Touch of the Sha

Alleriel moved fitfully in her sleep, her face slipping into a frown as she tossed and turned in her bedroll. She lay on the open ground of the Krasarang Wilds, the beautiful stars of Pandaria glimmering over her head. The day had been spent making contact with the locals and learning more of their culture. It had been filled with many long treks across the beautiful landscape, and Alleriel had been glad to finally find a place to rest.

As she slipped into a deeper, troubled slumber, the Sha began its attack on her powerfully focused mind. She dreamed, and in her dream, she remembered a time several years past...

*********************

The corridor was long and dark, with only a few magical lanterns to light the way now. Once it had been bathed in illumination, the bright lights showing off the beautiful tapestries lining the walls and the plush furnishings that had been placed in alcoves along the way.

Now though, the estate had fallen on hard times. With the fall of the Sunwell, the Quel'dorei had suffered terribly, both in lives lost and in the loss of the magic that sustained them all. Although Alleriel knew the hallway in which she found herself, it was hard to believe that only a few months before it had been a proud representation of House Dawnflame's power.

Built in an area of Silvermoon City that had more open spaces, the manor house was connected directly with the great wall that had encircled the city. During the Scourge invasion, it had been a near thing that Alleriel's betrothed, Lenius, had been able to lead his servants and people to the ships that House Sunhaven had prepared to flee the hordes of undead. Thanks to the quick thinking of all involved, many lives had been spared that otherwise would have been lost.

By the looks of things now though, the lives that had been saved had only been consigned to a slow death rather than the swift destruction that the Scourge had promised. Over the previous months, the members of House Dawnflame had slowly sunken into the grip of the Thirst that all of them keenly felt after the Sunwell's loss. Although Alleriel had done all she could for Lenius's people, there was little she could do other than try and teach them the new ways of the Sin'dorei in the hopes that they would be able to control themselves.

It had been hard, becoming Sin'dorei and following the new methods the Prince had shown them. It had caused a schism, and many Quel'dorei had left Quel'Thalas forever as a result. Alleriel's own parents had been amongst the exiled, and try as she might she still missed them dearly, especially now given what she saw.

She took a few hesitant steps down the hallway, her finely made dress shifting with the movements of her body. The dress, and its wearer, had seen better days. It marked her as a Magistrix, but the weary expression on her face, the loose threads on the garment, and the locks of her golden hair that had escaped their bindings all pointed towards many long, sleepless nights as the new Scion of House Sunhaven tried to cope with the disaster that had befallen her people.

As she began to move, Alleriel saw that the situation in House Dawnflame's estate was worse than she had remembered during her last visit. The alcoves had not been dusted or cleaned in many days, the magical brooms and other arcane devices that would normally handle such tasks having fallen silent and dead. Alleriel grimly continued on down the hallway, trying to put the implications of the missing items out of her mind.

She exited the corridor to find herself striding across a raised platform with a balcony overlooking a grand entrance hall down below. What would normally have been glowing chandeliers now hung dull and almost light-less, their magic drained and never renewed. Alleriel also tried to ignore this ill omen, picking up her pace and passing the top of the grand staircase that would have lead down to the entry hall below. Ahead of her another corridor opened, winding into the darkness of the estate and leading her towards her destination. Somehow, she already knew what she would find, as if she had been here before.

She came up to elegantly carved double doors, their golden handles glinting dully in the darkness of the corridor. On the floor before the closed barrier were several bits of cloth; discarded clothes and what appeared to be a few valuables wrapped in a discarded window-drape. Clearly some of the servants had begun to abandon the structure, or at the very least order had begun to decay.

Alleriel took a deep breath, her hand extending towards the door handles. Her fingers rested on the latch and she gave a wry smile; the manicure she'd had was long since chipped, and it was likely she would never again have the luxury or time to spend on such frivolities. Not when her own servants and retainers needed her. With a sigh, she twisted the handle and pushed the doors open.

As the doors creaked opened, no longer properly maintained, they exposed a darkened room beyond. In happier times, Lenius's bedchambers would have been brilliant with magical light and the light of the sun coming in through the tall stained glass windows at the far end. Now though, the drapes had been closed tightly over the sparkling glass, blocking out the sun's light. The magical lanterns that had once glowed warmly now sparked dully, giving off almost no illumination. With great hesitation now, Alleriel slowly entered the room.

