke to me. I laughed and smiled to myself, a sudden blush taking hold of my cheeks. "When was this taken, Anissa?"
"A few weeks ago, actually. I took Nicholas over to Shattrath while you slept your pretty little head away one morning to have his picture taken by a goblin who worked for the Gadgetzan Gazette. He is quite photogenic, I'll say." My blush burned brighter and she could only smile. "Gee, now who's the one getting off on something?"
"Oh shush." I closed the locket, delicately placing it back where it belonged, over my chest cavity, where my heart was pounding wildly. I wore two necklaces, one from my dearest sister and one from my groom, tokens of simply just how lucky and blessed I was. I simply could not fathom the amount of consideration and time each put into caring for me and it brought a wide smile to my visage. My face was a million shades of red and counting, and I hugged Anissa again, thanking her.
"Your welcome, Elirina."
ξ
This was it. This was the moment that we each were waiting for, dreaming of, and living for. This was truly it, this was how it was supposed to be. And I couldn't help but roar proudly with joy inside, my eyes bright and wide with excitement. There wasn't a droplet of fear inside my heart because I knew that the victory over myself, the ceasefire between my conflicting souls recently was created, and that I could know walk freely in the sun with her. I knew that everything would be fine in the end, safe, secure... it simply needed to be, for what we had gone through to be here at this moment, this encompassing moment in our lives, where the fire in our eyes was glowing and overflowing into the atmosphere, radiating beyond our cores into the currents of the air. It would come soon enough, the magic would begin, and I would be hers finally. Officially.
Even though I was head over heels, madly entangled in the serpent-like constriction of love and affection, I still could not help but muse about the days inside the Black Temple, where my isolation and seclusion eroded away portions of my human spirit, where the shadowfiends and heartless creatures of infamy gained control over parts of me. I could not help but wonder about such monsters, such memories, and I marveled over how far I had come since then. Even though I had dived through hellfire and infernal flames to come here, I could not help but shake with nervousness, fear of the unknown, of what lied beyond the gate to the next portion of our lives. I almost expected some kind of vision from the Lady of Light, but in our last meeting she described how her time with Elirina and I would be finished once we were united at last; of course, she clearly stated that must not forget her words, for they were crucial.
It made me wonder, if the future is inevitable, why take heed to such words? If we cannot prevent out future, if it truly is set in stone, why bother fighting against it? But then my own reason would chime in. We fight against destiny because we ourselves want to discover our purpose, what the future lies ahead simply as it comes crashing against us as waves crash against a shore. We resist because we believe that in all the strength, the knowledge, the passion, the volition of man, that somehow... somehow these combined powers become a mighty, imperturbable force that can shatter destiny, and allow us to forge our own path.
But that leads to the question, is our own resistance planned? Does destiny include our own deviation, our resistance? Is it planned that we will fight against her, just as easily as we jump to heed to her word?
I stumbled out of my thought when I heard the music begin softly, slowly. Anissa managed to find some bards in Shattrath who were capable enough and they sounded quite amazing combined for being a rag-tag group of players. They certainly weren't the famous musical deities that haunted Karazhan, but they were well rehearsed (and alive) musicians, from what I knew about music itself. The song was chosen by Elirina and Anissa, who knew most about the classical arts, the finer things(as her elder sister called it). I could admit, I only knew of back alley bar musicians who gathered in taverns such as the Pig and Whistle, or the Blue Recluse. I didn't know much about the "finer things" as they jokingly called it.
Thus, from the cue of the musicians, I figured that Anissa and Elysia would eventually be joining Allen and I, as well as several other citizens of Garadar who decided to be present for the special event. Kora was with the women as well, and I did not see her following Anissa and Elysia when they began walking from Kora's home to where I was waiting. The congregation of people were massed on the Northern side of a circle of stones where shamans would perform their sacred rituals, including the joining of a man and a woman. I saw the two close friends of mine hurriedly walking towards me, and a sudden spark of alarm shot through me. I stopped leaning against one of the large stone boulders and stood up straight. My eyes fell towards Allen who was looking at me as well with a confused look on his face that mirrored my own.
"Anissa, Elysia, what's going on? Why the rush?" I called out to them, and only when they were a few feet infront of me did they reply.
"Nicholas... err, there's no need to panic..." Elysia began slowly, carefully as if she were attempting to gauge my reaction. I blinked and felt my heart begin to race.
"What is it? What's wrong−" I urgently asked, but Allen placed a hand on my shoulder to steady me. Trepidation and concern washed over my face as I awaited my answer, but it quickly came just before I became hysterical.
"Elirina's just a bit faint, that's all. There's nothing to worry about."
