This is very painful to do because I'm writing with my left hand, but I have a lot of time until a boat shows up and brings the images that can send me back home and I'm not sure where I left my hearthstone. It must have fallen out during the flight to Stormwind.
Princess Talanji was right. Rezan is a more powerful guardian spirit then Alexandros Mograine is, but I'm not sure by how much and in what ways. My sword arm is completely paralyzed and deformed, and I know why, it's because I breathed in that Azerite. When I did I gained a lot of Alexandros Mograine's memories from his life. My arm looks just like his when he touched the first Rezalb crystal during the first Legion invasion, but it was fixed when other priests and paladins started casting holy spells on the crystal to purify it, but I don't know what to do because I'm not linked to any crystal. The Ashbringer is heavy now and still powerless. It doesn't have a strong amount of light or dark energy to it and I know that my hate, anger, and envy was what corrupted it in the first place. So, I'm not sure if casting a large number of holy spells on the Ashbringer will fix my arm, because it still looks like it always does. If it was still in that corrupted form maybe it could happen, but I'm not sure if I can summon it again. I can't use the Light anymore and I'm just hoping once I get to the Sunwell my arm will be fixed.
The Alliance attacked us and nearly sank the ship we were on, but Princess Tanaji summoned Razan, and he pushed our boat away from their artillery. A dinosaur. A t-rex with troll tusk pushed our boat when the spreader of our boat took a hit and was about to fall over like a chopped down tree. Princess Tanaji had an army or even a kingdom of her own and dealt with the Alliance ships that were chasing us out at sea.
My fight with Jaina was like everything that Alexandros Mograine knew about fighting and summoning came to me. I didn't just get memories from his life, but his un-life in Naxxramas, the four-day trip to Shattrath City, and the love he had for his children, his wife, and me.
I feel bad that I betrayed Alexandros like this, but Anduin, I wish he could see the monster Jaina Proudmoore is. She killed and tortured so many of my people during the Pandaren Expedition. I wish I could have been there to free them from the internment camps where she kept them. I was still recovering from injuries and my broken heart made it impossible for me to focus on the Light. I'm glad that I had the network of friends that helped me get through those hard times. I'm glad that High Elves of the Silver Covenant are so open minded in the matters of friends and love. I don't think I would be the same person if it wasn't for them. Most of my time in the Horde I was extremely vengeful, if I had killed Arthas. Well I'm not going to focus on that.
My depression after Arthas's defeat was the reason my eyes turned blue again. So many days without eating or sleeping or taking in any arcane energy changed them back. I would have never been asked to spy on the Silver Covenant. I would have never met Oranio or Vereesa and in turn I never would have fallen in love with Anduin.
You know Garrosh wasn't as bad as people have made him out to be over the past few years. During his first few years as warchief he knew what I was going through, he called me into Grommash Hold one day and said, "Where have you been Blood Elf? From what I remember from the Argent Tournament the Horde is in need of your skills in the fight with Deathwing and his minions."
I rolled my eyes, somewhat intoxicated, "I don't care…"
He stood up from his throne angrily, "The world is falling into ruin and you don't care?!"
I laughed slightly and shrugged dismissively, "This whole world could burn under Deathwing and I wouldn't care."
Garrosh stepped down, "People are dying out there, your people are dying out there, the Horde will fail if you don't take up the sword and fight!"
I didn't have any armor or even a sword, but I faced him like I did, "The Horde failed me, so I don't care." I shrugged and laughed slightly, "So, kill me if you want to, but tell me this; why wasn't I allowed to get revenge for my mother's death! Why wasn't I allowed to kill the man that took everything away from me! I should have been there when Arthas fell, after all the warriors I bested, you let Fordering just say no to me!" I shook my head at him, "I thought you had a spine."
Garrosh looked at me enraged, gripping Gorehowl, but he looked down and shook his head, "I wanted you to go." He shrugged, "Fordering said it had something to do with the Ashbringer. That it wouldn't work if you were there." He looked at me, "I wanted him to give it to you, but I suppose you would have stolen his glory. It would have been a great victory for the Horde if you had taken it."
I nodded slightly in agreement.
Garrosh sat down on his chair holding his ax Gorehowl in his hand, "Take your time to mourn, but when I call on you I'm going to expect you to follow my orders, do you understand?"
I nodded and started leaving.
"Perfectia!" He yelled.
I turned and faced him.
Garrosh looked down and looked at me, "I'm sorry." He said.
I looked down and nodded my head and left to go about my day of fishing and collecting ingredients for fermented fruit alcohol, because I usually didn't have gold.
After almost a year of living like that my eye's eventually turned blue again and I had put on 45 kilos. No one could recognize me as the Argent Tournament Champion and I was arrested by grunts when I tried to walk into Orgrimmar from Silvermmon. Garrosh came to me while I was being interrogated because no one believed that I was who I said I was, but I also was refusing to take arcane magic from any sources for sustenance. Garrosh came into my prison cell and looked at me disgusted, "I let you go down this path for two long, but those eyes might just be useful to me." He looked to one of his guards, "Take her to Ragefire Chasm."
I fought as the grunt tried to grapple me into restraints, "Garrosh it's me, if it wasn't for me you would still be sitting Nagrand crying and staring at your navel."
"True, you took me out of that depressive stupor I was in, now I'm going to return the favor." Garrosh binded my hands behind me himself, I was less resistant this time, "Whether you like it or not. You will thank me after this, and we will be even from that point on."
His Ragefire Chasm rapid weight-loss program where I was constantly surrounded by steam, only given water, and crushed and blended fruits and vegetables. It didn't just help me lose the weight, but also the alcohol withdrawal, and it was extremely painful, but he was right. I looked good and felt good, and he had given me a purpose that wasn't just mindless wandering.
He had my loyalty then and I admired Garrosh Hellscream for a very different reason then I did Thrall. Garrosh was more practical and made so many changes to Orgrimmar. Thrall was a dreamer and I knew he kept ties with the Alliance, I knew he was still friends with Jaina, but the so-called city of Orgrimmar stayed a mountain, with a few easily burnt huts. I remember reading some plans these Centaurs had left behind and it seemed plausible with a few torches, also, since they were as fast as horses they could have burned Orgrimmar badly. Not to the ground in one attack, but they would do lasting damage.
If you were to take those same plans and tell me you were going to burn down Garrosh's Orgrimmar, I wouldn't have even stopped you, I would just be sitting there with popcorn because it would be hilarious. No, I'm just kidding, but it would make me laugh if you told me that was your plan though, I would try to talk you out of it.
It was truly amazing what he put to work and he was a man of action, but he was also a mind that embraced change for the better and I know that made a lot of people very uncomfortable. Also, he was about the same age as me so we kind of had the same mindset. I think now if I had killed Arthas, even if I didn't have Alexandros's soul inside me and I was sent to spy. I would have killed Oranio right there by that lake, I would have killed the enemies of the Iron Horde that betrayed the people that rebelled against his Horde, I would have killed whoever stood against him, because we would have been the same person. Looking for our next fix of vengeance, justice, revenge, or whatever you want to call it.
I suppose I didn't kill Jaina because I've been in those shoes before, that rage, pain, and disgust. It's what probably made her attack Lordaeron in the first place, and as I recalled Alexandros Mograine's memories, I remembered that she saved Anduin's life.
I perverted my power last night though, with Azerite. Because to me Jaina is a monster, it was more than just my envy that she would steal him away, but because I've been afraid of her for so long. So many times I woke up alone in Isirami's bed thinking she might have crossed a corner and could be burned to embers or frozen solid and what could I have done about it then. No, now I have power, now she knows that I could have killed her. Let her have nightmares now about what could have happened, let my face be the last thing she sees when she wakes up in a cold sweat, and when I see her fear stricken face in person again, I'll be the one that looks down at her in sympathy.