She knew what she'd find there.

Her eyes, newly fel-green from the absorption of 'alternate' magic sources, adjusted slowly to the dim light, until she could finally make out the bed on the far end of the room. As she knew she would, she saw two figures upon its soft surface, Lenius and one of his servant girls. Her heart skipped a beat.

“Lenius..?” her voice was timid, hollow. All of the joy and energy had been drawn from it. She stepped closer, already knowing what she would find. He lay there, his arms around the girl, his lips locked with hers. Under normal circumstances she would have been hurt, upset, angry even. But these were not ordinary circumstances, for she was not viewing a lover's tryst or the severance of Lenius's vows of betrothal, but something far far worse.

The servant girl was dead.

Not just dead, drained. He had been feeding on the magical energy within her. He'd taken so much of her magic that she had perished during the encounter that had never had a romantic objective in the first place. Her nearly naked, lifeless body hung limply in his grasp as his lips continued to suck up every last trace of magic within her. Her eyes were wide with horror in death, and Alleriel knew that she'd had no chance to resist him. Like her, he'd been a powerful magister and knew what he was doing.

As she stepped closer, the rustle of her skirts alerted him to her presence. He slowly released the unfortunate elf, letting her body lay upon the blankets. He looked up, his eyes glowing dully with magical light. “I need more.”

Alleriel took a step back as his hungry, haunted gaze locked with hers. His body was pale and thin, likely from days of deprivation as he slowly gave in to his thirst. Likely he was not the only who had become Wretched as all of House Dawnflame slowly came to an end. It explained where all of the magical lanterns had gone, where all of the magical brooms and other arcane devices had gone. They'd been consumed by the Sin'dorei as they gave in to their base needs, and now that it was gone, they had nothing left to feed on but each other.

She shook her head, knowing that somewhere in the wreckage of the creature that had once been her betrothed his mind still functioned behind a wall of pure thirst for magic. She spoke softly, her voice sad, “Lenius...why? Why couldn't you focus? Why couldn't you retain control?”

He almost hissed at her, moving slowly away from the dead body on his bed, moving to the edge and setting his feet on the floor. “I need more Alleriel. Always more. There is a void in me that can never be filled. I WILL fill it. I will have more!”

Alleriel's heart broke as she heard the words, despair creeping over her. She shook her head, taking a step back. “You are not the elf that I am sworn to. He has passed from this life now. Though I hurt so much that I can barely stand here and say this, I must go Lenius. This...this can't go on any longer.”

She brought her hand up, the ring on her finger glittering brightly. His eyes locked on it, and it broke her heart even further. The ring, given to her by him when they had been betrothed, glittered not with a diamond, but with the purest of mana gems crafted from their magic together. It was a token of their love and shared dedication to the arts and Quel'Thalas. With shaking hands, she slowly pulled it off her finger, holding it up. His eyes locked on it, and she could tell by the expression on his face that the symbol it represented meant nothing now, it was only the magic it contained that mattered.

She dropped it on the floor and turned, fleeing from the sight. Behind her, she heard him lurch forward, not after her, but after the ring that sat glowing on the carpet behind her.

Her hands came down, grasping her skirts so she could run faster. Despair clawed at her heart and mind as she passed through the crumbling remains of House Dawnflame's estate. Something deep within her made her want to just give in to the feeling, to let it encompass all of her being. There was no point in anything now. Her people had suffered, many of them losing their lives and others becoming what Lenius was now, Wretched.

She dashed down the grand staircase of the estate, heading for the doors that lead out as she knew she was supposed to do. She could not shake the feeling that grew and grew within her, her mind slowly sinking into the pure incarnation of despair that the events, the memory brought with it. Her hands reached out, pressing against the doors that lead out of the estate and throwing them wide.

Sunlight flowed into the room, and Alleriel paused, shielding her eyes. Before her, a figure hovered in the air. It was an elf, her legs crossed and her hands resting on her knees, her eyes closed as she serenely hovered in place. With a shock, Alleriel realized she was looking at herself.