"What do you mean, faint? Like she's going to pass out?"
"Well... she already did pass out a few minutes ago," Allen's eyes narrowed and signaled for Elysia to stop talking, as her naivety was getting ahead of her. He calmly uttered, "Elysia, stop."
I looked to Anissa who was scratching the back of her neck, "Er, well... Kora's looking at her right now. Look, it's nothing serious Nicholas. Elirina will be here in a few minutes. You can't jinx your wedding by seeing her too soon."
I rolled my eyes and leaned back against the stone, casting my eyes to a dusty looking rock. I stayed silent for a few moments, until Anissa came closer to me to analyze my appearance with her all-seeing eyes. "Nicholas I will admit, my boyfriend's suit fit you quite nicely. And Elysia did a wonderful tailoring job. But...," she lifted a hand to push the hair that covered my scorned and burned side of my face, tucking the dark hair behind my ear, "Elirina loves your eyes, don't hide them from her."
As other citizens gathered around the ritual area, I saw Kora making her way to this area as well, wearing her shaman headdress and primal furs, with orange and green paint on her darker flesh. If I didn't know otherwise, I would have believed her to be dressed for a war dance. She approached me and smiled sagely, a gleam of secrecy hidden in her eyes. I raised a brow yet she simply fluttered her lashes and looked away. She stood at my side and placed a hand on my shoulder.
I quickly muttered to her, "Is Elirina alright? They told me that she was feeling a bit ill."
"She'll be fine. I gave her some tea before I left," the elder shaman paused, took a breath and chuckled, "she'll be here soon enough, warlock."
Multiple organs inside my human shell began to come alive as my stomach churned, my heart raced, my blood surged through my veins, and my waking thoughts raced endlessly. My eyes scanned the landscape around me. Anissa clothed the pathway that Elirina would take with a special kind of rose from Azeroth, one that bloomed in the Hinterlands during summer. She had dressed Allen and I up in her boyfriend's suits and had Elysia do a quick-fix tailor job to make them fit snuggly. My hair was tied back in a loose tail with a piece of cloth holding it together, with free strands shaping my jaw. Anissa demanded that I wrestle with the goatee that grew inside the Black Temple, so I cleaned it up some in lieu of her advice. Allen stood with his hair about the same length as how I remembered it, down to the just above half-way through the nape of his neck, dirty blonde in color, with his own goatee taken care of. I took a moment to recall the moment we shared chuckling about Anissa's insistence on us shaving a portion of our goatees. I faintly recall him mentioning how Elysia liked his. Which of course, brought up the mentioning of how Elysia and Allen themselves were in a relationship that had lasted even prior to our meeting on the Nostalgia. He explained that they knew each other during their battles in the Argent Dawn, her the conjurer of arcane mysteries, and he the silent killer. I told him that I had a feeling that they were together. Their personalities were quite similar and I figured that their relationship was beyond that of two comrades. Allen, Elysia and Anissa soon made their way to their seats as I dwelled in my own memories and observations.
The music suddenly changed and began to become softer as I lifted my head. I saw that Elirina was now making her way to where I stood with Kora.
I simply cannot explain the parameters and the extent of emotions that rushed through my heart like a wild tempest. The storm was maddening, nearly frightful as I perked up and gazed at her, stunned completely by the sheer grace in her step and the bright, excited smile that fluttered off her sweet lips. Her hair moved with the wind, as if they were conjoined together as one entity, the gentle blush on her cheeks reddening as our eyes met and she could see the carnal, raw, and entirety of admiration and desire to embrace her. I was suddenly worried that I was in limbo, in a weird dream, and that in moments I would wake up inside the Black Temple, deranged and lost in my own madness. But Elirina kept coming forward, walking towards me until she was but a foot away from me. Thus, our hands came together, adjoined by destiny.
My eyes illuminated the fire inside, the fullness of my passion and disbelief. I could not convince myself that this was real as I stared into her eyes, fearing that I would spontaneously combust soon, afraid that in moments this would be over, gone, a figment of my sick and cruel imagination. Nothing of the sort occurred, the world seemed to keep revolving, gravity seemed to still be working. It was real. This was real. This was truly happening. Although my apprehension and anxiety continuously tried to build and make itself noticeable, I mentally pushed the thoughts aside and only focused on Elirina, who's eyes were glancing at Kora as she gestured and explained the joining of the two of us, Elirina and I, to the small group of people who chose to come to the event. I couldn't help but shudder and tremble when Kora asked us to join hands and begin the ceremony as one. My heart was almost about to burst forth from my chest, into her hands, where it always belonged, where it was destined to be. I nearly melted into sheer goo from the sight of my darling. It was maddening, glistening madness and beauty juxtaposing one another effortlessly.
