His arrow notched against his bow firmly, silently drawing back as his hand tugged at the string; ever silent his gaze drifted to the skyline. The sun was coming down, soon they would begin leaving the cave for their pillaging and plundering; Alorinis hated pirates. The breeze of the coming night swept down the mountainside and brushed against him, his long hair sent fluttering out beside him, his dark green armor making him look like moss on the rock face.
The first of the men left the cave, swaggering in his newly awoken disturbance. His tattered clothing and sloppily placed bandana marking him as a pirate or a drunkard, the image of the sword crossed with a rose noting him as a GrimJoy pirate. The man went to the near by water, turning his back to the cave and beginning to relieve himself. With a loud sigh of relief, he called to his comrades to begin preparations to sail.
An arrow shot out of his neck, driving the man to fall into the water and begin to sink. As others began to leave the cavern, one by one they were taken by arrows from nowhere; two pirates had the unlucky chance to be shot together in an embrace, those poor women. Soon all that was left was the Captain himself, who upon coming out to see his crew dead ran inside the cavern again.
Sheathing his bow, Alorinis stood from the rock face and made his way to the pirate’s ship. He’d sail it back to port and rejoin his crewmembers, and together they’d loot the ship and then sell it back to a city of sorts; perhaps they would make it a new pirate-hunter vessel. As he began to sail the ship away he heard the cries of the captain now lost on his island, letting Alorinis chuckle as he recalled all the animals that would soon hear those cries.
Snore
His eyelids gently opened at the sound, the purple irises emitting the green haze above them as the room’s darkness spanned out before him. A glance to his left revealed the source of the noise to be Eleneill, twisting in her sleep and breathing her snarled breathes. He reached out his left arm, laying his hand over her hair and brushing it aside. A grin touched her lips as she moved closer to him, clawed hand latching onto his side in an embrace that the Titans would of been troubled to break. Snickering he kissed her, gently tickling her left side in the process. With a sleep riddled snort and giggle, she released him and allowed him to slide out of bed.
He looked around the room, his eyes having adjusted to the darkness, and began to ensure nothing had changed since they’re sleep; they’d had a break in once, but the man never made it out. The smoldering embers in the fire place still gaze off a gentle warmth, enough to keep the floorboards from being like ice, and all of their belongings still sat upon their long dresser; Alorinis’ menagerie of accessories and Eleneill’s few but important ones. He made his way to the octagonal crib, looking in on their youngest of children; Alorinis silently thanked Eleneill again for being who she was, and helping him raise children she did not bear. Everlith and Lilith laid far apart, Lilith having claimed the center as her domain again, Everlith against the railings as if he could slip through them if he pushed hard enough and he just might. Jesika and Kassius slept side by side, their hand entwined as they breathed simultaneously. Gwenieve and Alvwyr slept opposed to one another as always, Alvwyr’s hand pressed against Gwenieve’s head to keep her at bay, her foot firmly planted on his knee to mark her space. Ven slept in his own space, sprawled out and snoring as loudly as Eleneill almost, even with a bit of the same toothy grin.
He stepped away from the crib silently, the hour far too early for him to awaken anyone so young, and moved to the wardrobe. Beside it rested the mannequins, holding their armors and weapons beside them; he’d begin packing them later. He pulled out some thin britches and slipped them on, the material covering him tightly but enough to keep the outside chill off, and grabbed his scimitars. Moving to their double-doored entrance he turned to face the wall, pushing in the wooden panel, and sliding open the entrance; he had this installed in case of an emergency and they had to get out quickly. Moving through the small tunnel, he came out of the rocky side near their lake, wolves of the Pack quietly sleeping around it, one already awake and eating a fish.
He breathed in the chill morning air of Grizzly Hills, the tall trees welcoming him, the fresh ground holding his feet firm. He smiled and stood there for a moment, remembering how much he loved living out here, before turning to the east and walking atop the small rock setting. Every morning he woke and watched the sunrise, grinning at the new day. As the warmth of the sun’s rays touched his bare skin, he nodded and stood, bringing his scimitars out to his side.
In small, practiced circles he began the sword dance. He began to weave his scimitars beside him, moving them to and fro in the air, eyes locked forward. With a snap of his feet he leapt to the nearest tree, planting his foot against the rigid bark and pushing himself higher into the air. His scimitars held close to his side as he began to spin in the air, stabbing them into the ground at the last moment and vaulting off of them. As he flipped in the air and came to land on the ground, he rolled backwards and grabbed his scimitars in the movement. Bringing them up to bare in defense of his imaginary foe, he spun out with them, twisting in circles on the balls of his feet as he sliced and stabbed his enemies. He came to rest with the movements, breathing out heavily as he set the scimitars down to his side.
