The end..or not.

Return to RP Stories

Warning: This story contains some swearing.

Chapter 1: The beginning of the End
There was an early summer’s breeze through the lands east of Ashenvale. The autumn coloured leaves flew gently from the tops of the trees down to the soft orange colored grass which was still wet in the early morning of the day. Suddenly, the breeze was not so gentle any more and the early morning sky was quickly replaced by a dark overcast. Droplets of rain started to fall and a few minutes later a true thunderstorm had taken shape. The trees began to wave back and forth but stood as they had done so for thousands of years. But there was something afoot in the forests that was not so common. The rain poured down on her dark blue long hair along her cape and rain droplets followed the shape of her face. The owl that rested on her right shoulder tried to hide under her hair as it crawled slightly against her neck. Her leather boots soaked to her bare feet and the rain pouring down her chainmail chest armour. But despite the hardships, she kept on walking like a Sentinel. In fact, she actually was a Sentinel named Celegil. Her travels had taken her to the edges of the known world, in search for any clues to her father’s past which she had never known. But eventually, even a Sentinel has to surrender if the weather turns as bad as it did on that day and so, Celegil hid in a cave, near the ruins of the old city of Eldarath, while sending her owl on his way to explore the surroundings.

Eventually, the weather turned again and the thunderstorm subsided. It was early in the afternoon when Celegil wanted to exit the cavern, she suddenly heard someone (or something) screaming. Weary as she was to traps and alike, she pulled out her scimitar and slowly crawled out of the cave. As the bright sun illuminated her face, she heard a heavy but quick breath behind a nearby tree. She folded her hand more firmly around the hilt of the blade as she quietly crawled towards the tree. As she reached the tree, she quickly jumped around the tree and hold the blade close to the neck of whatever was hiding there. But it was not as Celegil expected. In fact, it was the least she expected so far from any kind of civilization. Before her stood a small Human girl, the race that she actually hated the most save for the Orcs, which screamed out in terror as she saw the Sentinel. Celegil quickly put her left hand in front of the girl’s mouth to stop her from screaming as she said: ''“Quiet damn you! You want all the Satyr’s in that ruins to hear you?”''

But it was already too late. As Celegil kept the girl quiet, she heard a few vile words being shouted in a Demonic tongue. Celegil quickly turned herself and the girl behind the tree, facing away from the direction where the shouting was coming from as she quietly whispered to the girl: “If you want to live...you better be quiet now.” The girl quietly nodded as she started to whimper. As Celegil hold her blade close to the little girl’s chest she heard footsteps of a Satyr closing in. By staying very quiet, Celegil could hear where the Satyr roughly was walking. As the footsteps became louder and louder, she tightened her grip on the little girl’s mouth and turned her sword arm in the direction where the Satyr was coming from. Eventually, the Satyr walked beside the tree and in that moment, Celegil dropped the girl and trusted her blade into the neck of the Satyr. Blood came pouring out as the Satyr grabbed for his neck and fell down. To be safe, Celegil stabbed the Satyr in its chest a few times before its breath finally subsided. As the Sentinel stood up, blood dripping from her hands, she sighed and looked to the girl which stood watching with big eyes at how Celegil had just butchered the Satyr. Celegil quietly spoke to the girl as she sheathed her blade and pointed at the girl with her left hand: “That is what happens when you scream here, do not ever do it again.” The girl quietly nodded. Celegil sighed once more and took the cape of her back to wipe her hands off against it.

It was clear to Celegil that the girl was in complete shock and needed to calm down. That’s why Celegil took her to a small pond of water nearby the cliffs that lay south of the ruins. As Celegil washed her cape, the girl sat next to the Sentinel, crying slightly as the shock started to wear off. When Celegil saw that the girl was crying, she hugged her tightly and patted her on her back to comfort her. The girl finally spoke quietly: “I...I am sorry for screaming.” Celegil sighed and replied: ''“Don’t be sorry, I would have done the same. What’s your name girl? Mine is Celegil…and what in Elune’s are you doing here so far away from your lands?” The girl released Celegil’s shoulders and stood on her own feet as she replied: “I am Katherine. My mother...she travelled here with others to learn about...Twilight...something?”'' Katherine looked with question in her face towards Celegil. Celegil’s eyes widened by the mentioning of the Old Gods and sighed to herself looking down. Celegil remembered an occasion in which a fellow Sentinel was mind warped by one of the Old Gods. Katherine’s eyes sparkled slightly as she tried to look into Celegil’s in hope for an answer. Celegil sighed deeply once again to herself, trying to search for words during her reply: ''“Your...mother belongs to people that my kind doesn’t...uhm...like so much. Some of them, not your mother perhaps, do bad things to my people. Do you understand what I am trying to tell?” The small girl looked at the Sentinel in disbelief and replied as tears started to form in her eyes: “But...my mother was nice...” Celegil put both her hands on the shoulders of the girl and said: “Listen very carefully; your mother might have been taken over by someone, someone who is evil. We need to find her before it is uhm…too late. Do you know where you last saw here?”'' The girl looked increasingly frightened towards Celegil and pointed hesitantly towards the ruins of Eldarath. Celegil patted Katherine on her back and said: “Thank you...I am going to do everything I can to get your mother back, do you believe me?” The girl nodded only slightly.

