I am so incredibly sorry! Life caught up to me and I've been super busy with work and personal stuff, but I'm hopefully back to posting. This is the final chapter, and it's rather short, but the next story will most likely be up fairly quickly.
The trial passed over the course of eight days, and in that time Aelwynn had done her best to be patient and relax while waiting for news. She hadn't ventured out of Undercity, her impatience causing a small tiff within her guild. Nikola hadn't understood why she was so hostile, both Sif and Esme asking him in their own ways to leave her be. The stress of the situation wasn't helping, and the constant bickering in the group was making it worse.
They finally decide they were going to sit outside the ruins of Lordaeron, so the group ventured outside. Aelwynn lounged against a nearly demolished pillar, her ever present Spirit Beast at her side. Carlisle, a monk who had recently joined the group, sat with Esme, Nikola on their other side, with Bulliam, Loki and Sif making up the rest of the group. Loki, her Spirit Beast, perked his head up and watched the entrance as Sylvanas stepped outside the archway. The hunter smiled softly, looking up at her lover as she neared.
"How did it go?" She asked.
Sylvanas shook her head. "They've been showing what happened using the Vision of Time. Today's harrowing vision was Theramore." She explained.
Aelwynn grit her teeth, shaking her head. "This trial is ridiculous. All they're doing is delaying justice. I doubt they'll sentence him to death, they're too forgiving for that." The hunter sneered.
Carlisle spoke up quietly. "I would agree with you on that point. They are more forgiving than they perhaps should be. However, in the end it is up to them. " He said.
"They should have called you in, you were part of the effort to take him down." Sylvanas said as she shed her armor.
Aelwynn lounged on the bed, shrugging her shoulders. "They won't. Taran Zhu made it very clear that I wasn't going to be included in the proceedings in any form. To be honest, I really don't want to be there. I'll be the first to publicly berate that fat oaf and his...guardians."
Sylvanas turned, a brow raised as she straightened the leather tunic she had pulled over her head. "You certainly don't get along well with the Pandaren do you..." She said, sitting on the edge of the bed.
Aelwynn rolled her eyes. "Why should I? He's judged me at every turn and found me lacking, not that I've cared at all, but I've had less of a struggle getting along with Alliance members I've met while in Dalaran. And all of his garbage about being 'sha-touched' has done nothing to alleviate my aggravation. We all have a right to emotion, positive or otherwise, and having some stupid overweight, drunk furball tell me I need to control my anger just makes it worse."
Sylvanas shook her head, chuckling at Aelwynn's description of the Pandaren judge.
Deathstalker Belmont came around the corner, heading toward the training area where the group of adventurers were, his steps sure. His mind, however, was in turmoil. Something had happened. Something terrible, and he needed to follow his Queen's orders and locate her hunter quickly.
"Hunter Nightstrider. The Banshee Queen has returned. I will stay with the rest of your group and wait for you to return." He said.
She nodded gratefully. "Thank you Belmont." She said. She turned to the group. "Time for the moment of truth..." She said.
Aelwynn stepped in the door of their living quarters, looking around for Sylvanas. She spotted her at the desk, her hands propping up her head as she leaned on the surface.
"Sylvanas?" She asked.
The Banshee Queen turned, and the sight that greeted Aelwynn was not what she expected. Those eyes that had once held tenderness toward her were hard, her face covered in gore.
"Sylvanas, what happened?" Aelwynn questioned.
"She betrayed me. And he got away." Sylvanas replied, her voice as cold as the Frozen Throne and hard as steel.
"What?"
"Vereesa...she told the human princeling that Hellscream's food was poisoned. And then that blasted bronze dragon took the monster and they escaped!" She shouted, standing and clearing the desk in a single swipe.
Aelwynn frowned. "Why...Kairoz...of course." She said quietly. "I knew there was something more going on."
Sylvanas spun on her heel, targeting Aelwynn with a deadly glare. "Leave." She snapped coldly.
"Sylvanas..." Aelwynn countered.
"I said LEAVE!" The Banshee Queen shouted, pointing to the door. "And for your own sake, do not return. You are no longer needed here."
The Blood Elf closed her eyes, fighting back tears. "Wh...fine." She snapped angrily, grabbing her pack and her bow.
She turned as she got to the door. "If you think I would do to you what your sister has, you're wrong. I would never betray you like that. You don't do that to people you love. But now I realize it was one sided." She turned back to the door, grabbing the door handle. "Shorel'aran." She said, swinging the door open and slamming it behind her.
She pulled the hood of her traveling cloak up to cover her head, and headed up to the elevators. This was the last time she would be in Undercity, but she needed to leave quickly.
When she returned to the group, Belmont turned, his necromantic eyes registering the tears in her own. "Shorel'aran, Belmont." She said quietly, turning to the group. "Hellscream managed to escape. I'm going to Orgrimmar to find out what happened. I don't care where any of you go from here, but anar'alah, if any of you follow me there will be hell to pay." With that she turned, heading out of the ruins, confused and broken-hearted.
So we've reached the end. I've been trying to get the sequel edited and cleaned up, which should hopefully be uploaded within the next week. To those who reviewed and followed this story, thank you so much! Aelwynn's adventures will continue soon!