Braelyn watched on in awe as Lor'themar and Dyran began their duel. She was being held by her mother, who was stroking her hair and telling her that everything would work out for the best. Braelyn paid her little attention, nor did she spare much for her father, who was standing to one side, guarding his two 'girls' with his sword and shield. Her eyes were fixated on Lor'thermar.
The Regent Lord captivated her. He moved about the makeshift dueling ring with a deadly grace, his face, all elegant angles, intense and full of determination. His eyes never left his foe, ever vigiliant for the opportunity to strike Dyran down. His gorgeous white-blonde hair, caught up its usual braided ponytail, soared through the air as he moved back and forth, thrusting and parrying, constantly dodging Dyran's blows.
Braelyn had never seen Lor'themar fight before, and it was an enlightening experience. Watching him, she began to feel hope. She truly started to believe that Lor'themar would win, that this horrible ordeal would be over, and that she and the baby would be safe.
But fate was a fickle mistress, and determined to make Lor'themar work for his happy ending.
With a sudden dash forward, Dyran sent Lor'themar flying backwards. The Regent Lord hit the ground, hard, and the impact caused him to drop his sword. It slid across the ground towards Braelyn, coming to rest at her feet.
"Lor'themar!" she cried out in horror, her mother's grip preventing her from moving to his side.
"Stay out of this, Sweetie!" Ellysan warned her. "There's too much at risk for you to go over there."
Braelyn heeded her mother's advice, heart pounding painfully as she watched Dyran swagger up to the fallen Regent Lord and place the tip of his sword at Lor'themar's throat.
"Such confidence you had, Lor'themar," he taunted, "but it was sadly misplaced."
Braelyn strained to free herself from her mother's arms, calling out for Lor'themar to get up, to keep fighting.
"Don't worry, my lord," Dyran said with a smirk, "I'll take good care of your lady, and your child will want for nothing." He raised his arms, preparing to strike the final blow. But it was his confidence that was misplaced. As Dyran moved his blade away from Lor'themar's neck, the Regent Lord struck. Lor'themar kicked Dyran's legs out from under him, and as the warrior staggered and fell, the Sin'dorei' leader planted his boot in his opponent's face. With a sickening crunch, Dyran went flying backwards, a spray of blood arcing through the air.
Lor'themar rolled onto his hands and knees, and Brealyn wrenched herself free. She kicked the sword over to him, watching in relief as he grabbed it. He raised his head, and gave her the ghost of a smile, before standing and turning back to Dyran, who had also regained his footing.
Dyran was in a bad way; his nose was broken and blood was gushing from his mouth. He had lost several teeth, and it looked like his jaw was either broken or dislocated. He was unable to stand straight, and Lor'themar knew that it was time to end the warrior's life.
Lor'themar strode forward, raising his own sword high. "I derive no pleasure from this, Sunblight," he said, "only satisfaction that I am at last able to dispense justice."
Dyran could not speak. All he could do was glare at Lor'themar with bitter, hatefilled eyes.
The death blow was quick and clean; more merciful than the one Dyran would have dealt Lor'themar. Dyran Sunblight had time enough to utter one last cry before his head was separated from his shoulders.
There was a short silence before Jasper Hawke let out a loud victory cry, one that was soon taken up by Halduron and the others. Only Braelyn and Lor'themar stayed silent.
Lor'themar could feel everyone's gaze upon him, but he did not turn around. He cared only for Braelyn's reaction, but he would not face her while he was still clad in his gore-covered armor. He began tearing it off, tossing it to the ground without care.
"What are you doing, my lord?" Aethas asked in Thalassian.
"I will not address Braelyn while I am covered in blood," Lor'themar replied, also in their native tongue. He thanked the Light that his face and hair remained clean. He reached down to unbuckle his boots.
He was just disgarding his greaves, revealing the fawn-coloured breeches beneath, when he heard Braelyn's soft voice.
"Lor'themar?"
He turned around, and saw that Braelyn was once again being held by her mother. She was staring at him with tear-filled eyes and he frowned when he noticed how pale she was. He needed to get her out of here, someplace safe where they could talk, and she could rest.
Braelyn looked like she wanted to come to him, but was hesitating, perhaps unsure of what he wanted. Lor'themar took several steps towards her, his eyes never leaving hers, but a figure blocked his path.
