AN: I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING WORLD OF WARCRAFT! ANY REAL IN GAME CHARACTERS AND WoW BELONGS TO BLIZZARD! NO COPY RIGHT INTENDED! IT'S A GREAT GAME! :) I really hope you guys comment and let me know how you feel or like the story! I love your comments, they always make me smile! Also, I know there are a lot of time skips in the story, but that is how I planned it; there must be time intervals for progress.
"My deepest apologies to you and your family's loss, Whitefeather. I hope you had all the time you needed to clear your head, then again, you wouldn't be standing here if you hadn't, correct? I will be honest, I do not care if your family is Horde so long as you do not fight the Alliance in any way; it is no skin off my back," Echo nodded her head and clicked her heels together in a board line position.
"I am glad you accepted to finish your training, there was worry that I would be wasting my time for naught with you." Echo kept her face emotionless and didn't let her eyes display the anger that was building up.
Shaw stood directly in front of her, dark indigo colored eyes scanned her silver eyes for anything to go on.
Nothing that he could see, he smirked in response. The girl was learning very well.
Running a hand through his russet hair, he marched back to his desk and sat down casually.
All the while looking at her boredly.
"In all my 20 years of teaching Rogues, Whitefeather, I have never come across one such as you before. To learn so quickly in only a few short years the masterings of the art of stealth and poison; I am impressed by your vigor even after all the bullshit and deception I purposely placed on you." Shaw chuckled and leaned back in his chair.
A sharp whistle rang through the air seconds after a loud CLANK sharply cracked throughout the room.
A small blade had cracked in half and fell to the ground as it ricocheted off Echo's dagger as she deflected the sudden attack Shaw casted onto her.
Echo held no emotion still, no surprise or fear, just a blank stare at her Master. Shaw twisted another small blade through his fingers giving her the same blank stare of boredom.
She sheathed her blade again into the belt on her waist, keeping a silver glare at him.
Bastard.
Shaw hummed.
"Come, Whitefeather. I have many more tricks to teach you." With that, both student and teacher left the Rogue compound in Old Town.
3 Months Later…
Echo vertically slashed at Shaw and landed a gash on his cheek. Blood dribbled down his face and the bored expression on his face never shifted. It looked as though he really didn't care if she managed blows on him or not.
Echo quickly twisted over his sprinting figure and hooked her leg over his back only to throw her body to the floor and toss Shaw over her hand standing figure onto the other side of the arena battle grounds. Both Rogues fighting viciously and without moral reason.
This fight was for your life whether it be fought for in the price blood and death or not; that is how Shaw made the last of her training become… a fight for your life in every session.
But this specific session... this was her final test if one would name it. This battle mattered to her.
The training was taking longer than expected, Echo felt like something was amiss when her training was extended. She didn't voice, well sign it, but something was off in her head.
Echo threw a throwing dagger at Shaw and it pierced right next to his head, deeply embedding itself in the wooden wall. Shaw raised a russet brow at the dagger then at her. He put his blades in his belt and walked up to her, silently. That made Echo a little nervous.
Shaw sighed and raised his hand out to her which she shook slightly.
The group of men around the arena were all silent and then began a mingling of hushed whispers to one another. They were her judges as they had been for the past three months. Since the talk of a female Grand Spymaster passed through the city of Stormwind, men of higher positions, aristocracy and the King's council came to judge her; it was the King's and Shaw's decision though.
Echo ignored their bantering with one another in the balconies. Her stare down with Shaw was becoming lack luster. She had been training and fighting nearly the same for three months, just different strategies and timings. Her patience was wearing thin.
Echo glanced up past the bickering men to the young prince who was around her age, Varian Wrynn and his father, the elderly King Llane Wrynn I. Varian seemed impressed by her skills and clapped when she had won whilst others begrudgingly clapped for her victories; she felt happy someone believed in her skills.
King Llane, on the other hand, looked passive but held some glimmer in his eyes as he observed their fighting techniques. A man decided to egg Shaw on causing some of the surrounding men to roll their eyes at him and some snickered.
"Come now, Shaw. You are going to let yourself be beat by a student? A mere woman nonetheless? Hah- AHH!" The snide laugh was cut short and a yelp followed as Echo was suddenly crouched in front of him on the banister railings, glaring at him. The man fell back into his seat with wide eyes.
Say that again. I DARE you, you little weasel.
Echo could hear Prince Varian laugh and spotted out of the corner of her eye the King shake his head with a small smile.
