Chapter Eight

Rebirth

As Sedigosa flew over the lands from the Vermillion Redoubt she finally took in the scenes of battle that had been going on around her. Over the obsidian forests the red and black drakes fought tooth and nail for a goal the dragon wasn't even sure of anymore. She used to be envious of them, but now she was glad to not be in their position. She had already fought her battle during the Nexus War, lost many of her brothers and sisters. While that war had finally come to a close in the death of her father, this war still continued. It seemed that the battles the Ruby Dragonflight had to face were endless.

The Stonedrake flew closer to the ground now, causing Sedigosa to stare, looking for someone she knew among the dark ground. It was there she could see Rosette and someone else, she thought she remembered who it was, but her memory was fleeting on faces she had seen in the past. After living for years, you start to forget names and faces quickly unless they have a direct impact on your life. Flapping her great wings, Sedigosa began to descend from the sky as she followed the drake downward.

Rosette stared up at the sight of the large blue dragon coming down from the skies. Her eyes lit up with tears, she had made it! Edmond would be so happy! Like an excited child Rosette lifted her arms in the air, waving them above her head to show Sedigosa that she saw her. Ashaldan stared up, watching the blue dragon slowly land. She knew this dragon, this was the same one that sent her to this life, killed her back at their final showdown. While Rosette smiled brightly and rushed to greet Sedigosa while her figure started to change to her mortal form, the elf felt a sudden rush of rage go through her.

Ashaldan pushed past Rosette, nearly knocking her over in her pursuit of Sedisa. She drew her runesword quickly, now running while the dragon stared at her with few emotions. They didn't hear Rosette call out to stop and wait, Ashaldan was filled with rage and was not afraid to let that be known. Swinging her sword down, her body jerked when the runeblade came to a stop in mid air, her eyes lifting to see Sedisa staring at her while holding the blade up between her two hands.

"Lower your weapon, elf. I have no quarrels with you anymore." said Sedisa in a calm tone.

"Lower my weapon? LOWER MY WEAPON? You are the reason I am here!" Ashaldan spat. "Because of you I'm forced to live my life as this abomination!"

Sedisa frowned, glaring at her while she continued to hold the sword at bay. "That is something I know I can never give back."

"Listen, I know you two are angry and you can try and kill each other later but right now there's someone else that needs our help." said Rosette, pointing off into the distance to the entrance of the Twilight Bastion. Both the elf and dragon turned to look where she was pointing, Sedisa's body went ridged as she remembered somewhere Edmond was trapped.

"Oh yeah, that Worgen. I left him frozen up in the bastion." said Ashaldan. Sedisa whipped her head to the elf, getting ready to say something but instead took hold of her wrist and began to pull her towards Edmond's drake. The dragon's mortal body looked small but that betrayed the strength she had. Rosette followed after her while she threw Ashaldan onto the drake and pulled herself onto it as well.

While the warrior pulled herself up onto the stonedrake she questioned Sedisa's methods. "Um, do you really think going back up there is a good idea right now? They'll know it's you and try to capture you again."

"That is something I'm willing to risk. I let one get away from me, I won't lose another." With Sedisa's words the stonedrake let out a roar and was quick to move into the air. Rosette had to find something to hold onto, grabbing Ashaldan while she was still griping about being forced onto the drake in the first place.

The Bastion of Twilight, Twilight Highlands

Slowly water dripped from the block of ice that held Edmond prisoner. The same expression of confusion remained on his face from the time he was trapped in ice, it never changed in his icy tomb. Everything was silent save for the slow footsteps that sounded down the hall. Every click of a heel was steady, the footsteps almost silent as a cloaked figure moved from around the corner to the ice block. They moved like a soft breeze, slow and silent now while the cloak they wore wrapped around them to hide them within shadow.

