The Romancer Greatfather Winter
"And I hear that she's always with that man in the Cenarion Enclave." the pale blue Priestess of Elune smirked as she whispered to her friend.
"You don't say... so that old joke about men and the Emerald Dream is true, isn't it--"
"Oh, it's not his fault Symballine. She just can't keep her hands off of him. And all the rogues know it! You know how they gossip..." Priestess Feathershine knew the speaker as Priestess Goldthorn but she forced herself to avert her eyes. They couldn't be talking about her could they?
"Ladies," Priestess Feathershine greeted both women as she passed them on the spiraling ramp to the lower level of the Temple of Elune.
"Good Morning, Priestess Feathershine," the younger priestesses almost sang. Priestess Feathershine didn't mind that kind of response from her novices. The cheerful reply was genuine. But these women were doing it out of habit, and the emotionless response strove to avoid suspicion.
Priestess Feathershine tried to remain calm and not scream at the women who so baldly discussed her personal life. But, as she descended into the Temple Garden below, she heard Priestess Goldthorn say, "And he's handsome to be sure. I have no idea why she would cheat on him with that."
"Isn't he also very young for her?" Priestess Symballine returned in another whisper.
Priestess Feathershine balked. Just how old did they think she was? She and Master Rogue Shadowstep were the same age.
"Unless that boar-headed prick told lies about my age along with spreading that incident with Onxybane to the whole of Darnassus!" Priestess Feathershine said and swore as she neared the moonwell in the middle of the garden.
The main chamber of the Temple of Elune was a cylindrical building with wide ramps that wound up its sides. The ground floor was a beautiful moonlit garden and at the center of that, a glittering turquoise moonwell floated silently at the feet of a gigantic statue of the goddess Elune. Priestess Feathershine suspected that the many concentric circles--the entwining ramps, the green ring of garden, the round moonwell, the round base of Elune's statue, and finally the round libation bowl the statue held proudly over its head--implied infinity and a sense of eternity and about the moon goddess, or perhaps the completeness of nature. Feathershine then checked over both of her shoulders as she knelt by the moonwell and opened her letter from Opalbane, her foster daughter. Gossiping priestesses milled all about the Temple Garden. Priestess Feathershine also mused that the constant presence of whispering priestesses in the temple was a profound symbol as well: the rumor mill was almost as sacred as Elune herself, and nothing could thwart a nosy priestess who was convinced she was on the side of right.
"If I discover that Shadowstep has betrayed me... every sunken cavern and lofty bough of the Cenarion Enclave will be buzzing with all the dirt I have on him!"
The moonwell, at least, survived as a quiet place to reflect and Priestess Feathershine knew she could read her foster daughter's letter there in peace. But Priestess Feathershine read and reread the letter, and finally shook with rage and tore it apart.
"He told! He told! Even Stormwind knows? How can Stormwind know what I did with Onyxbane... well, nothing happened, but my name is already ruined there. The Archmage must be laughing at me now. And if Stormwind knows, then so does Ironforge, and Gnomeregan... High Priestess Tyrande will have my head!"
Psst!
Feathershine hastily stuffed the crumpled pieces of letter into shirt. She knew who it was.
"Do not dare sneak up on me now... Oh, how I hate you Shadowstep! All of Azeroth knows about me."
How, I didn't say anything. Have you told about me? he whispered.
Priestess Feathershine knew better than to turn around. She would only alert attention to herself, and Shadowstep was an expert at sneaking about. People would think that she was crazy before they dared suspect a rogue in the room.
"No," Feathershine whispered back, "But there are many ladies staring at me now. I'm sure they'd love to know."
Don't you even dare--
"I have an announcement to make!" Priestess Feathershine called to the women in the room. Everyone except for the stolid Sentinels looked up.
Feathershine, don't you say anything, or I'll sneak up on you so fast--
"Gather around, don't be shy. That's it move in closer. Let's not leave a space between the wall of bodies." Priestess Feathershine smiled. She imagined Shadowstep's red angry face as he was forced to back away from the women who might walk right through him and force the rogue to decloak.
"Now, listen closely ladies. I am about to reveal a grand secret about someone you all know. And he's an uptight bastard. In fact, I'm sure you already know whom I'm referring to, since you already know that Master Rogue Shadowstep has been my secret love for almost a century--"
Delighted gasps rose up from everyone around her. That made Priestesss Feathershine hesitate.
You see, I told you that I didn't say anything to them. Stop this nonsense right now! We have something important to do. Feathershine shivered. Shadowstep had stealthed in very close to her, instead of sneaking away like she supposed. Unfortunately, she did not know rogues as well as she thought.
"Ah... I see you didn't know that already." Priestess Feathershine fretted before the crowd.
"No wonder you are always getting assigned to work with Master Shadowstep!" one priestess jealously retorted.
"Tyrande always said you were best with the rogues... now we know better." Someone else said.
"Why on Azeroth haven't you married him yet? Doesn't he think you are worthy of a Wreathe Day at least?"
