(2025-05-25) Wyrmrestless Night

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Author:	Blade
Summary:	On the first night at Wyrmrest Temple after breaking through the siege, Shun and Estel have a chat about what they may face. Also Cress shows up for a bag order. ~2700 words
Rating:	T for Teen

Arc: Season 16: Twilight Approaches

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couple in a relationship

Wyrmrest Temple is a very large space, designed for dragons, but it is also particularly crowded at the moment. There are four entrances in each of the cardinal directions, each warded by the dragons to allow allies to pass in and out freely, and in between those doorways is where everyone else waits. The areas to the northeast and southwest contain two makeshift infirmaries, while the areas to the northwest and southeast are space for others to wait and rest. Most of the mingling is done in the center, and there have been some tents set up, mostly by the 7th Legion. There is an upper balcony level, but that is not easily accessible without the help of someone with wings. This place was, after all, designed for dragons. Estel has not brought a tent. She has brought blankets, however, and she is currently laying them out atop a ledge around the outer ring, next to a big vase.

Shun is currently sitting against the wall, partially behind said big vase. He seems to be trying to tuck himself away into the darkest corner he can get away with without having to figure out a way to the upper reaches of the temple. His eyes are currently closed as he sits there as he attempts to either tune out the noise of the crowd, meditate, or do something in between.

Estel sets out two pillows with mismatched pillowcases, fluffs them up a little, and finally scoots further into the corner with Shun, nudging his shoulder. "A lot, yeah?"

A low grunt escapes Shun, "Understatement."

Estel holds out a hand to him. "Welcome to Northrend. I've never been to this temple before. It could really use more mattresses."

"I do not think dragons use mattresses. Not like we do, anyway," Shun remarks. He places his hand in hers, "The place is too open. Though it is less cold than I imagined it would be."

Estel squeezes his hand. "It's cold outside. It was cold as fuck in Voldrune, when I went."

"So it could be worse," he muses. Shun looks out to the rest of the temple with a furrowed brow and sighs, "Still. This is… a lot. There are so many people here. The battle earlier was utter chaos, and this is just the beginning."

Estel nods. "So Deathwing being impaled on the tower, does that mean, like, it's definitely gonna be the bad timeline?"

"Uncertain. You might have to ask Nozdormu up top there. But if it happens, that puts us one step closer to mirroring what I saw in that future," Shun replies, "I am far from being an expert on things dealing with the timelines. Maybe Deathwing always gets impaled onto the tower…."

Estel goes, "Huh. Maybe."

Shun rubs his face. "Were your other operations with Cobalt on this … scale?"

"Not most." Estel considers. "I got sent to support the 7th Legion killing one of Deathwing's sons, uh, Nefarian. In Blackrock Mountain. That was a huge operation. They had multiple Expeditionary Units there. Some of the same ones that're here, in fact."

"I suppose that tracks," Shun murmurs, "I just never have been a part of something so largescale before. I am uncertain how to feel."

"However you wanna feel, really. I dunno that there's a right or a wrong way?" Estel shrugs. "It's a lot. Sleeping here is gonna really suck."

Shun let out a grunt, "Yes. It will. I get the sense I will not be getting much of it here. There is just far too much going on."

"I've got potions if it gets bad," Estel offers. "And something to wake you up if we're attacked while you're asleep."

"Hm. I do not think I want to rely on a potion to awaken should it come to that. Each second counts in those sorts of situations," Shun says.

"Yeah, fair." Estel squeezes his hand. "I'm a bit worried about the, uh, tentacle pits outside."

"As one should be… Do enemy forces usually come out of those pits or are… they more just hazards?" Shun asks.

"Enemies definitely come out of 'em," Estel says. "Minions of the Old Gods. N'raqi. I dunno. The Old God in this region, Yogg-Saron, was killed, but… those things are still here, so maybe minions can travel."

"Had I more time, I would have sought out books or whatever on how to more effectively combat these sorts of foes. I feel as though I am a bit out of my depth in more ways than one here," he admits.

"Which sorts?" Estel asks. "Dragons? Elementals? N'raqi?"

"N'raqi. While I have not exactly fought many dragons until very recently, they make more sense. I know very little of the Elder things," Shun replies.

"I've never dissected one," Estel says.

"I did not learn as much as I would have liked from fighting the Shadow Man after he transformed. All I could really tell was that his physiology was … very different at that point," Shun sighs.

"Almeiria might be able to tell you more," Estel guesses. "Shine might have some experience too, 'cause he was with the squad in the Highlands."