A slender hand reached out, fingernails painted black scraped at the ice while they walked past and left a trail of water and flames as the ice began to melt under their touch. With the last trace of their hand they reached up and pulled back the dark hood, shaking their head and freeing soft curls of obsidian colored hair. A feminine face smiled as the block of ice continued to melt, slowly but surely freeing Edmond from his frozen prison. Soon the body of the beast fell to the puddle of water below with the golden eyes of the female watching him.

"Poor lost soul. You are very far from home, aren't you?" said the female, slowly kneeling down and tracing her fingers down Edmond's muzzle. He was out like a light, but he still winced softly at her touch. "I will take you home where you belong."

Without another word the woman reached under his shoulders and pulled him up from the water. It looked impossible what she was going to do but with hidden strength she picked up Edmond into her arms, plate armor and all. With a smile spreading across ruby colored lips, she walked out from the foreboding hallway, staring down at the worgen in her arms with affection. Without a word she stood on the portal platform and vanished in a flash of dark smoke.

"Hold on tight!" Sedisa shouted, guiding the stonedrake downward. The drake began to nosedive, causing the two girls in the back to start screaming from the sudden drop. "When we get to the door I'm going to jump off, you two go find Edmond!"

"Jump off? Are you insane?" shouted Ashaldan. "Oh wait! You are!"

"Sedisa I don't think-" began Rosette.

"I know what I'm doing, NOW GO!" Before either one of the girls could protest, Sedisa suddenly pushed up, hunched over before pushing up and off the stonedrake. She flew up into the air, great blue wings spreading from her back and propelling her up into the air before the rest of her body changed to her dragon form. A loud roar shook the grounds and the skies, catching the attention of any cultists nearby before they all began to duck for cover when chunks of ice rained down upon them. This must be the distraction Sedisa was talking about. While various cultists and Twilight drakes flew to combat the large blue dragon, Rosette led Edmond's stonedrake towards the entrance to the Twilight Bastion.

Rosette looked back to Sedigosa while she opened her mouth, roaring out while frost and arcane magic spewed forth onto her enemies. "Be careful Sedigosa." she muttered while the drake hovered next to the entrance. Ashaldan looked on with uncertain emotions. Here the very dragon that ended her life, was risking her own for another, for theirs. How was she supposed to understand what was going on? After getting the memory of her former life back, everything didn't really make any sense anymore.

Before she had more time to dwindle on it, Rosette reached out and took Ashaldan by the wrist, pulling her forward and pushing her to the entrance. She was pushed into the bastion with Rosette behind her, looking over her shoulder to see if anyone was coming. It seemed most of the cultists were busy dealing with Sedigosa so if they moved quickly enough, they could get Edmond and get out of there.

"Where did you leave Edmond?" asked Rosette.

"Hmm. Down that hallway." said Ashaldan and pointed towards one of the many corridors. The both of them wasted little time in going to retrieve Edmond, Ashaldan leading Rosette towards their destination. The elf turned the final corner, coming to a sliding stop and causing the warrior to slam into her back. She was awestruck, Edmond wasn't there! The only thing remaining in his place was a large puddle of water, most like from the melted ice prison he was supposed to be in.

"Are we there yet?" said the human, glancing around her to see the scene before them. When she place where Edmond should have been she seemed appalled by the water on the floor. "Man do they leave this place a mess or what? OW!"

Rosette's remark was met with Ashaldan's hand to the back of her head. "This isn't a joke Rose! This is where Edmond was supposed to be and he's gone! That ice wasn't supposed to melt at all and it's on the ground in a puddle of liquid."

"Did he break out on his own?"

"There's no way he could have! If he did the ice would be in chunks, not melted on the floor." said Ashaldan. "I'm not even sure if he's still in the bastion."

"Well anyone with a sane mind would get out of here as fast as they could." Rosette replied, shortly after getting a disapproving look from the elf. "Well I mean … hell are we really sane at all coming back in here?"

As Rosette spoke Ashaldan quickly slapped her hand over her mouth. Footsteps were heard coming towards them, soft at first but were gaining speed. "Quick, pretend you're passed out!"

"What?" snapped Rosette.

