The End of All Things

((This story came to me, I suppose as a form of closure. Some characters are special to the writer and/or the audience, and it feels wrong to leave them without an ending, be it happy or sad. Consider this story an ending then, and a gift to two characters that were beloved to those who made them. I hope you enjoy! And yes, this is a WoW story.))

*Precisely One Thousand, Seven Hundred and Eighty Three Years in the Future*

Sunlight streamed into the bedroom from the tall archways that lead onto the balcony. Beyond those portals the small tower-top loomed over the forest and lands below it, the distant sounds of Darnassus carrying up to the top along with the fragrance of Teldrassil in the spring.

The room's occupant gave a hacking cough, the sound echoing in the relative quiet and dimness of the chamber. It was difficult for her to see now, her aged eyes barely perceiving the end of the bed let alone the sight of the sunlight or blue sky beyond. Despite this, long tapered ears that were partially obscured by messy silver hair twitched as they heard the door to the bedchamber open and the patter of bare feet enter the room.

The sounds stopped at the foot of the bed, and she could make out only the silhouettes of those who had come to visit her. It was rare in these times that so many came at once, but this was a special occasion, for she had summoned them all here by request. Perhaps it was a final whimsy, or maybe it was the drive she felt to pass on what she had learned, but the need existed to say a few things yet.

“You wanted us, Matron?” one of the older children said. His voice was not unkind, and had a strength to it that hinted at his mixed heritage. Although she could not see them, the old elf knew them by heart; they were her heritage, her gift to the world. Her great grandchildren and her great grandchildren's children. Kaldorei with a few of human blood mixed amongst them, they were the living testament to the story of her life, her triumphs and defeats. They were everything to her.

“Please, come closer,” she said, her voice barely a whisper. It was taxing to talk now, the sickness and age making even the simple task of drawing a breath a challenge. She was determined to speak though, no matter the difficulty. She waited until she heard them shuffle around her, until she could see their shadows looming over her bed through her weary old eyes.

“If I had my way, I would say so many things to you,” she began slowly. She drew in a breath with a great deal of labor, her words barely a whisper. “There is much in life you've yet to learn, but I think that I have discovered that the learning, the DOING is what makes every moment so special, as you will come to see.”

One of the younger children leaned over her, clutching a stuffed animal, “Matron, are you well? You sound so tired.”

The old elf raised her hand with difficulty, patting the small elf-child on the head gently, “Yes little one, I am as well as can be because of all of you. There is but one thing I have left to tell you, one thing that has made all of this possible, all of what you dream a reality.”

The children huddled together, some hugging each other and the older children looking sad as the old elf spoke, “The lesson is this; do not overlook one who would befriend you, for in the end your entire life may be the better for it. Friendship and love are the coin that enrich us, and no matter the cost you should reach for such things above all else. It is because of friendship that I have come to this moment, because of love that I was able to survive and prosper. It is because of this endless love that you live happily here, and will be blessed with family for all of your long years.”

Several of the children nodded, the elf's words only partially understood; they all knew that this was important to their elder, and they would remember her words even if they had yet to fully realize them. The old elf smiled as she looked upon the half dozen children around, nodding happily.

“Always remember children. Now go and play and enjoy the day. The sun is warm I think, yes?” she murmured.

“Yes Matron!” one of the boys said happily. Several of the children lined up, gently kissing the old elf's head as she laid in bed before they filed out, closing the door behind them and leaving her in silence.

She lay in happy reverie for a moment, remembering the things that had come to pass. The centuries of trials she had experienced, the loves she had gained and lost and the battles she had fought. All of it had come to this moment, this one instant in time, and all of it had been because of those who had been kind enough to extend a hand to her. She could only hope that her own gift to the world, her family, would continue to give such gifts when she was gone.

She drew in a breath, sighing softly to herself. It was time to face the facts; her health was a passing thing now, and she'd not been out of her bed in several weeks. She was weary, her tired old body expending the last of its energy to impart her lesson to her descendants. It was worth it though, and that thought carried with her as she struggled to draw in the next breath, the room becoming dimmer around her.

Her vision was fading now, the silver light in her eyes a dim glow that slowly dulled as the last of her rallied in the sight of the sunlight. She studied the patterns it made, the way it began to bend and curve as she clutched that last breath in her body, clung to a life well lived. In that moment, as the dimness began to grow, so too did the light, the shape of it changing. She blinked once as it shimmered, the shape growing to become that of a body, and then a woman, standing over her, smiling down on her. Golden hair kissed her shoulders, and even the dim ghostly outline of her form did nothing to dull the pure joy on her face as she leaned towards the elf laying on the bed.

Gently the spirit extended a hand of pure light, her voice a friendly memory that had been lost centuries before, “Come Malandrae, you have so many more adventures ahead of you. It is no time to lie in bed.”

She expelled her breath, knowing that another would not be coming, her own hand reaching up to the spirit's. To her great surprise, it moved with ease, her fingers clutching the ghostly hand in a warm embrace. She felt herself lifted up, pulled by a friendly hand to her feet, her body light and warm.

She looked down and laughed, for why would it not be warm? She was in one of her favorite dresses and shoes, her skirts twirling about her as she moved. She turned, looking over her shoulder to see a still form laying in the shadows on the bed behind her. For a moment, sorrow built in her heart, but the ghost whispered behind her, gentle and encouraging, “Come my old friend, you've had enough weight on your heart.”

With another laugh Malandrae turned, nodding and lacing her fingers with that of the ghost, her own voice light and young now, “Coming Professor Knox! I can't wait to see where you've been!”

With that, the two figures walked hand in hand from the bed, their bodies glowing brightly as they passed through the wall and into the slanting beams of sunlight on the balcony beyond. There they faded, off to begin a new adventure in another place.

All along the balcony they had left, the flowerpots bloomed with vibrant red roses, the beautiful colors a last gift to the world from two friends.