Anamnesis

Aeleria walked along the shiny crystalline hallways of Shattrath. The glittering amethyst crystal glinted with candlelight, flickering along the many planes, a beautiful sight to behold both to foreign and domestic eyes.

But Aeleria was really neither of these. Once, when she had been alive and flourishing with the touch of the light, she had looked upon the crystals that sheltered her and her family for years, feeling at one with the sights, the sounds, the smells. So young and naive was she. Unknowing of the perils of the outside world. Her bright eyes trained upon the Naaru, Or'os, with whom she'd personally felt close.

She passed a humble merchant and sighed when she saw the woman's eyes widen in shock, taking a step back as she averted the cold blue gaze of the draenei death knight. Once, her passing by had not been such a shock. Once, her walking these halls had merited smiles, laughter. Now, it only brought discomfort, and sorrow. A plight of her new life, or rather, unlife, she thought to herself bitterly.

She continued to walk through the halls, trying to find her way to an area she hadn't been to in many years, one that would give her some answers to the questions that burned in her head. Some of the halls had changed, been added to, since she had been gone. New, young draenei circled around, playing and laughing, oblivious to her arrival into their atrium. She veered away from them, not wanting to interrupt their play. Children especially were fearful of her appearance. She drew her hood tighter around her neck, covering the gruesome scar that lay there.

A warm aroma reminded Aeleria of home. A crisp smell, sweet and tart, a treat. She wracked her brain, but could not remember the name, nor whom she had remembered making such a succulent morsel.

Curious, she wandered close to a small section where a home was made. A cove, not very large, sat quaintly amoungst the living district, it's bright colors a reminder of something distant in her past. Sensing something amiss, she was about to turn, when a short scuffle was heard, and a gasp.

"Aeleria?"

She immediately turned around, her eyes wide as she took in the face of her husband, Vortus. His ebony hair was tucked delicately behind his ears, his facial tentacles adorned with the same gold bands he'd worn years before. His face looked tired, but not a day older than when she'd spoken to him last.

"It... It is you, isn't it?" He asked, his voice trembling, his hands reached out toward her. "It's been... I haven't seen you... I thought you were..." He seemed to struggle with coming up with the words he wanted to say, and Aeleria nearly choked on the memories that suddenly threatened to consume her.

"It is I, Vortus." She replied, her echoing voice making her flinch. She hated it. She sounded so... cold.

"I had prepared for your death." He said, his eyes sorrowful. "I did not know you had been raised again." He searched her face, confused.

"This is... unexpected." He said flatly. He suddenly looked worried. Aeleria narrowed her eyes suspiciously. It occured to her suddenly that Vortus was not one to hide things, and it was immediately apparent that he was hiding something. When she was alive, she had truly loved this man. It didn't hurt, however, that she could tell he was keeping something from her. Rather, it was an annoyance. A break in faith in the living. Something she was working hard to restore.

"Did no one tell you of my death?" She responded, her voice more emotionless than she had intended. She got a strange satisfaction from his flinching form, and tried hard to hide any of her sadistic tendancies, unsure of how to approach one's lost life.

"I was told but..."His face was suddenly unreadable, and she felt unsure. "I still had this hope... Light willing, that you would come back, but..."

"Papa, Averi wants me to visit for supper and-" A small voice began.

Aeleria stiffened, feeling something break inside her. Vortus looked panicked, seeing Aeleria's rigid form, and moving to block the small draenei girl that had walked up innocently, her wide eyes trained on Aeleria's shadowed face, her pale green hair curling gently at the ends. Aeleria could not bring herself to walk away. To turn away and never return to Shattrath, never again burden these kind people with her horrific presence. She was fixated on this small child, her teal skin still flawless and clean, her eyes bright and wide, her body still young. Innocent. Untainted. She whipped her head around so she could look into Vortus' eyes, the dam within her soul threatening to burst.

"Do not do anything rash, Aeleria." Vortus said gently, a hand moving the young girl behind him. "This is not the place for-"

"Is that mama?" The girl's head poked out from behind Vortus, her eyes widened with curiousity. She trained her gaze on Aeleria, slowly moving from behind her father.

"Havana, please-" Vortus said, reaching to stop the girl. But she turned to her father, a scowl upon her face.

"Papa, please." She said, suddenly seeming older and more mature. Aeleria still hadn't moved, frozen. Havana walked up gently to Aeleria, gently tugging on her arm, drawing her to her knees. She pushed back Aeleria's hood, allowing pale green hair to tumble out uncontrollably, splaying onto her shoulders and framing her pale face. Aeleria's hand struck out to cover her neck reflexively, worried about the gruesome wound. But Havana merely gently pushed her hand away, placing a soft hand against the scarred skin, her brow furrowing gently.

"You've been hurt, mama." She said. "And you don't let anyone see how much you hurt." She looked into Aeleria's cold eyes, not wavering her gaze, nor did she show signs of fear. Inside, Aeleria was hesitant. The last time she'd held her daughter, she was but an infant. Small, weak, and so precious. She had little hair, but her smile and coos could light up a room. She was not able to speak, nor crawl, but her very presense had inspired laughter. This child had grown, from years without her mother. Years with just her father, suffering without her. Because of her.

A warm embrace broke Aeleria out of her despair, startling her as she felt warm tears against her cheek, streaming from her daughter's face.

"I'm so glad you finally came home, mama." She said, smiling through the tears. "I knew you would never forget us."

...

This one was a little emotional for me, as I have a young daughter, and I can only imagine how difficult it would be to be away for a long time and come home to a child who is older than how you left them. Coincidentally, this will be happening to me next year, as I deploy away from family for about 8 months. It will be hard, but I have faith that things will work out. Until then, enjoy this story. Aeleria is a Draenei DK, her husband is a Draenei baker. :)