This is not how it is supposed to happen. I run out and leave Lenius behind...I sink into despair for days after. What is...

The figure before her opened its eyes, the other-Alleriel looking at her with a soft smile on her face. “Alleriel. Remember your training. Focus. Discipline. Balance the Chi within yourself.”

Alleriel blinked in surprise, shaking her head and trying to think clearly, despair still trying to overwhelm her. Memories came flooding back, of who she was now, of what she was, of what she'd learned in the years since this memory, this DREAM and the true present.

I am asleep. This is not real. This is just the past, and the past does not dictate the future. Focus. Balance. Breathe in and take calm within yourself. Breathe out and let the darkness go. It does not belong, and when it is gone, only Alleriel will remain.

**************************

The Sha had gotten close, the eerie manifestation of despair almost hovering over the sleeping Sin'dorei as it attempted to invade her mind. But Alleriel Sunhaven was not the broken Magistrix that existed after the fall of the Sunwell. She was not vulnerable in her mind as she would have been before she traveled the world and learned more of herself and who her people were. She was a trained monk now, and her mind was a weapon.

The manifestation reached out to touch Alleriel and she exploded into motion. From an apparent deep sleep her body rocked onto its back. Blue-green eyes sprang open as her legs spun above her, the deadly arc of her feet driving the creature away. She flipped herself up with her hands, landing lightly on her bare feet and falling into a fighting pose, her face a calm mask as she looked at the Sha. It was a smaller one, but still dangerous as the assault on her mind had shown.

The creature lashed out at her, despair falling upon her and sliding off of the edges of her disciplined mind. The spell had no effect on her, for she had purged the despair from her heart many years ago, and forged strength of mind in her training and trials. The memory was now nothing more than a bittersweet note of a time when happiness had fled for a while. The future was so much brighter.

The creature lurched at her, and in a blur of motion she met it halfway, her hands flying out and connecting with the semi-solid edges of its manifested form. She dodged its claws and spells, her reflexes more than capable of protecting her as she systematically began to dismantle the creature with Chi-empowered blows.

In the darkness of the Wilds, a howl briefly flowed out over the land as a piece of despair itself despaired, and then withered away to nothing, destroyed and put to rest physically as it had been in the heart of the monk, leaving Alleriel Sunhaven to her peaceful camp once more.

Reunions

Alleriel strode with purpose down the street, her gaze roaming over the signs of the nearby shops. Dressed in carefully crafted leather armor that had been dyed red and accentuated with the red tabard of the Blackhearts, her outfit stood out amongst the lightly colored buildings of Dalaran, yet matched the red cobblestone streets perfectly. With the half-mask she wore to protect her face from the bitter northern cold pulled down, Alleriel's peaceful demeanor was plain for all to see, written on her face in a smile as she took in the wonders of the city.

She had arrived only hours before, on the longest leg of her journey of self-discovery. Intent on retracing the events of the past few years and visiting the homes of her allies, she had already visited many different locations across Azeroth and even the Outlands. It was now time for her to explore the frozen north, where her people had sacrificed and lost much to help defeat the Scourge in recent times. Already the frozen vistas and brilliant dawns had captivated her heart, and she was eager to see what else the lands had to show her about herself and her people. That was, of course, after she obtained some proper cold-weather equipment. Even perfectly balanced Chi would keep frostbite away for only so long.

As she rounded a corner, she came up short when an elf stepped away from one of the doorways and blocked her path. He was the same height as her, his pink complexion and soft features marking him as being of the same race. The difference between her and the stranger extended only to the soft blue glow of his eyes, and the distinct displeasure scrawled across his face.

"Can I help you sir?" Alleriel said, the smile still on her face.

The elf's scowl merely deepened as he reached into a pocket on the coat he wore and withdrew a piece of parchment. As he moved, Alleriel was able to glimpse the armor he wore beneath the heavy garment through the open front, and her eyes widened.

Why would a Silver Covenant member wish to stop me....?

He thrust the paper towards her, and she reached out slowly, trepidation overcoming her natural calm. A heavy lump settled in her chest as she took the parchment. The Quel'dorei didn't bother to say anything to her as she took it, merely turning and hurrying away as if being near her would cause him to contract an illness.

