Mirror of Remorse
By J. CA
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This chapter is the story of Aszune in the game--remember in one of the Orc Campaign, you were requested to find a treasure called the Heart of Aszune?! Nothing was ever said about Aszune. I'll try to fill in the blank with my imagination. (Well, if there's a Blizzard official novel about her, please tell me.) Ah-ha, be patient, my friends. Your questions will soon be answered.
PRINCESS
Young Aszune could never forget that woman soldier lying on the doorsteps of Aunt Pakiira's house. The woman was grievously injured, blood caked on her face and garments. Aszune just hid behind a large vase when Pakiira treated the woman's wounds.
They exchanged a conversation in a foreign language--or some sort of code. Aszune did not catch a word of it, yet she knew that those words changed her life, determined her future course.
Feeling that there was no point in eavesdropping on a conversation she could not understand, she retreated to her bedroom and started humming softly to her leaf-made dolls. Pakiira made them for her, and she adored them.
A while later, Pakiira found Aszune in her room. The older woman thought she could never find a way to break the truth to the child without hurting her.
"Aszune, listen."
Aszune swallowed hard. Whenever her aunt adopted this solemn tone with her, she knew she was in deep trouble.
Obediently, Aszune stood facing her aunt, her hands behind her back and bowed her head, "Aunt Pakiira, what is it?"
"Pay attention," Pakiira ran a finger through Aszune's beautiful ebony hair, "It is no longer safe here for you. We must go....."
Aszune was expecting some scolding, and her aunt's words totally shook her up, "Why do you say that? What is wrong?"
Pakiira's brows knitted in a hesitant frown. She paused in thinking for the longest moment before she spoke, "Because...you are actually..."
Those large innocent eyes looked at the elder lady, more out of curiosity than anxiety, "What?"
With a sigh, Pakiira told her the truth, "You are the daughter of the Queen. She was held prisoner in her castle. You are her heir, and someone is after you. We have to go now." She placed her hands on the shivering shoulders of the child and tried to escort her away, yet Aszune stood there like a stone.
"The Queen? My mother?" She mouthed, hardly believing what she heard. It had to be a joke.
"Hurry, child," Pakiira urged, "Move."
"The Queen is my mother?" Finally, Aszune choked out her accusation, "You...you told me she was gone. That's why you took me in. You...lied."
Pakiira sighed and caressed the distressed child's face, "No. I just didn't tell you the whole truth. Please, Aszune. I didn't mean to. I never thought I'd live to see this day when we have to...You are in danger. We must leave."
"But..."
"Your Highness, you must trust me."
Pakiira shoved her out of her room, down the stairs and out the house. She never quite figured out what happened to that soldier woman. They brought with them no possessions, only some bread, skins filled with water, and a sword. Pakiira was constantly looking over her shoulder, looking out for any enemies who attempted to approach them.
But Aszune's heart was not in this. Pakiira's confession had thrown her into deep thoughts. If her mother was not 'gone' and was queen, she would be a princess. Being an orphan and an unwanted princess was different- -somehow.
Why then, was she not living in the castle? Why was she living with Pakiira? Who was Pakiira? Was she really her aunt, or was she a trusted subject of the Queen?
"Come, your Highness," Noticing that the princess lagged behind, Pakiira halted and beckoned, "I understand you are tired, but we must not delay."
They raced into a dark forest. The forest was a perfect site for ambush--yet she knew a shortcut they could use to reach the free border towns in two days. It would be better if they could get there, they would be free from the claws of those who wanted Aszune dead.
Not concentrating on the path she walked, Aszune tripped over a tree root. Pakiira helped the child up. But unexpectedly, a shower of arrows flew at the two of them in the dark. She threw herself over the child and shielded her. Aszune could hear rapid footsteps coming from the darkness of the forest.
Sword unsheathed and body pierced by many arrows, Pakiira took on the attacks. "Run," She exclaimed to a frightened Aszune, "Run--"
Her cry was cut short when a sword beheaded her, claiming her life. Aszune watched in shock, her feet stapled to the ground. She could not outrun the attackers, nor could she fight.
The leader of the attacks approached her, smiling in menace. He was a tall man, and he towered over her when he spoke, "Hello, little cutie."
Questions/comments, pls email Jen H. Concept at jenconcept@yahoo.ca or ardentsq@hotmail.com.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
I'm still in...I'm not dead yet. I was just unwell for the last couple days, that's why it took me sssoooo long to update. But your reviews made my day! Thanks a lot, guys and galz. You ROCK!
How do you like reading about Aszune?! Tell me about your thoughts.
**Oh BTW, I've taken down my other story Poison Uncured. I think I need more planning. In the mean time I'll just concentrate on Mirror of Remorse.**
Ira Poon: Thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks!! You're my first reviewer. Yeah, the son of Thrall certainly has a personality.
Wonder: I'm sorry. You'd just have to bear with Ardomael for a while. But later on, I promise you there'll be other *sweeter* characters to balance out.
