New Year, New Life

[Oneille]

It came no surprise to Oneille for the rumors were true: Saurfang the younger had been turned into a death knight. "I saw him fall at the death gate like no many before, but his death was not in vein. His bravely was a light, a beacon that gave hope. Least we forget that good warmaster." Oneille clasped her smaller hands about the earthern skinned Orc's larger palm.nnLord Saurfang weakly nodded trying to hold his composure yet deep in his own mind thoughts and feelings raced. Each guest to this funeral a reminder to the war and the effort culled to end it. As many guests paid their respect with due course the elven maiden found herself drifting far from the funeral party. Garadar the home of the Magh'ari. This place was home to the noble Outland orcs of Draenor. Those left uncorrupted by those who went through the Dark Portal. Peaceful were the high hills for once a traveler looked pass them instantly they saw the rolling green plains of Nagrand. This is home and the final leg of one's warrior journey. nn"My lioness?" Oneille turned in her daze and noticed her husband.nn"Yes my lord?" His hands clasped over hers. "What? You look as though you've seen a ghost."nn"No parent should have to bury a child." Leothiel tightened the grip on his wife's hands protectively.nn"Lion, we live in the most unfair time. War is part of the scheme...as is death. You've all but seen the world through war's eyes. I think it time you see the world through my eyes. I see it for the beauty of love, family, friends. War trophies and battle strategies are grand but lack luster when they've found fruition. You took a gamble taking me a mate. I've been faithful and doting. I've been patient and I've been diligent. See in me the good you are for I see that in you."nnOneille sought her husband's lips drinking up her lion's vigor. The lover's embraced in the setting Nagrand sun while in the distance orc voices singing a war chant celebrating the passing of a legend.

[Leothiel]

Leothiel went to the homestead to check on it progress. The guest house was nearly finished and the foundation for the main house was being dug. He walked around to inspect the wards. They were doing their job as he found a dead wretched near one of them. Soon, Thieldren showed up. "Sinu amanore, brother." They had a look around the property. Thieldren was impressed by what he saw. Thieldren even brought some Silvermoon port with him. Soon, Oneille and Regalia showed up to check the progress of the homestead. Oneille joined in the conversation. Soon, an unnamed elf arrived. Leothiel could tell that this was not an elf. He was a messenger of Alexstrazsa.nn"Lord Frosthawk,nnWe know that you have been experiencing dreams of a fiery dragon. Head to Wyrmrest Temple as we are expecting you there.nnKorialstrasz"

[Leothiel]

The past few days had been relieving and unsettling at the same time. Leothiel was requested to spend a few days at Wyrmrest Temple to hear some of the murmurings. Oneille stayed on his mind and he even wrote to her daily. She also wrote back. The guest house on the Frosthawk homestead was nearing completion and the land for the main house and the stables was staked out. Members of Nyx also checked on Oneille periodically.nnLeothiel spent the first day at Wyrmrest in silence. All he could hear were the stories and the histories of the dragonflights and what they meant. He had been instrumental in ending the war with Malygos. Later on, he went to the Chamber of aspects looking at the flights' respective sanctums. He saw the character in each one. The Azure Sanctum was interesting to him but the Obsidian Sanctum proved the most disturbing. He would not be able to talk about it until much later.

[Oneille]

There she lay sad and without her mate. The loneliness became amplified when the young elven warlock held at her ever growing belly. Strain from carrying the child and the added strain of Leothiel being gone sent Oneille into a depression. He said it was upmost but there lingered fear in her mind. At that moment the world grew larger more frightening. nnThough she was strong Oneille could not survive without her mate. Her lion fought for them and their people yet inside the chamber, the den, the lioness mewled and whimpered. The burden of cub and hearth lay on her shoulders. She wept silent tears falling over her cheeks staining the pillow beneath her head.nnA great journey lay before her mate but deep in the home of Frosthawk the lioness guarded an empty lair. Pain, fear, and uncertainity dwelled there. "Mate when will you be home, stop being away from us. We miss you."nnAt that Oneille drifted back into slumber but not before something dark lingered in the shadow. A sudden creep of black floated from the corner, sunk along the wall, then vanished into nothingness...

