Couple of Missions
A day had passed since they set up camp and a portal had been established to Silvermoon. Several builders and a few blacksmiths, architects and even botanists had joined their expedition when they found out about the metals and plants on Outland and became curious of their properties. "Viraleth looks to be happy the moment the portal was opened." Athrodar said when he stood beside the General.
"She has her husband here and her daughter. They won't be here for long, but even just a short visit has lifted her spirits tremendously." Sylvanas looked down at Athrodar's hand and took hold of it, smiling when she felt him squeeze her hand reassuringly. "When this place is more secure, I will send word to your mother and tell her she can visit with our little ones."
"Sounds like a plan." Athrodar agreed, looking over to the Grand Magister in the distance. "I think Telremar has a mission he wants to embark on today. I will need to go over everything with him and then I'll come to you if he needs rangers to help him."
"In the meantime then, I am going to steal Viraleth's daughter so she can be alone with her husband, but also to distract myself for a while." Sylvanas kissed her husband, chuckling when he pulled her in for another kiss the moment she began to leave, deepening the kiss some more when it began to consume her. "I love you." She purred, biting her bottom lip and having her head pressed against his. "So much."
"I love you too." Athrodar whispered, moving his arms around her waist to hold her in place for a while longer. "You know, a part of me wishes we just stayed in Windrunner Village instead of coming to this new planet. We would be with our kids, or in our bed and not having to worry about some magical artifact or demons or orcs or anything else on this planet that might become a problem."
Sylvanas smiled and placed a gentle hand on his cheek, stroking the same cheek with her thumb. "It's been a day, my love. Besides, our personal mission here is to find my sister. Everything else is just what our professions deem necessary. Like being the ambassador for the King because he's not here, or leading our rangers in a fight because I'm the General." She kissed him for a final time, letting it linger for as long as possible before she knew he had to leave.
"I won't be long, I promise." Athrodar told her. "Then we can both steal Viraleth's daughter from her for a while."
"Deal." Sylvanas said, laughing lightly and holding onto Athrodar's hand for as long as possible before he was too far away and was forced to let go of it.
"Grand Magister." Athrodar said, bowing his head to the elf who bowed his head back to him. "Do you have any idea what your first mission will be?"
"I do." Telremar said, gesturing for Athrodar to walk with him. "There are pools of green liquid in the distance over there." He said pointing towards several broken buildings to the north-east of them. "The humans called this place the 'Pools of Aggonar'. The green liquid is apparently the demon Aggonar's blood, something I think we might want to study as we have all heard about the orcs and their ties to demon blood." He looked over to Athrodar who was looking towards the location he was talking about. "I want us to study it and see what makes that blood so powerful. Or at the very least, what made it so the demon could control the orcs."
"I hope you don't plan to use such a power on our people, Grand Magister." Athrodar joked, glancing over to Telremar who chuckled with him. "If you need anything, tell me. I will see what I can do."
"A group of ten rangers, maybe fifteen to guard us should their be more demons than we first predicted." Telremar suggested. "I'm sure the General could spare them. After all, we're all staying put in this place until it's been built, right?"
"At the moment, yes." Athrodar looked back to the camp they were building behind them. "We already have a name for this place. Falcon Watch. Even if we don't intend to stay here for long, they found it was easier to name this place something than calling it a temporary camp for the time being until it has been built." He shrugged his shoulders and looked back to the Grand Magister. "I will get you your ten rangers. If you find something of use, let me know. Don't take any risks either. We still need you and your mages in this campaign. No point losing you all on the first mission."
Telremar nodded his head in agreement. "Don't worry. It's a research mission at most. The rangers are just to protect us whilst we conduct it."
"Alright then." Athrodar pat the Grand Magister on the back, bowing his head to him. "I'll go get your rangers."
"Falcon Watch is almost complete. Grand Magister Telremar has started his expedition in a place known as 'Pools of Aggonar' and the General has given him ten rangers." Dael'Thaelas looked over to his King who was nodding his head slowly at the report. "So far nothing in terms of demons, orcs or anything from the Burning Legion has come in their way to stop them, but Athrodar believes the Grand Magister's expedition will get their attention."
"Any reason as to why that is?" Kael'thas asked him.
