(2024-03-24) The Healer Who Waits Behind

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Author:	Luridel
Summary:	Everyone in this room is worthy. Even Mordecai, according to Sir Dane Atley. A day at the Argent Tournament grounds where the Healer Who Waits Behind is not asked to wait behind. ~1400 words.
Rating:	T for Teen

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"Everyone in this room is deemed worthy by me," says Sir Dane Atley, leader of Blue Squad.

Here are the people in this room:

There is Sir Dane himself, who gained a knighthood due to his exemplary work with Cobalt Company. One of its original members, he has been with Cobalt Company since its beginning. He was the one Brother Sevastyn sent the letter to. There is no question that Sir Dane is worthy.

There is the Sentinel Auralind Mistwalker, who Mordecai knows to be a veteran of many conflicts even before she joined Cobalt Company. The loss of her sight barely hinders her in her day to day life, and it seems not to hinder her in combat at all. He doesn't think anyone would disagree that Auralind is worthy.

There is Ben (Lord Bennarin Hazan of House Ference, but Mordecai just thinks Ben first), who was so remarkable that a paladin - Sir Ference - chose to adopt him and name him heir to House Ference. He fought at the Battle of Light's Hope Chapel and wrote a book about it. Mordecai has seen his leadership in the field and could find no fault with it. If anyone accused Ben of not being worthy to attend the Argent Tournament, Mordecai would step up to defend him himself.

There is Velrin Silverbloom, who the Bronze Dragonflight chose as their champion for a long, long mission into the past. Mordecai has spoken to her enough to know how driven she is, and fought alongside her enough to see how skilled she is. He doesn't think this is just bias towards his friend - Velrin is definitely worthy.

There is Lady Cressidha Aspenwood, who has a list of accomplishments with Cobalt Company almost as long as Dane's. There's no doubt that she's worthy.

There is Colson, who Mordecai is incredibly biased in favor of, but surely his own list of accomplishments with Cobalt Company speaks for itself. The others would agree that Colson is worthy. It's not just Mordecai who thinks so.

There is Lena Coit, the model warlock. Mordecai has fought with her multiple times and knows that she's got talent, excellent control, and shows no signs of losing herself to the Fel - at least not yet. If the Fel must be used against the Lich King, Mordecai can think of no one in Cobalt Company better than Lena to do so.

There is Ralaea Westwind, who has been with Cobalt Company since Outland. Mordecai knows she's Lordaeronian, and her stake in this is deeply personal. She has come so far, and worked so hard, and Mordecai definitely thinks she's worthy.

There is Prospector Brannagen Stillwall, who Mordecai knows little about, but fought beside in Naxxramas. He knows the priest was a bastion of good cheer in there, unafraid of anything they faced. And he's been on the squads twice, so surely he's worthy, even if Mordecai doesn't know the full extent of what he's done with Cobalt Company.

There is Iphindra, who Mordecai knows even less about. But this is her second time on a squad as well, so she's probably very talented. He hasn't had the opportunity to fight alongside her, but she's a kaldorei, so chances are she has a lot of experience. If Dane, who was on her squad, thinks she's worthy, surely he must be correct.

And then there is Mordecai.

Mordecai points at himself, confused.

Although, now that he thinks about it, Mordecai has actually done quite a bit in his lifetime. He is a survivor of Mt. Hyjal. He went into Zul'Gurub to gather information on Hakkar. He went into a volcano to fight Twilight's Hammer, and he faced off against Onyxia's guards when she revealed herself, protecting Prince Anduin, even if he couldn't save Marshal Windsor in the end. He helped defeat a Void Lord. He also fought in Naxxramas. He might not have the amount of regular experience that the squad members do, going out week after week, but he doesn't have none, either.

And they let him come along. No one stops him. Iphindra offers him a ride on her gryphon friend. They pass by a small infirmary where half the supplies are still boxed up - the place where the healers who wait behind stay.

Mordecai has been in a lot of places as the healer who waits behind. He has worked in Theramore, in Warsong Gulch, in Honor Hold, in Shattrath. He has worked at Light's Hope Chapel, waiting behind in a medical tent while a miracle occurred that he didn't get to see. He has worked in Fordragon Hold, waiting behind while one of the Alliance's greatest tragedies unfolded just out of his view. He has worked at the Argent Vanguard.

And he's good at being the healer who waits behind. He knows he is. Him and Mizzy, the healers who wait behind, the perfect duo whenever they work together. Mizzy understands the ebb and flow of an infirmary, she knows things without him needing to tell her, and if he's busy, she gives exactly the directions that he would have given. Mizzy, who tried being on a squad and decided that perhaps it wasn't the place for her. Mizzy, who truly understands the waiting.

They walk right by the place where the healers who wait behind stay and no one says anything. Nobody says, "This is where you can stay, Mordecai. We'll find you later." Nobody says a single word.

So he comes along. They meet a Justicar, who sends them to a member of the Silver Covenant who keeps the lists. Everyone lines up, so Mordecai lines up, and after Colson signs his name, Mordecai signs his name as well.

And no one says anything. No one stops him. No one tells him, "This isn't for you, Mordecai, you're supposed to be the healer who waits behind." Nobody says, "Why are you still here?"

White Squad has a job, it seems, so Mordecai follows Blue Squad. There are lances by the door. Mr. Stillwall takes a lance and a shield, even though he's a priest, so Mordecai takes a lance and a shield too and no one stops him. If they think it's odd, they don't say anything.

The Quel'dorei steeds they have waiting for them are magnificent, beautiful creatures with horns. Mordecai watches while everyone mounts up - most of them on a steed; Auralind on a saber. Surely, he thinks, this is when Colson will say goodbye, and I love you, and maybe Mordecai will wait here for them.

But it isn't. "Right then. To the trainer," Sir Dane says.

Mordecai scrambles into the saddle of a Quel'dorei steed, who stands calmly and patiently until Mordecai is seated and then follows the other mounts without even being directed to.

There are instructions, both from Dane and the Argent instructor. Colson shows Mordecai how to hold his shield and lance properly, and it still feels awkward, but it gets a little easier. There are very resilient-looking training targets that have been trained to swing back.

Mordecai catches a blow from the target on his shield, the way he's supposed to.

Sir Dane grunts. "Well done."

That was to him. That was to Mordecai.

It's difficult. The lance and shield are new and unwieldy, and he's fairly certain the steed is working hard to keep Mordecai in the saddle, but that 'well done' burns in his veins like fuel.

They return and are sent to a different instructor. Javelins, now, for a shield-breaker technique.

"You miss every shot you never take, Mordecai," Dane growls.

That lingering expectation, that they'll remember that Mordecai is a Healer Who Waits Behind and send him off to the infirmary, finally fades. Everyone waits for him to make his throw, and he throws the javelin with all his might, and he misses.

But he threw it.

The second try, Mordecai hits the pole of the target.

"Well done," says Colson.

"Fine progress for your second try," says Dane. "You'll be a jouster, yet."

Him? A jouster?

Is that possible?

During the debriefing, Dane tells them that there's no command or order to participate in the tournament, but he doesn't say that any of them can't.

Mordecai trails after Colson as they go to return their lances, reaching deep into the pool of his own memories. There are so many, submerged near the bottom, in his father's voice.

"You'll never amount to anything, boy."

"Don't waste your time."

"You're going to the priesthood. It's tradition. You'll be a priest, if the Light takes pity on you."

"Don't even bother."

"That's not for you."

"Remember your place, boy."

But they've all sunk so far down. Mordecai needed to dig them out, to reach for them. The only voice of uncertainty in his head today was his own.