"He does so think I'm Wreathe-worthy. He loves me, and I care for him!" Priestess Feathershine blushed deeply. "He finds me very desirable... and I'm surprised at some of you, speaking about me like I'm some old cow."
"Just who are you accusing?" Priestess Symballine asked. Feathershine recognized the blue-skinned priestess and her friend Goldthorn standing very near to her.
"Weren't you just speaking about me?" Priestess Feathershine flared.
Symballine leaned in and whispered to her. "No, Feathershine. We all here adore you. We were speaking of the High Priestess." She should have known. There were more than enough rumors in Azeroth about Tyrande and Malfurion.
Feathershine's rose-colored hands flew up over her mouth.
I told you. I could never betray you, love. But now that I know you love me...
"Shut up, Shadowstep. And please... get me out of this." she whispered back.
If you were one of my agents, I'd vanish out of here and leave you to roast. Priestess Feathershine could not see, but felt his wily smirk.
Before Priestess Feathershine could protest further, Shadowstep dropped his stealth and kissed her.
Gasps rose up from the crowd all around, but this only encouraged Shadowstep who indulged and dipped Priestess Feathershine low as if they were dancing at a ball in Stormwind Keep.
That was when the clapping began.
"Ladies," Shadowstep said in his rich voice. He swept his hat from his head and bowed. Priestess Feathershine noticed then that he was wearing his hat and however embarrassed she was, she could not hide her girlish smile.
"You found the hat I gave--"
"I had Evenstar fetch a replica. I said that would make it even, and he actually believed me." he said triumphantly to the Priestess and grabbed her hand. The women gathered were so loud with their cheering and clapping that he could barely be heard.
"To my lady's credit," Shadowstep said aloud, "Priestess Feathershine has spurned my every attempt at claiming her, and there's nothing I've ever been able to do about it, except maybe to wear this dashing hat. Do you like it?"
The women laughed and chatted about how daring Shadowstep was and how adorable it was of him to surprise Feathershine at her place of work. Then they began to say that the hat was very handsome.
"They like the hat." Shadowstep turned to Feathershine. "And I'm wearing it for a reason. Shall we?" he said and smoothly gestured to the arched entrance to the temple.
"You said there was something important we needed to discuss--"
"It is important priestess. But since you cloth wearers demand on doing everything so dramatically, I couldn't steal you away like I wanted. Now the whole world knows about us, since you were so happy to draw a crowd."
"Oh, get on with it!" Feathershine pulled Shadowstep along out of the throng of giddy priestesses.
"Where are you two going, Feathershine?" the many priestesses laughed and teased her.
"Behind the temple, of course. That is our usual spot." Shadowstep laughed and waved his hat at them.
The ladies began to cheer and clap again, and laughed when Feathershine jerked Shadowstep through the entrance of the temple and out of sight.
Later, behind the Temple of Elune in Darnassus...
"I still don't understand your logic." Priestess Feathershine pursed her round lips as she drew her robes back on. Shadowstep swept his mussed hair back up into the usual flawless ponytail. He laughed and kissed her as she tried to dress.
"It's simple really. No one is going to come back here and look, mainly because I told them to. And besides, I made such a joke of our affair, no one will really believe us--"
"Oh, no. I think you are wrong, Shadowstep." Priestess Feathershine pushed her lover away at last and fastened her blue mooncloth robe in place. "All of Darnassus knows about us by now, and it's very possible that someone shadowmelded and peeked. Why in Azeroth did I listen to you and come back here anyway?" she groaned.
"Because, you knew that you weren't getting any of the information I got from Evenstar about our little mix up until I got something that I wanted." Shadowstep, already dressed, leaned back on the massive temple wall and chuckled to himself. Not many people know that a large expanse of unused space exists behind the Temple of Elune. The cold ivy-covered stone is not the best place for a romantic jaunt, but it was just dangerous enough to excite a certain priestess with a moral code...
"And I'm lucky that you could finish the job this time. Now, on with it. How are we getting out of this mess?"
"It's simple really. But my information comes with a price."
Priestess Feathershine's bright green brows narrowed and she closed in on Shadowstep who looked very humble sitting in her shadow.
"Oh, I've paid a dear price already, by coming back here with you. I think we've finished with that for now."
Shadowstep laughed. "Oh no. That's just the beginning. I got lucky this time, I know all too well. If it wasn't for your bold behavior in the temple, it would have taken me weeks to warm up to you again... you knew that you owed me so it was a bit faster this time." Then, he stood too. "What I want is a guarantee on this hat, since I don't have it in writing."
"What?"
"The old god Zar' teaus got my letter from you, remember? I think I know what this hat is for, but I can't be sure without the letter, can I?"
Priestess Feathershine was saying that was absolute nonsense when her intentions were so clear a few moments ago, but Shadowstep wouldn't hear any of it.
"You won't be able to get out of this sticky situation, I won't tell you who has which of your letters or how they will react until you swear to me that you'll be mine whenever I wear this hat."
Priestess Feathershine raised a shining green eyebrow and scowled.
