This is the ending to my story "Hardship and Sickness" since with my time constraints I no longer have the time to finish the story itself. So, I will just write the ending to what happened after Hardships and Sickness and what becomes of Hyana and Daelon. And I hope this will satisfy the readers. I'm on a mission to make sure all of my characters see the end of their stories and this is no exception.
He sat up from the bed, his now slightly old and frail body creaking as he shakes off the stiffness. His eyes were squinted but he opened it as the morning came to him. His eyes looked to the window, looking forward that his daughter will comeback soon. Gifted with magic, as all elves are. He couldn't believe how much time had passed, he still remembers that ten years ago he was capable of fighting off many men that threatened to steal a certain little elven child from him, but that was ten years ago and that little elven child has now grown to a beautiful woman, a powerful practitioner of magic to the point that her teachers were impressed and caught the attention of one of the Dalaran ambassadors.
We dearly hope that you'll support her by no longer becoming part of her life in order to expand her knowledge and her gifts as a prodigious mage.
The letter from Dalaran still was in his head.
How events unfold at this time is a mystery for him. He wonders where she would go, he would love to see her life unfold for the good. And here, he'll watch her life in the distance in the small house of Lakeshire with the farm and occasionally she'll come home to see him and spend time and he'll be fulfilled knowing she would live a good and fulfilled life. Likely she'll study in Dalaran to become a very strong mage and her name will standout and she will be great, becoming something greater than he ever were and he would gladly have that life for her. Even if she has to go away and not see him. And perhaps not see her at all.
Five thousand pieces gold and it was enough to set him a land to cultivate, a nice spot in Lakeshire near the lake itself where he has all the time to fish. And during the last ten years he had spent here, he spend his time teaching the little elf girl how to fish and how to farm and many memories had been made from that. And now she had grown and she has her studies as a practitioner of magic, sometimes being away for a months in her study at Stormwind. Though their time had been lessened due to the circumstances, it doesn't change anything at all.
Hyana is still the little elven girl that he took as his own all those years ago. When he was travelling through the Vale, and he found out that a small girl was digging through his bag in an effort to find some food, immediately it clicked to him the need of protecting her. Even though he had lost his own family in the war had undergone depression, sadness, loneliness and even contemplated suicide, he endured still and he found some meaning in his life many years later down the road.
Daelon Hammertide, a former soldier, a veteran across many skirmishes now lives in a lowly small house cultivating farm in Lakeshire, taking care of a daughter that of not his blood nor race and he is happy with that. Happy enough that if he lives out his old life, he is content despite his loss all those years ago, that he still founds something to live for. No need to fight anymore as he is old, and ever since the encounter to save Hyana, he became frail from his injuries, needing a stick sometimes to help him balance himself yet strong enough to still be able to work into the farm.
He looked out the window and anytime now Hyana will come home again. It has been a months now perhaps even a year since he had last saw her, and she could only stay a for a few weeks at most before going back to Stormwind and resume her studies. What more would happen if she gets to study in Dalaran considering she had impressed her mentors so much, but he'll support her through and through still. He had saved up throughout the year, two thousand pieces of gold. He was planning the money to expand the farm, maybe a barn for the animals and horses along with other hands to help the field instead of just solely him, but now he'll give it to her for her studies, so that whatever she needs, he'll provide.
Standing up with his walking stick, slowly but surely he went outside and walked over to his farm, still healthy enough for him to navigate around the farm quite fast and watch the many crops that had grown healthy over the course of the entire season. He'll make money once more selling to the marketers and he'll be buying many things with her once she comes back. And then proceeding to a neighboring shop of whom he usually buys cake.
Calmly opening the door, Daelon approaches the counter and smiles at the man who were preparing in the counter. There were some people inside, customers enjoying their days with a few cakes and coffee for them to eat. "Good morning, Carl." Daelon greets the man.