And yet, there was an odd sparkle in Elirina's eyes. Something that caught me off guard, something that seemed to radiate from her beautiful orbs, beyond their irises. I will have to ask her, tonight, I thought with a grin growing on my face.
ξ
"Look out into the distance, my son."
"For what, mother? What am I looking for? All I see are the waves of the ocean, and clouds in the sky."
"Look beyond such, there's more to this picture than what meets the eye."
"I just see the ocean and the clouds, mom." The boy grumbled, rolling his eyes. The mother sighed and folded her arms around her chest, pulling the shawl closer together in order to keep her warm. She knelt down beside her son and look at him at the same eye level.
"Nicholas, I know you can see it." Her bright, luminescent eyes gleamed with concern. "It's okay. You can tell me."
The boy tightened his fists and shook his head. "Mom, I just don't understand why we have to stay here! I don't want to live here. Don't you want to go home too? We don't have to stay here. You promised me. You said we would go back after Daniel's funeral. Why can't we go home? I can take care of you. I know how to hunt, I know how to chop wood! The dwarves of Aries's Peak taught me. Don't you see? I can take care of us both... And besides, father will be coming back soon, right?"
The boy's mother stared at her son and could only frown grimly. "I know, I know you want to go home... I do too." Her small, pale hand reached up and cupped her sons cheek. "You're growing up so fast, my dear. You're almost about to become a man before my very eyes. You've gone through so much... First your father, now Daniel. Oh, I certainly do wish your father was here, Nicholas, and unfortunately I cannot say when he'll be coming home. He's... been, well, gone for many years, you knew this and understand it, don't you? I have no idea when he will be home again. And I do miss him. I wish he could be here to teach you all the things a young man like yourself should know."
The boy sighed and folded his arms around his chest, nodding. "It's okay mom, don't cry... please...," he took his mother's hand and began leading her away from the dock, back to the Dwarven District, back to their temporary home, or so he believed. They were staying in a small, cramped room in-between two taverns. They both were displeased with the noise, and Nicholas usually had to stay home alone for a vast multitude of the time. His mother on the other hand, worked long shifts at the Tavern on the right side of their house. It was one of the rowdier taverns, and here she worked as a bar mistress both day and night. Unfortunately, to both Nicholas and his mother's dislike, that job seemed to follow her home as well. Everything was rupturing from both sides, from all around them, and it only became worse exponentially. There was such an evening, where Nicholas learned that he needed to find a way to get his mother and himself out the area. His mother came home disheveled and distraught, with a bloodstained apron, her clothes unbuttoned and torn, and swollen lips distorting her visage. He had known that she was unhappy in this home since they had moved there, but he did not the extent of her unhappiness until that evening.
She stood in the doorway, tears disfiguring her face and blood trailing down her neck. Nicholas gasped in horror when he saw his mother, rushing to her side and barely able to catch her frame when she collapsed. She seemed to be shuddering with agony, begging Nicholas to fetch a damp wash rag for her and to create a warm bath in the other room. He obeyed silently, his eyes wide with fear and confusion. Endless questions and concerns ruptured his thoughts and he wasn't sure which would give him straight answers. He was only ten, afterall, still innocent and unmarred by society's blatantly poisonous blows. He returned moments after, to see the bloodstained apron tossed aside and her shirt partially unbuttoned from the neck downwards. After handing her the rag he asked her what happened.
His mother's eyes were heavy with tears, but with a glimmer of shame and hopelessness dismantling what little portion of strength as a parent in her weak frame. "Oh Nicholas..., you must not worry about it. Just know that I'm still alive, still here, and I will always protect you from harm's way, alright?"
He slowly nodded, but the horrified expression only worsened as his own tears began to distort his vision. She raised a hand to graze his cheek gently, allowing her blouse's sleeve to fall, revealing a set of bruises and abrasions down her arm. His eyes widened and he gasped, causing her to quickly move her hand away. "Sweetie, please, don't be worried. Just... go to your room and get some sleep. There's nothing to be afraid of," she paused for a moment and looked over her shoulder, "but first, shut the door and lock it tightly, please."
Again, he nodded with stunned and startled eyes. "Is there anything I can get you, mom?"
She met his eyes and smiled faintly, her eyes slowly falling away to the ground. "No, it's fine... go off to sleep, dear."