When Celegil and Katherine got close towards the first major buildings of the city which were build on a cliff, an owl flew in circles above them. Celegil stopped and looked upwards to the owl smiling towards it. Katherine looked upwards as well and said: “Oh...what a beautiful bird.” As Celegil extended her arm towards the owl, it came flying down and landed gently on her right glove. Celegil smiled towards the Katherine while the owl extended its wings. Katherine looked in amazement towards the owl and Celegil: “By the light...it is yours?” Celegil nodded: “Yes, he is called Thalyn and he is very good friend of mine.” The Sentinel held the owl close to herself as she put her left hand on Thalyn’s small head and closed her eyes mumbling: “Let me see what you saw...” As Celegil saw the visions that her owl had seen, her face turn pale and whispered: “By the Goddess...what have you done Ilaana...” She released her grip of the owl in a shock, slightly scaring the owl as it barely manages to quickly jump on Celegil’s shoulder. Katherine took a step backward from the Sentinel and asked: “What is wrong purple miss?” Celegil turned her face towards Katherine with wide eyes: ''“It’s...its worse as I thought. You have have to stay here Katherine. it is far too dangerous .”'' Katherine slightly nodded at the Sentinel. Celegil regained her stature and kneeled down to look Katherine in the eyes:'' “If I do not return in a day...run towards the west and DO NOT stop. Let my people know that something terrible happened here and they must come. Do you understand this?” Katherine nodded slightly and replied: “Yes miss. Thank you for saving me…” Celegil hugged Katherine tightly, patter her on her back and said: “Take care.”'' Katherine nodded slightly and hid beneath one of the stones from the half-collapsed buildings. Celegil rose back to her feet again and unsheathed her blade and mumbled: ''“Damn you mother...” ''

Chapter 2: The End
As night started to fall on the ruins of Eldarath, many shadowy figures came to life. In the ruined remains what used to be the town square, there was a magic stone which had a purple aura coming out of the runes that littered its surface. Many shadows circled around the stone, both human and non-human. In the middle of the square stood a Naga which had a magic amulet in its right hand holding it up towards mother moon. Celegil, hidden away in one of the buildings, could see there was a much more familiar face standing opposite of the Naga. Celegil muttered some curses towards Elune and mumbled: “Why have you sunk so deeply mother..?” Celegil quickly hid her head when the Naga started to talk: ''“So this amulet will make me invulnerable to any magic? Miss…?” The Night Elf walked more closely towards the Naga and replied: “Ilaana...Yes Xarthanos, this amulet will make you invulnerable to magic. Of course, the amulet can only handle so much magic before it can’t take any more. To recharge the amulet, one must put it in one of the sacred Moonwells.” The Naga laughed cruelly and looked at his followers as he replied: “Hmm...Not much of a problem for my legion. With the amulet in my hands, those Priestesses will be harmless and I can take Forest Song as my own.” Ilaana walked around him and laughed just as cruel which pained Celegil deeply: “Indeed my lord. And now to your part of the deal...I brought you the amulet; will you restore my mate to life?” The Naga laughed again and replied with a grin upon his face: “Must I? I wouldn’t mind if you were turned into a Naga…” He motioned to a few of his followers: “Guards, restrain this woman and take her to the Queen’s city.” Ilaana frowned deeply and shouted in reply to him: “You demon! We had a deal!” The Naga replied to her, moving one of his fishy hands over Ilaana’s face: “Yes...but you as a Night Elf must know we can never be trusted...” '' As Celegil watched this from a distance, she was unsure what to do. If she intervened now, it could mean the end for herself but also that of Forest Song if the Naga keeps the amulet. Celegil sighed deeply and looked around the building when she saw an ancient spear that lay on the floor. Celegil thought for a moment and took Thalyn onto her right hand and whispered to him: “We must take the amulet from him...do you hear me? If we don’t, it will be the end of all of us.” The owl slightly nodded as far as an owl can nod. Celegil patted the owl on its head and send it to fly off, circling above the square. She then walked over to the spear and picked it up and used the stairs of the ancient building to get to the roof. The Naga was patting on the amulet with its slimy fish hands when Thalyn flew in low and snarled the amulet out of its hand. The Naga shouted:'' “Guards! Get that bird! We must not lose that amulet!”'' Thalyn flew around and landed back on the shoulders of Celegil. She patted him quickly and rose to her feet so she was exposed with her full length on top of the building and shouted towards the Naga: “Catch this you Naga curse!” Celegil took a leap and threw the spear in the direction of the Naga with great speed. The spear hit the Naga in its chest and impaled him in full, through the scales and into its heart. It led out a scream in terror and shouted: “Zin-Azshari” before it died in a pool of blood. As if the guards of the Naga were part of its conscience, they too fell silent and stood straight as if the life was drawn from them. All of the guards, but one. Ilaana, who was dropped on the ground by the guards, stood up and looked towards the building on which Celegil had crawled back on her feet. As mother and daughter eyed each other, Celegil shouted out loud: ''“Damn you mother! Damn you! Must I condemn you to the nightmare itself?! What has gotten into you?”'' As Celegil shouted, Ilaana dropped to her feet and cried with hands in her face.

