Chapter 17

I was yanked to my feet, and before I could say anything, I got slugged.

"Do you have any idea-."

Punch.

"How fucking worried-."

Punch.

"I've been?"

I stumbled, and Kenlora held me upright, silver eyes burning fiercely.

"I thought you were dead. Then you go and somehow talk to me in my room, with no magic-."

I opened my mouth, but she growled, and I simply settled for smiling at her.

"You tell me that we have six extra units coming to attack us, then send me on a goose chase to Ashenvale. In the middle of the night, no less, and now I've assaulted a member of the horde and-."

"I missed you too," I rasped, and I got crushed in a hug, which I gladly returned.

"Pick up your friend, I will lead the way," Kenlora directed, and I threw Jadearra over my shoulder, wincing in sympathy at the goose egg on the back of her head.

Kenlora took us farther north, and a Darnassian cottage came into view, which from what I remembered of her reminiscing-

Opened into an empty barrow den.

"You are so lucky that my father sleeps closer to Darnassus now." Kenlora said, directing me to set Jadearra down on a small bed-and I winced as vines grew around her wrists and ankles, in case she wakes up.

"This has been a night of luck, hasn't it?" I sighed, brushing Jadearra's hair back-hopefully she didn't get a concussion, or Elynae would have some vital organ, undoubtedly.

Arms went around my waist, and I felt old warmth fill me, the screaming nowhere to be found, and it felt like cool water afer a blistering day.

"You're healthier in appearance," Kenlora said, fingers moving along my sides.

"My lady has taught me much about handling Undeath."

She had moved us to the meditation mats, so that we sat facing each other, "So it's true? The Banshee Queen took a champion? It's you?"

I dipped my head in a nod, "It is a... long story, one that if quite exhausting to tell."

Kenlora's hair was longer, and her skin deeper in hue. Her eyes glowed, and in her hair-

"You've taken the oath." My eyes were locked onto the crescent moon pendant, the sign of allegiance to Elune.

Kenlora smiled, "Yes, well...while you were gone, I came of age, and my mother saw it fit to bring me into priesthood."

"You've been taught more magic?"

She smiled, cupping her hands, light appearing within them almost immediately, "I have mastered magic."

She lifted the ball of light, which floated upward and multiplied, until the room looked to be filled with fireflies.

I was in awe and I felt Kenlora's eyes on me, her smile as radiant as the light.

"How long do I get you, my love?" Kenlora asked, and I thought for a moment.

"I have a hearthstone, which will take me to my lady in two days time, along with whoever I have skin to skin contact with...oh! I have a gift for you."

I went to my pack and took out the small hand mirror, made with the same enchantments as the windows of the common, and handed it to her.

"It will show you wherever you desire, where I sleep-the same spells enchant it that let me speak to you. All you need do is to speak my name, and you'll be able to see and speak to me."

She looked at the glass in wonder, and smiled, "This works for everything?"

I nodded, and she held it close.

"Tyrande Whisperwind."

Guilt lodged in my throat, a small stone-of course she worried for her family.

The glass rippled, and the image of a fierce elf appeared, forest green hair like Kenlora's flaring out behind her as she called down starlight onto the encroaching orcs, the markings on her cheeks making her eyes glow brighter, her robes torn.

"You have her ferocity," I said softly, leaning into her as she watched her mother.

I wondered if she would speak, but she simply cleared the glass and sat in silence for a moment, before whispering, "Malfurion Stormrage."

Then she screamed.

The mirror showed orcs finding the barrow, and-

"I have to go to him!" Kenlora was up and moving.

"Let me-."

"You cannot! Your people will think you a traitor and have your head! No, I must defend my father alone. Stay here, defend your friend." She pressed a fierce kiss to my mouth, and then she was gone.

She had left the mirror, and an idea came to me.

I snatched it up, calling, "Tyrande!"

The fierce mother appeared again, and I spoke.

