The Secret

((This ties in a bit from Rock's and Felora's storyline with the emancipation of Demonstrike.))

Shadiel had just returned with provisions for the group’s journey into Northrend. They had come to Raventusk village to resupply and stage their entry into Northrend. Shadiel was unpacking his provisions when Betrayed came into the area.

“That is a nasty looking wound Rogue.” Shadiel motioned at his own ear and then pointed to the Troll.

Catching Shadiel’s eyes suddenly Betrayed’s own widened and then narrowed at Shadiel.

“I didn’t mean to offend you Betrayed, just wondering how that happened.” Shadiel started to get uncomfortable against the gaze of Rock’s good friend.

“Ya look jus likim man, he bein a bit younger tho.”

At first he didn’t understand but then Shadiel’s soul froze. Then fire came to his eyes.

“I look just like whom? I look like a younger blood elf?”

“Easy mon, easy. One o’ dem Death Knights be lookin’ jus’ like ya I didna mean ta insultya.

Shadiel’s mind was racing, could it really be him. He looked at Betrayed and spoke softly.

“You didn’t happen to get a name?”

“One o’ da otahs be callin him I tink, Errubus.”

Shadiel left Betrayed standing there confused. It was as if the Elf was in a different world. So completely overwhelmed with this new information that he lost track of time or where he was going. When he finally regained his senses Shadiel found himself sitting by the waters with the sun breaking through the distance, it was a new day with a new start.

There was a peace that finally came from the storm that had fueled inside him for so many years. His son was alive. Errubus would need to be found and brought home one way or another

“So you think the Lock can do it Rock?” Shadiel looked at the ex-Warchief druid with a sincere hope in his eyes. Shadiel didn’t trust Kirtan, but then Shadiel didn’t trust any warlock.

“It is the best option we have Shad.” Ashenrock’s countenance was always full of confidence. Shadiel remembered well why he once swore allegiance to this Druid.

“I feel wrong about not being there with you taking on Danomolis.” Shadiel looked at Rock in the eyes looking for any sign of disappointment or betrayal. There was none.

“Get your boy out of there Shad.”

Druid eyes met mage’s for what might be the last time. Shadiel gave a quick bow and blinked himself closer to where the barracks were that Errubus would hopefully be at. He saw Rock’s party with Felora move out. Shadiel placed himself in a hidden position in the shrubbery and waited for Rock’s party to get the fireworks started.

Suddenly shouts came and Shadiel knew it was time. Rock’s attack had begun. Three Death Knights came from the doors of the barracks and started running to the area that Rock was attacking. One of the three was a younger spitting image of Shadiel. The mage steps from the shadows and casts Frost Nova. Each Death Knight was rooted to the ground. Shadiel quickly then speaks the words to a new spell he learned. Suddenly three more of him appeared. The Death knights break through the ice and approach Shadiel and his mirror companions. Two of his images gain the attention of Errubus’ compatriots and they run off with the two Death Knights following closely behind.

“My father was a mage old man. I won’t fall for that trick.” Errubus approached the remaining mirrored illusion and struck it full in the chest. The image collapsed in on itself and then was gone.

“Correction young one, your father is still a mage.” Shadiel slowly took his cowl from off his face and peered deeply into the glowing white eyes of the Death Knight that was his son.

Errubus staggered back, he didn’t know what to do in this situation. The Knight had never planned for an encounter with his father. He had heard rumors of a Blood Mage officer in the infamous Blacktooth Grin but coming face to face with Shadiel, his father, had never played a part in any of even his wildest dreams.

“As a Death Knight of the Lich King I am sworn to destroy you….Father.” Errubus stepped closer.

“I would rather you died by my own hand than allow you to serve those that would destroy everything I have and am in the process of working for.” Having learned from the past, Shadiel’s resonance spoke of an inferno of flames. He had developed these spells in his long absence in the Caverns of Time for this kind of confrontation.

Errubus stepped closer and drew out his two handed axe. Shadiel prepared himself and started casting a Frostfire bolt. Suddenly Errubus looked distracted, his axe dropped and his face contorted with what Shadiel could only describe as sheer pain. Shadiel’s bolt was unleashed and Errubus was hit straight in the chest. Errubus cried out in pain from the blast and sunk to his knees. Shadiel kicked the Knight over on to his back. The mage started to cast a finishing blow.

“I am ready to go Father,” said Errubus as he passed out.

Blood flowed thickly from the wound that Shadiel’s frostfire bolt had dealt him. The knight’s pale color was even paler still. There wasn’t much time as the blow that the knight had suffered was already a killing one. Whatever the Warlock Kirtan had done had weakened all the Knights. Rock had to have been successful. Shadiel couldn’t do it. He couldn’t kill his son. He couldn’t leave him here like this either. Picking up the plated knight was no easy feat. The mage thanked the harsh Grot training he had endured to be able to accomplish something like this. He quickly chants and a portal opens up to Stonard. Mage and Death Knight step through the portal and are gone from Northrend.