Celegil sighed deeply and ran down the stairs, out of the building and towards Ilaana. Celegil stood in front of her mother with her blade unsheathed. As Ilaana was still crying, Celegil pulled up her mother’s head by her hair and put the tip of her blade against her mother’s neck. She then said emotionally with tears in her eyes: ''“Mother...Elune forbid me, but if you are truly evil, there is only one way to end this. Answer me now!” Ilaana looked with tears in the eyes of her daughter and replied: “He...He had me under control...and...I wanted your father back...I”.'' Ilaana hugged Celegil’s legs as Celegil sighed deeply and looked towards the Moon. While her mother was hanging at her in tears, Celegil mumbled: “Elune...I hope this is the right decision...” Ilaana released her grip on Celegil’s legs and looked back up into the eyes of her daughter and shouted: “By Elune, please I will never do this again!” Celegil sighed and let loose of Ilaana’s hair, sheathed her blade and said quietly: “Elune was with you in that moment mother, don’t let it come to that ever again.” Ilaana crawled back on her feet and nodded slightly. Celegil looked at her mother sternly and said: “You and me have to talk about trust...but not here.” 

Celegil and Ilaana quickly run back to the stone where Katherine hid herself. As the two Night Elves came close to Katherine she crawled from under the stone and spoke cheerfully: “Oh you brought a friend!” Celegil quickly picked up the small human girl and positioned her on her left shoulder and spoke:'' “Not now girl, we need to run and fast. Who knows what happens if these wake up again.”'' When the group left the ruins behind them, Celegil’s fear was acknowledged. The guards slowly started to wake up again and from a distance she could see they were heading in their direction. As they were running across the cliffs, Celegil slipped over a rock and send Katherine and herself flying. Katherine landed on the soft grass but Celegil was send flying over the cliff and could barely hold on to a lose rock in the wall of the cliff. She looked up and saw her mother and Katherine looking down upon her. The distance between her and them was ten meters of flat stone and there was no way she could climb back up again. Celegil looked down her feet and saw a wild sea which must have been more than 50 meters down with rough rocks along the edges of the wall of the cliff. Celegil shouted at Ilaana: “Take the girl and run! Ilaana shouted back: “I can’t possibly leave you here!” Celegil’s grip on the stone started to loosen as she shouted: “You will, run damn you!” After that shout, Celegil lost grip of the rock that she held onto and fell down the wall of the cliff into the wild sea. When she hit the sea’s surface it was as if she hit concrete and all got black in front of her eyes, falling into a sleep that was deeper and deeper as the moments passed.

Chapter 3: Revelations
It was a quiet day as always around Nighthaven. The sweet sound of the wisps flying around the trees would even have a calming effect on an enraged bear. It was in this setting that one of the druids tended to a sick tree which was leaking corruption into the sacred waters of Lake Elune’Ara. As he sat down and put his right hand on the tree chanting to Elune, his eye fell on a body that was stranded on the edge of the lake. As the druid watched the sky through the thick trees, he mumbled: “Hmm..early one today.” He let go off the tree and walked closer to the body and sat down beside it, inspecting it and turning the body around. The druid sighed: ''“Oh dear. Young, beautiful and already in so much trouble. Well, I guess Elune will purge me for being a ‘stupid male’ by your words if I don’t take care of you, so here we go.”'' The druid chuckled, picked up the body and made way to Nighthaven.

