*Written on a scroll in meticulous,
elegant script, the story has a small wax seal embedded with the
emblem of a sun cradled between two trees and is signed by Seneschal
Leneath Dawnrise of House Sunhaven.*
It came to pass
that my lady Alleriel Sunhaven, Scion of our House and protector of
the Sin'dorei under her care, was troubled. In recent days she had
made the decision to withdraw the soldiers of House Sunhaven from
Pandaria, fearful of the loss of precious elven lives in that distant
land for a cause that had become clouded. Not knowing if she had made
the correct decision, she spent a day and night meditating on the
issue before emerging from the hall that contained House Sunhaven's
reflecting pools, at which point she said that she wished to journey
to the Tian Monastery to seek guidance.
It was decided that
I would journey beside her to discuss the matter. All of those in our
care were safely in Quel'Thalas now, and the trip would be swift one
would hope. With this in mind, we packed only minimal supplies in the
saddles of our hawkstriders and set out for Silvermoon with some
haste. With no magi of our own to open arcane portals, we sought one
out within the capital to speed us along our way. This first leg of
our journey was taken in silence, each of us reflecting on current
events.
Within the city it
was an easy matter to find a Magistrix that would open such a portal
for us. Not only did the helpful Sin'dorei indicate that she would
assist us, she stated that she could open a portal directly to the
monastery, which would save us much time. Lady Sunhaven gratefully
agreed, and eagerly stepped through the portal intent on finding the
guidance she sought. I followed her, and at the last moment before I
entered the portal I looked back to the Magistrix. In that moment, I
noted with some curiosity that her eyes glowed not with the green of
the Sin'dorei, or even the blue of the Quel'dorei we once were, but
bright white. She winked somewhat playfully at me, and then the
portal took me and I saw her no more.
After a moment of
disorientation my eyes opened to see not the Tian Monastery as
expected, but instead a towering mountain rising into the distance
with the structure we sought only a distant point barely seen at the
top. My mouth must surely have hung agape at this moment, for
Alleriel turned, a whimsical smile on her face as she nodded towards
the mountain and said, “It seems we are to be tested before we can
proceed. Let us show ourselves to be worthy.”
It amused me to
hear her speak of what would be an arduous trip up the sheer, winding
path to the monastery as a simple test, but I nodded and took up my
reins, following in her path. It was likely we would need to proceed
on foot for at least part of the journey to rest our mounts given our
lack of preparation for such a venture. Nevertheless, my Lady
steadfastly moved forward, an example for me to follow.
It was perhaps an
hour into our trip up the mountainside when we rounded a corner and
brought our mounts to a halt, looking at one another and then taking
in the scene. Ahead a small portion of the sheer cliffs had broken
free, rubble falling on the path and partially blocking it. Before
the rubble sat a number of Pandaren pilgrims, a cart pulled to the
side of the path and a low murmur coming from them. They glanced up
at us, shaking their heads.
“You cannot go
any further, it is no use,” said one. The others nodded in
agreement behind him as he gestured at the rubble. “We are going to
turn back after we have rested. There is no way through that.”
Alleriel merely
studied the scene, quietly taking in the situation before shaking her
head and dismounting. I watched with some interest as she approached
the pile of rubble and began to study it. She smiled, taking the
simple wooden staff she carried from her back and resting the end
against one of the boulders. With a heave, she used the staff as
leverage, tumbling one of the rocks over the cliff edge beside us,
the sound of it cracking in the ravine below echoing back up to us.
“You will never
move forward if you give up so easily,” my Lady said softly. “It
is in the trying, in the perseverance that you gain the strength to
remove obstacles from your path. Come, together we can surely clear
enough room to pass, and tell the others in the Monastery above of
this trouble.”
And so the Pandaren
looked at one another and then nodded, rising and moving towards
Alleriel. Together they heaved rock after rock over the edge, the
work difficult but possible with proper teamwork. After less than an
hour it became clear that my Lady's words were true and the path
opened before us once more. The Pandaren cheerfully gathered up their
things, following us as we continued on our way.
