((I'm aware this is terribly confusing but honestly, Xan's past is starting to leak out and I can't revise it and rid it of such things without it feeling empty, so for OOC reason... here is the info. Xaneria is remembering the past, when she risked Eli's life, causing what led to them coming to Maelstrom... in order to help out her "horde family", the warlock Lord of the Castle Eldamari Shadowrunner (once her father's master), her sister Cruxics (Acruxian) who's lover, Eldamari's son, was captured by cultists and taken to the temple, and she is thinking of the eventful discussions thus surrounding that. Its all because she woke in SMV in her nightmare (which for those who don't know... such things don't exist in the dream, this is merely a nightmare she is forced to see because normally she can't see anything but screeching haze.) Valdaya and Xan were NOT lovers -_-;; please dont take it that way... the horde rp was a bit forced down my throat in the past and he like all the others was a one sided love for her but not by her.... anymore questions... Ill answer later enjoy i guess?))
This place. The air is dark and warm, damp from humidity, yet the wind through the doorway is cold. The smell of brimstone is feint... and I can feel the fel taint. Xaneria turned her head slightly looking around. She had fallen asleep in a small corner of the inn's bar area, wrapped in the blanket like cloak, carrying a familiar smell, warm and calming. Table and chairs... Xaneria lifted her head to the doorway, the screeching call of several gryphons resounded and hammers banging away at stone. Shadow...moon? But why here, this is...
A lump grew in her throat as Xaneria stepped from the inn, looking over Wildhammer Stronghold. Last time here, when was it? She pulled her head up from the ground and stated walking, her feet carrying her to a space just outside the keep, looking down at the foot of the Black Citadel. The dark temple. No matter how many people reached it, stepped foot within it, ultimately it was never cleansed and something... Xaneria's mind drifted again, her eyes almost closing in the thought. How long was it, since the request had been made?
"Xan!" A strong, deep voice, broke through the echoing steps of Xaneria's feet, lightly tapping against the wood floors of the collosal castle, deep within Eversong. Her head turned, facing the husky voice, the thick accent bringing a giggle to her lips.
"Valdaya... You are improving." The tall tauren stepped from another hallway, the plate of his armor looking so heavy on his huge body, as if a single piece could crush the lithe, tiny druid, now hidden in plain cloth attire, her markings faded with the aid of a small orb around her neck.
"What are ya' doin' here, lass? This isn' the best place to be considerin' everythin' been goin' on."
Valdaya reached up removing his helm from his head, shaking his face around a moment. Xaneria's eyes followed his horns back to his face, looking at the expression burned into the pits of his eyes. The Tauren before her, everytime he looked at her, it broke her heart. The desire to reach out and quell the heartbreak he wore so clearly was tremendous, yet her position was to remain. She could not betray her "people" her "alliance", her "lover". There was no way to stop the ache and even after nearly a month away, he still looked at her with the same yearning and fear. Xaneria's hand raised, gripping her own wrist to her chest at the thoughts in her head and sighed half-heartedly smiling.
"Don't worry Captain. A request was sent via my sister. 'He' has requested to see me once more." Valdaya's eyes lit up, a panicing face of anger and concern, blazing in his words.
"Lord Eldamari? Afta' what he ordered! Perhaps he is lookin' for forgiveness? Or perhaps its because of Styphenthol, no?" Xaneria tilted her head.
"I will find out on my own. Thank you for your greetings Captain Thickoaks." Lightly, the elf, standing nearly half the size of the tauren, bowed deeply and coldly dismissed him, turning fast and heading further into the halls, looking at the chamber doors and pausing. Valdaya watched her until she pushed the doors open and entered, replacing his helm and returning to the gates.
Xaneria placed a hand wearily on her head, her memories were more vivid and powerful than she ever remembers them being. Her hand hit her heavy heart with a strong sigh, leaning against the wall of the stronghold and laughing in harsh pity.
"The days of confusion and betrayl, treachery at its finest for one so nomadic. I cast away those days, that other me, that other life. Sucked into such a thing and yet here I sit. Is this another dream of the nightmare? Is this another motion, forcing me to face my deepest fears in such a pathetic way? I wonder... Eli. If you knew this side of me... the side I hid from you while you hid away your memories deep in your heart... would you strike me down right now?" Xaneria pulled herself up from the stone wall and begining to walk forward. "I wonder, what I will find... if I return to that place once more... where the end first began."
Xaneria's body, still for some time slowly began to glow, a purplish hue about her hands and from under her back. A felish smell resonated throughout the den's musky walls and disapated, the light drawing itself back into the body and silence fell the sleeping body.
