At last, an update! I'm terrible. But I hope you enjoy it, all the same!
People stared as the young elf and the Regent Lord of Silvermoon rode by Fairbreeze village on their hawkstriders.
"Is that Lor'Themar Theron?" a woman whispered to another. "I don't know...I have never clapped eyes on him before today- is it?" "I think it is!" "He's with the Morningdew boy." "Is that the boy's name? I've seen him around before."
Belorei blushed at the people's words as he rode down the path. Lor'Themar chuckled quietly. The young elf felt much better as they rode away from Fairbreeze Village on the hawkstrider, the wind brushing at his face and in his hair. The farther he got away from the whispers and the eyes, the better. And his mother...how would he face her after all this? After she had lied for so many years?
"Do not worry," Lor'Themar said, seeing the youth's troubled face as he caught up. "We will speak with your mother and find out her motivations. As you said, I'm sure she has good reason."
"But why did she tell me I was illegitimate?" Belorei cried.
Lor'Themar reached over and grabbed the reigns of Belorei's mount and caused them to go slower.
"You must relax," the man said, and Belorei shook his head slowly, anger filling his eyes. "Look at me."
Belorei's eyes slowly rose to settle on his face again. "You cannot approach your mother with this anger-"
"Why not?" Belorei shouted. The sound of his voice surprised him and the birds in the trees around them fluttered up, startled as well. They stood in silence for a moment, Lor'Themar's gaze hardening.
"You surely know that you must learn to control your emotions."
Belorei sighed and nodded. "Forgive me, sir."
"Forgive us," Lor'Themar said. "We gave up on you and your mother for dead."
"Us?"
"Myself... Halduron..."
Belorei shook his head. "I can hold nothing against you or anyone in charge. Not even my father."
"Either way, you must not approach your mother with anger in your heart. You will ruin my investigation if you get her defensive," Lor'Themar said and then whipped his reigns lightly, causing his hawkstrider to move again. Belorei followed a moment later. He had to be calm. He had to be calm. He had to be...calm.
He concentrated on the fresh, sweet air of Eversong woods and inhaled deeply. He smelled rain on the horizon and looked up to note there were a few straggling gray clouds in the sky. The magical control of the weather over Silvermoon wasn't as tight here.
They emerged in the village and a young woman glanced curiously at them, mainly at the regent. She didn't seem to recognize him, fortunately.
"Which direction is your home?" the older elf turned his head each direction, looking past the few houses he could see.
"To the left, sir." They headed down the path.
"What do you call this neighborhood?" Lor'Themar asked quietly. "I don't recall it."
"It was... built after the Scourge came," Belorei said. "It has no name. We consider it part of Fairbreeze."
"It is peaceful." The older elf turned his head however and chuckled, seeing a group of children nearby.
"Belore dorei!" one child shouted and they all began to scamper up to the two men. One hopped around to look at Lor'Themar's hawkstrider from the side.
"Are you a great warrior?" the little elven boy asked. His feet were bare and his face was smudged with dirt.
"I am a retired ranger," Lor'Themar said, his eyes shining with amusement at the boy whose shirt was large and rumpled. The boy loudly wiped his nose and Belorei smiled a little. Lor'Themar turned to him. "Which house is it?"
"Oh," Belorei blushed and was about to point. Then he looked up to see his mother standing in the doorway of their house. She had her arms crossed in front of her and she was looking questioningly from Belorei to Lor'Themar. She turned and went back into the house.
"Excuse us," Lor'Themar urged his hawkstrider onward. The children near his hawkstrider hopped back. The little boy who had spoken to Lor'Themar just crouched where we was, like a murloc, and squinted up at them, his tongue poking a gap in his teeth. Some of the children scampered after them but Belorei heard a woman calling out somewhere. With groans, they turned and headed back.
Belorei sighed with relief. But he knew that later his mother's little house would probably be visited by nosy neighbors wanting to know what strange man was visiting Ashtara now.
Lor'Themar waited for a little group of chickens to disperse so that he could head his hawkstrider into their yard. He stopped it respectfully just inside the little fence Belorei had erected himself a year prior. The younger elf followed suit, making sure to tie the reigns to the fence. The Regent Lord was looking to him expectantly as Belorei looked up and he blushed again.
