The two walked hand-in-hand, using the safest route through Stormwind they could. The traverse line Joci had set a week before helped — enough so that Joci thought of rigging all bridges as such.
Melody squeezed her hand. “You ok?”
“I donnae,” she admitted, squeezing the hand in return. “This all be a bi’ much fer me, dead people comin’ back ta life...” she shook her head. They headed into Stormwind Cemetery. A couple of ghouls were put down by one of those Argent fighters. He pulled the undead back from the path.
“It’s worse now... maybe just because I can see it, what they’re doing... hard to be scared as a teen, yea?”
Ahead of them, Elunara waved her hands over her head. They hurried over to meet with her. Introductions were made. Jocelyn was about to ask about some missing pages in the Codex before Elunara spoke up:
“She’ll get her own guard,” promised the half-elf.
“My own... J, I don’t deserve—”
Elunara nodded. “Your suite will be in the dignitaries wing.”
“How much...?” asked Melody. Joci and Elunara exchanged a glance.
“Free to family,” said the elf. She smiled warmly. “Food, security...” she spoke low. “Wine.”
The three chuckled at that. Joci looked down. “I cannae thank ya—”
“You don’t need to,” said Elunara. She turned toward Melody. “Are you packed?”
Elunara summoned a guardsman. She instructed him to take Melody back to House Au’llon’s estate. It was only after Joci and Melody said their goodbyes to each other that Elunara approached. She undid her belt, took off the dagger in its sheathe, and handed it to Jocelyn:
“Elune bless,” she said. “Duredrassil may be a light in your darkest hour — as it was for your brother, so shall it be for you.”
“Now go. Go and help the others. Do what ... what he would have wanted you to do.”
Jocelyn dipped her head once. “Aye, mum. Can do.”
Elunara watched as Jocelyn attached the dagger to her belt. She reached out and hugged the elder Wellson. She was crying. “Be safe,” she said. “Be brave. It runs in the family,” she added. “...as well as our friends.”
( @kat-hawke // @thalsianiii ))
