The Will of Elune

*Almost 13,000 years ago, the Temple of Elune in Zin-Azshari*

"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!" came the shout.

The harsh female voice was pitched to cut over the booming noise of the magically conjured music that was playing throughout the stone chambers. The writhing forms of the elven dancers immediately halted in mid-swing as over three dozen pairs of eyes turned to stare at the source of the shout. Here and there delicate night elven faces began to pale as plain white robes shifted in place and the initiate priestesses realized exactly what was happening.

At the far end of the chamber, shielding her eyes from the glaring daylight coming in through the windows high above the antechamber, a priestess is much more formal robes stood near an open doorway, her hands on her hips and a furious expression on her face. Behind her stood five heavily armored and armed night elves, their faces obscured by the plate helmets they wore; they were Keepers of Eternity, the Queen's Guard. It meant trouble that they were in the Temple.

The priestess, a proctor of the temple who was responsible for the initiates, snapped her fingers and immediately the thundering rhythm that the elves had been dancing to was cut off as if it had never been. "I said," Proctor Nightwind repeated with a snarl, "What is the meaning of this? It is the middle of the DAY. You initiates should be sleeping and instead I find you what? Having a party? Is that WINE that you have there?!"

Several of the priestess initiates bowed their heads, looking sheepish as they stepped away from the open wine bottles that were left here and there along the outskirts of the makeshift dance floor.  Amongst the crowd of initiates, Malandrae swallowed hard, her heart beating quickly in her chest as she realized just how much trouble the group would be in for having a party in the Temple.

But the proctors were all supposed to be sleeping! Why did she have to come here now? Why with the Queen's guard?!

The priestess glared at the initiates, making several of them cower from the fury of her look. Finally she pointed to one, gesturing at her to step forward, "You. Explain this at once Prime Initiate Celestia! You are the highest ranking initiate, so why don't you explain why you are DEFILING the Queen's Temple to Elune with a party when you should be sleeping or meditating on the mysteries of the Goddess?"

The elf that had been called out blanched and began to stutter. She was unable to get any fully formed words out of her trembling lips before the Proctor cut her off again, "Do you have any idea what the penalty is for your actions? This goes beyond simply defying the orders of the High Priestesses of this temple. You are an embarrassment to Zin-Azshari itself. You make a mockery of the Queen's laws!"

Behind the priestess, the Keepers of Eternity shifted subtly, their plate armor making slight metallic noises as their hands came to grip weapons. The elf that had been called out continued to stutter, tears running down her face as she tried to explain the unexplainable. The Proctor looked at her victim with no hint of mercy or compassion in her eyes as she continued speaking, "You should be executed for such an affront to the Light of Lights. She built this temple so that it would be the pride of her city. You defy her will with your deviant ways!"

Malandrae's eyes widened as she saw one of the Keepers of Eternity half-draw his sword. Her heartbeat increased in pace. They are going to KILL her! Oh Elune! They can't do it! It isn't right!

"No!" she shouted without thinking.

A deathly silence fell over the gathering of elves as the Proctor's eyes scanned the crowd, "Who said that?!"

Feeling faint, Malandrae straightened her back and stepped forward even though every instinct in her body told her to run for her life. "I did, Proctor Nightwind. Please forgive my presumption, but Prime Initiate Celestia did not plan or arrange this party," Malandrae lied.

The other elf glared daggers at Malandrae, and the initiates around her subcnosciously recoiled, leaving an open space around the doomed elf. Proctor Nighwind responded in a deadly tone, "Then who did?"

Malandrae brought her chin up and met the Proctor's gaze even as tears spilled from her eyes, "I did."

Proctor Nightwind folded her arms across her chest, a sigh escaping her, "Do you understand what you are saying Initiate Moonwhisper? Do you realize the gravity of this situation?"

Malandrae nodded, her voice somehow firm, "I do."

The other elf stalked forward, the Keepers of Eternity flanking her and shoving initiates out of the way as they made their way to where Malandrae was standing. The Proctor stopped inches from her, looking down at the barefoot initiate as she let the full force of her authority and anger bear down on the other. Malandrae remained firmly in place, looking up into the Proctor's eyes without defiance, but rather acceptance.

