The Forgotten Chieftain's Wife Chapter 4
During the calm night the Horde was quiet with not a creature stirring, but the moment the sun had risen over the horizon the army came to life. This was the day everything was going to come together. All the hard backbreaking work the orc's had put in digging out the gate and rounding up countless prisoners to fuel it was finally going to pay off.
But the excitement of the day, also, brought a state of melancholy over the Horde. What Blackhand and Grom had spoken of was true only young, healthy, capable, and strong would be able to join in the first wave of the Horde that invaded these new promised lands. Meaning that clans and families would be separated for who knows how long. Despite Gul'dan's promises that all orc's would be reunited with their loved ones once the invasion was a success each and every one of them knew there was now guarantee that once they stepped through that portal they'd return to Draenor for them. So while the orc's that were chosen to leave were packing the goodbyes were extremely bittersweet.
None more so than when it came to the Frostwolves, especially for Durotan.
Lyanna stood aside with the same shield she wore concealing her stomach as she did the day previously as she watched Durotan saw his farewells to his mother Geyah. Durotan may have been a proud chieftain, but even he would allow some of his composure to slip when saying such a heartfelt goodbye to his only surviving parent. This was a very private exchange for Durotan and Lyanna knew that no matter how involved she was with the clan that she still had no right to interrupt such precious rituals. What was spoken between mother and son would remain with them for however long they were apart. Durotan was entrusting leadership of the Frostwolves that were forced to stay behind to her. He knew without a doubt that there was no way they couldn't be in better hands than her own.
So instead Lyanna turned her attention to the shaman Drek'Thar and his aide Palkar. Lyanna approached and Palkar leaned down to whisper into Drek'Thar's ear that she was there. Palkar and the old orc bowed respectfully to her when she got close.
Addressing them both, Lyanna reminded "My husband and I cannot promise you will not be discovered. If this is a risk you choose not to take, no one would blame you."
"We understand," said Drek'Thar, accepting the risk. "All is as the Spirits will it."
Lyanna nodded in reply.
Finished Durotan and Geyah now came over to where they stood and the older female transferred her affections to Lyanna.
Geyah hugged Lyanna close to her chest. Then grasping Lyanna on both sides of the head and staring intently into her eyes, Geyah murmured "May the Spirits guide you, Daughter."
"And to you, Mother," said Lyanna, kissing Geyah on the cheek after she pulled away.
Horns blew, summoning all of the clan's forth. Durotan and Geyah embraced one last time and then he lead his clan to the portal where all of the chosen orc's were converging for the trip. The Frostwolf banner held with pride above them.
As the Frostwolves reached the portal Lyanna spotted someone in the crowd that she hadn't seen in almost three years.
Eyes wide, Lyanna called "Garona!"
The orc in question was about a little over twenty yards away deep in the bustling crowd with one of Grom's clan mates leading her away by a chain connected to her collar. She hadn't changed much since Lyanna had last seen her. The only thing different was that a few more scars and brands were added to her skin. It was chaos all around them, but even over all the noise Garona easily recognized Lyanna's call.
Garona snapped her head up searching for Lyanna and located her in seconds. Their eyes met and the two old friends smiled at one another. Temporarily forgetting the precarious scene they were in the center of Garona and Lyanna began to move towards each other. That all was stopped when the orc hanging onto the other end of Garona's chain harshly yanked her back degradingly while yelling obscenities at her.
Durotan shot an arm in front of Lyanna preventing her from taking another step.
As she looked up at him, shaking his head sympathetically, Durotan said "No, Lyanna." This was neither the right time nor place.
Lyanna knew Durotan spoke true, but that didn't make it hurt any less. She looked sadly back at Garona and saw the older female was already eyeing her. Smiling in reassurance Garona lifted her arm to reveal the ring on her left hand. The ring was pure silver custom made with a lion emblem at the base with vines and flowers carved into the sides with tiny blue gems here and there. The seal belonged to the royal family of Stormwind. Lyanna's brother Llane had surprised her with it on her eighteenth birthday after she came of age. He knew she preferred simpler jewelry in place of gaudy stuff. It was a present she'd always cherished in her imprisonment under Gul'dan, but felt the need to give it to Garona when they'd been separated in order to give her hope.
It was a gesture Garona clearly appreciated to this day which was made obvious when she smiled and nodded at Lyanna acknowledging her. Lyanna returned the affection.
Having run out of patience the orc that held Garona's leash tugged her again and they walked off.
"Come, Lyanna," said Durotan, doing the same to her, but far more gently.
"Victory or death!"
"Skull!"
"Blackrock, over there!"
Standing on platforms over the entire Horde members of Blackhand's own clan was directing others on where to go in front of the gateway. Each had their own assigned honored place to go. It was their job to see each one got there on time.
Seeing the Frostwolf's arrive, an orc captain directed "Frostwolf's, over here!"
