Theotaz considered the past weeks.
He was no longer a Troll. He looked like a Troll. He was even handsome by Troll standards. He cut a fine figure. Even Tasera was slowly warming to him. But it was the warming of a glacier in the spring sun. Slow it was.
He considered all that had passed. The breaking of the bonds set in place by Arthus the Lich King, the Formation of the Ebon Blade, the Oaths he had taken.
At first he had followed out of duty. He had still been finding himself; finding who he had been. His memories over 100 years crowded close now. The companions he had known were now dead across a hundred battlefields or more - most leaving nothing behind them but dust.
He had no doubt that many had been brought forth from the dead to serve the Lich King. Some he had no doubt faced in battle not knowing them. He prayed their souls were at peace. He knew one other thing: when the Lich King fell, he would fall with him. He would be happy with that. It would be justice for Azeroth that his creations bring him down, and pass from this world at his death. Some would survive no doubt, but most of the Death Knights would fall where ever they were at the Lich Kings passing. They had been created from the Lich King’s will, and with his passing the vital spark that gave them this life would pass. It was not a bad thing.
The temple he prayed in pre-dated the modern era, pre-dated even the fall of the Elves. Few knew of it. He came here sometimes to pray, to remember, and to mourn. He opened his pouch and placed the token he had received from Ma'ruu upon the ancient crumbling altar.
Today he simply looked around. No pillars stood here. The walls tumbled down. Tree roots intertwined with the crumbling stone. It had taken weeks of effort to clear away even the small area around the altar. Blocks of stone from the roof had required splitting so that they could be moved; the broken pieces stacked to form a crude wall about the altar. It was still a place of power, and place of peace.
He had finally cleared away the mass of growth around the central well. It stood empty. Water had not flowed here for uncounted centuries.
He knelt in contemplation, his heart heavy. He had deceived an enemy that he did not wish to have as an enemy. He had deceived his adapted family, they who had opened their homes and their hearts to him. The burden upon his conscience was heavy this day.
He placed other tokens upon the altar; an old bow string, a piece of Romilar’s fur that had been saved as a remembrance, his original armor as a Death Knight, and his old rune blade. They were but tokens of his past.
Crypt Kicker sat near by. He allowed the ghoul to roam freely where it would here. It was amusing to see. Yet there was a poignant sadness there. The ghoul had gathered flowers - flowers in all shapes, and colors - and had woven them into chains. Crypt Kicker had several laid about his shoulders, wrapped around it’s head, and woven into it’s fur. It really was a quite remarkable sight. The ghoul had worked at the task non stop, not even resting, which of course he didn't need to. They were piled upon the alter, these garlands. Theo had not objected in the least. Crypt Kicker had earned the privilege many times over.
He wondered what motivated this. Somewhere behind those eyes was a soul. But who had the ghoul been? Theotaz suspected that it had been a child.
He leaned his elbows upon the altar and prayed some more. He prayed to the light to help him find the safe path ahead for his adoptive family, for his Guild, and for the Horde. The moon, Elune, was overhead now. It’s orb full, it’s soft light glowing across the stones of the old temple.
This had once been a temple to Elune. He asked Her forgiveness for his use of this holy place. He prayed She would permit his prayers to go where they needed to go. His words were quiet, his strong deep voice a bare whisper.
Crypt Kicker came over and knelt beside him; the ghoul gave him a worried look. "Isssss oookkkkk?" he asked.
Theotaz smiled. What else could he do? "Of course it is ok. And what do you pray for faithful friend?"
The Ghoul cocked his head looking at the altar, and then up into the face of the moon, it’s face taking on an ethereal soft quality. "To playyy, tooo sleep, tooo remember what wassss. Liiike you masssttterr." The Ghoul’s face appeared feminine in the soft light. A girl? A female? A human child?
Theotaz shuddered. Could it have been one that he murdered? The thought tore at him.
He heard a step behind him. He turned slowly, his hands at his side. A Kaldorei stood there - Female. He bowed low. It was a Ranger. He did not know her. She looked about, her bow in hand, an arrow notched and ready…
He laid a hand on the ghouls shoulder. "We do not fight, little one. This is a holy place; we will not do violence here."
The Ranger looked at him puzzled, but lowered her bow. "Death Knight, and Troll. You would desecrate our holy places?"
Theo shook his head in the negative. "No Elf, and Ranger, I would not. I would use them for their intended purpose. To contemplate, to heal, to seek inner peace. I have food and water. Please join us if it is your will."
He gestured to the moon overhead. "Elune has not cast me out. I would do her honor. I never chose to become what I am. I can choose to not do what I was raised from the dead to do. Be at peace, for I will raise no weapon against you."
