Ch 17 – From Shadows Deep
Alanis Ambrose sat in the window of the great library surrounded by books. The books of these halls were of magic, its properties, and how to use the different types. The mage was constantly studying when she was not dueling or practicing to work alongside Rhonin, the leader of Kirin Tor.
The youngest living child of Marquis and Marquise Ambrose had always been a bright young girl. Rhonin say her affinity for magic and requested to take her to Dalaran when she was just four, a very year age to become a wizard in training in the mage city, but her talents had not been seen since Khadgar. Her element was fire and since the age of two when Highlord Tirion Fordring had found her watching the flames and making them dance in embers about her, she had had control over the powerful energy.
Fire mastery was rare. Mastery of Arcane and Frost/Water were far more common. It just made her all the more unique. Rhonin, the leader of Kirin Tor was himself an Arcane mage and his son, Galadin was also trained in the arcane powers.
Galadin looked through the rows of books until he found what he was looking for. Alanis was very small when she sat with her knees drawn up to her chest as she sat reading a book. It was an old manuscript. He knew she had been studying about the Old Gods. His father had been studying also and his little protégé was eager to help him. He allowed her to read from all the books, even the books in the restricted areas of the library. Galadin wondered if this was one such book.
He walked to her and smiled at her. She favored darker robes than most mages of Kirin Tor, perhaps because she was shy. She had not had a proper childhood according to his father. She had been taken so young from Stormwind to begin her training the girl hardly knew what fun was. Her hobbies were reading, writing essays, researching, and embroidery. The last had struck Rhonin and his son deeply. The girl had taught herself to make beautiful pictures with thread on a canvas of cloth. She used ribbons, threads, and even spun metals. She made a beautiful shawl for Vereesa Windrunner, Rhonin's wife. The girl had worked by candlelight finishing the project while the rest of the students celebrated Winterveil. She had gone to Stormwind for two days to be with her parents and siblings before returning. The Violet Citadel was home, not the white washed splendor of Stormwind, and always would be.
"Galadin." She said. "What are you doing here?" She asked looking up at him.
"Came to see what you were doing? Father isn't keeping you up at night reading again is he?" He asked looking at the tired circles under her eyes.
"I do not sleep much, as well you know and when I do, it is hardly restful." The dark haired mage woman said as she set the book down on a floating table near her. She sat up and looked up at the tall, athletic, half elf. The son of Vereesa and Rhonin was built like his father who was a powerful man and a powerful wizard. His angular face and pointed ears were the signs of his half elven blood. Alanis had the same features from her mother, but they were less pronounced. Her eyes were slightly slanted as were her eyesbrows, but her face was more rounded a clear sign she was more human than elf. Her ears were also rounded with small points on the top.
Galadin smiled at her. She looked beautiful. She always did though she was reclusive. He had always liked her despite their difference in years. She was only ten years his junior. Galadin was now in his late twenties, but he was falling madly in love with a girl who was just nineteen. He wished to court her, but his father had always warned him about younger women, they were not yet mature enough to understand commitment to a relationship. Galadin doubted this in Alanis's case.
"Will you join me for dinner?" He asked. He still remembered the young girl who had been scared of the thunderstorm when they visited the crater where the great city had been before the mages moved it to hover over Crystalsong Forest. She had crawled under his bed and hid. He woke and coaxed her to come under the covers so she would be warm and safe.
It was that day he knew he wanted her. They spent hours talking so he could distract her from the pelting rain and loud crashes. She finally found sleep next to him. He never forgot that night and he was determined to woo her, though he was not sure how.
She looked up at him. "Are you asking me on a date, Master Windrunner?"
He smiled a little. "Perhaps, but more to have the pleasure of your company. We have such little time together since father has been stealing you away more and more." He wiggles his eyebrows at her. "Some men might be jealous. I just bide my time until I can steal you away."