With a firm nod of acceptance he jogged around to the front of the house, pushing open the door; his Farstrider guards had been dismissed a week ago, Alorinis insisting their time was better spent in Quel’Thalas. He made his way across the foyer and down to the beast den, leaving his scimitars against the wall outside. Once inside the array of scents rose to him, silently identifying each animal kept in the room. Quickly he began making way to the food closet, petting his snake and panther along the way; the only two awake at this hour. The moment he opened the closet each animal suddenly awoke, letting out their own natural call of the morning; Alorinis was grateful for the soundproofing he had paid to have done to the room. With a chuckle he began to grab the morning meals of each animal, tossing them into the bins and troughs before their beds, not missing the irony that some of the animals were eating meat of another of his animal’s kin. As he watched them each begin to eat their meals and proceed through their entrance to the fenced in yard, Alorinis moved out again and grabbed his scimitars.
Moving across the lounge and up their large, half-spiral staircase, Alorinis made way into the bedroom again. Stripping off his britches and replacing his scimitars, he looked over at Eleneill’s form hiding under the covers. She had snuggled against his pillow again, head buried into his scent. He snickering, moving over to their window and unbinding the curtains before them, letting the light of day spill into the room and cover her. With a groan she swatted at the air, leaving him to laugh more as he made way into the bathroom.
Grabbing his shaving blade he quickly moved to cleanse his face of unwanted hair, and to trim his goatee; he pondered on the idea of having the style changed, but decided that was for another day. As he rested the shaving blade on the stone basin, he grabbed his nail pick and began to manicure his hands, keeping them at a good length and dullness. Looking into the mirror he nodded, watching as Eleneill groggily moved into the bathroom behind him. A sultry glance at her behind and a quick tap on the cheeks made her spin around on him, grinning deviously. With a wink to her he chased her into the shower, turning on the water and increasing the heat as he did, allowing for a very steamy shower for the two.
As the shower’s waters came to a halt, Alorinis and Eleneill exited it with shaking legs and panting breathes. They moved back to the bedroom, making their ways to the dresser and their armors. Alorinis pulled out his red pants and shirt, tugging them on himself as he laced up his leather boots. Grabbing his armor pack he began to undress his mannequins, quickly folding the mail and placing it inside the pack, each article having a separate compartment; the magics of the Elven people made for a very easy travel with an armory on your back. As he swung the medium sized bag over to the door, Eleneill moved to open their porch door. As they moved out onto the porch, taking their seats at the antique table, their two cups of tea were sitting there hot and steaming; Fizmon or Verstallus, they always made sure of it. They lifted their cups to their mouths, free hands wrapped around one another as they looked out over the landscape before them, wolves and other beasts running around the grasses.
Waaaaah! Waaaaaaah!
The kids were up. With a chuckle they both rose, moving into the room and gathering the children from the octagonal crib. Eleneill picked up Everlith, Lilith, and Ven, all three of which latched onto her as if it meant life itself. Alorinis grabbed Kassius, Jesika, Gwenieve, and Alvwyr, the four of them squirming in his grasps and tugging at his hair; Eleneill always seemed to have an easier time with the kids than he, lucky woman.
As they moved out of the bedroom, seven children dancing about their arms and backs, the passed by the arched doorway to their right, Alorinis kicking it gently. A short howl echoed out, causing the kids to shriek and giggle, before the blue light of Dellingr heralded his approach. The monstrous blue worg stepped out of the room, rolling his haunches and shaking his fur, giving a nod to Alorinis as he took up behind Eleneill’s feet. Everlith and Alvwyr lept from Alorinis and Eleneill’s grasps, falling atop Dellingr and persisting to ride him to breakfast.
They passed by another small doorway, Eleneill knocking it open and letting it swing aside, the long hall with twenty doors on each side spread out before them, toys and such across the middle of it. Three doors swung open, two near the main entrance and one at the far back. Young Baleros walked out of his room, his three-year old legs carrying him quickly to Alorinis’ side, gripping his leg firmly and demanding to be walked to breakfast. Kalorn the younger walked out, yawning tiredly and giving a simple nod to Alorinis and Eleneill, ruffling Ven’s hair as he made his way between the two, the scent of dead animals hanging about him. Holding a much slower but alert pace came Kalorn the older, giving a determined nod to the two, an odd look at the bundle of young babes, and a respectful nod to Dellingr.