I'm also afraid of what she will turn him into. I know she didn't drown hundreds of people, but after what she said to me I felt she wasn't too far off from the alter-ego I saw at Garrosh's trial.
But now I'm thinking about Anduin. I love him so much but I'm afraid Jaina Proudmoore will turn him into a monster. Just as angry, hateful, and vengeful as she is, he won't be the man I fell in love with by the Stormwind Emissary. I promised myself I wouldn't devote myself to vengeance again, but this is… I'm going to protect him from her, and if I can't I guess I'm sticking with what I told Sylvanas on that war blimp, 'I will gladly watch her turn him into an undead.' I guess I'm not really known for lying.
So, we get off the nearly broken war ship and I couldn't summon Lucy, but Princess Tanaji darted off on a raptor mount and said, "We only have a few-"She stopped and realize I was trying to run to her, trying to keep with the pace of her mount, "Perfectia do you have a mount?"
I shrugged and shook my head, "I can't use the Light right now. No Light means no warhorse, no warhorse means no mount." I explained.
Princess Tanaji let out a sigh, "Right." She held onto her nose with her fingers, then, got off her raptor, "Well I guess we have more time than I thought. Dere are things about my kingdom you must know. Zandalar is beset by enemies, both within and without. Dis is why I went seeking de Horde… and why I need you."
I rolled my eyes and gestured my head toward my arm. She didn't seem to notice.
"Blood trolls," Princess Tanaji continued, "they surged across our northern border. Dey drag our people off to de swamps of Nazmir, and never to be seen again."
I nodded at her, cleared my throat, and lifted my deformed arm slightly.
Princess Tanaji continued, "Meanwhile, de Zanchuli Council, scheming politicians and decrepit old tusk, dismisses dis threat. Dey convince my father dat nothing needs to be done." She explains angrily.
I nodded, "Well I hope things work out for you." I said.
Princess Tanaji finally looked back at me as I was holding up my arm that was wrapped in my tabard, "What?" She said surprised. She finally looked at it and sighed, "Right, well, I suppose there's no rush."
We came upon a formation of troll soldiers that seemed to be loyal to the Zandalar kingdom, and an older troll seeming to be in charge stepped forward. "Princess." He said. "When you left, you told your father you were going exploring. Not negotiating with mongrels from de Horde."
Princess Tanaji rolled her eyes, "You are sworn to protect dis kingdom. If you will not do your duty, den I must look for someone who will."
The troll leader crossed his arms and looked away, "De best way to protect de kingdom would be for me to banish dis… thing… to Vol'dun. De Horde has no place in Zandalar."
"Their fate will not be decided by you, General." Princess Tanaji claimed.
"Nor you. Your father is displeased dat you have brought dese creatures here. He has ordered me to collect you."
I shrugged, "We told you we should have went to Orgrimmar." I stated.
Princess Tanaji shook her head, "It's fine, I wanted you to meet my father anyways."
We got on what seemed like a flying bat and it didn't seem to have trouble carrying both of us. "Know dis… Father is set in his ways, but he is most observant. I would wager he already knows of your role in freeing me from Stormwind, but he might have seen it as trading one prison for another if I went back with you. Just show respect and let him do the talking… Oh and Perfectia, please do not fall in love with my father the king." She said jokingly.
"Ha, ha, very funny." I said sarcastically.
So, she brought me to her father King Rastakhan and I must say I was impressed. Everything about this troll kingdom seemed to stream tradition from its culture, it kind of reminded me of the Amani Empire that was by Silvermoon, but it hadn't been torn apart by generations of defeat. Everything was cleaner, well maintained, and crafted with not only a level of fortification to stop enemy invasions, but riches and artisans' works that could entice potential allies. Their walls were made with bright yellow bricks and embroidered with shining golds and small amounts of blues and greens that gave the golds the look of these sacred gems, like the one around my neck. Her father looked about as tall as Vol'jin if he decided to walk around standing up right for a change. The armor he wore had the same level of fortification and elegance the rest of his kingdom had. Princess Tanaji hit me on my side, "I told you not- "
"I'm not." I Interrupted, but I still blushed a little.
Despite this seemingly welcoming atmosphere, the soldiers seem cold and stoic, but seemingly loyal to their king, but the leader we met earlier walked up to the king and began barking orders at him. "My king, the Horde had come to steal our navy for their undead warchief."
Princess Tanaji gestured toward me as she looked at her father, "This champion defied the might of Stormwind and combated the Lady of the Sea, Jaina Proudmoore in single combat, to save Zul and me. Such bravery merits an audience, father."
I looked at her questionably, "You didn't have to tell him that…" I whispered.
"I'm not lying; besides, he'll be impressed, trust me." She whispered back.
"Enough!" King Rastakhan yelled as he walked forward.
I curtsied and lowered my head as he began to walk forward.
"I will decide what to do with this outsider." He yelled as he walked. He continued to walk forward as my head was lowered and Princess Tanaji pushed me from my back to where her father was walking. I didn't really understand that I needed to walk by his side.
"Jacla Set speaks true, you seek our fleets might against the Alliance," King Rastakhan said as I walked by his side, "but my daughter is right as well. Rescuing her showed great courage, a trait I admire. Tanaji worries that I do not see our true enemies, and knows that I am not as blind as she thinks. Let us see if the Horde can prove its worth in Zandalar. Let them stay in the great seal as my guest, for now."
Jacla Set yelled from the hallway, "Only the Zandalari may walk those sacred halls. The law states- "
King Rastakhan interrupted, "The law is what I say it is, for so long as I am King the eyes of the kingdom rest upon this new champion. This day I name you as 'speaker'."
I tilted my head to the side and kind of lost track of what he was saying. Well I knew what he was saying, but I didn't know what that meant, "Arishokost. Maraas shokra. Anaan esaam Qun."
He spoke in a confused way and I couldn't catch his phrasing. He looked at me and looked at his daughter.
"He said you're using Zul'Aman slang that he hasn't heard and I didn't catch that word either… Arishok?" Princess Tanaji translated.
"It means 'tibe leader'." I said
"You didn't tell me you know Troll." She claimed.
I nodded, "I was raised by the Zul'Aman for a little while, I know a few words, Shanedan (greetings formally), Ataash varin kata (In the end lies glory), TAARSIDATH-AN HALSAAM-"
Princess Tanaji put her hand in front of my face. "No, no, do not say dat in de presence of a king. He's going to tink you're a-'' We looked around and there were a few troll guards that were laughing including King Rastakhan because I actually said, ('I will bring myself sexual pleasure later, while thinking about this with great respect', but I thought it meant 'My allies and brothers in victory') "Can you just speak Orcish, most of us can speak Orcish." She sternly suggested.
I nodded, "So should I say something."
The King got done laughing, "By definition it's what a 'speaker' should do, but know dis, what you say and do represents your whole faction as a whole."
I shook my head and half smiled, "Well, I should tell- "
"No!" Princess Tanaji yelled at me as she grabbed me by my hand. Making a surge of pain go through my blackened skin, on my deformed arm, and I screamed out in pain.
King Rastakhan looked at me in concern, "Are you okay?"
Princess Tanaji looked up at him, "She's fine, father. She's…"
King Rastakhan shook his head, "No, what happened to your arm, champion?"
I shook my head, "It's nothing, it was my fault. Something that happened while we were rescuing your daughter."
King Rastakhan looked back at Princess Tanaji, "Daughter, why haven't you tended to this champion's injuries, I thought I taught you to return kindness with such."
I shook my head, "No, it's fine. She already tried."
Princess Tanaji shook her head at me, "Perfectia don't, father, it's complicated. She has a guardian spirit, kind of like we do with Rezan, but she exploited it. Dat's why I can't heal her with my power."
