Sapphire stumbled, and Ethan caught her.
"You sure you can walk?"
The girl nodded. Invincible had been left, for a skeletal horse would raise questions. Rot however, was being carried in Lethumo's arms.
The town was in better state that expected. Buildings were well maintained, made of hewn logs, and the roofs made of shingles, where poor towns usually had roofs of thatch. The road was better than normal, cobblestone that was not that cracked and messed up.
No one walked the streets, but lights lit up windows. Dogs barked behind buildings, and a chicken or two crossed the road carelessly.
Sapphire looked around curiously. Lethumo was eagerly walking ahead, to the manor up ahead at the end of the road. Walls rose up around it, and Ethan remembered walking through the iron-wrought gates, the elegant P engraved above in an arch. Banners, tattered and showing the color orange, flew weakly in the darkness of night recognizable only by the torchlight of guards that stood at the gates.
Ethan grabbed Lethumo's arm, and pulled him back.
"Behind me, and do not say a word. Lord Arthas, if you would." The boy gestured for him to walk next to him. Arthas tilted his head.
"You are royalty, and imposing. It'll make the guards less likely to question us."
Sapphire stepped forward. "Come on, Dad. Scare the Dark out of them. Make them want to pray everyday for the rest of their lives."
Arthas turned to scowl at his daughter, then pulled up his hood. "Fine."
They strode up to the guards, who held their weapons up at the sight of them. In the torchlight, Arthas probably did look intimidating. Sapphire was with Lethumo, and took Rot from him. The puppy licked her in the face.
"Halt, no one-"
"Shut your mouth," Arthas hissed. Sapphire had to restrain the urge to giggle. The girl saw Ethan smirk, and look at the other guard.
"My name is Ethan Calwood. My aunt lives here, and I am here to visit her."
The guard scowled, but a growl from Arthas made him cringe.
"Who...who is your aunt?"
"Lady Beve Perenolde. And she is expecting me, so let us through quickly!" Ethan did not look at the reaction of Arthas's face.
Sapphire however, did not understand the look of surprise and disbelief on her father's face. He must know the woman or something.
The guards let them through, and into the courtyard of the manor. Sapphire gasped.
Now, they could actually see the manor in its fullness. It was huge, three stories tall and plenty of balconies. Huge windows were bright, and the courtyard itself was long, with overgrown hedgebushes lining the sides.
Sapphire went over to Ethan, and wrapped her arm around his. Rot settled comfortably in the other.
"It's really nice," Sapphire whispered.
The boy looked over to her, and she tried not to gasp. His eyes, which she had known always glowed blue like all deathknights, were now normal, the irises a bright green.
"You like it that much?" Ethan asked. Sapphire just stared at his green eyes. He scowled when she did not answer.
She blinked. "Sorry. Uh, yeah I do. Love them...I meant it. The house. I...feel lightheaded."
He smiled reassuringly.
"Don't worry. Once we get inside, you can sit down."
They walked onwards, heading up to the door. The girl looked at her father. His eyes were normal as well, a blue green color. Sapphire smiled to herself.
They entered the house through ornate double doors. The light made Sapphire wince, for the entire foyer was brightly lit up by a huge chandelier.
The floor had black and white tiles, and the walls were beautifully painted with snow capped mountains. A staircase on each side rose up to the second floor, and continued onto the third floor, the roof high above them.
Sapphire looked up in awe, and did not notice a well dressed servant come forward.
"May I help you?" He asked, taking in the ragged looks of the floor of them.
"I'm here to see my Aunt Beve."
Shock came over the man's face. He was old, as far as Sapphire could tell, with gray hair and a slightly wrinkled face.
"Master Ethan? Is that you?" He gaped. "We thought you dead with the rest of your family."
The boy's face turned to one of hurt...and hidden guilt that Sapphire could see through.
"Yes...It is me. Can we just go see Lady Perenolde?"
"Of course! This way. Come."
They were directed into a room with chairs and sofas. Bookshelves lined the walls, and the floor was covered with plush rugs. Rot squirmed in Sapphire's arms, and finally the girl let him go. He rolled around over the rug happily, and Sapphire took a seat in a chair. The servant looked horrorfied at the half-skeletal dog. Rot woofed at him.
"I will be right back," He stammered, and left the room.
Lethumo crashed onto one of the sofas. Arthas stood there, and folded his arms. He glared at Ethan.
"This is the family you did not want to mention?"
"I knew you would despise me," The boy growled. Sapphire frowned.
"Why would dad despise you, Ethan?"
"Because, He is the grandson of a traitor! A traitor to his own race!" Arthas snarled.
Ethan looked to Sapphire. "When the Alliance was fighting off the Horde years ago, my grandfather allowed them to go through the mountain passes of Alterac."
Arthas muttered darkly, but Sapphire frowned.
"Come on, Dad...It wasn't his fault. He does not hate me because of who my family is."
