Our Little Village

"This is a beautiful place." Tanadia said, standing next to her father and holding onto his hand tightly. "Victoria would have loved it."

"That's what we were hoping when we eventually found this place." Athrodar told her, the pair of them looking over to Sylvanas who was sleeping in the middle of the small Pandaren village they were staying in with both Cedani and Talanas sleeping either side of her. "This place has been so good for her. She been nothing but happy since we got here, having her sisters nearby has helped too, though Alleria has been under a careful watch by the Shado-pan on occasion, to make sure the void inside of her doesn't come out."

Tanadia hugged her father tightly. "Well I'm happy you're all happy here. I know Windrunner Village was your home, but none of you were happy there. It brought back too many memories and I understand that." She pulled back and smiled up at her father. "I have something to tell you."

Athrodar tilted his head to the right a little. "What's up?"

"I have finished all of my studies in the Netherlight Temple and I am about to be named the youngest High Priestess ever." Tanadia smiled brightly at her father who was a loss for words. "The next closest was someone who was Twenty-Nine and I beat that by seven years."

"Honey..." Athrodar cupped his daughter's face in his hands and smiled just a brightly back to her. "I am so proud of you." He whispered, having his daughter begin to tear up and walk into his arms again. "Your mother and sister would be equally as proud, if not more so." He kissed the top of her head and heard her begin to cry into his chest. "You're going to show the world how good you really are and they will be watching over you every step of the way."

"Damn you..." Tanadia muttered, trying to hold herself as close to her father as possible. "I promised myself I wouldn't cry before I came here... And you've managed to make me a liar after only a few minutes." She smiled and closed her eyes the moment Athrodar's arms went around her. "I love you, Papa... And I am happy you are happy here."

"Come meet the rest of our family. Cedani is five now and Talanas is three." Athrodar pulled back and looked at his daughter. "Sylvanas has been excited for this day since you last wrote. Alleria and Vereesa also want to meet you, Alleria because she hasn't met you before and Vereesa misses having you in Dalaran." Athrodar grinned at his daughter who looked just as excited to see them. "I didn't know you spent some time in Dalaran."

"Yeah, well... Li Li wanted to visit the city for a while, something about forming a group to deal with some demons she encountered still on our world." Tanadia took hold of her father's hand again when he began to lead her towards the rest of their family. "She wanted to me join her, but I told her our project was a higher priority for me at the moment. She understood and went to Dalaran anyway, but I am yet to make a breakthrough."

Athrodar kissed her daughter's temple. "I'm sure you will." He told her, running into Vereesa first who practically squealed when she saw the not so little priestess.

"I didn't think you were coming today!" She cried, hugging the priestess tightly who had gotten so used to this sort of treatment, that she just let it happen. "And I forgot how golden your eyes were... They really do stand out, don't they?"

"Well... Not so much when in the Netherlight Temple. But I suppose being surrounded by green and blue eyed elves, a golden eyed one would stick out." She smiled at Vereesa who was looking her up and down. "What is it?" She asked, looking herself up and down as well and thinking she had some sort of stain on her.

"Nothing." Vereesa muttered, smiling and looking at the priestess again. "You just look a lot like your father, only more beautiful. And certainly more beautiful than when I last saw you. How old are you now?"

"Twenty-Two." Tanadia told her, which made Vereesa smile.

"That would be it. I don't know if anyone told you, but we elves age like fine wine. Night Elves and those Nightborne too. With age, we get even more beautiful." She placed a gentle hand on Tanadia's cheek. "You are going to attract so many men, especially since the world is united."

Athrodar cleared his throat which made Vereesa laugh but then made Tanadia roll her eyes. "That's if Papa doesn't threaten to kill them first."

"Who's he threatening to kill?" Alleria asked, practically pouncing on Athrodar who she had become close with over the last couple of years they had been here. "And can I join?" She looked at Tanadia and widened her eyes at the golden eyes looking back at her. "Is this her?"

Tanadia extended her hand out towards the eldest Windrunner who shook her head at the action. "Oh.. Did I do something wrong already?"

"It's not that, little one." Alleria said, leaning against Athrodar as she spoke. "I'm just one with the Void and looking at those eyes, I can see you are very close to the Light." She smiled a little at the priestess. "If we were to touch, it would hurt."

"Oh... That's sucks." Tanadia muttered, feeling a little down after knowing that.

"It's okay." Vereesa told her. "Just means I get more hugs." She said with a grin.

"You're starting to sound more like Aunty Li Li every time we meet and it's scaring me." Tanadia told her, making Vereesa rein it in a little.

