Chapter Fifty-Five – Taelus

Kalimdor: The Great Sea

It was unanimously decided that the trip to Northrend would begin immediately. Except for the sailors; who still didn't have any real idea what went on in Razorfen Downs, no one had spoken a word. Amyna was in a corner, curled up; to which she hadn't moved since the SS Revilgaz set sail right out of Bael Modan. Rellia was quiet; set in continuous prayer, silently immersing herself in the Light. Argus had Scrape and his Felhunter be some kind of 'anchor' for a ritual of sorts-but being who he was, he had chosen not to talk about it. Mavare was a Raven, roosting on the bedpost next to Lillia, who hadn't woken since the fighting. Taelus' understanding was that she should have woken up right after the chicken died, since her body started acting as normal as a Death Knight's body could.

Taelus also had refused to believe the others were gone.

While there was no way Baln could have survived that Runic bomb; and the general consensus was that Amnenar perished in it as well, there was no evidence of Aphrodite, Valkyrie or Tarethra's demise…and Tarethra should have at least left bits of herself behind (she wasn't that close to the explosion). He had kept his thoughts to himself, as it could be nothing more than self denial or a refusal to accept the truth.

He had taken the responsibility of providing food (the sailors had their own rations, but they didn't stop to restock while in the Barrens), by conjuring up the meals and the drinks for everyone in the cabin. Everyone one accepted the food out of necessity; there was no need to starve oneself when preparing for a battle (and there would be hell to pay when they got to Northrend).

There was a knock at the door.

"What is it?" Taelus asked when he opened the door to the cabin.

"The Capt'n was just wonderin' if everyone was alright in there" a sailor said, curious "None of y'all decided to come out when rations were distributed, and he got a 'lil worried"

"I thank you for your concern, but we're fine; just coping with some losses" Taelus went to close the door.

"He also needed a word 'bout when we got to the Tundra" the sailor continued with the real reason for the visit.

Taelus sighed.

"It'll be about a week or two before we show up, right?" Taelus asked.

"Yes sir" the Sailor nodded "But we still need a proper headin' being all neutral and what not"

"Ya need me for dat" Gremlinn was at the door (he had chosen to be out on deck for the trip to be closer to the elements) "Da cap't can talk ta me, mon. Der be mournin' still ta do with them"

"Thank you, Shaman" Taelus said gratefully (he had no idea what to say about the heading).

"Don' mention it, ya?" he patted Taelus' shoulder before escorting the perplexed sailor back to the surface deck.

There would be time to plan when they reached Borean Tundra; Taelus decided, and hopefully Lilly would wake up before then. If she woke up.

He closed the door, and almost knocked over Rellia. That's how close she was.

"We need to talk, privately" she said, seriously.

Taelus had gotten to know his companions quite well over the months since he had left New Avalon; however, he had never had a real personal conversation with Rellia or Tarethra. Tarethra was for obvious reasons (namely she couldn't talk at all) and Rellia because…truthfully he had been nervous around the Draenei woman. Not for any reason such as romance or the like (he already was walking on the thinnest ice in the world for his relationships with Mavare and Lillia; he had always felt…evil or perverted for it, even though the conditions for such things existed on the most extreme level out there) but because she was from another world altogether. He wasn't racist, or biased towards his own kind (kind of proved that by two-timing elves); rather it was her exotic beauty and deep-seated wisdom that had given him pause.

Fortunately it didn't stop them from working well together, and he had treated her like the rest of his companions: they were family, and worth protecting with his entire being.

Taelus followed her to an unoccupied space, and when she closed the door, she sighed. She looked at him, like he wouldn't like what she was about to say.

"You have to let Mavare go to a safe place" she said bracingly, but confidently.

Taelus decided he didn't like this conversation.

"I just watched friends die" he said sternly "I am not letting her out of my sight"

"The woman is pregnant and moving along at a speed I know isn't okay, even for one connected to nature" Rellia seemed more confident with every word "Pregnant with your child, Tael"

"Yes I know, thanks for the reminder" Taelus said, looking at the floor "Everyone seems to like to remind me so much-instead of minding their own business"

"Then you should know that she's in the most danger" Rellia continued "Northrend will be full of things like that evil Coldbringer; that is no place for a child"

"She has only been pregnant for a few months" Taelus was stubborn "She can still fight, and she can still tag along with us"

"Five months actually" Rellia said "And she had to speed the baby along roughly three months during that time; she only has a few weeks left before she's expecting it, and you better pray to the Light that the baby survives what they've both been through. Have you seen her, Tael, she's blown up like a balloon!"

Taelus felt like he was smacked in the face. Obviously he had been neglecting to ask for the details, despite Mav's love for discussing their child. She had been withholding information, if what Rellia said is true.

Actually, he had been more platonic with Mavare since he found Lilly; even with her tagging along and the many days they spent together. He had come from a society where you married one woman, and people like him were considered the lowest of the low. Surprising that he had yet to really face any flack from it, but even so-it was wrong to keep up relationships like that…wasn't it?