"They have found his barrow! Defend Stormrage!"

The priest jumped, whipping around, "What is this?!" She shouted, "My husband is found?"

"Little wind runs now, but her whispers need the mother! Go to Stormrage!" I had to sound like a scripture, a spirit, or she'd think me trickery.

It seemed to work, "Little wind...Kenlora! SENTINELS! TO THE BARROW OF MY LOVE!"

I cleared the glass, whispering Kenlora's name almost immediately.

It showed Kenlora swinging scythes of starlight, butchering orcs, her face fierce. I would tell her of the reinforcements.

"Mother moon comes! She brings the wrath of the Kal'Dorei! Hold for mother moon!"

Kenlora's face broke into a grin amidst the chaos, even as the orcs whipped around in disarray, being cut down, "Thank you, Little One!"

I cleared the glass, and paced.

The door opened, and I looked up from my place in front of Jadearra, sighing with relief to see my Ken there.

Her hair was mussed, and her armor smeared with Orcish blood, but she was alive.

"Your work with the mirror saved my father tonight," she fell into my arms, her greater weight causing me to buckle slightly.

"I had to do something, you would've died." I said, completely selfish in that I hadn't given a thought to Stormrage.

"Mother says I've invoked a guardian deity, and is proud of me. She says that the guardian must've been very powerful, for the verse in which it spoke was just cryptic enough." She smiled, and I had the gall to look sheepish.

"I didn't want her to recognize the dead in my voice." I said, and Kenlora laughed, tipping her head back.

"Whatever the case, they arrived in time, and we secured his den, but there's bad news."

I tensed, waiting.

"They want to move him here tomorrow, they say it's farther from the battle, and safer."

I cursed, there's two more days left on the stone!

"Will your quaint mirror reach your lady? She can invoke an early activation, if it is truly bound to her."

I kissed Kenlora hard, "genius."

I took up the mirror, calling "Sylvanas Windrunner."

The glass rippled, and it showed-

I ceased breathing.

"Your elf is missing from the battle, as is the other child." Garrosh growled, and Sylvanas could've passed off as calm, spare for the clenched hand on her holster, where a gun was hidden.

"I assure you, my Warchief, my champion is no traitor to the Horde, nor is the Theron heir." Sylvanas said, and I took is a silent breath, aware of Kenlora's pounding heart against my back.

"My warriors said they departed at nightfall, away from the units, and are missing...and I know you harness the hearthstone magic." Garrosh was now making an outright accusation.

Sylvanas' hand clenched, and her eyes narrowed, "choose your words carefully, Warchief. If they are not with the main battles, then I'm sure they have found an equally important objective within the Darnassian heartland."

Garrosh growled, and I spoke.

"My lady. Report Seventeen: Whisperwind heir sighted. In pursuit. Kill or capture?"

Kenlora stilled behind me, but it was the only thing I could think of.

If Sylvanas was startled, then she didn't show it, "Status of prey?"

"Alone, unarmed. Not adept at climbing. Within a forest."

Sylvanas knew of my skill in the trees, and she smirked.

"Capture, carve some pretty words for the Kal'Dorei."

"Understood."

I stopped speaking, and Sylvanas smiled nastily at Garrosh, "See? I assure you the heirs to the eastern courts of the Horde are far from turncoats."

Garrosh snarled, "That bitch better return with evidence of a fight, or I will have her head, and the Theron brat's."

The mirror cleared, and I sighed.

"I guess we have to fight, then."

I stood, picking up my blades from beside the door, and Kenlora squawked indignantly, "I beg your pardon?"

"You heard him, I'm dead unless you at least mark me up a bit, let's do this outside, then I'll make contact to get the stone activated."

I marched outside, Kenlora following me with skepticism on her face, which morphed into anger as I threw a knife.

"Teir what do you think you're-."

"Saving my skin, and Jadearra's!" I charged.

