Chapter 43 – Decisions
"You?" Tiene was stunned by the demon's introduction. "You, are the Betrayer?"
The female, pleasant only moments ago, snarled and hissed at her now, assuming a half-crouch, talons flexed ready to rip and tear. Tiene flinched and fell back onto her behind.
Illidan stepped forward placing an arm round the female demon's waist pulling her towards him. He towered over her, his physique powerful and commanding. Very gently he traced her jaw with a taloned forefinger. The act had an instant calming effect on her. Tiene watched, mesmerised as Illidan's mouth neared the female's. "She means no insult, Arcaena. It is merely the name she knows me by." His lips hovered over the female's for a tantalising moment, then gently he released her from his embrace. The aggression melted completely from Arcaena, like a shroud falling from her shoulders.
Tiene was trying to make the scene compute in her slightly unsettled brain. Somehow, demon plus tenderness just did not add up. Now she felt even more confused. Did he just bewitch Arcaena? Or was there genuine affection between these two? The Betrayer was meant to be ruthless, a warrior, a powerful sorceror, a slayer of ...well, now Tiene wasn't sure who he slayed - or didn't.
He turned his attention back to Tiene, grinning as he saw the bemused expression on her face. "You seem ... aghast," he said. "I take it I am not what you expected?"
Tiene was still trying to come to terms with the fact they weren't gnawing on her bones and he was actually talking quite civilly to her. She thought it was best nonetheless to try be coherent and polite in return, or else just maybe, she might still be on the menu. "I – I did not know what to expect to be honest. I assumed you were more – elf than demon I suppose. Especially since Prince Kael'thas..."
Arcaena hissed again. Illidan's expression, hard to interpret with there being no eyes on view, seemed to remain impassive, other than the smallest hint of fangs being bared.
"Did he send you?" Illidan asked, his voice even.
"No! He has betrayed my people..."
"He betrayed us!" spat Arcaena.
Tiene's eyes grew wide. Seemed every utterance from Tiene's lips caused the female to have a seizure. She looked back up at Illidan. Oh Belore, he is huge! she thought as she continued cowering on the ground before him.
"Yes," he said, head tilting as he looked at her. "He was weak, seduced by Kil'jaeden and his empty promises. He no longer fights the Legion, he serves it." His voice was brimming with disgust.
If he had expected Tiene to defend her people's monarch, he was going to be surprised. She was pleased to hear the one thing she had been hoping for though. Illidan was against the Legion, not for it. "I know, I heard!" she replied. " We do not follow him, he has offended our people by swearing allegiance to the very thing that destroyed our homes and our..." Her voice hitched. "...and our loved ones." She dropped her gaze to the stone floor and heaved as her breath caught in her throat. It was never going to get any easier. The pain of all her losses were still so fresh. So raw.
The female stepped nearer. Tiene's words had meant something to her it seemed. Her entire persona altered. "If you are not here at his instruction then, why are you here?" She held out her hand to Tiene, offering to help her up. Tentatively, Tiene accepted. Once she was standing, Illidan didn't seem quite as imposing, though he was still enormous and built like an orc's brick latrine. Arcaena too, was tall and muscular. She was certainly taller than Tiene by a good few inches and undoubtedly powerful.
She took a deep breath before she answered the demon's question. "I was told you are recruiting. I know not how to be effective against the Legion anymore. I thought I was doing the best I could, until..." she crumbled a little, but forced herself to continue. "Until I lost my husband to the scourge. I need to fight, I need to avenge him and my family as best I can. Only then will I find peace."
Illidan once more crossed his muscled arms and looked down at her. He took a few moments, digesting her words. She wore her pain like a shroud, wrapped around her, sometimes suffocating, sometimes bizarrely comforting, serving a reminder she had loved fiercely. "You wish to become a Demon Hunter?"
She sniffed back the tears. "If that is what you call your army, then yes."
Illidan laughed lightly. "It is much more than a mere name, Sin'dorei. It is a commitment, an oath, a constant battle within, as well as without. Are you sure you want this? Do you think you are prepared?"
It was stand or run, fight or flight, commit or forfeit, whatever you wanted to call it, it was decision time.
"It is unfair to ask her to decide without showing her first, my love." Arcaena said turning to look at Illidan.
My love?
The half elf half demon male sighed deeply. "You are right, as always, Arcaena. But..." he looked at Tiene again. "...understand this Sin'dorei. If you decide to join us, there is no turning back. You will not be able to simply leave like your weakling of a prince did. You will be part of my Illidari, until the day you die."
Tiene swallowed. "And if, after I see whatever it is you are going to show me, I decide not to join? What then?"
Illidan's fangs were on full display as a menacing smile curved his lips. But, his silence spoke volumes.