The man was the same age as him, though not as tall. He had graying brown hair and beard along with a chef's hat on him and a large belly with white garments that matches the appearance of a cook. He turned towards Daelon and also smiles to him. "Hey, there big man." He greets back before offering up a hug across the counter and Daelon gladly takes it. "I heard she's coming today again." He says gleefully.
Daelon nods and calmly sits on a table. "Indeed, she's coming today. Her teachers are impressed about she's doing with her magic, she's going to be a strong mage sooner than later." He chuckles as the man prepares coffee to him. "I'm told that they have been offering her to come study on Dalaran, I'm so excited for her that she'll get what she wants."
The man chuckles. "Ah, yes. Hyana, the little elf girl. Time flies to fast, ey big man? I remember when you came both here to Lakeshire ten years ago. You got people surprised a bit that you easily bought that farmhouse when you both looked like two poor beggars." The chef remarks and Daelon calmly laughs it off. He remembered that day still when they finally reached Lakeshire and settled down, he downed all five thousand pieces of gold for that land and house. Then the chef adds. "Dalaran? I'm guessing she would seldom stay in Lakeshire anymore?"
Daelon tightens his lip and reluctantly nods. "It is what it is, but I'm still going to be happy for her. She's my little girl." Daelon says as he sips the cup of coffee. He wonders how long she stays this time around. He had grown lonely over the years despite having some friends in the village.
Hyana excitedly looked at the distance as the caravan rider points to the village of Lakeshire. Her eyes gleaming with excitement as they cross over the bridge that supplies the village water. She excitedly looked to the side and watched the large and beautiful lake. She is excited to do many things in the village, such as fishing and especially waiting on the quarry for the elusive long necked Lake Thresher.
The caravan rider stopped by the edge of the bridge and calmly signals her. "We're here, ma'dam." He says as opened up the cart and everyone came out. Hyana readily took whatever belongings she has and hurriedly gotten out to finally see the village again, and the look of her eyes says it all. Her green eyes gleaming with happiness and she sees the people in the village again. Seeing the bakery that she had always visited everyday in the distance as it's owner prepared to make his bakery look lively to customers.
She picked up her things and hurriedly went over to the man to greet him. "Hello, Chef Carl!" Hyana cheerily greets, her eyes were gleaming with happiness as she went over to the man who greets her with a smile himself. "Oh, Hyana! You're here after all these months!" He says as he gladly receives her hug, his graying bears brushing the back of her shoulder before pulling away. "I'm glad your here again, Hyana! Come in, I'm sure you'll like my chocolate milk again, I bought more ever since you left, perhaps you'll get a try again?" He offered and Hyana politely declines.
"Thank you, Chef Carl, but I got to go home again. Is he here?" She asks, her head looking around for Daelon specifically.
"He left just awhile ago, he's in the farm tending I assume." He says before adding. "Oh, he's excited to see his daughter again. He's already preparing up a cake-" The chef suddenly realized his mistake on mentioning the surprise. He tried to hide it but the elven student already caught on.
Hyana smiles and giggles knowing that a surprise is waiting for him. "Oh, already there's a surprise for me!" She gleefully explains and laughs as the chef puts his palm to his forehead at the realization of his error. "No need to hide it, Uncle Carl, I know he'll do this for me." She says and the chef laughs along with her in agreement.
"Ah yes, the old farmer will do anythin for you that is true, Hyana." He says before adding. "How's your life there? Anyone special that caught your eye with?"
Hyana takes a second to lookback on what she had been doing, but never anything special. She had learned much though on the schools of magic, now capable on casting a barrage of spells in order to defend herself against attackers. It seems like she isn't going to be a little lamb that gets easily taken all those years ago. She had been gifted her teachers say that they are offering her a scholarship to Dalaran. But when it comes to romance? Nothing in mind for her, she was too busy, though some tried to court her but they failed, she was too focused on her life as a student.
"Just studying hard and being a great mage is just my goals in my life for now." She says, and the man just chuckles.