"Just DO IT." growled the elf. Going along with her demand, Rosette suddenly went limp, Ashaldan catching her under her arms and holding her up as a couple cultists rushed up.

"Lady Nightmyst. The blue dragon from before has fully recovered and is attacking outside! We could use your help!" one of them spoke.

"I have something to take care of first." Ashaldan hissed at them, causing them to flinch. "I will be out there once I am finished, now go!"

"Yes my Lady!" rasped the other. They were turning to leave when suddenly she snapped again.

"Where is the worgen that was trapped here in my ice?"

"Um … we don't know."

"Useless! All of you! Get out of my sight!" she screamed, causing them to scramble together to get away from her as quickly as possible. Once they were out of sight Ashaldan dropped Rosette to the ground and began running back the way they came.

Rosette quickly stood and ran after her, using everything she had to at least catch up to her. "What are we going to do now?"

"We have to find out where he went. Sedigosa won't be able to hold them off forever!"

"He could be any—WOAH!" Rosette cried out as she nearly flipped backwards, sliding on the floor and hitting the ground.

"Watch out for the water on the ground." said Ashaldan, then suddenly it hit her like a brick. "Wait! Water! This water will lead to where he went!"

"I'm glad I could contribute to this." groaned the warrior, sitting up and rubbing her head. Helping Rose to a stand, they both carefully followed the trail of water drips on the ground. The water only lead to the exit where they had come from, which left Ashaldan at a stand still. She looked around before leaning slightly to see outside. Sedigosa was still holding her own against the attacks of the Twilight Cult, but she could see she was getting tired, her movements were becoming slow. They had to get out of here before she got captured again and the whole cycle would repeat.

Without a word Ashaldan took hold of Rosette's arm and the both of them stepped outside. The Stonedrake was still waiting for them, perched on the small ledge with his wings folded to avoid any updrafts. With that same strength she threw the plated woman onto the drake, taking them both by surprise and throwing herself onto him as well. Not even questioning her urgency, the stonedrake flew off with the both of them, Ashaldan guiding him towards Sedigosa.

The dragon, still shooting down twilight drakes and cultists, looked up to see the trio flying towards her. There was a look of disappointment on her face however when she didn't see Edmond with them. There was no time to think on it now. The drake flew past and off towards the Vermillion Redoubt, and with them she followed, beating off any stragglers that continued to try and attack. With graceful movement, Sedigosa flew up next to the drake, making her head level with Ashaldan and Rosette.

"Where is Edmond?" she asked. Ashaldan quickly looked over at her, opening her mouth to speak only to be interrupted.

"Someone kidnapped him!" shouted Rosette.

"What? What are you even talking about?"

"Think about it Ashaldan! You said that he couldn't have broken out on his own, the ice was melted and the water lead to the exit! Someone must have let him out and then took him!"

The elf stared hard at her friend. "... How can you be so stupid and brilliant at the same time?"

"I don't know. It's a talent I guess." said Rosette with a shrug of her shoulders. Sedigosa rolled her eyes a moment before leaning downwind with them to land in the Redoubt.

"Why would someone take him? How would they even know he was in there?" she said, reverting to her elven form once they had landed. The moment she did she fell to her knees, exhaustion and battle wounds taking over. Rosette moved in to lend a hand, frowning with the condition Sedisa was left in.

"Don't worry, we're going to find him." she assured her, laying her to the ground. After she had made sure Sedisa would be alright she left the two to check on Audric, leaving Ashaldan and the great dragon alone. The elf looked at the other, Sedisa sitting up and holding her head in one hand. Soft copper hair fell about the elven face as she stared down at the ground. She looked genuinely distraught about the fact that Edmond was missing.

She wanted to say something but what exactly could she say? She still wasn't going to up and forgive her for killing her and letting her be raised as a tool for the Lich King. However she had never seen someone so upset before. She wasn't even sure dragons were supposed to be capable of these emotions. Relationships were surely complex enough, Ashaldan didn't want to involve herself with one that she was sure was doomed to fail.

