Disclaimer: I own nothing but my OC Lyanna.
The Forgotten Chieftain's Wife Chapter 17
Reluctantly dragging his attention away from their precious son, Durotan said "Garona is gone."
"What," said Lyanna, stunned.
All at once multiple scenarios played out in her head. She knew Garona had been present during the raid that Durotan had been on, but not the outcome of what happened to her. So Lyanna has no clue which ones he could be talking about right now.
"Is she dead," she whispered, eyes wide.
Did Garona escape, captured, or is she dead from the fight?
The last one of the three options is the one she's dreading to hear. Just thinking about it makes Lyanna sick to her stomach.
Much to her relief it wasn't the latter thanks to Durotan's clarification when he saw the flash of fear on her face.
Shaking his head, passing the fussing infant back into her waiting arms, Durotan assured "No. I cut her chains and tried to get her to come with me, but she fled into the forest towards the enemy. She either escaped of her own volition or was captured."
The tension immediately left Lyanna's body, shoulders sagging forward in relief. If Garona was captured that could only mean good things for her especially since she is still wearing the ring Lyanna gave her. Lyanna knows this for a fact along with that Garona won't be put to death the very second she was captured.
Llane and all the others in the Court would probably hound Garona for answers on how she got it. Knowing Garona she's probably told them as much as she can by now. Which means that Llane may know she's still alive, but in the enemy camp.
Right know Lyanna has a lot of mixed feelings about that she hasn't quite figured how to properly handle as of yet.
"How well do you think she'll be received among your people," said Durotan.
Shrugging, kissing their child's tiny fist, Lyanna said "Not sure. As long as they see her wearing my ring then she should be fine. No doubt my brother will keep her alive to get answers and ensure she's well treated."
"That's good to hear," said Durotan, nodding.
Durotan's stomach rumbled causing Lyanna to smile at her big tough husband.
"I saved you some dinner. Draka brought down a buck earlier today while you were gone," said Lyanna, motioning towards the leg cooking over the fire.
Durotan had been so lost in his own thoughts that he had failed to notice it.
Grateful for the meat, Durotan said "Thank you."
Durotan then dug into it with gusto savoring the taste while Lyanna worked to settle down their son to sleep for the evening.
Elsewhere in Azeroth another is stuck in an entirely different setting.
Cold was the night as Garona is down contained in the Kings personal dungeons. Having lived in a southern climate for the majority of her life Garona isn't used to this. But she knows there is no point in complaining about it. There won't be an answer.
Down in her lonely and open cell into the center of the airy prison the light of the full moon shone down onto her. Garona pants pacing restlessly in the space. While she was a slave under Gul'dan's control in the Horde she was never really confined for long periods of time like this. Also, she's very stressed out that the Humans took Lyanna's ring from her. She tried to demand it back, but they refused. Made Garona feel terrible that she lost it after promising Lyanna she'd take care of it. Jaw clenched in anger and worry Garona doesn't know what she's going to do about that.
A visitor is concealed in the shadows watching her quite unsuccessfully in her opinion.
"I see you," she said, outing him.
Medivh then stepped into the moonlight slowly circling the cage, speaking to Garona.
"This Gate…who shoed it to Gul'dan," inquired Medivh. "Who led him to Azeroth? You said it is the same sorcerer that stole our Princess, correct?"
Nodding, Garona said "Yes. Gul'dan never called him by name. Only saying he is a demon.
"Did you see him," asked Medivh.
Eyes flickering to the torchlight in remembrance of that meeting, Garona said "Not the face, but the voice. Like fire and ash."
Now standing in front of Garona face to face Medivh appeared to be about to get into more questions when they were interrupted.
The creak of metal at the barred door on the far end of the prison drew Garona's eye temporarily as it announced someone coming. When she looked back Medivh had just vanished. In its place was now a raven that flew out from the whole above. This left Garona staring after Medivh in wonderment at this display of sorcery. So hard to fathom. Shaking it off Garona mentally scolds herself for allowing even that tiny of a slip.