“Shadiel El Shadorath you might be a Sythegar but that gives you no right to be a creepy old lecher. Coming into my room at this hour without an invitation mind you?” Apparently word had gotten back to Apollymmi about Shadiel’s ventures into the romantic world of the Grin.

“It’s not like that Scab….I need your help and I don’t want to get regular Grin involved. I would owe you a favor?” Shadiel’s eyes had a desperate look to them. Not many had seen this from the usually emotionally suppressed mage of the Grin.

Sighing to herself, Apollymmi places a cloak around herself and motions Shadiel to lead on. The mage takes her to a small building on the outskirts of Stonard. He opens a door and then locks it behind them. The building has within it a tiny window, a small fire place that is currently burning, and a bed that is occupied by a very still figure. Apollymmi is there at bedside at once.

“What happened, no don’t tell me, you used a spell at close range and now you think I can save this…Death Knight?” Apollymmi drew a quick breath but she kept working.

“Correct. I will owe you, please don’t tell anyone.”

“The damage is severe, why is this one worth so much?” Apollymmi looked closer at the figure and noticed his face. She turns back to Shadiel momentarily in disbelief. She quickly turns back to the fading Death Knight and continues to diagnose him.

“I will do what I can. I can’t promise anything though.” Apollymmi started working furiously. Caught up in her healing she fails to hear Shadiel leave.

“It is in the Gods and that Young Priestess’ hands. I sincerely hope I haven’t made a mistake.”

Apollymmi didn't bother to glance up as she heard Shadiel hesitate by the door.

"I need water, clean towels and my medicine bag. Bring them to me quickly." commanded Apollymmi.

Within minutes, Shadiel was back with the items she requested.

"Is there anything else you require?" asked Shadiel.

"No." she answered as she began treating Errubus' wounds.

"Do you need my assistance?" he asked.

Apollymmi paused just long enough to turn and glare at Shadiel. "I think you've done enough, don't you?" She waved her hand dismissively at him. "Just go."

As she turned her attention back to Errubus, out of the corner of her eye she saw Shadiel flush, but wasn't sure if it was from anger or shame. He set a key down on the night stand.

"This door is to remain locked at all times." ordered Shadiel in a cold voice. "Is that clear?" At her nod, he silently left the room.

"How could someone do this to you?" Apollymmi asked softly to herself as she began treating his wounds.

When she was satisfied she had done all she could and had made him as comfortable as possible, she sat back in her chair with a small sigh and studied him closer. There was something about him that drew her to him. Leaning in, she lightly brushed his hair away from his face. She quickly drew back her hand when his eyes fluttered open and he struggled to sit up.

"Don't sit up." she said. "You are still injured." Gently, she pushed him back down. "What is your name? Mine is Apollymmi."

"It's Errubus." he answered. His eyes met hers. "You saved me."

Apollymmi was checking Errubus’ bandages when Shadiel came in. So intent on the sleeping Death Knight that she hadn’t heard him and Shadiel took a seat behind them to watch the priestess work. Shadiel had known a lot of healers before. Their faces usually impassive when they worked, Apollymmi’s held no such lack of emotion.

“He was more gifted in the arcane arts than I am. He used to watch me when he was but a boy when I did simple tricks for him. To my amazement he would mimic them to me sometimes only a week later. You don’t see many gifted Blood Elves that can do that. As he grew I attempted to surround him with the art, to help boost his growth within it. To my horror he eventually told me how much he hated it. How he was going to join an excursion into Northrend with a military unit as some kind of Soldier.”

Apollymmi who had at first been startled looked over at the nostalgic mage and took a seat on the bed beside Errubus’ sleeping form. She said nothing but looked back and forth from father to son as Shadiel mused on.

“I told him that if he left he would no longer be my son. I wouldn’t allow one so talented to throw away their life to some mundane form of killing. He was better than that, he was an El Shadiel. He didn’t say anything. He just walked over to his sword he had been hiding in his room and left while I had my back turned to him. A month later I was told that his unit had been taken and no bodies were to be recovered. My son was thought to be dead and yet I felt I had been the one to push him to that grave.”

Shadiel took a moment and looked over at Apollymmi, her hand was gently resting on the Death Knights cheek. She noticed the Mage’s attention on that and quickly moved it yet her face looked flushed. She didn’t move away from Errrubus however, she seemed to sit closer to him than before.

“Will he live?” Shadiel’s voice was low and his eyes were intense.

“He is through the worst of it. He will need rest but he will not die and will retain the function that he previously had before his injuries.” The priestess’ eyes glared when she spoke of her patients injuries but they softened when she saw Shadiel look down.