King Rastakhan looked down at me for a few seconds, seemed to be smelling the air around me, and made a sudden panicked step back while looking upwards above me. He seemed to stand up straighter as if sizing up this invisible force. "A human stand, uncommon, but not unheard of."
"A what?" Me and Princess Tanaji said at the same time.
He looked down at her, "A Sutando, it's like a contract dat… Daughter, our history when we were allied with the Old Gods against the Titans."
She shrugged, "Dat was twenty-thousand years ago father."
He sighed, looked away, and shook his head, "It's the same ting…" He looked above me, backing away, taking a step back, and looked down on me.
I sighed and shook my head, "That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about. I'm not sure if I'm a particularly good representative of the Horde. Princess Tanaji told me a few things about your kingdom, but I'm going to be tending to my injuries for a little while. Also, I… "I looked him in the eye, "I'm not sure if I want a war with the Alliance. If anything, if we can learn to protect each other, I would be fine with that, but I would never ask you to take your fleet and attack enemies of the Horde. Unless it was absolutely necessary."
King Rastakhan shrugged, "War is sometimes inevitable, Perfectia.".
I looked downward and shrugged, "What about peace, maybe even… Love?" I looked at him.
King Rastakhan laughed slightly, put his hand on the back of his head, looked at me confused, and back at his daughter.
I shook my head at him, "I didn't mean you." I laughed slightly, "Don't get the wrong impression."
King Rastakhan laughed, "Of course, I knew what you meant. It's just, from what I've heard of de Horde I… Do you know what?" He nodded, "You're a perfect 'speaker'."
I shrugged, blushed, and looked away, "Well that's my name."
King Rastakhan nodded, "Yes, it is, and I won't forget it. Tend to your injuries and come back when you can. I'm sure problems will be waiting for you when you get back or we'll figure something out."
I nodded, curtsied, and lowered my head.
King Rastakhan returned a graceful bow as well and went back to his throne room.
Princess Tanaji looked at her father questionably and back at me, "You seem to have a way with royalty Perfectia."
I nodded, shrugged, and smiled, "I told you I'm High Elf nobility."
Princess Tanaji looked at her father, walked away, sat down on his throne, and waved to us.
We waved back, "I haven't seen him do dat in a really long time." Princess Tanaji stated.
"Do what?" I asked.
"Blush."
"I didn't notice any blushing." I stated, because I really didn't.
Princess Talanji sighed and shook her head, "Come on Perfectia, I'll show you around."
So, she took me to the area below. Members of the Horde had already started settling in. I saw the Great Seal, a golden faced warrior, imbued with gold carvings and circular patterns taking up all of the back wall. It stood fifty feet high. The face was fierce, but the patterns were welcoming and finely symmetrical and I knew why Jacla Set didn't want strangers in this room, "You have a beautiful kingdom, Princess Talanji." I complemented.
Princess Talanji nodded, "Thank you. It is said de Great Seal is one of de only things still standing dat is older than de Zandalari Empire. My father keeps many of his treasures here in de royal vault." He pointed outward, "You can find your Nightborne friend in de Hall of Ancient Paths. Come see me when you're done looking around."
"Is that when you're going to ask me to do stuff?" I asked.
Princess Talanji rolled her eyes and sighed, "Yes." She said slightly disappointed, "Just make yourself at home and don't offend anyone. I'm sure mages will come to set up portals soon."
I nodded and smiled, "Thank you for everything."
She smiled, "Thank you, and I'm sorry about your… mate. "
I repressed a laugh, "It's fine, I'll keep trying."
I was walking away from her and she said, "Wait!" Kind of loud, but not really. "I'm sorry, but I have ta ask."
I looked at her inquisitively, "What is it?"
She looked around and gestured to me to come closer, "Why is ya behind so big?"
I looked wide eyed and offended, "Seriously!?"
"Look behind you." She whispered. I looked and the guards behind me and saw them quickly look forward. "Dey've been staring at ya since ya walked in and you've been turning heads everywhere you walked."
I crossed my arms defensively for the slut shaming speech I would hear from so many other women, that I should dress differently, talk differently, and someone might try to assault me if I was in a dark alley, but she actually said, "What's ya secret?"
"Uh…?" And that caught me by surprise, so I felt I had no choice but to be honest, "I used to be overweight and I lost it really fast, and a few surgeries, and also Dark Spear Troll natal spas."
She nodded, "Aw, should have guessed from dat fragrance ya have…"
I looked at her confused.
"It be like coconut and some-ting else, some-ting sweet. It was pretty strong when we were on the bat on the way over here."
"Oh." I looked through my bag, "It's orange essence, pineapple, jasmine flower, and coconut oil. Works as a sunblock too, and will prevent with stretch marks if you're expecting, my friend Harris showed me how to make it." I pulled out my oil and gave her a bottle, "If you're ever in Outland she'll sell you more."
"I never had a child but I heard doze natal spas are quite relaxing. I guess I'll have ta go more frequently if I want de sharp curve you have." She paused, "So you are a mother?"
I shook my head, "I lost him five years ago."
She looked downward, "Oh… What was his name?"
"Auron." First name that came to mind that I said fairly quickly. I never actually thought about one, but there it was, "He was half Draenei… the, um, blue people you might have seen in the Alliance."
"Oh… My deepest condolences." And she walked away.
So, I looked around for a bit. First Arcanist Thalyssra didn't seem like she wanted to talk to me and frankly I didn't want to talk to her either. But she told me that she would need more mages if they were going to set up a network of portals here. She used her hearthstone to go back to who knows where and that meant I was stuck until more members of the Horde arrived.
Nathanos came up behind me, "Dawnlight!" He shouted.
I turned around, "Yes?"
"The Azerite." He ordered.
I rolled my eyes, pulled the two pieces from my pocket, and gave them to him.
Nathanos looked down at them, "I was told you had four, where are the other two?"
I rolled my eyes again, "I smashed one to bits and the other I had to throw in my fight with Jaina. It might still be in Stormwind Port."
Nathanos looked at me curiously, "You know most people would lie about things like that, our queen will not want to hear that."
I shrugged.
He looked away and shook his head, "I could put in a good word for you, but that arm of yours seems to have put you out of commission."
I nodded, "Yes, if I could use my sword arm I would most likely be doing task rabbit stuff right now."
Nathanos looked away for a second and back at me, "So, you have some time on your hands, well, hand."
I laughed slightly, "Yes, until the mages come I guess I'll be staying the night here."
"Do you play chess?" Nathanos asked.
I shrugged, "I know the rules."
"Are you any good?" He asked.
"Not really, are you?"
Nathanos nodded, "I am, but if you play me, or even, if you beat me, I'll put in a good word for you with the Dark Lady."
There hadn't been any witnesses that saw what I did up there and maybe that was a good thing, but the bad news was no one would actually believe what I did up there unless I could prove it. I couldn't do that. There was one small piece of Azerite sitting in Stormwind Port. Who knows who could just pick it up and do who knows what with it? So, a piece was in the hands of the Alliance. I guess I didn't have much choice. "Okay, I'm game." I said.
Nathanos smiled and we sat down near a table with chairs perpendicular to each other. He pulled out a finely hand crafted wooden board with chess pieces inside and set up the pieces in place on the board. I put my sword on the ground, so I could sit down, held my arm with my left hand, and sat on the opposite side of him.
"So, what do you usually play for?" Nathanos asked.
I shrugged, "I'm not really much of a gambler." I stated.
Nathanos shook his head, "That's just for keeping score."
"What do you play for?" I asked.
Nathanos held his hand out and gestured toward the board, "Win and I'll tell you."
I took the first move, King's pawn to E – 4.
He followed up by playing extremely fast and checkmated me in four moves, "Checkmate. So, how did you manage to seduce the king of Stormwind?" He asked.