Jasper Hawke looked at him with a stern face, rigid and unyielding. He still had his sword and shield in hand, and Lor'themar knew the paladin would not hesitate to use them.
After everything that just happened, and all that Lor'themar had done to save Braelyn, her father was still going to interfere, still going to try to take her away. That frustrated him, anger boiling away under his skin, but he would not act on it. Not when it would cause Braelyn so much distress. She had already been through so much; it was not good for her, or their baby.
"Braelyn," he asked softly in Thalassian, "are you all right?"
Braelyn looked at him and nodded her head. She then surprised him by pulling away from her mother and pushing her father out of the way. She walked over to him, ignoring Jasper's protest, and buried herself in his chest. Her fingers clung to the soft silk of his shirt as she pulled herself into him as close as she could, and nestled her face in the crook of his neck. She said nothing, but after a few seconds Lor'themar could feel her shoulders shaking, and he realised that she was crying.
Lor'themar slid his arms around her, one hand resting against the small of her back, the other stroking her hair. "It is all right, Sweetheart," he said, placing a soft kiss on the top of her head. "I'm here now."
She said nothing, continuing to cry as Lor'themar held her and did his best to comfort her.
There was so much Braelyn wanted to say to Lor'themar, but as soon as he spoke to her, all she wanted to do was hold onto him and cry. So that's what she did. The fact that his first words to her were an inquiry about her health spoke volumes about Lor'themar's character. If their situations were reversed, she doubted she would have acted the same way. She would have been yelling about all of the deception, the hiding.
Braelyn heard the comforting words Lor'themar murmured to her, felt his fingers glide through her hair, and his hand rest against her stomach. She could hear her parents talking nearby, but refused to deal with them just yet. For the moment, she wanted only to stay where she was, listening to the beat of Lor'themar's heart.
"Braelyn is as clingy as I was when I was pregnant," Ellysan said as she watched her daughter and the Regent Lord. "Do you remember?"
"I do," Jasper replied, a small grin cracking his grim facade. "I couldn't be out of your sight for more than ten minutes without you becoming distraught and acting like I'd been gone ten years."
"Do you really think separating them is such a good idea then?" Odariah asked, walking up to them with Andorien by her side.
Jasper wanted to say yes, that keeping Braelyn as far away from Quel'Thalas as he could manage was the best thing he could do for his child. But seeing Braelyn with Lor'themar, and seeing how the blood elf treated her, made him question his instincts.
The way his daughter clung to Lor'themar Theron made it clear she wanted him in her life in some way, even if it was in a non-romantic capacity. She obviously felt safe with him, believing that he would not harm her or the baby.
He could hope that it was just hormones guiding her behaviour, or the result of the day's traumatic events, but it would probably be a false hope.
Begrudgingly, Jasper also had to admit that Lor'themar Theron had proved that he was capable of protecting Braelyn, and, more importantly, caring for her. He was holding her the way Jasper held Ellysan, as if Braelyn was the centre of his universe. The way the elf spoke to her, gently and full of affectionate respect, not angry accusations, also testified to his worth as a person.
Jasper wished he could read minds. Was it possible this was a love match and his daughter and the blood elf had not yet realised it?
"Braelyn," he said, and she turned her head to look at him, but did not leave Lor'themar's embrace.
"Yes, Dad?" Braelyn replied, and she dug her fingers into Lor'themar's chest, afraid that her father would attempt to pull her away again.
"If you wish to stay with Lor'themar, there is something you must know," her father said. His face was less stern now, and Braelyn hoped that he was willing to listen to her, to honour her wishes. "King Varian has declared that if you go with Lor'themar, you will forfeit your rights as a citizen of Stormwind. You and your child will be exiled, no longer permitted to enter Alliance lands."
"What?!" Braelyn said, and Odariah also made a sound of surprised outrage. Lor'themar, however, made no sound. He just gripped her more tightly. He knew that Varian would react the way he had, the way Lor'themar himself would have acted if their situations were reversed.
"The king can't afford to be compassionate for a second time, child," Ellysan said. "Did you honestly expect him to be?"
"No," Braelyn said, "I guess not. I was hoping he wouldn't find out." She buried her face in Lor'themar's neck again, taking comfort from his warmth. The thought of never seeing Goldshire again was heartbreaking, but so was the thought of denying her child the chance to know its father in a meaningful way. Brief visits in neutral territories would never provide the opportunity for her son or daughter to discover what a truly wonderful man Lor'themar was.