"Well, I be glad that your happy on that end, Hyana." He says before realizing something, he gestured for Hyana to wait and then went inside before arriving back a few moments later with a cake on his hand for her. "Oy, Hyana. Though the big man got a cake ready, I'll give this to ye, okay? For free, a gift from mine to you." He smiles and Hyana gladly accepts it.
"I dearly missed this place." She says to him and the man agrees.
Hyana looked over the distance, her eyes were wide when she finally glimpsed the house in the farm. She could clearly see her adoptive father right beside the door waiting for him, his walking stick clasped tightly around his hand. She could clearly see his wrinkled face made an excited expression of happiness as he finally see's his adopted daughter once again, running after him with a cake in hand. As quickly as he could body allows, he went after her, his arms open wide to receive her hug. They were in a deep embrace for a few seconds before finally pulling away.
The tears on her face was clear to see as she looked at up at him, still despite having grown now, the difference of height was still there. "Oh, I've missed you so much." She says still having the mind to be careful with the cake on her and, and Daelon then smiles to her and nods, saying that he himself had missed her very much also. They both went inside to the house and Hyana could already see how much he prepared, he had a cake he set up himself on the table along with very nice plates for them to eat. Hyana could only just smile in appreciation for her.
"A lot of the people are missing you in the village, not just me." Daelon chuckles. "Donna kept on asking me when are you coming back. She's excited to let you see the plants that you both have grown a year ago." He says as he sat down on the table, then finally he pressed about the cake. "I bought a cake from Carl, of course. But where did you bought that?" He asks.
The elven student smiles, looking for candles inside a drawer and then finding one before coming to the other side of the table to sit down. "Same, I brought them from Uncle Carl, he said he had been waiting to give it to me as a gift." Hyana says as she sticks the candles into the cake. She then smiles to him. "Watch this." She says as she demonstrated her index finger close to the candle and then suddenly a flame ignited at the tips, igniting the candle herself with the use of her own magic.
Her demonstration made the old farmer smile. "Ha, it seems like you got a lot of things learned at school." He says. "I mean, your teachers have been impressed ever since you have started." He said and adds. "They have been itching to send you to Dalaran right? When are you going to accept?" He asks.
gives it a thought, indeed her mentors have been impressed with her abilities as a mage, some might say that she is a prodigy like the Jaina Proudmoore, but already her time revolves around just studying about magic and nothing else to the point that her teachers even sometimes condemn her that she spends too much time writing letters for the village and for her adoptive father. What time could she get once she is in Dalaran?
"I'm still thinking about it, likely I might accept but I do not know yet truly father." She says to him as she watched his reaction, she couldn't read it but yet she could see a little bit of smile from him. She clearly understands that he wants to spend more time with her, to see her more than just seeing her for a few weeks before having to wait many months again, only being able to communicate through letters.
He nods and smiles. "Well, whatever you want to do, know that I'm just so very proud of you." He says before asking. "So, what is it like there in your schools of magic? Anything interesting on that I might need to know?"
Hyana chuckles and shakes her head. "Nothing much, unless you're interested in knowing what books I have been reading." She laughs and Daelon laughs along with her. "Well, I guess nothing interesting then. You know how bored I can be with books." He stated. "Any romance though?" He teased with a chuckle and the elf chuckled along with her. "There were some that tried to court, but then I told them they have to meet you first." She jokes.
"Well, they're going to willing to work in the farm if they want to be in my good side." He says, then it went silent as they both began to close their eyes and traditionally pray in thanks for their food. The smile on Hyana's face were imprinted, relieved that she is home once again, even if her stay isn't that long.
Hyana tended to the flowers, her neighbor Donna was talking happily how the flowers had grown so beautiful along with the very beautiful Goldenclover that Hyana had brought. Though as much as beautiful the flowers are, she was more focused on her adoptive father at the farm, tending to the crops and the animals. Despite summoning a water elemental in order to help the farm, she could see the amount of work he has to put through, especially with his old age and his fragility. When she had grown up, he didn't let her do much in the farm, he would allow her to help but he wanted to see her play with other children.