For her part, Alleriel merely unfolded the piece of paper, her sea green eyes widening as she discovered it contained only an address and a time. A time that was nearly upon her. With a resigned nod, she folded the paper up and looked to the nearest street sign, already plotting her path to the written address.

Getting her bearings in the city quickly, she hurried along the various streets, her gaze now looking to street signs rather than to shop signs. At last she found the address that was indicated, and stepped to the front door, opening it and stepping inside what appeared to be a florist's shop. The shop keeper, a human woman, looked at her and nodded once, as if she was expected. She tilted her head towards the back door, and then resumed pruning a small plant she had been handling when Alleriel stepped in.

With a shrug, Alleriel moved towards the door indicated, and stepped through into the shop's back room, closing the barrier behind her. She discovered immediately that it wasn't dark within the enclosed space because there were magical lights illuminating the small room, allowing her to see clearly the shelves of planting pots, tools, and sacks of soil.

And the two Quel'dorei elves standing within the room awaiting her.

Alleriel took a deep breath to calm herself, bringing herself upright and presenting a formal appearance as best she could given her stained and worn travel gear. The two elves before her wore long, flowing white robes that bore the symbols of the Silver Covenant on them. It did not surprise Alleriel that they were there though. After all, it only made sense.

She dipped her head once, murmuring softly, "Ann'da. Minn'da. It has been long since I've seen you both. I hope that you are well."

The two elves looked her, almost regal in their stance, their blue eyes studying every detail of their daughter as if measuring and weighing her. It was true that Alleriel had not seen her parents since the rift between those who would become Sin'dorei and those who had remained Quel'dorei.

"We are well, Alleriel," her father said softly. Kethan Sunhaven had always been one to speak as efficiently as possible, and he wasted little breath on needless words here. This was not a happy family reunion, but a necessary inspection of his heir.

Beside Kethan, Alleriel's mother Denala Sunhaven stirred, the golden blonde hair that so matched her daughter's shifting slightly. She offered Alleriel a half smile, her voice warmer as she spoke in turn, "And you Alleriel? How do you fare, and what of the fortunes of House Sunhaven?"

Alleriel took in a soft breath to balance herself, knowing that she had to remain calm and focused before her parents. She spoke with a steady voice, "We fare well. Although times were difficult immediately following your departure, we have managed to survive and prosper even in darkness. Recent events have been...unfortunate, and required that I make decisions to help restore balance to those you left in my care and our people."

Kethan nodded, his face betraying little emotion, "We are aware of the events in Theramore, Alleriel. It was difficult to face the knowledge that those we left behind were capable of such acts. I trust you have taken the lesson of this incident to heart? You were always wise enough to see the truth of things."

Alleriel swallowed once, her attempts to remain focused failing for the first time in many weeks. All of the training in the world could not keep her inner Chi aligned when faced with the judgement of her parents and the acts that the Sin'dorei had helped commit. She merely nodded, her face pale as she looked her parents in the eyes, "I have taken it to heart Ann'da. As a result of this act, House Sunhaven has been purged of all magic. We live a more simplistic lifestyle now, and those whom you left under my guidance seek a way to free ourselves and purify our spirits. It is my hope that we can learn a new path, and teach others as well, before we repeat the mistakes of our former Prince."

Alleriel's parents paused for a moment, glancing at each other. There was more communicated in that glance than an entire conversation, and the silence in the room weighed heavily on Alleriel. Her parents had left her as the ruler of House Sunhaven when they had chosen to remain Quel'dorei and face the ravages of the Thirst after the death of the Sunwell. They knew then, when they left, that Alleriel would do what she could to guide those who stayed behind wisely. Those who stayed behind, those who became green-eyed Sin'dorei, would at least have someone to care for them in the darkness. Alleriel's sacrifice in remaining had been difficult for both Quel'dorei to process, and now, for the first time, they had the chance to see what she had done, what she had become.

It was a chance to witness and judge her.

Her mother turned back towards her, a look of concern on her face, "You are traveling the world without magic Alleriel? That is quite dangerous."

