Ch 2 – New Allies Among Wolves
*Flashback*
In the Outland City of Shattrath man of the Aldors and Scryers remembered the day when A'dal the Naaru's lyric voice was heard.
"From the ashes of a broken land doth rise
Two children of equal size
Twins of a royal born
For many will scorn
Riding among the dragons they will fly
Oh so high, the land be broken and sundered
Though it never thundered
Peace shall reign
The Northern King is slain.
New allies will be formed
Others will be mourned
As into chaos the land are thrown
Only the twins can be shown
How to being what was sundered and undone
To become whole and one
Too from the shadows come
For the bards their harps will strum
The twins will fight an old enemy once dead
That so man had before dread.
Behold together night and day
Become the saviors of the old way."
More than fifty years later
The priestess looked out through the rainy haze toward the harbor of Gilneas. Her golden hair that fell in tight ringlets hung down and was becoming soaked in the rain. Her icy sapphire eyes watched the ships as she drew her cloak closer about her body. She took a deep breath. This was not an easy diplomatic mission. The Gilneans were not the most generous of people and who could blame them living in this wet dismal hell. No one had seen the people behind the Greymane Wall in more than two decades and the twenty year old young woman well knew the fragile pact must be more firm.
"There you are, Helene." Can a soft voice behind her. "The lords' Greymane will see us soon."
The priestess turned to reveal Nebyuleh, whom had been sent by her own leader, the High Priestess of Elune, Tyrande Whisperwind, to aid the young woman in her negotiations. The Night Elves had been the first people to welcome the Gilneans back into the Alliance fold. Though King Varian did not fully trust the people, he knew that they had been betrayed by the Prestor family as much as Stormwind had been. Though he mistrusted the secretive people, it was widely whispered that the people of Gilneas had reason to remain hidden. Though they still bore their free will, they had turned monstrous.
Helene smiled at her friend from under the cowl over her head. The night elf druid was timeless though she appeared to be about the same age of the priestess at least to any whom did not know that night elves were immortal to time and only could die if they lost the will to live or were too gravely injured to rejuvenate. The aqua haired she-elf was many years senior to Helene's own mother, the Lady Rhenn, though for a night elf she was still considered to be young.
Helene sighed and took a deep breath. "Ready to face the wolves?"
"No pun intended I hope." Neb said with a quick smile.
Helene's eyes snapped up and she flushed realizing her error in her words. Neb, however, laughed and wrapped her arm about the young human diplomat and walked with her to the audience chamber of Greymane Manor. Servants took their sodden cloaks and put them near the fire to dry.
Neb adjusted her circlet so the softly glowing moon sat on her brow. Her purple and brown garb marked her as a healing druid and she pulled off her gloves to warm her hands by the fire. Helene, for her part, was dressed in the sky blue and silver robes of a priestess who had survived several trials. Her clothing glowed softly as if touched by the moon in soft light. It had the energy of mana interwoven into the cloth which gave her greater power to heal. Above her head, as if resting by magic, was a circular grown of jewels and silver. She too warmed her hands before the fire.
"Our apologies that our halls are cooler than you are used to my ladies." A young man said as he entered the room from a side door. Behind him came a gray haired man who though looked like an elder of his people was still strong in body and held himself erect watching the two women wearily. The distrust in the two Gilnean eyes was not lost on either the night elf or human. The two were larger than most humans tended to be and were well muscled.
"It is a pleasure to have the honor of meeting with you King Greymane." Neb said as she bowed lightly to the senior man. "I am Nebyuleh of Darnasses and this is Lady Helene of Stormwind."
"You honor us by accepting our offer." The younger man said. "I am Liam Greymane. This is my father, King Genn Greymane."
"My King wishes to offer his hand in friendship to you and unite with you against the Horde and Forsaken threat." Helene said.
"You speak for him, young one?" The elder Greymane asked. "Though you are not fully human as we are not." He looked at her. "So Varian finally married again?"
"No." Helene said. "I am not the Queen of Stormwind. No woman holds the title currently."
"I see." The King said.
The younger Greymane lifted a hand. "Father please. They wish to help us and have offered us more than an olive branch."
Genn shook his head. "You must forgive an old fox his mistrusting ways. I have not trusted many since the betrayal of my people. Friendship is gladly accepted, but you will understand that it will take time for myself and my people to accept this fully."
Helene lifted her hand. "My King speaks of you as a friend he has greatly missed."
