The Siege – Letters

Confessor Morthorn,

Hello!  I thought I would write and give you some news of what’s been happening here.  First, I’ve spoken with Terellion and he’s interested in me too, so that’s really a good thing!  I was worried that he wouldn’t like me.  I do still worry a little that he’s just saying that because he’s afraid of losing his job, but I did tell him that his job was safe no matter what, so I worry a little less now.  I really do want him to like me for me, not because I pay him.

It’s difficult to find time to be alone with him now.  I’ve been very busy lately.  Almost every minute of my day is accounted for.  I’m helping my family in Silvermoon and taking the baby to see Nessna when I’m not teaching classes and giving lessons.  That doesn’t leave much spare time!  When I am free, he’s often working.  I’ve thought about hiring a third person, but he was the only person to show up last time I put an ad up, so maybe I’ll just have to wait for people to get back.  I talked to Tik about it and he said the work is manageable now.  It isn’t if he’s always busy with it!  I do like cake though.  I think he should definitely keep making cake.

Right now, we have a lot of guests too.  Isandri is here with her brother.  He was injured in Kalimdor, and needs to rest.  Sath, Isandri’s brother, is staying in the one room with three beds.  Isandri has the nice guest room over the library.

The other guest room is also occupied.  Aeramin is spending evenings here.  He is fixing a house in the town for his father during the day.  Then he comes here to help Maerista with fire magic.  Mae is one of the new students.  Anyway, he sleeps here at night then goes back to the town after breakfast.  He has agreed to continue teaching here, one day a week, after he returns to Shattrath.  I was a bit worried about him being here at first, but it’s turning out okay.  I don’t see him often because I’m so busy, but when I do, we’re able to talk like we used to when we were friends before.  I think he knows about Terellion.  Maybe that’s why.  Neither of us is jealous of the other now.  I have Terellion and he has Imralion.  He has asked if he can bring Imralion to visit sometime, and I’m okay with that.  I like showing off the school.  I’m proud of what I’ve done here.

Have you ever sat down to write and weren’t able to finish right then, and when you do get a chance to finish, something’s happened that makes all of the other things you wrote look like old news?  That just happened to me.

Anyway, I spent much of the day in Silvermoon yesterday.  It was Aeramin’s birthday, so I bought him a big cupcake at the market.  I didn’t think his father would do anything for him, and I thought it would be weird to ask Terellion to make cake for him, so that’s why I got the cupcake.  It was big with colored sprinkles, and it looked like something the death knight would make.  Did I tell you he bakes?  I mean the death knight!  It’s so tempting every time I go to check on Lani’s house, but I don’t want to get sick so I don’t ask to eat any.

Anyway, I left the cupcake in the room that Aeramin’s staying in, and worked with Xarola for her early afternoon lesson.  She’s still learning theory, but I think she’ll be ready to start casting very soon!  After her lesson, I took Rylad to Silvermoon to visit with family.  My mother is staying at home again, and I guess that’s okay news, except with her there, I feel like I can’t relax at all.  I don’t trust her and I have to always watch.  I never lower my guard.  I really am afraid that she’ll try something, which makes me very nervous when I visit.  She keeps talking about how having a school in the Ghostlands is silly, and I’ll never get enough students to be profitable, and she tells me that I should move back to Silvermoon.  Then she starts telling me about girls my age who are looking for husbands, and the parties that they go to, and she keeps trying to convince me to go to one.  I don’t know what to tell her to make her understand that I really don’t like girls like that!  She likes to talk though, and I don’t want to cause a lot of trouble right now because Nessna is still recovering so I have to listen to it.  I get back home to the school late fairly often.  She insisted on taking me shopping for robes, or I have to stay for supper.  Then she talks and talks and talks forever.  I was late getting back last night too, but I didn’t think it was too late.  It was after supper.  I found Des studying in the dining room.  Tik and Terellion moved the tables back inside, but with all the windows, it’s almost like being outside still.  I worry that it’ll be cold in the winter.  I know it was cold last year, but less of the house was being heated too.

Anyway, I talked to Des a bit.  It really wasn’t that late, but I noticed I hadn’t seen Terellion, so I went to find him.  He was in his room.  His father had been sent to fight in Kalimdor.  He’s not coming back.  His mother lives in Silvermoon with his two sisters.  I’m going to send some money to them, anonymously, so don’t tell!  I want to help them take care of things, without making them feel like they owe me anything.  I’m really worried about Terellion now.  He took the job here to support his family while his father was in Kalimdor.  Now his father is gone.  I thought about offering to have one of the other old houses on the estate fixed up, and then they could move there, but his sisters are young so the Ghostlands probably isn’t the best place for them to be.  I don’t know what to do, and there’s nothing I can say to make it better.  He knows I’m here for him though.

I really hope no one else dies or gets hurt, and everyone comes home safe soon!  Really soon!

