(2025-04-30) Passed On

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Author:	disknight
Summary:	Celaven goes to find Velrin after hearing the news about his father. The couple do what they can to comfort one another.
Rating:	T for Teen

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romance, kissing/hugging, depictions of grief and depression

Celaven walks through the portal back into Hyjal in something of a daze, his silver eyes staring at nothing as his body goes through the familiar motions. His gryphon, used to the daily pattern, comes to his side without calling, and he rides it wordlessly back down to the Sanctuary of Malorne. The creature chirps, noticing something wrong in the absence of words, or treats, or even that calm presence his priest often does his best to exude.

Today, the priest has none of this to offer. He stumbles off of the gryphon with considerably less of his usual grace, and then his focus returns to the moment. He scans the Sanctuary, and says simply, "Velrin."

It sounds like a plea.

Velrin starts from something of a daze while she sat in the grass resting and looks up at Ven, “Hi darling…” She mumbles softly. After a moment she starts to feel that something is off and she stands to get closer. She remains silent for now, but she looks at Ven with a touch of concern.

Celaven doesn't even answer, just steps over to pull her into an embrace. He is a delicate man and not one of great strength, which is probably for the best, given how tightly his arms press against her back. He's breathing shallowly, and he trembles slightly as he presses his cheek to hers.

Velrin is stunned for a second, but quickly wraps her arms around him too and squeezes tight, “Ven?” She asks in a shaky voice.

Celaven just squeezes her tighter for a moment, not answering.

"I didn't expect…" he says finally, his voice breaking a little. "…it would hurt like this."

“Hurt?” Velrin runs her fingers through his hair and scratches his scalp, “What are you talking about? What happened?” Vel asks in a worried tone.

"My…" Celaven seems to come back to the moment, and to realize he's clinging to Velrin in the middle of a war camp. He pulls back, just slightly, and says, "Maybe we should sit somewhere? Somewhere quieter."

“O-ok…” Velrin’s eyes dart about his face looking a bit scared. She keeps hold of his arm and lets him lead them away.

Celaven doesn't go far, just far enough to find a place where they can sit behind a pillar and not be easily seen by anyone coming and going from the camp. He tries to pull her into his lap, not in a mischievous, scandalous way, but seeking touch and comfort.

"It's nothing… unexpected," Celaven says, when they're settled. "I thought I was prepared for this. It's my… my father."

Velrin settles into his lap and lays against his chest, “Your… did they find him?”

"He is dead," Celaven says, in a hollow voice. He secures Velrin close to him with one arm around her torso. "My mother and Caspis came across him, and… he was a Druid of the Flame."

“O-oh…” Velrin pauses for a long while. She tenses up and struggles to think of what she should do next.

Celaven strokes her back reflexively, feeling the sudden tension, but his eyes are still distant. "I knew this was the plan, for whichever of us came across him first. He allied himself with Ragnaros. He attempted to subvert my half-sister. He never… he never tried to convert me."

There's a touch of bitterness in that last statement.

"He was our enemy, and an enemy of Azeroth," Celaven says, and that much sounds certain, but then he adds, much less certain, "But he could have been… he could have chosen… it doesn't matter anymore, all the possible choices are gone."

Velrin tears up and sniffles. She opens her mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. Instead she twists forward to wrap her arms around Ven and keep hugging him.

Celaven holds her close and buries his face in her hair for a long moment. He's not crying. Or if he is, he's being very quiet about it. Eventually, he says, "I think that's what hurts. Knowing for certain now that he never will. Maybe some part of me always hoped that he might… that one day he might have loved me."

“I-I-I’m sorry…” Velrin is crying now. She takes in a few more shaky breaths and tries to respond but she’s not sure what to say, “I’m so sorry…”

Celaven draws back to meet her gaze. "It's not your fault, love. It's not anyone's fault but his, truly. And I thought, I genuinely thought I would be fine. That I could have done it, if it were me that faced him. I… don't know if I would have been able."

"He was your father. He should have loved you…" Velrin buries her face in his shoulder, "No one should have to go through what you have."

"I've had time to come to peace with it," Celaven says, drawing his fingers through her hair. "Hundreds of years. And Caspis loves me. My stepfather. Of that I am certain. The lack is in Cerelar, not in myself. That's what I always try to remember. Can you tell me that's true? I think it would help to hear it."

"You deserve all the love in the world and more." Velrin turns her head to kiss his neck, "You shouldn't have to hurt like this…"

Celaven breathes out shakily and pulls her closer. "It will pass. It must. It was just… being suddenly faced with the fact of it. I didn't mean to… derail your day."