I shook my head and smiled, "You play for conversation." I stated.
Nathanos smiled, "I play for the truth."
I tilted my head to the side, it was appealing to play with him now, "You might want to be careful with betting that, I might ask you a question about Sylvanas."
He nodded as he set up the board again, "I guess I better make sure you don't win."
I set up the white pieces, "We haven't been intimate." I stated.
Nathanos looked at me curiously, "But…"
I interrupted, "Nope, you have to win again."
I took the first move again but put my King side Knight to H-3 so he couldn't capture my king on F-2 like he did before. I played defensively, but he punished my mistakes by capturing my powerful pieces, leaving no way I could take the piece back, and arranged his pieces in such a way. I managed to take his queen before he took mine, but he trapped my King between two towers. It was a longer game because I was taking my time, but he played just as fast as he did before. "Checkmate." Nathanos said, "Do you use a different fighting style when you're intoxicated?"
I looked away, "I wish I could tell you, I feel more focus, balanced, unorthodox, when I'm buzzed. Three sheets to the wind, I have no idea… but I guess, an illusionary and fleeting sense of wellbeing?" I tried really hard to remember, "That didn't really count, so you can ask another question."
"Maybe if you focused more on fighting less time on trying to be funny you would have killed Jaina and not been injured." His words were harsh but he was completely right.
I shrugged slightly and nodded my head in agreement. "I guess the booze turns everything off."
He nodded, "From what Thalyssra told me, maybe I should have made you drink a bottle of bourbon before you came on assignment."
I shrugged and shook my head no, "If you would have done that I would have killed my allies as well. It wouldn't be the first time it's happened."
"Maybe. So how did you manage to steal the king's heart?" He asked now.
I smiled as I recalled the thought, I shook my head as I didn't really want to confess this to him, but I did, "Poetry… I think, and everything else…my personality?" I shrugged confused about how this all happened as well, "I gave him a love poem and he wanted to meet me."
Nathanos smiled curiously, "Interesting. Have you ever written a poem about our queen?"
I looked at him, looked away, and shrugged, "I guess you'll have to beat me to find out."
Nathanos shook his head, "But your face just gave it away. I'll give you a two-turn advantage, if I win again, you'll read it to me or give it to me."
I shrugged and looked down, "It's not flattering, I would think she would be mad if she knew what I wrote about her."
Nathanos raised his eyebrows slightly, "If it's offensive or idiotic I won't breathe a word of it to anyone, but I may just stop playing with you. But you managed to steal a king's heart with what you wrote so I'm sure that it's good."
I nodded slightly, "Thank you for your confidence, Nathanos." I set up the pieces again. And took my two turns at King's pawn to E-4 and Kings Knight to H-3. I didn't want to lose this time and I made sure to not make careless mistakes. I managed to take his powerful pieces with some of my pawns and make chain reactions with each piece. I made sure if I was going to lose even a single pawn I was going to have another piece to capture it back. I managed to take his queen somewhat early and he later took mine. Careless mistake, but I still took more pieces then he did, and I was planning to capture his king with two towers, but I wasn't paying attention to the pawns and trying to arrange my towers on his side of the board left my side open. He brought a pawn to my side and took back his queen. Nathanos laughed, "Just like you." He said mid game.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"You moved into enemy territory and became a queen." Nathanos stated.
"I'm not a queen." I said as I shrugged, "If I was, I would be your enemy, most likely."
"Still, you fought his queen. Not literally but you're both powerful. I didn't see what happened up there, but I did hear it, and I must say, it sounded like two powerful queens. Everyone knows how powerful Jaina Proudmoore is, but you, you became that powerful recently. You were a common adventurer, a pawn, and then you did what no other adventures would think to do. You move into enemy territory and become motivated by a love for an enemy king, you become powerful. Enough to go toe to toe with one of the most powerful individuals on Azeroth."
I shrugged, "I've always been strong Nathanos, I'm just an indecisive oxygen thief that's just too whimsical to do anything noteworthy, I don't think I've ever focused on anything. Besides, I still got hurt."
Nathanos laughed slightly, "So did she. Self-deprecating humor is unbecoming of you and sounds like you're making excuses to be lazy."
Why did that guy have to be right about everything!? I agreed… AGAIN.
"I could smell blood and she was limping. We could have killed her on that port, but you would have most likely died from the way I saw her looking at you. So, Zul's plan seemed a little better." Nathanos looked down at the board, "I think I have this game, don't you think?" He picked up his new queen piece, "Don't sacrifice your queen again unless you know the pawns will make it over."
I nodded, "I guess I owe you a poem."
Nathanos leaned back on his chair, crossed his arms, and nodded.
I pulled my book from my bag, unlocked it, and turned to the page I wrote it in, "I can't promise you you won't be offended."
Nathanos nodded, "It's fine."
I took a deep breath and started reading, "
Plague, plague, endless plague
Friends and foes are left are vague
Wake, wake, from the grave.
Rise to set the world aflame
Night, night, endless night
Terror is her only light
Plague, plague, left unclaimed
Death has come and she's to blame
Rage, rage, left untamed
Darkness comes from this old bane
Death, death, what she brings
Like the angel of Light, she sings
Run, run, she has come
Curse the grave where she is from
Lies, lies, she despise
Resurrecting undead lives.
"
Nathanos smiled from ear to ear and nodded his head.
I looked at him confused, "I've never seen you smile like that."
"I haven't been colored this impressed in a while. You sang it a little."
I shrugged.
"It's not flattering, but it's accurate. Dark, but beautiful, like her." Nathanos looked away as if recalling a memory, "It's the kind of chant that strikes fear into our enemies as we march on the battlefield and scares all the little Stormwind children, as we invade their cities. May I have it?"
I looked away and was thinking about saying no, "If you put in a good word for me with our Warchief, but also one more thing." I paused, and he waited, "Promise me that you won't kill Anduin unless it's absolutely necessary."
Nathanos shook his head as he was about to take it, but put back his hand and crossed his arms defensively, "I won't disobey my queen." He stated.
"I'm not asking you to disobey her, I'm asking you to…" I paused, "…If she orders you to take his life, you give Anduin five or ten seconds of life, a moment of hesitation to ask if this is necessary. I think there's a reason in chess you have to say 'check' when you threaten the king. If you were to take the king like you would any other piece, well, like in war, some other person waiting for that seat of power would take over. But since you capture a king in chess…"
"He'll give in to all our demands, powerless to make any further moves on the battlefield." Nathanos finished my sentence.
I nodded, "And the Horde gets what we want."
Nathanos rolled his eyes and smiled slightly, "You do realize that our warchief will most likely want to turn every human into an undead, right?"
I laughed slightly, "Nathanos, I'm an elf, you do realize that, don't you?"
Nathanos nodded, "It's kind of hard to miss, your point?"
"My point is that I'm a troll descendant, a race of people that are not immortal. Elves really came to be after the Well of Eternity was created and this was our bridge to immortality. As we are now we are considered beautiful to all the mortal races because we have been here some long and I know that other races are jealous of what we have. But think about how the other trolls might have thought of us when we made that first change. When we didn't have tusks, when we started standing upright, and when we had more fingers. I'm sure there were people, trolls that thought this was a deformity, a disgusting mutation, and an abomination to the laws of nature."
Nathanos looked away and nodded his head.
"Humans are finally ascending and as it looks now, it's grotesque, but when you have eternity to work with, you find ways to improve. Also, people's opinion can change once they see what you can do and build. When I was a child I would see artisans spend weeks on a single painting or carving. My family's ships took years to craft, not only the boats themselves, but the carvings and patterns… one slip of the hand, one splash of irremovable paint, and it might be such a big problem or eyesore that the project would start all over from the beginning. We had all the time in eternity and our kingdom was a reflection of that sort of perfection. It wasn't just craftsmanship, but dance, cooking, swordplay, martial arts, theater, entertainment, and writing. I mean I understand why mortal races have made so many changes in these short years. They only have a little bit of time, you try so hard to do as much as you can during that time, but I also know what that feels like. I'm 24 and I shouldn't look the way I do now, I shouldn't have passed my first blood until I was in my 30's, but it came when I was 13."