– Magister Hethurin Fairsong

***

Dear Father,

I wanted to thank you for sending me updates on Nessna.  You don’t know how relieved I am that she’s going to make it.  There were a couple of times I wasn’t so sure of it when she was here.

We had someone else in our tent that I think you should know about.  She’d be mad if she knew I was telling, but Aranae has somehow managed to find her way here.  She had a nasty cut on her foot, but she’ll be fine.  She needed some stitches, and was quite her usual self.  She’s still staying here in the tent until I’m sure she won’t wind up with any bad infection.  She is insisting on returning to Pandaria.

I’ve tried speaking with her, but you know how difficult she can be.  Perhaps I can convince her to give us the address of where she plans to go.  I’ll do my best anyway.  The confessor has agreed to speak with her as well.

From what she’s said, they’re pretty far in the tunnels beneath the city, but they’re sure the orc is down there somewhere.  I hope they find him soon.  It’s hot and dusty here.

– Lani

***

My Dearest Imralion,

I haven’t heard from you lately so I thought I’d write.  I’m still in the Ghostlands.  My birthday was a few days ago.  My father threw a hammer at me.  Maybe it was supposed to be my present.  More likely, he forgot and he was just throwing the hammer at me because I asked him to get it for me.  I put in some new pipes, but there’s still no water.  I did finish the roof on one side, and some of the interior on that same side, but the side with the collapsed wall, I’m not sure what to do.  The biggest part is moving the big pieces.  I was tempted to set them on fire, but I don’t want the rest of the house to catch.

I miss you.  Please be safe.

– Aeramin

***

Dear Xyliah,

I should have written this letter to you when I received word myself, but I’ve had a difficult week, and I hope you forgive me for not letting you know sooner.  Your brother has lost his life in Orgrimmar.  Nessna was severely injured as well, as they were together at the time.  Yara has been sent home, and is here with me.  I’m sorry about having to tell you in a letter, but the distance doesn’t really make it easy to tell you face to face.

I hope you and Berwick are both doing well and are safe in Pandaria.

Love,

Ann’da

***

My Love, Isandri,

I miss you.  I wanted to let you know that things are looking good from where our supply camp is.  They haven’t asked us to move closer, though they have moved some others.  It seems fairly quiet above ground.  Most of the people I’ve talked to say the orc has tunnels under the city.  I’m certain they’ll find him soon and we’ll be able to come home.  I can’t wait to see you again.  I bet the baby has grown so much too.

There has been a slight increase in injuries being brought into the camp.  I suppose tunnels aren’t the best to fight in.

With the relative safety of the camp, I’ve cut down on the patrols and have organized a boar hunting trip for some of the people I’m working with.  It’s completely not sanctioned, but since a lot of the other camps are further away now, I don’t think anyone will notice.

I was on one of my patrols yesterday, when I came across this small flowering plant right here in the desert.  I thought they were beautiful, like you, so I picked some for you.  I know they’re not dried properly, but I’m including them with this letter between two separate pieces of paper.  Maybe the mail will press them for you!

I love you.  I hope to be home soon!

– Thero

***

Dear Raleth,

You’re still alive, right?  Naraleth has another tooth.  I think he needs a bottle because he really likes using his teeth.  He doesn’t like riding with his head in the sling anymore when I go out to get things.  He likes to look around, but then people look at him.  Do you think it’ll be easier when he gets older?

Oh, I got another letter from my grandfather.  This one didn’t have blood on it, but I think it was on paper he found.  He said there’s still crazy orcs in the Barrens.  Should I write and tell him that’s old news?

I haven’t seen Isandri in a while, but I did see Kestrae briefly.  I feel like everyone’s gone and left me alone.  Are you coming home soon?  I love you really a lot!

– Lali

Alt Appreciation – Rogue Week

It is rogue week at World of Lae!  I do like my rogues, and I probably have way too many, even if none of them are that well geared or anything.  I’m not a good rogue.  I forget to hit cloak of shadows when I vanish.  I forget I can pick pocket.  Sometimes I forget to put poisons on!  But it is a lot of fun being able to sneak around mobs, or in one rogue’s case, pvp hotspots on his pvp realm.  Anyway, here’s my rogues!

Latahlali Ashclaw is a very young kaldorei. She grew up around the tauren, even being named for one of them. After the orcs arrived, her family moved closer to Ashenvale for safety, and during the cataclysm, when the orcs pushed further into the forest, she lost her parents. Her grandfather found her and took her to the hills where he believed it to be safe. From there, she went on occasional trips to Darnassus for supplies. It was during one of those trips that she met Andarthir, who took her on as an apprentice, until her grandfather proved to be too much trouble. Latahlali still wanted to become a mage, so she wound up studying with Raleth, a sin’dorei mage, and eventually marrying him. She lives in Shattrath with him, their son, and three cats. She is currently waiting for Raleth to come home from the siege on Orgrimmar. OOC – She’s a level 90 rogue with a mage double, and was my pvp main during Cataclysm. She is also the GM of Gastropod. She was also my very first character on Wyrmrest Accord. I created her to sort of check out the server before I transferred Jaeyn there!