I had seen her fight in battle, looking like the moon herself, but the feral druidic element was evident when facing her. As I lunged, scythes appeared in her hands, and they clashed against my blades, making an ugly noise as holy and damned collided.

We fought, and I cried out as one of her scythes grazed my cheek, apologizing profusely when my blade caught her leg.

"We're apologizing while trying to kill each other?" Kenlora questioned when she threw me.

Then I cursed.

"I won't apologise."

Kenlora whipped around and met a snarling Jadearra head on.

"Well done, Teir. Didn't know you had it in you, this is the Whisperwind pup!" Jadearra unsheathed double knives, and Kenlora parried and rolled away, "We can skin it!"

"No!" I had to keep her safe while recalling what Sylvanas said, "Capture, carve, release alive, Jadearra!"

Kenlora stumbled, her leg bleeding from my blade, and Jadearra looked hungry, "You injured it! Catch her then!"

I felt my back light itself on fire, and looked down to see glowing light poking out of my chest.

"I am not prey to capture."

"I'm sorry, my love," she whispered in Darnassian, and I ripped the fiery blade from my chest, glaring at it as it burnt my hands, and I felt the screaming rip through me.

"Fool."

I chunked the scythe at the cottage, which erupted into flames.

Kenlora screamed as the trees surrounding us were engulfed in flame.

"Get away from here, my love! They'll be coming!" Kenlora said, fear etched into her face.

I stumbled, my chest heaving-son of a bitch that hurt.

"Teir!" Jadearra caught me around the waist, then her face hardened to a look of hatred, "Night Elf bitch."

My hand closed around the hearthstone in my pocket, "Take me...to...Sylvanas.."

The stone warmed, and a sucking sensation in my hand ripped us away from the clearing into the black.

It fucking hurt, and I felt Misty fingers caressing me, whispering in a cacophony.

I could just...

Blinding light surrounded me, and I saw Jadearra, eyes glowing purple, "My Will holds her! Noble spirits, release! She is not yet done!"

The fingers retracted, and I felt myself falling, the sensation like phantom waves in my veins.

I reached for their hands...

I felt Jadearra's arms wrap around my waist, burning eyes looking into my own, glowing a furious violet, "Not yet."

We slammed into the ground.

I gasped for breath, eyes out of focus and my every nerve lighting on fire.

"Teir!" Sylvanas' voice found my ears.

"She's hurt, holy light went through her torso-she set Ashenvale on fire." Jadearra.

"Get healers in here, now!" Lor'Themar.

"Little lynx, look at me now, child,"

My eyes focused in on red and blonde, and I saw Sylvanas' face, sharper than a blade, fear and worry etched into her, and I saw the rage-she knew the truth of my mission, she was confused.

My head lolled back, and I yearned for Kenlora's hands to soothe the pain, but at the same time, I felt her magic rip through my chest, like a icy hand plunging into boiling water.

I felt the pain ease, after a while, and unfamiliar faces that had at some point swam into vision left again, and I sagged on the cool stone, breathing heavy.

"Jadearra, Lor'Themar, leave us," Elynae.

I heard them argue, then the doors close.

"What. Happened." Both women said at once.

I sat up, heaving, and explained everything.

When I had finished, both women didn't look as though they knew how to feel, but Elynae spoke first, "My daughter is innocent of all of this...treachery?"

I nodded, "If all had gone to plan, she wouldn't have come into the fight, we would have placed some minor stabs, then I would've come home, but alas..."

I left it hanging in the air.

"You kept her father alive?" Sylvanas.

I looked at my lady, sighing, "It would have hurt her to see him die. I will not allow her to be hurt."

"She stabbed you through the heart with pure light."

I looked at Elynae, smiling sadly, "You do not know this, Elynae Theron, for you have never been ripped apart as I have, but my love is such that I forgive her and applaud her for it-to do otherwise would have been to soil Jadearra's innocence of the situation."

All was silent, and I laid back down.

Tonight...did not go well.