Lethumo yawned. "Yeah. Ethan doesn't care Sapphire's father probably cause more death than his own grandfather."
Arthas flinched, but Sapphire gave him a comforting smile.
"Ignore him. You are not bad in my eyes, Daddy. Not anymore."
Her father looked saddened, but nodded. "Thanks, sweetheart. All right, Ethan. I'll forgive you. For now."
The doors opened just then, and an older woman came in. She wore fancy, silken mage robes and carried herself with a dignified air. She had shoulder-length blond hair, not the gold like Sapphire's had been, but pretty enough. Ethan looked nothing like her, but she knew him instantly.
"Oh, sweet little Ethy. My dear nephew, how I have missed you?" The woman came forward and hugged Ethan.
"Sweet?" Lethumo scoffed.
"Little?" Arthas asked.
Sapphire giggled, "Ethy?"
The woman looked at the group behind Ethan, and smiled. It was a cold smile, like whether or not she was deciding how to kill them. Sapphire liked her, just like Ethan said.
"I am Lady Beve Perenolde, and I welcome you to my home. Ethy, Don't be rude. Introduce them."
"Lethumo the night elf, Sapphire, and her father, Arthas," Ethan said quickly.
The woman shook her head.
"That is not how you do it, nephew. Surely you were taught better. Do not be so uncivilized."
She looked over to Arthas, and smiled a little warmer. He nodded respectively, but she came over to him, and he instinctively took a step back.
"Arthas, is it? My, you look quite handsome. Are you of noble birth?" She placed a hand on his arm, and the man looked flustered.
Lethumo snorted, "You have no idea..."
The woman looked over the elf, and to Sapphire. Ethan was not surprised. Most of his family was incredibly racist. Sometimes, the way Lethumo acted, it wasn't hard to fall into prejudices.
Sapphire stood up, and gave the woman a shy smile. Perfect, Ethan thought with a warm feeling toward the girl. Act like you aren't a threat.
"Sweet child, you look exhausted. Sapphire was it? Such a beautiful name. Come with me. The servants will deal with the boys. You look in need of food and a bath."
Lady Perenolde took Sapphire by the arm, and heard a bark. Rot looked up at her.
"Charming. He can come too," She said. They left the room, the woman still talking. Rot trotted after them happly.
"How has my nephew been to you. Clearly you and him are-"
Ethan sighed when they left. Lethumo nodded knowingly.
"She's hot. Think I have a chance?"
The boy grinned. "No, but Arthas does."
Arthas was still disturbed by the woman's directness, and he did not say anything.
Tea spilled everywhere. Reports were stained brown. The tea dripped down, and the grey cat underneath meowed in protest and fled. Jaina quickly grabbed up the books off the desk, and cursed like a sailor. Terra stood in the mess of tea, her paws wet. She wagged a tail. The cat had fled to the other side of the room, and was now licking itself, removing the tea.
"Terra...Bad girl," The mage said sternly.
The puppy woofed, and bent her head, lapping up the drink. Jaina had to get a rag to clean up the mess. When it dried, it would be sticky, but Jaina would worry about that later. She looked at the reports. They were not completely soaked, and she used a quick drying spell on them. She moved over to an armchair to read.
She was back in Theramore, hoping for news of Ethan. He had left with nothing but a hastily written letter, and taken Rot with him instead of Ni'kua. The large dog had behaved despite the abandonment though.
Right now, he was being used to pull stones for the bridge that was being made to cross the marsh. He was able to pull more than any horse could, and the workers had gotten over his undeath eventually when they saw him work. He was also good for guarding, able to take down an ogre or a pack of raptors all by himself. Better that than have him sit in the tower all day.
Terra was rolling into the spilled tea as Jaina tried to clean it up, making it more difficult.
"Honestly, Terra. Why are you so bad!"
The dog did not answer, and grabbed the rag with her mouth, tugging it free from Jaina's grasp.
"No! Uh...Come on!"
A servant came in to see what was wrong, and Terra ran out, rag dragging behind her. Jaina looked frustrated.
"Could you please clean this up? I need to catch this dog and give her a bath."
The woman looked amused. "Yes, Lady Proudmoore."
Jaina thanked her profusely, and ran out the door.
"Terra. Oh, Terra! Come back."
Everyone in the tower that day were shocked, and found it hilarious to see the leader of Theramore running after a little brown dog down the stairs.
She caught the dog just as Terra was tried to leave the tower. The dog barked angrily, and writhed in the woman's grip. Then, she stopped and woofed happily, licking the woman in the mouth.
"Oh, Terra!" Jaina said, disgusted. A soldier came up to her.
"Lady Proudmoore?"
"What? Oh, sorry. Yes?" She was struggling to keep Terra's tongue away from her face.
"An old man in robes is wishing to speak to you. He is at the docks. He says it is about your daughter, Sap-"
Jaina dropped Terra, who yipped when she hit the ground. The woman left the tower as fast as she could. Terra watched, then picked up the rag and followed.