She looked at him closely "I know you! You are the one that led a party into Darnassus days ago!" her voice said in rising anger. She raised her bow without thought and loosed. The arrow pierced his chest, passing though him, the fletching of the long shaft nearly against his chest. The force of it knocked him back against the altar.
"I am not so easily slain Elf." he said quietly and calmly through the pain. He pulled the arrow back through himself and handed her back the shaft. "Your anger is not undeserved. But I said I would not raise arms against you here, and I will keep my word. Put your bow away Ranger. This is not a place for anger… or battle!"
The Kaldorei slowly lowered her bow. "You are called Theotaz?"
"Yes" he replied.
"Why did you attack my home?" she asked.
Theotaz moved to sit upon a stone bench. "I was angry, as were my compatriots. A war band of Alliance had gathered in Darnassus and had planned and carried out a raid in to Horde lands. Innocents were killed. Children slain like food animals." He paused. "We came to punish, to leave a message that this would not be tolerated."
He plucked at a flower chain that had fallen from the altar and laid it reverently back into place. "I would choose to not do that again. Our peoples can live in peace if we allow it."
Cautiously, she sat on a bench across from him. "You are not like the trolls I have heard of."
He shook his head. "You have not seen many of my kind. I am... I was.. Zandalar Tribe .. Long ago, so long ago... My Tribe has never made war against the Elves. I am no longer a Troll. I am a Death Knight, and I do not die." He said with bitterness in his voice.
The Ghoul slid forward with a lei of flowers in its claws. "Taaake. Place of peeeaace. Noooo fight here. Mooon godesssss not liiike."
The Kaldorei looked at the ghoul in shock. "It speaks? How can this be?"
Theo shook his head "I do not know missy, yet it.. does. It has a mind, a soul. It feels, it cares, it even loves. It learns." He pointed to the flowers on the altar. "It gathered those, and wove them together on its own. There was no suggestion from me or command. I am as puzzled as you, but I accept what is before me."
He reached for his bag. "Are you hungry? I have food, and water... I will not offer you wine as I am certain that you would not risk it with a possible foe near by," he said pointing a thumb to his own chest.
The Kaldorei took the travel ration and a skin of water. "Mmmmm, this is quite good!"
Theo nodded. "It comes from the hand of Mistress Aitana of Nyx, a Tauren. Her people are quite skilled at the creation of food from fruits and grain."
The Kaldorei looked about. "You have been coming here for some time, have you not?"
Theotaz smiled. "Yes, I have a friend that lives nearby. I suspect you know of the place.
A Sin’dorei priest lives there, and recently a Troll hunter moved in to share the property. They are Asarelah, and Tasera. I wish to be close to Tasera. I have my own hopes and dreams, and I find her to be quite attractive. I think you know of the place. A party of Night Elves was spotted there recently."
The Elf nodded. "Yes, that was my patrol. We are curious as to why they would be here in Azshara."
He nodded. "I do not know why Asarelah established her home here, but it is a lovely land. There are many ghosts here, demons have been seen, and also renegade Sin’dorei. We have attempted to remove some of this blight upon this land, but it is slow going.â€
“I suggest you go openly and speak to her. Perhaps together we can lift the curses upon this place, so that people can live here once again, and lives return anew."
The Night Elf rose. "You have given me much to think about Death Knight. Will you come to this place often?"
He nodded. “As often as the light and my duties permit. If you speak with Asarelah please do not mention my presence to her. I think she would understand. But I would think it best for now if she did not know I was here."
The Ranger nodded "I will respect your request for now. We will meet again."
Theo rose in respect to the Kaldorei. "I pray that it is not upon the field of battle. I would be saddened to find I had injured or slain so gracious a host." He gave a deep bow. "The Light and Elune’s peace walk with you always. Farewell Ranger."
As the Kaldorei drifted into the shadows, she stopped at the edge of vision looking over her shoulder at the Death Knight and his curious minion. Shook her head and faded into the trees.
"sheee niceee for eellllf." Crypt Kicker commented. "What her naammme?" Theo slapped his head. "Dam’d!.. I forgot to ask!"
He sighed. The sun would be up soon, and it would be time to go. Turning back toward the altar he saw a glint of reflection: the arrow head from the Kaldorei’s arrow. He picked it up reverently and laid it beside the other artifacts upon the altar.
A bluish glow diffused the area suddenly. He turned seeking the source. The well… the moon well... water stood in it once again. Sprites of light were playing across its surface. He frowned in puzzlement.
Turning back to the alter he saw a most wondrous vision. It was an Elf, yet far to perfect. Female. She looked down upon him with approval on her face. She reached down and picked up a lei of flowers and held them to her nose. Laying them down again she gave them both a radiant smile and faded away with out a sound.
"Ellluuuunnne?†Crypt Kicker stuttered.
He reached down to hold the Ghouls shoulder "Yes, I believe so."
