Post by Yva on Sept 14, 2008 16:14:00 GMT -5
“You are NOT going to Northrend tomorrow, and that is the end of it.”
Indarra Leafwhisper muttered all the way to Darnassus. Ulthanon's declaration had made her angry – angrier than she had been in a very long time. She couldn't remember being angrier, in fact, as her feet touched ground in the Temple of Elune.
Their conversation rattled through her head, and every recalled word made a small, angry shadowflame flicker across her knuckles.
“I'm leaving, Indi.”
“Pardons?”
“I have to go to Northrend. You should pack if you're coming.”
“This is somewhat abrupt. When did you want to go?”
“ . . . tomorrow.”
She'd just stared at him, and before she began to shout like a harpy (the most improper way to handle one's anxieties), she walked away. They'd discussed going north before, of course, but she'd anticipated more than a day's notice.
She had no idea what the Stormwind human had on Ulthanon; she just knew there was something complex there, something about Ulthanon's rather jaded past. She didn't want to know the details because she knew she wouldn't approve of the situation. Whatever the circumstance, it couldn't warrant immediate departure. She wasn't prepared to leave, and before he'd simply agreed to that . . . to that buffoon's demands, he should have discussed it with her. He was essentially dictating her travel times as well, and she should have a say in the course of her days, shouldn't she?
Northrend immediately? I don't THINK so.
She closed her eyes and blessed herself, allowing the serenity of the temple to wash over her. Her lips whispered a silent prayer to Elune for temperance.
Grace, lady. I beg you for your grace.
Upstairs, her elders awaited, and they were the ones who could aid her this time. She needed them, and arriving with anything other than pristine decorum and a sound mind would not help her plight. As she ascended the curling back stair, her anger began to abate. The shadows slid back into their proper place, and her feet lifted – literally – until she was walking on air. She was a study in priestly serenity.
As Priestess Alathea came into view, Indarra lowered her head, allowing the lady a moment to register her sudden appearance.
“Priestess Leafwhisper, it is an unexpected pleasure.” Alathea dismissed the acolytes trailing at her robes with an abrupt wave of her hand. They scampered away, their arms full of books and tidy stacks of old parchment.
“Lady, it is my pleasure, do believe me.”
“You flatter.” She approached her oldest, and perhaps most learned student, kissing her cheeks with loud smacks of her lips. Their embrace was short, but tight.
“I do, but I mean what I say.
Alathea looped her arm through Indarra's and bid her to walk. They were silent as they made their way through the temple and out the front door. Their feet never touched the ground as they slipped into the gardens on the eastern side of the terrace, the setting sun glowing bright yellow against the treetops behind them.
“Now then.” The elder priestess sat upon a stone bench, patting the spot beside her. Indarra bowed and blessed herself before sitting down. “What brings you to Darnassus today?”
“I have a favor to ask. It is an unusual one.”
“Oh?”
Indarra folded her hands in her lap, her chin elevating a notch. “I do believe you know Ulthanon Kaidos, at least by reputation.”
“Ah yes. Your hunter friend.” Alathea's smile was knowing, and Indarra felt the blood flood to her cheeks. Heat washed down her neck.
“Yes he is . . . currently under some scrutiny by the humans. Something happened a time back in Stormwind, and I cannot truthfully say I know exactly what, but . . . “ Indara paused. “I would not attest to his character if I did not know him to be a good man. I do not feel that this situation is a just one. They are mandating that he leave for Northrend immediately. In return, he will not find himself in trouble any longer. I believe the common word for this is blackmail.”
Alathea nodded. “Indeed it is, and not a very just way to handle a situation. One must always maintain . . . ”
“Honesty and decorum, I know.” Indarra finished the sentence, and she could see the approval beaming in Alathea's eyes. “Your words are quite true.”
A bird landed in the water fountain before them, and they watched it dunk its head and prune its feathers. After a time, Alathea spoke again, this time quieter and more slowly. “I cannot involve the temple with unsavories, you do know that, Indarra.”
“I would never ask that, Lady.”
“Then what would you have us do?”
“I would ask that you place him in my care, as a ward, with proper papers to back me. Just for a week's time, mind you. He would be under the scrutiny and care of the temple. I swear by Elune herself that he will be no trouble to any of us during that week. If he still wishes to go to Northrend at the end of that week, I will go with him. That should give me enough time to finish my last minute affairs. In return, I will give my findings of the north to you. That should prove helpful if we are intending to interfere in the dealings of the Scourge.”