Vaelarian Ashclaw is a very old kaldorei and is Latahlali’s grandfather. He’s currently lurking around Ashenvale. OOC – He is also level 90. I dual-boxed him and Latahlali. Things died fast.

Alinash Brightblaze is a Stormwind elf. No matter that he’s sin’dorei. Despite his youth, he’s gotten into a lot of trouble in Silvermoon, and he feels much safer in Stormwind. He rents a place from an old woman who doesn’t see very well, and tucks his ears inside a low-brimmed hat if he has to go out. He’s part of the Tangle of Brambles storyline, and likes hanging out with the Harrier. OOC – Level 90, and yes, I did actually take him to Stormwind for the screenshot, though usually for RP, we pick a spot outside the city.

Tik is the butler in the Fairsong Academy storyline. He was born and raised in the house, and calls it home. OOC – I thought I got a better screenshot, but this one works. Tik is level 90, and is one of two 90’s off my main server. His server is very low pop, one of the lowest, and is a pvp server. He is my first character ever to level solely to max level on a pvp server.

Artero DiRossi has made a couple of guest appearances in the Tangle of Brambles storyline. He works in Stormwind as an independent appraiser. OOC – He’s my level 85 banker rogue. Of note, he leveled to 85 without doing a single quest. I’ve done a couple on him since then though, since now, the battle pet dailies count as quests for all characters on the account, at least, as far as the statistics page goes. So if it doesn’t show him as having done 0 quests because another character did a pet battle daily, then there’s really no reason to not do quests anymore. It was amusing while it lasted though.  He’s one of my very few humans.

Aerissa is the rogue double of Aerrissa, the warrior. Aerrissa Summerleaf is a sentinel who just wants some time to herself. I think she’s managed to get it. OOC – She’s level 85, and probably will remain there for a bit. I’m not eager to level another rogue in Pandaria. It’s a near death experience with each mob, especially once you get to Townlong and Dread Wastes.

Tahro has no IC story. She’s a level 81 rogue, and was my first rogue to hit max level, when Wrath of the Lich King was current content, and the level cap was 80. Obviously, she hasn’t seen much action since then. Most likely, this is because I left her on my old server. She was my very first banker character, but has retired and passed the banking on to Youbuycat.

Kanedama is my only goblin. I hate isolated start zones, and can’t bear the thought of having to be stuck on that island doing the same quests in the same order again. (Same goes for pandas and worgen! Death knights almost qualify except you can leave after a few levels so it’s not so bad!) Kanedama is another banker character. She has no stories and is level 80 on a pve realm.

Mondevonse has a cool name and was one of my RaF characters. He’s level 80.

Jaedra was also leveled with RaF. I normally do not like female sin’dorei animations, but I do like their stealth crouch. She’s level 80.

Rotariggy is holding on to all of my timeless isle extras. She’s going to need bigger bags. She’s level 29.

I hate pandas. I thought the only way I could play one is if it was funny. So we have Bishou, the fat rogue. It’s funny. Who’s not going to see him sneaking around? Anyway I was wrong. He’s sitting at level 13. After having pandas shoved down my throat all expansion, I don’t want to see them anymore. Bishou remains a panda because race changing him would mean I wasted time on that stupid turtle that I was stuck on until level 12. I’m going to end my panda rant here before it gets worse.

Traela is level 11 and has heirloom legs so I don’t know. She might be leveled some day.
Or she might sit in Tranquillien looking pretty in her heirloom legs forever.

Preparations 2

Latahlali’s Letter:

Dear Raleth,

I miss you.  I think Naraleth does too.  He’s been cranky about everything!  He probably just doesn’t understand where you are.  I keep telling him that everything’s going to be okay, but I don’t think he believes me, or he just doesn’t understand that either.  Maybe it’s because he’s getting a tooth.

Sanimir, or I guess, Hethurin was here earlier and wanted me to watch his baby.  Or not his baby, his sister’s baby.  He’s supposed to be taking care of him because his sister went to fight.  Do you know her?  Maybe someone should tell her that her baby is in Shattrath in the care of a kaldorei.  I’m just kidding, but I bet the look on her face would be funny.  Hethurin said he was taking his apprentices to see the mushrooms.  I don’t think mushrooms have anything to do with magic, but he thought it would be good for Rylad, that’s his sister’s baby, to play with other babies, like Naraleth.  Naraleth is a bit bigger than Rylad.  I put them both on a blanket on the floor.  It was funny how they looked at each other.

It wasn’t funny when they both decided to cry at the same time.  I guess I’m lucky we all have two arms!  I had to hold both of them and try to make them happy.  Naraleth pulled my hair.  Rylad calmed down when I got the goat’s milk out for him.  Hethurin said that’s what they feed them now.

Can we do that?  I really think he’s getting a tooth.

I hope this gets to you okay.  I’m asking Hethurin to mail it when he gets back so that no one asks any questions about me sending mail to Quel’Danas.