"They believe the demons are focusing on the Dark Portal. We have had reports of the Alliance and Horde being slowed down at the foot of it as they try to get supplies through for their armies." Dael'Thaelas looked down at the report in his hands again. "We were lucky we sent a small force in comparison to both of them as it has allowed us to sneak by without much resistance so far."
"Have we been informed on what their plan is once Falcon Watch is built?" Vandellor asked, looking over to Dael'Thaelas.
Lord Sunblade began to read further into the report. "They are planning to go to a place called Shattrath. Apparently the mage Khadgar is over there and they have some questions for him."
"Khadgar?" Kael'thas asked, wanting to know if he heard the correct name. "Are you sure?"
"That's what it says, my King." Lord Sunblade told him, handing him the report. "My guess is that the General has convinced Athrodar that Alleria will be their main mission."
"That's doesn't surprise me." The King said, smiling a little. "I'm sure they will have other missions too. Athrodar knows that finding Alleria is important until they have a proper mission to handle. The General might not like it, but those are my orders."
"I'd like to be there for that conversation..." Lord Sunblade muttered to himself.
"Is there anything else?" Kael'thas asked, placing down the report he was handed and watching several of the Convocation shake their heads. "Good, you can all go." He told them, standing up and looking over to the High Priest Vandellor. "Not you, High Priest."
"My King." Vandellor said, bowing his head at him, waiting for the two of them to be left alone. "Can I ask what this is about?"
"It's nothing major." Kael'thas told him. "I have noticed that Liadrin hasn't been around these last couple of meetings."
Vandellor let out a small chuckle and nodded his head. "She's upset that she wasn't going through the Dark Portal with the General and Athrodar."
Kael'thas laughed and shook his head. "I had a feeling that might have been why I haven't seen her lately." He made his way towards the High Priest and placed a hand on his arm. "I'm sure she'll be over the moon to learn then that I plan to send her and a handful of paladins onto the planet soon. As soon as we get confirmation that Falcon Watch is built, she can lead the group of paladins through the portal and onto that new planet."
"I will tell her the moment I see her." Vandellor said, bowing his head to the King. "Anything else whilst I'm here, my King?"
"Nothing that comes to mind. Just make sure she knows she will be joining the General and Athrodar as soon as possible and to get ready with a group of Paladins."
"Have you seen Viraleth at all today?" Sylvanas asked quietly, holding onto her Scout Captain's daughter as she slept on the General. "Or has her husband kept her busy the entire time?"
"I think she has been kept busy." Athrodar said, smiling as he watched his General and wife look down at the little elf sleeping on her and seeing her loving gaze on her face the entire time. "You want another one, don't you?" He asked, watching the General's smile widen. "Since Victoria isn't yours, I think you want a daughter of your own."
"I do." Sylvanas said softly, stroking the little elf's hair lightly in an attempt to not wake her up. "Have you heard from the Grand Magister by the way?"
"I did." Athrodar said, crouching down in front of his wife and smiling at her when she looked over to him. "They're all staying at the pools for the night. Apparently the samples they have taken have proven to be useful. Mage stuff that I haven't the slightest understanding of, but I trust him to keep them all safe."
"Alright." Sylvanas said, looking back to the little elf sleeping on her and smiling when she cuddled up to her a little closer. "Do you think Viraleth will mind if I steal her daughter away from her?"
Athrodar laughed lightly and looked over to the sleeping elf. "I think she will complain and keep her away from you forever if she hears that kind of talk."
"But look at her... Little Anvia Summersong, sleeping on her General and cuddling up to her for warmth and comfort." She smiled brightly at her own words. "She thinks of me as her mother." She then said, looking over to Athrodar who had a huge, triumphant smile on his face. "What?"
"So Viraleth's family name is Summersong, huh?" Athrodar asked, watching the General widen her eyes at her slip up. "I have been curious on her family name for a while and she has refused time and time again to tell me."
"Shit..." Sylvanas said under her breath. "Listen, she made me promise her I wouldn't tell you. Please keep it a secret. If she knows I slipped up, she will never let me near her daughter again. That means goodbye marriage between her and our son, I don't get to have Viraleth as my sister and I will lose the trust of the best scout in the entire Kingdom."
Athrodar saw the pleading look his wife gave him and began to whimper. "But... I finally have something on her." Athrodar sighed when he saw she was still pleading with him. "Fine... But you need to make this up to me. If she continues to tease me I expect proper payment from my General and wife."