She watched him slowly walk away, his head down with shame, for he couldn't resist the tears that poured down his cheeks, falling to the wooden floor, marring his courage. She sighed and attempted to stand once she was sure that he was in his room. Once fully erect, she limped her way into the other room, towards the tub her son had filled with bath water. She quickly undressed and carefully lowered herself into the cleansing, soothing water that she wished could erase her memories. Almost instantaneously she washed the grime of sour lips and bitter garbage off her frame, cleaning away any and every portion of skin where their hands or tongues had probed and desecrated. Once this was done, she dumped out that water and added fresh, clean water into the basin and this time she added some medicinal herbs for her wounds and bruises. And thus, she was barely allowed to relax and attempt to forget about the transgressions that haunted her thoughts.
Her thoughts trailed away, fading back into times of her past in the Hinterlands... in Hillsbrad Foothills, where she had met him...he, the one she ultimately loved and yearned for at moments such as this. Yes, his name was Nathaniel Archavon, a man who's wild, untamed eyes still burned in her memory, still scarred the quivering pound of flesh science connotatively called her heart. He still faded through her dreams, floating like a ghost in her waking thoughts, a shadow that lurked in the absence of light. It was times such as those when she wished he was there, for he would protect them both, her and their son, the three of them. They would be safe so long as he was there. But his absence could be felt beyond the confines of the home, for strange, horrible creatures that society called men saw her with gaping eyes and drooling lips; they saw her as a widow, as a youthful bar mistress who was lively and cheerful on the exterior. They hungered for her like animals. These beasts watched and stalked their prey, learning their habits, learned their calls, and would soon attempt to seal the pact of blood and flesh, only to be turned away kindly by the prey's seemingly fearless visage that truly was quivering and shaking with fear beneath. Smart, wise beasts knew better than to judge a victim's behavior by what was on the surface; no, intelligent monsters learned to probe on the inside, to learn of the crevasse of the heart, the abyssal regions of the nethers that tied a human body together. Yes, only then could the creature be eaten whole with satisfaction, monstrous, unholy satisfaction that was fleeting and met with screams of denial, screams of pleas, and screams of anguish. Yes, even momentary satisfaction is met with the same urge, the same hunger and unsatisfaction that quakes and rends the mind to madness. The insanity of the insatiably sinful mind. The violent, who will be burned beyond all reason, tortured and punished equally and sanely, yes, that was what she hoped, at least. But this tiny wall of trepidation serves not as a stronghold of tenacity, for even hope is squished and tormented, as her son discovered as he heard his mother cry and beg the heaven's for answers in the other room, his eyes wide with helplessness.
What was he to do, this little lion boy. Certainly too young and too feeble to become a man. Certainly this little lion boy was too lost in his own unhappiness for him to see the light of renewal and divine intervention that would sweep him off his feet in years to come. Certainly this little lion boy would have to find sanctuary for them both on his own, for no one would save them; only he could save them. Certainly he would need to grow beyond his own fears in order to make himself heard, to save his mother and himself from any more tragedy. And that was when this little lion boy began his journey towards manhood, towards freedom, and towards his inevitable future. The little lion boy was beginning to learn how to roar.
ξ
"Nicholas, Elirina, please join hands. Lift your joined hands up to the spirits above, and recite the words you each memorized please to one another." Kora instructed briefly.
The two joined hands nervously, their hearts pounding in their chests frantically, the world spinning around the two, slowly enveloping them both into union. The time was finally upon them. The time to walk into the sunlight. The time to be joined eternally. The time to bask in the rays they so dearly yearned to grasp. It was time. The time was upon them. The time to recite their passions to the world, to expose their joy and happiness with the world. The time had come.
The two began to recite slowly, at a gentle walking pace:
"With these joined hands, we each tie together our threads,
With each mighty step we take from here on out,
We will embrace the other through darkness and dread.
With our eyes turned to the stars, to the everlasting light
Walking beyond the shadows, beyond the scars of the past,
We will join the souls of the beautiful and starry-eyed night.
We ask the spirits to bind our hearts for forevermore,
With our reason and our passion to guide our hearts,
We will answer to the call of the lion's chivalrous roar.
When darkness falls, endlessly woe will not stab us through,
With tenacious and burning might our footsteps echo in our ears,
We will not falter, letting our love and union come to our rescue.
When seasons fade into a trembling gray, and clouds darken the bright blue sky,
We will always have each other, to push the chill away,
To harken the spring and embrace each other with soft sighs."