Jasper let out a long sigh and sheathed his sword. "I can tell you don't wish to be parted," he said, giving Braelyn and Lor'themar a disappointed look. Such an unholy mess this was, and he could forsee no happy ending for anyone. "And I no longer think that separating you against Braelyn's will is the right thing to do."
Braelyn raised her head to stare at her father in shock, and she could hear many murmurs of discontent from their audience. Lor'themar also stared, but he also mantained his hold on her, as if fearing some sort of trick.
"What are you saying, Hawke?" Lor'themar asked, running his hand along Braelyn's back.
"If Braelyn wishes to stay with you, then I will not attempt to stop her," Jasper said, though his tone implied that he very much wanted to. "I believe my wife feels the same. Elly?"
"I do," Ellysan agrees, but her eyes were stern as they met Lor'themar's. "You will, however, allow Braelyn and her child to travel freely, so that she may meet with us as often as she wishes."
"Of course," Lor'themar said with a polite nod. If they were willing to compromise, so was he.
"Do you really mean it?" Braelyn asked, her heart feeling lighter than it had since she'd discovered she was pregnant.
"Yes, Sweetie," her mother replied, giving her a fond smile. "I only want you to be happy and safe."
"Dad?"
"Yes," Jasper said, but he was still eyeballing Lor'themar. "But you will marry her, Lor'themar. You will do the right thing by my daughter."
"I was fully intending to do so," the Regent Lord said. "As soon as I get Braelyn home, we will... "
"No," Jasper interrupted. "You will marry her now, where we can all see. I must witness it. Odariah can conduct the ceremony."
"Jasper, be reasonable," Ellysan said. "You really want our child to marry here in the plaugelands, with a dead body practically at her feet?"
"NO!" Braelyn said loudly, finally detaching herself from Lor'themar, though she still stayed by his side. "If I choose to return to Silvermoon with him, it will be so that we can raise our child together. I won't force Lor'themar into marrying me because of a baby. It's not right."
"Braelyn," Jasper protested, staring at her in shock. "You have to... "
"No, Dad," Braelyn replied stubbornly. "I really don't."
"What makes you think I only want to marry you because of our baby?" Lor'themar asked. "Do you not remember how I acted that night in Shattrath, or the things I said?"
Braelyn was shocked by Lor'themar's question, and he smirked slightly at her reaction. She blushed as he took her hand and kissed it, before placing his other hand on her baby bump.
"I am extremely happy that I fathered a child with you," he said, his eye boring into hers, "but I want you to be my wife because I have been waiting for you for my whole life."
Braelyn was... hell, she didn't know what she was. All she knew was that Lor'themar had just uttered the most romantic thing anyone had ever said to her, and she had no idea how to respond. Especially since he'd already surprised her by not yelling at her for hiding the truth from him for so long.
What could she say? 'Thanks, Lor'themar, you're such a sweetie'? She'd had no idea that his feelings were that intense, coming to believe that his words in Shattrath had been the result of his alcohol binge.
"You honour me more than I deserve," Braelyn said, smiling at Lor'themar. She was relieved to hear that he wanted the baby, and wasn't going to take it away from her, but a thought popped into her head and raised a new concern. "There are other issues that we must discuss, however."
"What troubles you?" Lor'themar asked, pulling Braelyn into his arms again. He liked having her there.
Braelyn sighed, and couldn't help looking over at Rommath, who was standing with Aethas and Halduron. He had a stoic expression on his face, but she could see the hurt in his eyes.
"You are the Regent Lord of Quel'Thalas," she told Lor'themar, with a pained smile. "Your people need you. To rule effectively, you need to get along with your advisors. I don't want to cause any trouble between you and Rommath."
"Rommath and I have already had words about this," Lor'themar said softly, and she winced. "We can work through this, Sweetheart. I know we can."
"It is of no importance how I feel," Rommath interrupted. "I can control my emotions. All that matters is how you feel, Braelyn. If you truly wish to be with Lor'themar, then I will accept that."
Both Braelyn and Lor'themar turned to stare at Rommath, but his face was rigidly controlled. Braelyn couldn't speak, she was so touched by his words. So she smiled at him and mouthed, "Thank you." Rommath nodded in reply.
"It's getting late," Ellysan said. "You need to make a decision now, Braelyn."
