Message in a Bottle
Part 3 - Them
The library was quiet and still. She had cleared away the ever present mana wyrms in an attempt to focus on the books she had gathered. With a sigh, she lifted the top tome, shocked by its weight. Khadgar had been surprised at her visit, but nonetheless, he allowed her access to the books as usual. Over the last two years, they had found an understanding that she needed to study and read. And that she needed to be allowed a degree of freedom. She absentmindedly braided her hair as she read, stopping occasionally to take notes. A quiet step came from across the room. She thought nothing of it. The Guardian likely came in to retrieve something for himself. She kept to her work, eyes down in concentration. That’s when a voice broke the stillness around her.
“H....hello,” the deep voice called softly.
For her part, she nearly leapt out of her skin. Looking up, she is taken aback. Before her stood a man, a demon? No. One of the demon hunters, recently released from their prison. He looks at her, face full of apprehension. “Who let you in here? Who are you? What do you want?” she demands. This person did not belong here, she knew that for certain. She stood, moving toward him slowly. It was unwise to anger one such as him. But she felt the need to protect the library as well.
His face fell and he let out a sigh. “You don’t know me, do you?” She shook her head, silent. He chuckles, mirthless. He sounds disappointed, but unsurprised. “Of course not. Why would you?” His voice was quiet, almost pinched.
She took a few steps closer, confused. Pushing a lock of silver hair from her face, she looks at him carefully. Trying hard to look past the obvious, a picture began to form in her mind. The scars crossing his arms, his chest…his face. Her face loses all hint of anger. It couldn’t be. It simply wasn’t possible. She reaches out gingerly, her fingertips carefully brushing the scars below his right eye. He winces slightly, but holds his place. Barely audible she says, “Gods…it can't be…” She shook her head trying to clear it before looking again. “It…Foro?”
Forosuul swallows and nods jerkily. His voice a bare whisper, “It's me…”
At his confirmation the tears came, running down her cheeks almost immediately. “How? How can you...you were dead! They…”
Forosuul shook his head slowly. “No. They lied. Faked it. They did the same to me.” Tindomiel places a hand on the side of his face. Forosuul flinches. Very softly, she asks, “Are you really here? Or am I hallucinating again?”
“I'm here...for what it’s worth,” he whispers gently.
Tindomiel blinks a few times. After a moment she manages to ask,“Foro…you...what happened to you?” He sighs and starts to speak again, but stops, uncertain. She reaches up and starts to pull the strip of cloth from his eyes.
Forosuul put his hand up quickly, holding the cloth in place. “Don’t...it's not pleasant”
“Let me see you....”
“Tindo…” Tindomiel looks at the floor. She releases the cloth, her hand falling to her side. Forosuul sighs, his shoulder slumping, he lets his hand fall, pulling the red cloth from his ruined eyes. Sickly fel-light floods out, throwing long shadows on the stone floor. Tindomiel looks up slowly. Her eyes squint slightly at the fel fire's glow, but she doesn't look away. Tears form and hiss into nothingness the moment they are born. He reaches a hand up and almost touches her face. “Never with two eyes before…." he whispers.
She nods and gently replies, “It’s all right.” Forosuul traces a taloned finger along her cheek, the scaly texture leaving a rough white mark as it passes. Tindomiel leans into it, unflinching.
Forosuul steps back, the stern expression returning. “My apologies. I should not take liberties.”
“Don't...please...don't pull away,” she pleads.
“It's just been so very long…."
Her voice softens, “I know.”
Forosuul shook his head, whispering, “Much, much longer for me, Tindomiel.” Tindomiel looks up, confused. Forosuul sighs heavily.
“It's been four years, Foro. Four years without you.”
Forosuul laughs bitterly, only to stop at the hurt expression on her face. “Ten thousand.”
“Ten...but..that's not possible!”
“Most of it locked up with a madman.”