"It's fair, really. It's no more than what I already suspect you promised, except for this time I'll see it firsthand."
"Fine, I promise. Now, if you're done doing things the selfish and manipulative rogue way, can you tell me just how bad it is and what we need to do?"
Shadowstep smiled wide. "Absolutely nothing."
"WHAT?" Priestess Feathershine raged. "I did all that for nothing?"
"It was a nice time, wasn't it? Especially when I asked you to do that thing that I like, and you were more than happy--"
"What do you mean? Get back on the subject!"
Master Rogue Shadowstep sighed in feigned irritation. "Evenstar sent your letter to the old god Zar'teaus in Silithus, and he sent you that necklace. The letter they sent in turn was meant for Opalbane which could be dangerous, but it isn't really since Opalbane isn't actually here in Darnassus. I think I will let them assume she is though, since that works to our advantage. Furthermore, I have every rogue with legs in Darnassus keeping an eye on Evenstar."
"What of the necklace?" Priestess Feathershine challenged further.
"I have a druid in the Cenarion Enclave looking at the necklace. It's pretty, but harmless."
Priestess Feathershine paced a bit, reaching for anything that she could defy Shadowstep with. "But what of my letter... it was very intimate. Some disgusting old god in Silithus thinks that my Opalbane wants to have... some kind of sexual relationship with him!"
Shadowstep smiled wider. "That was quite a letter I missed then. Stop pacing, sweetheart!"
"Don't call me that!"
"Feathershine, there is absolutely nothing to worry about. It's probably no more than Opalbane has already said to Zar'teaus herself, so it won't do any harm."
"How can you say something like that? My Opalbane is not like that."
"How can you be sure she definitely did not have those kinds of feelings for Zar'teaus?" Shadowstep picked up his new hat and dusted it off.
"I hate to admit it, but you do have a good point." Priestess Feathershine conceded.
"She sent me such an angry letter though, accusing me of... what was she talking about then?"
But that line of thought didn't get very far. Beyond being a very confusing situation, one obvious answer seemed to trump them all.
"Maybe we don't have the details, but I think it's safe to assume that Opalbane was simply drinking at the time. I could ask Alessandre to look into the letter trail, since he's already so close to her."
Priestess Feathershine was raving something about how the rogue Alessandre was working for her too when Shadowstep put his hat back on and a finger to her lips.
"Oh, have mercy! We just DID that!"
"My hat, your rules, and you just promised me..." he said and began to kiss her.
Feathershine would have complained more, but it had in fact been her idea, and not such a bad one at that.
"You always trick me," she pouted as he began to undress her again.
"It's my job." Master Rogue Shadowstep laughed.
Later, in Stormwind...
"Alright, take off the suit." Alessandre demanded of the dwarf after checking over his shoulder to see if any guards spooked at seeing him fall out of the tree.
"I don't think so laddy. You've been neglecting the spirit of Winter's Veil for far too long now. And that's a long time for a Night Elf like yourself."
"Look, if you think you know so much about me then you know I don't make idle threats. I'm a rogue so I can do things with daggers that a pudgy round oaf like you won't appreciate very much."
"Hey! That's no way to talk to Greatfather Winter!" A squeaky voiced little gnome piped up. Alessandre gave the jolly little short person a deadly look that made him fall silent.
"This is a nice act, but I'm thirsty and I'd rather be in a tavern for Winter's Veil--"
"I know about the murders, Alessandre."
Alessandre froze mid-step.
"Perhaps all those cutthroats deserved to die, but it was cruel, wasn't it? It's one thing to spread justice, but to hunt men--"
"How do you know all this about me?" Alessandre got very close to Greatfather Winter, and he placed a hand on the mithril rapier at his hip.
"I am Greatfather Winter Alessandre. Sharing with others is the meaning of this season. With cold settling over the land, we must work together to support each other, share our resources, our love. There is a young woman up there who is suffering a great deal. You've asked questions about her and watched her for weeks now, but you haven't done the one thing you were sent here to do. You are her bodyguard, and she is in a great deal of danger."
"I don't need you to tell me how to do my job--"
"Evil deeds catch up to us, Alessandre. They always do. I bring the change of season, and I can see the seasons to come. You will spiral into the darkness forever if you do not change your ways, and soon. Go to her, live the season and show some compassion to the poor child."
Alessandre did not know what to say.
"You want to be a good person, I can see that. But what is left of your kindness is burning out as you grow to value life less and less. I don't usually make such calls, but I am very worried about you especially, Alessandre. Please, heed the spirit of Winter's Veil this season. Do not break another heart."
Alessandre pulled a long drag on his pipe and wandered off a few steps, thinking. "Well, what if I don't--"
But Greatfather Winter, his red-nosed reindeer and the little gnomes were gone.
Alessandre looked from the naked patch of cobblestone street where the miracle had occured and counted up, a few stories and then some windows over to Opalbane's window.
"Maybe... Maybe I'm more thirsty than I am charitable." Alessandre said to himself, but even as he did, he wasn't sure if he could bear to be so cold any longer.