It was a very very very long time before I returned to Auberdine. I wrote Taldan often, but I could tell by his responses that he was unhappy with me. Not that I had a choice in the matter. He knew I had to be out here. He wished he could have ventured along with me, although he wouldn't say it. Finally I was able to get back to him. And instead of a joyous welcome.. I got the cold shoulder.
We argued for hours.. I kept saying I was sorry that there was nothing I could do about it... But Now outland was safe. And I was back. But apparently risking life and limb to stave off the burning legion from Azeroth, yet again, was not a good enough excuse for him. I told him about Illidan .. that made him sad. Understandably. I told him that Maive was probably going to have to be committed.
At some point he stopped being Angry and just became sullen. He told me he knew that eventually I would be called away again, and he didn't think he could endure it. This incensed me! I pointed out how Tyrande has lived Centuries without Malfurion, and at least our separation had only been months! But, he was unmoved. Taldan was breaking up with me...
I stormed out of the inn and went back to Shattrath. There was still work to be done on the Isle of Quel'Danas. Turns out Kael'thas is Alive? Somehow... although I'm sure I remember looting his body... Whatever. We ended up spending A LOT more time on that island than originally anticipated. Kil'Jaeden was hiding in what is now the Sunwell. We Handled it. It kept me busy, and thankfully so, any downtime I had, allowed my mind to drift back to him. When it was all over I returned to Azeroth and did odd jobs all around the world. Worked on my professions, visited old haunts. Just mulled around feeling sorry for myself really.
Soon enough I received the call to Northrend. I welcomed the new threat to my well being! Before departing for those cold lands I stopped in to see Taldan. Hoping for a reconciliation, but really, I just wanted to see him again. They had recently changed the Ship routes so that I could go Directly to Stormwind from Auberdine, so it was on my way. He did NOT want to talk to me.
He wasn't rude, just short and indirect. He exchanged small talk with me, and let me tell him about my next assignment. He wouldn't maintain eye contact with me, he kept looking away or over my shoulder. Like he was disinterested... or nervous. Finally I couldn't take it anymore and I asked him what his problem was. "Is there someone else?!" I blurted out.
He told me there wasn't then apologized for being so distant. He said he that seeing me upset him more than he expected and that he was reminded about how jealous he was of my life, and how much he cared about me. Then, he told me he had something in the works that might fix everything. But, he wouldn't elaborate.
We said our goodbyes. I off to Northrend I went. I explored that place. Scoured it, doing every thing that was asked of me.. and I mean EVERYTHING. People Started calling me Loremaster.... Because I'd been so many places and spoken with so many people That I knew pretty much every bit of Lore in the land. The Alliance was closing in on the Lich King. The biggest battle of my life so far was at hand. We had already had the confrontation at the Wrath gate. So many lost...
But now facing the Citadel, and all that lied within, I was scared. I wrote Taldan, for some comfort and received this response:
Persnicketiy,
This is the life you chose, this is the life you lead. And Although I have envied you throughout our acquaintance, I do not do so now.
May Elune light your path.
With all my love,
Taldan
Great..
So.. That wasn't the uplifting letter I was looking for. It basically said, "well, this is what you signed up for BUDDY. Be safe. Love me" Ugh...
Obviously I lived to fight another day. I returned to Taldan after the battle. He seemed ignited by something. He was excited and his eyes glowed more brightly than usual. He said, he had so much to tell me but he wasn't allowed to speak of it just yet. "when the time is right" He kept saying. Then he hit me with this "We will be together again!" That shocked me. I didn't say anything.. and he didn't seem phased. He just said "You'll see. You'll see."
We talked for a while about other things, I told him about these really vague dreams that I'd been having, that seemed so real even though I couldn't tell what was going on. Lava, Iron... He just shrugged it off. I had work to do in other parts of the world and Soon I was off again. This time he wasn't so sad.
During my travels I kept hearing murmurs of mystics foretelling of a great Cataclysm. I inquired around about what I'd been hearing. Some thought it nothing but non sense, others seemed concerned. But no one had any solid thoughts on it all. One day I was in Stormwind, in the Park, and I overheard a couple of Druids talking about How one of the Mystics had predicted that Auberdine would be destroyed. They laughed it off. But my blood froze. I mounted up and rushed off to the Harbor and caught the First Ship back to Auberdine.
I Ran into the Inn and told Taldan what I had just heard and BEGGED him to leave Auberdine. He refused. Saying That he couldn't leave now, not when he was "so close". To what he would not tell me. I tried and tried to convince him but he would not budge. So I went back to my work. Tears in my eyes, hoping it was all a bunch of rumors. But knowing somewhere that there was something to this and my dreams. Then, everything went back to Normal.
For a time.
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