"And whar the hell huv ye been!" Emmek shouted as he marched into the room. He came to an abrupt halt in front of Tiene, his strong and chunky fists perched on his hips.
She sat on the edge of a bunk, slicing an apple. She just put a slice in her mouth as Lexie drew up beside the dour dwarf. Next to join them was Thil'las. Tiene munched as she studied the three faces in ascending order. All looked mad with her, although Lexie, bless, always looked like that nowadays. "I went for a walk," she said.
"A walk! I'll walk ye, madam! Ye've hud us oot oor minds wi' worry!"
"Oh calm your britches, Emmek! I'm back, safe and sound." Internally though, her stomach was doing somersaults and cartwheels, while cramping like crazy and protesting greatly to the apple she was consuming.
What she had witnessed at the Black Temple was truly terrifying. She rose from the bunk and shouldered past Thil'las. She still had to decide. Admittedly, horrifying though it was and in view that it carried the huge risk of failure before she even reached the first hurdle, she was nonetheless leaning towards becoming what Illidan and Arcaena proposed.
Now, she was just uncertain whether to confide in her friends. Should she just disappear and let them believe she was dead? If she told them, they would most likely vote "No" of course, and do everything in their power to ensure she adopted their way of thinking. Which option would be the least upsetting? For all of them. Perhaps she should sleep on it? Her face broke into a smile. Sleep! As if that would come easy now. What with a day and a half lost already to it, and now this literal life-changing decision to make...
Lexie tugged her shoulder. "What is going on in that mind of yours, Tiene?" she asked. "We love you, you stupid woman! We were worried! And all you do is eat an apple, dismiss us as if we are – mangy murlocs..."
"I like murlocs," Tiene said, popping another piece of indigestible apple in her mouth.
Lexie was momentarily knocked off course. "Well – whatever! But you don't simply walk away, as if you had just been out for a summer stroll along the banks of Loch Modan."
"Tiene. Lexie is right. We care. We were worried. You owe us an explanation." Thil'las interjected. His hypnotic tone, as always, making one see sense.
Tiene sighed heavily. Compromise, she decided on that much. Tell them her findings, that should sate their curiosity and calm their worries where she was concerned. "Alright," she said turning to face them all. "Take a seat, I will tell you what I found out."
Calmly, she told them she had met the Betrayer and another demonised elf, by the name of Arcaena. She assured Emmek, they were not feeding the Sin'dorei nor Night Elves to the demons. He grunted at the news, but somehow did not look entirely convinced.
The ritual to become one was gruelling and not all survived. Infact, hundreds had died during the transition. They had either went mad and had to be killed by their peers, or they became psychotic and again, the peers had to take them down. The process began by them killing a demon single handedly. If they managed that much, they then had to eat it's still-beating heart.
Her friends cringed at that scrap of intel, all except Lexie, who of course ate hearts on a daily basis, although not demon ones.
The demonic essence would course through the victor's veins, taking over and imbuing them with many demonic abilities. In due course, their bodies would change and start to take on the apprearance of said demons.
The so-called demons Emmek had referred to were her people and some of Thil'las'. The elves were being transformed. They were becoming like Illidan himself. Demon hunters. They had progressed through the transformation and were training to fight as Illidari, Illidan's personal army.
She explained how Illidan's path was chosen for him when Sargeras, the fallen titan, had made him witness the future and how the Legion would earn ultimate supremacy, razing it's way through the universe. Illidan's will was too strong for them to make him conform, and so he began his own crusade, having to overcome many obstacles and endure some failures along the way. In order to infiltrate them more, he had to obey their commands, when prudent. Deception of the Legion had been the name of his game. A game she too, knew well, albeit on a smaller scale.
When she finished relating the story, she looked at their faces. Scary Lexie, dumbstruck Emmek and impassive Thil'las. Nothing new there then, she thought. Until...
"Aw no ye dinnae!" Emmek spat. The other two's expressions gave away the fact they had all cottoned on to Tiene's train of thought.
"You may not survive Tiene, and what would you have achieved then?" Thil'las said in his usual calm manner.
She waited for Lexie to add her opinion, but nothing was forth-coming. The undead just stared at her.
"Im sure I will get through it," Tiene said eventually, not one hundred percent sure she believed herself.
"No lass! Absolutely not! Ah forbid it!" Emmek was shaking, his eyes huge and determined.
Lexie put her arm round the dwarf's shoulders. He flinched and looked up at her, utterly astonished at the gesture. Lexie looked down at him. "It's no use, Emmek. She had made her decision." She turned to look back at her friend. "Haven't you, Tiene?"
Emmek had quietened. Tiene could see by the way his beard was twitching, he was biting his bottom lip, trying to stem off an outburst of emotion. So much for compromise. Her friends were far too wise for her to fool them.