Talenur: Hey, thanks for reading! You're right...heehee.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This chapter is the story of Aszune in the game--remember in one of the Orc Campaign, you were requested to find a treasure called the Heart of Aszune?! Nothing was ever said about Aszune. I'll try to fill in the blank with my imagination. (Well, if there's a Blizzard official novel about her, please tell me.) Ah-ha, be patient, my friends. Your questions will soon be answered.
PRINCESS
Young Aszune could never forget that woman soldier lying on the doorsteps of Aunt Pakiira's house. The woman was grievously injured, blood caked on her face and garments. Aszune just hid behind a large vase when Pakiira treated the woman's wounds.
They exchanged a conversation in a foreign language--or some sort of code. Aszune did not catch a word of it, yet she knew that those words changed her life, determined her future course.
Feeling that there was no point in eavesdropping on a conversation she could not understand, she retreated to her bedroom and started humming softly to her leaf-made dolls. Pakiira made them for her, and she adored them.
A while later, Pakiira found Aszune in her room. The older woman thought she could never find a way to break the truth to the child without hurting her.
"Aszune, listen."
Aszune swallowed hard. Whenever her aunt adopted this solemn tone with her, she knew she was in deep trouble.
Obediently, Aszune stood facing her aunt, her hands behind her back and bowed her head, "Aunt Pakiira, what is it?"
"Pay attention," Pakiira ran a finger through Aszune's beautiful ebony hair, "It is no longer safe here for you. We must go....."
Aszune was expecting some scolding, and her aunt's words totally shook her up, "Why do you say that? What is wrong?"
Pakiira's brows knitted in a hesitant frown. She paused in thinking for the longest moment before she spoke, "Because...you are actually..."
Those large innocent eyes looked at the elder lady, more out of curiosity than anxiety, "What?"
With a sigh, Pakiira told her the truth, "You are the daughter of the Queen. She was held prisoner in her castle. You are her heir, and someone is after you. We have to go now." She placed her hands on the shivering shoulders of the child and tried to escort her away, yet Aszune stood there like a stone.
"The Queen? My mother?" She mouthed, hardly believing what she heard. It had to be a joke.
"Hurry, child," Pakiira urged, "Move."
"The Queen is my mother?" Finally, Aszune choked out her accusation, "You...you told me she was gone. That's why you took me in. You...lied."
Pakiira sighed and caressed the distressed child's face, "No. I just didn't tell you the whole truth. Please, Aszune. I didn't mean to. I never thought I'd live to see this day when we have to...You are in danger. We must leave."
"But..."
"Your Highness, you must trust me."
Pakiira shoved her out of her room, down the stairs and out the house. She never quite figured out what happened to that soldier woman. They brought with them no possessions, only some bread, skins filled with water, and a sword. Pakiira was constantly looking over her shoulder, looking out for any enemies who attempted to approach them.
But Aszune's heart was not in this. Pakiira's confession had thrown her into deep thoughts. If her mother was not 'gone' and was queen, she would be a princess. Being an orphan and an unwanted princess was different- -somehow.
Why then, was she not living in the castle? Why was she living with Pakiira? Who was Pakiira? Was she really her aunt, or was she a trusted subject of the Queen?
"Come, your Highness," Noticing that the princess lagged behind, Pakiira halted and beckoned, "I understand you are tired, but we must not delay."
They raced into a dark forest. The forest was a perfect site for ambush--yet she knew a shortcut they could use to reach the free border towns in two days. It would be better if they could get there, they would be free from the claws of those who wanted Aszune dead.
Not concentrating on the path she walked, Aszune tripped over a tree root. Pakiira helped the child up. But unexpectedly, a shower of arrows flew at the two of them in the dark. She threw herself over the child and shielded her. Aszune could hear rapid footsteps coming from the darkness of the forest.
Sword unsheathed and body pierced by many arrows, Pakiira took on the attacks. "Run," She exclaimed to a frightened Aszune, "Run--"
Her cry was cut short when a sword beheaded her, claiming her life. Aszune watched in shock, her feet stapled to the ground. She could not outrun the attackers, nor could she fight.
The leader of the attacks approached her, smiling in menace. He was a tall man, and he towered over her when he spoke, "Hello, little cutie."
Questions/comments, pls email Jen H. Concept at jenconcept@yahoo.ca or ardentsq@hotmail.com.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
I'm still in...I'm not dead yet. I was just unwell for the last couple days, that's why it took me sssoooo long to update. But your reviews made my day! Thanks a lot, guys and galz. You ROCK!
How do you like reading about Aszune?! Tell me about your thoughts.
**Oh BTW, I've taken down my other story Poison Uncured. I think I need more planning. In the mean time I'll just concentrate on Mirror of Remorse.**
Ira Poon: Thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks!! You're my first reviewer. Yeah, the son of Thrall certainly has a personality.
Wonder: I'm sorry. You'd just have to bear with Ardomael for a while. But later on, I promise you there'll be other *sweeter* characters to balance out.
Talenur: Hey, thanks for reading! You're right...heehee.