Over the following months, Drekkych had few assignments for his apprentice, and allowed the pair to roam freely in his territory. Vaelance taught Celestine the way of his life, and how to supply for herself living in the tunnels of Skavenblight. He showed her many things and they grew very close. Celestine's inherent goodness overflowed and affected Vaelance. He began to question his life more than he had ever before. She told him many tales of the Asur, the High Elves, and their grand Kingdom, Ulthuan. He was fascinated by the splendor of her ancestors, and rarely spoke of his own, which he had begun to hold with disdain and disgust.
Celestine taught Vaelance about compassion and honor, things he had never been able to experience amongst his silent and deadly peers. She was able to draw all of the good that lay hidden within Vaelance to the surface. It was strange that the evil of the Skaven had not corrupted Vaelance's soul - it seemed the introversion of the Clan Eshin assassins was a boon to his retainment of goodness. He had been surrounded by killers his whole life, but they were quiet and only killed for a purpose. Had he been raised by any of the other clans, he would surely have turned into an abomination.
They spent much of their time in Drekkych's misty, colorful grotto, and Vaelance felt some joy in his life for the first time. Celestine never strayed too far from Vaelance's side, and on the few occasions where Drekkych called Vaelance to work, she stayed at his quarters and prepared food for when they would return. It didn't take long before the odd pair were deeply in love, a love that transcended all of the terrible rivalries that had plagued their kind for centuries.
It was a strange life they lived in the tunnels, they were almost as servants to the deathsquad - but Vaelance had earned a modicum of respect with the pack and the pair was left to themselves for the most part. The other Skaven ignored Celestine, viewing her as some kind of experiment brought upon by Drekkych, and this was fine with her as she never desired to be too close to any of the festering rat men.
Their life in Skavenblight continued for the better part of two years.. and Vaelance and Celestine had become inseparable. Drekkych began to regret 'giving' the girl to his apprentice, as the dark elf had clearly softened because of her. On more than one occasion, Vaelance had let one of Drekkych's rivals live out of pity for the sniveling creatures. A great rift had begun to grow between the master and apprentice, and Drekkych was unnerved by it.
On one particular night, Drekkych stealthily made his way into the grotto where he knew Vaelance and Celestine had settled down for the evening. He crept along the stalagmites amongst the glowing mushrooms, concealed by years of grueling training in his dark art. He had grown tired of Vaelance's discontent and wanted to confirm his suspicion that the young Druchii had begun to stray from the path Drekkych had created for him. He perched atop the highest ledge in the grotto, hidden in the shadow of a grand mushroom cap, and listened intently to the two elves' conversation.
Vaelance and Celestine sat sprawled on a ragged blanket, just feet away from the misty waters surface. Vaelance was propped up on one arm, his other hand running through the silky golden brown hair of the beautiful elven maiden. She smiled at his touch, as she always did, and stared piercingly back into his glowing eyes. After a moment she looked down to the water and seemed to be lost in her existence.
"Do you think we will die in this place?" she asked, softly - but not softly enough as to not be heard by the superior senses of Drekkych - he could hear them both clearly.
Vaelance answered assuredly. "We will not die here. I intend to see the world, Celes. And I intend to return you to your people. We cannot stay here forever. I will bring you home." She leaned in closer to him and placed an arm around his shoulder. Above on his perch, Drekkych shuddered at Vaelance's words.
Celestine spoke again, clutching Vaelance's body tightly. "I love you, Vaelance. I believe you were meant for more than your life in this terrible place. If we could only show our people that we are capable of change.. there must be a path to reconciliation. Would you return home with me? My family.. I do not know what they would say - but I could never be without you. I could make them understand.." she spoke with a tension of doubt in her voice, for she did not fully believe that her people could understand. Vaelance sensed it, but shook it off.
"I will go with you unto the ends of the earth, my love." He paused for a moment, and let the depth of his words sink into Celestine's heart. "It will not be long now until we take our leave."
"Drekkych will never let you go willingly.." she said fearfully. In the shadows, Drekkych nodded his approval of the statement to himself - but was perturbed with what Vaelance would say next.
"I am not so sure," Vaelance replied. "Drekkych has been like a father to me. Although he may not understand the things that you have taught me, he must share some feeling, some bond, with me. I sense their is more emotion in his soul then he cares to admit. I will ask him for our freedom."
Drekkych pondered Vaelance's words, and for but a moment, he sensed truth in them, and considered actually letting Vaelance leave. He quickly tried to shake the strange feeling from his mind. It felt like a weakness to him, and he would not have it. He could not. He was a Clan Eshin assassin. Misery, betrayal and death were all he knew. Or so he had thought. He resisted the urge to show himself, and listened for more.
"And if he says no.. what will you do? What if he kills you for betraying him?" Celestine was clearly doubtful of the idea.