The Frostwolves finally got to their spot, but as they did so an echoing and distorted voice speaking the orc language could be heard originating from the portal which was now swirling and glowing green at the rims with the power of the fel. The very second that foul voice like fire and ash reached her ears Lyanna froze in terror recognizing it in a trice. Lyanna's complexion paled considerably with her heart pounding through the chest like a drum. Lyanna was suddenly feeling faint. She'd only discerned that darkness once, but one time was more than enough for her in a lifetime.
Perceiving Lyanna's nervous upset reaction, brow furrowed, Draka said "Lyanna?"
But Lyanna didn't answer her.
Anxiously, Draka said "Durotan."
Durotan looked at Draka and she pointed at Lyanna. He immediately became perturbed with his face riddled in concern. Bending slightly for his eyes to get level with hers Durotan placed a hand on Lyanna's shoulder carefully shaking her being mindful of the burden she was carrying.
Durotan said "Lyanna."
Durotan's voice is what broke Lyanna out of the reverie she'd found herself in. She released a trembling overwrought exhale trying to regain her bearings.
Placing her petite hand over Durotan's massive one, Lyanna muttered "I'm fine."
Shaking his head, not believing it in the slightest, Durotan said "No you're not. What's wrong?"
Sucking in a deep breath to slow her rapidly beating heart, situating a hand over her stomach protectively, Lyanna said "That voice on the wind chanting the spell. Durotan, I know it. The sorcerer…he's the same person that sent me here. Who brought me to Gul'dan!"
Durotan's eyes flashed transiently in anger before vanishing, but Lyanna needn't have worried. Durotan's irritation wasn't aimed at her. Avoiding consolation with words Durotan sought an alternative by wrapping a sheltering arm around his beloved wife. Hopefully this would calm her. She was radiating inexpressible fear she didn't want any of the festering orcs to catch on to.
Durotan and Lyanna weren't the only ones ill at ease.
"What is that," asked Orgrim, on guard with his calculating gaze roaming over everything and everyone
"Gul'dan's magic," said Durotan.
Speaking of which…
Hearing the voice of his mentor on the opposite side of the portal chanting the incantation Gul'dan knew it was time. Gul'dan thumped his heavy staff on the ground twice to get the Horde's focused attention. When he had it that's when he began to speak.
"The fuel for my magic is life. We only have enough prisoners to send through our strongest warriors. But that will be enough. The enemy is weak. When we arrive we will take them as fuel," said Gul'dan, his voice echoing.
The Horde was quickly working itself into a frenzy hearing Gul'dan's speech roaring, cheering, and yelling. They were thumping fists to chests and banging weapons together.
Spreading his arms wide, Gul'dan said "We will build a new portal! And when it is complete we will bring through all…of the Horde!"
Gul'dan spun to face the portal spreading his hands again. The entire invasion force took this as their cue to start stampeding for the portal. Sticking the butt of his staff in the dirt Gul'dan's eyes and hands glowed green with the fel as he extracted the life force from all of the Draenei prisoners gathered and then shot all of the full amount into the portal itself.
The pulsating sickly emerald hue of the portal exploded. As it cleared the green became tinted with a blue sky, rich brown and natural colors of trees. Colors that no one on Draenor had glimpsed for such a long period of time.
Lyanna saw what laid beyond the portal and her breath caught in her throat. Straightaway all traces of fear and anxiety left Lyanna replaced with exhilaration.
After over three years in another realm, at last, she was going home.
Just shy of hitting the portal Durotan, Lyanna, and Orgrim all stopped in their tracks. Choosing not to walk through the portal posthaste they revolved to watch the charge as hundreds of orcs made for the gateway.
Orgrim grinned toothily at Durotan and then raced past his chieftain joining the sea of green and brown orcs.
Turning back to regard Lyanna, Durotan said "Let me go first."
A precaution just in case this was all somehow a trick and they were all meant to perish Durotan wanted to be sure his wife and baby weren't caught in the unfortunate massacre.
Understanding this Lyanna drew her baffled gaze off of the gate and nodded at her mate with soft understanding eyes.
Durotan then straightened his posture, head lowered he took the plunge.
Getting a gut sense that Durotan probably wouldn't be coming back for her Lyanna steeled herself and quickly followed suit pursuing after him, not wanting to be left behind. The shouts and war cries of the other racing orcs booming about everywhere trailed in her wake.
"For the Horde!"
Stepping into the portal Lyanna entered a space of vast infinite darkness. Everywhere she looked all she could see was pitch black with occasional blasts of illumination blinding her eyes. Floating were the forms of other orcs making for the exit and as she looked this way and that she felt a strange current pulling her forward. She scanned her eyes over where it was taking her and found a bright light dead ahead. Lyanna smiled broadly knowing it was the definite way out. The current was taking her right to it.
But Lyanna's relief quickly transformed into horror.
A sharp stabbing pain erupted in Lyanna's abdomen, shrinking her stomach. It dulled and then another one hit. Lyanna then figured out what this is. These were contractions.
She was going into labor.
The contractions were hitting mere seconds apart. Lyanna screamed in pain.
No! No, this couldn't be happening. She wasn't ready. It was much too soon.