Only the two of them seemed to realize that they had soon grasped and embraced one another in the time that they had spoken their vows to the spirits; for they were now tangled together, their hands locked together and their faces only a few inches from the other's. Their eyes were hazy, the music had softened and the world seemed to stay still for but a few moments. Neither seemed to falter in their gaze, eyes locked and focused on discovering whatever boundless fullness that encompassed the other's eyes, searching through the other's spirit, as if the divine, celestial bodies had come to possess their bodies when they recited their vows. Entangled and bound by the threads of fate, they soon leaned together and sealed the pact, the promise that they held to one another for eternity, bound by the limitless skies, with only the edge of the universe being bombarded by the waves of compassion and enduring companionship. Their meshed lips stayed innocent and pure, saving the sensuality and passion of the coming honeymoon period for when it was appropriate, for the spirits watched them carefully, destiny harkening, clapping her hands and raising the trumpeters to their positions, telling the music to begin its soft sweet melody, telling the orchestra to begin its endearing song. Time began again when their lips parted softly, ending a kiss that seemed to rock worlds and universes alike, a kiss that seemed to last longer than only a few moments in reality's timetable.
"Furthermore, with the wind's against our backs, with the spirits guiding us forward, I announce you both mates for life."
He simply couldn't resist it anymore, he realized. He needed to feel his wife's arms around him again, to hear her heart pound in time with his. He pulled her close again and vigorously kissed her, his hands running through her auburn hair. He lifted her into his arms and began to carry her away like a lustful fool, a hopeless romantic who had been blessed with the right when she whispered, "I do." Off to their marriage bed, off to bask in their love and their union, for he was the man who had made her happy, and she was the woman who had helped him realize his destiny, his purpose, and was able to discover her own along the way as well. They were brave, fearless with no anxiety harboring in their bellies. The revolution in their spirits was maddening, earth-shattering, and they could rejoice in its pronounced presence in their palpitating hearts.
ξ
The next day...
I had never felt more alive than I ever before in my life. It was like waves of relief were washing down my spine, erasing the pain that wanted to lurk in my waking thoughts. Everything was falling back into place again, the future never seemed any brighter than it did at that moment as I laid next to my lovely, enchanting wife Elirina, who was mildly resting next to my naked frame. I sighed and closed my eyes, unable to hold back the smile that curled my lips sharply. I yawned and felt Elirina stir beside me. I blinked and turned onto my side and saw that she was awake, staring back at me. She was fumbling with a loose strand of hair and she was biting her lip gently.
"What is it, Eli?"
"Nicholas... there's something I need to tell you."
"Hm?" I asked casually, taking her hand in mine. "What is it?"
Her eyes scanned my face for a few moments and she began slowly, carefully. "You... remember earlier, how Allen and Elysia came to you to tell you... about how I had passed out?"
"Yeah, I remember. What of it? Are you alright?" I asked, sudden concern biting at my thoughts.
"Well, sure... I suppose."
"Well, I suppose it sounds like there's something to it, if you have to add 'I suppose' to the end of that sentence."
She rolled her eyes and laughed quietly to herself, "Nicholas, be serious."
"I am being serious, I want to know."
"Well... Kora said I was sick with a fever."
I blinked and narrowed my eyes, confused. "And you're smiling about that... because?"
"Nicholas, don't worry about it. It's nothing too serious."
"Eli, it's a fever..." I spoke blandly as I moved my hand to feel her forehead. My mouth gaped upon. "My God, Eli... you're burning up."
"Mhm."
I blinked, stunned. "Eli, don't just 'mhm' me... What else did Kora say, did she give you some herbs? Anything? Some medicine?"
"She just said that it was a symptom for something else." Elirina mumbled and she sighed, "Kora said I'll be fine if I take a few herb baths, keep up with my fluids, and drink a vial of this horribly murky potion. She said it's just a common case of a more serious cold, that's all."
I frowned and pulled her into my arms, cradling her against my frame. "Is there anything that I can get you?"
"Just stay here, with me...," she whispered while kissing my cheek and gripping my hand tightly. Her eyes were a mystery, hazy because of the fever. "But Nicholas, there is something else that you should know."
"What?" I asked, closing my eyes and leaning closer to her.
Her lips moved closer to my ear, slowly and gradually. "Darling... you see... we're−"
But before she could finish her sentence, there was a knocking sound against the door in our room. I opened my eyes and called out, "Who is it?"
"Elysia, Nicholas. There's an Alliance gryphon rider here in Garadar who is looking to speak with you."
I looked to Elirina and she bit her lip, nervous all of a sudden. "You can tell me later, Eli, alright?"
She nodded and laid back against the bedroll with a sigh, closing her eyes. I told Elysia that I would be out in a minute as I quickly got dressed. Once in a suitable shirt and pants I kissed my wife on the cheek and walked out of the room and down the stairs where I was to meet Elysia. Allen and Elysia stood together and beckoned for me to follow them out of Kora's home. We walked to the edge of the town where a male human sat upon an ornately armored gryphon. I was cautious at first, but Elysia assured me that this individual was of no harm.