Shun folds his arms over his chest and sighs, "Might be worth looking into. Not sure how many more I will be encountering but… Best be prepared I suppose." "Still. This is one hell of an adjustment period."

"Maybe you can make some friends while we're here," Estel says optimistically.

"Friends? Here?" he asks, skeptically.

"Yeah! There's a ton of Cobalt folks that came with the siege." Estel gestures vaguely.

Shun furrows his brow. "I am not certain this would be the best time for socialization."

"We're socializing right now," Estel teases.

"You do not count. You know this. "

"Look…" Estel leans in closer and bonks her head lightly against his. "The reason I don't count is 'cause you got used to me. Now you get to start the process of getting used to other people."

Shun closes his eyes and lets out a light grunt. "The middle of a siege does not really feel like an appropriate time for that. There are more important things to deal with and all. "

"Okay, okay. You win. For now." Estel glances out at the temple proper, then turns and kisses Shun's cheek quickly. "But don't think I won't get back on this topic later, yeah?"

"I know," he sighs, "It is all just a part of this… adjustment period." Shun lightly leans against Estel as he opens his eyes again to look over the temple before them. "Is there anything else I should know about our enemies at present that has not yet been mentioned?"

Estel wraps an arm around his shoulders and taps her fingers idly on Shun's pauldron. "Deathwing flies," she says, her voice dry. "He's got, uh, elementium plating protecting most of him. But I think his real protection is just, like, being the Aspect of death now? Which is why we need that Dragon Soul thingy. One of the old kaldorei would know more about him, I bet. Caspis, maybe, he's old as hell."

Shun furrows his brow as he listens along. "So the Dragon Soul is to strip him of that protection. Then he can die," he murmurs, "I sense this will be far less straightforward than it sounds still."

"Yeah, probably. Because he flies." Estel shrugs. "And we, uh, don't want him impaled on the temple 'cause that's a sign of the bad timeline."

"Correct. If we can manage that, then we are on the right track," Shun notes, "Though if we are holed up here that may be a bit tricky…"

"Eh. Somebody else will do the planning bit." Estel waves a hand dismissively. "And I'll just try'n keep us all alive."

"I trust you will be able to do just that," Shun nods before letting out a grunt, "I might have some issues if shit keeps flying around. I can only throw a blade so far…"

"And you might not get them back afterwards." Estel smiles sympathetically. "You might have to do some archery or somethin'."

"If I can get my hands on a bow…"

"Not my fault you didn't bring one," Estel says, holding her hands up.

Shun grunts, "I need a better way of being able to carry that sort of shit around. Lest I do something like wear a quiver all the time."

Estel pats her messenger bag. "Gotta get you somethin' bigger on the inside. You know who you should ask about that? Cress. Cobalt's tailor, Cressidha Aspenwood. She makes bags so big you could probably hide multiple bodies in 'em."

That gets Shun's attention, "Multiple bodies? And it would not feel like I am carrying multiple bodies?"

"Yep!" Estel grins. "They're expensive as fuck, I bet, but you can get Cobalt Company to pay for 'em."

"Or I suppose I can just save up…" he murmurs, "That does sound rather useful."

"Never spend your own money when you could spend someone else's," Estel says, nudging his shoulder.

"I would have to repay the company in some way would I note?" he asks with a raised brow.

"Probably not unless you wanted like a whole bunch." Estel shrugs.

"Noted. Just one bag would probably suit me, really," Shun muses. He falls silent for a time, furrowing his brow in thought.

"Mm. You want me to introduce you?" Estel offers. "She's probably still around here somewhere, I could go look."

Shun considers that for a moment. "Oh. Uh. Sure. I guess."

"Okay. Be right back." Estel gives him a quick side-hug and bounces to her feet, wandering off into the temple. She's gone for almost ten minutes, and when she returns, she is being followed by an elegant woman in expensive mage robes with her blonde hair pinned up into a very neat bun. "Cress, this is Shun," Estel says, and leans against the big vase. Cressidha nods politely. "I am Cressidha, of House Aspenwood. Estel told me you were in need of a bag for storage?"

While Estel is out, Shun quietly waits in his little corner, watching the various on goings in the temple in front of him. When she returns with Cressidha, he looks up at her and lightly nods. "Correct. I suppose my current bags are not adequate for all the equipment I would like to be able to bring around."

"Very well. Our latest material is emberweave," Cressidha says, opening a small drawstring bag at her waist and taking out another similar small drawstring bag. "It has a slightly higher capacity for storage than frostweave, and it dyes better. Do you have a preference for color?"

"Black," Shun replies without any hesitation.

