If At First You Don’t Succeed

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Anais, Astoreth, Atheran, Caloneth, Cersei, Firewing, Kieran, Laurelia, Sorrelon, Westel

Dear Lady Sorrelon,

I hope this letter finds you well.  I realized just this morning that it has been nearly a year since we met, and thus far I have utterly failed in my intentions to establish and maintain friendly contact.  I write today in hopes of correcting this travesty… or at least taking the first steps.

Westel is well; healthy and stubborn as ever.  He has overcome most of the wounds he suffered last year and returned to his previous post with the Farstriders, where he appears to be most content.  Some wounds of course will be longer in healing than others, as I know you well know… but he is strong, and I have faith in him.  He has never let me down.

Our eldest daughter Anais is growing tall and willowy like her father, with the same eyes and smile.  She gets high marks in school and is quite the athlete.  It is difficult to keep her from climbing every tree on the property!  I imagine that Westel must have been much the same when he was young.  Yet for all her recklessness, she is very responsible, and always looking out for her little sister.

Our little boys are also healthy and strong, and growing bigger every day.  It seems so strange – I only learned Westel and I were expecting a few days after my visit to you, and as I write this they are both squirming in their little crib and chattering away.  Kieran succeeded in rolling over for the first time yesterday, and I believe Atheran cannot be far behind. 

I would be delighted for you to meet them – all of them.  I know such things are easier said than done, Lady Sorrelon, and this time of year may be difficult for such outings… but if you would care to select a Saturday in March, I should be honored to have you to our home in Eversong for lunch.  Perhaps Hadrian could accompany you; he is a bright young man, and I would be interested to hear how his studies have progressed since last we spoke.  Of course, if no Saturday suits, a Sunday would do just as well.

I look forward eagerly to your affirmative reply. 

Your most sincere daughter-in-law,

Astoreth Duskflame

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A Moment’s Peace

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Anais, Anetho, Astoreth, Atheran, Hellscream, Kieran, Laurelia, Pandaria, Westel

As much as Astoreth enjoyed the rainy climate of the Jade Forest, her two little girls did not.  All morning Laurelia and Anais had sat with noses pressed against the living room window, occasionally sighing forlornly and asking again if they could please please pretty please go outside even for a minute, before flopping back with dramatic moans when the answer once again turned out to be no.  Just before eleven the drizzle finally stopped, and the girls’ hopes brightened like the sun as it began filtering through the leaves, only to be dashed again by their mother’s insistence that they eat lunch before venturing outside.

With lunch finished at a record pace, Astoreth finally relented and sent the girls to go put on their boots while she dressed Kieran and Atheran for their first venture outside the home.  She was really itching for a trip to the Shrine, but Anetho’s warning about the recent incursion of Kor’kron there still rang in her ears, so a brief sojourn in the late morning sun and rain-fresh air would have to do for now.  Although Astoreth doubted they could legally do anything to her in Pandaria, she was not at all confident that they’d let a little thing like legality stop them, and she had zero interest in finding out.

“Can I carry one of the babies?” Anais asked.  She’d already held each of them a dozen times – with her parents’ help, of course – and was quite enamored of her new brothers.

Astoreth shook her head as she finished tying off Atheran’s tiny hat and placed him in his carrier next to his brother.  “Not today, love.  I need you to hold Laurelia’s hand.”

The path to the little brook near their house was mostly dry by the time mother and children set out, Laurelia and Anais running excitedly ahead, Astoreth moving more slowly lest she slip on a still-damp cobble with her precious cargo.  Transporting two infants at once even for short distances presented something of a logistical quandary, but as Westel was currently away arranging the family’s move back to Quel’thalas she was on her own.  By the time she caught up to the girls they were already perched on one of their favorite rocks overlooking a small pool, giggling and pointing at the carp swimming around in the clear water.  “Careful, darlings!” Astoreth called.  “I don’t want to have to fish you two out of there.”

Astoreth spread out a blanket on the grass, then took her twins out of their little carrier and laid them down on it.  Both boys looked around in silent baby wonder.  “Welcome to the forest, little ones,” Astoreth cooed at them, brushing her fingers over Kieran’s shock of impossibly fine black hair.  “It’s your father’s favorite place, so trust me, you’ll be seeing a lot of it.”

“Mom, me an’ Lala are gonna go pick some flowers!” Anais called.

“Okay, dear,” Astoreth yawned back, stretching out on the blanket by the boys.  Gods, that sun felt good.  “Don’t go too far.”

“We won’t!” both girls chimed back.

This is bliss, Astoreth thought idly.  If Westel were here, this would be perfect.  Despite all the war and turmoil elsewhere in the world… here it’s just us.  A peaceful glade, a warm afternoon, my children’s laughter – my own little sanctuary.  Perfect.  She curled up around the boys, cradling them gently, and idly wondered if they might let her catch a quick nap.