"Ah, yes, Knight Nicholas I presume?"
"Aye, that's me." I replied with a casual eye roll. I had not been called 'Knight' in over three years, it was quite odd hearing it again. "What do you want of me, sir?"
"What, you don't remember me?"
I blinked and raised a brow. "I suppose I don't, else I would have greeted you much differently," with a callous snarl, I continued, "look, get on with it, I don't need the Alliance snooping around wondering about my whereabouts."
"Oh I will assure you, they certainly are still looking for you and that elf I assigned to you three years ago."
The man hopped off of his gryphon and mockingly bowed once on his feet again. I suddenly recognized him upon hearing his words. "Ah... heh, the lieutenant of Stormwind. Certainly not as anxious and cowardly as I remember." I inspected him and took note of the honors and badges that glistened on his uniform in the sunlight. "Well, it's a good thing I never showed up again, else you would be owing me money."
"The Alliance owes nothing to a traitor like you," he growled sternly and dangerously.
I chuckled and folded my arms across my chest. "Well, I suppose the pusillanimous boy I talked with in Hillsbrad Foothills grew up since I last saw him. I'd watch your tongue, nonetheless. If I remember correctly, you have a fear of succubae."
"That demonic whore of yours is pathetic and futile. I'm an honored and recognized warrior of the Alliance, I will remind you, and I'd like to inform you that I've raised beyond the rank of lieutenant since we've met. I'm a Marshall, and it's ridiculous how I had to come find you after all this time. As we suspected, you are hiding away as a refuge with the Horde. We have already questioned Duncan D'irais, who though reluctant to give information, eventually cracked and explained how you and the elf purchased a voyage on the Nostalgia with my assistant Knight Lieutenant Anders. We know about your time in the Black Temple, Nicholas." He spoke such information knowingly, proudly. "Though, our spies were unable to uncover the whereabouts of that elf you captured and set free. Care to enlighten me over... ohh, you know, a drink or two?"
"Does it matter? So what if I let her go. The only crime she committed was getting caught, beyond that, she was simply serving her people, her faction. And in itself, the Alliance were dealing with a dangerous group of people. The Forsaken don't take kindly to the living, I will remind you. Fortunately for you, the Dark Lady is still unaware of the actions going on beneath her nose for the sake of preventing a pointless war."
"The case still stands, and the Alliance will find her and bring her to justice, no matter the costs, Nicholas. You can't escape that fate."
"She certainly has if you haven't captured her yet." I chuckled heartily. "Seems she's still as sly as a fox under the might of the Alliance's cause."
"She will be found. That information is too dangerous to be allowed to spread amongst the people of either faction." He narrowed his eyes and scowled heinously, as if he were attempting to glare knives and other potent weapons at me. Unfortunately for him, I was able to glare sinisterly as well, only difference my gaze held a formidable, imperturbable stigma of vile disgust. Such a gaze knocked him unsteady for a moment. The Marshall of the Alliance coughed and rolled his eyes. "Still arrogant, as we presumed."
"Certainly! All humans are haughty."
"Only those that allow themselves to be presumptuous."
"You certainly are one to talk; it takes a human to know another human's weaknesses."
The man stomped his foot and began to yell, "Will you ever grow up? By the Light you are foolish!"
"I'm not the one having a hissy fit over nothing, my mighty Marshall."
The Marshall was about to throw a punch towards me, but Elysia quickly froze his hand in a solid block of ice before me. My own reflexes had taken hold themselves, for my palms were searing with Felfire and my eyes were glowing a piercing green. Elysia forcefully explained, "Okay, both of you, get over yourselves. You've had enough time brawling it out over the past, Marshall, explain to Nicholas what you came here to say. Just give him the stupid message already."
The man glanced towards Elysia, whose angered and annoyed face seemed to singe through the Marshall's armor, penetrating him thoroughly. "Alright, fine," he glanced towards me, "your father returned from Northrend, Nicholas. He heard about your situation, and was able to pull some strings and the charges against you are being dropped and sealed away. The accusations against the she-elf still stand, however. We won't be stopping our search for her. Your father requested that you come to Stormwind to speak with him personally regarding the matter. He's restored your bank account, your title, and your position as a bounty hunter, in a sense. He's also paying for your portal from Shattrath to Stormwind."
I stared in disbelief as the words he spoke. "I don't believe you. My father's been long gone in Northrend for years. I haven't seen him since my mother's funeral, and even that was brief."
