![](http://cobalt-company.wdfiles.com/local--resized-images/writing:2023-09-08-thank-you-pies/style="margin:/medium.jpg) |
| Details |
| Author: | Luridel |
| Summary: | Estel comes to deliver Alver's insignia to Jenzelle, and to check on her and Brendol. She tries to teach Jenzelle not to say sorry when you could say thank you. ~2700 words. |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
There's a brisk, cheerful knock at the door of Jenzelle and Brendol's inn room.
Jenzelle can be heard rushing to the door, though there is a brief pause before she opens it. Maybe she's checking first, to see who it is.
"Hello," Estel calls. "Hope everyone's awake." It's past noon.
The door swings open and Jenzelle offers a quick smile. "Oh, um…you were…part of the rescue team," she says. "I'm sorry, I don't remember if I got your name…there was… It was a lot."
"Hey! That's okay. I'm Estel Herald, a priestess with Cobalt Company. Can I come in?" Estel is actually wearing a robe today, this one light blue with a darker blue sweater over it, and she does look more priestess-like today than she did on the day of the rescue.
Jenzelle hastily steps aside to allow her entry. "Oh! Yes! Goodness, I'm so sorry, I'm Jenzelle…" she trails off and blushes down at her shoes. "You know that, of course." She is wearing a green shirt and brown pants, and could easily pass for an ordinary person. "Is…there something I can do for you?"
Estel steps inside. "Yeah, for sure. First off, I wanted to see how you an' Brendol were doing?"
The room is actually two, with a desk on one side of the room, a little table by a window, which peers out into a cozy side-street, some bookshelves, and a door leading into a bedroom.
"Bren–ah, Brendol is doing a bit better," Jenzelle says. "I've been staying with him to make sure. He had a stab wound in his leg that got a bit infected, but it looked like someone started trying to…clean it? The healers at the Cathedral were able to take care of the infection, but his ribs are still mending, and walking…might be something we'll have to transition back into slowly." She completely leaves out any details about herself.
Estel nods. "An' how about you?"
Jenzelle blinks at her. "Oh, I'm not hurt or anything," she says. "Rope burns is all I really had." She shifts a bit nervously, then, "Brendol is awake, if…you'd like to check on him in person? I don't think he'd mind."
"I would in just a bit, yeah." Estel reaches into her bag and starts shuffling through it. "You were part of Rae's old squad, right? With Kaela?"
Perhaps an old habit, Jenzelle reaches towards her neck, where her insignia used to hang. There is nothing there, of course. "I… Yes." She sinks into a chair at the table, as if settling in for an inquisition.
Estel comes to sit down across from her at the table. She withdraws Alver's insignia from the bag and offers it out to her. "I think I gotta give this to either you or to Rae, and I ain't seen Rae in a bit, so…"
Jenzelle stares at the insignia for a long time, before she slowly reaches over to take it. "Three left, then?"
"This was Alver's. Who are the other three? Kaela, the other death knight girl that was with her, and…?"
"Taya, was the girl, and…" Jenzelle pauses, squeezing Alver's insignia tightly in her hand. "And I didn't see Jothran, but he was there, when…everyone…" She flashes a quick, sad smile. "He was there."
Estel nods. "You don't seem like you wanna talk about…" She waves a hand vaguely. "All the feelings tied up in that whole ordeal. Yeah?"
"Well, it's um… Cobalt Company has…a history with the Scarlet Crusade, and it's understandable that most people don't really — as an organization we did some bad things, and now… Now they're Scourge, so…" Jenzelle tries the smile again, but it falls just short of reassuring. "I'll be fine."
"It doesn't have to be with me, if you don't feel comfortable, yeah? But you gotta talk to somebody, Jenzelle." Estel leans her elbows on the table. "Here's my history with the Scarlet Crusade, if it helps. I was left as a baby at a monastery. I was raised there, for a while, learned some Light and learned some Shadow, and then, eventually, I ran away. Next time I visited, most of the folks I knew were gone, and it was all Scarlet Crusade in there. The Scarlet Monastery, they call it now. But, like, personally?" Estel shrugs. "I don't judge folks by stuff like groups. I judge 'em more by the problems they're causing. Anyway."
Jenzelle listens quietly as she speaks, focusing her full attention on Estel. "Oh, I'm… I'm sorry. About… all of that, really. I suppose it doesn't matter if the Scarlet Crusade drove them out or the Scourge, if the result was still…" She takes a deep breath. "I'm used to being the one people come to, for talking. I suppose I never thought about finding someone to talk to myself."
Estel smiles at her. "I'm all good. Super emotionally well-adjusted, here, for real. Like, I actually am. But it's, like, a whole thing in this line of work, isn't it? Folks coming to us to talk about their shit, and us basically, you know, holding it together. Cobalt Company's got an actual chaplain, Mordecai, he's a good guy to go to. Anyway. You were kidnapped. Were you at any point scared about your own well-being?"