As a mass they made their way down the stairs and through the lounge, into the dining room. Each began to take their seat along the large table, Alorinis and Eleneill sitting at the head after placing the youngest children in their seats, the older ones climbing into their chairs, Dellinger taking his table side spot by Eleneill, the table still left heavily empty. As everyone took their place, Alorinis kissed Eleneill’s cheek and looked into the kitchen adjacent to them.
Fizmon and Verstallus ran around the kitchen in a hurry, the Goblin and Gnome working in tandem to cook and prepare the meal for the morning breakfast. Fizmon leaping from cabinet to cabinet, grabbing ingredients and tossing them into the air, Verstallus using his wands to animate the objects and pour the ingredients to the dishes. An awe inspiring show, the two moved and moved, until they finally came to rest with a multitude of prepared plates on the counter before them. Together they moved, placing the plates down before every member of the family before finally joining them at the table. As a group, everyone turned their attention to Eleneill, awaiting her permission to begin eating. At her nod and first bite, everyone else began to eat their meals; the younger children half-eating and half-playing with the meals, Dellingr snapping onto the haunch of meet put before him, Fizmon and Verstallus eating between discussions of the Estate and recent happenings of Horde and Alliance cities, Kalorn the younger practically inhaling his food as if he’d never eaten, Kalorn the older biting into his food with a feral nature and gruttal responses, Eleneill and Alorinis laughing as they bit into their meals, watching them all.
As the meal was finished, Fizmon and Verstallus began to clear away the plates and set them aside for later. Eleneill, with the aid of the Kalorns and Dellingr, gathered up the children and hussled them into the washroom for a cleaning. Alorinis sat at the table, Fizmon and Verstallus coming to sit at his left and right and give him a nod. They began to discuss the goings on of the week to come, what each need do for their side of the Estate, what transactions Alorinis needed done. After the short talk, Alorinis gave them both large pouches of gold for their expenses and duties; they’d both sleep in their apartments in Stormwind and Thunder Bluff, the rebellion needed Fizmon to move out of Orgrimmar. The two departed into their private rooms, later returning with their things and making way out the front door to begin their travels.
Alorinis made his way up the stairs and to their bedroom, grabbing his pack and walking back across the house to the washroom. Poking his head in he saw the youngest children playing in the small tub, Eleneill laughing as she washed their hair and forms; he silently thanked whatever deity cared enough about him to bring him to her, for possibly the tenth time that day alone. She looked up at him, smiling as he nodded, letting her know he was making his way to the Silvermoon to begin work.
He exited the door and closed it behind him, moving across the cobblestone entryway and passed the walls around the front of the manor. With a final glance back he nodded, making his way into the forest of Grizzly Hills, on his way to Quel’Thalas and Silvermoon.
As he stepped across the fields, his mind connected to the natural world around him, entwining with his Ranger sense of the Wilds. Soon the lands around him began to change in his walking, the cold, hard ground of Northrend became the warm, lush grass of Quel’Thalas; the tall trees of the hills became the short, enchanted trees of the forest. As he came to a halt, he stood but a short distance from Silvermoon’s main gates, the guards paying no attention as he walked out from behind the tree line.
Making his way into the city, he moved quickly along the Walk of the Elders, through the Royal Exchange, up Farstrider’s Square, and into the Court of the Sun. Pacing into the Palace, he turned up the stairs from the throne room, watching the Regent-Lord and his council arguing already at the day’s affairs; the Isle of Thunder had not been easy upon his people. He ascended the stairs, turning the windings marks until he reached his office, opening the door with a wave of his hand.
Inside he quickly set down his pack, moving to his desk and looking over the forms. Farstrider movements and battle plans, letters from the Office of Noble Affairs about things Alorinis really thought trivial, and notes from his regiment about soldiers or supplies. After sorting through the recent piles and organizing all the papers into categories, he moved to cabinet at the far end of his office. Opening it, he lifted out the runic nexus, giving it a quick mental inspection; no soldiers were dead, and a few new links had been made. He placed the nexus back, moving to his pack. He dressed into his red armor quickly, leaving the rest in his pack and placing it in his desk.