"So be it," Proctor Nightwind intoned. "You have defiled this temple and lead other initiates into disgrace by your actions. Since you are of noble birth, I cannot execute you on the spot, but you are hereby banished from this temple, never to return. You are a disgrace to this city, to the Queen, and worst of all to Elune herself. The Goddess will NEVER accept you into her heart because you are willful and disdainful of the rightful laws of this place. You will never become anything of importance Initiate Moonwhisper. You will live forever with the mark of failure on you."

As she spoke, the Proctor reached forward and snatched at a necklace that Malandrae wore around her neck. It was a simple piece of silver jewelry, bearing the emblem of a moon on it and representative of their faith in the goddess. The Proctor's fingers closed around it and she yanked hard, snapping the delicate chain that held it in place around Malandrae's throat and removing it from her.

"Go now in shame, and darken this temple nevermore Malandrae Moonwhisper," the Proctor said darkly. "Maybe one day the Goddess will forgive you, but I don't see how with the affront you've given to the Queen."

Tears running down her face, Malandrae bowed once before she stepped around the Proctor and the ominously silent Keepers of Eternity. Her bare feet made no sound on the marble stones as she walked away, the silence of the other initiates following her like a cloud of shame and doubt. She made her way down the long passageways, her heart heavy as she realized she would never again step foot in the Temple and worship the Goddess under the beautiful moonlit sculptures there. She began to weep openly, and by the time she had reached the doors and they had silently closed behind her, she was crying almost hysterically.

Her life was ruined. She was disgraced and her family would be shamed by her removal from the Temple. She was useless to them in any other capacity, and this had been the only avenue that she could gain acceptance and do something important for House Moonwhisper. And she had thrown it all away to save the life of another initiate who likely didn't know her name or care of her fate.

Still walking, Malandrae found herself in a garden area outside the temple, the daylight streaming down through the leaves above. Although she was tired and realized she should sleep before facing her family, she couldn't bear the thought of going home yet. She sank onto a stone bench and wept bitterly.

After a long time, she managed to regain her composure and sat up, tears still sparkling on her face. Over her sniffles, she managed to get a few choked out words to pass her lips, "I'm s-so sorry Elune. I didn't mean to fail you. I hope that you can find i-it in you to forgive your wayward child. I pray to you for grace and mercy, and swear to you that I will follow you until the end of my days, even if I can't serve you in the temple. Your will is my will my goddess. I'm so sorry."

Her hands came up to her neck in a subconscious gesture. Previously she would always clasp her necklace tightly when praying, and she went to do so now, forgetting that it had been stripped from her in her shame.

Except her hands encountered metal.

Eyes wide, Malandrae looked down and saw that she held her moon-shaped necklace in her hands. Only it was different now, golden in color. As if the daylight had stained the silver, it glimmer brightly in her hands.

But the Proctor had taken it.

She blinked, her tears drying as the mystery tickled her mind. In her heart she felt peace again, and she closed her eyes, clasping the necklace tightly and offering up additional prayers to her Goddess, her anguish and shame eased somewhat. After a time, she managed to compose herself fully and she rose, walking towards House Moonwhisper's sprawling compound atop the Court's meandering structure. Behind her where she had been sitting, several moonlillies bloomed; plants that would normally only bloom in the purest moonlight.

It would take many years for to get past the shame that the events of the day had caused her. it would take years for House Moonwhisper to find a place for her as an apprentice to the High Arcanist, but no matter the hardships, Malandrae's faith would carry her through the most difficult of challenges ahead.

Over one hundred years after her expulsion from the Temple, two additional moons would be lovingly crafted and attached to the central moon on her necklace. Two moons that signified the birth of friendships that would last for the rest of Malandrae's life, sealed with her faith and belief in the will of her Goddess. Friendships that would one day save her life, and bring about the birth of a new life for the elf.

Over 13,000 years later, the necklace still graced her neck, the gold glimmering just as brightly as the day she discovered it still there.