Sylvanas smiled at him when something crossed her mind. "My body is yours to do whatever you want to should she tease you. Just keep quiet about her family name until she tells you and then act surprised when she does."
"That is a very good deal." Athrodar said to himself, pretending to think about it for a while before slowly grinning at his General. "Deal."
"Good." Sylvanas said, looking back down at Anvia who slept on her. "Now shh. I am looking after my future daughter in law."
Athrodar shook his head and leaned down to kiss the General on the forehead, having her move her head up just in time to kiss him properly. "Love you." He whispered, pressing his head against hers. "I'm going to check on the builders and find something to do in the meantime. If I find Viraleth, I'll tell her where to find you."
"Okay, thanks." Sylvanas whispered back to him, taking hold of his hand just before he stepped away. "I love you too." She told him, letting go of his hand and looking back down to the little elf sleeping on her. "Please stay asleep for as long as possible." She whispered to her.
Walking around Falcon Watch, Athrodar saw two completed spires and three smaller buildings had been erected in such a short amount of time. Thanks to magic and centuries of building experience, constructing a new town seemed to be easier than he first though. "I suppose that's why we only brought a handful through the portal." He told himself when he saw two builders using magic and construct the third and final spire.
"There you are!" Melonara cried, taking hold of Athrodar's arm when she made her way towards him. "We've been looking for you all day."
"We?" Athrodar asked, already knowing the answer the moment he asked the question and having it answered for him when he was assaulted from behind twice. "Of course..." He muttered, trying to move and being held in place by three elves now.
"My big brother has been avoiding me all day." Anya said, pouting at Athrodar when she made her way in front of him. "Here we are, on a new planet and it's just a handful of elves here, yet he still avoids me like we're in Silvermoon and he's surrounded by thousands of elves." She folded her arms and looked away from him, being joined by Clea who hugged her.
"Just because he married the General, he thinks he doesn't have to talk to us now." Clea then said, comforting the elf in her arms. "But we will keep bugging him until he caves, won't we?"
"Yes we will." Melonara agreed, making Athrodar roll his eyes.
"I'm not avoiding you, ignoring you or anything else like that. I have been busy going through with the King's commands for this place that I haven't had much time to rest." Athrodar told them, noticing all three elves were looking up at him. "I couldn't ignore or avoid you three even if I tried, because you all know how to sniff me out in a crowd of elves."
Anya, having Clea let go of her, threw herself at Athrodar and hugged him tightly. "Don't ignore me again." She muttered. "I can't live with my big brother ignoring me all the time."
Melonara smirked at the pair of them, though her attention was fixed on Athrodar. "Remember to feed her three times a day and she likes a lot of petting."
Clea laughed along with Melonara, making Athrodar smile and shake his head at them. "You're talking about her like she's a pet."
"Well..." Clea said, grinning at Athrodar now.
"I think it's safer to treat her like a pet." Melonara told him. "Otherwise you'll have to talk to her."
"That's a good point." Athrodar agreed, patting the top of Anya's head and having her hug him tighter. "I suppose this will do for now."
"If you pet her long enough, she might start purring." Clea said, making Melonara laugh and getting a small chuckle from Athrodar too. "We should be leaving here soon, right?"
"Potentially." Athrodar told her, trying to ignore the ever-tightening grip Anya had with her hug. "Once this place has been fully built and ready as a town and base of operations, we should start venturing out to find Alleria or anything else that might come up that we have to deal with."
"Your kids should be here when that happens though, right?" Melonara asked, watching Athrodar nod his head. "Brilliant." She said, clapping her hands together. "I can't wait to see my niece and nephew."
Anya gasped and let go of Athrodar. "Your kids are coming here soon!?"
"Maybe. And they're not toys before you even suggest anything. They will be with Sylvanas and I for most of their time here, so whatever plans you have to steal them away will be for nothing." Athrodar told her, looking back to the building he left the General in. "By the way, if any of you see Viraleth, tell her Sylvanas has her child."
"No surprise there." Melonara said. "She's practically a second mother to that child with how often I've heard she has her around."
"Yeah, well... She wants a daughter of her own." Athrodar said, making all three women in front of him widen their eyes a little. "I'm thinking sooner rather than later, but probably not whilst we're out here."