"It's in writing, if you must see it." He asked Elysia to unfreeze his hand in order to dig into his bag and pull out the letter addressed to me. He handed it to me afterwards. "Here, in his own writing, in his own words, signed and stamped, just for you, his last, surviving son...Why doesn't anyone ever believe me when I say the message aloud?"
"Maybe because you come off as a bit dickish?"
"Oh grow up."
"Only after you do."
He rolled his eyes and folded his arms across his plate armored chest. I opened the envelope, seeing my father's initials imprinted in the wax stamp, and took out the letter. It was written on delicate parchment, signed and addressed to me indeed, just as the Marshall explained. It read:
"Nicholas,
It certainly has been too long, my son. As the messenger informed you, I am done with my time in Northrend, allowed to return home to find that you have grown up to become a man without a father's presence. Understand, please, that I never intended for it to be that way. I wanted to be able to raise you alongside your mother, but the time and situation apparently did not allow it.
Yet this letter is not intended to be a letter of apology. No written words to describe the hollowness you must feel. You hardly know me, and I unfortunately do not know you, other than the brave and truthful words you spoke to me at your dear mother's funeral. Your words served their purpose, and as I'm sure you understand now that her death was not your fault by any means.
Unfortunately, I still am haunted by the inability to understand and fathomize the sheer agony and loneliness that must have washed over your body when you realized that you were alone at the age of fourteen. If my sources are correct, you took up the darker arts of the warlock. I suppose I cannot learn to understand what drove you to wanting to make such a sacrifice, but I do understand how hard it is to resist the urge for answers when it seems like there are so little in the world. I understand the confusion and hopelessness that must have consumed your aching heart. If I could give anything, I would give everything to be there with you through those times.
Nonetheless, I have heard through the rumors amongst the Knights of Stormwind that you are a terrible drinker and a crazy and foolish gambler, and that you have had your share of women of the years. I suppose it could not be helped, but it does break my heart to some extent. Yet amongst such rumors I learned of your service to the Alliance through the battles in the Arathi Basin as well as your quest for justice in bringing criminals to their judge, excluding the most latest news that seems to float through the halls of the barracks. If such rumors are correct, you set an elven woman free, with dangerously belligerent documents. I have also heard that you have traveled to the Black Temple, where Daniel was killed. However, this rumor does not address whether or not you went there for revenge or for your own search for answers. I suppose both of these instances are understandable, but a father still has questions.
I know that you hardly know me, and I sincerely wish to meet you in person. Wherever this letter goes, I hope it goes to you, my son. I would like to inform you that I have restored some form of dignity to your name in this pearly white city of stone. I restored your bank vault, your title and rank, and your lodging in Stormwind. In other words, you were pardoned by the Alliance for whatever behaviors you truly exemplified. Simply just hear me out, if you are not busy and off on your own adventures, I would love to talk to you in one of the quiet taverns of the city. I also purchased a mage for you, in order to help you travel to Stormwind with ease.
Again, I apologize for the actions of the past. I can only hope for the ultimate best in the end.
Sincerely,
Your father,
Nathaniel Archavon, Brigadier General of the Alliance
I simply stared with disbelief, shock actually as my eyes lifted themselves off of the paper and towards the others. I uttered something in demonic and looked away from the Marshall, fearing that any sign of weakness would only entice him for ridicule. I folded the paper casually and placed it inside of the envelope again, sighing.
The Marshall explained how the mage would be in Shattrath for two days before he would travel back to Stormwind again. I nodded and told him that I would need time to think about it. He shrugged and said, "Alright. I will send back to Stormwind that you have been found amongst... pagans and barbarians, but I will refrain from using the specific term 'Orcs.'"
I nodded and calmly thanked him for the sake of not striking a nerve again. Thus, the Marshall hopped on the gryphon again and flew away towards Terokkar Forest, away from Garadar. Once out of sight, I glanced towards Allen and Elysia and ran a hand through my hair. "Heh, Elirina will not believe this."
"The letter's clear proof." Allen spoke nonchalantly. "She can't deny it."
"I just... never thought I would hear from him. I figured he was dead... Though, I suppose that was an inaccurate assumption."
I began walking back into the town again, where the citizens of Garadar were starting their daily morning routines. It was around noon, judging from where the sun was in the sky, and I saw that Elirina was up and walking about in her black, formfitting undersuit, her plate mail leggings and her boots.
She smiled in my direction and asked, "What did the messenger say?"
"Well, you'll never believe it, but the messenger was the guy who sent me out originally to come find you."
"Really? What did he have to say?"
"He..." I showed her the letter from my father, "it's a letter from my father, Eli. My father came back from Northrend, and the Alliance have been trying to find me. Apparently I've been pardoned by them."