There was no law against it; Orcs, Trolls, and Dragons (a few of the many groups in Azeroth to have polygamous relationships) were notorious for them. Amyntastrasza's mother had three consorts for goodness sake.

Orcs and Trolls were enemies of the Humans on a large scale, though. And Dragons were…on a whole different level, at least from Taelus' standpoint.

There was no getting past the fact that he loved both Lillia and Mavare. And now that the child was so close…it started to really hit him that he's going to be a Father. Oh he didn't deserve them…or his friends.

"Rellia, I, I don't want to push her aside" he finally said.

"Who said anything about that?" she looked at him strangely "I just said you should get her to a safe place, not that you should never visit her"

"You know why she stayed shapeshifted for most of our journey, right?" Taelus asked "It was because she could protect our child and fight at the same time. She's not comfortable away from me, its no secret"

"You can always ask Amyna to stay with her" Rellia suggested "I know a bit of why she stays with you, Tael. Girls talk, remember? Amyna will be a perfect body guard; and you know she's snuggled next to the Druidess more often than not anyway"

"Amyna wouldn't like the idea of separating from me anymore than Mav; in fact, she's probably worse" Taelus knew she was right, but hated the idea despite the fact.

"Yes, because you're an irresistible girl magnet" Rellia replied sarcastically "You need to get over yourself"

"Hey, it's not my fault I have more girls hanging around me than I have guys" Taelus retorted "As I recall, you and Aphrodite jumped at the chance of tagging along with me"

"And look where that got her?" Rellia spoke, then clamped her hand over her mouth, surprise on her face.

That hurt Taelus a lot…oh yes it did.

"I'm sorry Tael" she wasn't lying.

"If that's the way you think, then you can leave when we dock in Northrend" Taelus moved past her and thrust the door open "I will talk to Mavare; ultimately it will be her decision where she goes"

He slammed the door behind him, never once looking back, even when he heard a sorrowful moan.

He had thought of the many ways that fight with the Lich could go; and had realized that if he didn't just stand there like a fool and watched, if he had been by Lilly's side the whole time, the team might have still been together.

Argus had been hurt the most by the loss.

Four years of separation from Tarethra; only to be separated once more, most likely eternally.

Taelus went back to the cabin they shared and sat vigil next to Lillia's sleeping form. It had been three days since the fight with the Lich and she had yet to wake. As far as he knew; Lillia had slept only twice since they were reunited in Plaguewood, and both times were in the last four days.

Death Knight's just didn't sleep-they didn't need it.

Taelus looked at Mavare; the Raven was roosting on a bed post, her little bird chest going up and down slowly and rhythmically. He would have to talk to her before they reached Northrend, and he knew she wouldn't like the prospects of leaving the rest of them, especially after the loss.

'Amyna' Taelus called.

The Dragon didn't stir, but he heard her in his head.

'Tael' she mourned.

Amyna and Baln were both of the Red Dragonflight. Taelus knew as much as Amyna did about Flight structure; and that knowledge did very little to comfort her. Essentially they were siblings, even if they were hundreds of years apart (he wasn't party to how old Baln actually was).

'I want to know if you'd be willing to stay with Mavare' he said 'She'll be due soon, and…and…I want them both to be okay. I don't want to lose anymore to the Scourge'

'Would you put yourself and Lilly in a safe place too?' she wondered 'Would you promise me you'd return, safe from harm?'

'Amyna…'

'Tael. We are linked even more tightly than you and Lilly are, and more intimate than either of them combined as a result. I saw you and Lilly…saw you both mate-almost as if I was there in the flesh. Everything you are, I am. All that I am, you are as well' she didn't mince words 'What would happen, should either of you die…what would I tell Mavare, who loves you with her whole being? And how would I tell her, if you die…all she would ever know was that I died out of no where'

'You would ask me to lay aside, while you fight tooth and claw, far away where I'll never reach you' Amyna wasn't angry, but she wasn't happy either 'Your fight may take years…and we may be separate for that long…just to watch you die…'

'If you don't stay with Mav, then who would?' Taelus asked gently 'Who could keep her safe, and content, while she cares and teaches our daughter?'

'She doesn't have to leave at all'

'In the words of your favorite Paladin-'the Plaguelands are no place for a child'' Taelus looked at her physical form. She still didn't move.

There was silence for a bit.

'You will come back to me' Amyna finally said 'And you, Mav, Lilly, Argus, and the others will all come back to New Avalon. Tell me this is your truth'

'Amyna, I can't-'

'I will do this only if you know that to be truth' his dragon growled, startling Argus and Mavare 'Those are my terms'

'I will return' Taelus said after a moment 'No matter what'

She snorted.

'You have until we reach my mother, to tell me truthfully' Amyna stirred and flashed her sharp teeth 'If you can't convince yourself, then you can't convince me'