Nathanos nodded, "Most human women get that around that time you know, but it does bother me sometimes that I'll never be able to procreate."
I sighed and nodded my head, "I know how you feel, but can you still…?" I hinted.
He nodded, "I can, and it still quite pleasurable, but I don't have that drive I used to when I was alive."
I laughed, "Have you ever wondered why Tyrande and Malfurion, some of the oldest elves in Azeroth have had no children?"
Nathanos shrugged slightly, "Hadn't really thought about it, but that does raise a few questions. Maybe they do have kids, just none that we have heard about."
I shrugged, "Well a few millennia and I'm sure the undead will figure something out."
Nathanos crossed his arms defensively and thought back, "I already told Sylvanas I wouldn't kill children, nor would I let her or any of her Horde."
I looked at him slightly angrily, "You know there were most likely children in Teldrassil."
He nodded, "I know, I told her after you left. She agreed, but she told me to be prepared for a time when the Alliance is desperate."
I looked away and shook my head, "If the Alliance starts using children, they deserve no pity or mercy."
Nathanos raised his eyebrows slightly, "But they already have…"
I looked at him confused.
"Anduin, remember. He was crowned king when he was six I think. They're not using children as cannon fodder but after losing so much royalty to kidnapping and assassination the Alliance strategically put that large bullseye on the back of a child."
The thought made a disturbing feeling go through my stomach, my Anduin being used as a tool for war. "The Alliance stayed afloat because they used our moral compass against us."
He nodded somewhat angrily, "Seems that way. She wants the surrendered Night Elves to start drinking Arc-wine you know. Her plan isn't total genocide, but don't you dare breathe a word of it. It's important that people are afraid of her, even her allies."
I looked at him questionably, "Then why did you tell me?"
"Because I couldn't figure out why she didn't kill you when she found out the truth about you and Anduin. Why did she believe what you said about turning him into an undead? She respects you Perfectia, and I believe you are not known for lying."
I thought back on Sylvanas's ruthlessness when compared to High Overlord Saurfang or even Garrosh Hellscream. They both had love from their people but Sylvanas was disliked even by her own undead, "Why is it so important that people be afraid of her? Isn't it important that a leader be loved by the people she's leading?"
Nathanos laughed at the thought, "If she was an elected official yes or clan of nobility trying to keep a crown, of course. But this isn't government, it's war, Regent Lord Lor'themar Theron might take over the Eastern Kingdoms and Baine Bloodhoof might take over for Kalimdor, the title of 'Warchief' might be temporarily set to the side."
I looked away as I remembered that Sylvanas was chosen somewhat against her will. Even when she was in the seat of power it didn't stop her from going out to the fronts of battles to seek enemies. "I still don't understand, it doesn't make sense to me."
"The world isn't wrong to fear Sylvanas for the potential that she can turn them into undead." Nathanos explained, "But Sylvanas isn't in the wrong for wanting to use that fear to prevent the genocide of her people. It's that pure act of fighting against oppression that the Alliance wants, not only for us, but their own people as well, that has turned Sylvanas into a monster.
In order to survive she has had to develop a capability for malevolence and destruction necessary to fight for freedom no matter the cost. But there is no pure evil or clear hero in war, it's a nuanced children's fantasy that winners of wars are the ones that fight the most honorably, because the end result is always the same." Nathanos looked away and thought back, "No, it's the worst. An honorable fight, even on both sides will only result in more dead, and that means more father's burying their children and more widows, widowers, and orphans, but, I'm not saying the Horde is right either… The world is what it always has been, and you can believe in your Light or code of honor or your moral justifications on either side, but the world is very much eat or be eaten."
I shook my head in disagreement, "You don't believe there could be peace? If one side wins?"
Nathanos rolled his red eyes, "Did at one point, did you believe that the Alliance were the enemies that were preventing peace from happening?"
I nodded, "Yes, of course."
"And you also thought the same of the Horde, am I right?"
I looked away ashamed and just nodded.
Nathanos flexed a slight grin on one side of his face and looked away. He looked back at me, "You were a child then. You're still a child now, you don't see the futility of how your acting and how pointless your actions are. You don't know who the true villains are, but the fact itself is that the cruel world is the villain and in the grand scheme of things you have to fight for your own survival and stop living in your grandiose idea of killing all the completely evil enemies. Even if the Horde or the Alliance were to win, it would be completely naïve to believe the conflict would somehow end."
I looked down and remembered a chapter in my book. My aunt Telavani words to Kael'thas Sunstrider, "The world is meant for grownups:" She said, "raw, well ordered, ruthless, and careening on the jagged edge of reality. Self-pitying dreamers cannot survive here, better yet rule." I didn't understand what that meant when she told me that, but I was beginning to understand what it meant now.
"So," Nathanos continued, "I think you should find meaning in your own life, Perfectia and I think you did, you saw something you wanted, and you went after it."
"That wasn't the reason though." I argued.
Nathanos looked away as he thought with a slight smile on his face, "Was it? You were going to abandon four people, one who I thought was a close friend to you, on that bridge so you could be with him."
I shrugged, "I wasn't thinking, I just… missed him."
Nathanos shrugged his shoulders slightly, "If peace was your only motivation why didn't you free him while he was held captive in Pandaria?"
I crossed my arms defensively, "Well, he was- "
"Not what you wanted." He interrupted, "A boy of 14 is rarely attractive to a woman of… How old were you then?" He asked.
"Nineteen, almost twenty."
"Right, I don't blame you. I would have killed you, but I would have done it with some remorse." Nathanos said with a slight smile.
I rolled my eyes, "Thanks." I said sarcastically.
Nathanos laughed as he thought back, "Do you know before I joined the Farstriders I killed three of my own friends? People I had fought side by side with for over a year?"
I looked at him disturbingly, "Why?"
Nathanos laughed at the memory, "We had a disagreement, they clearly cared about gold, wine, and Elvan…" He looked up as he tried to think of the word, "…'Treasuries'. And that was something I agreed with. It was why I volunteered, but my friends were a little taken back by Sylvanas's methods of command. They were going to kidnap her, try to teach her some manners, and hold her ransom, I disagreed. I brought their heads to her tent and I was exclusively the only human."
I looked away puzzled by the story. I found it funny, but I didn't want to admit it, "Did she, thank you?"
Nathanos smiled at the memory, "Not in the way I imagined, but yes. She was more trusting."
I put my hand on the back of my neck as I thought back, "I don't think Anduin would approve of those kinds of methods Nathanos."
He laughed out loud, "No, I don't think he would." He said, still laughing at the thought, but he got serious as he looked into my eyes, "He tried to kill you."
I rolled my eyes at the statement, "If I had a copper for every thing in Azeroth that has tried to kill me, there wouldn't be a single item left in the Auction House."
He rolled his eyes in disagreement, "Yes. I'm completely aware of 'adventures' inflated egos for killing eight to ten weak bodied peasants, don't start acting like one of them. Anduin could easily kill ten of them without breaking a sweat." He looked away and looked back at me, "Have you been to a battle ground lately?"
I shook my head, "No, not since I was assigned to be the Highlord at Light's Hope a year ago. I believed that there were some conflicts of interest in fighting one another with the Legion looming over our heads, why do you ask?"
He looked away as if recalling a memory, "I've been given a voluntarily assignment that involves leading a bunch of worthless adventures to seek out azerite enriched islands to mine. I haven't decided whether I would take the job or not."