"You don't have much of a choice if we end up stuck here." Clea muttered, hearing Athrodar sigh and smiling at him. "Sorry. I was thinking out loud."
"No, you're right." Athrodar began to look at their surroundings, finding the landscape to be dull compared to home as everything was orange, orange and orange. The word hell in Hellfire began to make more and more sense with every day they spent here as there wasn't nothing else to really see other than the dry, hot landscape, the occasional spout of fire that would shoot up from the ground and the less than friendly wildlife that had been given the sentries trouble ever since they made this place home. "We might be left here for a while should the portal close again."
"Let's hope that's not the case then." Melonara said, pulling her hood down when she began to sweat. "I hope there's colder climates in this place. Finding shade in a completely open hill is a pain in the ass."
"I couldn't agree more." Athrodar told her, looking around Falcon Watch. "Come find me if you see Viraleth. I'm going back inside to cool down, this heat is killing me."
"I'll keep an eye out." Melonara told him, watching Athrodar go back to the building the General was in.
"Wait here, okay?" Liadrin said, smiling at Victoria who was holding onto her brother's hand. "I'm just going to check on the other paladins with us then we will go see your dad."
"I'll wait, don't worry Liadrin." Victoria said, smiling back at the Paladin. "I'm just excited to see this new world and to be with my dad."
"Alright, then hold tight." Liadrin said, leaving the two elves and making her way towards the group of paladins with her.
"When are we seeing dad?" Talanas asked his sister, looking up at her and watching her smile down at him.
"Soon, Talanas." She told him. "We're just waiting for Liadrin then we can see mom and dad, okay?"
"Okay." Talanas said, smiling as he became excited to see them.
After checking in on her paladins, Liadrin returned to Talanas and Victoria and having them both take hold of a hand each. "Ready?" She asked them, getting nods from both children and smiling brightly at them. "Me too." She said, stepping through the portal that took them to Falcon Watch, having Victoria let go of her hand and running towards Athrodar who was standing in the distance, talking to a few rangers. "And there goes one." She muttered, looking down to Talanas who was taking in the whole new scenery. "Let's go find your mother."
"Incoming." One of the rangers said who was talking to Athrodar, nodding over to Victoria who was seconds away from hugging Athrodar who turned just in time to be held tightly by his daughter.
"I'm happy your safe." Victoria whispered, being held tightly by Athrodar too who didn't know she was coming today. "Is the General safe too?" She asked, pulling back just enough to look at her father.
"She is." Athrodar told her, kissing her on the forehead and pulling her back in for another hug. "And by the looks of it, Liadrin has found her and she is taking your brother to go see her."
Victoria smiled and held onto Athrodar for a few seconds longer before pulling back from the hug again. "Let's go see her, just to say hello."
"Okay." Athrodar agreed, looking back to the rangers he was just talking to. "Excuse me." He said, having them bow their heads to him and leaving with his daughter shortly after. "You know, she has been dying to see you. You and your brother, ever since we left. Apparently a week is too long."
"It is." Victoria said, walking into the building Sylvanas and Talanas were in, making her way towards the General and leaving Athrodar alone with Liadrin.
"She has been asking to come here ever since the portal was opened." Liadrin said, standing beside Athrodar. "Truth be told, so have I. Though it wasn't to see you, it was to get in on the action."
"You realise now that you're here, you're under my command." Athrodar smiled when he saw Liadrin realise he was correct, watching her shoulders drop and hang her head low. "Relax, I won't be an ass. If you have a mission, just come to me and I will most likely approve it. And if I don't, I will tell you why."
"Good." Liadrin said, watching Sylvanas hold onto Victoria tightly and having Talanas hold onto Sylvanas too. "I'll get out of your hair now, go be with your family."
As soon as Liadrin had left them alone, Athrodar made his way towards his wife, having her kiss him and press her head against his shortly after. "You seem happier today." Athrodar whispered to her, pulling back and picking up Talanas so he could hug him properly.
"My little ones are here." Sylvanas said, kissing the top of Victoria's head and squeezing her just a little harder. "I am happy to have them so close by."
"And I'm happy I get to see you and dad." Victoria said, holding onto the General a little tighter. "Grandmama said she will be here tomorrow, she is with the Grand Magister's wife today."
"I looked forward to see Illana too." Sylvanas said, looking over to Athrodar. "Your mother is always a breath of fresh air. She is always happy, smiling and puts me in a good mood no matter what."