She rose to her feet. She had never been a large woman. In fact, though she was proportioned as a human, she was only slightly taller than most dwarven women. He stood more than a foot taller and regarded her thoughtfully. Impulsively, he hugged her to him. She did not fight him and looked up at him. He bent his head and kissed her softly. Finding her still yielding he continued to kiss her. After a few moments she reached backwards to find support. He held her arms to steady her. She blushed and looked down. He smiled and let his hand go to the back of her thin neck. He then kissed her again softly. His young lover was often nervous when they were in public, but he did not care. She was his and he would soon marry her if he could convince her.
With her pressed to the wall he was reminded of the time they met. He had been injured while surveying an area patrolled by blue dragons. The cut and three burns were painful, but not life threatening.
Alanis had been sent to treat his hurts. She was barely coming into womanhood and her lithe body was male like. He had gotten into an argument with her. They had gotten into a shoving match when she told him he had to rest else he would not be fit for anything. To make her point that a child could lay him out she shoved him back into the bed as he stood over her. He rose immediately and shoved pushed her backwards, but his hands found her bosom that was filling in. He froze looking down at his hands cupping her breasts. He then looked at her his mouth dry. Alanis was a female. That changed things. She was not a boy to be pushed, but a woman to be treated with respect. She growled and boxed his ear. He dropped backwards as his head spun and looked at her. She then sat before him and smiled a little and offered her hand in friendship. That friendship would remain from then on and build.
He caressed her neck gently with his fingers as he kissed along her jaw.
"Galadin." She whispered.
"Hummm?" He asked reaching her ear and nipping the point softly in such a way that she felt her legs turning to jelly.
"What if someone sees?" She said as he continued down her neck to her clavicle.
He then pulled back supporting her as he looked at her. "Do you really care?" He asked.
She shook her head a little.
He laughed and lifted her in his arms before casting a teleport spell around them. They arrived in Exodar, the crashed ship of the Draenei. She looked at the blues and purples of the crystals about them as he led the way to the inn. They were unknown here and would not have people commenting about them being together.
After seeing the caretaker he walked into the room. It was large and comfortable with a large enough bed for two Draenei to be comfortable together. He bolted the door and turned back to the young woman as she looked about the room. She had only been to the capital once and the soft music that seemed to come from everywhere was soothing. He walked to her and smiled. "Are you well, Alanis?"
She looked up at his half elven face. "Yes." She said and jumped into his arms to kiss him. He laughed and kissed her as he turned, holding her, and walked to the bed. He nuzzled her neck as he thought about how much time they needed together rather than borrowed moments such as these.
Galadin did not sleep, but Alanis did. Tucked in his embrace, she felt safe and secure and now was breathing softly as he held her to him. He ideally caressed her bare hip under the covers. He had not known such happiness as he did with her in his life.
He watched her wake slowly. She stretched and come to realize he was there in her bed. "Where are we?" She asked sleepily.
"The Exodar." He smiled and touched her cheek. "Are you well?"
She nodded and sighed. She then sat up revealing her upper body. Though she was still beautiful she could not hold a candle to her sister, Helene. Galadin suspected it was part of the reason she enjoyed Dalaran so much and her studies. She was shorter and heavier than her sister, but had her own charisma that he was attracted to. He watched her rise and dress before he rose himself.
"Ally." He said, using the nickname that he had started using.
She looked over at him as she pulled her robes over her head.
He smiled. "I worry about you."
"Why?"
"These excursions could make you pregnant." He said.
"What does that matter?" She shrugged.
He walked to her. "It does matter. A child would be a bond between us, a being that is a part of each of us."
She looked at him and she looked him up and down appreciating the view. "You talk like you want this to happen."
"I would not be against it." He said honestly.
She sighed. He watched her. She apparently did not think it would happen or did not wish to think on such things at the moment. He let it drop and they walked out into the hallway. He summoned a portal and they both walked into Dalaran's central square together. Both wore their purple robes and tabards that showed they were part of Kirin Tor's mages and the citizens of the floating town greeted them as such.
A young novice panted as he ran to them. "Galadin Windrunner and Alanis Ambrose?" He asked trying to catch his breath.
The pair nodded.
"Where have you been? Lord Rhonin has been looking everywhere for you."