As the druid made way to Nighthaven, the body started to suddenly wake up. The druid chuckled once more as he saw this and said: ''“Oh..you awaken already. How embarrassing for you.” As the body started to wake up she slowly eyed the druid in its eyes and lets out a scream shouting: “Who in Elune’s name are you!?” The druid smiled gently and replied, calmly patting on her head: “Oh I know who you are Celegil, but give an old man the moment to enjoy the harvest he was never able to see!”'' Celegil frowned and kicked the man in his chest with her feet causing him to drop her. As the druid patted his chest and groaned in pain, Celegil quickly ran behind a tree and shouted back:'' “What is this for Elune’s sake? I fell from a cliff and now I’m being carried by some old idiot. “ The druid chuckled at Celegil’s words: “ A handsome old idiot at that! Oh dear, no doubt about that, its certainly you! Now are you going to stand behind that tree, naked, for the whole day?”'' Celegil looked down and noticed for the first time that indeed she had absolutely nothing on and blushed terribly. She then poked her head beside the tree and shouted back at the druid: “First tell me who you are!” The druid sighed deeply and replied: ''“Your mother told that little about me? How I used to tell her perverted jokes and that our daughter would probably make all the men in our village drop in amazement? Dear me...Im your father Thalyn of course!” Celegil blinked her eyes twice and replied with uncertainty: “Wh..What? How is that…am I dead?” Thalyn shook his head: “Nah..you are not dear. You are in what I like to call..hmm..a mad dream." Celegil replied: “A mad dream? What in Elune’s name do you mean with that?!” Thalyn sighed once more: “What do you think? You hit your head there quite badly!” Celegil raised her eyebrows up high as she looked to Thalyn only exposing her head. She then sighed: “Uhh..right..are you going to get me some clothes or what?!” Thalyn nodded: “Yes dear, I will be right back.” As he walked off he mumbled: “Hmm..same fiery temper as her mother, that is for sure.”  As Celegil waited for her father to return with some clothes she walked around the tree with her head in her hands thinking: “So he is my father, but my father died before I was born, but I am not dead. Is this a bad joke or something?” Thalyn called out again: “Celegil, sexy or non-sexy?” Celegil rolled her eyes and called back: “Whatever you have!” Thalyn chuckled: “Fine..fine, I have both for you.” Celegil poked her head around the tree again: “Well? What are you waiting for? Throw them to me!” Thalyn chuckled again and threw the clothes toward her: “Male slave throwing now!”'' Celegil quickly changed into the clothes that Thalyn had thrown to her and stepped from behind the tree. Thayln smirked gently: “Ah..as beautiful as your mother, if not even better.” Celegil sighed deeply: “Are you going to tell me what is going on now?” Thalyn nodded: ''“In time dear. Come, let us have some breakfast first.”''

And so Celegil followed her father to his small dwelling in Nighthaven. When Celegil finished her bowl of boiling Darnassian vegetables, her father sat in the seat in front of her. He slightly cracked his knuckles, folded his hands together and started to speak and Celegil listened closely. ''“Right. Celegil. This must be a shock for you, but you are indeed not dead. You are, however, a prisoner of your own mind at the moment. This world, is not real but an imagination of it that exists in your own brain.” Thalyn tapped on his head with his left hand and smiled as he continued: “However, there are some parts of it that you cannot control.” Celegil blinked twice and asked: “I can’t control my own mind?” Thalyn chuckled and responded: “Yes, that is my handiwork. You see, when you hit that pretty head of yours, you got into a coma..and I had the opportunity to dive into your mind from within the Emerald Dream.”'' Celegil moved her hand over her chin and thought for a moment. She then put her hands on the table herself and asked: “How long will I be stuck here?” Thalyn smirked: ''“For as long as I want. As long as I keep your mind under control, you will remain here.“ Celegil gasped at her father with her mouth wide open: “Excuse me!? You hold me prisoner?” Thalyn laughed: “Well..not really. I just want to speak with you about a few things. Learn you a few tricks perhaps. But that’s all, It won’t take more than a couple of months..” Celegil shouted and slammed on the table with her right fist: “Months?! What about Kailahan? What about mother and that human girl?!” Thalyn sighed deeply and leaned over the table: “They are safe. They arrived in Astranaar not long ago, so don’t worry about them. Oh and wasn’t your child staying with a few friends of yours?” Celegil nodded and replied: “Yes, he is with Kiva and Shandaris in Auberdine.” Thalyn smirked and said: “Oh..Kiva you mean?” Thalyn licked his lips as he continued: ”Oh I watched her sometimes, especially when she was bathing. A very sexy lady I must say..those breasts and that long hair along with her soft blue skin...” As Thalyn dreamed away, Celegil shouted: “Father!” Thalyn did as if he woke up and smiled: “Sorry dear. When a man doesn’t speak to his wife for as long as I didn’t, one starts to dream away about other woman.” Celegil sighed and nodded slightly: “Fine..fine father I submit.” Thalyn chuckled and motioned to the bed: “Come, you should sleep a bit more. We only really learn new things when our mind is at peace and I don’t want to start filling you up with information while you are sleepy. “ Celegil looked at her father and sighed: “I am not a toddler anymore.” Thalyn chuckled and replied : “You are not going to be a handful are you?”'' Eventually, Celegil gave in to her father and she went to bed to have a long rest.

