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| Details |
| Author: | Alli |
| Summary: | In between missions, Lena finds a chance to talk with Ralaea about something that's been on her mind. Something she believes Rae will understand. |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
The wind on the plateau of Crusader's Pinnacle is brutally cold, but that doesn't stop the figures of the Argent Crusade as they go about their duties. Nor does it stop Lena Coit, though she's bundled up in a warm, dark cloak over her usual warlock's robes. Her nose is pink from the chill, and stray strands of her blonde hair have been pulled forward out of her hood by the restless air. Lena walks through the tented area, clearly looking for someone.
Ralaea stands near the edge of the plateau, staring distantly at what she can see of the rest of Icecrown. She is not wearing her helmet, a difference from her recent appearances during squad activities, and she is constantly brushing her hair away from her eyes.
Lena walks up to her, pushing back the hood and shivering. She glances over at Ralaea, and then follows her gaze. "Looking for someone?"
"I'm…" Ralaea sighs. "I don't know. Just wondering how big this place is, I guess. I don't think I expected so many walls and gates."
"And all of them hard to get through, yeah," Lena says, tucking her hair behind her ears again. "We will, though. Eventually." She hesitates, and then continues more slowly, "I got some news the other day, put my head in a spin, and… well, maybe I thought… I could talk to you about it."
"So not good news." Ralaea turns to face her. "Yeah. I've had my share of bad news, so maybe I'm good at it by now. What happened?"
"I think… some of the people I used to know… might not be dead," Lena says, choosing her words carefully.
"Might not be dead how?" Ralaea asks. "Like flesh-and-blood alive, or skin-and-bone 'alive?' If it's really bad news, I can guess which."
"Yeah, the latter," Lena draws in a breath and starts to turn away, but then forces herself to face Ralaea. "I just… convinced myself it wasn't possible, before. Going through Northrend, like we have, I know a lot more about necromancy now. And… one of 'em's been spotted I guess. Probably. Maybe."
"Spotted." Ralaea is silent for a moment, her usual sullen frown deepening. "Can't blame you for refusing to consider it," she says eventually. "It's easier not to think of it. I'm…sorry it's come to your attention. What side are they on?"
"I suppose that's a bit unclear," Lena hedges, tucking her hands into her cloak. "Forsaken. Defected, though, supposedly, to our side. But if he's not dead and gone - which I don't know for sure, it might not be him - that means… they could be anywhere. All the people I used to know."
"That is…a possibility, yes." Ralaea watches Lena's expression. "Do you…want to know for sure? If it's him, if he knows of any others… anything? If he's defected, you might be able to…get that information."
"I don't even know where he is," Lena says, a flash of alarm crossing her face. "I didn't ask. I just… I just said probably it wasn't him, and… everything was simpler when they were just dead. I don't know what I want to know. How do you stand it?"
"How do I stand it? I don't. Not really." Ralaea crosses her arms, as if to protect her own vulnerabilities. "I pretty much lost it when Harvey came back. I had a full on meltdown when we captured Mevlin. It's why I chose not to tell Jenzelle, and you see where that got us. This person is someone you knew, so the call is yours on how to respond to knowledge of him. Whether you want to…talk to him, have someone get information for you, or if you'd like to ask me to kill him so you can finally know he's dead. I would, you know, if you asked."
Lena shakes her head. "If he's actually defected, the Alliance will decide if he lives or dies. I don't think I should ask you to interfere in that sort of thing." She hesitates, hunching a little in her cloak. "Do you think they hate us? For getting away, for still getting to live, when they ended up… like that."
"That depends, doesn't it?" Ralaea turns back towards Mord'rethar. "When we visited Harvey's parents, to kill them, they were Scourge slaves, but even then, they were able to recognize him. His father was…mad, actually, that he was a death knight and couldn't continue the family line. His mother, though… She was just happy to see him again at all, even though she was being forced to attack us. I don't know how it is for Forsaken, how much of them is left, but if they have enough will to defect — and I mean truly defect, not pretend to in order to trap us — then it probably matters who they were before, when trying to tell how they feel. If they even feel anything."
Lena sighs. "I'm not experienced at this. If it's a real defection, then maybe he's something like he was before? But even if the person isn't all that different because of necromancy, they've got to be different because of the… the trauma of it all, or something." Lena shakes her head. "I'm sorry you had to deal with all that. Mevlin and Harvey's parents and… it really isn't fair, this world."