Tindomiel’s knees fail her and she drops on the floor. Her eyes are wide, darting from one thing to the next. Her mind raced as she looks up at him, then back to the room. Quiet whispers escape her lips, “This is another dream...Now I know it is. I'm dreaming of him again. Go away....no...I can’t…” She covers her head with her arms, desperately hoping she is not losing her mind. Again.
Forosuul kneels before her speaking gently, “This is no dream, Nightingale. But I will leave if you wish.”
Tindomiel looks up, her eyes searching his face. Without a word, she threw her arms around him. “Never again...don't you dare. I could not bear it again.” Forosuul sighs and slowly wraps his arms around her. “I should have said it, all those years ago. But I was waiting. And then you were gone.” Forosuul looks confused. Tindomiel says, “Gods above, are you still so oblivious?” All Forosuul could do is blink. “I love you Forosuul. I have for a very long time.”
His face grows pained, unable to say what he truly feels. He responds quietly, “You cannot love one such as I, Tindomiel.” He releases her, pulling back from her grasp.
“Isn't that my choice?”
“I am not the man you knew.”
“Oh no?”
“What is within me now makes me unfit for your company,” Forosuul slumped to the ground. “This was a mistake, I should not have come…” he whispered. Forosuul pulls a folded letter from his waistband. “I found this in my house...and I couldn’t stay away…."
Tindomiel reaches out for it, her hand shaking. “You found it...gods...I don't even know why I wrote it. It was just something I needed to do.”
Forosuul nods absently. “Tindomiel, you do not know the things I have done.”
“No, I don't. But I know you. I know who you are.”
Forosuul looks at her sharply, “You think so?” Tindomiel nods. Forosuul laughs bitterly. “I went to Edre'thas, Tindomiel, looking for you. You were supposed to be there, doing research.” Her face falls. He continues, “When I got there, you were missing, and they had a story ready for me. They said you’d been killed when Satyrs broke into the Atheneum. Your family had done a good job making it look real. Even paid off some of the old highborn to lie to me.”
Tindomiel’s face twists, anger growing. Her voice comes out a hiss, “They pulled me out of there...showed me your bloody clothes. Told me you'd been attacked in the night while you slept. I was forced to go with them.”
Forosuul nods. “I stalked the catacombs there for days, killed every Satyr I could find, trying to find out what happened. Finally I snapped.” Tindomiel looks at him, pained. “I got a bright idea. I would stop what happened to you. By making sure you never met me.” He pauses a moment, his voice growing quiet. “By making sure I didn’t exist.” Tindomiel mouth falls open, she starts to say something, but it is apparent she doesn't know where to begin. “So off I went, to the Caverns. And there I found me a young bronze dragon. I made off with him, tied him up in a basement somewhere and went to work on him. Took a while, but eventually I "convinced" him to use his power over the time stream and send me back. He had the last laugh, I guess….”
Somewhat horrified she asks, “Send you back...To when? Where?”
Forosuul laughs bitterly. “Way back. The War of the Ancients.”
Tindomiel’s eyes fly open wide. “What?!” Forosuul nods. “But that's...Foro you couldn't possibly have…” She shakes her head. “That wouldn't accomplish anything! I wasn't even born yet!”
“I figured if I could make enough things different, I could change everything. You'd never meet me, maybe I’d never exist. Then you’d be ok…”
A tear rolls down each of her cheeks. “But Foro...no...I...you were the only one who…” Her voice trails off as she looks down at her hands, trying to understand it all.
“People who get close to me die. That's all I know. So I wasn’t going to let it happen.”
“So what happened? Because I am here, and so are you. “
Forosuul sighs, “I met him. Illidan.”
Tindomiel looks a little scared for the first time. That name sending chills through her, despite having helped in his downfall years ago. “Him. You met…Him.”
Forosuul nods. “I saw what he could do, and I said to myself....that. I need that. That's a lever that could move the world….”
Tindomiel swallows hard. “So you...chose, this?”
Forosuul nods, “Illidan himself trained me. Figured out how to change me, gave me my tattoos.” He says it in such a simple matter of fact way, that she is almost stunned at the lack of emotion attached.