Another hour
passed, this time spent in cheerful company as we ascended the
mountain path, the Monastery closer above us now, although still some
distance away. The path ahead had begun to twist and turn as it rose
with the terrain, making it impossible to see more than forty or
fifty yards ahead with the winding bends in it. As we rounded one
such bend, we were brought up short by a Hozen that jumped onto the
trail.
“Wickets go 'way!
Go 'way!” the creature bellowed. It was a sight to behold, his body
much larger than many of his kind, a giant spear grasped in one hand.
As he yelled, he jumped up and down, his empty fist pounding on the
ground with a loud thumping noise and setting the Pandaren with us to
quailing and quaking with fear.
Several of the
Pandaren with us had been carrying spears or staves as they traveled,
and they grimly brandished these weapons, advancing on the yelling
creature, intent on doing battle with it before it could harm the
unarmed and innocent amongst the pilgrims. I winced, realizing that
there would be bloodshed on the narrow trail. I must admit my nerves
made me shake and the bile in the back of my throat rose to think I
would have to witness such slaughter.
Before the first of
the Pandaren could reach the Hozen, he was brought up short with a
light touch on his shoulder. My Lady Alleriel had dismounted, quickly
moving towards the front of the group. She placed herself between
Hozen and Pandaren, bringing a hand up to halt them.
“Wait,” she
said. “You act with haste and do not take a moment to let wisdom
guide your actions. Wait and listen and perhaps you will see that all
is not as it appears.”
And so it was. With
the Pandaren halted, looking at one another in curiosity, the Hozen
calmed himself somewhat, looking over his shoulder. From beyond the
next bend came a sound that my Lady's ears had heard underneath the
yelling; the sound of battle ahead. The Pandaren nodded,
understanding finally that what had at first seemed to be an enemy
was, in fact, a friend who was warning them of danger. Alerted now
and guided by Alleriel, I watched as the group proceeded with
caution, weapons at the ready as they passed around the bend.
Following, the scene that unfolded before me made it clear what was
happening. A small group of Saurok had assaulted a group of Hozen
passing up the trail, threatening to overwhelm the forest dwelling
creatures. With battle-cries the Pandaren charged into the fray, my
Lady joining them quietly and using her training to help defend the
Hozen. It took only a moment for the Saurok to recognize that they
would be defeated, and they withdrew in haste, their nimble bodies
scurrying over the edge of a cliff and onto a narrow ledge leading
downwards that I would not have cared to tread upon myself.
With the threat
gone, we took some time to tend to the Hozen who had been injured in
the fray, and they gratefully joined us in our journey towards the
Monastery. Our group had grown in size, and it amused me to think
that what started as a simple journey for guidance had turned into a
pilgrimage of so many varying peoples. This thought stayed with me,
even as my Lady silently guided us ever onwards.
It was
mid-afternoon when we encountered the final obstacle in our path.
Rounding a bend and seeing the Monastery looming above us, we came
upon a horrifying scene. Standing in the path was a Mogu warrior, his
massive body taking up much of the space where one would walk. In his
hand he carried a giant halberd, the weapon many feet longer than any
that a Sin'dorei might carry and a glinting ax-blade at the end.
Behind him, many Pandaren sat on the ground in misery, their hands
bound behind them and a general feeling of fear radiating from them.
“More supplicants
to serve!” the Mogu's voice bellowed out at us. He waved his weapon
too and fro before him, and many in our party stepped back in terror.
Never before had I seen such a massive creature, never before had I
experienced such terror. How could one fight such a beast on the
narrow path? Surely he would conquer us and we would become more
prisoners! I am sure such thoughts went through the minds of the
others amongst us as well.
There was one who
did not quail at the sight of him however; my Lady Alleriel stepped
forward, standing between the others and the beast of a Mogu. Calm
and composed, she took in a deep breath to steady herself, falling
into a combat pose. It was a brave act, and I record it now so that
none may doubt that she is willing to put herself at risk for others.
