(2023-06-12) A Friendly Northrend Meeting

Details

Author:	Alli
Summary:	Velrin comes to visit Celaven in Valiance Keep, and she brings her new friend Taeavon along.
Rating:	T for Teen

Velrin and Taeavon arrive in Valiance Keep to find Celaven waiting for them.

Velrin smiles and waves when she sees Celaven. Taeavon stands behind her and also smiles and waves politely.

Celaven's face brightens when he sees Vel land at the gryphon master. Then his gaze shifts to Taeavon briefly. Turning back to Velrin, he says, "It's good to see you! And you brought a friend?"

[Velrin]: It's good to see you too! *Velrin runs up to try and hug and kiss Celaven* Oh, and this is my lieutenant. Taeavon Noonshade.

Celaven opens his arms to give her a hug, but kisses her on the cheek.

[Celaven]: Taeavon Noonshade. *Looking over her shoulder, still holding her in a hug, he adds* I'm Celaven Evensong, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

Taeavon says: Nice to meet you too. *he eyes the two while they embrace and clears his throat* I've been pretty impressed with the Captain, you know. You're lucky to have her as a… *he considers his words for a split second* friend.

[Celaven]: Yes, a dear friend, *Celaven nods, pulling back from the hug.* Shall we go inside? There's a little balcony with a table.

Velrin nods, "Yes, let's." She shivers violently, her teeth chattering, "It's freezing out here."

Celaven adjusts his fur-lined purple cloak and nods.

Velrin rushes inside and takes a seat, wrapping herself up tighter in her cloak.

Celaven heads into the inn and to the secluded table on the balcony. He also keeps his cloak tight around him, and he turns to the other two with a smile. "So… how have things been going? You're working with quel'dorei now?"

[Velrin]: I am. *Velrin nods* It has been going very well. I'm glad to have them at my back.
Taeavon nods and smiles politely at the compliment.

[Celaven]: You've been mostly inland? I've continued to assist near here, though perhaps I should move inward soon.

[Velrin]: We've been mostly keeping the Howling Fjord secure for now, but it looks as though we will be advancing further north in due time.

[Celaven]: Ah, then perhaps we will meet in the middle. I was in the fjord briefly, a while back. Do you recall the man I introduced you to, Alysson? He was embroiled in some kind of trouble there.

Velrin nods "Ah, yes. I do remember him a little. An odd fellow, but he seemed nice enough."

[Celaven]: Yes, a good heart, an unusual head, I would say. Some death knight…. relative?… led him astray.

Taeavon raises an eyebrow.

[Velrin]: A death knight relative? *Vel looks at Celaven with a hint of concern* Is this relative safe?

[Velrin]: Can they be trusted?

[Celaven]: Oh, absolutely not. That one is with the Scourge, as I understand. Alysson needed rescuing. But… have you worked with the Ebon Blade?

Velrin shakes her head, "No. And I pray I never need to."

Taeavon says: The Captain and I actually met once before working together fighting a death knight. This was before they all broke free from the Scourge, but still…

[Celaven]: It must have been a terrible opponent. *Celaven pulls his cloak just a little tighter.* I do think the freed ones can be trusted, to some extent. Did you kill the death knight?

Velrin shakes her head again, "No. We were lucky to make it out with our lives. Fortunately she was more interested in a certain Scarlet inquisitor than she was with us."

Taeavon shifts in his seat a little uncomfortably.

[Celaven]: Hm, well. That may be awkward someday, if she's free now. Anyway, mostly I've been spending my time healing the people here.

[Velrin]: That is good to hear. *Velrin smiles*

[Celaven]: I'm not sure what it's like in the Howling Fjord, but the Alliance sent settlers here that the military scarcely protects. They've created their own little militia to defend against the Scourge.

[Velrin]: It's a little better in Howling Fjord. We haven't had to resort to employing militias to protect ourselves, but the vrykul's attacks seem to never cease.

[Celaven]: They're… locked away in vaults or something? More and more vrykul to wake up? I read a bit about that in the newsletter, but I've not encountered them much.

Taeavon says: That's the short of it, yeah. They've been magically sealed away. Probably for thousands of years, and they've been waking up bit by bit. There's no telling how many there really are.

Celaven shivers. "This truly is an inhospitable land. But… how have you been doing? You look well."

[Velrin]: I have been doing… better. *Taeavon eyes her curiously for a moment* While I am not happy to see others suffer, the work has been a welcome change of pace.

[Velrin]: Not to mention the new comrades, who are quite the inspiration as well. *she smiles at Tae who smiles back but quickly glances away shyly*

Celaven nods slowly. "There is plenty of scope to make a difference here." He watches the interplay between them and raises one eyebrow. "And it's good to get to know the people you work with."

[Velrin]: Agreed. I haven't gotten much time to know them personally, but all of my Quel'dorei comrades have proven quite capable. I've learned much from them, even in just a short time.

[Celaven]: I… *Celaven's smile dims for a moment, but then he continues* I have met some of your people before, Tae. Though none who did not choose to follow the Sin'dorei.

Taeavon nods and frowns, "Yeah… It's really a shame what happened there. I kinda can't blame them for leaving, but still…"

[Celaven]: It does make maintaining friendship more difficult. Though I suppose one I know is Kirin Tor, so I could meet with him in Dalaran.