When Celegil woke up again, Thalyn was already waiting for her to get out of bed. He smiled and said: “Not a toddler, but you did sleep more than a day!” Celegil had breakfast once more and after she washed herself in the lake, she returned to her father’s dwelling. Thalyn waved and motioned her to sit at the table again. This time, Thalyn remained standing and started to speak a bit more serious than the previous conversations: “Celegil, we need to talk about your..*he coughed* love life”. Celegil blinked her eyes at the mentioning of the word and replied: ''“Why..? What is so special about it?” Thalyn nodded slightly and continued: “Well..the problem you seem to have is that you think it is nothing special at all. If I counted correctly, you went to bed..or dived into the bushes, with about five persons.” Celegil looked at her father sternly: “I could not help it I killed one, and lost another.” Thalyn, quite surprisingly, slammed with his hand on the table and made Celegil sit upright in a blink of an eye as he shouted: “That first man, named uhm..Kalion I think, that was not your fault. He was a son of a Satyr for hitting you. Your second mate wasn’t your fault either. By the Goddes, I would have loved Malreas as my son-in-law We would have been good friends since he was quite like me. But now Celegil, you are going far over the line of what is decent!” Celegil stared at Thalyn as he continued his ranting: “Celegil..You were in bed or the bushes with Amisande, Valéria..and almost Illidor as well in one week!” Celegil sighed at her father and replied coldly: “I have the right to choose my own partner. Whether you like it or not…”''Thalyn definatly did not agree with Celegil and let out a loud roaring angry scream. He gave her a heavy blow on her jaw that send Celegil flying through the open window of the dwelling as he shouted: “Damn you child!”

As Thalyn calmed down again he understood the magnitude of what he had done and was terribly ashamed. He positioned his hands on his face and mumbled: “Oh Elune, forgive me.” Celegil in the meantime, crawled back on her feet again and walked inside, stroking over her now numb jaw. Thalyn sighed heavily and said: “Sorry child..I..I have problems containing my anger these days.” He sat down in the chair as if he was exhausted, rubbing his fist and continued:”It’s not as easy as you might think..live alone without the wife you loved for thousands of years.” Celegil sighed to herself and pondered for a moment, still stroking over her jaw. Thalyn softly said: ''“Celegil..you must choose one person to share your bed with. I hate to see you behave like a cat that is in season.” Celegil looked at him moment for the few silent seconds that followed and finally nodded as she replied: “Father...you are right. But...I don’t want to let anyone down. They all love me and...*she sighed heavily again* It hurts me if I see people I love, be unhappy because of me.”'' Thalyn walked over to Celegil and they both started to cry, hugging and holding eachother, crying on their shoulders as father and daughter mourned their past. Eventually, they released eachother again and Celegil nodded quietly at her father as she said: “I am sorry father, that I have let you down.” Thalyn shook his head and said: ''“You didn’t let me down Celegil. You are a great person. By the Goddes, I wish more of us were like you. It’s just that you need to think more before you act. You are far to rash at the moment and it will hurt your friends in the long term. Do you understand what I mean?”'' Celegil nodded quietly and she hugged her father again. Thalyn smiled towards his daughter and said: ''“Good to hear. We have much more to talk of you and I..”''

=Chapter 4: The Return= In the peace and tranquility of Celegil’s imaginary vision of Moonglade, father and daughter got the chance to know eachother. A wish that Celegil had wanted for her whole life had finally come true. In the following weeks, Thalyn told her about his long life and the things that happened to his wife before Celegil was born. Celegil learned that her father wasn’t the pervert that she thought he was. However, there was still something bugging her mind; her sister Allessia and how she became. And so, Celegil finally found the courage to ask him when they were fishing at the lake’s edge. Celegil looked at her father and asked hesitantly: “Father...what about my sister?” Thalyn looked at Celegil in shock, turned his head slowly away from her and mumbled: “I don’t want to talk about that...” Celegil then threw her fishing rod in the water and shouted at her father: “You wanted to talk, but now you don’t want to because I bring up a sensitive topic!?” Thalyn sighed and sat down on the grass. He then put his hands on his face and started to speak: ''“I met your sister’s mother when I was on my way from Astranaar to Mount Hyjal for vegetables. She was a young priestess and I found her beside the road. She had a large cut in her leg and she said she was attacked by an angry bear.” Celegil nodded at her father: “What did you do, threw her in the bushes?” Thalyn smiled slightly but then turned his face serious again: “No...I took her with me to the next settlement along the road and bandaged her.” Thalyn then sighed deeply and continued: “She said she was cold in the night so I lay next to her...and then it all got out of hand…damn you Elune.” Celegil frowned slightly and asked: “Who started?” Thalyn looked at Celegil, positioned his hands on her shoulders and replied: “She did...and you have to believe me Celegil. By Elune...she was as old as you are now...I feel horrible for what I have done...and then...*he sighed deeply* I heard she was expecting. Curse you Elune *he shook his fist towards the sky*”'' Celegil gasped slightly and shook her own head. It reminded her of her own escapade with Kalion when she was young. She finally nodded and patted her father on his shoulder: “I...I forgive you...does mother know about this?” Thalyn shook his head: ''“No...she doesn’t, and she shouldn’t know. She is in enough trouble as it is already.” Celegil nodded slightly and replied: “I understand father.” Thalyn nodded and hugged her tightly: “Thank you...you are everything for me Celegil. Never become like your mother like she was when you found her in those ruins. I beg of you for your own sake. At least one of us must be a good person.” '' A few weeks later, when Celegil was finally starting to feel home, her father came to her as she was sitting beside the lake. Celegil saw that her father was looking very serious all of a sudden and asked: “What’s wrong father?” Thalyn stroked over her cheek and said with a sigh: “I think it is time for you to go back to the real world.” Celegil looked down to her feet and sighed deeply as she replied: “You are right father.” Thalyn nodded and smiled at her: ''“Take care. Be well daughter and don’t tell anyone what you experienced here to anyone.”'' Celegil looked up to her father in surprise and tried to speak but was violently pushed into the water of the lake before she could speak. She tried to swim back to the shore but was pushed down by a mysterious force that pulled her further and further away into the depths of the lake until she was so far under the water that all got black, falling into a deep sleep.