Thil'las placed a hand over Tiene's. She looked into his silver eyes. "We are all moulded by our pasts, and you my friend, have had more than your fair share of sorrow and loss. I will not try to dissuade you, but know that I will always be here for you, no matter what."
"Me too," Lexie said, still holding Emmek's shoulders. "But you knew that anyway," she shrugged.
Emmek was struggling to accept the awful revelation, but he knew there was no use trying to persuade Tiene of an alternative. He had realised as she was telling them about the trials of the demon hunters, it was the very reason she had insisted on coming along with the squad. As always, Tiene Firefury planned well ahead and never wavered from her chosen path. He inched forward. Pushing Thil'las hand away from Tiene's he replaced it with his own, patting the back of her hand. "Aye, that goes fur me too lass, and nae doo't yer freen's back hame. Though they wull worry. Loads!"
She hugged the stocky dwarf, then pulled her other two friends into the hug. How was she so lucky to have such good friends?
Before she made the journey back to the temple, she sat and wrote four letters – one to Louvel, one to Fyn, Brett and finally her saddest one of all, to Lor'themar. Each consisted of relatively the same information, advising them of her decision. But Lor'themar's of course, was a little more personal...
Dearest Lor'themar, my brother
I have reached Outland with my fellow Blades and we have arrived in Shadowmoon Valley. You no doubt know the significance of this destination and who resides here in the Black Temple. I know you are sceptical about Illidan Stormrage, the Betrayer, but I have met him and he is not what you think.
He looks like a demon yes, but his drive and motivation is pure, I promise you. Had Kael'thas remained by his side, you would not have been disappointed in your monarch, of this I am certain.
Illidan is fighting against the Legion, but his tactics up to now had caused great consternation for his people. Know thy enemy, that is his way, to be prepared, and I believe him, wholeheartedly. So, I have to inform you, that I will be joining his army. It is the only way for me, brother, and I hope you do not think ill of me for choosing this path. As you have said yourself, we must all walk the road we are given with such dignity as we can muster, each to our own glory or demise.**
You have been in my life since I can remember dear Lor'themar, and I have always thought of you as much a brother to me as Duthan and Inaris were, so believe me when I say I will love you always. I am so proud of you and I know you will lead our people to greatness again.
Look to the skies brother, one day I will be there. Until then, belono sil'aru, belore'dorei*.
Your sister
Tiene
She stared for a while at the letter, reading and re-reading her words. The thought that perhaps she would not survive the coming trial weighed heavily on her. She simply had to get through this. Whether or not she would see Lor'themar again was something she could not allow herself to dwell upon, although she would have loved nothing more than to be giving him a big hug right now. She sighed and folded the letter into it's envelope. With the four letters in hand, she left the inn and strolled along to the mailbox. Who would have thought letters to her friends, mentor and brother would be so hard to let slip into the mailbox. Perhaps it was because it heralded finality.
She stared up at the sky, watching the never-ending meteors as they carved their way through lsour infused clouds towards the arid land. How she missed the beauty of her home. She missed her life, as it should have been. The Legion had ripped everything from her, it had broken her heart and had near destroyed her through grief. She glanced in the direction of the Black Temple and it's resident Lord. He offered some hope. A small light at the end of a very dark tunnel, but a light nonetheless.
Her three comrades came to stand beside her. Theirs was a bond she would miss also. Emmek and his grouchy little moods which could melt into full belly-laughs where his little beady eyes would sparkle from beneath his bushy eyebrows. Brave and loyal to the end, that was Emmek.
Thi'las, the utterly dedicated assassin with a very calm and cool persona. His voice could lull you to sleep if he spoke more than two minutes, though his piercing whistles would wake you in an instant. A tiny smirk played at the corner of her mouth as she remembered the first time she heard it. That was the day Emmek got caught by his britches on a metal pole during their training.
And Lexie. Her dear friend who started off as a young girl who thought the Firefurys were legends. Well, Tiene's parents were at least. She soon became a good friend, who tried to warn her of their guild master, then spent months dodging his henchmen's daggers until they gave up looking. Now, she was an undead, existing, not living, yet with a heart as big, pure and capable of truly loving, as any person Tiene knew.
One more sigh, and the letters slipped from her fingers into the mailbox.
She was ready for her greatest challenge to date. She was ready to follow the Lord of Outland. To become part of his Illidari and fight boldly by his side. Tiene Firefury would survive the metamorphosis, she would grow stronger, fiercer and she would triumph. Then, and only then, would she transform, one final time.
She hugged her friends but refrained from prolonging the goodbyes. A dwarf, a night elf and an undead stood helpless as she whispered, "Onas thuash d'aresh, lso o'doreu."
They would never see her as Tiene Firefury again.
* Belono sil'aru, belore'dorei – Shoulder your burdens well, child of the sun.
** Excerpt from In The Shadow of The Sun, by Sarah Pine