When she was growing up, she wasn't seeing the amount of effort he has put through. Her childhood life was growing up as an orphan until he had found her in the vale when she was just . And then, he tended to her needs, and wants and raised her up as his own. Spoiled her even, she didn't realize how much work he had for her, he got injured saving her and became fragile because of it, having to need a cane to help him properly stand and walk but still strong enough. While she was studying for her dream in a nice school in Stormwind, having a good night sleep in nice beds. Daelon on the other hand was laboring throughout the day in order to provide for her.
"Are you alright, Hyana?" A soft voice asked, when the elven girl looked at where the voice came from, it was just from Donna. Donna had gray hair, already closing on to her 60's but she was still quite beautiful, quite young for her age with green eyes like the elf. "You seem focused on watching your father there." She states.
Hyana then shakes her head, before she began going away for her studies as a practitioner of magic, she had helped a little, when the farm wasn't so big, but now it had grown. "I'm sorry Aunt Donna, I'll just ask, does he do this everyday? It seems quite tiring." Hyana says with slight guilt in her voice. Watching him dig through the ground to plant more seeds makes her feel guilty, she had been so busy growing up, being a very good practitioner of magic, and a gifted one at that. Being so busy growing up that sometimes she would forget that he is growing old.
The older woman noticed the young elf's expression and looked at the man also. "Yes, he does this everyday. Going about the farm, planting seeds and taking care of them. I'm surprised at how much does it." She says. "Are you concerned for him, Hyana?" The older woman asks.
Calmly Hyana nodded as she sat down on a chair, it had been a few a week since she had came back, though she had spent sometime around the village meeting the people and socializing with them once more, in that week she sees that all he does is work, even when she helped with all her magic, he still works around in the farm. She could just imagine him to work all alone once she goes back and perhaps especially going to Dalaran. And he always assured her that he's doing to achieve her dreams and she gladly will labor for her. But in her dreams she didn't picture of him slaving away to make ends meet for to get what she need in her academics.
"He's always there, on that farm just to make ends meet, he always sends a lot of money to me when I'm studying, always providing what I needed to grow up. I'm so busy growing up, that I sometimes forget he's growing old..."
The older woman sighs and agrees with her and then simply says. "You know, he's doing this for you. When sometimes he comes, he always mentions you on how much he loves you and he wants to see you grown up with anything you wanted." Donna consoles but yet it doesn't seem to help the elf, knowing that while she lives and grows up to be whatever she dreamed about, he stays here, growing old and watching from the distance.
Hyana's eyes shifted downward and looked away, sitting down on a table. "It's good knowing that you'll get to achieve your dreams ever since I was an orphan, but I don't feel well if I get to live my dreams while he stays alone in the farm. Daelon's going to be alone here, he doesn't want to re-marry because he wanted to always never forget his loss. I just can't stand it..."
"But he would love to see you achieve what you want, right?"
Hyana looks up to the older woman and calmly says. "I love him more than I love to see my dreams come true." She said and it made the older human woman smile. "Well, I'm glad to hear that Hyana. That's what you have always been, a sweet and beautiful girl with a very beautiful heart. And I wouldn't expect anything else, do what you have to do for yourself and for him, Hyana." The older woman says.
Hyana was cleaning up the the house. Daelon was about to clean the house himself, but she insisted that she would be the one that has to do the chores this time and reluctantly he agrees before going to Chef Carl's bakery once more to have his daily coffee and cake. She wanted him to stop working for once after already working so much. And something as mundane as cleaning the house is bad enough for his health, he's almost sixty with disabilities of his body, having fought in wars, and was a former soldier, having her to do the chores instead of him is more than well deserved.
