Chapter Three: The Road to Goldshire

She could smell before she could see. The air was thick with the stink of smoke and it tickled her nose and clogged her throat. She started to cough, which jolted her to awareness.

She looked straight up and frowned, not quite sure what she was looking at. Then, after a few more minutes she realized that it was trees, blocking out the bright sun and blue sky. She was confused, there weren't any trees in Westfall. They'd all been cut down centuries ago to create the farmland. It took her a while to understand that she probably wasn't in Westfall anymore.

It took her even longer to realize that she was moving.

Addy blinked rapidly to clear her vision, turning her head to the side to try and figure out where she was. As she took in her surroundings she noticed that she was laying on her back on a large horse drawn cart. She looked around to see several large boxes and chests of what looked like food and other supplies.

She moved to sit up, only to hiss and collapse back to the cart roughly as her entire body erupted in pain.

She grunted as she laid on her back, suddenly recalling what had happened. She'd thrown herself off the top of Sentinel Hill to attack a demon like an idiot! She didn't know what she'd been thinking, but sitting on the back of the cart as darts of pain went down her body she could only muse about how stupid she'd been.

"Miss?"

Addy turned her head to peek out the side of the open air cart. Walking beside her was the same priest woman who she'd spoken to back at the hill. She still had that annoying appearance of calm and peace surrounding her. She was watching Addy with wide concerned eyes.

The woman beamed once she realized Addy was conscious, "You're awake! How are you feeling?"

"Terrible." Addy admitted, her voice rough. She slowly brought her arms up before dropping them, "Everything hurts."

The woman winced in sympathy, "I'm sorry love. Once we get to Goldshire we'll get you a proper healer. I was able to patch you up a bit, but I'm no miracle worker. Lots of folks are in bad shape I'm afraid."

Goldshire? She looked back at the trees around them and realized they must be in Elwynn. But why were they going to Goldshire? And why was she going with them?

"Gryan?" She called out into the air, looking around as much as she could. She could see tabards of Stormwind and the Westfall militia mixed around groups of people walking. She wondered how many people were walking with them. It looked like dozens. But as she scanned the crowds she couldn't see Gryan anywhere. She started to feel a low panic in her chest. Where was he?

The woman pointed forward, "He's at the front of the company. He'll want to know you're awake. I'll fetch him for you." Addy let out a breathe of relief, before nodding. The woman walked off and she was left laying there by herself.

As she waited she gritted her teeth, and reached out blindly with her hand. Finally she got a good grip on one of the boxes and pulled, biting her lip in pain as she struggled to get herself into a sitting position. Once she got up she leaned back against a crate, letting out a deep breathe. Once her heart rate had calmed she allowed herself to look around and get a better look at her surroundings.

The company of men, women and children stretched back along the thin road and disappeared over a hill. There must've been hundreds of people with them, far more than had lived at the Hill. The air around them was thick with smoke and through the gaps in the trees she could see black smokey pillars coming from Westfall. Looking at the people and the amount of smoke burning at the horizon she felt a lump form in her throat. The attack must have been far worse than she'd thought.

"Addy?"

Addy turned her head and saw Gryan walking beside the cart. She gave him a small smile, trying not to look like she was in as much pain as she was, "Hello."

He let out a low breath before grabbing the side of the cart and hoisted himself into the back. He took a seat on one of the boxes opposite her and gave her a reproachful look, "You idiot girl! What were you thinking?!"

Addy flushed a bit, clenching her jaw and looking down, "I was trying to-"

"By taking on a Pit Lord all by yourself!" He interrupted her, his eyes fiery, "Are you insane? Do you have any idea how lucky you are not to be dead right now?!"

She didn't respond. She hadn't thought she would survive at all, but she didn't want to tell Gryan that. So instead she just shrugged and looked down, abashed.

He rubbed a hand over his face, looking years older than he already was, "You scared me half to death."

She still couldn't meet his eyes, "It was going to collapse the tower and I figured I could distract it or-"

"I know what you did." Gryan waved her off, "And light be damned it worked. You probably saved the lives of everyone in that tower doing it too. You distracted it long enough for the men from Stormwind to arrive and kill it. But that doesn't mean it wasn't the single stupidest thing I've ever seen!"