Love,

Lali

***

Aeramin’s Notes:

• My visits with Imralion seem so short.  I haven’t the nerve to ruin things by asking him about anything now.  I figure what will happen, will happen.  There’s no point in hastening it.

• I was talking with Isandri the other night.  She seemed surprised that I’d want a family someday.  No, I wouldn’t be able to go about the normal way, well, unless Im dumps me and I surprise myself.  It’s happened before, the being surprised part.  I guess, the being dumped part has too.

• It’s usually more complicated than just being dumped, or dumping someone.  Sometimes more, sometimes less.  There’s always reasons.  Im won’t dump me, at least not yet, but he has reasons.  I’ve decided to enjoy the time that I can spend with him.  I hope nothing happens to him, but I know that if he does come back, there’s little chance that he’ll stay very long.

• I have been going to see him fairly frequently, probably a lot more than most people have visitors there.  I think he liked the berry cookies that Isandri made.  We’re lucky that the beach south of all the buildings and tents is usually pretty quiet.  Once in a while, someone will walk by.  I don’t think anyone’s walked by while we’re preoccupied with other things.  If anyone has, I don’t think they’re going to walk up and say hi while we’re busy.  Then again, there’s all kinds of people here.  Maybe some of them would!

• I don’t think it’s against the rules or anything.  It’s not like someone will see us and run to tell someone that there’s people making out on the beach.

• I don’t want him to go.  I just have this terrible feeling that something will happen.  Whether it’s something happening to him, or something he does, it’ll be awful.  I’m trying to to not let it show.  I don’t think he’s noticed.

• I got back the other night to find a note pinned to my door.  It was from Hethurin.  I guess he’s in town and wants to see me.  I sent a note to his room at the inn to arrange to see him at the restaurant near the library.  Hopefully, someone else will be there so they can see that nothing happens.  I guess I could just not tell Im that I saw him.  That might be safer since there’s still part of me holding on to the hope that he’ll come back just fine and want to stay with me.

***

Isturon’s Letter:

Dear Lani,

I’m sorry it has taken me time to write.  I am, naturally, disappointed that you have chosen to lie not only to me, but to the entire family, as well as the people organizing our efforts.  I still have a hard time understanding how you could do such a thing.  Unfortunately, what’s done is done.  I have tried, on multiple occasions to get them to send you back, but to no avail.  Your mother thinks that I have let you go on purpose, and she and Esladra have gone to live with her sister for some time.

I hope you are doing well.

– Isturon

The Draft 5

Perothis looked up at the tall ranger instructing him.  “You’re going too?”

“I don’t have a choice.”

“Who’s going to teach me?  What about the city?  We need people to watch it.”

“You’ve learned a lot in the time you’ve been here.  I’ve been asked to tell you that you have a job, if you wish to accept it.”

Perothis raised a brow.  “A job?”

“You’re right.  We need people to watch the city.  You’re too young to go, but Silvermoon needs people like you watching over it.”

Perothis grinned, “I’d love to!”

***

Aeramin’s Letter to Imralion:

My Dear Imralion,

I hope this letter finds you okay.  I’m sending it to Quel’Danas, but I have no idea how things are set up there.  Are you staying in one of the inns now?  Sleeping in a tent in the square couldn’t have been easy.  I don’t think I would have been able to do it.

Am I able to visit?  How long will you be on Quel’Danas?  They won’t try to make me stay if I visit, will they?  I miss you so much.  I hope I can see you before you’re sent to Kalimdor.  Maybe we can find a quiet place on the island, though if there really are so many people, maybe there’s no quiet places left.

I’m afraid of losing you.  You need to be careful there.  Orcs in Orgrimmar aren’t like the ones in the lower city, or so I’ve heard.  I’ve never been there, so I don’t really know, but I heard the ones in Orgrimmar are much more violent.  I just want you to be safe.

I’ve made arrangements to see my father soon.  He wants to live in the Ghostlands.  I’m not thrilled about having to travel there to see the place, but I’m not giving him a copper without seeing it first.  I figure if he’s there, he’ll have less trouble to get into, or maybe the Scourge will eat him.  Either way, if it makes me hear less from him, then it’s a good thing.  I’ll have to arrive early, and we’ll be renting hawkstriders to make the trip out there.  We’ll have to ride slowly for him, and I’ve made arrangements to stay at the inn that night.  Hopefully, this is the last I’ll have to deal with him.

I’ll bring some pie for you when I visit.

Love,

Aeramin

***

Latahlali’s Diary:

Dear Diary Book,

Silvermoon is stupid.  Orcs are stupid.  Trolls are stupid too, and so is war.  Raleth received a letter in Thalassian last night.  I can make out a few words, but he told me what it says.  He has to go help some troll rebellion in Kalimdor.  They’re fighting orcs.  I found that out from Vael when he finally wrote back.  I guess if he’s been killing orcs though, he’s been busy.