"Oh. Sorry, sir," he led the man down the little walkway to the house. It would have been impolite for Lor'Themar to simply walk up and enter the house. The door had actually been left open. Ashtara had already set out cups and was preparing hot water for tea.
"Minn'da," Belorei called softly. She smiled at him. "My son. Welcome home. You bring a friend?" He sighed at the formality dictated by his people in such situations and rolled his eyes. Then he turned to Lor'Themar.
"Yes," he looked through the door and extended an arm into the house, and Lor'Themar stepped in. He was so tall that he actually had to duck for a moment to enter the doorway. Belorei followed him, leaving the door open. Minn'da liked the sun to be able to pour into the house during the day.
Lor'Themar bowed low, surprising both of them. Ashtara curtsied, something Belorei had rarely seen. He was amazed at the grace with which she did it. She peered into Lor'themar's face and her eyes widened, her smile fading.
"It is good to see you Lady Ashtara. I believe you may remember me."
She forced another smile. "Welcome to our home, Regent Lord. It is good of you to come and see me." Her eyes went to Belorei as if waiting for an explanation. "I wonder what would bring you here?" she raised a brow at her son who smiled nervously.
"Please, let us sit and talk," Lor'Themar said.
"Of course. Excuse me," Ashtara motioned with an arm to the table. "Please sit."
The two men sat awkwardly at the table; Belorei, looking eagerly to Lor'Themar and his mother.
"Do you like earthroot tea?"
"Earthroot tea is perfect," Lor'Themar said.
Belorei wished they could get on with the conversation, his leg jiggling under the table.
"Thank you," Lor'Themar bowed his head slightly as she poured his tea. For a moment, Belorei noted the Regent Lord's eyes scanning his mother's figure and he blushed and his lips pursed in annoyance. Right. Because this was exactly the time to be ogling his mother!
"Tea, Belorei?"
"Yes Minn'da, thank you," he grumbled.
Lor'Themar's lips twisted with amusement at the youth's begrudging politeness and he picked up the cup, inhaling the scent of the tea. Ashtara poured her son a cup, inclining her head at his surly attitude, then poured one for herself, and sat down.
"Sugar," she said, patting the little pot in the middle of the table.Lor'Themar muttered a quiet 'no thank you' and waved his hand. Belorei ignored his steaming tea cup, looking at his mother instead. She was not meeting his desperate gaze. Finally, she looked up at him and he exhaled with relief.
"Belorei," her voice was soft and affectionate. "Why do you bring such an esteemed guest home with you today?" He sighed, relieved to be getting to the point.
"Lord Lor'Themar-"
"Please," the man chuckled, setting his cup down after sipping it. "Call me Lor'Themar."
"Lor'Themar," Belorei sputtered. "Is here because he knows..."
"He knows," Ashtara's eyes peered at Lor'themar and lifted an eyebrow. "What does he know?"
"He knows who I am mother."
"I see. And how did this happen?"
"The Grand Magister asked me."
"And how did the Grand Magister end up asking my son questions about his identity?" Ashtara let out an incredulous laugh and looked to Lor'Themar who seemed to be trying to peer into her brain. She blushed this time, and her mouth opened and closed again.
"If you don't mind my asking, dear Lady-"
"Don't call me Lady," she hissed. "I am Ashtara, thank you."
"Minn'da!" Belorei cried at her tone. She glared at him and he frowned.
"Ashtara. Why have you hidden your son's identity from those who would desire to know most that he is alive?"
She laughed derisively, surprising Belorei. "Because those that would like to know most happen to the ones who might like to dispose of him the most." Her eyes sought Belorei's then. "Understand Belorei - I did not lie to you to hurt you-"
"I know Minn'da," he said, feeling an invisible weight lifted from his chest and at the same time another settling in it's place. He felt ashamed, suspecting his mother of some ulterior motive... but she had lied to him.
"You don't trust me," Ashtara's eyes reflected hurt as they peered into his.
"Forgive me Minn'da. I just don't understand-"
"Stop tormenting the boy," Lor'Themar took a sip of his tea.