As far as she knew dragons were immortal creatures, capable of living forever. She remembered Sedisa herself telling Audric of the pain he would only bring upon himself by falling in love with Rosette. Sedisa clearly did not practice what she preached with this one. Ashaldan turned herself to stare at the High Elf figure. She stared blankly at the surroundings ahead of her, Ashaldan could have sworn she saw tears coming down her cheeks.

"You've got to be kidding me." said Ashaldan with a roll of her eyes. She couldn't believe she was doing this, but even as she was supposed to be a emotionless husk of a person, she couldn't stand watching Sedisa withering away like that.

She had stopped paying attention to anything around her. Not even the sounds of Ashaldan's boots coming towards her seemed to move her. It was only when she felt the weight of the plated hand on her shoulder did her head slowly turn to look up to the soft glowing eyes of the Nighr Elf. If she had found her voice, she would have said something. Without it, she only could speak with her expression which was full of confusion.

"We'll find him." said Ashaldan. She didn't make direct eye contact after that, as if she was struggling to find the right words. "He couldn't have gone far and if he did, he can't leave the Twilight Highlands unless by boat or air. The air is too dangerous to fly right now so the next place could only be boat."

Waking up to the feeling of warmth in his skin, Edmond's eyes slowly opened. There was blue skies above him and the suns rays were blinding at first to his blurred vision. He tried to sit up, it was accomplished easier then he thought it would have been and had to feel along his body to see if he was wearing the armor from before. The Twilight armor was gone, leaving him in only his undergarments which he had come to realize made him feel more exposed since he had sometime reverted to his human form. It took him a few moments to feel the soft breeze that had passed him so suddenly.

Edmond pushed himself up to a stand, looking around to see where he was. Around him he could see for miles, leaving him to assume he wasn't at ground level. He turned, looking around farther to see old dwarven structures, some crumbling but otherwise in good shape, like someone had been maintaining it. The cold stone under his feet would take the shape of a gateway, it was when he notice that he was standing on top of the entrance to the old dwarven city known as Grim Batol. How the hell did he get up here?

"You are finally awake?" Edmond nearly jumped out of his skin at the sound of the feminine voice. He whipped around to see a woman in a black cloak, red satin on the inside while the outside shined like velvet. Golden eyes rested on him while she smiled warmly, black wavy hair tossed softly in the breeze. "I thought you were going to sleep forever."

"Who are ya'? Where is my armor?" growled Edmond, his eyes narrowing on her.

"Relax, I am just like you." said the woman. She began to take steps towards him, her hands emerging from the cloak and being held out to him. "We both live in a world that is not ready to accept us."

"Wot are ya' talkin' about?" he growled louder, his teeth showing as they became more canine.

"I am here to take you home. This is no place for us."

"Like hell ya' are!"

"Why do you fight this? I come to you with open arms and you continue to push away." The woman frowned as she spoke and slowly her arms lowered to her sides, vanishing into the safety of her cloak. "If I had not saved you from the bastion, you would still be imprisoned in that block of ice."

Edmond stared at her, trying to find any recollection of the past events. He could remember what he had done to Sedisa, fighting tooth and nail into the bastion to find her body, reaching the end of that by his face off with Nightmyst. As if all of his strength was gone he fell to his knees, staring up at the sky with eyes that seemed blank. He had failed Sedisa. He had failed Rosette. He failed himself. It was too late and he was sure Sedisa was lost to him for good.

"Sedisa..." his voice was rasp, dry like the very wind was taken from his lungs.

"It is over. Come home with me, everything will be all right." she said, lowering herself to his level. With her arms open she leaned in and drew him into her embrace. Edmond's arms instinctively went around her and his head pushed into her chest. His teeth grit together while he fought the urge to break down. His emotions, bottled up behind his rough exterior, finally could not hold forever and like a great dam bursting his tears flowed forth. All of his sadness, his frustration, it was let go into the arms of this strange woman who offered comfort.

He didn't even know who she was, but right now it was all he had in this downward spiral that was his life.