When Celegil slowly awakened, she could feel she felt that she had her Sentinel armor on again. When she opened her eyes she saw that she was on a small sandy beach. As she tried to get on her feet, an enormous stinging shock of pain reached her senses originating from her right leg. Celegil sweared loudly in Darnassian as she fell on her back, feeling her leg was broken. She sighed heavily in pain as she observed an old ruined tower in the distance. As she laid her head back on the sandy beach, she felt something landed on her left leg. Celegil looked over her waist and discovered that Thalyn the owl was looking straight in her eyes. Celegil laughed and mumbled: “Oh you...”

Celegil’s happiness was violently ended by a bash of a stick on her chest that caused Thalyn to rapidly fly away. Celegil groaned in pain as she looked up and saw a hooded figure standing in front of her with a staff. The hooded figure spoke: “You are not going anywhere.” As Celegil looked more closely at the hooded figure that held her on the ground with the staff, she saw Night Elf ears coming out of the hood and said:'' “Are you mad? I am a Sentinel!” The hooded figure chuckled: “More reason to keep you restrained. Now on with you! On to your feet nice and slowly and walk to the tower. No funny business you Sentinel whore.”'' Celegil frowned and slowly stood up, leaning on her left leg to avoid the pain from her broken right leg. As Celegil limped towards the tower, she was hit a few times with the staff that made her fall to her knees several time as the hooded figure laughed.

When both of them walked inside the tower ruin that looked like a typical ancient guard post that had seen better times. There were two other Night Elves females standing around a campfire that wore green robes and a similar color hoods. When both of them saw Celegil, they grinned at her, exposing the typical sharp and pointy Night Elf teeth. The Night Elf that had brought Celegil here spoke to the other two: “Look what I got here sisters, a Sentinel that walked a bit too far from her own tree.” All three of them laughed as Celegil looked down at the fire and sighed. One of them females that stood next to the fire pulled of her hood, exposing her long white hair. She seemed to be the leader as she pulled Celegil's hair to position her close to her own face while the other female that brought her here held her hands. As Celegil snarled at the leader, she started to speak: ''“Your kind...ruined my life. I once was like you...but then it all got thrown away. You are all witches...No justice or justness, just your own damn selves, that’s what important.”'' As the leader finished her sentence, she threw Celegil on the ground who let out a scream in pain, grabbing at her broken right leg. The leader grinned at Celegil as she grabbed for her leg. She spoke again: “What’s your name and rank…Satyr whore!? Celegil snarled at her once again and crawled on her knees: “Captain Celegil Moonwatcher.” The leader figure stopped and looked back at Celegil with a face of guilt and sadness. She sighed heavily and looked at the others: “Release her, she is a friend.” Celegil was let go by the female behind her and sat in a crouching position on the floor, grabbing her broken leg and looking up at the leader. She walked over to Celegil and spoke: “I am sorry, but we can’t take any chances...By the goddess you have changed a lot.” Celegil still looked at the leader in distrust and replied: “Who are you...what are you doing here and why do you call a Sentinel a damn Satyr whore?!” The leader nodded and spoke again: ''“I hope you remember me *she sighed* I am...was...Sentinel Elandrial. The one that rescued you from the desert?” Celegil blinked twice at Elandrial in disbelief and replied: “By Elune...what happened...why are you here.” Elandrial looked at the others and said: “Give her some food and care for her leg.” The other two replied: “Yes mistress.”'' As the other women wend of to gather some food, Celegil was pulled to the wall by Elandrial who then put a blanket around her waist to warm her up. Elandrial then sat in front of her and replied to her question: ''“The day I last saw you, me, Alayna and Tryela were send on a mission to burn down a Tauren village of a chieftain that did not agree to our peace treaty south of Ashenvale. When we arrived however, the chieftain greeted us and agreed to our demands that he would stop his hostilities.”'' The two others arrived back with a piece of meat and a water pouch. Celegil, who felt very weak after weeks of being in a coma, greedily accepted and started to eat the meat raw while Elandrial continued her story. ''“When we returned to Astranaar, we reported back to our officer who said we cowards for not burning the Tauren village down to the ground while we had the chance. She put all three of us to shame in front of the entire village and we were kicked out of the Sentinels.” Celegil paused eating her meat and gasped slightly while replying: “That’s...terrible...what did you do?” Elandrial leaned back against the wall and continued: “Our families didn’t want anything to do with coward Sentinels and they abandoned us like a sick flock. The three of us joined up and decided to find our luck somewhere else. So we set of to this land and have lived of the land ever since.” Elandrial sighed for a moment and shook her head: “We lost everything...for showing mercy...So much for our glorious Sentinel army...We live in solitude and loneliness.” Celegil, who had just eaten up the last piece of raw meat, looked in shock and said: “I…” Elandrial interrupted her and spoke: “Nothing Celegil...there is no hope for us. We will take care of your leg and send you on your way. Just promise me one thing Celegil...Think for yourself, and don’t take orders blindly from some stuck up Sentinel commander..bitch.”''