Sweeping away at the floor, Hyana walks over to a trunk near the closet, wanting to sweep the floor under it, she decided to move trunk out of the way, but she wasn't careful enough and instead toppled the trunk over, spilling its contents inside. The elven mage sighs in frustration as she began picking up its contents, the many papers spilling all over the floor, but then as was picking them up, one caught her attention. It was a mail with the seal of Dalaran on it, Hyana narrowed her eyes on the mail. He never mentioned anything before that Dalaran had sent something to him.
Though it is a violation of his privacy, the curiosity was tugging at her, as if she is going to find out something very important. Her hands were slightly trembling as she opened up the letter to see her contents.
Greetings to Daelon Hammertide, the adoptive father of Hyana Hammertide.
Greetings to you, sir. I am the representative of Dalaran School of Magic and it has come
to our attention that Hyana Hammertide is the likely winner of the candidacy to Dalaran's
scholarship, but also Hyana herself has expressed reluctance to accept the scholarship
due to your influence.
Hyana is a beautiful young woman with many gifts and talents.
She has far surpassed our expectations and have beaten out other prodigious students
in our school.
We dearly hope that you'll support her by pushing her into acceptance of
the scholarship and we dearly hope that you'll support her by no longer being part of her
life as the life of a Dalaran mage requires rigorous attention to her studies and training
and anything beyond that is a distraction.
We hope you would accept this proposal for her better future.
- Archmage Celindra, Dalaran Representative
Hyana felt like the pit of her stomach dropped. Indeed that her teachers have been so impressed by her, pushing her to accept the scholarship, but she didn't thought that they would be bullying him to goad him to push her through it. And indeed now she knows that once she accepts the scholarship, she wouldn't be able to go back to her home from time to time because her entire days will be spent on practicing the precious magics of Dalaran. Who knows how many years she has to train, but all she knows that once she accepts, there wouldn't be a chance for her to go back home unless she outright quits being a student of magic.
While I grow up, he grows old.
She felt torn, she's an elf, she still has many hundreds of years to look forward to. But him on the other hand, he's approaching at being sixty with injuries that requires him to need a cane to help him walk. She couldn't bare at the thought that she'll be away in Dalaran while he stays here alone.
It had been a few weeks passed, and once more she packs her things up. She had made her decision, she'll say no to the scholarship, citing reasons that she has a father to take care on to and then go back home after finishing the last of her subjects. She doesn't care much about her dreams anymore, not when someone matters more for her than her dreams itself.
She had spent a lot of her wonderful time just helping him in the farm, along with spending her time to other villagers. She had missed the experience so much, especially the children watching in amazement on what she could do with her skills as a mage, it always give her laughs when she commands her water elemental to chase the children and wash them away. But now that has to end once more, she'll just finish her final year and then she'll comeback home and this time would stay with her home is. And over the few weeks her heart would wrench sometimes, the land they have is very big and him watching cultivate the land on his own along with tending to the animals ruins her day. Even when she helps with her abilities as a mage, summoning an elemental to water the plants it isn't enough she could clearly see.
When she was a starving orphan lost in the vale he came in and took her in, feeding her, dressing her and giving her the place to stay and bathe to live. He took her as her own, giving her what she didn't have and giving her more than just that. He gave her something to call a family, he gave her something to call home and he gave her something to live. But also she understands that she is important to him, when he told her his story, she knows he's the same like her, alone and aimless but when they met, they have something to live for. And Hyana could not stand of parting away from that family just so she could learn a few tricks from a prodigious school.
Helping her pack up, Hyana looked at him with concern on her eyes, his graying hair and wrinkled face always puts her unease knowing that he's old. She understands that it is human nature, that they won't stay long, pretty soon she knows that a lot of the village will be somewhere in a better place while she's still there. But still, at least while he is still alive and well, she wants to make sure that he won't be spending any time laboring to fund her dreams.
"Come on, Hyana, you're gonna get late for your Caravan." Daelon says to her, picking up one of the heavy bags that she has finished packing.
The elven girl shakes her head insisting that she'll carry it herself. "No, I'll do it. It's heavy."
