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| Details |
| Author: | Alli |
| Summary: | The discovery of the Claw of Tichondrius brings up difficult memories for Velrin. A few days after the mission, Celaven and Nylarria comfort her. ~1600 words |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Velrin sits in the middle of her home with Nylarria. Vel has her head placed carefully in Nylarria's lap as to not touch her brand and she's covered in a mountain of blankets snuggling a big stuffed bear. Nylarria is stroking Velrin's hair gently as well as giving some attention to Rula who is nearby as well.
The footsteps on the grass and dirt outside are so soft as to be inaudible to most, though the demoLarawenn hunter likely would not miss the figure approaching. It is a familiar figure, though, and not a threat — Celaven Evensong, returning from Stormwind this evening.
He doesn't knock, but as he comes through the door he says, "I'm home. Is all well?"
Velrin looks up at him with big eyes. Rula rushes over and does a couple laps around Ven's feet, then Nylarria speaks up, "She's troubled." She says seemingly in reference to Velrin.
Celaven kneels to touch the rabbit gently in welcome, and nods at Nylarria to acknowledge the words. "Has something happened?"
"During her mission with the Cobalt Aegis she discovered something related to the deaths of her parents." Nylarria say bluntly. Rula runs back over to Velrin and licks her face.
"Oh," Celaven says, and it's less a simple word than an exhale of sorrowful sympathy. He moves over to take a seat by Nylarria, looking down to meet Velrin's gaze. "You were working to the south of here, I recall, with Cobalt. You found something from the past?"
Velrin's eyes start to water now that Ven is near. She nods her head weakly.
Celaven reaches over to brush hair back from her face, his fingers trailing lightly down her cheek — very carefully, so as not to touch Nylarria. "Did the mission end badly?"
"No… everything is going smoothly. I just…" Velrin clamps her eyes shut and starts to cry in earnest now, letting it all out now that Ven is here.
Celaven leaves his hand there, staying in physical contact, as he says, "You can tell me as much or as little as you like, love. If you think it may help to talk, I am here. If not, I am still here."
Velrin makes a quiet whining sound. She sits and pouts for a little while until Nylarria scratches her scalp to try and urge her to speak up, "We… found something… That belonged to a demon."
"An artifact of some sort?" Celaven asks, his brows furrowing.
"One of Tichondrius's claws. The Nathrezim that invaded this land with the Scourge during the Third War." Nylarria explains.
Celaven looks up at Nylarria, his gaze sharpening with concern. "Part of the demon's body? That seems… dangerous. Is it destroyed?"
"From what I can tell it's more or less inert. It won't cause any harm unless brought into the wrong hands." Nylarria goes on. Velrin wraps her blankets tighter around her and rubs her face against Ven's hand for comfort.
"Then it was primarily the memories it stirred," Celaven says, gently petting Velrin a little like a cat. "It did nothing further to harm any one of the team."
"Correct." Nylarria says.
"I'm such a coward…" Velrin mumbles.
"No… no, love," Celaven says gently. "Did any of them say that?"
"Well it's true, isn't it?" Velrin dodges the question, "I'm being stupid. It's just a stupid claw!"
Celaven is quiet for a long moment, and then he says, "I hadn't told you, but I still have nightmares about my father. I hadn't even spoken to him in many years by the time he died, and still… I could say I'm stupid, too. But… feelings are what they are. And seeing something physical that takes you back to that time… you're allowed to feel however you feel, and there is nothing stupid or cowardly about it."
Velrin sniffles, "I just… I felt so helpless after I lost my parents. I felt like I should have done something, anything, to help them." Velrin takes in a shaky breath, "I thought that I'd moved past this already, but… there's still a part of me that feels like I let them die."
"I do not believe it was any fault of yours," Celaven says gently. "Demons are… deadly creatures. Would it help to talk about what happened back then?"
Velrin reaches a hand out from the covers to wipe her eyes, "There's not much to say. I wasn't there. I just remember waiting to hear from an'da and min'da and they never came. It wasn't until uncle Thorn came to check on me that I learned what happened."
"I think… parents usually want their children to be safe," Celaven says carefully. "I think they would have been happy you were not harmed. And there is no way you could have known, that day among all the other days."