"Sorry. It did feel a little out of character." Vereesa looked over to her sister Sylvanas who remained asleep in the village center, on one of the benches around the fountain centered in the middle. "Who wants to wake her?"

"Not it." Both Alleria and Athrodar said so quickly, it stunned the youngest Windrunner sister.

"Oh..." Vereesa looked over to Sylvanas again and saw her peaceful state. "Fuck, okay. I'll just tell her Tanadia is here, that should stop her from wanting to murder me, right?"

Both Alleria and Athrodar shrugged. "No idea." Alleria said, grinning when Vereesa sighed and slowly made her way over to Sylvanas. "This should be good."

Tanadia frowned at her father who, just like Alleria, was grinning and letting out the occasional laugh whilst Vereesa got closer to Sylvanas. "What is..."

"Shh. This is the best part." Alleria said, watched Vereesa shake Sylvanas slowly who jumped in her sleep at the touch. "This is where she will... There we go."

All three of them watched Sylvanas start yelling at her sister for waking her, making Vereesa shrink until she looked and felt two feet tall. "All the time." Athrodar muttered, shaking his head with a smile on his face. "She hates being woken up and not being told instantly the reason. Something that has only come to light since we moved here."

"She never did this back at our family home?" Alleria asked, sounding a little surprised. "She did it a lot growing up."

"Maybe because you all pissed her off." Athrodar said, laughing lightly. "I'll go over to her and smooth things out, again." He took hold of Tanadia's hand and smiled at her. "Come on, she will want to see you."

Sylvanas continued to yell at her sister, waking up both her son and daughter and not noticing Tanadia and Athrodar standing just in her vision. "How many times do I have to tell you, Vereesa!? I want a good reason to be woken up from my sleep!"

"W-w-well... Th-there is!" Vereesa pointed towards both Athrodar and Tanadia, having Sylvanas look over to them shortly after.

Sylvanas looked at her daughter-in-law and her face softened immediately, standing up and practically throwing herself at the priestess. "You're here!"

"Yes I am." Tanadia said, smiling and hugging Sylvanas back.

"My beautiful daughter has come back to me." Sylvanas muttered, holding onto her a little tighter and ignoring that she just called Tanadia her daughter. "How have you been?"

Tanadia however didn't forget that she said daughter, not the first and she knew it wouldn't be the last time, but she had began to grow closer to Sylvanas more and more every year, smiling and melting into the hug. "I have been great, mom." She whispered, making Sylvanas pull back and stare at her, wide eyed and surprised.

Though in her eyes, Sylvanas could see that Tanadia had meant to call her mom. "Honey..." She muttered.

"No, don't." Tanadia whispered to her, smiling at Sylvanas. "I know what I said. My mother is dead and I miss her greatly, but you have become as close to a mom as you can get and I love you like one." She stepped forward and hugged her again. "I love you, mom."

"I love you too, my little priestess." Sylvanas whispered, her breath wavering as she never expected Tanadia to call her that and it brought up some raw emotions. "I don't want to replace Thalina."

"You won't." Tanadia whispered back to her, pulling back a little just to look at Sylvanas. "You'll be my new mom, but she will always be my real, birth mother."

Sylvanas let out a sigh of relief and laughed lightly. "That's good enough for me. I'll take that."


A couple days after Tanadia had visited, she had settled in better than she expected. Though she spent most of her time with Sylvanas and Vereesa, she did manage to get a few hours with her siblings and her father as well as Alleria, Rhonin and the twins. Right now however, she was sitting beside a couple of Pandaren who were in the middle of their own conversation whilst she was watching Athrodar and Cedani shop from the local market.

"What about these?" Cedani asked, picking up a couple of apples and looking up at Athrodar with big, pleading eyes. Something she had naturally picked up and knew it would always work.

Athrodar looked down at his daughter and immediately had his heart melt at the giant spheres pleading up at him. "Okay... Put them in the bag."

Tanadia chuckled under her breath and shook her head. "Five years old and has already mastered the art of manipulating her father."

When she saw Cedani pick up more fruits and vegetables, she stood up and made her way over to the pair of them, figuring someone had to save Athrodar from the hole Cedani was about to burn in his pocket. "Oh, what are you doing here?" Athrodar asked when Tanadia stood beside them.

"Just saving you, Papa." She whispered to her father, smirking at him when he looked relieved. "Just can't say no to her, can you?"

"I can't." Athrodar admitted, lowering the bag so Cedani could place a few more fruits and vegetables in the bag. "It's those eyes, just look at her."