"I'm glad you're not experienced at this sort of thing, Lena," Ralaea says, fists clenching. "It's crap. It leaves you with a choice you never wanted to make, and thoughts you never wanted to have, and sometimes it's too hard to handle alone. But you're not alone, okay? If you want one of them to disappear, I will make them disappear for you."
Lena smiles, maybe not a normal reaction at that offer, and reaches out as if to touch Ralaea's clenched fist. "I wouldn't even know where to point you. If he even is my brother - which sometimes I'm sure he is, and sometimes I'm sure he isn't - the Vice Admiral didn't say where he was. But if it comes to it, and I need you that way, I'll remember." She tilts her head at Ralaea and continues, "You're not alone, either. If you need me… I know I'm not good with a sword, and I've been kind of holding back for a while so's not to worry the night elves, but I can kill someone for you. If it needs to be done. If they're the enemy."
Ralaea nods. "Thank you. There's still two on my list besides the Lich King, unless Tabiana gets to her sister first, and then…who knows. Maybe we can go after the Forsaken next. And if the Shiplord knows something about — your brother? — I could try prodding him for information, just, I don't know where he is at current. I mean, not current as in ocean current, but he probably is somewhere with one?"
"Oh, yes, he is," Lena smiles suddenly, her gaze going distant, thinking of proud ships floating through a frozen sea. "The fleet'll be coming around somewhere like we did last time, I expect, but avoiding the same pitfalls. The kvaldir, the Scarlets, the…" Lena falters. "You weren't asking for details, sorry. It's just… nice. Being with the fleet, where they all look at me like I'm somebody valuable, because I'm a warlock. We're doing important work here, I know, but… it's nice." Lena looks back over at Rae. "I'll help with your two, if I can. As for after, let's see what happens. I don't want to start a war, but we might be in another one anyway, way things are going."
Ralaea's expression twitches a little at mention of the Scarlets, but she still manages a tiny smile. "I know what you mean, about the fleet," she says. "You know my father was Kul Tiran? I mean, I guess you do, because of my uncle. There's a part of me that just feels…free, when I'm out on the water. And I'm glad you've got people valuing you like they should. The Shiplord and his crew are good folks."
"Yeah, I… heard about that," Lena winces faintly. "You ever thought about joining the fleet, after? Might be you'd like it. You can while you're still Cobalt, you know. I did. Sil is, right now."
"I've got a lot of options to sort through, after. Lady Avrenne was saying if death knights get rights and I can legally marry Harvey, I could become Lady Morningdew or something and carry on his House." Ralaea shrugs. "I'd have a lot to learn, if that happens. How to be a Lady and all. But joining the fleet's definitely on my list of options to look at. I want to visit Kul Tiras sometime too."
"Lady Morningdew," Lena says, looking sidelong at Ralaea. "Reckon you wouldn't have much time for sailing or mercenarying in that case. It'd be all… sewing and tea and arguing over politics. I mean, nobles do go to war and all that, but somebody in the House has got to stay home and handle the society and the household and all that." And it probably won't be Harvey, is the unspoken end of the sentence that Lena's raised eyebrow indicates.
"It's an 'if' anyway, and I'd have to have kids and continue the line and everything, so yeah, I'd be pretty busy. But if it's easier than marrying the King, and folks'll listen to what I say, then it might not be so bad, right?" Ralaea returns Lena's gaze.
"Might not be so bad," Lena concedes, with a faint smile. "That sort of thing's not really an option for me, but I think I'd like being friends with Lady Morningdew. Probably as much as I like being friends with Rae."
"I bet you could marry a noble if you really wanted. Seems to me you can do anything you set your mind to," Ralaea says. "And you'd probably make a better Lady than I would. But anyway…my offer stands. It's your call to make, but I'll back you on whatever. And if you see something or someone you don't like when we're in the field, just give me a kill order and I'll do it."
Lena giggles. "I'm not so sure about that, but I appreciate the vote of confidence." Her voice sobers a little as she adds, "And I won't forget. You don't either, right? I'll trust you, if you say. I won't hold back."
Ralaea nods. "Then it's a deal."