She sighs. “Then I suppose it's a good thing I have been here...studying what I have.” Forosuul looks at her curiously. “You aren't the only one who has changed, Foro.” He shakes his head, confused. Tindomiel raises herself up off the floor, thin tendrils of shadow beginning to creep around her arms. After a moment, they surround her, wrapping her completely. Forosuul’s eye sockets go very wide. He stands and steps back. “Mother wanted a priestess. She got one.”
“You....renounced druidism?”
“I left that part of me when I had nothing left in this world. Continuing that path was too painful.” Forosuul just stares, watching the flow of shadow with rapt attention. “After two years, I was dragged from my rooms and forced to finish what I started before we met. I had neither the strength, nor will to fight it.” Tindomiel raises a hand and twists the shadow around, creating long wisps that reach toward him. “Recently, Khadgar allowed me to spend some time reading here. If he knew what I was studying, he probably wouldn't have.”
“Tindomiel...I...I am sorry for this. I am sorry they did this to you, but….It changes nothing...I am a monster.”
“No, you aren’t.”
“I always was, Tindomiel, you just never knew. But now...I am a monster carrying an even worse monster.” Tindomiel’s face hardens. “You are not safe around me.” Forosuul stiffens. He grabs her hand, placing it forcefully on one of the horns erupting from his head. “Feel that?” His tone is agitated, but bears no malice.
Tindomiel tugs it toward her own face. “So you have horns. I don't care. If you are trying to scare me away, it's not going to work.”
Forosuul grabs her other hand, puts it on his shoulder where the scales are bony and coarse. “Do you know what these are?”
“Extra armor,” she replies, almost smug.
“These are the demon coming out.”
Trying another tactic, “If I am understanding your story correctly, you have had that demon inside you for ten thousand years?” Forosuul nods. “And in ten thousand years, he has not gained control?”
Forosuul tilts his head to one side, “It is a constant struggle.” With a cruel grin, he morphs into a demon, nearly doubling in height. “One day that could happen Tindo, and never go back.”
“And until it does, I will be at your side.” Forosuul scowls. Tindomiel says, “You really don't understand do you?…I guess this never was for you, what it was for me.”
Forosuul looks hurt. “That is unfair.”
“Then give me the chance to be with you.” She whispers, “To have you back, no matter what has changed is a gift I could never have dreamed of.”
“I am trying to save you, Tindo. That is all I was ever trying to do! Every time you urged me into your bed and I slept on the floor. All I was trying to do was save you from me!”
“That makes no gods damned sense!”
“I was dangerous even then, and now it is a thousandfold worse.”
She snaps, tears streaming down her face, “Stop trying to save me and just be there! With me! Do you not know you saved me before? All those years we were together, you saved me! And then YOU WERE DEAD! I had no one! No one to help me...I was alone again,” she shrieked. It was unintended, but he didn’t understand.
“If I saved you from them, how did they get you back? It looks like I did a pretty shitty job of it.” Forosuul sinks to the floor again. Very quietly he says, “I am a curse….”
Tindomiel waves the shadows away, and joins him on the floor. “You have been my savior. You showed me the world beyond Mire's walls. You taught me how to hold my head up.”
“I went back to save you...and the fate would not allow it, and now, if I stay away, it is even worse, and if I stay, I could be your death….” He stares at his hands. “What gods have I so offended….”
“Somehow, I think you are far stronger than you believe yourself to be. You found me again. Please...stand at my side once more?” She looks at him, her eyes pleading. “Please stay?”
“Tindomiel...look at what I am…..” Matter of factly he says, “If you understood, you’d be running for the horizon right now.”
“If you did, you'd never be suggesting what you are now.” She countered him, not giving any ground. Forosuul scowls. “I love you, Forosuul. I have loved you for a very long time. I would not survive if you leave me again. Please, do not push me away.” Tindomiel reached a hand out to him. He sighs then reaches out and takes it. Her eyes fill with tears. “Gods... you are back...you are really back.”