[Leothiel]

Leothiel returned late night after a week in Wyrmrest Temple. He looked forward to being back with his mate once again. After they greeted, Oneille took Leothiel's hand and placed it on her womb. He even felt something. Oneille was not due for a couple of more months. They spent that night in each others' arms for the first time in a week.nnThe next morning, Oneille talked about the goings on around Silvermoon and some of the shadowy figures at night. "Last night, I saw a shadow and it disappeared." Leothiel chuckled and replied "If they would make their way in here, they would have to contend with Al'ar and Kim." However, Oneille was clearly interested in hearing what he gathered from Wyrmrest Temple. Leothiel started "I spent time listening to the murmurs not only in waking, but also in sleeping. I also visited their shrines and learned their lore in more detail. Over time, I learned about a wayward dragon by the name of Neltharion the Earthwarder." A look fear went into Oneille's eyes.nn"I showed them my sketch of the dragon that emerged in my dreams. I even overheard some seers. The Earthwarder has been strangely quiet. The one now known as Deathwing had been known to be quiet when he plots but has usually plotted often. His strange quiet has been very unsettling even for Alexstrazsa." Afterwards, Leothiel and Oneille went to the homestead. The guest house was finished, the foundation for the main house was being laid and the stables location was staked. They would not be able to move in as the completed guest house was going to be used for storage until the bulk of the main house was complete. Leothiel checked the wards on his property: They were still strong.nnThat night, Leothiel wrote a letter back to his parents in Stormwind. He gave them the update on the homestead but it ended on a dire note: Deathwing was plotting. He attached the note to Azureus and sent the blue whelp on his way.

[Leothiel]

Azureus returned early in the morning with not one, but two letters. The first one was written by both Thaelen and Anaria. Not only was it an update on the Stormwind side, but it also talked about the seers of Stormwind having the same visions. Earthquakes have been plaguing the world as well. The letter also had a tone of fear. The last time Anaria had similar dreams was right before the Scourge invasion that started the Third War. The end of the letter had a hint of August in Stormwind: Hot and humid with Thaelen being off of his teaching and research work for the duration of that month.nnThe second letter was from Vira. Leothiel and Oneille's faces broke into great smiles when they started reading. The tone of her letter sounded like a queen who had been dethroned. Her thoughts were clearly developing into her writing. She had the hopes and fears typical of her age. Oneille commented "Reading your sister's thoughts makes me feel like a little girl all over again." She also brought up the hot summers of Stormwind.nnLeothiel smiled and said "The homestead should be finished well before the peak of summer arrives." Oneille had a look of excitement on her face. "My lion, we should put that guest house to use." Leothiel went to check the progress on the construction of the homestead. When he arrived, he did not see a work crew; he saw someone who wore the badge of the Quel'thalas treasury. Leothiel took the papers without a word: It was a back tax statement on the property from the previous House that had the land before the Third War.

[Leothiel]

Leothiel returned showing Oneille the papers. "How could they do this?" Leothiel had brought up that the title search was clear. This back tax statement that Leothiel owed no money was halting work on the homestead.nnLater that night, Leothiel wondered "Could this be a forgery?" The next day, he went to the tax office. The clerk looked at the statement curiously then called someone over. One of them replied "This is what has happened to our billing papers." Leothiel asked "Are you suggesting someone is forging tax statements?" The supervisor nodded and said "Yes and I recognize the handwriting. The house that had your land previously owed money on it before they went exctinct. It looks like someone in this office is interested in your land." That explained much to Leothiel, but never solved anything. He told Oneille what had happened and even she did not feel satisfied at the conclusion that somehow, the Frosthawk house land would be contested. Work resumed later that day.