Genn nodded. "I thank you." He cleared his throat.
"Why, your majesty?" Helene asked.
"You do not treat us as animals. You look at us as you would an equal despite what we are." He took a breath. "Rare indeed. No wonder why the King of Stormwind sent you."
Helene smiled. "My mother was born to a family that cast her aside and she was adopted by the northern people called the Tuskarr. She has lived among the Alliance and Horde working for a peace. She taught me never to see what is outside, but it is the soul that matters."
"Our souls are black." Genn said sitting back.
Helene smiled. "And yet light shines through." She looked at the silent Night elf sitting near her. "Just because your become wolves at will does not mean you are not just as human as I am. You feel pain, love, and betrayal as I do." She reached across the table and started the elder man by touching his cool hand. She patted it. "Remember the Light has not forgotten you, even here."
Genn smiled and patted her hand back. "A diplomat through and through. Are all women of Stormwind so gentle and able to win over men with words?"
Neb chuckled. "Nay, lord, it is a rare talent, but one she learned well from her mother."
Genn nodded. "I must meet this woman soon."
"I am sure soon enough." Neb said. "She serves the King as his Queen in all, but name only. I am sure she could take time from her meetings with the guilds to meet such an honored guest. I am sure Helene could see to it."
Helene looked startled, but recovered. "Indeed." She nodded. She took a breath. "My King wishes to know how he can aid you."
"Men, weapons, anything to drive the Forsaken back from our lands to the abyss from which they came." The younger Greymane said. "You can smell their rotting bodies from here and they are miles away."
Nebyuleh nodded. "We have a common enemy." She lifted a wine glass. "Shall we drink to friendship then?" She asked.
"Aye." Liam nodded. "To friendship." He lifted his glass. "To the human and night elves who see us as the human we once were."
"Are." Helene said tapping her glass to his.
He smiled and dipped his head to her. All three drank and then passed their glasses to the right of them and nodded as they drank again.
"Silly ritual." Helene said shaking her head.
Neb downed the glass as Liam did. "Yes, but it does show we are not wishing to poison each other. It is a sign of trust."
Genn rose to his feet. For a man over seventy years he still moved with some speed. "I suggest you and your people head for Ambermill as quickly as you can gather them." He looked at the two women as they rose and bowed to him deeply. "As my new friends I would not have you become pray to our uncontrolled brethren outside the King and Queen's Walls."
"Thank you." Helene said. She saw Liam rise and his hand go to his side. He hissed and flinched. Helene moved to the Gilnean's side. "You are injured." She laid a hand on him. He jumped back unused to being touched by non-Gilneans.
Neb looked at the girl. "Come we cannot tarry."
Helene gently reached out again and touched the man's arm. "Will you allow me to heal you?" She asked softly. "I am a priestess of the Light. I can at least make it so it does not hurt you."
He looked at her a moment as if trying to decide whether to flee or allow it. He then took a deep breath. "Very well healer friend." He nodded.
"Helene." Neb said near the door.
"Go. Quickly Neb the sun sets within two hours." Helene said.
"But you can't…Grekko will not approve." Neb said.
"My father rarely does. He says I inherited my free spirit from my mother." She flashed a smile at the night elf. "Go. I am safe here. No harm will come to me. The Gilneans will see me safe to Ambermill tomorrow and from there an escort to the nearest gryphon mounts. Fear not." The young priestess said.
Neb took a breath. Against her better judgment she relented and went to gather the small group of people that had come with her. She mounted her cat and watched the others about her mount horses. She looked up at the manor once more and then rode off into the rain for the human settlement before dark brought the creatures of the night from the woods they would enter soon. Silverpine was full of beasts and worgen who wished them harm.
Helene watched the Gilnean prince remove his shirt. He paused in three spots pulling the wool off his head. His side pained him deeply. Helene looked at the powerful flesh and saw instantly the source of his discomfort. There was a large wound that leaked blood and foul smelling liquid. She looked up at him. "Why have you not had this cleaned and dressed properly, my prince." She asked reaching out with gentle finger to touch around it. He winced and a deep growl register form deep within him to her ears. "Sorry."
He shook his head. "Forgive me. I am unused to such a gentle touch and it is very painful."
"It is infected. Do you have someone who can fetch me some things?"
"Of course." He beckoned a young serving man to them. "Fetch whatever the young woman requires Jortin."