I looked away and recalled my days of deployment in those canyons, "I think you'd be wasting your time. Most of those places are box canyons in the middle of nowhere, no way in or out and the only reason why we set up a base is because they set up a base."
"Yes, that's because we're fighting each other."
"No, no, but I mean when I think about what would happen if one faction were to leave, they would only have two bases in the middle of a box canyon, whoopty putain de merde."
He looked at me inquisitively, "J'ai compris ça (I understood that)" But there were pauses in between syllables and his accent sounded heavy from the throat. "Do you always curse in Thalassian?" He said in Orcish.
I shook my head, "No… not just cursing." I looked away with a slight smirk when I said that.
He rolled his eyes and shook his head, "Well double entendre aside-
"Also a Thalassian word, which means 'hear'-" I interupted.
"I know…" He said, seeming to be annoyed, "You've surprised me a few times these past few weeks and you have a leadership style that seems to work well with the grunts. So I'm kind of glad you decided to turn down the troll princesses laundry list of task rabbit assignments, we can get any idiot to do that."
I shrugged slightly, "I don't hate doing those things. Sometimes I meet really interesting people, but what would you prefer I be doing? Starting a chess club?" I joked and laughed looking at Nathanos, but he wasn't amused.
"That would be start, but I think Sylvanas mentioned you spying at one point?"
I only shrugged. But I was hoping he wouldn't press for the details.
"I know that you weren't there before, but when me and Sylvanas were being briefed by Garrosh about plans of attack or infiltration, he would have these papers in his hands. It's how we were able to steal the Focusing Iris but he only referred to you as 'my spy in the Silver Covenant' "
I shrugged, "That could have been anybody, I met plenty of spies that could have written those reports."
"You're lying." He stared blankly, "But you are convincing."
I didn't want to say anything more, but I was angry and offended, I was trying to laugh it off like, maybe he was joking.
"Don't start denying it." He interrupted me before I was about to say something, "I know you think you're telling the truth and that's why…" He looked away and shook his head, "You're a good spy. You don't just convince other people that you're a member of their group. You convince yourself and because of that, you can hide in plain sight, heck, you might even be so convincing that you would get promoted in the enemy ranks."
I looked upwards and thought he was giving way too much credit, "That's quite an assumption, Nathanos."
He smirked slightly and shook his head, "I wouldn't have made it, if I didn't recognize your hand writing. Your cursive is surprisingly legible, but the way you write your Z's-"
I shook my head, "No one can read lower case Z's. I have to stop and print them." I sighed and shook my head, "I didn't know what was going on over there, in Theramore."
"Don't play the victim please. I understand you might have been on a need to know basis, but if you get reassigned, understand that the Dark Lady has your best interest at heart. So don't you dare betray that, if anything happens to her…" He paused, "…Well, I won't make threats to my friends."
I swallowed and remembered that story he just told me, about how he collected his friends' heads, I looked at his face and tried to see if he was implying that, "What if I have to kill members of the Horde?" I asked
He laughed slightly, "Kill a hundred, kill a thousand, as long as nothing happens to her. But you won't be on a need to know basis, so you won't be able to use that excuse." He tilted his head to the side and looked at me inquisitively, "What do you see in that boy king anyways. If it was a grab for power you must know that his kingdom won't last under his leadership…"
I looked at him confused, "Didn't we lose the Undercity because of his invasion?"
Nathanos rolled his eyes and laughed, "They had us outnumbered ten to one without the inclusion of two dozen sedge weapons and we only had one." He looked away and shook his head, "Honesty, Sylvanas, her Dreadguard, and apothecaries were prepared for a full on tactical assault, what we got was a screaming toddler throwing his toy soldiers in a sandpit, and it wasn't for so many unknown factors even unbeknownst to him, he would have been dead or exploited to the people of Stormwind for his lack of competence."
"What would you do if you were in his position?" I asked
He sighed and rolled his eyes, "It doesn't really matter, just understand that I was an archer for King Terenas Menethil the second war and he knew the Orcish Horde battle tactics. When the Alliance invaded I only needed to implement the king's original plan." He shrugged slightly, "What do you see in a man that tries to kill you, and it can't just be a lust for forbidden fruit."
I nodded and laughed slightly and the memory of our kiss flooded my brain. The way his tongue dominated. The feel of his chest, tight and strong beneath my palms. The rush of warmth blazing its way through my body toward my lower half, "No woman I know has ever had a consent fantasy where their idol partner does everything they ask of them, asking permission before taking every advance. In my opinion men are supposed to take initiative, be assertive, and even be a little forceful. I know this is not an ideal situation, but this feels really good." I looked away and bit my lip slightly.
He looked at me confused, "He doesn't seem like the type."
I licked my lips, blushed, and recalled our kiss in the Stockades, "Trust me he is."
Nathanos looked away and thought back, "Do you actively seek out abusive relationships?"
I shook my head, "No, but… I hope not. One hit me and I ended it right away. Another stole and cheated on me, but I was in denial until I was given some information. I saw it for myself, and if I see him again, he's dead. And one seemed to care too much about what people thought of him, he would talk down to me if we were in public." I rolled my eyes, "He's not really worth my time."
"So you've only been with three men?" He asked. I didn't want to mention Oranio, I shrugged, but before I could say anything he said, "Why that look?"
I moved forward and he leaned closer, "The one that hit me was a woman." I whispered.
"Oh." He leaned back and shrugged slightly, "You know that's actually more common in same sex couples than you think. Gender roles can make things a little confusing from what I heard." He saw me put my hand over my eyes in embarrassment, "This isn't the Alliance." He explained, "You won't go to jail for who you decide to take to bed, but I have heard worse about you, about how you lost your virginity."
A feeling of dread came over me as I thought maybe he knew, maybe, somehow that information was leaked, and I would eventually have to fess up to it. Only members of the Silver Covenant knew, maybe I told someone while I was drunk. Isarami Fairwind was not known for keeping secrets.
"You lost your virginity to a horse and that's why you've been trying to convince the other warchief's to use them in our ranks…" He shook his head seeming to be disgusted, "You won't go to jail, but you really shouldn't-"
"NO!" I shouted, "Who said that?! And Lucy is a mare, female, not a station."
He looked up as he recalled, "I think I started hearing about it when you were overweight, during those presentations you used to make."
I vaguely remembered the horse replica from hay, cloth, and leather I made so I could explain how stallion sea men was collected. Thrall couldn't stop snickering over that. For Garrosh I had pictures, but he was, for the most part, serious. Vol'jin couldn't be bothered with that, but he did ask me to come by on short notice, so I had to mine the whole thing and pretend that Lucy actually had a phallus.
"I never saw a presentation," He said, "but Garrosh used to show us this crude picture you made and you were on all fours." He recalled, but seemed like he was trying to stop himself from laughing.
I put my hand on my face in embarrassment, "I always wondered why he insisted on keeping the drawings. He must have added me to it."
He was repressing a smile in his voice, "Well, when he put you in the hospital he referred to you as, 'that horse f***er'. Has anyone ever called you that to your face?"
I shook my head, no, "I've been called things because of my weight before, but I never assumed that people thought I was mating with them."
He looked at me and sighed slightly, "Promise me that you won't turncoat unless it's absolutely necessary. Remember that I saw the way that so-called 'gentle king' attacked you and you might not be as safe in his arms as you might like to believe. Be prepared to defend yourself, it would be a shame if something were to happen to you."
I nodded and put out my left hand. Nathanos reached out and grabbed my wrist and shook it, "I guess we have a deal." He said.
Nathanos started to pack up his chess board.
"Wait. I haven't beaten you yet." I said
"It's fine, it's been fun, I'll put in a good word for you with Sylvanas, and besides you're not that good." Nathanos stated.