Anyway, Raleth said it was orders to go.  I mean, they didn’t ask him if he wanted to go.  They’re ordering him to go.  It’s not fair.  Naraleth needs him here, and I do too, but I guess we’re not in the list of exemptions.  Having young children to care for is, but I’m afraid they’d want to see Naraleth then, and to be honest, he looks a bit too much like me.

It makes me worry about Naraleth’s future too.  We can’t show him to people who wouldn’t understand.  When I take him out to the market, I try to make sure no one can see his eyes.  A lot of times, I just don’t take him out because I’m afraid of people’s reactions if they knew.  Shattrath is a very accepting city, with a wide variety of people here, but he’s probably the only half-kaldorei, half-sin’dorei elf here.

Wars are stupid.

Maybe the trolls are going to get rid of all of the orcs.  I guess that would be a start, but trolls aren’t much better.  They usually tend to keep out of the forest though.  Maybe they’re a little more reasonable than orcs, but I don’t think by much.  Just a little.

But then I worry about the baby orcs.  Are they going to get rid of them too?  I bet if they just raised them to be nice, then they’d be okay, and if they’re okay, then the wars would stop and Naraleth could go wherever he wants when he’s grown up.

I hope it’s all over soon.  Maybe Raleth won’t even have to go if it’s done before next week.

Latahlali’s Diary and Letters

Dear Diary Book,

Babies sure are a lot of work!  I’ve hardly had time to do much else, including writing here.  I have a little bit of time now because I studied last night, and Raleth is watching Naraleth.  He’s such a good father.

Anyway, Naraleth is growing well.  He’s getting his first tooth, which means he chews his fingers and drools a lot.  Since he’s starting to be able to sit up, we’ve started giving him regular food.  I mean, not regular regular food, but puree regular food.  We started with that potato-like vegetable that’s native to Outland.  He made the cutest face, and spit it out.  I think some went down.  He has to learn how to eat yet.

I’ve been taking him to the clinic here in the Lower City for his check-ups because it’s close.  They said he’s growing properly, though they don’t have any charts to compare him to because I guess there aren’t many half-kaldorei/half-sin’dorei babies.  Not enough to make a chart anyway!  I would believe he’s the only one, if I didn’t know better.  Fnor and Amyn have kids.  I figure there’s probably others out there that I don’t know about.  Anyway, he’s growing right according to their best guesses.

We had visitors last night.  Sanimir, or Hethurin I guess is his name now, brought his apprentices to study.  He has two now!  Des is still studying under him, and his new apprentice is a boy named Renner.  I thought he was a bit cute, but definitely not as cute as Raleth.  I couldn’t ask Des if she liked him because he was right there the whole time.  Maybe I can see her again and ask, or maybe she’ll kiss him by the next time they visit.  That certainly would mean she thinks he’s cute!

He didn’t talk much.  He wasn’t too interested in holding Naraleth.  He just sat there and read a book.  I tried to get him involved in the conversation near the end of the evening, but he didn’t want to sing to Naraleth either.  Des did though.  I think it’s good for Naraleth to meet different people, but now I’m thinking that maybe Renner didn’t like that Naraleth has mixed blood.  Maybe he just sat there and read all evening because he didn’t want to shame himself by talking to a kaldorei.  I mean, there are sin’dorei like that.  There are kaldorei who wouldn’t talk to a sin’dorei either, and it happens with other races too.  I guess that’s why there’s still war.  I think it’s all stupid.

***

Dear Grandfather,

Hi, you haven’t written, so I guess you’re busy.  I just wanted to know if everything’s okay?  I heard there was some fighting in the Barrens, but I don’t know if it’s an isolated incident or something ongoing.  I hope the sentinels didn’t make you stay in Astranaar.  I know you don’t like that.  Naraleth would like to meet you someday.  Please write.

– Lali

***

Dear Makota,

Hi!  I hope everything is okay.  I heard there was some fighting in the Barrens, but I don’t know how much or what it’s all about.  Have you heard anything?  I hope everyone’s safe there.  Give Ahali a hug for me.  When it’s safe, you’re going to have to meet Naraleth.  I don’t know if you can come to Shattrath though, and if there’s fighting in the Barrens, I’m not taking Naraleth anywhere near there.  It’s quiet in Shattrath.

– Lali

Spring

Aranae Lightmist

She sat on a rock near the edge with her book for writing her daily reflections.  A flimsy fence was the only thing between her and the sheer drop off the side of the mountain.  One of the seasonal streams trickled over the edge nearby.  She was told it would never completely thaw, but spring was here.  Some of it would.

She had been here in Pandaria for a few months now.  To the best of her knowledge, no one at home knew exactly where she was.  Sanimir was the only one who knew she might be in Pandaria, and he lived in Dalaran.  Her oldest sister lived there as well.  She frowned.  Word had finally trickled in about what was happening far to the north.

She glanced back at the large building behind her.  Toruviel had been brought back after she ran and told them he was there.  She felt guilty for that, but Master Cheng had insisted that she had done the right thing.  She wondered if Toruviel’s family was worried about him.

