(3) Morgan Farron

"You'll be at your mothers tonight," Morgan spoke to his child as he sat in his laboratory tinkering.

Morgan Farron was Stormwind's best blacksmith for weapons and nearly best for his potions in alchemy. When he wasn't guarding Stormwind he was making weapons or potions for it. He compared himself to the mages; but believed he did everything better and quicker.

Morgana kept her head low and nodded; she assisted him in his lab whenever she could, or whenever he allowed her.

"Depending on how my meeting with the King and his Guard goes tomorrow we might be up for more training in the forest," he continued lowering his goggles to his face.

Sniper training was forbidden in Stormwind for obvious reasons. Farron was subjected to bring his protégé out into the forest for ongoing instruction. He didn't mind it, less eyes on his work until he was ready to produce it publicly.

"The prince is starting to sit in on these meetings and ugh," Farron continued. "He's delusional and starting to make his father believe in peace."

Farron was never a fan of the royal family; he admired the King in his younger days but as the Prince grew older, his distaste for them both grew as well. Farron knew all his profits would vanish if peace were ever a reality; and the fantasies the Prince was feeding the King were dangerous to everyone.

Farron sat up then and glanced over at his daughter. Morgana held his gaze ready for any lecture he was about to give. Although her father might enjoy the old ideals of the past, he still had much wisdom to give her.

"You will be great one day, with all that I have given you," he started lifting his goggles up to rest on top of his head. "If you do reach a high enough rank where you are meeting with that foolish future King, don't buy into his fantasies."

Morgana nodded repeatedly remaining silent.

"It's one thing to dream of peace," Farron continued looking off into the distance. "It's another to fully believe you can make it a reality."

"Am I interrupting?" a friendly warm voice spoke behind them.

Morgana tilted her head down hiding a smile. Farron sighed slightly annoyed.

Morgana slowly turned to her mother, still keeping her head down until her father could no longer see her face. Nadine Priscilla Montgomery stood before her. A former beauty queen of Stormwind and one of the best tailors the city had to offer. She moved with grace stepping over the threshold to Farrons home. Her rich brunette hair curled loosely cascading down as her sea blue eyes never left her daughter.

Nadine slowly pushed her daughter's chin up to meet her gaze and see Morgana's smile fully, "Get your things, dear."

Morgana nearly leapt out of the lab with excitement until she remembered she was still on Farron's time. Morgana wobbled slightly, keeping in place until told otherwise.

Nadine sighed then, "Morgan for Light's sake, dismiss her!"

"I will when it's time," Farron muttered, throwing his tools. "Last I checked I told you I'd send her when she was ready."

Nadine lightly folded her hand behind her back, "She looks ready to me."

Farron scowled, "Dismissed."

Morgana raced up the stairs to the house side of the laboratory and quickly packed. She tried to be fast, fully knowing her parents couldn't be in each other's company for long. There was a definite reason why they never married; or could be bothered with one another outside of Morgana.

Morgana never had much to pack, she was only at her mother's a weekend or two out of the month. She didn't have clothes outside of her Guard attire and at her mother's was allowed to lounge and relax from all the training her father gave her. Morgana loved being at her mother's house. But if she ever stayed too long, Farron usually made up for lost time.

"You had her till she was six, like we agreed!" Farron boomed. "So I don't wanna hear anymore about how I'm "over training" her, when you decided that my plan for her was a good one."

"What power did I have over that decision?" Nadine countered. "You could've said anything and I had to agree with it."

"Are you going to stand here and tell me that what I'm doing for her isn't in her best interest?" Farron spoke calmly now but Morgana heard him rise from his lab chair.

Nadine was silent; both her and Morgana knew what he'd say next.

"Because by all means, take her full time, fill her head with nonsense that won't get her paid," Farron continued, his footsteps heavy. "Let her believe she could make a living off her paintings. Let her dream of marrying into a higher class. Let her fantasize about everything and anything that will never happen to her."

Morgana closed her bag and rushed down the stairs.

"Filling her head with hopes and dreams that will never come true means her stomach and pockets are empty," Farron finished letting Nadine run out of the shop.

Morgana gave him a moment before speaking, "It's the same lecture every time you talk to her."

"I love your mother with all my heart," Farron spoke, fighting back the emotions. "But I can't let you go down the same path she has."

He was right. And she sometimes hated him for it. Her mother was a dreamer barely making it by on doing what she did best in her pageant days; making dresses. She was a mage with only a level one clearance; meaning a lot of spells she didn't have the licensing for.

Morgana took a good look at her father. His dark hair was pulled back during his lab time. Farrons dark eyes pierced through anyone she gazed upon; and his size was an intimidating factor as well. The years of strain had taken its toll creating a few wrinkles but Morgana still saw him as a man doing what he could with what he had.

"When am I returning?" Morgana asked, trying to cut the intensity in the room.

Farron sighed, his shoulders dropping, "Unsure, I'll send for you."

Morgana slowly walked to the door, "Do you really think war will be forever?"

"If it's not, Stormwind will fall," Farron answered glazing over at Morgana. "Over half of the gold it makes is from war."

Morgana walked out then meeting her mother in the streets. They both smiled as Morgana curled an arm around Nadine's as they walked together. Morgana hugged her mother's arm tightly then knowing all three family members had just gone through a whirlwind of emotions.

Morgana's parents were very different; but somewhere there was love for them to keep her.

"What's the plan tonight?" Morgana asked, refusing to take her eyes off her mother.

"Oh," Nadine sighed playfully. "I have a few easy tasks for you. Afterwards we can bake whatever it is you desire."

Morgana's father lived in the Trade District while Nadine lived in the Mage Quarter. Not too far of a walk but they were the busiest districts in Stormwind. Both were positioned in places for better service. Farron often wanted to move closer to the Keep at times but then his alchemy and blacksmithing would suffer.

"How are you feeling?" Nadine asked as they entered the Mage Quarter.

Morgana couldn't help but roll her eyes and sigh, "Fine."

"You know why I ask," Nadine stated.

"I know," Morgana answered softly. "But he doesn't over train me like you think. Yes, he pushes me hard, but it's for my own good."

"Now you sound like him," Nadine said, slightly worried now.

"He's right though," Morgana replied, staring at her mother's front door. "The only way the people will accept me is if I serve them well."

Morgana continued when Nadine was silent, "Hard to serve anyone if my skills are lacking."

She opened the front door then and smiled. Magic was something she would never comprehend but it didn't mean she couldn't enjoy it. Although her mother was a low ranking mage she had enough magic in her arsenal to make life slightly easier. Morgana saw a broom lightly sweeping away as well as a brush in the kitchen sink finishing the pan it was cleaning. The room smelled of fresh honey wheat bread and the image was right out of a fairytale for Morgana.

"Have I ever told you how much I love it here?" Morgana asked, smiling back at her mother.

"Every time you visit," Nadine beamed back with a crinkle in her nose. "But that doesn't mean I ever get tired of hearing it."