Chapter 12

I spent the following night in the cell, my fourth night free of his influence, according to Sylvanas.

The following morning, I was led by Sylvanas and two of her royal guard through what I presumed was Undercity. People stared at me with a variety of emotions-anger, fear, curiosity-and the smell of plague hung thick in the air. For an underground city, it was quite pretty. All purples and greens, and it was well lit, with thick lanterns and well placed sky lights.

We passed by-I gagged and had to be held by the guards-abominations.

"Why?" I looked over my shoulder at them, horror curdling my blood.

"Because they chose to follow, of their own free will. Those that didn't were dismantled...we couldn't afford them the same liberties, sadly." Sylvanas explained soothingly, her hand between my shoulder blades.

We stepped into a circular room, and I yelped as it moved.

"Just the elevator, it's alright." Sylvanas was speaking to me as if I were a feral animal.

Which, I suppose, may be true.

"You have your parchment of lines, correct?"

I nodded-she had let me copy it all down so that I wouldn't forget.

"The mayor of Brill will be present when it comes time to inscribe the names-he can name everyone from Brill who you took down, and the Bulwark guards will name the soldiers in the forest and the foothills."

I nodded, horror and guilt mixing into a putrid cocktail in my veins.

The guards on either side of me were silent, their grips on my biceps like iron-I imagine they don't like me much.

The rising floor still, and doors ahead opened, letting filtered light hit my face, stinging my eyes-the cell had been quite dark.

We walked on, into some sort of...throne room.

There were moldy, navy curtains clinging to their banisters up high, and a dusty golden throne sat ominously. I looked over my shoulder at it, my chest clenched, and for a split second-

I screamed. He was sitting there.

Then he was gone and I was on my knees shaking. Sylvanas came into my field of vision.

"It's alright, Teir. You're safe. He's not here. He isn't here."

I took a moment, and I realised even the guards had released me, and I looked around slowly, my heart rate returning.

I rose, and the grips on my arms returned, albeit not quite so vicelike, and we continued.

We left the building-the palace-and I inhaled hungrily as a breeze brought fresh air past. I looked around at the ruins, collapsed buildings, moats of plague, and all around dead vegetation.

We continued on, and I looked around as I was hurried along, taking in the sights.

We left the city, and continued for a little way, until Brill came into sight.

My stomach hurt. Guards patrolled the perimeter.

We reached a cleared hill, stacks of stone, chisels, and other materials lain out neatly.

I will be nearby, and these guards will stay with you. Morris," she pointed to the woman, who nodded curtly, "and Brak," the man grunted, "If you need anything, they will help."

With that, she left.

I was completely unarmed, given cloth clothes that hung on me-a loose white blouse and brown pants-and I studied my materials, trying to think of where to start.

I took one of the stone bricks and held it in my hand, and a marble brick in the other-the marble would be better.

I took a branch that was laying off to the side and traced out a perimeter, thinking.

"Morris," I said, and the woman looked from her position.

"Yes, Lady Teir?"

Lady Teir, that sounds nice.

"I...should I fill it in, or leave space inside?"

She paused, "Do you plan on bringing any bodies in?"

Oh, what a good question.

"I... I need a shovel."

Sylvanas returned as the sun was setting, to find me about 8 feet deep in the ground, packing dirt in with the flat of the shovel and covered in damp soil.

"What is she doing?"

I heard her speaking, but continued to work, I had a plan.

"She...she's been talking to herself, my Lady. She wants to store the bodies she can find from her past victims, and make space for future ones. Bodies or dog tags or some sort of memento."

"She's planning this for the future as well?"

I finished packing it in, and nodded. This will do for now.

My plot had grown considerably bigger, and would continue to do so as I kept building.

I bounced a bit on the balls of my feet, then leapt up, throwing myself to the surface and rolling into a crouch.

"I need a ladder," I said breathlessly, gathering the marble blocks to me-bigger ones as well as the little ones, which were pinker-I'd make a design.

"Your idea seems to have taken root...or should I say dirt," Sylvanas said, and I looked up at her, the sun silhouetting her, and smiled tiredly.

I was exhausted, but I felt...I felt right, doing this.

"Are you planning on stopping any time soon?" She asked, and I noticed that Brak was gone-maybe she dismissed him.

I thought on it, "I have to draw up a better plan."

"Then how about you stop for the night and return to the Undercity, draw up your plan and maybe bathe, and we will return in the morning."

I thought on it. A bath...have I ever taken one of those?

I stood, my back cracking, and looked at how much I had gotten done-which wasn't really a lot, if this turned out as grand as I hoped, but for now it was good.

"Come,"

I followed Sylvanas, but not before seeing Brak set a ladder down with my supplies.

I wasn't held between guards this time, but I walked along behind Sylvanas, tired and not giving a damn how the citizens were looking at me.

Sylvanas didn't lead me to my cell, he took a sharp right and continued down.

"Where are we going?" I asked, jogging after her once I realised, and I looked around. This was some ornate carving.

"Down to the private chambers. I had a room made for you while you were working."