Echo stood, glancing over the many men watching her with interest and some with disgust or fear, she tilted herself back and back flipped back into the arena area. The sun continued to beat down on everything in the arena, Echo felt a sweat drop gather and fall off her forehead.
The king suddenly stood and his son followed with confusion, both made their way down the balconies and to the arena area. Shaw stood and backed away from Echo next to the royal family.
Echo stood still as the King stopped in front of her, his son glancing at her with a small smile. Shaw nodded to her. The king pulled his sword from his belt and Echo almost flinched at the ringing of metal on metal met her ears. Echo was met with kind blue eyes and the king nodded to her.
Echo knelt down to her knee and watched as the sharp steel colored blade gently touched her shoulder then crossed to the other shoulder.
Her heart stopped, she was being coronated. She knew she was to be promoted in title but... not this.
"I, King Llane Wrynn I, of Azeroth, the Alliance, and Stormwind, hereby grant you, Echo Whitefeather, the title and honor of Grand Spymaster. I am proud to honor you this title for all the work you have done for us in this war." The king gently held a small smile to his lips and sheathed his blade. He lent his hand down and pulled her off the ground. Echo watched from the corner of her eye as some of the men in the audience stand in fury and others nodded in consideration. The other clapped in respect to their king.
Echo felt her heart jump in her chest… she had done it, she was a Spymaster. She bowed to the king, his son, and her old Master, Shaw.
"She says: It is a privilege and honor, King Wrynn." Shaw stated for her as she signed slowly in response.
The king smiled and nodded.
"The honor is mine, Grand Master Whitefeather. It is good to see that women are taking their stand to fight alongside us. My wife would have been proud to see this day." Echo bowed her head a little, in embarrassment at the king's kind words.
Echo hadn't been expecting a small coronation from the king to become a Spymaster. She wished her family could have come and witnessed it themselves.
"After all I have heard about your troubles and the mishap that happened in Lordaeron and Stratholme, you have been more than willingly deserved this honor. I am not one for sexism to stop a hard working soldier such as yourself. Come, let me see your face."
Echo froze for a second.
Show… my face?
She really didn't like showing anyone her face, her privacy was her own. But she had no choice with the King it seemed. Shaw gave her an expected glance.
Delicately, Echo peeled back the mask from her face and pulled it down to rest on her collar.
The old king's smile shrunk and his eyes grew a little wide. Confusion then recognition flashed in his wise eyes but he quickly put on a façade of no real emotion but contempt.
"A true beauty indeed. Isn't that right son?" Varian stared at her as if he were looking at a ghost, but accidentally let a blush cover his cheeks as he looked to his father and back at Echo.
"Indeed father." Echo let a grin grow on her face despite how uncomfortable she felt as if they were hiding something from her.
Both the royal members glanced to one another as Echo was guided by Shaw out of the arena.
"Father… she… she looks just like-" Varian couldn't finish his sentence.
"I know my son, I know." King Llane gently put a hand on his son's shoulder.
1 Week Later…
Echo hummed to herself as she packed the last of her stuff into her bags, ready to head to Dalaran to see Jaina and Kael'thas. She had not heard from Kael'thas since last month in a letter he sent her. It warmed her heart to see he cared for her and took time out of his day to write to her but his words on the note made her suspect that he was under a lot of pressure from his council and people, and no doubt that monster of a man, Garithos.
The last of her stuff was packed away, the Rogue exited the Rogue Compound for the last time since she had first time she had entered it a timid, confused but determined child all those years ago.
Echo wanted to look around Stormwind before her flight back to Dalaran, so she wandered down past the Trade District into Cathedral Square where the giant marble Cathedral stood proudly in the middle of the Human city. Echo whistled at the sheer size of it.
Impressive to say the least.
The walk around the small gardens and then the cemetery in the back of the Cathedral was a comforting one but something caught her eyes.
Children, a dozen of them were running around happily and playing with one another next to the cathedral grounds. She instantly understood as she saw one caretaker watching over them from the gardens.
An Orphanage.
A random thought hit her.
If my parents hadn't found me… would I be here or worse?
Some of the children pointed at her and caused the caretaker to look over at the Rogue in thought. The caretaker could see that the other woman was a soldier or some sort, definitely not a common traveler as she spotted the armor and weapons strapped to her person.
Cautiously, the caretaker came closer to Echo.
"May I help you? Are you lost?" Echo gently shook her head.