He moved out of his office, through the halls, and down the stairs again to get out of the Palace. Marching into the Farstrider’s Sqaure, he joined his Ranger-Captains as the Captains lead the rest of the second Farstrider battalion into formation. As Alorinis stood on the dais, he saluted the battalion as they saluted him back. He delivered unto them a quick speech of the coming times, what their objectives would be, promoting two Lieutenants to Captains, introducing the new Farstriders who had completed training, and ending with a nod of approval to all his Farstriders. They began to split up, each squadron joining their Ranger-Captain and moving as commanded.
Alorinis began to retrace his steps, returning to the Palace and ascending the stairs, this time going to a higher level. He entered into a grand hall, an old table of Thalassian wood with gold-leaf trim plated around it. Alorinis took his seat at the table, the other Ranger-Lords filling in the other seats, the heads of the table left empty. Halduron entered the room next, his lightning pauldrons crackling in his wake, the iron eyed gaze of the Ranger-General sweeping across the room as he took his seat at the head of the table; the other seat was left empty, the Regent-Lord would not join them today. Halduron began talking, explaining the situation with the Farstriders and what was needed for the coming months and years, facts about the rebellion, and the situation of the Isle of Thunder; Alorinis’ battalion would remain as homeland defense along with the third and sixth battalions.
As the meeting closed, Alorinis made his way back to his office, opening the door to see Eleneill sitting across the divan and reading a scroll from his desk, Dellingr out on the patio watching the city below; he knew what was coming. Offering a short greeting, a long kiss, and making a mess of his desk and office, they left for a short lunch in the bazaar. Speaking over how their days had gone so far, Eleneill speaking about the Pack and her battle plans for upcoming conflicts of their regiment; Eleneill always astounded Alorinis with her ideas, she had never had formal training but seemed gifted. Parting with a kiss, they moved back to their duties of the afternoon before they joined on regiment duties.
Alorinis moved through Eversong Forest, coming to the rock face of the west and the entrance of the Thalassian third jailhouse. As he climbed the ladder to the watchtower, he nodded to Ranger-Captain Orolian, Warden of the prison. After a short recount of the influx and outgoings of prisons from Orolian, and Alorinis supplying him with a list of convicts to be executed and others to be sent to the guards for duty.
He quickly departed the jailhouse, making way back to the Capital and into his office again. Taking his seat behind his desk just in time for the first noble to walk in; Baron Sunwing with demands of increased payment for his winery shipment, Alorinis informing him there are two other wineries he likes more, Baron Sunswing being quiet and leaving. For what seemed an eternity, nobles came in and out of his office, giving demands or requests for change; Lord Firesword leaving with a bloodied nose after trying to take a swing at Alorinis.
After the nobles had come and gone, the regiment’s supplier walked into his office. Handing Alorinis the invoice and waiting for him to read over it, leaving after Alorinis handed him the sack of gold as payment. A new shipment of metals would be coming in so the soldiers could have their weapons and armors fixed, making sure the strength would never falter.
With a sigh of relief, Alorinis changed clothing into his more casual wear and moved out the door, back through the Palace, and into the forest of Eversong. With a fast pace he ran through the forest, the world changing around him again as he soon ran to the front door of the manor. With a quick opening he dashed up the stairs and into the playroom, letting out a boisterous roar that startled and thrilled the children. Diving to the ground, he began to play with his young ones, making noises for toys or using his arms to lift and toss them to the sky, catching them on the return. Always one of the happiest points of his day, Alorinis laughed and smiled as he spent time with all his children, blood or adoption, they were his and none could say different. Giving them each a kiss on the head, he made his way out of the room and down to the lounge, passing Bernard, Eleneill’s father, on the way down the stairs; he stayed with the kids during the day so Alorinis and Eleneill could do their work. In the lounge he found Kalorn the older, reading a book and grinning as Alorinis plopped down beside him. Together they talked for a long while, details of what Kalorn knew and how things had changed; Alorinis always greatful that his time was no longer the current. Hugging the man, Alorinis made his way outside and to the lake by the manor, coming to sit beside Kalorn the younger. Handing Alorinis a fishing pole, they both sat quietly and reeled in fish after fish, Kalorn taking a bite out of one and saying Verstallus had showed him the trick. With a chuckle, Alorinis ruffled the boy’s hair and handed back the extra pole, making his way to the woods again.
As he walked briskly, the world changed around him, depositing him in southern Quel’Thalas; his Ranger student jumping at his sudden appearance. Snickering, Alorinis began the lesson immediately with the student, teaching him the five laws of attunement and showing his own method of attunement. Following the student’s method and movements, Alorinis gave him an accepting nod. With a pat on the back Alorinis made his way forward into the forest, making way to Fairbreeze Village.