Alleriel smiled and dipped her head, "Minn'da, I have been training in new ways, different ways brought to us from faraway lands. It is my hope that studying these new ideas and new culture will allow me to find some enlightenment that will aid House Sunhaven in the trials to come. I am...capable, even if unarmed, and such power cannot be abused, because it requires strength of will, focus, and a deeper understanding of oneself and the world. I hope that I will, in time, become proficient enough in these ways to teach others, and help heal the Sin'dorei."

Again silence descended between the three elves and Alleriel watched her parents as they exchanged another glance. Finally, Kethan nodded once, a slight smile creasing his lips, "Alleriel, we are very proud of you. You have done much to correct the many things wrong in Quel'Thalas. Although it was difficult to watch you choose to stay behind, we understand why you felt it was necessary. We cannot join you in your journey, for we chose a different path, but know that we support you even when we are not there."

Alleriel's heart ached as her father spoke the words that she'd secretly been wishing to hear for years. She had had no way of talking to either of her parents once the rift formed between Quel'dorei and Sin'dorei, and the Silver Covenant especially was an enemy to her people now. This chance meeting, this brief moment with them, told Alleriel all she needed to know about the righteousness of her path. She would not fail them, and would not fail the Sin'dorei. They would survive the coming war and heal as a people. She would see to it as long as she had breath in her body.

She looked down, tears filling her eyes as her self-control broke. It was rare for her to allow emotion to penetrate so deeply through her rigid training, but she had not been taught to reject good emotions. Quite the opposite, she had been taught that they strengthened her spirit, and that she should embrace them. Even as she began to cry, she felt both of her parents move closer, their arms encircling her and holding her tight.

For a moment the three stood, holding each other in happy reunion, Alleriel's mother soothing her by patting her hair. After a time, the moved apart, the older Quel'dorei looking at Alleriel with a mixture of pride and sadness.

"We cannot tarry here long Alleriel," Kethan said softly. "With things as they are in the world now, we cannot be seen with you publicly. Not here, and not now. Maybe with time, even this wound will heal and we can reunite with you. Know though that we will always be here in your darkest hours my daughter."

Alleriel nodded, taking a breath to calm herself again and allowing her Chi to balance perfectly within her. Her face glowed with peace and serenity, and her parents smiled at her with pride. She moved forward, embracing them one last time, "I will not fail Quel'Thalas. Our people will have their soul again one day. Our mistakes will be long forgotten in the past, and we will heal. I swear it will be so."

With that she turned, slipping from the room and leaving her parents behind, her last sight of them the smiles on their aged faces. She had a lightness in her heart now that she would carry with her through the rest of her journey. She realized, as she returned to the streets of Dalaran, that coming here had had the exact purpose and effect that she'd hoped; she had found another piece of herself, found another point of serenity upon which to focus. As all of the learning she'd experienced previously had done for her, this trip would teach her many things about herself, her family, and her purpose on Azeroth.

Muddied Waters

Biara sat in a high-backed chair, a large table spread out before her with several maps of Quel'Thalas laid over it. Upon the maps were a number of notations, troop placement markers, and depictions of various assets of all of the four Houses included in the Blackhearts alliance. The purpose of the information was to show the Magistrix exactly how the now-increased company was deployed within their homeland and where it could best be put to use if deployed outside of Quel'Thalas, such as the groups that had already been sent on to Pandaria with Kyliska's battlegroup.

As she looked over the map, Biara sighed, making a few new notations on the document before pausing to glare critically at the entire pile of documents. There was no mistaking the situation; with four Houses now included in the alliance and several of them deploying men and materials to Pandaria, the delicate balance of power within the city was on a knife's edge. If any House depleted their forces too far, they would be weak within Quel'Thalas and one of the other Houses could use the opportunity to snatch up undefended assets. On the reverse point of view, if any House withheld too many resources, they would lose face in the overall political background of Silvermoon's elite as they would appear to be less loyal. It was a tricky situation indeed.