"Patrolling." Galadin said fluidly. "We will join him now in the citadel."
The youth nodded and sat down to catch his breath a moment as the senior mages walked together to the Violet Citadel, seat of the Six and Rhonin, leader of Kirin Tor. The tall red headed man looked up as the pair walked in. He nodded to his wife who was talking to her second, Sheerah Ambrose, Alanis's sister-in-law, who was again on light duty since her belly was again swelling with Jamiy's child. She had birthed the first only a few months ago and the baby was healthy. Alanis wondered at first where the infant was until she noticed a small bundle tucked in the arm of Rhonin. The man held the sleeping baby with the experience of a man whom had had children and carried them around while still performing duties.
The baby cooed softly and Rhonin smiled down at the tiny thing before looking to his son and his young protégé. "I remember you at this age." Rhonin said as he reached into the folds and lifted a tiny hand and kissed the palm as the fingers pressed gently against his lips. He smiled at Alanis. "Your niece has your brother's eyes have you noticed?"
"I have not seen much of her."Alanis admitted.
Rhonin walked to her and opened the folds to reveal the big brown eyes that were watchful of everything. There was no doubt whom her sire was by the bold look nor her thick wavy dark hair. Her mother was blonde, pale skinned, and blue eyed as many high elves where. Shaen had her mother's face, however. Jamiy had been in Dalaran for her birth, but had only come home twice since for a day or two before returning to the Scourge front and Highlord Tirion Fordring's side.
"Do you wish to hold her?" Rhonin asked watching how tenderly Alanis watched the child.
Alanis looked to Sheerah and the Lieutenant nodded with a smile. Rhonin gently eased her into her arms and she held the bundle close watching the baby as she watched her.
"Why were you looking for us master?" She asked not looking up.
He cracked a laugh. Alanis was always about business and he liked that about her. He watched her drop into a chair to hold her niece. He looked at his son who was watching the pair fondly. Rhonin arched an eyebrow. He looked to his own mate who met his gaze. She took looked to her son who only had eyes for the young child of Rhenn and Grekko.
Rhonin coughed bringing the attention in the room to himself. "We have had intelligence that Yogg Saron is still active in the bowels of Ulduar. The saronite miners that we have tried to rescue from the mines in Icecrown have found his influence and whisperings in their minds hard to shake off. Some of them have even committed suicide by diving into the shafts calling they are coming to him." He sighed. "We must investigate this. I am leading a party with Brann Bronzebeard and whomever else the front can spare. Will you join me?"
The young mage looked up her eyes bright. "I will go with you master."
Galadin nodded. "If she is going I am going father."
Rhonin turned to his son. "Do not let your desire for this girl blinds you as to the dangers." He said softly as he leaned toward him so only the young man could hear.
"I wish to keep her safe and help us have one less thing to worry about in Northrend." Galadin said.
Galadin's identical twin joined them as he regarded his father and brother. He looked down at the large cat he had trained named Mic'oma. She was a sleek snow leopard whom watched her master with large blue eyes like water. She then sat next to her master her tail twitching idly as she purred softly. She was taller than his belt sitting so as she regarded those before her.
Rhonin and his small party mounted gryphons to carry them to the gates of Ulduar. First, the group would have to pass the Halls of Lightning and the Titan Loken before they entered the great stone halls of Ulduar itself.
Loken was one of the few beings that still was alive in the halls. Many had been killed in the first assault many years ago. Rhonin knew the passageways and halls as he led his group through the soundless halls of the great city.
Alanis looked about seeing skeletons of dead beings killed many years ago. The once great dragon was nothing but bones now. She swallowed. She was not keen on death and preferred books. "This place is a tomb." She said and shivered.
Rhonin paused. "We are not alone here."
"What?" Galadin asked.
"You mean there are other living things here?" Alanis asked.
"They have been following us for sometime." Giramar said as his cat walked beside him. The snow leopard seemed to be looking behind her. Her ears were flat to her head and she growled lightly. "Mic'oma." Giramar said softly. She looked up at him with her blue eyes and then turned to face forward.