“Am I? Is it even really me? Ten thousand years, Tindomiel.....the man you knew is long gone.”
Doing her best to sound reassuring, “He’s still here. Why else would you have come?”
Forosuul sighs. “You were the reason I did all of this…” Tindomiel looks at the floor. “I found your letter...what else could I do?”
Barely above a whisper, she replies, “You could have thrown it into the fire and walked away. But you came.”
“That I could not do…"
“Just like I couldn't leave your house without writing it.” Forosuul sighs. “We have each other back. And I for one, think that there is a good reason for it. No matter what came before, we get another chance...how can we not take it?” Forosuul looks anguished. Tindomiel gently asks, “Do you trust me?”
“I do.”
Tindomiel smiles. “Then let me help you? Let me help you find yourself, in spite of everything that has happened.”
Forosuul makes a gesture over his face. “Do you know what this really means?”
“Not fully, no. But I know you are forever committed to it.”
“Do you understand what that means?” Tindomiel shakes her head. “My only purpose is to hunt down and destroy the Legion. The Illidari aren't keen on people with outside interests. If they feel my dedication is wavering, they may hunt me down. And even if they don't, I will be in danger at all times.”
“Then I will be at your side. I can help. I will not take that purpose from you.” Forosuul sighs. Tindomiel squeezes his hand tightly. “We used to fight side by side, you and I. We can do it again.”
He lets out a small wry smile. “I am not sure if I am not getting though to you or if you just don’t care.”
“Oh, you are getting through. But when I said I cannot lose you again, I meant it. So if you mean to keep fighting the Legion, then I will fight with you.”
“I am not worth throwing away your life.”
“You are my life, Forosuul. You have been since the time we met.”
Forosuul smirks ever so slightly. “I don’t recall you being that impressed at the time.”
“I was a pain in the ass and terrified of everything around me.” She looks at him, abashed. “Forgive me? For how we started?”
Forosuul looks up at her. “Has my accent improved?”
Tindomiel barks out a laugh, truly smiling for the first time in years. “It's getting there.”
Forosuul chuckles softly, then sighs. “You're not going to take no for an answer.”
“Have I ever?”
“Not when it mattered.”
“You're learning.” Forosuul smiles faintly. “So...does this mean you are moving back to Ironforge?”
“I suppose so. The Illidari only just reawakened, we are still figuring out the details.” He stands abruptly, his tone becoming serious again. “The Illidari have a base of operations on Mardum, a commandeered Legion ship.” Tindomiel rises, nodding.
“Are you expected to be there?” / “I am expected there.”
Tindomiel chuckles.
“Do something for me.”
“What? Anything, everything…”
“Think very carefully about everything I have said. Very carefully, Tindomiel, promise me.”
“I will. Don't expect my answer to change though.” Forosuul gives an exasperated sigh. Tindomiel smiles. “There he is.” He stifles a laugh, trying to look stern. She giggles.
“I will return to Ironforge in three days. If you are not there, I will shutter the house permanently, and I will never return.”
“I will be there. I promise you. Be safe. As safe as you are able?” she offers, unsure what the right choice of words is.
“Safe is no longer part of my world.” Tindomiel grabs onto him, squeezing with all of her might. Forosuul slowly wraps his arms around her, awkwardly.
Tindomiel smiles into his chest. “Go. I don't want to be the cause of upset. I will see you in three days.”
“Just think about it, ok?”
“I have.”
“No snap decisions.” Tindomiel makes a face. “I'm very serious, Tindomiel.”
“So am I, Forosuul.”
Forosuul sighs. “Farewell, Tindomiel.”
“See you soon, Foro.”
Forosuul steps back and bows. Pulling a stone from his pocket, he utters a word and begins to fade from sight. She watches him until there is nothing left to see. Standing alone again in the library, she smiles. Tears roll down her cheeks, born of pure love and joy. “I will see you again, so very soon.”
Part 1
Part 2