And that is how it wend. Celegil stayed with the three ex-Sentinels while they took care of her broken leg. Celegil learned many new things from Elandrial like teaching her a couple of new strategies of how to command the Sentinels under her command. After a couple of weeks, Celegil’s broken right leg had healed. However, the whole experience of rescuing her mother, meeting her father and hearing the story of Elandrial also had an influence on Celegil’s personality. She learned from staying with the Sentinels that the world is not as black and white as she once thought but that there are several shades of white and grey. On a calm summer’s evening, Celegil left the three women and set out to go back to the world she was familiar to. A world that she thought she would never see again but also a world that had presumed her dead for many moons. Only time will tell if she can reclaim her place in the world that she defended for years and almost had to pay for with her very life.

=Chapter 5: A whole world of troubles= The moon shined brightly above the village of Astranaar. Many commoners were on the main street of the settlement going by their daily (or was it nightly?) business. In a small dwelling to the eastern edge of the town, carefully tugged away from the busy road, Ilaana was preparing a stew for the small human child Katherine while looking at the lake surrounding the village through a window. As Ilaana was nearing the final stages of preparing the stew, she saw something moving in the bushes opposite the river. Ilaana raised her eyebrows and looked behind her towards the bed Katherine was sleeping on to make sure she was still sleeping. After that, Ilaana walked through the door and stood on the edge of the lake and peered her eyes to what was moving through the bushes. Finally, the shadow came out of the bushes and dropped into the water as an owl flew up into the sky. Ilaana raised her eyebrows as she pointed towards the nearby bridge and said: “Couldn’t you have used the bridge?” As the figure reached the side of the shore Ilaana was standing on, Ilaana saw the figure was a Night Elf and that it was a woman. As Ilaana pulled the person out of the water, her long hair that was absolutely soaked obscured most of her face. Ilaana laughed and wiped away that obscured the person’s face. However, Ilaana’s laughter was soon replaced with amazement as she saw who the person was. Ilaana stuttered and walked back slowly as she let her back rest on the wall of the small dwelling. Ilaana blinked twice and said: “Celegil..?”. The person nodded and spoke: “Yes mother, it is I..after a rather long..headache.” Celegil walked forward to her mother and hugged her tightly as she smiled widely. Ilaana tightly held Celegil on her back and replied: ''“By the Goddess..we all thought you were dead..and now you are..here? I can’t believe it.” Celegil patted her mother on her back and took a step backwards as she said: “Yes..it’s a long story mother. But can you get me a towel first?”''

After Celegil had changed into a common robe, they both sat down at the kitchen table as Celegil told Ilaana what had happened in the past months that she had been away. Of course, Celegil did not tell about the part where she had fallen into a coma and met her father but instead said that she had spend far longer with the three Sentinels because of her broken leg. As Ilaana listened to the story, she became more and more amazed that her daughter had survived. After Celegil had finished telling her tale, Ilaana said: ''“That’s an amazing story..I can’t believe you are actually here. I thank Elune this chance is granted to us..I mean..us together in peace instead of fighting and arguments.” Celegil nodded as she sighed: “Yes..I don’t know who was looking over me there, but I guess I’ll better keep it a friend.”'' Ilaana nodded at her and gave Celegil a small kiss on the forehead. As Ilaana stepped back again, Celegil looked at the bed on which Katherine was still sleeping. Celegil smiled at her and looked back at Ilaana as she spoke: “How is she doing?” Ilaana looked at Katherine and sighed slightly: ''“She’s still a bit emotional..she doesn’t want to go back to her mother because you said she’s evil. She’s right about that..but still. She also thinks your..*Ilaana coughed* death, was caused by her because you had to carry her.” Celegil shook her head and said: “Even if I wasn’t carrying her, I would have fallen. It wasn’t her fault.” Ilaana nodded at Celegil and said: “I agree, but try telling that to a five year old human girl. Though I think she’ll clear up a bit once she has seen you again.” Celegil stood up and pulled a chair next to the bed and softly stroked across Katherine’s face as she said quietly: “What about any other relatives? She can’t stay here as much as I like her.” Ilaana rose from her own chair and positioned her right hand on Celegil’s left shoulder as she said: “I only caught small branches of information but it’s all I got out of her. She said her mother left home when she was a baby because her mother joined the Twilight Cult after which the family abandoned her. She doesn’t know more than that, except that her father’s name is Samouel Huss.”'' Celegil blinked twice when she heard that name and sat up straight. Ilaana looked down to Celegil and asked : “What’s wrong Celegil..?” Celegil looked up to her mother and spoke quietly:'' “I think I happen to know a relative of that family. One of our kind, called Caliyen. She’s the mate of a human called Franze Huss if I remember correctly.” Ilaana frowned slightly: “One of us with a human? That’s..very odd.” Celegil nodded and continued: “I agree mother..*Celegil sighed deeply* Damn..this is going to be a problem.” Ilaana quickly pulled a chair closer for herself and sat on it next to Celegil after which she asked: “Why is it a problem?” Celegil looked at Ilaana and said: “Well..with all due respect for the woman..but she has absolutely no parenting skill at all. She leads a mercenary company so that means constant violence which is about the worst type of situation in which you could possibly raise a child. And who knows, perhaps they don’t even want the girl back in the family.” Ilaana sighed and shook her head: “If one’s heart is just, one will never leave a child of theirs behind.” Celegil nodded slightly and said: “I guess you are right..but this still will be quite a challenge.”''