I looked at him curiously, "Wait a second."
Nathanos stopped.
"Maybe we could change up some of the rules for our next game." I stated.
Nathanos looked up for a second, "Intriguing, what did you want to change?"
I smiled at the thought, "Let's let the queens be the key pieces for the game. Treat the queen just like you would the king, and if it's a tie the person that went first loses, but a pawn cannot be changed into a queen when it makes it over."
Nathanos thought for a second, "The king would be a worthless piece, but I see the irony"
"Possibly." I said and shrugged.
Nathanos thought, looked up, and down at me, "You want to ask me about Sylvanas, don't you?"
I nodded, "Guilty." I said and smiled.
He rolled his eyes, "Fine, but if I beat you again, we're done, and you tell me how you got to Stormwind in the first place."
That was actually something I didn't want to tell anyone, there was just so much to that, I couldn't tell him over a quick chat, and I also didn't want to incriminate Vereesa. It would look bad for her on both ends of the Horde and the Alliance. "Actually, never mind. We should stop."
Nathanos looked at me curiously, "Is there something you don't want me to know? You came up with all those rules and now you don't want to play?"
I looked away from him, "I can lie Nathanos…" I shrugged, "…If I'm trying to protect my friends."
He rolled his eyes, "Was Garrosh your friend?" He asked.
I nodded, keeping my head down, "He was, until he betrayed me. Well, we betrayed each other. I was careless, reckless and…"
"Young. "Nathanos interrupted.
I wanted to say that I had paid for my betrayal, but I just nodded in agreement.
"I'll ask you something else then." He said, "I'm a little curious about that spirit Sylvanas was talking about, Alexandros Mograine? I used to hear stories about him when I was a boy."
I laughed slightly, "There wasn't anything special about him before the dark portal opened. He lost his whole platoon to the warlock that was wielding the dark Rezalb crystal and what's disappointing to me is that their names are not even in the history books."
I started to recall like I was actually there. The First War with the Horde and Alexandros's words became my own, "If I wasn't forced into early retirement I would have been considered a disgrace, I was sick with grief at the loss of my men, but we had to hold that western flank, and we were being attacked on both sides by not just orcs, but ogres, and those things can break phalanx's like toy blocks. I would have died if Tirion hadn't showed up, but it wasn't enough. We saw that orc warlock and what he could do with that crystal. I called in the catapults to deal with the orcs knowing full well that we were in our own kill zone. I must have been hit with five arrows, but a javelin landed right into that foul warlock's chest and arrows dealt with the rest. But before that I was just a man that loved being a soldier. I was strict, but I expected my troops to like it at least half as much as I did. I wouldn't put up with any attitudes or sob stories. I expected my men to act like men and take pride in the uniform they wore. Any stories you heard about me of single handedly killing large ambushes of orcs or taking out large garrisons of Horde was exaggerated." I shook my head slightly, but I was able to move my deformed hand a little bit.
Nathanos looked at me in shock, "Who's in there?"
I looked away and shrugged, "It's still me, but I got a lot of his memories before my fight with Jaina but ask me something else. I was just able to move my hand just now."
"Do you play chess?" He asked.
I smiled and nodded, "Play queen's chess after a few games."
Nathanos nodded, smiled, and he set up the pieces. I took what seemed to be random moves, but they were quick. Almost as quick as Nathanos, but I was stopped, and I looked at the board.
"That's checkmate." Nathanos said. "You won."
Alexandros took control, made me lean backwards, and crossed his arms, "So why didn't you join the Alliance if you were so good at killing Horde. I'm sure we could have used your archery skills?" But I didn't ask that question, but I remembered it.
Nathanos half smiled, "Because I'm more than an archer. The formations, the ceremony, the idea of sitting in the back while soldiers were in the thick of it. Also, I never wanted to be a soldier, all you people care about is bringing honor to your families. I'm a son of a wh–e, and she raised me to believe that money was more important than honor. I found mercenary work to be less limiting."
"I guess you're playing white now." Alexandros was still in control.
Nathanos pulled out a kind of two face clock and put it down next to the chess board. "Five minutes?" he asked.
"For me? Sure, but you better take ten." He was speaking through me again, but at least I wasn't losing time. I was thankful for his help in playing these games.
Nathanos nodded and smiled, "Five it is then."
He set the clock and took his first turn and smacked down the clock. I took quick moves and hit that clock just as fast as he did. It was over in a flash but there weren't enough pieces to make a check mate and there were two minutes on each clock. "Tie." I said.
Nathanos nodded, "I guess we'll both ask each other questions. What are you doing in that woman's body?" He asked.
"Do you want the short answer or the long answer?"
"Short"
"Basically, when she was nine she put her hands on the Corrupted Ashbringer when it was just lodged into my freshly demised corpse. So it was this or let her die. Which metaphorically injected my conscience into her subconsciousness, and now I'm her brain landlord and if you're wondering why I would phrase it like that…"
"She rubbed off on you." Nathanos interrupted.
"Right, it has been entertaining to say the least."
"So a question for a question, what's the long explanation, in your own words, Mograine?"
I took a deep breath and could feel more of his memories in my head, "Being in this body has given me insight that I've never felt before in my first life. Every memory of my old life I recall feels like seeing them with new eyes, new feelings, new emotions. I know you wouldn't understand it because I didn't understand until I was here, but I can feel danger, a stronger sense of thought, colors, music, shapes, and various intentions. Every piece on this chess board feels like a scared life."
Nathanos rolled his eyes, "It sounds like being a woman is a lot like being prey."
"That's a general way of putting it, but I have and probably will keep beating you in this game, Marris."
He looked at me strangely, and I was surprised, I didn't actually know his real name.
"You frequented Southshore. You were a teenager that was too shy to approach me, but I remember you now."
He smiled and nodded his head, "We'll see, Mograine."
"Perfectia is my second chance to be the father I couldn't be to Renault and Darion. Being with her for this long has really given me insight on how my boys might have felt about me. When I meet them both in the afterlife I truly want to say to Renault that I forgive him for what he did to me. Also, I'm okay with the path Darion had taken. Perfectia is becoming the paladin I've always wanted to be, no… Better than I could imagine and I can't leave that behind. I have to stay until she doesn't need me anymore." It was nice to hear him say that, "Why a bow? Why not a sword?" Alexandros asked.
"I can use an ax," Nathanos answered, "they're a lot better for making campfires in the wilderness, but I took up the bow first because they were easy to make. All I needed was wood and string. I managed to steal a sword when I was a boy, but I couldn't be intimidating with a grown man's sword. It was taken away from me and almost used against me and my mother. A bow and arrow though, I could get my mother's clients that didn't pay up and even kill a few. Also, an arrow in the foot didn't mean that they would never come back. One more game, three minutes." Nathanos said with a smile.
I nodded and smiled back.
Another fast game, I was moving the pieces so fast I couldn't really keep track of what I was doing, but I could feel Mograine need to dominate Nathanos completely but he was just as fast, I could feel Nathanos knew he was losing, then a mistake. A loss of Nathanos's knight to a pawn. I moved my deformed hand to hit the timer and screamed out in pain. I was back in full control again but only to feel a surge of throbbing pain go through my deformed hand. I flipped over that stupid clock with my left hand, "No more!" I yelled.
"I'm sorry." He looked at me in shock.
"You think this is funny?!" I said cradling my arm, "You think I chose this for myself?" I looked down at the powerless Ashbringer. "This stupid, worthless, hunk of junk, has given me nothing but problems!" I kicked it away. I looked down, "This stupid thing doesn't even work when I want it to." I thought back, "Me and Anduin would have still been together if I hadn't… if I couldn't… summon it in the first place and see what it's done to me." I took my hand and showed it to him. Nathanos looked at it disturbingly. I shook my head and I started to walk away.