Athrodar smiled at the description of his mother, loving that Sylvanas loved her as much as he did. "She will be happy I'm safe, which will then make the rest of us happy."
"Good." Sylvanas said with a smile, letting go of Victoria. "Have you two had lunch yet? I think it's about that time, it's hard to know since it's constantly bright here."
"We have not." Victoria said, taking hold of her father's hand. "I am also hungry."
"Let's go eat then." Athrodar said.
"Our research has given us nothing." Telramar said, standing opposite Athrodar, Sylvanas and now Liadrin as they were the other officers or someone of importance in their expedition. "But, there is something you need to know." When he saw he had their attention, he conjured an arcane image of a demon in between the four of them. "We spotted him on this platform with two other demons patrolling around him, they look like they're his guards."
"Were there any other demons with him?" Liadrin asked.
"Not directly, but there were a few more demons close by. If we were to engage with him, I have no doubt that they will join in on the fight to help defend him." Telremar told them.
"I can't help but notice that he looks like the demon we fought at Mount Hyjal. I can guess they're the same race but he looks significantly smaller compared to the one we fought." Sylvanas said, looking over to Athrodar and then Liadrin. "My guess is he is a commander. I expect he will have the ability to summon more demons should we fight him too."
"Well... We can't leave him there." Athrodar told them. "A commander for the Burning Legion so close to us will only cause trouble later down the line. It's best we take care of him now or within the next couple of days than to leave him."
"I can send some scouts out to gather as much information on him, any patrols and the best ways to go about attacking him." Sylvanas suggested, watching Athrodar nod his head. "I'll send them out after this meeting."
"Now that I'm here, my paladins and I will hold the line whilst your rangers and mages can deal with the other demons from afar as well as attacking this commander." Liadrin told them, folding her arms across her chest and looking at the arcane image of the demon. "Maybe leaving him to us might work. Holy magic against demons? It might be more effective that way whilst you deal with the other demons."
Athrodar shrugged his shoulders and looked over to Sylvanas. "It could work."
Sylvanas nodded her head in agreement to the plan. "We'll still scout out the area, but I might have to agree with that plan."
Telremar removed the arcane image and bowed his head to Athrodar and the General. "I will rest up for now. When it's time to attack that demon, my mages and I will be ready."
"Thank you, Grand Magister." Athrodar said, watching him leave and looking over to Liadrin who bowed her head to him shortly after.
"You know where to find me." She said, patting Athrodar on the back and smiling at him. "Glad to finally be of use instead of sitting at the back, healing the wounded."
Athrodar smiled at the Paladin. "It's good to have you here." He told her, watching her bow her head to the General and leaving shortly after.
Once alone, Sylvanas placed a hand on Athrodar's face and pulling him down so she could kiss him. "Our first proper mission." She said, kissing him hard on the lips and parting them with her tongue. She quickly became consumed by the kiss and forgot they weren't in a private place as she began to pull his tunic up his body, aiming to take it off him. Just as she felt her shoulderguards loosen, they were interrupted by three elves who neither of them wanted to see right now. "Great..." Sylvanas whispered, pressing her head against Athrodar's. "What is it?"
Anya smiled brightly at them whilst Clea and Melonara looked away from the two of them having realised what was happening. "We heard there's a mission soon!" Anya said, excited to finally be able to do something.
"There is." Sylvanas told them, being held by Athrodar and pressing her ear against his chest whilst she looked at the three of them. "Find Viraleth and tell her to form a scouting party and to check in with the Grand Magister. He has a demon that needs to be looked at and only he and his mages know where they are."
Clea bowed her head to the General and began to pull Anya away from them. "We'll leave to tell her right away." She said, leaving the room with the other two elves as quickly as they came in.
"We are never going to be alone on this planet, are we?" Sylvanas asked once they found themselves in a small window of privacy.
"No we are not." Athrodar said, laughing lightly. "At least, not until we leave this place and head towards the city of Shattrath."
"Then we best get done with this place and move there as soon as possible." Sylvanas told him, hugging him tightly. "I love you."
"I love you too." Athrodar replied, kissing the top of her head. "We just have to deal with this commander and we might be ready to leave."
"I hope so." Sylvanas muttered, keeping her ear pressed against his chest and listening to his heartbeat.
