An Unpleasant Task

[Leothiel]

*Monday morning*nnVira woke with a pair of green eyes at her bedside accompanied by a quiet female voice. "Morning, Vira." She recognized teh voice belonging to her sister-in-law Oneille. She opened her eyes seeing the red locks of hair attached to a face: It was Oneille. Oneille said "I know you've been feeling left out here. How would like you to go for a swim in the river with me?" Vira said "sure" then got of out of bed. She and Oneille were soon at the river enjoying the water. Oneille almost felt like an elfling again.nnBack in the master bedroom, Leothiel was half-awake and half-asleep. He felt the other side of the bed and thought Where is Oneille again...wait.. She's up already and has given Haeldrin his breakfast. He heard a slight stirring from the cradle next to the bed. He got out of bed, dressed some, then slowly took Haeldrin out of the cradle. My heir, you will be a great caster. He slowly walked carrying Haeldrin to the parlor. He sat down in a rocking chair. Leothiel's mother Anaria entered not too long after with Athaniar in her hands. "He's showing signs of crawling now." Leothiel said "It will be a few months before my cub will be able to crawl" Anaria asked "Where's Vira?" Leothiel said "Oneille's with her right now. All of us in here have been either too young or too old for her. This is also the first time that they can come together as sisters." Anaria and Leothiel talked some more with not just the morning daylight, but the firelight from Al'ar the phoenix hatchling.nnSoon, a shaking Azureus made an entrance. Anaria took a good look at him and wondered why. Leothiel explained "That means he's had more than a nightmare." They slowly made their way to the study, where Leothiel scryed Azureus' scale. Leothiel and Anaria realized they have been sharing the same vision: A great dragon engulfed in flame that awoke and fractured the firmament.

[Leothiel]

*Tuesday night*nnLeothiel returned from his foray into Icecrown Citadel without smelling like a sewer. He realized this was the last night his family from Stormwind will be there. He also realized early on in his visit that he failed in his mission to convince them to return to Quel'thalas. Leothiel undressed, slipped into bed, and gave Oneille a kiss before falling asleep. His sleep did not last for long. Some magical waves followed by a sound woke him. He dressed quickly. His parents, who were in the guest house, woke up. Anaria sensed the energy. "It's fel energy" she remarked. Leothiel quietly said "The demon is about to return."nnThe pair of rangers assigned to spy over Leothiel's parents showed up too along with a couple of arcanists and a warlock. Vira soon woke up wondering what happened. Anaria told her to go back into the main house and stay with Oneille. Anaria went in with Athaniar in her hands. Anaria returned. Soon, the first light of dawn came. The fel magics were increasing to the point where it shattered the wardstones guarding the homestead. They were now unprotected. Soon, some cultists arrived and opened a gate. It was the dreadlord who had come to claim Oneille.nnThe dreadlord spoke "As you already know, I've come for your wife. This time, you will not interfere and break the pact she made." Leothiel was ready to cast "There will be a prize today, you fiend, but it won't be anyone in my house." The dreadlord replied "You will show respect for the fel powers and magics in which your people have indulged." nnLeothiel recognized one of the cultists as a healer and proceeded to keep him out of battle by turning him into a sheep. The warlock managed to banish the demon temporarily while the group dealt with the cultists.nnBack inside, Oneille was dressing very quickly. Vira was trying to calm down the two infants. Oneille gave Vira a hug and said "I must go." Vira tried to block her asking why. Oneille gave her a kiss on the forehead, knelt and said to her "It's my time" then walked out. The cultists were suppressed. Soon, the warlock among the magisters was keeping him banished while doing some strange ritual. When the dreadlord was unbanished, Oneille was out of the house walking towards the dreadlord but not attacking or casting. Soon, the warlock among the magisters was done chanting and the dreadlord tried to use his fel powers but found himself weak. Leothiel pulled out his sword and drove it into the chest of the demon. This time, the demon did not disappear: He fell on the ground with his body intact. Oneille collapsed at that moment.nnAnaria felt for Oneille's pulse and healed her. "What happened?" The warlock replied "The pact is broken. The demon is now dead in this plane and in the nether." The group brought Oneille back to the master bedroom. Vira screamed "Oneille? Sister?" Anaria tried to calm her in another room. Soon, a sign of life went into Oneille when Leothiel's hand touched her. "My lion?" Leothiel gave her a kiss "Yes, it's your lion."nn*Wednesday afternoon*nnThe elder Frosthawks were preparing to return to Stormwind. Vira had been hiding since seeing Oneille brought back to the bedchamber. She could not see the battle, but sense it. Even reassurance from her mother had a tough time pulling her out. There were gifts to hand out to the family. Leothiel gave his little sister Vira some books of Horde folk tales and a sword. "This sword is no toy." Oneille had a letter for her but gave it to Thaelen in secret. "Give this to her after her Awakening." Athaniar was still asleep. Leothiel wanted to apologize. "I have failed in my task."nnThaelen asked "What task was that?"nn"To convince you to return to Quel'thalas."nn"Son, we will return to Quel'thalas but now is not the time to do so. You haven't failed. You've done something even greater."nn"What would that be?"nn"Look at Oneille and who's in her hands."nnLeothiel looked over at his wife who was carrying the infant Haeldrin. I gave my father his first grandchild and kept Oneille alive.nnAfter the Stormwind Frosthawks had a last look at the homestead, their family, and their first grandchild; they were dragged through the nether back to Stormwind.nnLater that evening, Vira was talking again yet she seemed scared of the demon. Instead of going to her room to read, she went to the back yard of the house with the sword that Leothiel gave her. She imagined the the stump from the tree was the demon that came to claim her sister-in-law and started sparring with it. Anaria was not too happy. Thaelen said "Soon will come a time where she will want you and need me. I can't be everywhere to protect her but I will do that when I can." There was a pause. Thaelen broke the pause saying "Oneille has a letter for her when she has had her Awakening. For now, she is a girl and at times a very fiesty one."