She frowned once more, looking down at her book.  She picked up her pencil and began to write.

Dear Father and Mother…

***

Teniron Whitemorn

Teniron scrunched up his nose.  Not the soup again.  Of course, normally, soup wasn’t bad, but Kit had spoken to one of the ladies in town and had added things to help him keep up his strength, and gain some weight.  He wasn’t quite sure how making something inedible was supposed to do either.

He looked up at Kit, his eyes pleading, “Do I have to?”

She frowned sympathetically, “It’ll help you get better if you do.”

“Do you have some of that bread from the baker?  It tastes better with that.”

“The baker didn’t have any of that kind this morning.  Did you want to try another kind?”

Teniron twitched an ear.  “No.”  He frowned at the soup as he picked up the spoon.  He wondered if the other prisoners who escaped were being fed horrible soup too.  He hoped they weren’t.

***

Vallindra Lightmist

“Volnar, I don’t need your commentary.”  Vallindra stated flatly as she slammed another book shut.  “This is useless.”

The imp skulked under the table, hoping to avoid his Mistress’s wrath.  She’d not been happy since returning from her attempts to cure the dragon.  “Those things that you tried were meant to cure elves, no?”

Vallindra glared at him.  The lemons had done nothing.  The spicy food had done nothing.  The oil… well, it had done something.  She was glad she didn’t have to clean it up.  The dragon was still ill afterwards.  “There’s nothing in any of these books that tell me how to cure a dragon.” she explained to the imp.  “I had to come up with something to try, and those remedies do work for sick elves.  So they didn’t work for the dragon.  Do you have any better ideas?”

“No mistress.  Volnar isn’t very smart, but he does as he’s told.”

Vallindra rolled her eyes and shook her head.  “Then Volnar should keep quiet and let his mistress study.”  She picked up another book.

***

Latahlali Ashclaw

Dear Vaelarian,

I hope you’re still around Astranaar because you still haven’t written, and I’m going to get really mad if I find out you went somewhere else and didn’t say.

You really should come visit.  Naraleth has grown already, and I think I’m doing good at being a mother.  Everything is so different.  I couldn’t even imagine how this would feel before.  I mean I thought I loved him before he was born, but now that he’s here… I can’t even describe it.

I went to buy some new robes the other night and left Naraleth for the first time with Raleth.  I went with Isandri.  Do you remember her?  She was the priestess at the wedding.  Anyway, we were helping another apprentice pick out robes for herself, and she said she shouldn’t pick out pretty robes.  Normally, I’d agree because it usually doesn’t work out.  I mean it did for me, but normally it doesn’t.  But anyway, her teacher likes men, so I don’t see what’s wrong with wanting to look pretty just for yourself.  Isandri got really weird about it.  I don’t understand why.

I don’t know why I’m telling you.  You probably don’t know either, but you are old, so maybe you have some insight on it or something.

Naraleth doesn’t do much yet.  We think he might be smiling sometimes, but it might just be gas.  I burp him just in case.

Love,
Lali

***

Xyliah Amberlight

Dear Diary,

This will be a short entry because I’m supposed to be collecting skins for my father.

Berwick is doing better each day and has slowly started to put on some weight again.  I was so worried that I’d break him if I hugged him at first.  I’m glad he’s getting better now.

My father has been letting us stay with him.  I think he likes him.

Berwick’s been helping out some with the shop, but I don’t think furniture is what he wants to do with his life.  I can’t blame him.  I don’t like it much either!  Anyway, I guess Sanimir came and asked him to paint his house or something.  Berwick would like to, but I don’t know how big the house is, or how long he’d be gone, or anything.  It’s in the Ghostlands too.  I know he wants to earn his own money, but there’s no way I’m letting him go alone.  We were separated enough.  I plan to go with him.

Hopefully, Sanimir won’t mind.

***

Alinash Brightblaze

The snow was slowly beginning to melt off of the roofs in Stormwind.  Alinash was thankful that he had been able to spend most of the winter inside.  I hate snow.  He had gone out at night, but only for short trips to the house where the boss lived.  It’s colder at night.  I hate winter.  He moved the pot of water from the floor and put another in it’s place.  The dripping of the melting snow seeping through the leaky roof continued.

He had already tried covering his ears in an attempt to block the noise of the droplets falling into the pot.  He grabbed the scarf he had received for the holiday and wrapped it around his head, over his ears.  He could still hear it.  I hate dripping.

He threw himself back into his bed and covered his head with his blanket.  I hate not being able to sleep.

***

Aeramin Firewind

Aeramin woke slowly in the low, pre-dawn light of Blade’s Edge.  His days had been busy lately.  Sleeping late into the morning was not a luxury that he could afford.  Everyday, he would wake early and head to Shattrath to work on the latest set of invitations.  Then he had lunch before teleporting to Shadowmoon for his lessons, practice and time to see the dragon.  All of that had to be done before supper.  He’d often stop in Shattrath on the way to Blade’s Edge, either to pick up fresh food from the market or to get something from the restaurant behind the library.  Thankfully he felt confident enough to teleport to Blade’s Edge now and was able to save the travel time.