Another orc floated past her and Lyanna quickly identified Durotan. The pair reached for each other, but just as their fingertips barely grazed he tumbled past swept along by the strange mystified current that was carrying them all to the same location. Lyanna saw him call out her name, but for some reason was unable to hear his voice.
Even in the state she was in Lyanna managed to dodge an enormous uprooted tree, luckily not getting struck by the trunk or a hanging branch.
The light totally engulfed Lyanna and she was out.
It had been years, but Lyanna recalled the exact territory the Horde had entered. The Black Morass swamplands. They were in Azeroth. She was home. But Lyanna had no time to relish the familiar soil beneath her fingers or the air she breathed. There were far more important things. Like the fact she was going into premature labor!
Groaning, using all the strength she could muster, Lyanna crawled onto land dragging herself away from the portal. She wanted to get as far away from it as possible. Lyanna tore the shield she'd been wearing off of her stomach and tossed it aside leaving her swollen belly exposed. She didn't need the squeezing constrictions it had on that area.
More and more orc's were emerging from the portal. Durotan climbed out not too far off. Searching for his wife he found her lying on the ground suffering alone in agony. Durotan ran across the distance to get to his disabled mate.
But Blackhand intercepted the desperate Durotan slamming a hand on the younger chieftain's chest.
"With child," bellowed Blackhand. "You dare bring that wachook slave into my warband?"
"Let me go, Blackhand," pleaded Durotan. "Lyanna!"
All of the orc's in the Horde were stumbling free of the portal and encircling the struggling human. Not one offering assistance in her dire need.
Lying flat out on her side in the marshy earth Lyanna panted attempting to control her erratic breathing.
Out of nowhere Lyanna felt a hand on her back and quiet murmuring in her ear as a shadow covered her. Blinking away the sunlight Lyanna peeked trough her sweat drenched hair, looking up to see Gul'dan standing over her prone form.
Gul'dan was the last person Lyanna ever wanted assisting her while she gave birth to her precious firstborn.
"No…," she moaned, crying at this point, on the brink of disorientation. "No, don't…don't touch my baby. Durotan!"
Blackhand held firm to her husband not allowing him to advance.
Orgrim, Draka, and Drek'Thar, also, all tried in vain to reach Lyanna, but were blocked by other orcs. The pain raking her body was unbearable. Lyanna didn't know how more of this she could take. She wanted Durotan. She needed him beside her. Lyanna didn't know what to do.
"Push, little one," said Gul'Dan, uncharacteristically kind and it scared the hell out of Lyanna. "Push."
Lyanna no longer had a choice. Now on her hands and knees Lyanna pushed with all her might throwing her head back shrieking. The baby slid out of her falling into Gul'dan's waiting hands. Lyanna felt the child leave her body and, gasping, she collapsed into the soggy earth and grass spent.
With shaking arms Lyanna reached out to take her little one, tears in her eyes, gasping "My baby…"
Gul'dan easily cut the umbilical cord with his nails and stood with the baby cupped in the middle of his palms, but that wasn't what alarmed her.
It was too quiet. The baby wasn't crying. Babies are supposed to cry. Why wasn't he crying?!
Durotan sagged in Blackhand's firm iron grip. From where he was standing Durotan had a good view and what he witnessed tore at his heart. The infant hung lifelessly in Gul'dan's hands completely limp with a blue coloring to his skin. The combined stress created from the journey to the Horde, malnutrition, and going through the portal had been too much for Lyanna's body and caused her to go into labor early making the baby stillborn.
The symptoms Drek'Thar had derived. He'd been on the mark all along.
The shock was too much for Durotan. His knees would've given out if it hadn't been for Blackhand's hand stuck on his chest.
"My son," whispered Durotan, grief-stricken at the loss.
A twig snapped in the underbrush of the swamp. Gul'dan looked to find a deer standing there staring blankly at all the commotion rumbling quietly at them. Exactly what Gul'dan needed. Extending a hand in its direction Gul'dan drew the creatures life force from its very body absorbing it into his fingers, ignoring the high-pitched shrieking it released as it died.
Leaning closer to the newborn Gul'dan blew gently into the child's face transferring the fel energy he'd claimed from the deer into the little one.
The result was like a switch had been ignited.
The baby came to life gulping in air filling his lungs. The infant kicked waving his fists and cried while everyone else looked on in astonishment.
Lifting the wailing and kicking child to the high heavens, Gul'dan declared "A new warrior for the Horde!"
A deafening cheer arose from the masses, but Durotan paid them no heed. Shoving past Blackhand he rushed to Lyanna's side. Dropping to his knees Durotan picked Lyanna's weakened body in his arms cradling her against his chest.
"Lyanna," he breathed, lovingly cupping her cheek.
Utterly exhausted Lyanna smiled tiredly up at him feebly touching his fingers. Together they scrutinized their firstborn child and identical worried expressions overcame their faces. They stared forebodingly at their son and his green skin now one with the dreaded fel.
What was to become of him? What was to become of their son?!
Authors Note:
And with this Goel is finally born.
Happy New Year!