[Leothiel]

*First day of September, Stormwind*nnVira's experience in Quel'thalas had changed her. Her latent magic powers strengthened from instruction by her father and her brother. She learned how to use a sword and has had practice from the time for returning home to Stormwind to the start of the new school term. Vira knew she was a girl but her days were numbered. She heard murmurings about an "Awakening" that every elf went through that marked the end of being a child. She had also abosorbed some of the culture of the Horde races, which she very well knew would put her at odds with others, including her own classmates. Her main source of reading since her return has been the Horde book of folktales her brother Leothiel gave her. She had found herself learning some of the language of the Horde.nnAfter Vira was ready for the morning, the family joined her in taking her to school. Her story was fascinating and scary to her friends. However, it caused rifts. That became evident at lunch when someone taunted her and she casted a fireball on the tormentor. Thaelen and Anaria did not have a good day when they picked up Vira. Thaelen was proud she stood up for herself. Thaelen and Anaria were discussing it that night in bed. Soon, Anaria recalled something Thaelen had said. "Do you remember when you said that Vira will need you more?" Thaelen said "yes I do." Anaria replied "If there's one day she needs you from there, it's today." That night, Anaria's mind raced through all of her children when they came to that age where they needed their father more than anyone. The following morning, Anaria expressed concern. Thaelen quietly said into her ear "I will always need you and you have always been there for me even during my imprisonment for treason." Anaria smiled and realized that she had forgotten where her first love: That of her husband.nn*Same day, Eversong woods*nnThe August heat was over and the days were becoming shorter. Leothiel woke up just as the first light was appearing. He kissed Oneille who then stirred and went back to sleep. He then walked over to the cradle and picked up Haeldrin, who was nearly one month old. He gently walked with his infant son in his arms, went to the parlor, which was dominated by the light of the al'ar hatchling. Leothiel put some magical fire on the bird who craved it. He started telling stories of the Sin'dorei. When he had finished, it was past sunrise and he heard Oneille's voice morning "Morning, my lion" followed by a kiss. "I don't think he can hear the stories of our people." Leothiel chuckled and said "Any time is a good time to start: The earlier the better." Haeldrin opend his greenish-white-glowing eyes and Leothiel looked closely into them. My son, I see the eyes of greatness in you he thought. Haeldrin smiled first then started squirming. Oneille broke the silence saying "It's time for someone's breakfast." Leothiel gave his infant son Haeldrin one last gaze Soon, you will learn not just magic, but your heritage as a son of the Highborne. After this, he gave the child to Oneille who then put him to her breast. Leothiel went for a morning swim.

[Leothiel]

*Interlude*nn*Stormwind*nnLeothiel's sister Vira's knowledge of the Horde culture has drawn both curiosity and scorn. In the first week of school, she put her casting knowledge to use when a classmate accosted her. The following day, she found a flower and a note from a secret admirer on her desk. Anaria accepted that Vira was in need of her father more than her. The bond between father and daughter grew deeper. It would be at least a few more months before Anaria is able to return to church duty, for being the mother of the infant Athaniar. Anaria also talked about what she saw in Leothiel's scrying bowl.nn*Eversong*nnLeothiel has been preparing the stables for Dragonhawks and a garden plot for the following spring. The arrival of Haeldrin has brought great joy and adjustments to him and Oneille. However, they also knew that something was in the horizon they could not fathom but only wait.