Addy kept her head down to hide her grin, but somehow Gryan still saw it.

He reached over and smacked the side of her head, "Don't be so damned pleased."

She lifted her head and gave him a watery smile, "I'm happy you're okay too Gryan."

"Yeah..." He shook his head, but there was a spark of fondness in his eyes, "You're a damned fool."

They sat in comfortable silence. He handed her a skin of water and some rough jerky which she eat silently, wincing every now and then. The longer she sat there, with the jolting of the cart of the uneven cobblestone path, the more she wished for the sight of Goldshire and its promise of a proper healer.

"How bad was I hurt?" She asked after gaining the necessary courage. She almost didn't want to know how bad she'd looked before her tentative healing.

Gryan didn't look too worried, "Not as badly as you'd think. You didn't actually fall very far, but you broken several bones - I think your ribs are still broken. You had some nasty cuts, but most of it was just bruising."

Addy frowned, "Then why do I feel like I was crushed by a boulder?"

Gryan snorted, "You drained yourself with whatever spell you used."

She leaned back against her crate, "It was just like you taught me, though. I just put the light into the strike for more power."

Gryan snorted, "Addy, you were glowing like a torch when you struck him. You didn't draw the light into your strike, you drew it into you. It burned you out."

"But I don't even know how to do that!" Addy argued.

"Which is why you collapsed afterwards." Gryan pointed out, "It's something that more experienced Paladin's can do, but you have so little training with the light…you just couldn't handle it."

"Can you do it?" She asked eagerly, "Could you teach me?"

Gryan sighed, looking at her sadly, "I didn't lie to you all those years ago when I said I couldn't teach you anymore Addy. You have to understand I was early in my own training when the Silver Hand was disbanded. I carry the name Paladin, but only barely…"

Addy felt her excitement fade. It was the same answer she always received - she'd need a proper Paladin to train her, and training costed money. Money she didn't have.

"You need to be careful." Gryan watched her with worried eyes, "The light isn't like Mana. Mana is a power within you, you can run out, become powerless, but that isn't the same as over-use. You are a mortal vessel for the light to do its work through, remember that. If you absorb too much light before your body is ready, you can burn up….literally."

Addy paused, "As in….literally literally?"

"To ashes." Gryan grimaced, "Believe me, it's not a pleasant sight."

"You've seen it happen?"

"Once." He nodded slowly, "In Stratholme. A young man the same age as me. He had a particularly powerful connection to the light. He was young, and foolish, and took on more than he was capable of….you remind me of him sometimes."

Addy frowned, unsure if she'd just been insulted, "I'll be careful."

He smiled sadly, his eyes lost in a memory, "That's all I can ask. But I doubt you'll have to be. I doubt you'll ever find yourself against a Pit Lord again."

"How did it get here?" Addy leaned forward, curious.

Gryan rubbed a hand over his face, "There was a portal. A fairly large one, right above the hill. To be honest I've never seen anything like it before, but I know it would take one hell of a Warlock to summon something like that."

"A warlock?" Addy pondered "You think it was a warlock?"

"Has to be." He shrugged, "Warlock's are the only ones I can think of who could have opened a demon portal like that."

Addy bit her lip, a sinking feeling in her gut, "Could it be the Defias?"

Gryan sighed deeply, looking worried, "I'm not sure…could be. Honestly I can't think of anyone else who would bother attacking Westfall of all places."

They hit a pothole in the road and Addy cried out in pain. Gryan reached forward and Addy waved him off, "I'm fine."

"Shut up." He grumbled, reaching a glowing hand to her head where she felt a warmth, the pounding headache fading slightly.

She let out a sigh. She was still in pain, but she felt a bit better, "How much further to Goldshire?"

"An hour." He looked up at the sky, "Before nightfall at least. A runner came by a while back and informed us they've set up a camp outside the village until more permanent places can be set up. Me and a small contingent will continue to Stormwind to debrief the King."