“When he has recovered enough to move I need you and him to get to Dalaran.” Shadiel puts a piece of paper on the table beside him. “This will give you the information you need to get inside their barrier. Wait for me there.”

“And you don’t think I have duties in Stonard? Why should I accept this non-public assignment?” Apollymmi’s eyes flashed at the Sythegar Mage.

“It will be safer for him there for the time being. He has been alone for so very long that I would like him to have someone with him while he recovers. Will you go?”

“I will If only to take him away from the one that almost killed him in the first place.” Apollymmi’s eyes betrayed the excitement she held within them.

“Make sure you pay your respect to Rhonin once inside their city. Tell them that Blood Mage Shadiel will be there shortly to help with their circumstances backed with the entirety of the Blacktooth Grin.” Shadiel started walking to the door and then paused. “I hope you have more luck with this one than other priestesses have had with me.” Shadiel was out the door and Apollymmi stared in wonder at what the Blood Mage meant.

"He trusts you." Errubus' voice was low but strong and then he fell back to sleep.

Flying high above the city of Dalaran and then gradually coming to rest in the docking area, Errubus realized how much he had missed Northrend. The Young Death Knight had spent most of his time in this land; he knew it better than his birthplace of Silvermoon.

“Death Knight Errubus,” A blood elf mage in the robes of the Kirin Tor politely addressed him, “Blood Mage Shadiel El Shadorath awaits you in the halls of the Sunreavers.”

Nodding once Errubus proceeded to the halls where his father Shadiel and the lead of Dalaran and of the Kirin Tor, Rhonin, were speaking. Shadiel waved Errubus over.

“This is my pick. I will have no other lead this Order.” Shadiel points to Errubus and then places a hand on his shoulder. “He knows the layout of Northrend, he is a capable leader and he will maintain ties with my old Clan the Blacktooth Grin, and more than that he has my full trust.”

Rhonin’s piercing eyes looked first at Shadiel and then to Errubus. He stepped back a moment and gazed at them both together. Slowly he nods.

“Prepare him quickly Shadiel and understand that though he may be under your command in the name of the Kirin Tor, he will take care of business that we deem appropriate for his new Order. So long as the greater good of the Kirin Tor is granted we shall not interfere with your extracurricular activities against the alliance.” Rhonin waited for no response and quickly turned to walk out of the chamber.

Errubus looked at Shadiel not fully comprehending what had just happened. Shadiel motioned the Knight to follow and eventually they found a local bar. Placing themselves in the normal corner of this establishment Shadiel began to speak.

“For some odd reason the mages here found me fairly capable.” Shadiel’s sarcasm dripped out like a river hurdling down a waterfall. They have asked for me to stay as counsel to Rhonin for the Horde as well as to help lead the horde mages here against the threat that Malygos still holds. I told them I had duties and that the Grin still needed me. Their solution was to appoint someone I trusted in Stonard to do that for me. Unfortunately circumstances are that the only one I trust that can do that, can’t.”

Errubus looked down. He knew he hadn’t gained the trust of the majority of the Grin, that they wouldn’t have allowed him to hold that kind of power inside their deeply suspicious walls. The Grin were in a different world than the one that Shadiel and his son now lived in. Their methods though at once in harmony had come to a fork. It was a conclusion that had been on Errubus’ mind for some time. The realization that things had come this far to a close was unsettling. He had made good friends there, fought with extraordinary clansmen, and there was a certain priestess for which there was no release from her claim on his soul.

“I told this to Rhonin.” Shadiel took a swig of the booze and nodded once in satisfaction. “Gods this is so much better than Stonard’s….Rhonin had an alternative solution. To make a new Order that would be overseen by me…and led by you. Your job would be to do the same things the Grin have been doing but staying closer to Northrend. If we need supplies you get them for us…from the alliance. If we are having problems with a diplomatic angle against the alliance, you do things undiplomatically. If the Grin need our assistance, you lead your crew with the Grin to help them. I have many duties here in this new station, for the most part you are in charge of the Order of The Obsidian Storm.”

Errubus nodded slowly and thought it over. By starting a new chapter he could still have ties with the Grin and yet not have the internal conflict that would be caused with a Death Knight attempting to take a Warlord’s place. Shadiel had fought long and hard with the Grin to earn that position. The tactics that Errubus had dreamed of but never been able to fully implement would now be within his grasp to lead. While fighting alongside the Grin he would still be able to see friends, see to their needs, and sneak in visits with Apollymmi.

“I see no other way Father, I accept.”

“This is yours then, might want to make sure you make it look like you want.” Shadiel pushes a new tabard to the Death Knight. “You figure out your station title?”

“I guess it wouldn’t be fitting for a Blood Elf to be a Warchief would it? “ Errubus looks over the tabard thoughtfully. “General….Errubus El Shadiel.”

Shadiel raised his mug to his son. “To the Blacktooth Grin.”

Errubus raised his own, “Fear the Grin.”