"Don't you dare come in here and accuse me of -"
"Minn'da!"
"Stop acting like a banshee." Lor'Themar's eyes had turned hard. The two elves glared into each other's eyes and Belorei could almost feel the energy. "Your son. Wonders why his mother kept it from him that he is a legitimate heir." Lor'Themar's eyes were angry now. "Why, I wonder, would a mother tell her son he is the product of -"
"He is!" she cried, her hands in fists. She looked beseechingly at her son again. "He is the product of a love outside of marriage. I did not lie to him!"
"But you did marry Kael'Thas! After it was found that you were carrying his child..."
"I know this!" she said, shaking her head, glaring at him as if he were being stupid. Her small fists were on the table. Belorei reached over and touched her hand and she immediately took his in both of hers. "But why Minn'da? Why didn't you tell me?"
Her eyes were tearing and her lip trembled with anger. "I feared that someone would harm you."
"Who's to say we would harm you?" Lor'Themar frowned. Belorei shook his head.
"I didn't know that anyone would believe us in the first place," Ashtara lifted her chin to Lor'themar then looked to her son again. "You were still a boy. I wanted to tell you that you were legitimate but I feared that if you knew you were his heir that you would open your mouth. I did this to protect you Belorei. Please understand..."
"Stop saying you were protecting him. You wouldn't have been the only person to stand by Kael'thas' son. And he could have lived a life of comfort and dignity," Lor'Themar said.
She laughed. "Really? Where exactly, I wonder? In that dusty, crumpled palace full of ghosts? I think not!"
"You kept the truth about his son from the Prince who was desperate to know what had happened to his family," the Regent's brows furrowed as he glared into her eyes.
"He had his people to think of," Ashtara said after a moment, and it seemed her jaw had tightened. "You are his people. You and your son!" Lor'themar lost his patience for a moment.
"Do you not realize the agony you must have caused him?"
"I was never his future," she said. "Kael'thas and I were over before the Scourge. And after Silvermoon fell there was no certainty-"
"Certainty is always an illusion, Ashtara," Lor'Themar said. "We do not know what will happen tomorrow anymore than we can know what will happen a thousand years from now."
"Well consider me a seer then, for I saw Silvermoon falling into the hands of those...snakes!" "Minn'da!" Belorei said. She turned her glare to him then back to Lor'Themar.
"Snakes?" the Regent Lord raised a brow.
"You know who I speak of. Those filthy magisters who act as your hands-"
"Minn'da!" "Those scum! Brainwashing and stealing from the people!" Lor'Themar shook his head and scoffed.
"Don't laugh! You allow them to play their twisted games!" she fumed. "They slither and wrap their muscles around our people, crush what life is left in them-"
"Ashtara," Lor'Themar's voice was oddly gentle. "You remain as manipulative as you always were. This has very little to do with why you kept the truth from your son-"
"Damn you!" she shouted. "It has everything to do with it!" Magical energy seemed to be charging the air, more than Belorei could remember feeling from her in years.
"Minn'da..." Belorei hated to see her upset but he was terrified of her angering the Regent Lord.
"You come here and ask me why I hide my son from that court - you might as well be asking why I prefer my son to breathe!"
"Don't be so dramatic," Lor'Themar grumbled, sipping his tea.
"Dramatic?" she snarled, reminding her son of a worgen, and rose to her feet, knocking her chair back. Belorei stood too, afraid that his mother might do something both of them would regret. "I'm being dramatic, when Magisters can toy with people's minds so they speak flattery instead of the truth?"
"Please," Lor'Themar looked up at her, his tea set back on the table. "Sit down, Ashtara. I wish to speak with you about your son."
"No," she shook her head, and turned away from them, crossing her arms in front of her.
"No?" Lor'Themar chuckled and shook his head. "We must speak of this Ashtara. For your own son's sake."
"Don't you dare presume to tell me about my son's own good," Ashtara spat, not looking at him. "You come prancing up in here, playing high lord. I care nothing about your rank, Lor'Themar. I remember when you were barely a ranger, working for Sylvanas. And I will speak," she glanced at her son, then back at Lor'Themar. "However I want of the magisters. Here in my own home I will speak as foul as I wish of those scum. They have their court where they may say and do as they wish. They come anywhere near me with their spells and I will show them where can they stick a staff!"
