Straydog Saga
Flea 35: Bronze Mettle
The current pushed against the Theramore vessel with lackadaisical, lopping waves. While McGowan and Roth graced the wind with their presence, Hanariel agreed to Lady Proudmore's request for the prisoner who did not officially exist to be transported to Mydrassil by her ships. The vessels, a small fleet of five small ships, would also be employed in the repair effort and would serve as a portion of the Alliance's aid, as requested in a letter from Prince Wrynn a few days prior to the High Mystic's Arrival.
Christoffel leaned on the wall of the cabin, arms crossed and eyes looking to the endless sky with no particular focus. The occasional comment from the human crew would tether him back to reality, but the line would go slack again. He gave a quick sigh and stood straight before walking below deck. He descended into the cargo area where brigands and supplies were held.
There, in one of the cells, was his father. Though pillows, blankets, and other finery were placed well within his reach, Hollus sat silent on the cold metal floor. Christoffel took a hesitant step forward, then another until he stood close enough to the meditating man for his shadow to drape over his shivering form. Hollus took a few moments before lifting his vision to see a frowning face just beyond his bars.
"H-How long have you been standing there?"
"Not long," Christoffel sighed and knelt to sit. They were like two sides of a mirror, obscured only by the rusty metal bars. Guilt, shame, and the weight of broken dreams seemed to press on both their shoulders as the father cast a questioning look to his son.
"I s-see," Hollus coughed. He seemed particularly frail in Christoffel's sharpened vision as the rogue did his best not to look away. "I foresaw this moment, and yet…I find myself ill prepared."
"Oh, so you know what I'm about to say?"
"Y-Yes."
"Well that makes one of us," Christoffel sighed, crossed his arms behind his head, and leaned up to look at the ceiling. Hollus chuckled and shook his head.
"You know what you want to say; the words simply haven't come yet," Hollus assured as he pulled his hood back to fully reveal his marred features. Christoffel looked to the face that would surely be his own someday, and an unnerved shine came to his vision. Christoffel coughed for a moment before speaking.
"I guess…I want to hate you but you take all the fun out of it."
"Oh? Ever the kill-joy, am I?"
"Well, it's hard to call someone an asshole life-wrecker when they agree with you."
"I suppose that's true. Although, I surmise, if you truly had malice in your being for me, I would not be breathing right now. Larion instilled too much honor in you, and although I would suffer onto him a thousand hells for what he did later in his life, I must be grateful to him for raising you so well, despite his…abuses in the process," Hollus sighed and shifted in his cell.
"You know, growing up, I thought it was something I did wrong. Nothing I ever did was good enough; I thought if I just tried harder…I never thought for a moment it was because of this."
"You did not deserve his ire. But I was not around, and you were. The magic used to alter your appearance was costly; and even then, no amount of tampering would erase the events from his mind. I-I have tried with all my might to make you see that it was not your fault. I know Hanariel has done his best to guilt you into forgiving me, but that is not what I want, nor is it what I deserve. If you wish to make peace with me, find it within yourself and I will die fulfilled," Hollus spoke with a shaking voice. There was silence between them before Christoffel's frown deepened.
"What will they do to you?"
"Only what must be done to preserve the timeline and prevent my demon master from coming into this world, should my blood be spilled."
"S-So they're not going to kill you then?"
"Oh no, the Hollus as you see here will no longer be. I will be neither alive nor dead. But once the process is done, we will have no further contact."
"I-I don't get it."
"You don't need to," Hollus smiled and moved to procure something from one of his robe's pockets. From his robes, he pulled out three, finely written letters with wax seals bearing the Fenweaver family crest. He held them through the bars, beckoning his only son to take them. Christoffel slowly but steadily complied as he eyed the notes with a curious glint in his eyes.
"What are these?"
"Open them on the dates written on the back of each. That is all I'm able to say. Hopefully you'll find them useful," Hollus said. Christoffel tucked the notes in the pouch at his side as he turned to look as his father with a gentle nod.