It was only after arriving in Blade’s Edge that he could relax a little, and even then, his mind was often still on things from earlier.  The books from the closed school were one of the biggest things preoccupying him now.  The summoning and binding spells in some of them were definitely not made for beginners.

His mind was sometimes on other things too.  Sanimir was back in Shattrath.  He hadn’t seen him, but he had sent his apprentice.  Aeramin hoped he wouldn’t be staying too long.  The less time he was there, the less chance they had of running into each other.

Aeramin turned to look at Imralion.  The blood knight aspirant was still asleep.  He ran a finger along one of Im’s ears, and kissed his cheek.  The blood knight stirred slightly, half-opening his eyes in the pale lighting.  A slight smile formed on his lips.

“Good morning,”  Aeramin whispered.  “I have a bit of time before I have to go.”

Imralion grinned before their lips met.

***

Tik

Tik sighed as he removed the single fish from the pan and placed it on his plate.  The young magister who had recently bought the home that Tik had served for all of his life was away again.  To Shattrath, he had said, for only a week or two.  The magister’s apprentice went with him, leaving Tik to take care of things while they were gone.

He didn’t mind being the only living person in the house.  It had been that way for many years after all, but he was beginning to wonder about the young magister.  The mage was odd.  Some days he locked himself in his room, and it was all Tik could do to convince him to open his door to take the food that Tik had prepared for him.  Then a few days after that, everything would be normal again.

Tik realized, of course, living in the Ghostlands was odd to begin with.  He was in no position to point fingers.  He sat at the small table in the kitchen to eat his fish, after placing a bowl on the floor with some of the uncooked fish.  The magister’s cat ran to it and happily began to eat.

***

Esladra Lightmist

Esladra stood waiting outside the house in Silvermoon City.  Her sister had promised to come and make a portal for her to visit Shattrath.  Esladra had been looking forward to her break all year.  She still wasn’t sure about going to Shattrath for it, but Vallindra had said there were a bunch of cute blood knights there.  She had also reminded Esladra that she should find her own guy before mother picked one out for her.  She frowned as she watched for her sister.  Mother’s tastes were definitely not her own, and Vallindra was right about one thing, Esladra didn’t want to have to fight and tell mother no.

A minute later, the air shimmered in front of her.  Vallindra appeared and took one of her bags.  “They have a spot in the inn that they’re saving for you.  Are you ready?”

Esladra smiled nervously and nodded, “Let’s go!”

Latahlali’s Diary

Dear Diary,

I’m not doing that again, but he’s so cute!  Potato is here.  He was born yesterday afternoon after labor which lasted -forever-.  Like I said, I’m not doing that again.

I’m still kind of calling him Potato, but that’s because I still kind of don’t really have a good name for him yet.  Raleth is completely useless when it comes to thinking of any.  He just wants me to pick it.  So I can’t even say a few names and let him tell me which he likes best.  It’s just whatever I want, which is frustrating.  I want him to like Potato’s name too.

I still like Bodawai, or Keme, or Awan, but Potato doesn’t really look like he fits a tauren name.  He’s just a tiny elf baby.  I thought maybe naming him after my father would be nice.  His name was Naradon.  But then I thought that maybe naming him after Raleth would be nice too, so I tried mixing the names and came up with Naraleth.  I think that has a nice ring to it.

He’s so beautiful and perfect and tiny.  It’s kind of weird to think I’m a mother now.  I don’t know how to do all this stuff.  Raleth and I are learning together.  One of the healers from the lower city clinic place attended the birth and she didn’t say anything about the baby’s mixed elf blood or anything.  I know people probably will, but I’m glad she didn’t.  She was helpful and showed me how to wrap him in a blanket and how to change the diapers and how to hold him right because his neck muscles can’t hold his head very well yet.  She said if we needed anything or had any questions we just had to contact her at the clinic.

His hair is dark.  I think it’s my color but a bit darker.  It’s not easy to tell because he doesn’t have a lot right now.  His eyes are green.  I don’t think Raleth is too happy about that, but I think he’s beautiful no matter what color his eyes are.

I’m resting for a few days.  Potato is too.  Raleth is insisting on it, and I agree, but I can’t wait to take him for his first outing to show him off to all of our friends.  I am a little worried about what people might say if they see his green eyes, but our friends wouldn’t say anything like that.  It’ll be safe to take him to meet them.  We’ll have to deal with strangers eventually, maybe I’ll think of something to say back before we do.

Latahlali – Letter to Isandri

Dear Isandri,

Hi!  I thought you might be worried that you hadn’t seen anyone in Dalaran recently.  Raleth and I have moved to Shattrath.  We have a cute home here next to the bird people.  They’re a little strange, but they don’t bother us.  He thinks it’s safe to go out in the forest a little ways, but then he keeps making excuses.  I think he doesn’t really want to go.