A broad smile spread across Alathea's face. “That is quite feasible, actually. It will free a kaldorei from human grasp, and your findings would prove quite useful to Lady Tyrande.”
“Then you agree?” Indarra felt almost giddy that she had found a way around the human's subterfuge. She knew she wasn't asking for anything particularly amazing, just official documents to buy Ulthanon some time, but her answer to their Northrend problem was so much more peaceful than warring or angry words. It was, in a word, brilliant.
“Yes, I will get you your proper papers. HOWEVER.” Alathea tapped the tip of Indarra's nose with her fingernail. “You must do me one favor in return.”
“Yes?”
“Send Kaidos to me before the week is through. I wish to discuss this arrangement with him. He must know that if he is to be protected by the temple, there are certain expectations.”
“That should be no problem. As I said, I would not vouch for his disposition if I didn't know it to be a pleasant one.”
“Excellent. Give me a few minutes and I should have your papers.”
Indarra watched her elder float out of the gardens, her own smile spreading. She silently thanked her goddess for her intervention, and the blessings of the temple. Her afternoon of arguing and stupid declarations by her significant other ("It's not like we're married, Indarra" . . . indeed. Idiot.) was starting to look much improved.
Within fifteen minutes, she held the documents to Ulthanon's freedom in her hand. Many bows and thanks to Alathea later, she departed for Shattrath, and within minutes, she was through the portal of Stormwind, stalking down the streets. Her back was straight, her purpose was clear.
She found Ulthanon in the Pig and Whistle, drinking with some of his friends.
“Ulthanon,” she said from the doorway, her voice almost shrill against the din of bar chatter. She watched the tailor's head, and then Annalea al'Cair's head, swivel towards her, but she only had eyes for the man smiling at her over his cups.
“Heya Indi.”
She placed the documents in front of him. “Do read those. You are my ward for the week, and no journey to Northrend is sanctioned by the Temple of Elune.”
She watched his jaw drop open a bit as he scanned the documents, and she smiled to herself, making her way towards the door. “I will see you at the Rose?” She said over her shoulder. “Oh, you aren't allowed more than a hundred and fifty yards away from me at any time, so you should probably follow in short order. Blessings to the rest of you.”
"But I . . . "
She didn't hear the rest of what he said, and she frankly didn't care to. For once, she'd found a practical, stress-free way around their predicament, and no amount of complaining on his part was going to change anything.
Northrend tomorrow indeed.
Indarra Leafwhisper muttered all the way to Darnassus. Ulthanon's declaration had made her angry – angrier than she had been in a very long time. She couldn't remember being angrier, in fact, as her feet touched ground in the Temple of Elune.
Their conversation rattled through her head, and every recalled word made a small, angry shadowflame flicker across her knuckles.
“I'm leaving, Indi.”
“Pardons?”
“I have to go to Northrend. You should pack if you're coming.”
“This is somewhat abrupt. When did you want to go?”
“ . . . tomorrow.”
She'd just stared at him, and before she began to shout like a harpy (the most improper way to handle one's anxieties), she walked away. They'd discussed going north before, of course, but she'd anticipated more than a day's notice.
She had no idea what the Stormwind human had on Ulthanon; she just knew there was something complex there, something about Ulthanon's rather jaded past. She didn't want to know the details because she knew she wouldn't approve of the situation. Whatever the circumstance, it couldn't warrant immediate departure. She wasn't prepared to leave, and before he'd simply agreed to that . . . to that buffoon's demands, he should have discussed it with her. He was essentially dictating her travel times as well, and she should have a say in the course of her days, shouldn't she?
Northrend immediately? I don't THINK so.
She closed her eyes and blessed herself, allowing the serenity of the temple to wash over her. Her lips whispered a silent prayer to Elune for temperance.
Grace, lady. I beg you for your grace.
Upstairs, her elders awaited, and they were the ones who could aid her this time. She needed them, and arriving with anything other than pristine decorum and a sound mind would not help her plight. As she ascended the curling back stair, her anger began to abate. The shadows slid back into their proper place, and her feet lifted – literally – until she was walking on air. She was a study in priestly serenity.
As Priestess Alathea came into view, Indarra lowered her head, allowing the lady a moment to register her sudden appearance.
“Priestess Leafwhisper, it is an unexpected pleasure.” Alathea dismissed the acolytes trailing at her robes with an abrupt wave of her hand. They scampered away, their arms full of books and tidy stacks of old parchment.
“Lady, it is my pleasure, do believe me.”
“You flatter.” She approached her oldest, and perhaps most learned student, kissing her cheeks with loud smacks of her lips. Their embrace was short, but tight.