Taeavon nods again, "I'm from Dalaran, so I wasn't forced out of my home like many others were, but I haven't been able to visit my sister in years now.

[Celaven]: That must be very painful. *Celaven looks at him with sympathy.* My sister and I have sometimes gone through periods of little contact, but I can't imagine not being able to. Perhaps she could visit you?

Taeavon says: Well, I mean… *he scratches his head* We didn't grow up together or anything, but my dad would take me up to see her every year.

Velrin 's ears perk up as she listens.

Taeavon says: I just feel bad that I can't anymore. And I'm not sure she really would want to come visit me anyway.

[Celaven]: Really? Why not? If she enjoyed seeing you each year…

Taeavon says: I'm not… really so sure she liked it much… She and my dad weren't on great terms, but he wanted to show that she was still important to him if only in a small way like that.

Celaven frowns slightly, looking at Tae. "That isn't nothing. Maybe you could get a message to her, through someone in Dalaran. There is a chance she might want to visit." Then Celaven smiles and shakes his head. "I'm sorry, I'm meddling."

[Celaven]: And we've only just met.

Taeavon laughs it off, "Don't worry about it. I appreciate the concern."

[Celaven]: Should you ever need assistance, I do still know some… living Sin'dorei. *He smiles faintly.* My sister is back in Ashenvale, though I have a half-sister who ended up coming with us to Northrend.

Taeavon says: Thanks. I'll let you know. *he says genuinely* Gotta make sure you stay close with family yeah?

Velrin frowns a little at the last comment, but she smiles and wiggles her ears seeing Celaven and Taeavon getting along.

[Celaven]: Mm, yes. I didn't know I had a half-sister till this past year. She's in her twenties already.

Taeavon nods, "Mine's only a half sister too. I don't remember when my dad first told me about her, but I think I was pretty little still."

Taeavon says: She's a few decades older than me. She was born before my parents met.

Celaven chuckles. "I think my father would have never told anyone, if it hadn't come out despite him. My sister's almost five hundred years younger. It's quite a gap."

Taeavon 's eyes go wide and he joins in laughing, "Wow! Now that's a gap. My mother had only just first come to Dalaran around five hundred years ago."

Celaven smiles. "My mother fought in the War of the Ancients, so… it's a little refreshing to be seen as older."

Velrin laughs, "And to think that to humans we would all be ancient. It's a little funny seeing how we shape up to our cousins, no?"

Celaven nods. "They do live so quickly, the humans. But they accomplish so much."
Velrin smiles ruefully and nods "That they do."

[Celaven]: How is Evanlyn doing, by the way? I've not seen her since coming north.

[Velrin]: She is well. She is quite busy between fighting and taking care of Le. I need to make time to visit her soon too. *she chuckles*

[Celaven]: Ah, is she fighting the vrykul as well?

[Velrin]: I believe she is already further north. She usually works by herself adventuring so she isn't held back by responsibilities to keep the rear safeguarded.

[Celaven]: I see. We have some in Cobalt who work in such a way.

Taeavon 's ears perk up, "Oh? Wait, are you in Cobalt Company too?" he says, barely containing his excitement.

Celaven 's ears lift in curiosity. "Yes, I am. Has Velrin spoken of us?"

Taeavon says: Barely at all. *he laughs* Can you believe it? If I were in Cobalt Company, I'd let everyone know.

[Celaven]: Really? *Celaven eyes Vel curiously now.* I do hope you're not ashamed of the affiliation?

Velrin looks worried, "N-no, it's not like that at all! I just… well…"

Celaven adds conspiratorially to Tae, "She was on one of the forward squads for a while, when her other duties allowed."

Taeavon looks at Velrin in disbelief.

Celaven spreads his hands as if to say 'I'm not lying'.

[Velrin]: I-it was just a difficult time for me… F-for unrelated reasons…

Taeavon quickly backs off, "Oh. Sorry Captain. I didn't mean to pry. It's just that Cobalt is pretty prestigious."

[Celaven]: Even in a difficult time, you were impressive, Velrin. Still are.

Velrin blushes a little, "Thank you Celaven…"

Taeavon is about to add in, but glances at Celaven and decides against it.

[Celaven]: In any case, you're likely to run into Cobalt all over. Some of them arrived here, others at the Fjord and… I think the focus is in Grizzly Hills at the moment. Trying to find a way through to Icecrown.

Taeavon smirks, "I'll have to keep an eye open. And once this is all over maybe I'll see about joining myself." he finishes with a chuckle.

Celaven chuckles. "Then you and Velrin would be colleagues twice over."

Taeavon says: Hehe, yeah.

[Celaven]: On the other side, should you ever need the services of a healer… you know where to find me.

Velrin nods, "Indeed. I am glad to see that you are doing well."

Celaven smiles. "I am. I think… I am doing better than I was back then, as well."

Velrin smiles back, "That is good to hear. But we really should be getting back soon."

[Celaven]: Yes, and I suppose I should head back to my duties as well. I hope I can keep in touch, with both of you.

[Velrin]: Of course. *Velrin steps over for another hug and kiss* Your company is always welcome.

Celaven enfolds her in a warm hug.

Taeavon stands back a little awkwardly, "Well it was nice to meet you Celaven. Take care!" He waves.

Celaven pulls back from the hug and kiss, hesitates, and holds out a hand to shake Tae's. "You as well. Take care."

Taeavon gives him a firm handshake, "I'll do my best."