"N-no… I-I want to be there for you…" Velrin pouts, "It's ok to feel sad."

"I know you've been through so much, as well," Celaven says, brushing a hand across his face to wipe away the evidence of tears. "I want to be strong for you. I don't want to be a burden."

Velrin blushes a bit hearing those words, "I-it's ok…" She kisses away what's left of the tears on his face, "I-I-I want to protect you… I don't want to see you cry. I want you to be my loving mate forever and ever. I want to be strong too, but… s-sometimes it's hard…"

"I feel all of those things too," Celaven says, closing his eyes and sighing. "Maybe… we can take turns being strong, when it gets too hard. I just don't think I can be that, not today. Today I just… hurt. But being here with you, it helps."

Velrin whimpers and adjusts herself so she can wrap her arms and legs around Ven. She stays quiet other than the occasional whimper and whine, but she's making it very clear that Ven isn't going anywhere without her right now.

Celaven doesn't seem to want to go anywhere, so that's just fine. After a long stretch of silence, he says, "The 7th won't expect me back until our next shift. Are you… am I delaying you from joining the Wardens in their work?"

"You're more important…" Vel pouts.

"Then I will not worry about them," Celaven says, resting his head against hers. "Though this does remind me of happier things. Did you know, I heard there was a bard in Stonetalon? One of my unit was singing her songs — he'd been fighting in defense of the area. Perhaps we should be patrons of bards, if we one day move there."

"That sounds nice." Vel says softly and squeezes Ven tight, "I hope the fighting ends soon… It's such a beautiful place…"

"It is," Celaven says. "I hope it is well-defended. It must be, if Saion was willing to come back to the Molten Front."

Velrin gives Ven a few more soft kisses on the neck, "Does it help you to talk about other things?"

"Maybe it would," Celaven says, drawing his fingers through her hair. "Will you talk to me? Tell me about something you've seen lately, or… whatever you want to talk about."

“Ummm… I don’t know… I’ve just been fighting and then going back home to sleep…” Velrin mumbles, “I just haven’t felt like doing anything lately…”

Celaven sighs. "Maybe you should get away from the Front for a while, if it is filling all your mind. See brighter things. The Firelands do weigh a person down, over time, all the dead soil and fiery creatures. Though… did you see the flowers?"

“Yeah… they were fine.” Velrin sighs, “I-I’ll be ok.” She says unconvincingly, “I want to help.”

Celaven sits back against the pillar, closing his eyes, his arms still curled around Velrin. "I don't feel ready to go back to the breach just yet. Let's just… rest here, for a little while, together. You don't have to say anything."

After a few moments, very quietly, Celaven begins to sing, "Take shelter in me, oh weary one — I see your heavy eyes…"

Velrin presses herself deeper into Ven and hums along to the tune.

Celaven continues to sing quietly, the words of Velrin's lullaby evidently engraved in his heart and memory, as his hand plays idly with her hair.

Velrin relaxes and her breathing gets slow and steady as Ven holds and comforts her. Once the song is finished Velrin whispers, "I'm sorry…"

"I am too," Celaven says, his voice barely a whisper. "For both of us, for what we have lost. But we are still loved. Velrin, you are loved. Never doubt that."

“That’s what I’m talking about…” Velrin whines and unglues herself from Ven. She keeps her arms draped across his shoulders and tries to look him in the eyes, “I should be the one comforting you right now.”

"Are you not?" Celaven asks, meeting her gaze with surprise. "I know this malaise that falls on you from time to time. Still, you are here, with me, setting other things aside. I still carry your songs with me, and they still bring me comfort."

Velrin tears up again and sniffles. She hugs Ven close again so she doesn't cry, "Do you mean it?"

"Yes, I do," Celaven says, holding her. "I would never ask you to be other than what you are, Velrin, in order to love me. On the good days and the bad. As long as you do love me." It sounds almost like a question.

Velrin makes a small whining sound like she's not entirely convinced, but she gives Ven a squeeze, "More than anything in the world."

"That's what I want," Celaven says, leaning in to kiss her lightly on the forehead. "If I can be selfish. And that gives me comfort, on even the worst days."

Velrin just holds him tight and gives him the occasional kiss. She’s not sure what to say to make him feel better, but she can be there with him.

From the way his breathing gradually slows and the look of peace slowly returns to his eyes, it seems that it is enough.