After a short time she stopped and crouched growling loudly showing her large teeth. The leader of Kirin Tor froze heeding the warning as he saw shadows coming toward them. He held his sword that he had soundlessly drawn.
"Who goes there?" He asked the shadows.
"We are no threat." A deep voice said. It belonged to a tall green orc with green skin and a skin kilt. He smiled and spread his hands. "The Lady Rhenn and Lady Jaina sent word you were going to deal with Yogg-Saron. We are here to help."
"Who is we?" Galadin asked.
"The New Council of Tirisfal." Came a new voice, this one female. A blood elf stepped into view wearing red armor. She was very young and held her twin daggers at her sides.
Rhonin relaxed as three more came from the shadows. He knew well of Broll Bearmantle the night elf druid, Rohan the dwarf priest, and Med'an himself, the new Guardian. "Greetings." He said. "Welcome." He said.
Med'an's young face belayed the wisdom in his eyes. He smiled and took Rhonin's hand. "This evil will be the first step in ending the corruption. The taint of the old god makes allies insane. If we can keep people free we may gain more allies."
Rhonin nodded. Together the group quickly through the tunnels, great halls, and paths toward the resting place of Yogg-Saron. The old god had been fought once, but apparently had survived the encounter though they had believed him dead until slaves in the Saronite mines told of the voices in their heads. The Black Blood ore would not still be calling to them if the old god was dead.
After many hours they finally arrived at the pool of liquid saronite. The room was warm and the combatants looked at the poor. The surface did not stir, but a lone woman sat on a rock near it watching the liquid and her reflection.
She stood as Rhonin approached. "Who are you?" She asked. "Why have you come?"
"Who are you?"
"Sara." Came the soft voice.
Alanis felt un easy. "Rhonin, perhaps we should leave her be."
"The time to strike at the head of the beast will soon be upon us! Focus your anger and hatred on his minions! Yes! YES! Show them no mercy! Give no pause to your attacks! Let hatred and rage guide your blows!" She screamed as a faceless one suddenly appeared next to her. Broll transformed into a bear and attacked the beast. Rhonin and the fighters worked to kill the beast when it was apparent that Sara could not be attacked.
More of the faceless ones appeared and were quickly dispatched by the trained magic users and the hunter.
Sara suddenly cried as the pool suddenly seemed to waken. "I am the lucid dream. The monster in your nightmare. The fiend of a thousand faces. Cower before my true form!" She cried stepping to the side to reveal a being with thousands of mouths and large tentacles as it rose from the pool.
Yogg-Saron bellowed from his great central mouth lined with hundreds of teeth. "BOW DOWN BEFORE THE GOD OF DEATH!"
Sara transformed into a large val'kyr. "Tremble, mortals, before the coming of the old god! Suffocate upon your own hate!"
Alanis fought and heard a sudden voice in her head. "Your will is no longer you own..."
"No!" She cried.
Rhonin heard her and looked to Galadin. "Get her to Freya!"
"Who?" His son asked.
"The guardian female there near the wall!" Rhonin barked as for the first time the mages became aware of the titans standing in the room. They were ghosts of themselves having been killed years ago, but the seemed to be offering help to kill the old god whom was consuming Northrend with hate. They had failed to guard him and keep him from being a threat.
Galadin pushed Alanis to the woman. Freya regarded them and then smiled. "Quickly. Her mind is nearly his." She said and cast a beam of green light.
Galadin made his love stand in the beam. Her eyes were glazed over as he did, but after only a few moments she gasped and looked about at him. "Galadin!" She cried.
"Alanis. Are you well?" He asked.
"Yes." She said.
Freya nodded. "Her mind is safe for now. Send others as they need to come."
A portal opened and several of the fighters jumped into it. They were in a circular room with a large object above them. Blinking Alanis took a breath. "It's his brain." She gasped.
The group spread to the walls as a vision appeared before them. The Lich King was standing before a humanoid who was severely burned and writhing in pain. "Your resilience is admirable." The Lich King said.