The caretaker watch with surprise as the Rogue pulled out a small pouch and handed it to her. Bright Umber eyes widened as the caretaker opened the bag and saw a good amount of gold coins in the pouch.
"Why would you give me this?" Echo smiled to herself. She didn't sign as the woman would have no clue what she was signing.
"Is this for the Orph-" The blonde caretaker stopped as Echo nodded softly and patted the other woman's shoulder before turning away and walking casually towards the Cathedral.
"O-Oh! Thank you so much!"
A gloved thumbs up was the only response given as Echo disappeared inside the monstrous structure.
Echo walked up to the large alter and gazed at the large stained glass windows that were mounted above the fixtures. It was beautiful, the last of the golden sunlight of the day was shining through and casting brilliant arrays of colors and patterns across the marble floors. Many of the Priests in the Cathedral only glanced at the new comer but never interrupted her.
Do I pray or something?
Echo just stood there for a few minutes and turned around to leave but was a little surprised by the presence of an old man, an elderly Priest by the looks of it, he was sitting down on one of the steeples with a warm smile on his face.
"That was a very kind thing you did back there, my lady. Those children will eat good for the next few night because of you." Echo nodded her head slightly.
"You stand in the house of the Gods and look confused as to why you are here, tell me child, do you believe?" Echo raised a brow and shook her head no. The man's kind blue eyes did not change at her answer.
"With war, many would come around to the belief in the strength of the Gods, but you look as though you are experiencing it, and to still not believe? My dear, you are a very interesting child. I can see strength in you yet, behind the veil, there is something that makes you weak, vulnerable and fills your heart with such sadness. Tell me, my child." Echo felt herself blush as he was telling her secrets she did not even know.
She signed slowly and smiled a little as he nodded at her, he understood. Echo sat next to him.
'I fear many things, Master Priest.'
"That is the unexplained phenomena about being Human, my dear. It is an uncontrolled force we try to stop but always succumb to." He gently patted her hand.
'I also want to fight them. I am in a world where the most impossible things are becoming reality. Wars are breaking out, death never seems to end, sexism and discrimination are at an all-time high, and yet… here I am, a female Grand Spymaster in love with a few centuries old Elven prince who happens to be on the wort side of an Alliance, a war, and the fine line of outlaw with his people… I honestly can't speak much about myself except that I barely know who I am anymore.'
Echo honestly expected the man to reel away from her in disgust and judgement but he did not move, stutter or look at her any different; he held a kind understanding gaze all the way though.
"My dear, it is not my job as a man of the Gods to judge who another is to love or become, gender aside. Who we chose to become and who we chose to love are only our decisions. We cannot let any force of man chose and side with how we feel. I should tell you, back in my day, it was unheard of men of my family to become a Priest but here I am; I could not be happier. If you love this Elf, tell him before time runs out, war makes life unpredictable. As for who you are, that is only for you to discover. You have worked your life past so many boundaries to become what men could only call 'their job and their position' as a Master such as yourself. In life, we mortals only get so much time on this wondrous planet, why would you wait to see how things would have turned out if you never tried? What if? is the biggest question we can ask ourselves."
Echo felt herself lighten considerably at the Priest's words. She tightened her grip and let his hand go.
'I thank you for your word, kind Priest. I must be off soon.'
"Come back any time, my dear. Good luck." A smile was ever present on his face as Echo walked out of the Cathedral.
As Echo exited the Cathedral and went into the Trade District, she noticed a drastic change. She saw people, mainly explorers and travelers, running around and citizens were gossiping with worry.
What the hell is going on?
Echo walked on by trying to get to the flight master when she heard it. Those words were terrifying and made her heart nearly stop.
"What if the Scourge come here too? What if they attack Stormwind as they did Silvermoon? I feel bad for the Elves of Quel'Thalas."
Echo thought of one thing. She dashed to the flight master and quickly took a Gryphon to Dalaran.
Kael'thas!
The hours of journey made Echo feel sicker and sicker by the minute, her patience running as thin as possible. She couldn't help but keep her mind occupied with what she had heard, she hoped that it was just a folly of misinterpreted gossip but the more she passed over the lands she could spot Scourge in random place, roaming around below.
Echo tightened the grip on the reins and pulled the Gryphon to stop flying and halt, the start of something black and festering caught her eyes upon the land.
Silver eyes widened in shock.
A thick blackened scar ran across the once lush and vibrant emerald lands. Some sort of festering grey smoke could be seen rising and swirling on the ground. It seemed whatever had once been growing in the land had withered and died, preventing any new life from growing again.