Braelyn turned her gaze back to Lor'themar, whose face was as unreadable as Rommath's. She chewed on her lip, deep in thought. She didn't feel as torn as she thought she'd be, considering that the consequences she faced were so severe, but still... there was so much at stake. People were going to get hurt no matter what she decided, and that was hard to reconcile.
She felt Lor'themar's fingers brush gently across her stomach, and the baby kicked, as if recognising its father's touch. The look on Lor'themar's face was magical, and Braelyn felt it tugging on her heartstrings.
She opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted by a chorus of screams. She looked around to see Mangle about to be run through by her father. "Dad, no!" she yelled, pulling away from Lor'themar to dash over to the ghoul's side. "Leave him be, it's just Mangle."
"What do you mean, 'it's just Mangle'?" Odariah said, staring at her in shock. "It's a ghoul, is what it is."
"Is that a cat on its head?" a night elf rogue asked.
"Yes, that's Mrs Fluffy," Braelyn replied.
"Mangle doesn't want Pretty Braelyn to go!" Mangle wailed, throwing an arm around Braelyn's shoulders. "Mangle wants to play with baby Braelyn."
"You're not going near the baby!" Lor'themar and Jasper said in unison. "Filthy creature," Jasper added.
"Hey, don't you be mean to Mangle!" Braelyn yelled. "He's the only one who's been nice to me during the past few days. He's perfectly harmless. Like a giant, undead teddy bear really."
"Oh, for the Light's sake," someone muttered. "This woman is crazy."
"Why do you even want to keep it?" her mother asked, giving her daughter a concerned look.
"Because he's always entertaining, always looking out for me," Braelyn said, with a shrug of her shoulders. "And it will piss Lethallan Dawnbreaker off. Let's see how awesome he is without Mangle around to do all the hard work."
"You are not bringing that thing into Goldshire," her father said firmly.
"Or Silvermoon," Lor'themar added, just as vehemently.
Braelyn stared at them both with a stubborn glint in her eyes, her head tilted in defiance. "Fine, then," she sniffed. "I'll just go live in a little cottage somewhere in the wilds, or maybe Ironforge. Mangle can keep me company, and help with the baby."
"Braelyn... " her mother warned.
"I'm not leaving without him," Braelyn declared, and stared at Lor'themar and her father with big, teary eyes. Jasper's shoulders slumped in defeat. He could never withstand those puppy dog eyes.
Lor'themar sighed. What man could resist such a look from his pregnant love? "Fine," he said wearily. "By all means, bring it along. Just don't come crying to me if one of the guards shoots it on sight."
Braelyn beamed happily and walked over to kiss Lor'themar on the cheek. She sniggered when Mangle hugged her father, the paladin looking visibly repulsed. "Play nice, Dad," she said as Jasper's hand started inching towards his sword.
"Well," a new voice said, and Braelyn was surprised to see Lord Tirion Fordring standing next to Andorien and Odariah. "Now that that's settled, we'll need your decision, Miss Hawke. It's not safe to be out here in such numbers, and it is getting late."
Braelyn nodded, her face becoming serious. She cast a glance at both her parents and Lor'themar, weighing up the pros and cons of each option. She tried to think logically, but her heart would not be ignored, forcing her to at least acknowledge the emotional impact of her choices.
She bit her lip, and made her decision.
"Firstly, I just want to say that... " Braelyn's sentence trailed off as blue lights began flashing in the air around them. The sound of ringing bells rent the air, and she realised that a large group of people were about to teleport in.
"Weapons out!" Jasper bellowed, just as the unexpected interlopers made their appearance.
Braelyn felt Lor'themar pull her back, and he stepped in front of her, sword outstretched, as she gaped in shock at the new arrivals.
It was the Kirin Tor, and they were out in force, accompanied by a group of Silver Covenant rangers. She heard her mother and Aethas swear under their breath as a group of mages parted to reveal the leader of their party.
"Well, well. Isn't this a curious sight?" Lady Jaina Proudmoore said with a cold smile. She looked at Braelyn,who was half obscured by Lor'themar. The Regent Lord glared at the leader of the Kirin Tor with an expression of anger and mistrust. "Looks like I arrived just in time."
AN - poor Chelinka, these cliffhangers are going to be the death of you. And Mangle... like I said, all my stories seem to have at least one really silly bit in them.
Next chapter: It's a war of words as Jaina Proudmoore tries to take Braelyn and her child into the custody of the Kirin Tor. For the good of the Alliance, of course.