"Maybe," Christoffel shrugged. He gave his father one last look before standing again and turning towards the door. The dust of forgotten memories stirred as Christoffel walked towards the door without a word. As the rogue gently opened the door, a small breeze wafted in from above. Hollus watched on with a small smile when the air between them finally cleared as Christoffel made his exit.
"Lady Hazzad, may I have a word?" Romulus cleared his throat as the High Mystic of the Root gave him her full, but irritated, attention. She was in the middle of weaving freshly- grown roots into the wall system when the red dragon in human form wrecked her concentration.
"Yes?"
"Upon Lady Whitedeer's request, along with Prince Wrynn's assistance, Thrall has sent word to the Warchief seeing additional resources, for the rebuilding efforts a few days ago. The Horde has agreed to our request to send additional aid to the tree and they will be here in a matter of days. I am concerned that your….not-so-subtle prejudice might sour that agreement." Romulus spoke as delicately as his draconic sensibilities would allow. Keesha snorted.
"According to Foggybottom, the Warchief would be against helping 'Alliance dogs,' or whatever those freaks call us. How'd Thrall manage to get him to send help?" Keesha asked with disbelief apparent in her voice.
"Let's just say Thrall's word holds a bit more weight with him than even his own rash judgment. But will you allow them into the tree, is my question?"
"I let those shamans stay didn't I? Look, if the Horde wants to actually help get this place back in shape, let them come. But one tusk out of line, and I'm zapping their asses, you understandin' me?"
"Of course," Romulus nodded, "Hopefully Thrall's presence will spur some temperance on their part. But I know the Alliance will be sending their aid as well. We will need to be very careful in how we conduct ourselves…" Romulus sighed, bringing a hand to his chin in thought.
"Well, I've been thinking on that for a little while now. I know there are plenty of people here who don't seem to care about faction lines. They've already started organizing things on their own on an informal basis. Maybe we should recruit them to try and keep the peace? Might boost morale," Keesha shrugged as Romulus's worried features slowly grew sunny with realization.
"Keesha, that's brilliant!"
"I know," Keesha smirked, "Besides, I know Lady Whitedeer mentioned some people have real place to go home to. Maybe if we make this place less of an overgrown weed and more than a construction project, it will lift a few spirits at the very least, and at most, provide us a bit of organization when it comes to fixing up the place. When you dragons leave, and I know you all will at some point, we mortals are going to have to fend for ourselves anyway. Who knows, if we grow this tree large enough, we many even be able to make a few proper towns and cities pop up. Those night elves won't have anything on our awesome tree," Keesha nodded as she began walking to the upper portals.
"Should I call for a temporary stand down and congregate the workers?" Romulus asked, following the High Mystic of the Root towards the upper part of the tree. Keesha gave a quick nod before responding.
"You said we have only a few days before people start showing up? We got work to do," Keesha affirmed as the pair quickly sprang into action. Those who returned to the tree and toiled to repair their broken businesses and homes were summoned to the upper bough, where Orifiel had gathered the White Branch Initiative during the Twilight's Hammer attack. Upon the High Mystic's urgent request, Thrall and his shaman companions joined the pair at the tall balcony overlooking the thinned crowd.
Malfurion lingered in the crowd, for the first time in many thousands of years, as one of the rabble. Though he did not stand with the High Mystic as she prepared her proposal, his smiling presence served the crowd far better; many felt peaceful within his boundlessly wise aura.
Shandori, bound by her agreement and compelled by her draconic overseers, stood among them with Ima, Maiev, and F-bomb within eye-shot. Though Kat traveled with Orifiel and Seth to the Wyrmrest temple, Shandori made no attempt to renege on her agreement while Lumi's arcane gaze was so close.
Keesha placed her fingers to her lips, producing a ringing whistle that echoed through the branches and caused a hush to come to the gathered workers and other summoned individuals. Romulus cast a small amplification spell on Keesha's voice as she began to speak to the gathered mass.
