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| Details |
| Author: | Alli |
| Summary: | Anareline and Caspis prepare for a journey to a new land with new dangers. ~2900 words |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Anareline Silvershade steps absently away from the mailbox in Astranaar, reading a letter in her hand as if it might say something different the second time through. When the same words persist in their permanency, she raises her eyebrows and looks up, folding the paper once and tucking it away in her pack.
Without saying a word, she walks out of the village and into the nearby forest, moving in a way both purposeful and unfocused, as if she is unconsciously following a path she has traveled many times. Or, as a kaldorei, as if she is following a connection to a person who she feels as close to as a part of herself.
Drowsing contentedly beneath a tree is Caspis Silvershade. Druids are such sleepy little guys. His midnight-blue hair, still growing back from being burned off in the battle with Staghelm, is almost shoulder-length now, his beard back to its neatly trimmed fullness.
He wakes and sits up a half-second before Anareline enters his sightline, his luminous drowsy eyes turning toward her approach like the needle of a compass pointing north.
"Caspis," Anareline says grimly, walking towards him. A few steps away, she seems to reconsider the level of alarm her manner might invoke, so she continues with, "Our people are well, as far as I am aware, and there is no change in the war."
He rises to his feet and moves to take both of her hands, inclining his head to study her face. He has more than the usual number of leaves caught in his hair.
"Why the solemn aspect, my love?" he says in his resonant voice.
Ana reaches out, entwines her hands in his, and steps in closer to look up into his eyes. "A letter arrived from Cobalt Company. There is… some news. And a request. I have not decided what to do about it yet." She pauses and then adds, "Because it concerns both of us, so we must decide together."
"Of course," Caspis says gently. He brings both her hands to his lips briefly, then lowers them, keeping their fingers intertwined. "Cobalt Company, is it? They usually know the right place to take a stand, and we do owe them a great deal."
"We do," Anareline says, and she doesn't pull away. "And I do not regret our actions in Hyjal, wearing their tabards. It was a just war. One that cost both of us much, but what we achieved there was… is… meaningful."
Caspis's eyes flare briefly, a faint memory of righteous rage, but then they soften again.
"Yes," he agrees. "Where do they fight now?"
"Pandaria," Anareline says, and from the way she pronounces it, she might as well be saying 'on the smaller moon'. But then she shakes her head slightly and says, "Florande is still there. In the south, it seems, helping in the farmlands and the wilderness… she has loosely attached herself to a group of Sentinels."
"Pandaria," Caspis repeats vaguely, his gaze drifting off and losing focus.
It seems to take a moment for him to assemble what brain cells have been touched by the concept of Pandaria. Then he belatedly processes the rest of what Anareline said, and turns his dreamy gaze back to her.
"Florande is there? It has been far too long since I have seen my thero'shan."
"Yes, she was… on the squad, I believe?" Anareline says, a touch hazily as well. She's about as up to date on the latest news as Caspis, except for what was in this latest letter. "It seems she acquitted herself well. It will be good to see her again. There are… a number of Cobalt members there, but the gnomish captain seems to think there should be more. There are reasons she gave, but… she would like us to come."
"Very well," Caspis says. "My latest student has been admitted as a full member of the Cenarion Circle, which gives me the time to travel. I shall simply not take another until the situation is settled to Cobalt Company's liking. Do you suppose Shan'var Atley will be there as well?"
"Mm, yes, he should be," Anareline nods, stepping closer to turn herself into his arms. "I believe he is in charge, over there. Of Cobalt, at least, presumably not of the Alliance presence as a whole. So you think it will be good for us to be there? They need healers, and defenders…"
Caspis nestles Anareline familiarly against himself, resting his chin atop her hair as he ponders for a moment. Then he gives a kiss to the part in her hair and murmurs, "Yes, I would be happy to serve in whatever way is best."
"There is a thing the gnomish captain wrote of at length, in the letter," Anareline says, still curled up against him. "Have you heard of the word 'sha' before?"
"Aside from its meaning in Darnassian? I assume that isn't what you mean. I'm not aware of it having any particular significance, no." He frowns, puzzled.
"It is a different meaning, possibly from pandaren," Ana explains. "It is a… dark energy, in the land. It latches onto dark feelings, infects and poisons and… grows into something more powerful and deadly. They do not seem to have yet a clear view of what exactly it is, only what it seems to do."
Caspis's frown deepens. "Is there a way of defeating this sha? What happens to the people they… infect?"