"I was…concerned, at first," she says. "Alver was the one who attacked us, and he wasn't entirely…there? I knew that death knights aren't exactly who they were before from meeting Lord Morningdew. But then I met Kaela and… It wasn't like the first time."
"It wasn't like the first time you… met Kaela after she died?" Estel guesses.
"Yes, sorry. I'm so sorry, you must be missing part of the…yes." Jenzelle takes another breath. "Kaela died a while before the rest of my team, so she came back, and…killed everyone but me. Rae was already with Cobalt, and I was too, technically, but I was trying to…get everyone else out of the Scarlet Crusade. Obviously I failed, and because of that, Lord Morningdew also…"
Estel nods. "Did she have, like, an opportunity to kill you, and chose not to? Or you got away? Or what?"
"I was the last one standing…is all," Jenzelle says. "She was about to…finish things, but Lord Morningdew and Bren — Brendol, found us and shielded me. And then Lord Morningdew died fighting her. We…took his horse, and she didn't chase. I guess she was more interested in the bodies…"
"Hmm." Estel studies Jenzelle. "So this time you were kidnapped, it was different? How?"
"She seemed more like herself." Jenzelle's hands, which had started shaking during her recollection, slowly relax. "I felt like…maybe I could have had a proper conversation with her. But… I messed it up."
"What happened?" Estel asks.
"I got mad…" Jenzelle says, almost sheepishly. "She hurt Brendol after all, and while expressing my frustration, I spilt the milk."
"Did you ever feel like you were in danger?" Estel asks, leaning in. "Or was it just Brendol at risk?"
"I didn't feel any hostility from her this time," Jenzelle says. "Alver, certainly. He was nothing but hostility. Goodness, I don't even know if he truly recognized me."
Estel nods. She leans back in her chair, tipping it up on two legs and balancing. "Man," she says, and lets the chair thunk back into a stable position on the floor. "What a miserable mess. This whole thing. 'm sorry you couldn't get your friends out in time, Jenzelle. That fucking sucks."
"I thought it was over," Jenzelle says quietly, "When I lost them the first time. I suppose it never occurred to me that they'd be — it makes sense, though, after all, Lord Morningdew came back as one, so why wouldn't the others. I must have been in denial."
"Mmm." Estel looks sympathetic. "You know, I respect the hell out of you wantin' to stay and heal the others, once we got you outta that cage. I'm sorry if I was pushy at all. I wanted to make sure we kept our escape route safe for Brendol, since our intel said he wouldn't be able to walk."
"Did everyone make it?" Jenzelle asks, leaning closer, her eyes pleading. "Were there any serious injuries?"
"Everyone made it, yeah," Estel confirms. "Far's I could tell there weren't any serious permanent injuries when I came out to check."
"I need to apologize to everyone," Jenzelle says. "Sil said there were Argents that came too, and I — I really should apologize. It was my suggestion that Bren come with us, and — have you heard anything about a girl named Sophie?"
Estel shakes her head. "No, sorry. Apologize for what, getting kidnapped?"
Jenzelle sits back a little and glances away. "Well it sounds silly when you say it like that, but…yes."
Estel grins. "Not gonna lie, that's 'cause it is pretty silly. Instead of sorry, you should say thank you. Y'know? Nobody really wants an apology for that kind of thing. You say 'sorry I got kidnapped,' what are they supposed to say? 'It's okay, don't worry about it?' That puts it on them to reassure you. If you say 'thank you for helping rescue me and Brendol,' now that's something they'll be happy to just say 'you're welcome' to."
"You're right. Of course you're right. I should — pies! I should bake everyone pies." Jenzelle stands up and scrambles for something to write with. "Who all came?"
Estel grins wider at the prospect of pie in her future. "Fuck yeah. That's the spirit. Okay, so on our team, we had myself, Cressidha Aspenwood, Silvestre Silentstep, Alysson Mondragon, and Alysson's friend Ada who lives somewhere out in Grizzly Hills. On the other team, we had Dane Atley, Pericleia, Argent Crusaders Etone Greennote, Vond Satterly, and Briellen Clay, and death knights Syarra and Roper."
Jenzelle dutifully copies the names down, frowning a little when Alysson is mentioned. Once finished, she looks back over the list. "Do…death knights eat pie?"
"Oh. I don't think they do. Sorry." Estel shrugs. "I bet they'd probably appreciate, like, a thank-you card, though. It doesn't seem like they get a lotta those."
"Thank you cards… with a Jack o' Lantern," Jenzelle mumbles aloud as she writes. "Estel, you mentioned Alysson…Mondragon? Was that the redhead with Sil?"
"Yep." Estel gives her a thumbs-up.
A smile comes to Jenzelle's face, genuine, for an instant. "I didn't know he existed," she says. "Lady Kairese never mentioned a son, and we only knew Kaela had a sister, not… Is he a cousin?"
"He's Alynnra's son, but with time travel and the Bronze Dragonflight involved," Estel says with a straight face.