"Alright, listen up people. I know you've all been through a lot, and the fact that you're still here goes to show you have guts. Not all of you may know me, but I'm in charge of this place for now, along with my partner in crime, Hanariel, as your head of operations can confirm. We're all working hard to get things back in shape, but we're going to be getting help from both the Alliance and the Horde," Keesha paused to let the statement sink in within the distress-filled mumbled of the crowd before continuing.
"The last thing anyone wants is another brawl, and that's why I summoned you all here. We're going to need to keep these folks in line, because they are guests in YOUR house. So I'm asking you all, on a volunteer basis, to help out as peacekeepers. You'll be in charge of making sure those 'alliance dogs' and 'horde freaks' tow the mark!" Keesha smiled as the rumbling sound of amused chuckling came from the crowd and to her ears.
Though she could see a few annoyed looks coming from those with faction loyalties, the number of smiling faces pledging their time and effort to securing the tree far dwarfed them.
"If you'll all form a line at the front entrance to this building, myself and our Earthen Ring volunteers will take down your information. Once we have organized the effort more fully, we will tell you your assignments," Romulus motioned to the entrance to the central building just below where the group stood. There stood a conjured, large table with boxes of paper and writing implements. The group smiled as a river formed within the great pool of people, stopping just before the sign-up table.
Thelma and Jango scrambled to the bottom floor, where the volunteers waited, and began their long task of name, trade, and address recording.
"The rest of you, do your best and get your work done," Keesha gave a respectful nod to the crowd as they began to disburse and return to their business. Keesha turned to see an approving smile on Romulus' face and a beaming Violetina rushing to her side.
"Lady Hazzad, can I make pretty tabard for effort? Oh, and maybe make nice armor for peace-keeper? And make reward to ones who help from alliance and horde too, yes? We have make everyting here, workers could use business!" Violetina excitedly asked, gasping between cheery ideas. Keesha nervously smiled and felt compelled to nod.
"I-If you want, I'll put you in charge of all that, if your leader says it's ok," Keesha stated, casting a call for help to Thrall with glowing golden eyes. Thrall chuckled and nodded.
"Anything we can do to help," Thrall amusedly sighed.
"Yay! Wat we call effort? Team need name!" Violet mused, "Maybe 'Tree of Light', or 'Keepers of Light?'"
"Nah, too…holy sounding for me. How about…hmm. Should be something Han would be able to live with, it's his tree to lead too." Keesha thought, doing her best despite never having a need to come up with such things in the past.
"There are many named factions in this world: the night elves have their Sentinels, Goblins have their Bruisers, Orgrimar their grunts and so on. It should be something that embodies what your workers are to do. You call them peace-keepers, perhaps you can start there. And then again, perhaps you don't need to name them at all," Thrall offered. Violetina vigorously shook her head in defiance of the much respected former Warchief, but he made no indication of insult.
"No, the team need good name! Tink, tink, tink…OH! How about "Mystic Tree Shepherds?"
"..or perhaps just 'The Shepherds,'" Thrall added.
"Hmmm…I like that actually, 'The Shepherds.' Let's go with it," Keesha chuckled at the dual implication. Though the mused that Han would love the concept as a former priest, the people-sheep concept delightfully ran through her dark mind. Violet dashed off in the direction of one of the repaired and operational tailoring shops to design a very attractive tabard that formed in her energetic mind.
Orifiel felt the joints in her mate's hand crack. He winced, but made no motion to remove himself from her tense grip. The couple and their volunteer red dragon escort Kat, who placed the duty of looking after Shandori to the ever-eager Lumi, traveled to Northrend on the wind; but no one in the temple was privy to the pale one's true form. Seth and Ori walked into the giant structure as mortals to the gawking looks and whispers within.
"I will fly ahead and let them know you're here. Please wait at the inn, and I'll come fetch you. Terronian may be there." The dragon-formed Kat gave a small bow as she took off for the top of the temple. The pair left behind did as they were told, and made their way to the small structure that resembled a mortal inn.
There were a few non-dragons there, dressed in the tabards of the temple and plotting their next heroic move to garner a better reputation with their dragon allies. Among them, sitting at a small table with a large glass of wine, was their human-bodied son.