"The King?!" Addy gapped at him in shock, "You're going to talk to the King?!"

Gryan chuckled at her surprise, "Yes, Addy. It's not everyday a Pit Lord attacks so close to Stormwind."

Addy stayed silent at that. She knew that many people within Westfall weren't exactly…fond of the King. Many saw him responsible for the creation of the Defias, and even more for the continued famine within Westfall. She knew her Grandfather had always had some choice words about him after he'd sampled his own brew, and as a young child she'd always been a bit resentful.

Of course that had changed after his kidnapping. Once the Lady Prestor had been ousted as a Black Dragon things had changed, and the corruption in the royal court had ended with her. But ten years of anger couldn't be irradiated overnight, and many were still bitter.

"I want you to come with me."

Addy startled, staring at Gryan with wide eyes, "What?"

"I want you to come with me to Stormwind." He said sternly.

"Why?" She asked incredulously.

He shifted, "Maybe I just want to keep you close. You don't know anyone else and I think I'd feel better if you came with me."

"Gryan, I've lived by myself for a long time." She gave him a fond smile, "I think I'll survive Goldshire."

He made a pinched look, "Goldshire doesn't have the best reputation, Addy."

Addy opened her mouth to argue, but seeing his expression she faltered. His face was stern, and fond, but when she looked into his eyes there was a flicker of fear. She felt her heart constrict and she suddenly remembered how she'd felt when she watched the men she'd grown up with get ripped to shreds by demons. How she'd felt when James had been killed. The gut clawing fear that had brought tears to her eyes when the Pit Lord attacked Gryan and his men. He was like family to her, and she was like family to him. She supposed she would feel better knowing where he was as well.

"Okay." She swallowed, "I'll come."

His face softened, "You'd argue with Death itself if you could, wouldn't you?"

"I'm not that bad." She grumbled, looking down.

He reached over and patted her head and she grumbled pushing him off. "Stop it, that hurts." She lied. His grin faded.

"Are you alright?" He asked suddenly. She opened her mouth to answer but he cut her off, "Not physically."

She froze for a moment, blinking at him. She had been trying not to think too much about it, but now she didn't really have a choice. She clenched her teeth together and tried to keep her lip from quivering.

"They ate James." She whispered.

Gryan closed his eyes slightly. He'd known James too, he'd been staying at the tower for six months, helping out with Bandits and Gnolls. She knew he would feel the loss greatly, just like he'd feel every death.

"How…." She swallowed, "How many people…"

"Too many." He looked pained, "Moonbrook was hit hard as well, hundreds of people died there, the rest hid in the Deadmines. Most of the farms were hit, most were burned. The King ordered the evacuation of the whole of Westfall. Some, like us, are going to Goldshire. Others are taking boats north to Menethil. Some are staying in Westfall, particularly those in Moonbrook. They feel they could wait out another attack in the Deadmines if it comes to that."

Addy wanted to ask about her Vineyard, but she knew it would be selfish of her. Besides, it didn't matter. If it had survived the attack then the grapes would die before she ever got to chance to tend to them again.

She tired not to think about how long it would be before she got to go back home, instead changing the topic, "Does the King think there'll be another attack?"

"He's prepared." Gryan reasoned, "The fact of the matter is that we never caught anyone involved. After the pit lord was taken down the portal closed and the whole thing just…stopped. So until we figure out who's responsible, we need to prepare for the threat of another attack."

She nodded. But it still nagged at her. Who would want to attacked Westfall of all places?

They travelled for the next hour until Addy could see smoke rising above the trees in the distance. Unlike the thick, choking, smoke of the remains of Westfall, this smoke rose in steady streams from the chimneys of homes.

Addy let out a breath, her arms and legs stiff beneath her. Gryan had said they would spend the night here before heading north to Stormwind, and she was looking forward to sleep. It had felt like a week since she'd woken up in her chilly bedroom with her threadbare blanket.

The tent city outside Goldshire was massive, and Addy gawked when she first saw it. It looked like it could house thousands of people, with dozens of cooking fires and water stations. And food, there was more food than Addy had seen in years. Her mouth had already started watering at the sight of a warm stew in a nearby pot being prepared by volunteers from the village.