"I will do whatever I must to assure you are allowed to live your life, as you were meant to. And I will do as I must to live it with you. Even if it means I must kill Drekkych.. so be it. I will do whatever I must for you."
Drekkych could not deny that he felt betrayed, and that he cared that the elf had betrayed him. Whatever heart he had in his bristle coated chest sank to the bottom of it.
With this, Drekkych could stand in silence no longer. With a leap he sent himself through the air and landed mere yards from the spot the two elves lay. They both sat up sharply, and a look of horror swept over Celestine's face.
"You forget your place, elf!" Drekkych hissed, drawing his serated rapier from his cloak. "You will never leave! You are both mine!"
Vaelance stood, placing himself in a defensive position between Drekkych and Celestine. He drew the sword that Drekkych had gifted him many years ago.
"Well here it is then. You are my friend and mentor, Drekkych, but we can no longer remain here. Please let us go," Vaelance pleaded.
"I have no need of friends! You are my property!" He pointed at Celestine with his dagger. "This elf wench has poisoned your mind against me! If you attempt to leave I will kill you myself!"
"After all this time, you would kill me? I have been nothing but loyal to your cause – Let us go! I can stay no longer. If you threaten her, I will kill you," Vaelance spoke with years of gained confidence.
Drekkych snarled an ear splitting screech and leapt at Vaelance. Celestine rolled out of the way as the battle ignited in the grotto. Their short swords clashed, parry after parry, with Drekkych and Vaelance using the environment around them as stepping stones for sweeping, lightning fast mid-air strokes. Soon each fought with two weapons, sword and dagger. Their moves were identical, and each knew each other's next before it occurred. Celestine huddled against a rock, watching in horror and fear as her love fought for his life. She moved to attempt aid, and as Vaelance saw her scrambling on the floor looking for something to throw, he yelled to her mid-combat.
"Stay out of this Celes! This is my fight!" And she obeyed, hunched up next to the rock feeling helpless.
Drekkych growled, dismayed by his apprentices assuredness that he could take his master alone. They fought on. The Skaven fought more and more fiercely, each stroke falling harder than the last, but Vaelance parried every blow. For fifteen minutes that seemed like hours their battle continued, both of the unnaturally agile warriors darting to and fro about the grotto. Drekkych, having grown old, began to tire of such an extended foray. His moves began to grow slower, and his breathing punctured.
Finally, their weapons locked, and there faces were drawn together in an instant. For a moment they made complete eye contact, the realization that they did not want to kill each other was considered and they ceased their struggle. But as the blood seeped back into Drekkych's eyes and the next stroke made inevitable, Vaelance let out a battle cry and brought his boot to the rat man's chest, sending him flying across the room, and near the rock that Celestine was huddled against. Drekkych picked himself up quickly, albeit a bit stunned from the last move, and realized suddenly that he could not win this fight.
In a dash, followed closely by Vaelance, he grabbed for the elf maiden, spun her around violently and put his blade to her throat. She let out a yelp in shock. Vaelance stopped mid-stride as to not provoke him further and panic washed over him.
"Do not hurt her!" he yelled pleadingly.
Drekkych was breathing heavily, on the verge of hyperventilation, and was growing weak. "You.. betrayed.. me.."
"Drekkych! Let her go! She has done nothing!" yelled Vaelance.
"It.. is.. she… who is responsible for your betrayal! I.. should.. have never.. given her.. to you.." Drekkych said hysterically.
"She was not yours to give!" Vaelance replied. "No one is! We are not your slaves!"
"You… are alive… because of ME! You... are… MINE!!" Drekkych all but screamed. For a moment loosening his grip on Celestine and opening himself for attack. In this split second, with the skill of the quickest of Skaven assassins, Vaelance drew a throwing dagger from his belt, and with deadly accuracy, sank it into Drekkych's exposed shoulder. Coated with a paralytic poison, its effects instantly incapacitated Drekkych, and he dropped his weapons and slumped to the ground.
"I am alive because of you! But I am not yours! I would be your friend!! But I will not be your slave! And neither will she!" Vaelance yelled to the still conscious Drekkych.
Celestine jumped away from Drekkych's fallen body and ran to Vaelance. As the poison spread quickly, Drekkych lost all feeling and control to his lower body, and was quickly losing the power of speech.
"Its'ss… not… not fair…" Drekkych said, locking eyes with Vaelance again. "I… am… your father." The words hit Vaelance like a thunderclap, and his admiration for the great rat was not deterred, but strengthened. Tears welled up in his eyes as the unanticipated words he had longed to hear from his mentor were spoken to him.
"Drekkych…" Vaelance whispered. The poison overtook the Skaven, and the consciousness drained from his eyes.
Celestine comforted Vaelance, and asked, "He is dead then?"
"Not dead. But we will be if he wakes up. We must go, now!"