Helene nodded. "Peacebloom, Mageroyal, a clean sheet, hot water, needle, fine, but study thread, and the strongest alcohol you can find." The man bowed and went to fetch the items. She sat down on a chair. She looked up at the man. "This is a bite, like from a very large dog. I have seen Worgs give such a bite and leave infection."
"It was not a wolf who bit me, my lady. It was a worgen who does not possess the free will to fight against the beast within." He looked down. "We have no healers skilled in the healing arts after Halla passed three years ago. Many have died because the cold and wet causes the infection to spread."
She nodded. "It makes the blood weaker." She sighed. Are there others I could help after I help you?" She asked.
"Many of I could convince them that you are not a person who wish them harm or witch doctor." He said.
"Do I look like a troll with a bone in my nose and a wooden mask?" The human woman asked.
"No." He chuckled.
The servant returned with all the items requested. She smiled. "Thank you." She said. He bobbled a reply and walked back to the shadows. "Am I really that scary?"
"The humans that first learned of out transformations called us beasts and other names I will not mention with a lady present. My father fortified the Greymane gate to protect the people from the people whom wished us harm and the worgen whom the wizard controls from Shadowfang Keep."
She nodded and pulled the stopper from the bottle. "Drink."
"You are serious?" He asked.
"Drink." She nodded. "And not small sips." She said.
He blinked and then nodded taking several large swallows in a row. He set it down and took a breath. She lifted the bottle and poured looked up. "This will sting."
"Not compared with having this for days on end." He said. "Do it."
She nodded and poured it from his under arm down. He winced as it burned through his tender flesh. He did his best to hold still, however, to his credit. Helene nodded. She took the sheet and ripped it making a strip. She threw half of each group of dried herbs into the hot water to make an almost tea as she pressed the cloth in.
He knew she meant to work on the infection next. He looked at her. "Can I have some more of the brandy?" He asked, his voice almost childlike.
Helene nodded. He took three more swallows and then she pulled out the cloth and began to wipe the dried blood and makeshift bandage away as well as the puss from the infection. He gripped the chair with his free hand until his knuckles turned white from clenching it so hard. His face held pain, but he did not cry out. Helene smiled up at him as she reached for the needle and thread after washing her hands in the steaming bowl. "You are much braver than some of the men I have treated in Stormwind." She said. "Soldiers there complain about me wrapping paper cuts."
He half smiled as he opened his eyes to look at her. "What are you going to do now?"
"Stitch it closed so it can heal better." She said. "It will leave a nasty scar."
"What is one more scar to the likes of me?" He asked.
She gave him a puzzled look. He shifted and showed her his back that was crisscrossed with countless scars from a lash and what looked to have been claws. From the angle they had been his own most likely along his side, as though something long ago when he had not been able to deal with his other self. Though the people of Gilneas kept their minds, they turned into savage wolves.
Moonlight came through the window. She saw him gasp. She moved away a little. "I though Gilneans changed at will." She said.
He gripped the chair allowing his hands to become claws. He nodded. "We can, but…" His other arm transformed followed by his legs, feet, and hands. All gained fur and elongated. Last was his face that transformed into a wolf.
She gasped.
He turned to her his eyes copper colored from the hazel they had been. "I will not harm you Helene." He said. "I still have my mind." He said speaking to her softly and in a non threatening way. "We keep our minds, but we are forced to transform the three days the moon goes full."
She nodded. "Do you still wish me to dress that for you?"
"Yes." He said. He offered her a hand to help her up from the floor. She took the paw and marveled at the strength she felt as well as amazing gentleness. He could use strength, but choose to befriend her instead.
She felt no fear though the wolf stood upright regarding her with his dark eyes. She smiled up at him a moment. She then began to stitch the wound closed. He stood still wincing a little, but watched her handy work.
When she was done she washed her hands again to wash the blood off. She took the rest of the herbs and ground them together with her hands. She ripped the sheet and poured some of the alcohol into the herb mixture. She made a poultice and pressed it to the bite. He winced as the alcohol again stung him, but again did not cry out. She then took used the other strips she has made to bid the poultice to him and make a bandage about his rib cage.
"It will take a while to heal. I must draw out the infection so new growth can happen." Helene said looking at him.
Liam Greymane nodded. "It is amazing to be treated as a person not an animal. Thank you for that dignity." He said. She looked up and saw his lips were pulled back revealing the row of pointed carnivore teeth, but she could see in his eyes it was the worgen version of a smile. He helped her to her feet and bowed his head. "Your kindness will not go unremembered." He said. "I have a favor to ask you."