The creature laughed when he saw her, towering over her and yelling
down at her, “Foolish weakling. You do not have the strength to
defeat me! I will make an example of you so that the other slaves do
not think to rebel!”
To her credit, my
Lady said nothing, simply moving towards him silently. His weapon
came down, and I will admit that I closed my eyes, already mourning
her passing. And yet, the weapon struck nothing, the blade burying
itself in the soil of the trail as she dodged it. Behind me a ragged
cheer went up as the Pandaren saw their champion unharmed, the sound
followed by a gasp as the Mogu dragged his weapon from the soil and
brought it down again.
Again it missed.
And again. And so it went on for some time, the creature attempting
to shatter Alleriel's body with that cruel blade, and my Lady dodging
the blows, nimbly moving from spot to spot or reaching out to slap
the flat of the ax-head away and directing the weapon away from
herself. I will always be amazed at her speed and determination as
she fought, never coming close enough to be struck. After some time,
the blade began to rise and fall more slowly, the blows more clumsy
as the creature tired itself out. The trail was pitted with divots
now from where he had attempted to strike and failed. Finally, the
blade slammed home in the soil and despite his tugging, would not
come free. Exhausted, he slumped on the weapon's handle, and my Lady
walked up to him, a quick kick sending the worn out creature to the
ground on his back.
We all looked on in
awe, not believing she had defeated him without striking a blow. She
smiled at us, nodding at the fallen creature and speaking softly,
“Strength of arms is a virtue, but alone it does not win the
battle. It is strength of heart and fortitude of mind that sees a
battle through to its conclusion. The creature can never defeat you
if you fight justly and with the heart needed to attain victory.
Never believe you are beaten before the battle begins, or you truly
shall be.”
With that she
walked over to the captives, freeing the Pandaren. The rest of us
followed her, looking at the fallen creature with distaste as we
passed it. Once the captives were freed, we all continued up the
trail, the Monastery's steps beckoning to us invitingly.
Upon those steps
several Pandaren awaited the approaching group, their garb showing
them to be monks who lived and trained there. As a group we paused
some distance away from them, my Lady walking ahead to stand before
them. She bowed low, a smile on her face and a greeting on her lips,
“High Elder Cloudfall, it is an honor to visit with you once more.
I believe I have passed the tests placed upon the trail, and hope you
will give me your wisdom and guidance.”
Even from the
distance at which I stood, the confusion on the Pandaren's face was
evident. He shook his head, his voice curious, “Tests? We have
placed no tests on the trail. Nor were we aware that such a throng of
travelers was heading here. I welcome you all, and hope your journey
has not been to difficult.”
Alleriel looked up,
her eyes wide for a moment as she turned back towards us in
confusion, “N-no tests? But then, why did we pass through such
trials? I believed wrongly that all of this was designed to see what
we would do when...”
Her voice trailed
off and a smile crossed her face. It was hard to hear her, but I
record her words here as I believe they were important. She spoke
softly to herself, her voice serene, “I see it so clearly now. Had
we not set out on this journey, I would not have encountered these
difficulties. Had I not acted, then ills would have befallen others
on their travels. While it is difficult to decide what the right
course is, it is the actual doing, the fact that we have acted
that has mended these ills. Whether or not I have made the right
decision, I have acted. I have not let myself be dissuaded by the
difficult path ahead. I have not acted with haste but with informed
consideration of the matter. I have not allowed the apparent strength
that our allies display to be the only guiding factor, but instead
looked to the heart of the matter.”
She smiled at the
Pandaren monks, bowing to them and then turning to me, looking more
relaxed than she had in days. With a nod, she started back down the
trail, even as the pilgrims passed by her and headed into the
Monastery. She lightly touched my arm, guiding me back towards our
hawkstriders, “I have found the answers I seek. They were within me
all along. I had but to listen hard enough to understand them.”
It seems that
answers can be found in many places and ways. I hope that the story
of Lady Alleriel Sunhaven's journey will help others find their own.
Penned by my hand and will,
Seneschal
Leneath Dawnrise
House Sunhaven
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