Tanadia looked at her little sister and had to force herself to not pick her up and hug her when she smiled up at the priestess. "Okay, she is very cute." Tanadia admitted, crouching down to level out her height with her sister. "Can your big sister get a hug?"

Cedani giggled and nodded, throwing herself at the priestess and hugging her tightly. "Can we play later?" She asked, looking up at Tanadia. "Talanas and I have a game we want to play with you."

Tanadia smiled and nodded her head at her sister. "Of course! I wouldn't say not to you."

"That's how it starts." Athrodar whispered to Tanadia when she stood up. "She gets you to play games with her at first, then you're in the palm of her hand for the rest of your life."

"Fantastic..." Tanadia muttered, knowing her father wasn't lying and instantly regretting the decision she made.

"Anyway, let's go back home." Athrodar said, handing Tanadia the bag of fruit and vegetables. "I'll be with you soon, I just have to pick up a few more things."

"Okay, Papa." Tanadia said, taking Cedani home and having her sister help put away the food whilst Alleria watches them from the door frame of the kitchen.

"I see she has gotten to you too." The eldest Windrunner said, placing a hand on the top of Cedani's head when she walked passed her, stroking her hair. "My sisters and your father have fallen for her trap. They thought she would be the one to look after the family, who they could all rely on, but she is a little she-devil, I'm telling you."

Tanadia laughed and shook her head. "She's not a she-devil. My baby sister is the cute, sweet, innocent little gem that my father told me about in the letters."

This time Alleria laughed, making a quick, sharp sound. "Ha! You're telling me she hasn't already tried to manipulate you as well? You should have at least seen her get what she wants from your father, no?"

"Well.." Tanadia rubbed the back of her neck, hearing Alleria laugh again. "My father did cave in easily when she asked for things..."

"There you go." Alleria said, grinning at Tanadia. "She-devil."

"Bold talk coming from someone tainted with the Void." Athrodar said, walking passed them both.

Alleria sniffed the air and glanced over to Athrodar. "Do I smell death walking?"

"Funny." Athrodar said, reaching for a nearby cushion and throwing it at her. "I look forward to Sylvanas yelling at you again when she overhears that sort of talk."

"Going to go cry to your wife again that your sister-in-law is bullying you?" Alleria asked, sticking her tongue in her cheek and grinning at him. "Poor baby."

Tanadia watched Athrodar and Alleria argue as if they were life long brother and sister as well as rivals. "This is going to be Tahnir and Little Alleria, isn't it?" She asked out loud, making both Athrodar and Alleria stop and look at her. "You two are both trying to fight for leadership of this house, aren't you?"

Alleria and Athrodar both laughed and looked at each other, laughing some more. "Of course not." Athrodar said.

"Because I wouldn't give him a chance to take it from me." Alleria added, making Athrodar stop laughing.

"What do you mean, this is mine and Sylvanas' house and we both own and are the leaders of this house." Athrodar narrowed his eyes and Alleria who rolled her own. "We are."

"Sure you are. Talk to your wife and see who she picks as her joint commander in chief." Alleria smirked at Athrodar who began to look uncertain. "What's that, are thinking I might be telling the truth?"

"It's Sylvanas..." Athrodar muttered, knowing she wasn't nearby to hear him. "She loves you more than anyone." He said, watching Alleria begin to feel a little sorry for him and surprised at the same time.

"You're kidding?" Alleria frowned at Athrodar who wholeheartedly believed his statement. "Sure we have been close to inseparable at times since I came back home, but she does nothing but talk about you, what you've both done together, what you personally have been through. She practically worships the ground you walk on and she tells me you do the same." Alleria placed her hand on Athrodar's shoulder. "She may love me, but she can't live without you. I can't believe I need to tell you after this long, but she does. I know she sees you as her equal and I'm only messing with you when it comes to leading this family."

Athrodar looked over to his daughter and winked at her. "You know I know she worships me as much as I worship her, right? I know how much she loves me and she definitely knows how much I love her. I just said all of that to get you to admit I am the leader of this house, along with Sylvanas."

Tanadia shook her head and sighed. "I can't believe you two are actually this bored."

"What?" Alleria looked over to Tanadia. "I'm not bored. It's fun trying to tease your father and I know he feels the same. It makes me feel like I am back in Quel'Thalas, teasing Sylvanas." She began to look a little sad, reminding herself of those days, days when she would tease her sisters to make Lirath laugh and loving the sound of it. "Those days are long gone now... But It's still fun to tease your father."

"Of course it is..." Athrodar muttered, shaking his head and noticing Tanadia was grinning at him. "I hope you're enjoying this."

