by C S Harrop
“We have the perfect beasts to help with that,” advised Lore pointing to the sky as two large dragons flew by.
“We Frost Elves have a different custom,” explained Elder Nyran. “We encase their bodies in blocks of ice and bury them deep within the land of Everlong so their soul will always feel close to their homeland.”
“I believe that’s something I can help with Elder Nyran,” replied Asha touching the Book of Shariel that hung at her waist.
“Thank you, my kin will not forget your kindness,” giving Asha a respectful nod of gratitude.
“What became of your goblin friend?” Asked Kailan with an inquisitive look from Elder Fallon and raised eyebrows from the surrounding soldiers.
“I didn’t see but he must off fallen from the dragon when it was hit. We were flying high and it was hard landing, either way I don’t hold too much hope he survived,” replied Willow.
“Do you mean that goblin?” pointed Elder Warrick to the rear of Asha noticing him from the corner of his eye wielding a rust dagger unable to distinguish one goblin from another.
Snitch had somehow manged to cling to a protruding root as the ground opened up beneath his feet when trying to escape. He watched from a distance as he pulled himself up above the surface his queen fall to her death as a large portion of dry earth was destroyed by the flying beast.
Still clinging onto the root, he got a good foothold with his dirty bare feet and hid within the crack in the earth from the allied forces waiting for the right time when the sound of fighting had diminished before he dared to make a move and escape.
The time came when the noise of fighting had stopped and light of the moon shown down. Snitch slowly climbed back up the root and over the edge keeping to the shadows and low to the ground not making any sudden movements to give his position away. Then he saw it, an opportunity he had longed for in so many years. Asha stood with her back towards him, surrounded by the Elders and the surviving allied forces whom now lounged around weary from battle with limited view. He knew he could escape now without been seen and never to be bothered again but the thought of how he has been hunting the Lost Soul for so many years made his facial twitch even more prominent.
His options quickly became one, his eyes became fixated like an animal hunting prey he grabbed his dagger from his belt and moved stealthily towards Asha unaware of the danger she now faces. He got within feet of striking distance when the Elder dwarf spotted him. All eyes suddenly focused in his direction he had only one chance before the allies cut him down, and that chance was now as Asha slowly turned around seeing a nasty looking goblin readying to pounce.
He raised his dagger and bent his knees for the lunge. Just before he could get off the ground, he was yanked backwards tearing his dirty rags and knocking the breath out of his lungs followed by a warm but sharp pain developed from his back. Dropping his rusty dagger as a kind of internal shock riddled through his body, he placed both hands to his spine feeling a wet patch. Looking down at his hands darkened blood dripped from his fingers, the shock grew to convulsions with blood drooling from his mouth.
Snitch dropped to his knees as his body rapidly failed. His facial twitch had all but disappeared probably for the first time in his entire psychotic life. He turned his neck to see Relg standing there fully covered in the clothes given by Elder Fallon holding a shiny metallic blade covered in goblin blood.
Snitch fell to the ground knowing he had been outsmarted by the very goblin he tortured and left for dead back in Draknar. His large wide eyes glazed over in his final moments with the faces of his enemies looking down upon him, he gave one final facial twitch then he was gone.
The surrounding Angarian soldiers jumped to their feet in response to the sudden appearance of two goblins pointing their spears at the lone survivor - Relg. Willow on her light feet quickly leapt ahead placing her body between the two with her bow drawn.
“This goblin is to be left in peace,” insisted Willow with a facial expression the soldiers recognised not to mess with.
“It’s a goblin. It should be destroyed,” responded a battle weary Angarian soldier.
“You will not harm this creature, is that clear,” Kailan stated in a loud voice with the surprise of both the soldiers and of Relg.
“But…” the soldier said barely starting his argument when the roar of Riven came from behind sending the soldiers jumping out of their skin with their eyes bulging seeing this enormous sabre-cat looking down at them.
“You touch a hair on our friend and I will tear your body apart ally or not, do you understand?” Shouted Riven with the acknowledgement of the soldiers and everyone around. Asha thought it amusing their sudden obedience but she was not hundred percent sure Riven was just scaring them or would actually go ahead with the threat.
“I thought the worst after the dragon went down,” Willow said looking at Relg with not just the eyes of a companion but also that of a friend.