A sharp crack of thunder rent the sky, and Astoreth’s eyes snapped open.  Immediately she looked to where she had last seen the little girls going – there they both stood, eyes wide and staring at the western horizon.  She turned to follow their gaze… but instead of the darkening sky she expected to herald the return of the morning’s rain, Astoreth saw a pillar of pitch black and blinding white something rising from behind the distant mountains to the sky.  Both boys abruptly let out wails of surprise and unhappiness, and with a sudden horror Astoreth realized she had seen that type of energy before – and now it seemed to be spreading in a canopy over where she knew the Vale of Eternal Blossoms to be.  Where Hellscream was supposed to be.

We waited too long.

“Mom?” Anais asked in a small voice, and Laurelia started to cry as well.  “Mommy Ast?  What’s that?”

“I don’t know,” Astoreth lied, scooping up the babies in both arms.  “Take Lala’s hand.  We need to get out of here.”

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Astoreth, Atheran, Cearalaith, Corael, Kieran, Westel

The corner bistro was quiet this morning, and practically empty save for the two elves at a table on the patio: a dark-haired noblewoman in rich silks, and golden-haired holy warrior in simple but functional linen.  They stared at each other for several long moments before one finally broke the silence.

“You wanted to see me,” Astoreth said in even tones.

Cearalaith sighed and pushed her water glass around.  “Yeah,” she admitted.  “I needed to tell you something.”

Astoreth sat up.  “I’m listening,” she said.

Her sister sighed again, a small huffing sound.  “I needed to tell you… it’s not working out between me and Corael.  We’ve decided it would be best to go our separate ways.”

Astoreth blinked and frowned, suddenly uncertain of herself.  Why tell me? she wanted to ask, but she wasn’t at all sure she wanted to hear the answer.   “I’m – I’m sorry to hear that,” she said.

Cearalaith nodded her head; an acknowledgement that she had heard, nothing more.  “I needed to tell you… it’s not because of what happened.  We’re not even angry.  We still get along and all, we just…”  She looked from the glass on the table up to the sky without meeting Astoreth’s eyes along the way.  “We’re just too different.  We were apart so long – we’re practically strangers to each other.  And I’m not happy sharing my home with a stranger.”

“That… makes sense,” Astoreth said, still wary.  

“So,” Cearalaith continued, “I’m telling you, because you, and Firewing, and Stavier, and Kuvasei, all at different points offered to murder him in creative ways if he broke my heart.  I’m telling you he didn’t break my heart.”

Astoreth smiled softly.  “I know you are strong.”

“Stronger than you know, Astoreth,” Cearalaith replied quickly, firmly.  “Stronger than you ever knew.”

“Yes,” Astoreth agreed evenly.  “Yes, you… you truly are.”

Cearalaith nodded, her lips pursed, and silence fell over the table again.  After several moments she sighed and spoke again.  “This changes nothing else.”

“No.  I didn’t expect it would.”

“Then I’ll go.”  Cearalaith stood, dropping a few coins on the table for her untouched sandwich.

“Don’t –” Astoreth caught herself, biting her lip.

Cearalaith blinked at her.  “Don’t… what?”

Don’t go.  I miss you.  Let’s talk.  “Don’t… don’t bother paying,” Astoreth said.  “I’ll cover it.  You didn’t even eat.”

“I’ll pay my share.”

“I can afford it.”

“I know you can.  So can I.”

“On an Argent’s salary?”  Astoreth sneered.

Cearalaith scowled back.  “Oh, this again, is it?  I can pay for my own damned sandwich, Astoreth.”

“At least take it to go.”

“ASTORETH!” Cearalaith glared at her.

“It’s probably delicious!” Astoreth snapped, setting her jaw and matching her sister’s glare with one of her own.

They stared at each other for several moments in stalemate.

“You are fucking absurd,” Cearalaith growled, snatching the sandwich from the plate.  “This changes nothing.  You’re not my mother; you’re barely my sister.  You don’t have my best interests at heart and I am not your friend.  We’ll play nice in front of Kuvasei and our friends and family, and we’ll keep each other informed of things, and that’s it, Astoreth.”

Cearalaith spun on her heel and marched towards the door.  Astoreth heaved a sigh and stared down at her hands, until her sister’s voice caused her to start and look up again.

“And another thing,” Cearalaith snapped, jabbing her sandwich at Astoreth for emphasis.  “Tell Firewing I’d better get a letter, or a notice, or a singing telegram or something when these kids are born.  Not hear about it weeks later like with Laurelia.”

Astoreth smirked.  “You could tell him yourself, you know,” she said gently.

“Maybe I will!” Cearalaith retorted, and stormed out.

Astoreth watched her go, and continued watching the door for several breaths after Cearalaith had gone.

Then she set back in her chair and, smiling softly, began to eat her lunch.