As he reached the village, the unofficial home of his regiment, he moved up the walkway to join his Commanders, Champions, and Unit Heads around the table. After a report of each Unit, Squadron, and administration tasks, Alorinis set forward the month’s agenda and duties for everyone; June was the month of Rest of the soldiers, so nothing too harsh would be their dealings. As they separated from the meeting, Alorinis made his way to the Royal Exchange to join his soldiers. Speaking with them as he went, some with concerns to be addressed, others just wishing to speak casually. Laughing and nodding across the evening, his soldiers and he parted, as he silently hoped for them to all to remain safe and enjoy their rest, it would not last long he knew.
Making his way back to his office, Alorinis sat with Eleneill again, going over battle plans for the upcoming rebellion and where the regiment would stand in it. They both noted how Garrosh had made Orgrimmar out of metal so fire could never harm his people, but this had left them open to a weakness of the storms; Eleneill did love her storms, and Alorinis knew many a Shaman who could work well.
As the hour grew late, Alorinis and Eleneill rolled up the scrolls and battle plans, placing them away in the cabinet again. He grabbed his pack from the office and they left the Palace together, hand in hand, and made their way into the forest. With a grin they began to run together, Alorinis passing on through the rune link that they were heading home for the evening, and emerging back in Grizzly Hills. They made their way into the manor, stealing kisses all along the walk. As they entered, Eleneill called for the Kalorns to bring the kids downstairs for dinner soon; Baleros began to run down the stairs but tripped, saved at the last second by Eleneill who had lept across the room to catch him, leaving the boy to merely giggle. The Kalorns and Eleneill carried the children into the dining room again, as Alorinis worked over the cooking pot and basins; he had decided to braise a rabbit for dinner, with cooked vegetables on the side.
He passed a plate before each of the children, resting a final one before Eleneill as he sat beside her. Just as at dinner, everyone looked to Eleneill and awaited her nod to begin eating; she always grinned when they did that, and took the first bite quickly to not make them wait. Alorinis enjoyed the meal, smiling at his work as he watched everyone else eat it, Kalorn the younger already sucking on the bones of a finish carcass. As they ate the desert Kalorn the older made, an apple pie freshly baked, the younger children began to fall to sleep one by one, yawns escaping their tiny mouths.
Alorinis and Eleneill moved to grab the children, Eleneill taking Gwenieve, Alvwyr, Ven, and Baleros in her arms while Alorinis gathered up Jesika, Kassius, Everlith, and Lilith to his embrace. They made their way up the stairs, putting the less than one year olds back in the octagonal crib and walking Baleros into his room to snuggle into bed. After giving a kiss good night to each child, and wrapping them in their fur blankets, Alorinis and Eleneill bade goodnight to the Kalorns; the older was going to his room to work on some weaponry changes, while the younger was heading out to do some late night hunting with the Pack.
Alorinis gave Eleneill and kiss as he moved to his study in the manor, across from the lounge, and sat at his desk. The two mirrors before him soon lit up with an image, Fizmon and Verstallus looking in and nodding to Alorinis. Giving him their reports of the day and the changes to the plan that had to be made, Alorinis wished them a good evening, leaving them both to chuckle in return.
Alorinis moved into the kitchen, grabbing a bottle and two glasses as he went to join Eleneill in the lounge; Dellingr had gone up to his bedroom, Ashra following him in for the night. Alorinis and Eleneill sat out in the lounge, drinking glass by glass as they reminisced about their pasts and their hopes for the future, stealing kisses and bites at one another as they got farther into the bottle.
When the bottle was half finished, and the furniture of the lounge had been turned over and tossed about, one chair broken in half by a rather forceful move from Eleneill, Alorinis gathered her into his arms and lifted her up. Her hips still rocking at him, producing a chuckle from his lips, as he carried her up the stairs and into their bedroom. Laying her in bed, he began to replace their armors to the mannequins and hang their clothes in the wardrobes again. He soon joined her in bed, lying on his back as she snuggled up against him, her clawed hand latching down around his side; ever her mark as a claim on him, that no one may ever hold him as such.
With a smile on his lips and a kiss on her forehead, Alorinis drifted to sleep, the world of his past coming to him in dreams again as he lay there. Another day closed for him, and tomorrow he would awaken and do nearly all the same.
0 comments:
Post a Comment