"I didn't know you drank wine, Nugget."
"Mother? Father, you came too," Trenton smiled with a rosy blush on his face. He lifted his glass and grandly motioned for them to sit. The sight of the mellow child brought a much-needed smile to Orifiel's face, but did little to settle her stomach.
"Terronian, I see you're well," Seth spoke with an amused snort.
"Of coursh! Hmm, of course," Trenton coughed, "Sho whadda you think?"
"I think I'm going to be sick."
"EAT something." Seth insisted, motioning to one of the servants at the bar, who quickly pulled a few menus from a small bin. She brought them over, earning a half-toasted smile from Terronian, before shuffling back to her post.
"I'm not hungry…maybe a little something to drink will calm me down though…" Orifiel sighed and took one of the menus to her sight.
"Might I suggesht da Nigh'lf flower wine? Ish vurry gud," Terronian smiled with a wave of his glass.
"Perhaps you've had a bit too much. Will you be sober enough to join us in the aspect's presence?" Seth shook his head, guiding his son's shaking hand to place the wobbling goblet on the table. Despite his obvious disdain for the red flight and its monarch, Seth moved with unusual care and restraint among the red-scaled leviathans.
"I'll be fine, HIC! Fine, fine," Terronian chuckled. His antics brought a smile to his mother's face.
"Lightweight."
"YUR A LIGH WAIT!" Terronian spoke just a touch too loudly, causing a few other patrons to look in their direction and shake their heads. Orifiel shushed her playfully numb son as the servant came back and took their order or two small goblets of aforementioned wine.
Orifiel and her mate barely had time to take more than a sip of their beverages before Kat returned to escort them to the top of the temple. Orifiel downed the drink, leaving a few gold pieces behind as she, Kat, Seth, and a wobbly Terronian made their way to the dragon queen's high throne. The wind seemed to have picked up since their arrival, but their wings were steady, save for Terronian who wafted in circles until Kat flew beside to steady him, and all four dragons made it safely to the top of the Wyrmrest Temple.
Alexstrasza looked as beautiful and graceful as ever despite the small hint of dread behind her glowing, golden gaze. She gave a thankful nod to Kat, who bowed low.
"Welcome, it has been a long time since I've seen you, Orifiel. And it is always a pleasure, Setharion," Alex gave a small, momentary chuckle as Seth gave a restrained nod of recognition, but little else in the manner of genuine reverence for the aspect. "Does the youngling need a chair?"
"Err-no, no your highness he's…fine," Orifiel sighed and gave a sharp look to Terronian who did his best to straighten up and stay standing through the warm fog of wine in his veins. Alex gave a gentle, commanding glance to Kat who quickly procured something for the young dragon to sit upon.
"Alright then, let us proceed," Alex nodded with a sigh, and took a step forward. Orifiel could not find air as the aspect approached. The dragon folded her delicate but firm hands in front of her, and looked to the floor as she approached, stopping just before the pale dragon. She gave a deep, shaking sigh before looking the pale dragon in the eye and allowing the anxious words to escape her crimson-painted lips.
"I know you have worked very hard to obtain this information, done everything in your power to fulfill your end of the agreement, and you have leapt above and beyond my expectations, and the expectations of this court. The gem has been cut, and resides within the rebuilt Dragon-Flights Sanctum, where it honors the fallen and brings glory to all those who still struggle to find themselves." Alex paused, as her whole form seemed to shutter. "But despite all that you have done, I am…unable to pay what is owed to you."
"What?" Seth interrupted as he felt his heart drop. A look of anticipation quickly morphed into a snarling visage filled with malice and resentment.
"B-But if I did as you and the dragon council asked! Why won't you tell me?" Orifiel asked with all strength stolen from her words.
"I am very sorry…those who would be your dragonflight do not wish you to know, nor would they welcome you. I know you have come all this way to be disappointed, but an in-person meeting was the very least I could give you. And the most is, if your scales were drained of their red hue, I would most certainly welcome you in my clutch," Alexstrasza did her best to assure.