I felt my veins turn warm and icy at the same time, "I-but-you-."

"You gave me a year. I will not make you sleep as a prisoner. Your chamber has a bathing room attached, and is just across the common from my own quarters."

I didn't know what to say. In all of my horrid deeds, he had never given me more than my cell.

We reached a plateau, and it was somewhat chilly, but when she opened the door-

It took my breath away. Sunny walls glowed in the firelight, and windows-obviously enchanted-showed a forest I didn't know in the night, the pale trunks glowing silver.

"Where is that?" I asked, going to the window ledge and looking out at what looked so real.

Before she could answer, I was distracted by exploring the rest of the room. A fire roared in the grate in the corner, the sunny stone only slightly different from the walls, and the floors were a soft, pale wood that was pleasant for my bare feet. There was a large rug covering a section of the room, with cushioned chairs flopped about almost haphazardly.

"I don't see you spending much time down here," I laughed, looking at Sylvanas, who seemed too uptight for such a relaxed place.

"Your room is the door on the left, and the doors in there will lead you to your bathing chamber. I have other work to attend too, but the commons, your suite, and the hall outside are free for you to roam. I would ask you not to venture into the city just yet."

I nodded, smiling, "Thank you, Sylvanas."

She nodded, looking a quiet sort of happy, "My rangers do patrol down here, so if one pokes their head in every so often, it's alright."

With that, she was gone, and I was alone.

I flopped on the rug, scrunching my toes in the soft rug, and I sighed, the fire warming my bones.

Kenlora would love this-

My happiness drained away into a soul sucking sort of longing.

Kenlora.

I rolled over onto my stomach, looking into the fire. What is she doing now? Does she think of me? Does she...does she miss me?

I wish I could go to her, but I know how this world works now, thanks to her. The Alliance-her people, and the Horde-Sylvanas' people-don't communicate unless it's in battle.

I sighed, shoving those haunting thoughts away and dragging myself up from the rug and going to explore my room.

I pushed it opened, and my jaw dropped.

Sunny blue curtains covered the walls, interspersed with navy, and a large, tall bell stood in the middle of the room, with dark covers and it looked so ready to be slept in.

But first, bathing.

I pushed the double doors open to see a second fire going, and the bath water being heated by coals under it.

I tested it and sighed at the warmth, stepping out of my filthy work clothes and sinking into the water.

It felt...interesting, as warm water rushed in to caress skin that was caked in grime and death. The water was unfamiliar yet comforting, and I sunk down into it, my hair ballooning around my head as I basked.

I surfaced, the air cooler on my wet skin, and took the soap from the tray at the side, lathering my hair and skin until the bar was essentially gone, before taking the sponge and scrubbing.

It was both disgusting and freeing to watch the water fill with the filth that I carried from Northrend, and stepping out felt like leaving it behind. I read the little card, which said to put out the coals and take the bucket from the corner, and dump the water over the fire. The rest would be handled when servants moved through to refill the soap.

I dried off first, the fluffy towels soothing to my skin, and I caught sight of myself in the mirror.

My hair already looked fuller from the last two days of eating and that bath, the blue more vibrant. My skin no longer looked like death, but the deep grey hummed with a life. The cracks in my skin had shrunk, and it looked as those I was becoming more than the skin and bones I had woken up as.

I was healing.

I finished drying off, and picked up the clean cloth clothes that had been waiting for me-another set of brown pants, this time with a black blouse-and a set of black undergarments.

Huh.

I slipped into the undergarments, the lacy material feeling weird against my skin, and looked at myself in the mirror, head cocked to the side.

How quaint.

I shrugged, throwing the blouse on and forgoing the pants, as the underwear seemed like shorts, and covered enough.

I put out the coals and dumped water on the fire, and left the quickly cooling bathroom to see that the fire in my room had been lit, warming the room nicely.

I set the pants down on the hope chest at the foot of the bed, and went to the writing desk, where a quill, ink and parchment waited.

I could plan.

I sat down, stiffening as the cold wood startled me, but quickly relaxing, and got to work.

I woke, blinking blearily, realising that I was curled into Sylvanas' arms.

I was being moved, and I looked around blearily, "huh..."

"Shh, little lynx. You fell asleep in your work. I'm simply putting you to bed."

She set me down on cool sheets and pulled the thick blanket over me, and sleep-real sleep-washed over me like waves at the rocks, and I drifted again.

She smoothed my hair down, standing over me for a moment, and I heard another enter the room, but I was too sluggish to care.

"My lady, is she-?"

"She's resting. You shouldn't be down here."

"My lady, I had to-."

"You have to follow your queen's orders, or I will remove you from the city. She isn't ready to know."

"But-."

"Go."

That tone must've chased the other off, for soon it fell silent, and I felt the mattress sink where Sylvanas sat at the edge of the bed, stroking my hair and lulling me into sleep.

"Than'...you," I mumbled sleepily into the pillow, and she hummed appreciatively, and I felt a pressure on my shoulder from her hand.

"Sleep well, little lynx."