As the hours passed, Celegil and Ilaana discussed about Katherine’s feature. Celegil decided that going to Stormwind with the child would be the best chance to find Caliyen and through that way, the rest of the Huss family. As night turned into morning, Katherine awakened and found Ilaana and Celegil sitting beside her bed. As Katherine crawled out of the bed she gasped and Celegil and mumbled: “By the light..by..” Celegil walked forward to the little girl and hugged her in comfort as she said: “Yes it is me..and I am here.” Katherine started to cry and tell Celegil about how she missed her. Eventually, by putting the girl on her lap, Celegil could calm her down again and tell her of the plan about going to Stormwind to find her family. Katherine mumbled, still being a bit emotional: “But I want to stay with you…” Celegil sighed and replied: “You can’t stay here Katherine..it won’t work.” Katherine mumbled as she looked into Celegil’s silvery eyes: “But why..?” Celegil sighed and held her tightly: ''“You don’t belong here Katherine. Your father might be looking for you.”''

Katherine eventually found peace with Celegil’s decision and together they spend another week. On the day that they left Astranaar, Ilaana had finished making a green cotton tunic for Katherine which was quite similar to an Outrunner’s tunic. When Katherine put it on, she immediately ran to Celegil and showed off her clothes and said: “When I grow up, I am going to be just like you!” Celegil laughed and rose Katherine from the ground and hugged her as Ilaana was watching from a distance leaning against the dwellings wall. Ilaana closed her eyes and quietly mumbled to herself: “I wish you could see this Thalyn..”. A soft and dark tone voice beside her said: “I am always watching..” Ilaana opened her eyes again and looked beside her where she saw Thalyn leaning against the same wall. As Ilaana gasped, Thalyn quickly took hold off her and stroked with his hand on the side of her left breast down along her spine towards her behind, as he said with a smirk on his face: “You haven’t aged at all in those two hundred years dear..” Ilaana closed her eyes as their lips met and they kissed. When Ilaana opened her eyes again, Thalyn was away again and she sighed deeply while she turned her head back towards Celegil and Katherine who were walking her way again. Celegil held Katherine’s right hand while she asked Ilaana: “Do you have all the supplies packed mother?” Ilaana, still a bit stunned took a while to respond but quickly walked back into the dwelling and came out with two backpack’s that differed in size. Ilaana hung the small backpack on Katherine’s back while Katherine asked Celegil: “Where are we going first?” Celegil looked down sideways to Katherine and said: “To a friend of mine called Caliyen, who knows a person of your family.” Katherine’s eyes sparkled and she replied: ''“Oh! Is she purple too? Then she must be so nice! Not as nice as you of course, but still nice!” Celegil nodded smiling at Katherine as she thought: “Caliyen...for Elune’s sake, please don't fuck this up...”'' Ilaana gave the final backpack to Celegil who quickly put it on her back. Celegil smiled at her mother who then said: ''“Be careful Celegil. Who knows what might happen on the way” Celegil nodded and replied: “I’ll be careful mother.”''

As Celegil and Katherine were near the bridge that would take them off the island on which Astranaar was located, Ilaana quickly shouted: “Be careful!” Celegil turned around with Katherine holding onto her right hand and shouted: “Don’t worry, I am always being watched.” As she said this, Thalyn the owl landed on Celegil’s left shoulder and quickly reclaimed its favorite hiding spot close to her neck. And so they set off towards the Human lands on a journey to find the little girl’s family. But that is a tale for another time.