Eyes turned cold and icy as what lingered in the scar for miles and miles it seemed. Scourge. Lots and lots of Scourge roamed freely in it- from the undead, banshees, to abominations of sorts and ghouls. There were unbelievable and abundant waves of them scattered along the mark on the once beautiful earth's surface.
Echo yanked the Gryphon's flight in a different direction to fly along the scar's direction. The closer and closer along she flew high above the scar, the feeling of horror built deeper in her stomach.
Echo saw where the scar finally came to a crescendo in the land… the city of Silvermoon. The place she had seen many times when traveling by on missions and heard so many wonderful stories from Kael'thas. The very middle of the city was completely destroyed and it looked like the city of crimson and gold had been cut in half.
It was true.
Echo kicked her boots into the sides of the beast enough to get it moving downward towards the small battalion of Elven Rangers shooting at the continuous waves of Scourge that threatened to leak into the city.
Just as the Gryphon had begun its descend near the group, Echo was jerked off the Gryphon as it squawked at the monstrous roar of an abomination right below it.
Echo fell a good fifty feet above the ground and made dew with her situation as she gouged her blades into the punitive skull of the decaying monstrosity of a creature before it reached the overwhelmed rangers.
Some of the elves had spotted the human from afar riding along the new scar and towards them, one aimed to shoot an arrow at her, but was stopped when a hand raised to stop them, the one who stopped them was a delicate High Elf Ranger-General.
Sylvanas Windrunner observed carefully as the human was knocked off her mount and fell onto an abomination coming towards them, quickly defeating it with a switch of her blades.
Impressive.
Echo threw a few daggers at incoming ghouls and dashed towards the cautious rangers up ahead.
"Halt! Who are you!?" A High Elf dressed in azure and gold armor pointed her bow and arrow at Echo in caution.
'Echo.'
The signing threw Sylvanas off for a second. It registered quickly though.
"You are Master Echo Whitefeather? Friend to Prince Sunstrider?" Echo nodded and was quickly met with a firm hand shake.
"You have come at a bad time, do you not think?" Echo almost smirked at the dry humor. She glanced around and threw a blade at the skull of a limping undead walker.
'What happened here?' Sylvanas shook her head.
"I cannot understand you. But what I can tell you is our status report: the Scourge have pierced through Quel'Thalas, their waves never seem to end and we have yet to find out who is behind it or controlling these monstrosities," Sylvanas growled out and shot another arrow.
"The Sunwell… the Sunwell has been destroyed as well." Those words hit Echo deeply. The bite in Sylvanas' voice was evident even though she tried not to sound pained.
The Sunwell. The High Elves magical source of energy and life…it was now gone from this world...
Echo glanced down and glared at the tainted soil. She furiously threw a dagger into an oncoming ghoul, severing its upper half from it lower completely.
She couldn't even imagine how the Elves felt, how Kael'thas felt with this hit.
She needed to find the prince. She glanced off to the remains of Silvermoon. Sylvanas glanced at the Human out of the corner of her eye, this Echo looked distraught at the information even though it wouldn't affect her in the least.
Sylvanas watched her look to the city and back at her. The Ranger-General nodded.
"I will be back! Keep watch!" Echo followed Sylvanas past the frightened population of Elves both citizens and of magical classes.
The city was beautiful and Echo loved every bit of it but the timing was poorly planned with what was going on, so she couldn't enjoy it.
The run past all of the city squares and districts was quick as the large crimson carpeted stairwell came into view in the Sunfury Spire. Echo was quickly marveled at the beauty but was pulled back into reality as Sylvanas glanced down at her and nodded.
Both women entered the throne room.
"What in the name of the Sunwell do you think you are doing here, Ranger-General? Get back down to the- Who is this? Why have permitted a human to trespass in our city at times like this? I specifically told you not to let anyone in!" The looming figure appeared in the middle of the room, he had long black hair, tall and leanly built, and his crimson robes and staff told Echo he was a Mage.
"Pardon me, Grand Magister Rommath. This is Echo Whitefeather, Prince Kael'thas' neutral...partner. She is here to help." Rommath's angered sapphire gaze turned to the Human that stared at him.
"Echo Whitefeather? You are the Spymaster…" Rommath seemed to spit her name in rue as he gave her a subtle once over.
"Get back to the field, Windrunner," Rommath commanded and Sylvanas left Echo alone with the Mage.
The Elf, Rommath, glowered down at Echo. She stood silent, waiting for him to respond.