Lor'Themar was shaking with amusement. "Damn you! Stop laughing! Get out of my house!"
"Minn'da," Belorei's eyes were hard and Ashtara looked at him in shock. "This house is also mine and this man is my guest. I wish for you to sit and leave off the magisters for now so we can talk about the truth and I want to hear the truth from your lips."
She sighed, still glaring at Lor'themar who had shrugged at her demand and been about to rise from his chair. Then her eyes moved to the table. "Forgive me," she grumbled like a petulant child after a few moments.
"There is nothing to forgive, Ashtara," Lor'Themar said. "Not on my behalf anyway."
"I wasn't talking to you," she snapped. "But I suppose I should apologize for acting the way I have to a guest."
"Please, you will not take her insults to heart, my Lord?" Belorei pleaded. Lor'Themar huffed.
"What? No," his mouth twitched and he sipped his tea again. "I find your mother...charming," he turned his eyes to Ashtara who huffed and shook her head.
"Tell me Minn'da."
"I have told you why, Belorei," she sighed, raising her hands, palms up.
"What more do you want to hear from me?"
"Why did you hide the fact we lived from Ann'da?"
"How could I tell Kael that we lived, and not expect it to reach other ears? He was so proud of his little family and I feared the worst. When Silvermoon fell and Anasterian died, I was too busy at first trying to keep us alive. Then we returned to Silvermoon and your father was there, but I hid..." she sighed. "I could have told him. But I was afraid and I thought... maybe you would be happier away from a life in Silvermoon, from the politics." She looked into his eyes.
Belorei got up and moved around the table to embrace his mother. He kneeled by her chair, holding her in his arms. She leaned forward with her head on his shoulder and kissed his cheek and neck. "I only wanted to keep you safe. I became so paranoid. If not the Scourge, I felt sure that those men would eat you alive."
The Regent felt a rush of irritation. She hadn't really answered her son's question and he wondered why Ashtara chose to hide from the Prince instead of coming forward. He had a feeling there was more to the truth, that it got uglier and deeper, and that it would be near impossible to drag it all out of her. But the truth, he decided, at least for now, was not the most important thing. The important thing was getting Belorei Sunstrider back to Silvermoon.
"I will not let a thing happen to your son, Ashtara," Lor'Themar muttered. His mother scoffed but Belorei, wiping tears from her cheeks as he pulled away, looked beseechingly at her.
"Minn'da, I think we can trust Lor'Themar, no?"
"Perhaps," she said. "But I do not know you, Theron," she said, not facing him still.
"Give me a chance. You will not regret it."
Ashtara turned to look at him and Belorei stood behind her chair, his hands on her shoulders.
"Swear to me on your life, on your blood-"
"Minn'da!"
"Belorei, please," she sniffed, wiping her face and looking at Lor'Themar. "Swear to me."
"I swear to you, by my blood and my honor, by my fallen comrades, by our Prince and by Quel'thalas that while I live no harm will befall your son, Ashtara. If you wish, I would enter a pact with you."
She frowned for a moment but she could see that his words were genuinely meant. She took the hand he had open on the table by setting hers into it.
"Your son has nothing to fear Ashtara. And neither do you."
She laughed bitterly. "I have, if I open my mouth around the wrong people."
He held up a hand. "I must ask that you not repeat the words you said today before them."
"Why?" she looked to him. "Why must you allow them to do the things-"
"There is nothing I can do about the magisters. I have not the authority to subdue them by myself, nor the power to fight them. When Prince Kael'Thas returns-"
Ashtara began to laugh. "When Prince Kael'Thas returns..."
"Minn'da," Belorei softly admonished.
Lor'Themar sighed. "I know your faith in the man has faded Ashtara, but should you not give the Prince another chance as your leader?"
"So what are you going to do?" she looked at him. "What happens now?"
"Your son returns with me to Silvermoon. There I will make sure he is prepared to become a proper heir to the Sunstrider line."