But her adoptive father laughs and shrugs her concern. "Ohohoho, no, just because I needed a cane on one hand doesn't mean I can't take care of this missy." He laughs and she chuckles before continuing on to walk to the caravan, just the end of the bridge like where it always is when he drops her off. "I can still take care of myself, you know that?" He pats her shoulder, looking at her in the eyes as if telling that he is still strong, still strong enough to take care of her. But that's what she doesn't want him to do, she wants to take care of him instead of the other around this time.
Hyana ust didn't comment but rather continues on. "I'm very happy for you, once you get on that Dalaran school. You're going to be something great. I still remember you telling me that you want to become a mage someday, well, here you are now." He laughs.
"Well, I wouldn't be anything if there isn't you in it." She says to him and it made her adoptive father smile. "Those are your dreams, dreams being fulfilled don't come around you know? Don't let me get in the way of it." He says and she wanted to speak up against that but he spoke up first when he saw the caravan. "I'll pack up your bags up in here." He struts on forward to pack up her bags but the elven mage stayed on where she stood to which the he noticed.
"Hyana? What are you doing?" He asks but then he noticed the slight tears of that were coming out from her eyes. But she brushes it off as she wiped the tears from her eyes and strides to him. "Oh, it's just nothing, just some dust in my eyes." She says, and then she watches him put her pack on to the caravan. "You know always where my girl is going." He says to the caravan rider, and the caravan rider chuckles, having to deliver the elven mage always to the city of Stormwind annually.
"I love you father." She says as she gave him a hug. Though she had read the letter, she didn't want to bring it up, once she'll refuse her teachers about the scholarship and stay back here this time. She can study here, she knows more than enough that she can learn on her own. "I'll come back soon." She says, but just before she climbs back up to the caravan, he calls for her.
"Hyana..." He calls as he took out something from his pocket, just a simple paper, but it seems very important. He puts it on the palm of her hand and calmly says. "Take this, and go to the Stormwind bank. There, give this to the banker and you'll get access." He says and Hyana's eyes widened, giving more money for her. "Two thousand pieces of gold, I saved it up to hire more hands to help and make our farm bigger, but your education is far more important, take this Hyana. Dalaran is going to be expensive to live in..."
Hyana's eyes widened as she looked at the piece of paper and her stomach dropped. Looking at the piece of paper, a symbol on how much he really wanted to do for her. She just started to tear up to which it confused her father. She shakes her head and began sobbing. "Hyana?" he starts but the elf had made up her mind. She's not going even, she isn't going to go and finish anything else, she will stay here because she wants to and she needs to, for him. She wanted to stay because she felt home and she needs to stay to stop him just putting everything that he owns into her for the sake of going to Dalaran. She doesn't want that.
"I'm staying here, I don't want to go anymore for Stormwind. I want to stay here in Lakeshire, with you, with others." She says as Daelon narrowed his eyes in confusion at her sudden outburst. "Don't spend anything for me anymore father. I want to stay here..." She says.
"But, what about your dream-"
"I love you and my home more than I love my dream. If I go to Dalaran, I won't be able to get home, and I will always choose my home to anything else." She says as she goes back, remembering all those years ago. "You've already done much for me father. You took me in when I was lost in that vale and gave me more than I can imagine. And I want to give that to you also." She says. "Staying here, helping you and seeing you everyday is my dream itself, it's more than I wanted."
The old farmer smiled, his tearing up as he looked at his adopted elven daughter. When he found her, he was just barely ten years old, shy and meek. But now, she's strong and certain to what she wants. He is indeed proud of her. He simply hugged her and ask. "Well, you have really grown up, you know that?" He says as he tapped her chin and makes her look at her. "So certain on what you want."
"Why don't we go back home, It's a very nice day to fish." She say.
"I'll be glad to." He says as he picked up her bag. "And soon, I think I'll teach you on riding horses this time." He says as she puts his hand over her shoulders.