She wiped her hands. "Anything. I am at your disposal for as long as you need."
"My niece is in bed. She burns with fever and we know not why. Can you help us?"
She nodded. "Take me to her."
He nodded easing into his shirt. He walked with her through the manor to a bedroom. He opened the door to reveal a worgen woman beside a small worgen child. She had a small bowl of gruel on a table. Helene walked to the girl. The woman looked up at Liam in alarm.
"It's alright Bess." Liam said. "She is a healer."
"She is human." The worgen woman hissed.
"I wish to help your daughter." Helene said. She looked at the bowl. "What is in the bowl there?"
"Gruel. It was the only thing she would eat until two days ago." Liam said.
"What does she complain of?" Helene asked gently pressing her hand to the girl's warm brow. "She doesn't have a high fever, but her body is reacting to something." She pushed the blankets back and gently pressed her hand to the girl's stomach. It was hard and the girl whimpered. Helene smiled a little. "Do you have milk in that gruel?"
"Yes and honey to help it go down." Bess answered.
"How old is she?"
"Four, but she has always been sickly." Liam said.
Helene nodded. She looked at Liam. "Can you bring me some Earthroot and hot water? She needs some tea. A little honey to sweeten it."
He nodded and went to fetch the items for the healer. Helene turned back to the woman and small child. "She will be fine." Helene said. "Her stomach just cannot tolerate milk. She is underweight and small and sickly because her body becomes sick from it."
Bess blinked. "She cannot have milk? But it is all that we really have for children. Gruel and milk. We do not have luxuries humans do." She said bitterly. "Not since my father closed the gate."
"We are here now and will help you." Helene said. "I know I must win your trust."
"If you heal my daughter and make it so she can play with the other children like she so dearly wishes you will have it." Bess said.
Liam returned in short order and Helene made a tea. She helped the child drink it down and then let her sleep gently rubbing her head.
Helene fell asleep in a chair by the fire in the room with Bess and her young daughter, whom she learned was named Emily. Emily had never been able to go run and explore as other children. Her legs were weak and she had to walk with crutches. Helene had noted her legs were weak, small, and twisted with a bow to them. She wondered how many other suffered from this affliction. It was easily cured or at least helped with eating fish which being on the coast there were many to be had, though she wondered if the worgen ate them or preferred red meats.
Helene woke the next morning to the sound of tapping on the floor. She woke and looked over watching the small girl walk to the window with her crutches to look out. She got up and followed. The girl was back in human form and was pale. "Emily." She said. "You should not be out of bed."
The girl said nothing and Helene looked out and saw several children playing in the grass since the rains had stopped for a time. Helene touched her shoulder softly. "Soon you will be out with them."
"Don't lie to her." Bess said sharply behind her.
Helene ignored her. "Are you feeling better Emily?"
"Yes. Who are you?" The girl asked. "My tummy doesn't hurt."
Bess took a breath. She stepped forward. Helene turned to her and noticed that the woman held her apron in her hands. She looked up at the woman's face. She could read the hope in her eyes. "Do you…do you think she could walk?" The small voice from the mother told Helene she had not dared to hope until now.
"Yes." Helene nodded. "I have seen it before. She needs foods that will grow the bones well that do not have dairy in them." She smiled. "In a few months she will be playing with the ball as well. She is young enough it should correct itself."
Bess had tears in her eyes as she looked at Emily. "But…they said she would not. She was sickly."
"I found what was wrong. Look at her. A little sun she will look like one of the others and soon she can play with them as well."
Bess took a breath and walked to a chair overwhelmed. Liam walked in and looked at his sister who was smiling through her tears at him. "What is it Elizabeth?" He asked his sister coming to her.
"Helene said she can make Emily walk." The princess said with a low happy whisper.
Liam's eyes shot up to Helene. "How?"
"She must eat fish. As much fish as you can feed her." Helene said. "Since she cannot have milk this is necessary."
"We sell the fish to the night elves since we never though it as food." Liam said. "Fish are slimy and do not taste as good as beef and sheep." He took a breath. "But if it helps Emily I will start buying it for us."
Helene smiled. "You may find you like it. Come let me see to your wound."
He nodded and lifted his shirt. Helene looked it over and made a fresh poultice. She had two allies in the Gilnean royal house from her healing skills alone. She had done well and she knew she had friends for life with these people. When she returned home she would tell her mother and brother all about this distrustful people who only wanted hope to cling to help them.