"My son is missing. He was captured by cultists and taken to the temple somewhere... This is their revenge upon me, from so long ago."
Xaneria looked up over the temple from the distance she resided, her hands crossed infront of her waist as she took in the sights, a deep breath filling her lungs.
"Acruxian, I saw that face you made, I heard your words, begging me as you did. I will not forget your words." Xaneria smiled lightly to herself.
"Listen to me Oxanerial! I understand! I finally understand! Please, I couldn't help you, and I refused. I am so sorry but please, sister! Help me, return him to me. I do not want this world any longer, return my heart! I beg of you. I need you! Oxanerial, please forgive me."
Idiot. How could you expect me to ignore your pleadings?! Had I not always taken the brunt of his attacks for you? You knew I would not turn you, nor Ann'da down. How could I in that situation?
Xaneria's stopped, looking over the boulders, piled upon themselves near the far left front of the temple. The meeting took place in that area. Slowly, Xaneria stepped down, walking closer and closer. What... what is the meaning of these memories, of being in this place... My last nightmare was so... painful. A hand raised to Xaneria's chest, clutching at her heart. It wasn't real but it still brought her pain, she was swept away by the imagery, unable to escape her own fears. Even knowing in the back of her mind that all of this was not real, her heart bore scars as if truly she was stabbed, and her body still ached from the attacks. It wasn't real to reality but to her spirit, the manifested dream broke all barriers. So why this image, why now must she remember these actions.
"Xaneria."
Eldamari's voice boomed in the castle, even in its weak form, as if he were to break at any moment. The Highborn looked at her with his blue eyes narrowed and weak, always looking at her with those eyes, cold and outreaching. She found it hard to believe he was her father's master from long ago, the man who raised her for nearly 100 years. This fallen Highborne, once someone who decieved the Nightbreeze, once someone who loved the Matron, and the man who erased Zalenah's memories of Larimore, yet she never found herself able to hate him, no matter what she did. Why did he call her here to this place?! After putting a bounty on her head, kill at first sight, now hes revoked it and asked her to return? WHY?
"Xaneria... please forgive me. Forgive me for everything, but my time is short. The castle is in a detrimental state of chaos."
Xaneria looked around, Death Knights, Tauren, Blood Elves, Orcs and Trolls. She was surrounded by horde in every direction. The putrid scent and cold feeling of the undead mage staring her down from behind her crept up her body like an icy hand. Her stomach turned everytime she stepped foot in this castle and she grew fastly uncomfortable. To her, they were still people but, nothing ever set right in this Warlock's showy abode. She narrowed her eyes, feeling the power inside her growing as her eyes faded their colors and lit a deep purple. Her voice was rising in hatred and disgust. Again, she was chaning.
"And? What is it you want from me 'Master' Eldamari? After wishing my death, have you come looking for my aide? Or perhaps the harlot Matron is now boring you?" Xaneria's words were disgusting. Who am I? Why, why when I am here am I like this? Why do I feel drawn to the dark power? I need to leave I want to escape before I spill filth from my mouth, yet... I can't refuse his request, not when he looks at me this way...these people... the matron trust them so much. Why? Why is this all happening?! I want to run... RUN RUN awa-
A large, yet warm hand touched the small druid's shoulders, almost forcing her to the ground from its sheer weight. Valdaya leaned in and whispered to her in his native tongue. Though she was not fluent, she could remember his words keenly.
"Calm yourself, beautiful. I am here to protect you, I swear it."
"Valdaya..." Xaneria whispered, her hand touching his instinctively, her eyes welling and her heart breaking.
"Captain!" Eldamari's voice grew in splitting anger as he looked down at the two, his hands gripping tight around the throne which this warlock sat, now raising up, fists clenched. "Take your proper place!"
Valdaya removed his hand and stepped back from Xaneria, returning to his position and standing at attention. His eyes never leaving her lithe body, not for a second.
"Forgive me, My Lord."
"And? Continue Shadowrunner, 'less I should take my leave now." Xaneria's attitude was dispisable, yet she was annoyed with the way this man acted always. His emotions like a jealous brat! A man well older than her, by many years, old and 'wise' yet so emotional he had fallen this far... all because of that which he now covets. Fool. Xaneria turned, taking a step towards the doors.
"Oxanerial! Please!"