“I do, but I mean what I say.
Alathea looped her arm through Indarra's and bid her to walk. They were silent as they made their way through the temple and out the front door. Their feet never touched the ground as they slipped into the gardens on the eastern side of the terrace, the setting sun glowing bright yellow against the treetops behind them.
“Now then.” The elder priestess sat upon a stone bench, patting the spot beside her. Indarra bowed and blessed herself before sitting down. “What brings you to Darnassus today?”
“I have a favor to ask. It is an unusual one.”
“Oh?”
Indarra folded her hands in her lap, her chin elevating a notch. “I do believe you know Ulthanon Kaidos, at least by reputation.”
“Ah yes. Your hunter friend.” Alathea's smile was knowing, and Indarra felt the blood flood to her cheeks. Heat washed down her neck.
“Yes he is . . . currently under some scrutiny by the humans. Something happened a time back in Stormwind, and I cannot truthfully say I know exactly what, but . . . “ Indara paused. “I would not attest to his character if I did not know him to be a good man. I do not feel that this situation is a just one. They are mandating that he leave for Northrend immediately. In return, he will not find himself in trouble any longer. I believe the common word for this is blackmail.”
Alathea nodded. “Indeed it is, and not a very just way to handle a situation. One must always maintain . . . ”
“Honesty and decorum, I know.” Indarra finished the sentence, and she could see the approval beaming in Alathea's eyes. “Your words are quite true.”
A bird landed in the water fountain before them, and they watched it dunk its head and prune its feathers. After a time, Alathea spoke again, this time quieter and more slowly. “I cannot involve the temple with unsavories, you do know that, Indarra.”
“I would never ask that, Lady.”
“Then what would you have us do?”
“I would ask that you place him in my care, as a ward, with proper papers to back me. Just for a week's time, mind you. He would be under the scrutiny and care of the temple. I swear by Elune herself that he will be no trouble to any of us during that week. If he still wishes to go to Northrend at the end of that week, I will go with him. That should give me enough time to finish my last minute affairs. In return, I will give my findings of the north to you. That should prove helpful if we are intending to interfere in the dealings of the Scourge.”
A broad smile spread across Alathea's face. “That is quite feasible, actually. It will free a kaldorei from human grasp, and your findings would prove quite useful to Lady Tyrande.”
“Then you agree?” Indarra felt almost giddy that she had found a way around the human's subterfuge. She knew she wasn't asking for anything particularly amazing, just official documents to buy Ulthanon some time, but her answer to their Northrend problem was so much more peaceful than warring or angry words. It was, in a word, brilliant.
“Yes, I will get you your proper papers. HOWEVER.” Alathea tapped the tip of Indarra's nose with her fingernail. “You must do me one favor in return.”
“Yes?”
“Send Kaidos to me before the week is through. I wish to discuss this arrangement with him. He must know that if he is to be protected by the temple, there are certain expectations.”
“That should be no problem. As I said, I would not vouch for his disposition if I didn't know it to be a pleasant one.”
“Excellent. Give me a few minutes and I should have your papers.”
Indarra watched her elder float out of the gardens, her own smile spreading. She silently thanked her goddess for her intervention, and the blessings of the temple. Her afternoon of arguing and stupid declarations by her significant other ("It's not like we're married, Indarra" . . . indeed. Idiot.) was starting to look much improved.
Within fifteen minutes, she held the documents to Ulthanon's freedom in her hand. Many bows and thanks to Alathea later, she departed for Shattrath, and within minutes, she was through the portal of Stormwind, stalking down the streets. Her back was straight, her purpose was clear.
She found Ulthanon in the Pig and Whistle, drinking with some of his friends.
“Ulthanon,” she said from the doorway, her voice almost shrill against the din of bar chatter. She watched the tailor's head, and then Annalea al'Cair's head, swivel towards her, but she only had eyes for the man smiling at her over his cups.
“Heya Indi.”
She placed the documents in front of him. “Do read those. You are my ward for the week, and no journey to Northrend is sanctioned by the Temple of Elune.”
She watched his jaw drop open a bit as he scanned the documents, and she smiled to herself, making her way towards the door. “I will see you at the Rose?” She said over her shoulder. “Oh, you aren't allowed more than a hundred and fifty yards away from me at any time, so you should probably follow in short order. Blessings to the rest of you.”
"But I . . . "
She didn't hear the rest of what he said, and she frankly didn't care to. For once, she'd found a practical, stress-free way around their predicament, and no amount of complaining on his part was going to change anything.
Northrend tomorrow indeed.