Oh, you should see the library here, it’s huge!  There’s a lot of Sin’dorei in it too.  They have all sorts of books.  I’ve found some that I haven’t read before.  Then I’ve found some that I have read before but they’ve added pictures!  There’s an orphanage near the market here and in the middle of the city is where the naaru are.  They’re not easy to describe to people who haven’t seen them before.

Kestrae is staying at the inn near the library.  I don’t get out to see her half as much as I’d like to.  You should visit with the kittens and we can have a kitty reunion!

Are things still okay in Dalaran?  I noticed things were just getting more and more tense there.  That’s why we moved.  What does Theronil think about it?  Have you talked about moving too?

Hope everything is going well!

– Lali Ashclaw

P.S. – What do you think of Keme or Awan or Mingan for boys names?

Latahlali – Diary Book

Dear Diary Book,

We’ve moved.  I think it’s for the best.  Raleth has kept suggesting it, gently, and I’ve finally agreed.  I’ve heard some things.  Dalaran isn’t as safe as it used to be.  I don’t think it would be safe for Potato either.  Raleth thinks that Shattrath is the only safe place.  I’m not sure it’s the only place, but it probably has the biggest library.

There are a lot of different people here.  I don’t think there are many kaldorei, but at least the draenei are tall.  I felt really out of place in Dalaran sometimes, being taller than most people.  Once in a while one of the Highborne were there, but they probably feel a little out of place there too.  Maybe that’s why they all hide.  I don’t even know where Ellorian went.

Raleth wants me to pick a name for Potato, but I know he doesn’t like Bodawai or any of the others I thought of before.  He had thought of a nice one, but I forgot what it was and I think he lost the paper he wrote it down on.  Anyway, I had to think of names again.  I like Takoda and Keme.  Maybe Awan or Mingan.  I don’t know.  Maybe Kes can help.

Kes should be somewhere in the city!  I’m so excited to see her again.  It’s been ages.  I think most of our friends have already left Dalaran.  I know Isandri and Thero are still there.  Raleth thinks they might go back to Silvermoon.  Isandri was supposed to talk Thero into letting her have a baby too and we were supposed to raise them together.  I guess that won’t happen now.  Kes was supposed to get married and stop drinking her tea too.  I don’t think anyone knows where Sath is.  I never heard from Sora either.  I hope they’re all okay.

The new house is nice.  Our neighbors are bird men.  They’re not druids, just really bird men.  They’re kind of strange, but they don’t bother us.  We’re near the bridge that goes out to the forest.  I’d like to see it.

***

Dear Zhyra Moonflower,

Hi, I don’t know if you remember me, but you came to see me in Dalaran.  I was wondering if Vael was okay?  Maybe someone could remind him to write to me.

I hope the orcs haven’t attacked again.  I also hope you’re still in Astranaar because that’s where I’m sending this.

– Lali Ashclaw

Latahlali – Diary Book

Dear Diary Book,

Raleth wants to move.  He’s all freaked out because a sentinel showed up at our door.  Okay, I am a little too, but I’m so tired of moving around all the time.  I wish it was like when I was little.  I might have went sometimes with the tauren tribes, but I always had a place to come home too.  I mean, home was a tent on a hill, but that tent on that hill didn’t move until the orcs came.

I wish they never had come.  I wish everyone would stop fighting.  I don’t want to move.  I like Dalaran.  It’s where I met Raleth, and I’m still learning.  I mean, I know there are libraries in other places and everything, but I think it’s still safe here.  So what if sentinels know where I am.  I live here and if they try to take me, I can call the guards.  This isn’t Ashenvale.  This is Dalaran.

I do get a little bored being stuck inside most of the day.  I could go out, but it’s safer in.  I miss everyone at the lounge, especially Kes.  Maybe I could go out one of these evenings to see her, or maybe she’d like to come here.  She’s my best friend.

Makota is my other best friend.  I haven’t heard from her in a while either.  I hope nothing happened in Mulgore.  I guess it really wouldn’t be safe for me to go visit her now.

I didn’t tell Raleth, but I think I can feel Potato moving.  The healers said it would feel like a flutter, so it’s either him or gas, and really, I never get gas so it must be him.  But, they also said that I’d be the only one able to feel him moving for about a month or so, until he gets bigger and I start showing more.

I’m not sure if the sentinel noticed Potato or not.  I told her to tell Vael that I want to talk to him.  She said she’d tell him.  I guess they’re rounding everyone up and trying to get them closer to towns so they’re not alone in the forest.  The sentinels can better protect them there.  I guess they think the orcs will attack there again next.  I hope they don’t.  I don’t want to lose my grandfather too.  Maybe he’ll try living somewhere in Northrend again so he’ll be safer.  I don’t know what was wrong with Sholazar Basin or why he felt he had to go.  Maybe he did something there.