"A proper heir?" Ashtara shook her head and chuckled ruefully. "You'll groom him into arrogance and cruelty I suppose?"
"I grow weary of your attitude," Lor'Themar groused, shaking his head.
"Forgive her please."
"No, don't forgive me," Ashtara said, glaring out the window.
"I vowed to you upon all I could think of and you still are not satisfied," he slowly rose to his feet with a sigh. "If you wish, you are more than welcome to come with us or to come any time you please-"
"But either way my son is taken from me."
"Minn'da, no one takes me from you!"
She sighed and turned her head to kiss her son's hand upon her shoulder. "Forgive me, Belorei. I will go with you if you wish."
"I want you to go with me," he leaned in and kissed her cheek. "Nothing would make me happier." He stepped back after embracing her for a moment and she rose to her feet. She looked at Lor'Themar. "Forgive my behavior. I am not used to sharing my private business with guests. I am not even used to guests," she laughed, rolling her eyes slightly.
Lor'Themar merely bowed his head. "You and your son's protection will be my highest goal, Ashtara. Right along with the protection of Silvermoon and our people's future." Ashtara nodded once. Belorei breathed a sigh of relief and Lor'Themar's lips twisted again.
"Then we return to Silvermoon."
Suddenly, as if the sky heard Lor'Themar and wished to mock him, there was a loud crack, and a torrent of rain began to pour. Everyone in the house groaned and then Belorei laughed. Ashtara smiled as her son stepped out into the rain, lifting his face to the sky. He'd always done this. He loved the rain, as much as the sunshine. Perhaps he was always meant to be a ranger, with his love for the forest and the elements. She knew there would be other elves out in the rain. Mothers would lament because their children would come in drenched and muddy. She smiled and her throat became tight when she thought of those precious days that Belorei had come in with muddy feet, pale hair dripping everywhere.
She felt a presence behind her and glanced over her shoulder to see the Regent watching the heir as well. "I understand your concerns about the magisters-"
"Concerns," she snorted. "What an understatement!"
He sighed and his hand slipped off her shoulder. "They will not harm Belorei."
"I hope they don't," she said. "For their sake." Her eyes met his then and he knew that her threats were not empty. She couldn't be truly happy this way, he thought. He noted the small lines of worry around her eyes and mouth. She was still attractive though. If anything, there was a warmth, reality, and natural grace to her that most elven women seemed to lack. Ashtara had weathered the worst and seemed to have risen above it mostly intact. To her credit, she had kept the boy alive.
Lor'Themar looked over and realized the youth was walking away in the rain. "Where is he going?" he began to step toward the door, frowning with concern.
Ashtara raised a hand. "Leave him be. He likes his walks."
"In the...rain?" He huffed. Ashtara laughed.
"He'll be back in a while. What, are you planning to leave now?"
"I was hoping to be heading back to Silvermoon before it grew dark," he said, glaring up at the sky for ruining his plans.
"You plan on leaving in this downpour?" she raised a brow.
He huffed. "I am a ranger - I have slept in the elements."
"I hope you don't mind my saying so but I am not interested in traveling in the rain," she crossed her legs and shook her head. "Hawkstriders are not the most pleasant beasts when they're wet."
He cursed suddenly and went out to the mounts which were standing miserably, huddled together. He untied them and led them over to the shelter offered by the little porch. "You don't mind them here?" he called, looking in through the door.
"No it's fine," she called, standing up to clear away the tea. She held her son's untouched tea for a moment, then sighed and poured it back into the tea pot and placed the cups by the sink. The Regent Lord secured the hawkstriders by the porch, drying their feathers off with a quick charm, then headed back into the house. "You can just leave the door open," she said. He nodded and paced into the room for a moment, then sighed and sat down. She noted how tense he was and let out a sigh. She was feeling tense herself. Turning and heading to her own bed room, she resolved to prepare for the journey ahead by packing some things, mainly clothes.
Meanwhile, the regent stood in the doorway, gazing off in the direction the boy had headed. It was definitely peaceful here - probably the most peace and quiet he had enjoyed himself all year. With a sigh, he found himself thinking the boy would be missing this quiet and peace before long.