"Oh I am. Knowing that she gets her kicks out of annoying you, almost brings Elaria back to life." Tanadia looked down at the floor for a second, remembering the overly horny, yet always fun Night Elf. "I miss her too."

Athrodar stepped forward and hugged his daughter. "Me too."


"I hear you had an interesting day." Sylvanas whispered, half laying on Athrodar's chest as they retired to their bed for the night. "My sister bullied you, our daughter managed to get you to buy her things and Tanadia saw what really happens here." She smiled when Athrodar sighed. "Don't be like that, you get to be with me now until the morning, or until one of our little ones interrupt us."

Athrodar moved his arms around Sylvanas who quickly buried her head in his neck. "That is true. I get to be with my beautiful wife, in our bed and alone for as long as possible."

Sylvanas giggled and nodded. "Yes you do."

"Has she sent you a letter?" Athrodar asked after they got comfortable. "I know you have sent her three this month."

Sylvanas shook her head and held onto Athrodar a little tighter. "No... Viraleth has been silent ever since we told her what happened to Victoria."

"Damn..." Athrodar kissed the top of her head and rubbed her back a little. "She'll come around, I know it. You've been best friends with her since she joined your company, she can't hold her death against us for the rest of her life."

"I don't think she does, not anymore." Sylvanas looked up at Athrodar and kissed him lightly. "I think she, just like us, can't get over her death. She was taken from us before we were ready and that's what hurts the most." She closed her eyes and pressed her ear to his chest, calming herself down and trying to fight the tears building up in her eyes. "No parent should have to bury their child. Let alone have her die twice on us. Once during the march towards Ironforge and..."

"Shh.. You don't have to remind me. I am well aware of the other time." Athrodar took a couple deep breaths and held onto Sylvanas a little tighter. "We don't need reminding of that day any more than we remind ourselves."

"I know, I'm sorry." Sylvanas kissed him again, moving up the bed until she was laying directly beside him and moving her arms around his body to hug him. "How has she settled in here?"

"Tanadia?" Athrodar asked, feeling Sylvanas nod against his chest. "She loves it here. A shame she won't be staying here for more than a couple of months." He closed his eyes and felt Sylvanas' steady breathing begin to take over, knowing she was quickly drifting off to sleep. "I love you." He whispered, feeling her face move slightly and guessing she was smiling.

"I love you too." She whispered back to him.

Sleep only lasted them a couple of hours before there was a loud banging at the door, waking up Sylvanas first and Athrodar shortly after. "What was that?" Athrodar asked, rubbing his eyes and looking out the window to see it was still dark out.

"I'll check." Sylvanas said, yawning and climbing out of bed, collecting a nearby robe and putting it on to at least cover herself up before making her way to the front door. "Don't worry, I'm checking." She said to Alleria who was sleeping on the couch with half of her hair sticking up and a tired look to her that screamed she was dying to sleep. When the knocking echoed through the house again, it began to annoy Sylvanas a little as she shuffled to the door. "Alright, I'm coming!" She half yelled, half groaned.

"I'm sorry." Viraleth said the second the door was opened, jumping at Sylvanas and hugging her tightly, pouring out her heart into her chest. "I... I shouldn't have held her death against you... I read your letters.." She sniffed, coughed and sniffed again. "I don't blame you or Athrodar... I never have! I just... I miss her so much!"

Sylvanas pulled Viraleth into the house, holding up her hand to Alleria who groaned and rubbed her eyes, looking at her sister and Viraleth the best she could whilst trying to fight away her fatigue. "What on Azeroth is going on?" She asked, looking at the pair of them through the small slits her eyelids made.

"Nothing, go back to sleep." Sylvanas told her, dragging Viraleth to her bedroom and placing her down on the bed. "Athrodar, get out."

"Wha... Why?" He asked, looking at Viraleth who was crying next to him. "This is my bed too, you know!"

"Not tonight, now get out. This is girl talk between Viraleth and I." Sylvanas sat down beside her best friend, hearing Athrodar grumble under his breath and leave the bedroom. "Come here." She whispered, moving an arm around Viraleth and hugging her tightly against herself.

"Stupid Viraleth... Ignoring us for a good few years and then suddenly arrives at our doorstep and I get kicked out of bed..." Athrodar stood over Alleria who instantly went back to sleep. "Off, this is mine now."

When Athrodar tried to move her, he was swiftly punched in the gut and collapsed to the floor, groaning into the carpet. "Next time, ask nicely." Alleria muttered, falling asleep almost instantly once more.

"I'm just... I'm just going to sleep here." Athrodar muttered, feeling winded from such a punch and closing his eyes to try and both relieve that pain and force himself to sleep.