"Arrrrrrgh! I'm not afraid of you!" The fallen champion cried. He did not seem to be afraid of the Lich King.
"I will break you as I broke him." The Lich King said nodding to a tall death knight who was an orc. Alanis watched in horror as the champion writhed more and struggled.
"Yrr n'lyeth... shuul anagg!" A voice said about them that could only belong to the being whose brain hovered above them. "He will learn... no king rules forever; only death is eternal!" He growled.
So Yogg-Saron was no friend to the Lich King, Alanis thought as she watched the vision disappear.
The next vision appeared with a ring of tall humans standing around something. All were dressed in different colored robes. Black and red, green, blue, red, yellow. Alanis watched as Galadin cried out. "The forging of the Demon Soul!" He gasped. "They are the aspects." He looked at his lover. "They are the dragons." He paused. "Neltharion before he became Deathwing, Ysera, Alexstrasza, Malygos, and Nozdormu." He said pointing to each.
Neltharion looked about and said "It is done... All have been given that which must be given. I now seal the Dragon Soul forever..."
Ysera looked at the center of the room. "That terrible glow... should that be?"
Neltharion nodded. For it to be as it must, yes.
Malygos looked down and sighed "It is a weapon like no other. It must be like no other."
Yogg Saron spoke again "His brood learned their lesson before too long, you shall soon learn yours!"
Alanis blinked. "What does he mean?"
"The blue dragons are nearly gone and the dead are raised to serve the Lich King." Rehgar Earthfury said from beside them. He set his totems down and blinked as the humanoid aspects appeared.
Rehgar looked about then froze as a third vision came to them. He blinked seeing Garona and the old king of Stormwind. "The death of King Varian's father and why he hates Garona and the Twilight Council." He took a breath and watched as the others did.
Garona Halforcen said "Bad news sire. The clans are united under Blackhand in this assault. They will stand together until Stormwind has fallen." She turned. "Gul'dan is bringing up his warlocks by nightfall. Until then, the Blackrock clan will be trying to take the Eastern Wall." She drew a blade.
Yogg spoke then "A thousand deaths... or one murder."
Alanis gasped. "Varian's hatred for the Horde started here." She said.
"Yes and build because I used him as a gladiator." Rehgar said. He shook his head as he watched the young half orc.
The king named Llane shook his head. "We will hold until the reinforcements come. As long as men with stout hearts are manning the walls and throne Stormwind will hold."
"The orc leaders agree with your assessment." Garona said as she walked to his side and then slashed his throat with her dagger. The king fell as Garona stood over him weeping. "Why? Why?" She whimpered.
Then into the side of the vision appeared a small boy. "Varian." Alanis gasped. "He saw his father murdered."
Rehgar nodded. "Aye."
Yogg jeered to them "Your petty quarrels only make me stronger!"
A portal appeared and Rehgar nodded. "Come let us not dwell on what we have seen until we kill this beast!" He said.
They jumped through the portal and soon found themselves in the original room.
Yogg-Saron sent up tentacles to try and keep his attackers at bay, but with the help of the ghostlike titans the small group was beating him.
Several hours later the great old god suddenly cried "Your fate is sealed. The end of days is finally upon you and ALL who inhabit this miserable little seedling. Uulwi ifis halahs gag erh'ongg w'ssh." The body lie floating in the pool quivering in its death throws.
The titans stepped forward. "You did well." Hodir said.
"We are free." Mimiron said gratefully.
"Our task is done." Freya said.
"And we thank you." Thorim said.
With that they were gone.
The small group looked at each other. Warn from the long fight they had survived and the old god was truly dead. Rhonin nodded to the group. "Come let us return to Dalaran to celebrate." He said and cast a portal.
"Council of Trisfal, you have our thanks." Rhonin said taking Med'an's hand. He dipped his head to the others of the Council there and walked through.
The others followed. Perhaps now they would have movement forward against the Scourge and the evil of Northrend and finally win back the good peoples from the control of the old god and the Lich King. One could always hope, for without hope all was lost.