"The King sent food from his personal surplus." Gryan smiled, "As well as food donated by the people. They could see the attack from the city, and plenty of people were willing to help out."

A Westfall man, who Addy recognized as one of the many homeless from around the Hill, glowered at the food, "Yeah? Where were they last month when I didn't eat for a week?"

Addy winced, but inwardly agreed. The food was nice, but where was this sympathy while the citizens of Westfall starved?

Gryan just sighed, looking at he food sadly. He didn't respond though, instead helping Addy out of the cart and onto a small log near a warm fire. She winced, her ribs jolting. Gryan handed her a blanket, which she wrapped around her shoulders, and left to go find a healer.

She looked at the bustling of activity around her. She saw other people settling into the tents, others were already asleep. Most were gathered around the food, eating as much as they could before they fell asleep for the night. Addy reached into her pack and pulled out the small bit of jerky that she'd packed the morning before, chewing on it. She let the others eat the stew and bread from the city, they probably needed it more than she did.

Gryan returned after a few minutes with a strange look on his face. Beside him was a well dressed man with shaggy blond hair and a kind look about him. He was young, the same age as her most likely. She let out a breath, hoping that her pain was about to end and she could go to sleep, her eyes were heavy and her mood shortening by the minute.

"This is Adeile Fairchild." Gryan introduced her to the man, who gave her a wide smile. She grumbled a greeting to him, hoping she didn't sound as rude as she felt. Gryan sent her a sharp look which she ignored before continuing.

The man sat on the log next to her and made some strange hand motions as he spoke, "I heard you tried to take on a Pit Lord."

She felt weirdly indignant, wondering if this rich boy was making fun of her, "I did take on a Pit Lord. I just…didn't kill it."

"Addy, don't be rude!" Gryan snapped, "This is-"

"Don't worry about it Captain." The man waved him off, before giving her a smile, "Well, for someone who took on a Pit Lord, you're in remarkably good shape. I'd say you're one lucky woman."

She narrowed her eyes, still somewhat certain that he was making fun of her. But Gryan was right, she was being rude to the man who was here to heal her. "I suppose."

"Well here you go." He reach forward and placed his hands near her stomach. A second later the pain in her chest was gone and she sucked in a huge breath in relief. He moved his hands over her arms and legs and the stiffness in them left her. A few seconds later and she was completely healed.

She looked down at herself in awe, he'd done that in seconds. She couldn't even heal a burn properly and he'd done all that without breaking a sweat.

He tilted his head down to look at her neck, "I think that might scar sadly. What caused it?"

She brought her hands up to where the demon drool had burned her skin. It still felt rough and patchy and she winced, wondering how bad it looked.

"Felhunter drooled on me." She grumbled.

He made a pinched expression, "That's….unpleasant. Did you kill it at least?"

She glared at him, "Actually yes, I did."

He paused, looking a bit awkward. Behind him Addy saw Gryan place his face into his hands.

Addy cleared her throat, remembering her manners "Thank you for healing me. I think I'm going to go to sleep now, I'm a bit tired."

He gave her a wide smile, "Of course. A good nights sleep with help with your burnout. I know it can be fairly nasty, I've dealt with it a few times myself. I'd love to chat with you sometime about the spell you used against the Pit Lord."

Addy was overwhelmed by his enthusiasm. "Er….Sure?" She replied unsurely.

He beamed at her, "Excellent. I'll see you around Miss Fairchild!"

And with that the young man stood up and disappeared into the crowd, probably finding someone else to heal. Addy watched him go with a strange look on her face - how could anyone be so cheerful in a camp of refugees?

Gryan reached over and smacked her around the head, "You idiot girl!"

"Ow!" She hit his hand away, "What was that for?"

"Your bad manners!" He glowered at her, "Don't you know who that was?"

"No." She glared at him, "Should I?"

Gryan rolled his eyes, giving her a reproachful look, "I'd sure hope so, considering you just back-mouthed the Crowned Prince of Stormwind!"