[Leothiel]

Leothiel woke up before the crack of dawn. In a matter of minutes, his thoughts were occupied. He felt for Oneille and put his hand on her womb. This will rebuild Quel'thalas was his thought. He felt something kick. What's the rush? You have time. They were expecting their child about the same time as the homestead would be finished. Work had stopped earlier in the week because of heavier than usual spring rains. Leothiel laid back down to sleep again. This time, his battles started to occupy his thoughts as he was figuring about front lines in the battles. His mind went from that to what happened earlier in the week: He and some followers of the Lady Nyx had banished Ragnaros back to the plane of fire once again not knowing his return. That thought soon drifted into yet another dream: The fiery dragon. He woke up again and it was daylight. Oneille was already awake but Azureus was panicking again. "I think he had the same dream."nnOneille wondered what kind of a world their unborn child would be inheriting. Leothiel recalled that the seers were having the same vision. "My mother had dreamed of an invading army of orcs in a swamp and the coming of the undead. I was going to tell Swanthula something but I have not been able to do so." He penned a letter to Swanthula and attached it to Azureus.nn"Taz'dingo Bone Priestess Swanthula,nnFor some time, I have been having some recurring dreams of a dragon engulfed in flame emerging from the ground. I am not the only one who has been having this. There are those with the blood of seers who have been having this. Among those has been my mother, a priestess who had dreams of the coming Scourge in the years leading up to them. Even my blue whelpling familiar has been having these and has been scared by them.nnI sincerely question if Ragnaros is the one causing these earthquakes: Some time ago, I had spent a week listening to the murmurings of the dragon queen's court at Wyrmrest Temple. I learned more about Neltharion the Earthwarder than any mortal should ever know. He is now called "Deathwing." The main murmurings have been his very recent silence. Some speculate he is burrowed somewhere in the ground.nnLeothiel Frosthawk"nnHe attached this letter to Azureus and sent the whelpling on his way.

[Oneille]

Crazy elfin women should stay at home,risk nothing even when carrying a stubborn mage's child. Oneille was just that character. She'd soon see herself travel over frozen tundra, fall from the sky, and practically walk on hot coals to see her errands through. Talk of visions and the needed advice of a one Haleh.nnOneille shuddered as the cold feeling of the Winterspring air passed through the heavily woven garb she donned. There came a fleeting stare of movement on the horizon but became replaced with a fidget of the imagination. Easing her tulbuk onward Oneille found the very dragon site she needed. After a brisk hike from the road to the trail...there stood a high elf in disguise. Halen was not privy to just standing about she had her reasons. Leothiel knew all too well this matron of the flight was to the point.nn"Haleh before you share your 'right-to-the-point' insight I must say these visions they worry me...they...bring confusion. I admit that Leothiel brings his on interpretation but I know deep in my heart there is much more than meets the eye."nnHaleh inclined her head, "Lady Frosthawk...sister. Already the answers you know them. He has awakened and you know of whom I speak of."nnHaleh's words rung true.nn"So then there can be no mistaking. Deathwing. That creature whose name means death to all...I am not suprised or in shock. I am,however, much ready to say...I am here to confirm the rumor as fact. I am more interested in this much...my child, my future, and my mate."nnHalen nodded and what followed was telling of much of what was expected for the matron elf.

[Leothiel]

Oneille had been growing progressively larger as the child she was carrying was expected some time in the summer. The homestead was taking shape. Although the guest house was finished, it was unusable: Its purpose was for storage until the main house is complete. The complex would not be finished until some time after summer solstice. All of these thoughts crossed Leothiel's mind as he was waking up early. Even the longer days were creeping. After he woke up and dressed and lookd at Al'ar on his perch then cast a fire spell that gave the phoenix hatchling its breakfast. As Leothiel was in the study rooting through some papers, he felt Oneille's hands on his shoulder complete with her voice saying "Good morning, my lion" followed by a kiss. Every night, Leothiel has put his hands on Oneille's womb to feel the growing child and to protect it. They were looking forward to a magical warrior as their heir.