"Understood. I am unable to access my workshop while here, so the custom color will have to wait until after Deathwing's… death, Light willing." Cressidha clears her throat. "If you would like a temporary bag in the meantime, I could give you a brown one."

"That is not a problem. Dealing with the dragon is a far more important thing to handle right now. The bag is not a priority," Shun says before shaking his head, "I do not need it right this moment. "

Cressidha puts her sample bag away again. "Very well. Is your address on record at headquarters?"

"It is, yes," he nods.

Cressidha nods. "In that case, you will receive your bag in one to three business days after Deathwing's demise. Is that acceptable?"

"That is acceptable, yes. Is there anything I would owe for this?" Shun asks.

Cressidha starts to shake her head, then pauses. "Only if you would like extra features beyond waterproofing, fireproofing, and storage. Would you?"

Shun blinks, "What sort of other features could there be?"

"A locking mechanism, I suppose," Cressidha says. "Often, quick access to the contents of the bag is preferred over security. Acid resistance is still a work in progress." Her face has gone a little blank. "I can enchant bags to keep the contents cool or warm, specifically for storage of food, although those are best made a little smaller."

Shun thinks about that some, mulling over his specific use cases, "I believe the standard features will be enough."

"Very well." Cressidha looks between Shun and Estel. "Did either of you have anything else you wished to order, or is that all?" "Nope, I'm good," Estel says, giving her a thumbs-up.

Shun shakes his head. He has nothing else for Cress either.

"In that case, have a good evening." Cressidha nods politely and walks off. "She's rich as hell," Estel says once Cressidha is out of earshot. "Aspenwoods are Stormwind nobility, her mom's a duchess on the House of Nobles. I think Captain Admiral Fallon's richer, though."

"Thought the name sounded familiar," he mutters under his breath. Shun then eyes Estel with a raised brow. "How many rich as hell people are in the Company?"

"Fallon's not Cobalt. The Aspenwood kids are, though, three of 'em. Cress, my friend Cole, and Bertrand, who we met up in the highlands. And then there's, like, some just regular rich people. My friend Sandy Spellbond, his mom has a butler, that means they're rich, yeah? Uh, the Lysanders have a huge house, they're probably also rich. That's Ally and her brother Kyris." Estel shrugs. "I don't think the Ferences are actually crazy rich, although they're doing well now, because, you know, Cobalt Company. Niris spends like a normal person with a budget, but Ben always buys me food at Bruuk's."

Shun runs a hand through his hair as she goes through the list. It certainly sounds like there are a lot of rich folk involved here one way or another. "I see… That is a little surprising, I suppose."

"What is?"

"A bunch of rich nobles running around as mercenaries instead of… Well. You know. "

"Joining the army, getting promoted to officer positions based on name and not merit, that kind of thing?" Estel shakes her head. "Some of 'em came from the army, I know that. Like, left it and joined up with Cobalt."

"Yeah basically. That or just… throwing parties and shit," Shun shrugs. "That is still peculiar to me, though. Why Cobalt and not the army?"

"Guess you'd have to ask them, yeah? Cole and Bertrand are pretty friendly, they'd probably just tell you." Estel waves a hand. "I talked to Kyris a bit when we were on the ship to Tol Barad, y'know, before the kraken sunk it. From what I got, his dad's like a famous retired army guy, and so they tried to put Kyris into leadership positions and… he wasn't good at it? He got tired of it? 'He just wants to kill orcs with a sword' seemed to be the gist of it. But, like, damn is that guy hard to get anything out of. As bad as you were when you were young."

Shun huffs a bit, "You saying it is easier to get shit out of me now?" He shakes his head. "Maybe I will ask some of them sometime. It is not important though. "

"Yeah, easier for me, because you like me now," Estel says, grinning.

"You were… very persistent to reach that point."

"And you're glad I was, right? Right?" Estel smiles like she knows what the answer will be and wants to hear it out loud anyway.

"I have to admit, yes," Shun sighs.

Estel settles back down next to him. "I love you too."

The look in his eyes softens as he lightly leans against her. "Go ahead and get some rest. I will be here."

"Okay." Estel pulls her boots off and tries to get settled on the blankets. It is clearly uncomfortable, and she grumbles a little about it, but eventually stops fidgeting.

Shun looks down when she starts to fidget. He places a hand over her to see if that might settle her down some.

Estel pats his hand once and settles down.

Shun takes her hand and gives it a squeeze. He soon settles down by her to hopefully make things a little more comfortable.

"Hi," Estel whispers. "You're not gonna sleep, are you?"

"Keeping watch for now," he answers.

"That's what I thought." Estel closes her eyes.

He lightly pats her and sighs. "Rest easy."