"By her letter, it is like a… feedback loop, like nature going out of balance. The feelings feed the sha, which strengthens the feelings… until the person is consumed," Ana says, pulling back slightly to look up at his face. "Leaving only a monster of dark mist behind. I did not exactly follow the methods of defeating — she mentioned masks as a defense. And keeping one's feelings positive and calm, through relaxation or meditation. But also, there is an elusive order of monks who combat them. And… Cobalt Company has been able to kill some of the 'sha' creatures?"
Caspis makes a low, thoughtful sort of growl, eyes narrowing in intense contemplation. He gazes over and past Ana, as though the answers lie somewhere deeper in the forest.
"I believe I could remain calm enough not to be a target for such a creature… but not on the 'front lines,' as they say. The death of Fandral Staghelm has quenched the wildfire of my rage, but banked embers remain beneath the ashes. It is too soon for me to trust myself to the chaos and violence of battle."
He returns his gaze to Ana, studying her face, then reaching up to trace the line of her cheekbone with the edge of his thumb.
"I would be best suited, I think, as a supporting healer at camp or in a town, to attend those who need longer periods of recovery, and perhaps to aid with practice at meditaion, for those who need it."
"I am not afraid of your rage," Anareline says, half-closing her eyes as she leans her hand slightly against his thumb. "It was right, against Staghelm, and against Dawnshadow, even if it was overwhelming at times. You draw strength from it, now that it is in balance, now that it is wholly yours and not Aviana's. But… I would not do anything to see you thrown out of that balance."
She falls silent for a moment, and then looks up at him again, watching his expression carefully. "There is likely a need for healers and bringers of peace. There have been problems in their farming community with some kind of… swarming silithid? I am unclear on the description. 'Large insectoid creatures', the letter says."
"Like the qiraji?" Caspis cocks his head, birdlike. "Or more akin to nerubians?"
"Apparently some have wings," Anareline says, shrugging helplessly. "And some do not, but are large enough to shatter a massive protective wall. Really, I feel like someone should speak to the captain about clarity in her descriptions of insectoid races. Probably not you or I, but someone. The wings makes me think more of qiraji, but… naturally, I have never seen them."
"I do have experience with qiraji," Caspis muses. "Perhaps I could indeed be of assistance to the farmers, if only as an advisor in helping to understand the behavior of such creatures. And of course in treating the wounds they inflict."
He ponders a moment longer, then nods resolutely. "I think we could be of use there. Your skills on the battlefield, and my support in the settlements."
"Then it is settled," Anareline says. "We will travel to Pandaria together. I will write to the captain that you will not be on the front lines, but that I will be available, if defenders are needed."
She tilts her head against Caspis, and continues, "You and I can find Florande, and… the kaldorei Sentinels? I was not even aware a group had sailed there." Maybe the omission of a description of their travel methods was a lucky choice on the captain's part. "The Captain also seemed to indicate that there might be Wild Gods there, specific to the region."
Caspis visibly perks up at that, his focus sharpening. "I look forward to learning more about this place. It seems we have a most interesting journey before us."
Anareline breathes in, and then out slowly, and says, "Your latest student, will they be distressed at the sudden departure? Is this one I have met?"
"I… do not remember if you have met," Caspis says, ears drooping slightly. "I think not. One of the youngest generation, a young woman. It seems most students these days are young women. Or perhaps they send the young women to me, as I have a reputation for being open to changes in our society."
"Certainly better you than… some I could name," Ana says, stiffening slightly. "Less in the Circle now, but I still feel our people are distressingly forgiving sometimes. It may be that they send them to you, to avoid an undercurrent of disapproval from other elders. Or perhaps they have noted your particular success with women."
Anareline pauses briefly, possibly hearing how that can be interpreted, and adds, "Such as Florande and Imrolane, that is — your work with them, and the triumphs you have shared. And with me."
Caspis meets Anareline's gaze, and holds it for a moment. The faintest smile appears at the corners of his mouth, almost imperceptible, and then fades back into his usual solemnity.
"I suppose the key to teaching female students is to realize that they want the same things as students of any gender. That was a stumbling block for Fandral, however. He could never see women as fully elves, somehow. They only existed for him as pieces in a—"
Caspis stops, and takes a deep breath.
"He is gone," he reminds himself, like a child reassuring himself the monster under the bed has been banished by his loving parents. "I no longer need to concern myself with what he thought, or why."
"He is gone, and you are here," Anareline says firmly, meeting his gaze. "The one who can shape the future of the Circle is you. And he is no longer able to cast doubt on your abilities, your wisdom, your power. I see it, and others must now, as well. They would not send you students, otherwise. Nor would gnomes ask you to travel to far off lands. This was not a letter to everyone, it was a letter to us."