Nathanos got up and grabbed me by my shoulder, "He'd be dead, and you would still be sitting in the Stockades." He stated, "I was aiming for the back of his neck between his helmet and shoulder armor, but I saw you and shot you in the shoulder. I wanted to call you out to our warchief right there, but I knew something happened. You were sick with grief, so I didn't say anything."
I nodded, "Thank you, but I'm not special. I cry, I bleed, I've had to live with the consequences of my actions, and sooner or later, I'll die, either surrounded by loved ones or a nameless soldier on a forgotten battlefield. If you or Sylvanas, or even Anduin think I'm some powerful queen that she can pit against their enemies, well I feel sorry for you. I'm just someone that was dragged along this bloody path trying to survive. What I can do, is not what I am."
Nathanos looked away and crossed his arms, "I think you would have won that last game." He said.
I shrugged, "It wasn't me."
He smiled slightly, "Ask me a question."
"Are you still in love with Sylvanas?" I asked.
Nathanos looked down and thought back, "The morning is when we lingered together. It was before the world wanted anything from her, and that's when she was the most beautiful. It's true, not many saw her like that, but it's how I've always remembered her. Even though we each had different lives to go to, mornings are what we shared. There were nights though. When it was just the two of us, when she would softly hide in her own thoughts, and one thing seemed to melt the cold silence. A kiss. Ask me what the perfect day tastes like and I'd say, her lips. She was the last person I kissed, that has to mean something. I think she knows what she does to me, her every touch, every time she has smiled and touched my face, every time she has come close. To know her scent, means something else. It means we've been close, closer than anyone else. I daresay I'm lucky. But when she doesn't want me, when she's away, and it's just her scent with me. I can only feel forgotten. I am hers, if she would hold my hand, I'd be hers forever. A simple promise. That's all I can offer, but it might not be enough. I couldn't be there when she needed me, I was too late. So, I am what she needs me to be."
I nodded, "I guess a four-letter word doesn't really describe it."
Nathanos shook his head, "No, it barely does it justice."
I ripped out the poem about Sylvanas and handed it to him, "You've earned this, I'm going to bed."
"Do you want me to wake you up when the mages get here?" Nathanos asked.
I shook my head, no.
"Thank you for the games, Ashbringer."
I nodded and smiled, "Blightcaller." I said.
He looked at me.
I looked away and thought, "If she ever lets you kiss her again, try kissing her on her neck. The beard seems like it would feel nice on the skin."
Nathanos looked away, laughed slightly, and nodded, "You are something, but I'll keep that in mind."
I picked up the sword, it was a little bit lighter, with my left hand, and put it on my back. So here I am writing, and I guess I'm going to go to sleep now.
Nathanos waited for the Nightborne and Undead mages to show up and establish a network of portals on both sides of the cities. He checked on the traitorous blood elf Perfectia Dawnlight and she was asleep with her book at the foot of her bed.
He reached for it, picked it up, and tried to open it. It wouldn't open, and he looked at the book and the golden steel embroidery that not only seemed decorative, but also fastened the book tightly shut. He tried to gain leverage caring little if he damaged it as he tried to pry it open with his axe. He stabbed downward on what seemed to be soft leather and a dent wasn't made. His axe was chipped, and the book remained undamaged. He looked at the crest. A dragonhawk on a decorative shield. There was a lock on the side of it with the same crest. He touched it slightly and a sizzle and burning feeling came into his hand through his glove. He clutched his teeth through his pain and shook his hand rapidly so as to not wake the sleeping paladin.
"Maybe another type of magic would get this thing open." He said slightly out loud and put the book in his bag.
He made his way through the Orgrimmar portal and took his mount to the Warchief of the Horde, "Dark Lady, I'm happy to report that the mission was a complete success."
"If it was a success then why are you alone? Where is the cargo I was promised?" She asked, discontented.
"The Zandalari Princess has become a willing participant in the Horde's endeavors." He explained.
"Stockholm Syndrome?" She asked dismissively.
Nathanos shook his head, "Not exactly, she was looking for members of the Horde to help with the problems that are happening on the island. I think she sees this as a give and take relationship with their kingdom and ours."
"And what of the fleet?" She asked with a shrug
"Once we build trust they will turn them over to us."
Sylvanas seemed appalled, "Build trust? I told you to bring the princess over to me. You had their ship, why didn't you commandeer it."
He shrugged one shoulder slightly, "None of the Forsaken troops you sent knew how to operate a ship that size, myself included."
She rolled her eyes slightly, "That child knew, she was talking with a pirate accent when we were in Darkshore together. I found out later that she was a pirate for over a year."
Nathanos looked down, "I know that now, I had planned on taking the ship once we had gotten far enough, but we were pursued by the Alliance and we wouldn't have gotten far without the Zandalari fleet to save us before our ship was sunk."
"Speaking of which, did she kill Jaina Proudmoore?"
Nathanos shook his head, "No, how could you send her to Stormwind like that? She nearly jeopardized the entire mission when her group ran into Anduin. "
Sylvanas narrowed her gaze and Nathanos, "So the child died in the attempt?"
"It was reckless." Nathanos argued.
"And I told you what to do if she did turncoat on me, the "quick death" was highly combustible and lethal even through the skin and would have likely poisoned the boy king as well."
Nathanos nodded understandably, "Of course, forgive me for questioning your logic. I suppose regardless of the outcome things would have went in your favor. You'll be disappointed to know that they were both gravely injured in their fight together, I think. Perfectia's lost all function to her right arm and it didn't look like she was going to be recovering anytime soon. Jaina was walking like an old woman with a cane last I saw her."
"You think?"
"I thought the priority was to secure the Zandalari princess, so we could secure their fleet. If you wanted Perfectia to kill Jaina Proudmoore then you should have told her or at least told me."
"Do you think she would have done it if I told her to? If I said, 'bring me her head and don't come back until you do.' "
Nathanos shrugged slightly.
"It would have given her time to plan her betrayal, she might have killed you, if she had time to plan it. Do you truly think that someone like her would be loyal to me?"
Nathanos shook his head and let out a deep sigh, "No, but I know how she could be."
"Are you going to suggest I hold some horses hostage?" Sylvanas said jokingly. "Her and that boy king are too much alike."
Nathanos looked at her confused, "I agree with you, but we did speak for a bit. She's not a woman you can control with fear. If you want her to do what you say unquestionably…" He looked away and shook his head, "…You have to be her friend."
Sylvanas laughed and looked at Nathanos face. His face was completely unmoved, "Oh my gosh you're serious."
"I am, and you are going to have to stop calling her 'child'."
She rolled her eyes, "I really hate saying her name. Who names their daughter that?"
Nathanos shrugged, "If you want some insight into her persona she keeps a diary that…" He looked into his bag and looked around for it, "Odd, I know I brought it with me. Did I drop it?" He said to himself.
"Do you need to retrace your steps Nathanos, I never took you as a thief."
"I had planned on returning it, I know I had it, all of my other things are here."
"Do you have the Azerite shards?" She asked.
He looked up at her and back down into his bag and took out the shards, "She had to use two of them for her fight with Jaina." He said as he held out the pieces. Sylvanas reached out, took them, and put them in her pocket. "It was a large book with a dragonhawk carving on it, on a shield." He said in a slight panic.
Sylvanas looked at him inquisitively, "That sounds like my family crest."
Nathanos thought back in sudden realization, "I do remember seeing that crest before, on letters you kept in your tent. When we…"
Sylvanas looked downward, "I told you never to bring that up." She said angrily.
Nathanos nodded slightly, "I'm sorry my queen, but what is she doing with something like that?"
Sylvanas walked back on the seat Garrosh would sit in that was still much too big for her, "I guess once you find it again you can ask her. You're dismissed."