The outrage, disappointment, and sorrow flowing in the wintry air were nearly enough to knock the wind out of Kat, who watched the proceedings with a mixture of disappointment and defeat in her eyes. There was a silence for a moment, before the loud cracking of stone against an angry dragon's fist echoed through the scene. Kat leapt to her queen's side as an angry, burning gaze rose to meet the dragon queen.
"You are an ASPECT, the QUEEN of the dragons, you useless—"
"Seth!"
"Do not defend her! You DO know, don't you? But you honestly expect us to believe you cannot say? You can't spare one kindness after all she's done for this endeavor of yours? ANSWER ME!"
"T-The dragon queen does not answer to you, N-Nightgaze." Kat bravely stood in front of her queen with a trembling voice and quaking knees in the presence of the raging black dragon.
"Stay out of this," Seth snarled as he quickly bridged the small distance to where the two red dragons stood, shoved the younger to the floor, and came within a hot-breath of the dragon queen before lingering menacingly there, aura hot and temper barely in check. Alexstrasza did not so much as twitch at the motion. Her look of sadness and guilt melted into a slightly annoyed visage.
"Choose your next actions carefully, Setharion. While I will not act in consideration for your mate, I will have you restrained if necessary," Alex calmly spoke. Seth did not make any motion to maim the dragon queen but did not take a step in retreat.
"You think your children have the strength to bring me down? They've grown fat and weak in their respite. And are you forgetting what still remains in our possession? You would still deny her the information she deserves?"
"Do you truly feel you can use that as leverage? At this point, the shrine is a greater ease of burden on your spirit than mine," Alex gently reminded, trying to choose words of diffusion rather than ignition. Seth's eyes faltered for only a moment before regaining their white-hot rage.
"Enough. It's not up to her, Seth. They don't want me," Orifiel shrugged with darkened eyes. The soft voice cooled the heated aura and brought Setharion back from the brink of doing something rash. He turned to see his crestfallen love and could not find the strength to be angry.
"Don't say that," Seth soothed as he quickly walked to face her, firmly stroking her shoulders with his clawed but gentle grip, "she knows and simply won't tell."
"No, she did give me something. I'm not a red dragon. That's something right?" Orifiel weakly asked as small tears began to form behind her usually calm eyes.
"Its far less than you are owed, do not let her get away with robbing you like this!" Seth shook his head as Orifiel looked away.
"Let's just…go, alright?" Orifiel's voice gave out as the first of many tears began to find their way down her cheek.
"Ori you can't! She knows!" Seth felt the female in his grasp shudder as she pulled herself free. In a burst of light, the night elf swelled and contorted until a great white dragon stood in her place. With a few wing beats the crying dragon was aloft and flew on the north wind, mate shouting desperately at her back. Seth was about to follow when he felt a familiar hand on his shoulder.
"Don't," a red-faced Terronian shook his head. Seth felt the fluid in his gut slosh as his stomach knotted. He turned and pointed an angry finger at the dragon queen.
"If anything happens to her, I will make it my life's mission to end you!" Seth snarled and transformed into his true form, much to Terronian's tipsy dismay. Alexstrasza felt a small shiver run through her, at the elder dragon's resemblance to his once divinely-guided aspect of a father.
The image of the earth-warder Neltharion took off after his mate to an unknown destination. Alexstrasza let out the breath she had unknowingly been holding during the meeting and sank to her knees.
"Well…that could have gone no worse," she sighed, feeling a slight humming pain in her temple. She looked up to find Terronian's steady hand offered and wordlessly accepted his grip.
"Nah, things can always be worsh. He could have taken a bite outta you. I'd be sad," Terronian offered, cutting through the horrible tension, "But he is PISHED off. Thanksh a lot, lady."
"Terronian, please know if I were able, I would give your mother all that I know. But, while I am the dragon queen, I am not the only aspect. I must respect the sovereignty of the other flights, especially when they are well within their rights under our laws. I can only hope that, in time, she will know, and so you will too."