It was her sister's words, once more, that begging pleading voice just like when they were kids, watching her sister hiding in the corner as the darkness swirled around her body and the metal bit into her own flesh, Xaneria never took her eyes off her sister. Watching the sickly child cry in the corner, covering her ears to drown out the sounds of the demons as the screamed and broke, shifted and moved about the room, the blood on the floor starting to flow and pool around her body. Xaneria would force the last of her strength from her lips, the breathy words coming about her weakly, like the nights when her sister would wake from nightmares.
"Anar'alah, Anar'alah belore. Sin'dorei, shindu fallah na..." Xaneria moved a weak hand to her lips and sighed. "Who could have thought, thousands of years have passed yet, the begining is always the most painful... Still." The druid looked around, at the rock face curiously. "Why this point? What is going to happen, as the nightmare tries to consume and devour me once more?" Her eyes moved to peer at the dark sky and slowly drifted down the rockside, growing wide suddenly as she stepped back. "This..."
Xaneria's hand reached out, touching a marking upon the rocks facing. The mark, a colored pigment of red, in the shape of the Darnassian word, "here". Xaneria grimaced and clenched her fist.
"If this mark remains however, the supplies are gone... It means it is before 'our death' but after I sent her out... into the temple." Xaneria paused and looked back at the citadel sighing. A strange feeling took her over, swelling like a pain in her chest trying to leap from her throat. Her mind began to race.
This isn't real. I know that! However I ... I can't stop this pain, the tears they are building and I can't stop them. Why, must I endure this? Xaneria stepped closer and closer to the citadel, as if guided invisibly into the darkness. Guards and enemies were diminished. It was so strange, to see herself easily walking into the temple, and everything in her soul screamed for her to just wake up from this nightmare, it's not a reality! Closer and closer she stepped, hearing her footsteps echo in the halls. Suddenly a sharp pain shot down her back, stopping at the door to a room, filled with dispicable despair and wailing cries of those lost.
"The...reliquary." A room that not many can escape, an undying entity that will devour the body and souls of all who trespass. With nearly nothing solid to attack, no way to truly defend yourself, it is like fighting air... yet Xaneria's had still pushed open the doorway and her feet carried her inside.
Silence. The darkness began to clear slowly, light from the hall moving across the ground, as if a wave from the ocean wiping clean the debris of a turned sand dune. Her eyes followed the light, suddnely freezing and stopping. The sword upon the ground, surrounded in blood, familiar, the sword Xaneria recognized so well. If you knew that woman's back, you knew her blade. A piece of Elizabel, separated from its master, then where was the hands that held the hilt tightly in battles? Where...where was Elizabel?
Calm down, this isn't real. The nightmare is trying to break you. Xaneria, CALM DOWN! Calm... calm... cal- The druid's hands flew to her head, gripping at her hair tightly, as if about to scream, hitting her knees and looking up, tears welling in her eyes, at the sound of a light groan. Shock filled her body, watching as the living wall slowly began to swallow the mangled body of her heart. Elizabel had been bested and ripped asunder, the wall now slowly absorbing her. Xaneria lept to her feet and ran, scratching and clawing, banging at the wall until her hands bled and her eyes were dry from tears, watching Elizabel's body sink into the impenatrable existences, the disgusting sounds of wet suction and breaking bones filled her ears and ripped at her very soul.
This...this...isn't...hah! Xaneria breathed out, unable to get a true grip on her mind. She knew, this wasn't real yet lacked the power to force such a conviction on her heart. It was breaking, and her knees were wavering, unable to hold her weight.
"Eli..." she breathed out once more, doubling over and covering her mouth. Xaneria's entire body was covered in sweat and her mind began to take flight, her thoughts growing. "What if.."
"Reality is only as far as we make it, Xaneria" He was so certain.
Master Eldamari...
"It's possible, one day I won't return, but that is a fate we all face. We can't live forever anymore."
Elizabel...
"You do well, you just can't save everyone Xanny. It's not possible."
Lord Larimore... why? Why can't I?! Why can't I at least...with her! I do not want to give her up! Anything... ANYONE BUT HER!
Xaneria froze. Her own thoughts disgusted her but at the same time, she could not deny the truth.
"Any...one.... I would sacrifice... anything... anyone... if only for her. How loyal, yet how..." Her words, began to fade, the fatigue and weakness, shock and horror building in her body and taking over, breaking her very certainty. The resolve she had, the person she thought she was, she no longer could claim to be. "How...did I become like this?" Darkness crept slowly once more over the druid's body, pulling her to the floor in a deep slumber, everything vanishing from her sights, from this 'reality' except the scars of the event.
Xaneria's body remained still, tears pouring silently from her eyes, and filling the rims of her ears, staining her cheeks.
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