Velrin sighs and huffs, "You don't get it… I lost everything that day. I didn't have any other friends, and all my family lives far off now. I was all alone with no parents and no home. It was so scary." Velrin breaks down and starts sobbing.
Celaven strokes her hair gently, letting her cry.
Velrin emerges from her blankies to hug Ven. Nylarria scoops up Rula and scoots back slightly to give the two of them a little space.
Celaven wraps his arms around her, holding her safe and warm. "You have us now. And not just me and Nylarria. You have my mother, who looks on you as her bond-daughter. You have Caspis, who you've fought alongside in Hyjal, who loves you. Larawen — it has seemed promising, at least, with the painting of flower. Florande, and all of her hugs. And so many more. You're not alone anymore, Vel."
"I-I-I know… And I'm so grateful for all of you." Velrin tightens her arms around him, "I just… seeing it was such a stark reminder of how much I've lost. How much the Legion has taken from me…"
"We won't let it take any more," Celaven says in a soothing voice. "That's part of what you're doing with the team, isn't that right? Making sure the remnants don't take more from this land, from us."
Velrin nods with her face buried in Ven's chest.
"The team you're working with now, might some of them understand some of where you're coming from?" Celaven asks gently. "Some of them may carry similar loss, from the Legion, or another power."
"Yeah…" Velrin sniffles and starts to pull herself together again.
Celaven just holds her, letting her fall apart for as long as she needs to. "And you kept going, even though it was hard."
"I guess so…" Velrin clings tightly to Ven, showing no signs of letting go.
Nylarria comes up behind Vel, still holding Rula in one arm and rubs Vel's back.
Celaven looks over Velrin to Nylarria, and smiles faintly at her expression of affection. He continues holding Velrin, being there for her as long as she needs.
After a while longer Velrin speaks up again, “Can we go snuggle for a while?” Velrin says, begging sweetly.
"The three of us?" Celaven asks, glancing over to Nylarria to see her reaction. "I would love to."
Nylarria stiffens up a little but nods and sets Rula down.
Velrin smiles at Nylarria and seems to be thanking her, though she doesn’t say anything.
Celaven nods understanding to Nylarria, and begins to lead Velrin towards the bedroom. He watches Velrin carefully, and says quietly, "Grief can be like that sometimes, and it isn't stupid. Even years later, something unexpected comes along — a particular phrase, a gesture, an object — and it tears open the wound yet again. I don't think it ever goes away fully. But you are here, Vel, and you will make it through."
“Scars may linger, but we can still move forward.” Nylarria adds as she follows behind them.
Celaven leads her over to the bed, where he draws Velrin down next to him with one hand, and gestures a welcome to Nylarria with the other. "Did you tell your team what had upset you?"
Velrin climbs onto his chest to settle in, “No… They didn’t seem mad though.”
Nylarria sits down on the bed next to Velrin and rubs her back.
"I'm glad to hear it," Celaven says, curling his arms to hold her gently against him. "If this claw will be around in the future, then you may want to consider telling them. It is, of course, up to you."
“Ok…” Velrin says, her voice muffled by Ven’s chest.
Celaven strokes Velrin's hair, his gaze shifting to Nylarria in search for a hint of what to do to help. It is a deliberate acknowledgement of Velrin's deeper bond with the other woman. The recognition no longer seems to cause Celaven any significant pain.
Nylarria furrows her brow slightly, wondering why Ven is looking at her.
“Thank you…” Velrin says softly to Ven. Her breathing is slowly starting to relax.
"I'm here," Celaven says, shifting his attention back to Velrin. "I am glad my unit's not deployed, and you're close to home. I'm glad we can be here for each other."
“Yeah.” Vel adjusts herself and Nylarria scoots a bit closer to the two of them, “All three of us.”
"Yes," Celaven says, offering one arm to hold Nylarria, but not touching her. "All three of us."
Nylarria hesitates for a moment but ultimately chooses to lean in to join the hug.
Celaven welcomes her, his offered touch on Nylarria's shoulder light and easy for her to avoid if she chooses to. He rests there, breathing deeply, offering calmness.
Nylarria is a bit tense, but she doesn’t move to avoid Ven. Velrin brightens up as the three lay there and smiles as she slowly drifts off to sleep.
Celaven begins quietly humming the lullaby Velrin wrote, as he closes his own eyes.