The Watchers

Chapter 2: Forgivness Begins With

Maiev had been drilled for weeks, interrogated beyond the point of insanity by those who only wished to hear anything to make her case against her worse. As if the the ice cold water dunks weren't enough, threats against her son and her friends just about made the elf crack. But years of self discipline and hiding pain kept her from admitting anything. She had hoped that the Night Elf Interrogators would give up and leave her alone.

It was the day of her trial she got a break. Gold on red flashed past her cell. Her tired eyes barley able to foucus on just who was at her door. Voices seemed like a blur to her. She wanted to talk, but parched throat and lips made it difficult. It didn't occur to her who it was until she felt the gentle hands of a Sin'dorei upon her. Beautiful silver-blue eyes looking with concern upon her face. The young elf was finely dressed as the priestesses in the moon temples... the Blood Elf Ambassador.

"Bastards..." She cursed, popping open a water skin, holding it to Maiev's lips. "The guards put up a fuss when we came to see you. I figured they could learn a lesson in matters." Maiev grabbed at the skin, pulling it out of her grasp, hungrily devouring the sweet butter cream milk that was inside. Maiev couldn't hear a word, but her tone made her smirk a little. She motioned for a couple of her guards to help Maiev to her feet.

"What... About..." She wanted to finish her thought, but was silenced by the young elf. "You mean that display of male testosterone?" She grinned, showing a pair of fangs, the only thing that showed she was a pure blood Sin'dorei. "Well I had nothing to do with what happened to him. It seems that tree-hugger stepped out of bounds. Some elf named Tyrnade Whisper-whatcha-ma-figger pardoned you. And she contacted my masters in Silvermoon to have a caravan to take you out of here. Well I have learned from my people's mistakes that if your not here to keep an eye on them... Sunwells explode, people die, and your lover goes insane. Oh ya, and humans gain crazy ass powers and think they are ALL that and a barrel of Stout Lager."

Maiev blinked. "I was... Gonna ask about my son... And you talk way too much. HALF of what you said made no sense."

"Yay, the milk is working. By the way, Eolande is with Appolo, on a ship waiting to take you back to the real world. I mean who the hell lives in a huge tree!"

"Obviously us tree-huggers, Ambassador." The ambassador turned around, tensing. But relaxed when she saw it was just one of those Elune worshipers. She sighed a bit. "Forgive me, priestess, but living up high never really appealed to me."

The priestess smiled a little. "I'll forgive you this time. Consider it an act of last kindness to your prince for helping us track down Illidan the first time."

Maiev's eyes widened. "Tyrnade! What the hell are you doing down here!?" She snarled as the guards held her in place. "You have no right! No Right at all to be down here!"

"Maiev..." She whispered softly. "I... Don't blame you for being angry with me, after all that has transpired while running my nation." She lowered her head a bit, biting her lower lip. "Your son and your companion told me everything. Illidan, you... How long it had been going on. I should of known, should of felt it. But I thought..."

"You came into my prison and slaughtered everyone! TOOK the man I loved away with false promises and YOU LET HIM turn himself into a monster! Months of talking barley helped the pain you put that man through!"

"Nature punished me in return for my rash actions Maiev... Illidan is gone, as is my love. Lost forever in eternal sleep. I know how it feels to loose someone you care about so much." She closed her eyes and sighed. "And to learn of betrayal within..."

"Ambassador, you requested supplies for your people. We had opened our vault and sent a long some artifacts that might help your scribes and your magisters with your magic shortage. If you think it would help, maybe, training a few of your people to be Druids... But remember, these artifacts we send you haven't been touched in centuries. I can't guarantee if they still work."

"Let us worry about magic... My magisters know what they are doing. As for Druidism, isn't that breaking your husband's banishment of my great grandfather and my kinsmen?"

"The Alliance is crumbling. Young ambassador. The Humans are pushing us to our breaking point. We must forge new factions elsewhere. Do not worry about what happened, but what we can do for each other now." She motioned to Maiev. "Take care of our warden." And with that, she bowed and turned around to walk out of the jail. Shy blinked. Maiev shook her head. "A lot has happened..."

"We will discuss it later Mistress Maiev. Let's get you fully recovered and back home." She nodded to her guards and they started to escort Maiev out...

It would be a three day trip back to Quel'thalas. It seemed everyone there would be more then happy to get back home. Maiev spent most of her time sleeping in a cabin below deck as her tired body recovered from it's ordeal. Eolande made sure to be by his mother's side. Maiev did not mind her child's presence. Even the short time a part from her child felt like an eternity. When Maiev didn't sleep, her time was spent helping her son study. Eolande held a small bit of talent for magic, but was not as strong as most mages.

Eolande sighed as he practiced drawing a summoning rune on a piece of parchment. His hand trembled fiercely. He managed to finish the rune and it looked nothing like the book. Maiev smiled a little. "It was a good fourth attempt." She picked up the parchment and smiled a little. Eolande snarled a little as his wings flared just a bit. "It looks like something I would of drawn when I was four." he rubbed his hands. "My hands hurt mom."

"Let me see." She gently took his large hands into hers. Maiev was afraid this would happen to him sooner or later. She had hoped his wings would be his only demon feature. His fingernails were thickening and starting to curve into what would soon be claws. The callouses he kept picking at were starting to harden again. She figured his fingers were growing extra skin, or even plate. Eolande had been picking at them so hard that they were dark and sore.

Eolande knew what was happening to him. When his wings came in he tried ripping them out. He succeeded to only have them grow back the next day. When his fangs came in he tried breaking them by chewing on the sides of silverware only to leave teeth imprints on the silverware. Now these claws... it was the same curse his father bore and now it was his turn.

"It looks like the path of a Warlock will be your calling. Until then, my son, let your hands rest." She gently patted them. Eolande sighed, pulling his hands away. "At least the Blood Elves have Warlock trainers..." He glanced to his mother smiling a little. "I hope I have not disappointed you... I know how much you hate arcane magic."

"Do not worry about such." She waved her hand, laying back down. "Your father said the same thing to me years ago. I just wished my pride didn't get in the way... Then maybe..."

There was a knock at the cabin door. Maiev went to sit up but was pushed back down by Eolande. "Enter."

It was the Ambassador. Her formal robes changed to something a little more comfortable for her taste. A baggy pair of pants and a t shirt. "Mistress Shadowsong. We are a bit behind schedule due to un foreseen circumstances in Silvermoon. Her lady Kisella had requested us to remain out on the sea until the matters resolves."

"Is everything all right?" She sat up a little more. The Ambassador looked down for a moment. "We don't know ourselves... Her lady was clear about her orders. Protect you, protect Appolo and your son. I am sure it is nothing more then a sub faction of the former prince's followers trying to seize government power again."

Maiev had a bad feeling. And from years living on her guts, she knew it never was wrong. "We need to make landfall as soon as possible.."

"Mother!" Eolande protested. "You are still recovering-"

"I have suffered worse little one. I will not turn my back on a kin sister." She glared at her son. "And you will not turn your back on a kin aunt!"

He lowered his gaze, snarling a little. The Ambassador wanted to protest, saying the only powers she had were given by a false princess, but she held her tongue. "I'll send word to the 24th fleet, see if they can offer us safe passage..."

"Thank you..." Maiev smiled a little. "Let me know when we arrive..."

AN: Not too sure about this chapter. This is supposed to fit into the time line of when Kael is 'reborn' and takes the Naruu from Silvermoon. I altered leadership a bit because I have a tiny problem with the 3 'leaders' they have now. They just stand there, they really don't do anything, which makes me think there's someone else pulling the strings. I might end up re writing this chapter!