Jenzelle stares at Estel. For a long. Time. "It…sounds like it might be complicated?" she eventually offers.
"Oh, yeah, it's super complicated. Like, ridiculously complicated. In the interest of not confusing you further, you mind if I check on Brendol now?" Estel hops to her feet.
"Yes, right, of course." Jenzelle scurries to the bedroom door and taps lightly a few times. "Bren? We have a guest, if you're okay with that."
"Who?" comes a voice from within. "Rae?"
A flash of guilt appears on Jenzelle's face. "I haven't been able to contact Ralaea," she whispers to Estel. Louder, "No, it's one of the people who rescued us. Estel."
"Oh, yeah, sure," Bren says, "Come in."
Jenzelle opens the door to the smaller room. There are, mercifully, two beds, and Brendol is lying in the second one. He tries to sit up, but doesn't make it far before wincing and settling back down again.
"Hi," Estel calls, heading over to stand next to the bed. "I'm Estel Herald, a priestess with Cobalt Company. I coordinated the, uh, half of the mission where we got you outta there. Not the big fighting half."
"I'm Brendol Westwind," he says, "You've probably heard that name a lot, considering." Bren cracks a smile. "Anyway, thanks. I knew Cobalt would come, I was just hoping I'd survive that long."
Jenzelle takes a seat on the edge of the closer bed, facing him. A tiny smile comes to her face as she listens.
"For sure, you're welcome." Estel smiles back. "You're Rae's brother? Older or younger?"
"Younger," Bren says. "I was what, twelve, when Lordaeron fell? I was pretty lucky to get out. Can't blame her for thinking I didn't. We only met up again a year ago on…the locals called it Draenor?"
"Oh, brilliant." Estel touches the strap of her messenger bag. "Say, if you need anything delivered to the Argent Crusade up in Northrend, I'll be going back thataway pretty soon."
Bren shakes his head. "Thankfully, I wasn't carrying anything important when they nabbed us. But, if you could keep an ear out for Sophie? We haven't heard anything, and I'm worried that maybe…she didn't get away after all."
"Can you tell me about Sophie? I have no idea who I should be looking for or where. What's her last name, do you know?" Estel asks.
Bren and Jenzelle exchange glances. "Uh, last name…" Bren stops to consider. "I never got her last name."
"I didn't either, now that you mention it," Jenzelle murmurs. "But she was hopefully on her way back to Fort Wildervar. She's a toy seller who also works as a messenger sometimes. Brown hair. Goodness, I hope she made it back."
Estel nods. "Toy seller named Sophie, brown hair, Fort Wildervar. I can check it out. See if she's there or at least leave word that you guys are looking for her."
"That would be sweet of you, thank you," Jenzelle says, clasping her hands together in her lap.
"If you are swinging by the area, could you let the Crusade know I plan to return to my duties as soon as I'm able?" Bren asks. He pauses, staring up at the ceiling. "I just…don't know when that will be."
"Recovery isn't something you can rush," Jenzelle murmurs.
"I know, but… I was going to be a soldier, and help take the fight to the Lich King. I trained every day." Bren's expression is full of impatience, not unlike Ralaea's when she gets stubborn about something. Maybe it's a Westwind thing.
"There's no rush," Estel says dryly. "We haven't even got to his house yet. I can pass it on, yeah, no problem."
"Tabiana's going to be so mad…" Bren mumbles.
"Oh, speaking of Tabiana," Jenzelle interjects, "Taya, the other death knight, is her sister. We didn't know Tabiana was alive until I met Lord Morningdew, and then…the sisters never got a chance to meet again. Kaela might…arrange that somehow. A meeting. And I don't think it'll be anything good, so if you can also warn them?"
"Tabiana's… also with the Argent Crusade?" Estel asks.
"Yeah," Bren nods. "We were originally working under Lord Morningdew, but ever since he died, we've sort of been…at a loose end. Tabiana especially, since she was pretty much raised to protect him. She's been throwing herself into her work, and ending up on the front lines more and more, and I haven't had as many chances to talk to her."
"Sorry, this is the first I'm hearing of her," Estel says, scratching her head. "Another friend of yours? What's her last name?"
"Tabiana Lynds," Bren says. "She's a close friend, yeah. Almost like a mother, or an older sister to me. If you can't find her, don't worry about it, just make sure someone knows to keep an eye out."
"Tabiana Lynds and Sophie the toy seller. Got it." Estel looks between the two of them. "You guys need anything else before I head out?"
"We couldn't possibly ask anything more of you," Jenzelle says. "If there's anything we can do to help you, you're free to write or come back anytime."
Estel grins. "Well, somebody mentioned pies. I love pie. You two take care, okay?" She starts to head for the door.
"It was nice meeting you!" Jenzelle gets to her feet and hurries to show Estel to the door.
"Stay safe," Bren calls after them, trying not to wince.
"Later, later!" Estel calls over her shoulder to Bren. "Talk to somebody if you need, okay?" she tells Jenzelle before slipping out into the hallway.