Caspis's eyes flare, and he straightens his posture. "Not long ago this would have been inconceivable to me. So long, I let that man— but it matters not. As you say, I am here. He has no more power over me. We are heroes of the Alliance, and we deserve the respect we are given."
It does still sound like he's convincing himself a little, or at least reassuring himself of something new and fragile.
"We deserve the respect we are given," Anareline repeats firmly, giving weight to that reassurance. "Perhaps others will need to concern themselves with our thoughts, though I hope we will prove more flexible than others we have known before."
She falls silent for a long moment again, before she adds, "Lara will stay here, I think. Defending against the orcs. Ven, though… his unit is deploying. I do not know where, but I hope his team will work in concert with us."
"I worry about him sometimes," Caspis admits. "Joining the human-led Alliance military… I hope he has more influence upon them than they upon him. Humans can be so… rash, so violent."
"Yes," Anareline says, with a low sigh. "I hope his love for Elune will guard his heart from hardening, but… he seems so attracted to the idea of the military. He has told me that he feels needed on the battlefield, as a healer. I hope he does not lose his way." Ana pauses, and adds, "Lara, I worry about in other ways. She is driven by vengeance, and I can't say she's wrong. But… I do not know how to help her find peace."
"She is young," Caspis says gently. "And from what I have seen of her, skilled enough to survive long enough for time to smooth the sharp edges of youth."
"She is skilled, that much is true," Anareline nods. "I will need to tell her where I'm going. I can't simply disappear on her, not again. She may understand, when I explain about the Sentinel group in Pandaria."
"Why are they there?" Caspis asks. "Did the letter say?"
"At Whisperwind's direction," Anareline says, her brow lowering slightly. "Searching for a… vision of Light? I suppose she would not have explained her motives clearly, necessarily, to Captain Sparkwire. Leaders sometimes do not."
"There has been no talk of this in Darnassus," says Caspis, "at least not among the Circle. Most peculiar. A vision of Light? As in, the humans' Light? Is Whisperwind looking to diversify the services offered by the Temple? I would not be opposed - the Light is one of the better things the humans have introduced to us."
Anareline raises one hand in a kind of shrug. "I could not tell you Whisperwind's mind. That may be a thing for us to investigate when we arrive." She pauses, and adds, "Should I make us a list of things we hope to learn or accomplish? And then pack it, to be certain it will come with us."
"Yes," Caspis says decisively. "And anything I later suggest, add it to the list." He hesitates and says more softly, ears drooping slightly, "Also remind me periodically that there is a list."
"Of course," Anareline says solemnly, stretching up to kiss his cheek. Another thought strikes her, and she says, "Will Tirenda be well? Do we need to bring her with us?"
Caspis's eyes light up, and a smile touches the corners of his mouth.
"She has been deployed with a group of new Sentinels to train alongside other new recruits from all across the Alliance Military in a new facility in Dalaran. I do not understand the whole of it, but it uses illusion magic to simulate combat without risk of real injury or death. She applied to the program some time ago, but I just heard she was accepted - not long ago."
There is a pause as he tries and immediately gives up on measuring the exact time that has elapsed.
Anareline looks genuinely surprised, and just stares at Caspis for a moment. "That is not what I would have expected the younger races to do with magic. Building a tool to enable the gaining of perspective and experience without physical risk. It is… a good thing to use it for. I will be curious to hear of your daughter's view of the process, when she returns. But in the meantime… it sounds as though she is safe and learning."
"Yes," Caspis says, his ears lifting. "I have not felt so at peace about her since - well, possibly ever."
Anareline's lips curve in a faint, relaxed smile. "I am glad she has found her place." She pauses, checking through some kind of mental list, and then adds, "Velrin is still absorbed in the healing of the Felwood, so she is occupied as well. Imrolane may still be in Surwich, that worgen village? So all of our people, our growing family… they will be safe, while we travel."
Caspis nods solemnly. "Do they have a mail system there, in case anyone should need us to return home?"
"I believe so, yes," Anareline says. "Connected by portal, so I don't think we need fear any problems as we did in Outland or Northrend. The only barriers between Pandaria and the Eastern Kingdoms seem to be… political. There is some concern among the pandaren about allowing free movement."
"But we will be welcomed?" Cas's feathery eyebrows lift. "I do not wish to impose myself where I am unwanted."
"I believe so," Anareline nods. "The Captain has said that Cobalt Company, specifically, is allowed through on trust. It seems those who have gone before have left a favorable impression. I trust that we are wanted, and that we will prove their sound judgment in welcoming us, by our actions. We will give them our best, I am sure of it."