Biara's thoughts were interrupted as a servant approached, sealed letter in hand. The servant placed the letter on the table before offering the Magistrix a bow and quickly retreating. Biara audibly groaned when she saw the seal gracing the letter's exterior. The lack of magic on the parchment had been enough of a hint but seeing the emblem of a sun rising between two trees embedded in the wax let her know it was another letter from House Sunhaven. With a rolling of her eyes, Biara picked the document up and broke the seal, reading swiftly.

Magistrix Sunfire,
 Greetings and salutations! I am writing to you in regards to several important points that have become a topic of deep debate between myself and several other members of our alliance. I wished to make my sentiments on these matters abundantly clear since there has been rumor and hearsay flying about like loose mana on the wind. It is always best to address such matters directly and with integrity to avoid future complications in my opinion.

The first matter I wished to address is the issue of Theramore. Although I am currently traveling, I have been corresponding with my seneschal as well as members of some of the other Houses involved in our alliance. It has come to my attention that House Dawnsea has recently made statements abhorring the abominable acts that were committed at Theramore by Horde forces. In direct contrast to this, it is my understanding that you yourself have made direct declarations condoning this historic event and hailing it as a great achievement of our people.

It is my wish that the two Houses come together in some form of agreement upon this matter. While I do not believe we should go so far as to publicly condemn the act, I also do not believe that your own stance on this matter is entirely accurate, as I believe you would feel utterly different if such an act were to occur in Quel'Thalas. In fact, one could argue that the Deadscar is very similar to the damage done to Theramore's physical structure.

House Dawnsea is correct, in theory, that the use of such magics is abhorrent. We have seen more than enough suffering due to this force and we understand the danger it poses and the damage it can do to our beloved lands. Actively encouraging the development of such weaponry is absolutely unacceptable for any member of this alliance, and I urge you to consider strongly your words on this matter before expressing them publicly in the future.

That being said, in every argument there is a point of balance where the two sides agree more than disagree. I have come to see this in my travels, and even in this argument it is true. While House Dawnsea may be correct to condemn the act, they are not correct to say that the act was entirely unwarranted, and your point of view has some merit. Theramore was not entirely neutral as public opinion would lead one to believe. Fort Triumph, which was itself responsible for the destruction sewn amongst the Tauren, was being supplied from somewhere. It is highly unlikely and illogical even to think that the men and women of Fort Triumph landed on some desolate shore rather than at Theramore's docks. It is clear that this city-state was, in fact, supplying the Horde's foes for some time, facade of neutrality or not. Therefore, your argument that the attack on this city was justified is not entirely incorrect. The friend of my enemy is my enemy after all, yes?

Consider my words carefully for the future, I beg of you. Neither viewpoint should be taken to such lengths as to attempt to represent all of the Blackhearts company, for there are so many differing opinions that the waters have become too muddied to see through. 

My final point before I leave you to your work is to inform you that I have moved one half-company in support of your sister Kyliska. She should expect to see the arrival of our men on this new continent within a week's time, and I myself will be joining them once I have finished my contemplation and training. It is only fitting that I go myself, for your House has dedicated its own blood to the journey, and I hear rumor that House Moonblade's Scion has herself seen fit to depart for this distant land. A donation of blood will be met in kind, and you can be assured that I will do my part for our people.

I bid you farewell Magistrix. May your path be green and golden.
With warm regards,
Alleriel Sunhaven
Scion of House Sunhaven
Former Magistrix of the Whispering Grove

Biara let the letter fall to the table's surface, sighing heavily. A manicured hand came up to massage her temples as she tried to absorb the irritating words of her new ally. It was clear that House Sunhaven would only make matters more complex, and yet the forces it brought were vital to House Sunfire; that much was clearly spelled out on the map before her.

In some frustration, Biara looked around her war room and noted that Kyliska had left some of her training equipment stacked neatly in a corner. For a brief moment, she had the urge to pick up one of Kyliska's swords and take her irritation out on one of the training dummies in the practice yard. She could see now why her sister liked to beat the dummies into useless pulps some days.

Kyliska's methods might not be entirely inappropriate.

Biara sighed again, shaking her head and rising. She would go and read a book and try to put all of these thoughts from her mind for a time. In some ways, her sister was the lucky one; she'd rather be dealing with deadly creatures than having to read these inane letters constantly!