“Luckily I actually landed on the Breacher. I managed to grab hold of a branch. It seemed the safest place be up that tree that was until Onyxia decided to crack the earth,” Relg explained pointing towards the huge tree as its heavy roots and gravity finally dragged the Breacher over sending it crashing down into the abyss with the loud snapping of branches.
“Thank you Relg, my name is Asha and I am in your debt.”
“Don’t worry about it,” feeling suddenly all embarrassed.
Darkness descended on the alliance as the last remnant of light disappeared over the horizon of Heres Valley. Campfires appeared dotted around the landscape along with makeshift tents the Angarians erected using their own pikes as support, which they happily shared with their dwarven allies.
To the east overlooking the crater that once stood the Breacher stood Ashantia and Kailan holding hands beneath the glow of the large white moon. Lore and Asha made their way over after they finished discussing how their father got Lore to watch over Asha every now and again on Lake Erat, which made total sense to Asha now as she felt at times she was been watched especially when she entered The Great Forest. As well as how their minds were connected due to being twins and how he was able to talk to her in her mind to tell her to use the Shade’s power when Onyxia told her to jump to her death to save her father.
With a feeling of loss still hanging in the air even though their mother stood before them. The words “I must go” drowned out all other noises from the night air as they echoed softly from their mother’s mouth.
“Go where? You can’t go we’ve just brought you back,” interrupted Lore.
“I know my love but I am only here in spirit, there is nothing more I would like to do is to stay with my family and watch my children grow but I can’t stay here. I already feel like I’m being pulled towards somewhere else and if I stay any longer I feel I will not exist at all,” Ashantia explained placing her hand on his face.
“It’s not fair. Nothing about any of this is fair. Onyxia, the war, Asha and now loosing you again,” tears coming to Lore’s eyes bringing the emotion of loss he had felt his entire life to the surface.
“Your mother will always be with you Lore, plus we have a Shade in our family. She will never truly be gone,” Kailan said with wink towards Asha.
“Mother is correct Lore she can’t stay in our world forever. Darkshore is calling her something Onyxia would have eventually realised if her plan had succeeded. You have gained a sister today brother maybe I can make your heart a little lighter,” Asha said beckoning the book of Shariel in her hand.
With a final family group hug and many tears to fill a lake Asha held on to her mother’s hand and led her a short distance away. They stopped under the brightness of the full moon looking upwards towards the vast array of stars within the night’s sky.
“Are you ready mother?” Asked Asha.
“No my dear I don’t think I ever will, but I know it’s time.”
“Aunt Elora should be waiting to welcome you on the other side.”
&n
bsp; “Elora, she was like a mother to me as she was to you, she has my gratitude for eternity keeping you safe,” Ashantia replied with a smile.
“I left a portal open back to Darkshore for a brief period of time when Onyxia opened the doorway through the Breacher. They fought for as long as they possibly could but the Dark Bloods kept coming. Eventually, I created a kind of energy shield around the portal and the entrance to the Breacher hoping it would hold back the Dark Bloods long enough for Onyxia to be defeated with a little added protection in the form of two large bears. I saw Aunt Elora and the rest of the allies escape before I stepped through the Breacher. She will probably have many stories to tell you,” told Asha easing her mother’s sadness knowing she has somebody waiting for her when she crosses.
“Well I have an eternity to listen and twenty years to catch up on.” With those final words, Ashantia took one final saddened look at Kailan and her son Lore seeing the same sadness within their hearts. She gave a loving farewell smile to her family as did Asha along with a friendly goodbye wave to her friends Willow and Riven who stood with the Elders by a campfire a stone throw away. Ashantia placed her hand on top of the Book of Shariel her daughter was holding, then Asha gave a wave of her glowing palm fazing both of them out of sight and back to Darkshore.
Kailan and Lore made their way over to the warmth of a crackling fire with a local animal of some kind slowly cooking on a spit with the smell of cooked meat giving them a sudden hunger. With the eyes of the Elders, Riven and Willow and even their little goblin friend Relg looking on with sympathetic eyes. The two Bourn’s knew there will always be an emptiness in their hearts but they also knew family is not always in the blood. Looking around at their allies standing before them and the faces of friends they have fought, argued, laughed, loved and grieved with their entire lives have built strong and stable foundations. Deep down they both felt comforted knowing Ashantia was now at peace, and they will always have family one way or another.
The End.