"Your father helped pardon you?" She asked, again with disbelief, "But why would he do that?"
"I guess he wanted to talk to me again, to find out more about what happened over these years. He wants me to travel to Stormwind."
My elf did not speak for a few moments as she stared back at me with concern and apprehension in her eyes. "Well... are you going to go, then?"
"I don't know. I wanted to tell you about it first."
She nodded and sighed, "I suppose you should go. I think you should talk to him. You never know what he might tell you. It might give you some closure."
"But that means... well, err...," I paused and scratched the back of my neck, "Eli, they don't know that you're with me. The Alliance thinks you're off in Orgrimmar or something."
"You still should go."
"But I can't just leave you!"
"You don't have to leave me... I'll come with you."
"But that's not safe, Eli. If you're still wanted, they will find you. The guards of Stormwind are intelligent when it comes to searching for criminals. By God, there's a prison full of captured criminals inside of the city! They are trained on searching for the wanted. I can't let you waltz in there with me."
"Nicholas," she stared, narrowing and rolling her eyes, "you really think that I'm that inexperienced when it comes to dealing with the enemy? I've got a military history too, you know. I can handle myself just as good as you can."
"Not when you have a high fever."
"It's getting better, trust me. Kora said I'll be fine, remember?"
"Ehh, it's just not safe, Eli. I can't take that risk. I've already lost you too many times before."
"Nicholas... please, trust me. I myself have lost you too many times. I'm not letting you go into the lion's den all by yourself."
Suddenly a hand was placed onto my shoulder, and I looked over my shoulder and saw Allen's masked face. "Nicholas, we'll come with you too. Elysia and I. We need to travel to Stormwind anyways."
Elysia walked up and stood beside Allen as well with a bright smile on her face. "We can take care of any of the bad guys that happen to get in you and Eli's way. Just because we're diplomatic agents of the Argent Dawn doesn't mean we don't know anything about a decent undercover operation."
"You're making it sound like we're starting a conspiracy, or something."
"Maybe we are." Allen mumbled with a wide smirk.
"Nicholas, I'm serious... everything will be fine. This is an opportunity you can't miss up."
With a sigh, I grumbled, "Fine." I closed my eyes and ran a hand through my hair again, grazing my burn scars. "Fine! But we'll have to make up some sort of disguise for you, Elirina."
"Oh Nick, let Allen take care of that! He's a master of deception and trickery."
I blinked and shrugged, "Alright, fine." I glanced towards Elirina and took her hand. "Though... I guess you'll be able to meet my mother as well, then."
"Sure, I'd love to meet her. And, if you don't mind, I'd like to steal a few books from the Stormwind Archives..." Elirina giggled maliciously and I shook my head towards her.
"We'll see." I reminded her with a steady tone.
"Oh no! It looks like Nicholas might need some persuasion then, Eli." Elysia chimed in with a giggle.
"Apparently!" Eli folded her arms and shook her head playfully. "Good thing I'm female enough for him to betray his faction's laws!"
"Ugh, I'm going to need a drink once we're in Stormwind, Allen. I apparently married the craziest, most damned foolish, yet remarkable elf in the world."
"Yeh, some drinks would be nice." Allen agreed.
"Oh please, Allen. The last time you had a drink, you were so wasted you wanted to have sex with a table in our room. The table said 'no' though. You should have seen Allen, he was so wasted that the table's rejection nearly left him heartbroken!"
"Elysia! I told you never to reveal that."
"Ooops! Sorry!" She giggled and nudged Allen playfully with a devilishly playful smile on her face.
"Come on guys, we should get packing then for Shattrath." I explained with a chuckle. "The Marshall said that the mage wouldn't be staying that much longer in Shattrath."
Despite the concerns that raced through my head, I couldn't help but allow an unbelievably huge smile to appear on my face. I was in the presence and company of amazing people, amazing friends, who I knew I could trust dearly. And I was beyond thankful for it, too. For Stormwind called, and I needed to answer.
Author's Note: Happy Halloween! Hopefully this chapter was a treat.
Thus, we have arrived at the newest story arc. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to let me know.
Also! I am contemplating a one-shot segment of how Elysia and Allen came together. Their relationship is going to be further revealed in this next story arc, along with some other new plot twists and turns. I am still quite a far way from finishing this piece, so don't fret. There's plenty to come still.
Yet, I am still compelled to ask, what do you guys think of Elysia and Allen? Any sort of opinion? I know they're from Blind Nostalgia, but I would like some feedback regarding their characters. More will be revealed as time goes on, but if anyone has some feedback, I would greatly appreciate it.
Again, thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed it.