Queen Taria along with a servant girl have come each carrying something in their arms, but they weren't alone. Lothar is with them.
Remaining at the door, Lothar said "I'll be right here, if you need me."
Queen Taria smiles nodding at her brother in thanks.
The guard present unlocked and opened the door to Garona's cell. He then backed away to allow them some space mirroring the position Lothar has just in case there's trouble from this encounter.
Inclining her head in Lothar's direction, glaring daggers at him, Garona said "Your mate, I could kill you before he even reaches me."
Laughing softly in amusement, Queen Taria said "Lothar? He is my brother. The King is my mate."
"You are the chieftain's wife then," said Garona, clarifying this is true or not.
"I suppose so," said Queen Taria.
Stepping closer until she less than a foot away from Lady Taria, Garona proclaims "Then killing you would bring me even greater honor."
"Not among my kind," disagreed Lady Taria, remaining calm without a trace of fear in her voice, facial expression not giving anything away. She then signaled to the girl that accompanied her. The young lady now walks passed Garona to place the bundle of furs on the lone cot in the cell. "It's a cold night. I thought you might use these."
The servant girl was fast to leave, but Lady Taria holds her ground. She sets the tray she brought down and pours Garona a hot drink. She then offers it to her.
"It will warm you," said Lady Taria.
Accepting the drink Garona took a cautious sniff and then a sip. Within a few seconds she had drank all of it. Lady Taria wasn't lying. She's so thirsty and in need of the nourishment its giving Garona didn't even acknowledge the hot temperature.
Smiling at Garona's satisfaction, Lady Taria said "More of our villages burnt tonight. One of them is the village of my birth. I cannot imagine what horrors you have been through, Garona. But this doesn't need to happen. We have had peace in these lands for many years now. Peace between races from all over the world."
Garona set the cup of tea aside now going over to inspect the furs, touching and smelling them.
In the moonlight Lady Taria noticed something she didn't really see before in the darkness.
Warily, extending a hand to touch the steel color on Garona's neck, Lady Taria said "What is-."
In an instant Garona reacted, spinning around. She released a low growl from deep within her throat. A warning glittered in her eyes dark gaze. In doing so Lady Taria finally got a good look at the chains and manacles binding her.
Lightly tracing her fingers to her own throat in horror and revulsion, Lady Taria said "I can have it removed." The tension in the room is thick as stone. It's up to Lady Taria to mend it to build more crucial trust. "There is a life here for you, Garona. With us. A life of freedom if you want it." Now for the second reason she came down here. "But in exchange we would like something small in return."
Garona aims an incredulous look at Lady Taria, showing her she's not stupid.
"You wish to know how Lyanna fares," said Garona, blunt.
"Yes," said Lady Taria. "Our King is very anxious for his sister. Ever since she disappeared Llane has not stopped searching for her. He longs to see her, to know she is all right."
Arms crossed, delivering an ultimatum, Garona said "I'll answer some of your questions, when you return what she freely gave me."
Before Garona was even done with speaking that sentence Lady Taria held the ring in front of her eyes. She dropped it into Garona's waiting hand.
Garona put the ring back onto her finger. She wrapped a hand around it, shutting her eyes in solace.
Ready to cooperate now that Garona has gotten what she wanted from them, Garona said "What would you like to know?"
Lady Taria smiles gently.
It's a good thing Garona showed restraint since she would've been killed by the new weapon from the Dwarves that's hidden behind his back if done otherwise.
Authors Note:
Hope you all enjoyed this one and had a Happy Easter! ;D
Sorry for the long wait you had to endure over this. As you can probably tell by the multiple alerts you received lately about my story's I've been pretty busy lately. Adding new stories, finishing old ones, and updating new chapters to different literary works of mine.
But I'm back now. I've been meaning to get a new chapter for this one up for a while. And now I've finally done it.