Gifts of Hope & Joy

It was just really good to get out and about tonight. I know that Rory and Tazzi are likely very put-out with me for being up and around right after being shot -- again -- by my assailant, but I cannot abide being cooped up in recovery for another several days. I needed to be out and moving, to say nothing of the fact that this meeting between Hakiro and Borador was important. If I am to help Hakiro overcome their own bias against the Alliance, I must needs start somewhere. So we began tonight.
 
I toured both Hakiro and Borador through Mulgore, beginning at Red Rocks and circling our way around to the north then east until we got back around to the Great Gate. Along the way, I gave them snippets of shu'halo lore and history, explaining the significance of certain features of the land or some of our ancient enemies, like the Grimtotems and the gnolls. Hakiro was waspish a time or two with poor Borador, but the dwarf bore the brunt of it without complaint, doing his best to answer their questions. As we walked, we learned some of Borador's own insights into his people, their mistakes that they have made -- things that I hoped would show Hakiro that not all Alliance believe us to be callous monsters and beasts. That there could be good, honest people among their numbers.
 
I am not sure if I was successful or not, but I would not have expected to be after a single night spent in Dori's company. It was a start, though. I am still curious as to what Hakiro might have wished for as we stood upon the Great Gate and watched the falling star shoot across the heavens. I wished for a revitalized Taurajo, one where people from all walks of life could come together, that it could usher in a new age of peace and prosperity for the shu'halo as all the exports of Mulgore could pass into this New Taurajo and find trade and commerce among all races and all creeds. I think that would be a fitting legacy for the Silvermane and for Taurajo, to turn our tragedy into triumph. Dori's wish was not far removed from mine, he wished for the armistice to continue, for peace to endure, so that all could come together and share their knowledge, explore together, and do even more of what the Dragonscale Expedition has already been doing. They were good wishes and Hakiro said that they hoped both of ours came true.
 
When Hakiro departed she bade farewell to me and even to Borador, so I took that as another good sign. Small steps. Gracious ones. I will take my small victories where I find them. Left to our own devices, Dori and I, we chatted for a while longer about our ages and just how long we planned to continue exploring and adventuring together. I surmised I have another good ninety or so years before all is said and done. I am not sure how long dwarves live, but probably longer than a shu'halo. Borador said he would just have to endure putting up with me for that long. What suffering!
 
Still, I am always glad of his company, even miss it on occasion when my mind and my world are so consumed with danger and tragedy and pain. Granted, much of that has quieted in recent weeks -- the calm before the storm, Qiao called it -- but that does not mean that these excursions with Borador are no less welcome. He seemed flattered by the idea that he was thought of and missed, but on the same token he said that he looked forward to seeing me every time we arranged a meeting, so I think the feeling is more or less mutual. Which is how I prefer it, really. I never look to need or want someone more than they do me. I look to be an equal, a partner, someone who is sought after even as much as she does the seeking -- whether in friendship, in camaraderie, or anything else. I want to be an equal. I think Rory and Borador may be the only ones that understand this about me.
 
I returned to Thunder Bluff once Borador took off for home and was almost immediately found by Rory. He worried for my injury and wanted to make sure I was all right. It is endearing how much he goes out of his way to take care of me these days, to make sure that I'm well-tended and hale, even happy. He did something with some odd little crystal, though, that told him something worrisome. He said that if my injury did not improve that he was going to call in a favor with someone to have it dealt with, someone who is well-versed in Void magic. A Kul Tiran priest. While I am reformed from my hatred of the Alliance, it worries me when Rory has dealings with these... less-than-savory elements of his past and his social network. All it takes with such people is one wrong move for you to earn your way to their bad side. Elizaveta is a prime example, albeit an extreme one.
 
Rory also spoke to me quite vehemently of weddings, how he wanted to begin with a tauren wedding, then a wedding with his caravan -- then to go through all the other races and their marital customs until we have performed them all. Granted, this is all in some far-flung future when Rory is finally free of Elizaveta's clutches and I am no longer beneath the shadow of my assassin. The latter seems to be coming faster than I would have thought, given that she is now in custody with the Thunder Bluff authorities. Tazzi and Rory have an opportunity here to interrogate her, but I am not sure how much time I can really garner for them for the task. While I may be well-respected as a Sunwalker that goodwill only gets me so far.
 
Tazzi was meant to be helping Dezaroak with his soul unification ritual this evening. I can only hope that it has gone well. I worry for Tazzi all the time, being surrounded by those incompetent Arcanum miscreants. I know they mean well and they have clearly survived this long, but how much of that is through sheer luck and An'she's Grace? They are not the kinds of people I would call on in a crisis, they can barely seem to handle their own affairs with any kind of aplomb.
 
Once he was assured of my well-being, Rory and I traveled to -- of all places -- Deepholm. I have never been! Rory said that it is the Elemental Plane of Earth. I am not sure I have ever traveled to another Plane of Existence! Oh, but it was a marvel to behold! There was this giant purple stone in a cavern we found. It was ALIVE and I could hear it rumbling this song, almost like the Naaru do, but this was something deep and primal. Rory said that only shaman can hear it usually back on Azeroth, but here where there is naught but Earth their song reigns supreme. There was a life and a rhythm to it all its own, unlike anything I have ever before experienced. In feeling this, I could understand somewhat about the Incarnates and why they would be so angry at the Titans for trying to bereft them of this power. But it is as Rory says, they must learn to live in harmony with the world and each other, because that is how best the universe exists -- in order and harmony. Chaos only breeds more chaos.
 
There within the violet light of this earthen pillar, Rory told me that he had traveled the world looking for me. For me. As if the whole of his life, his experiences, were merely stepping stones to bring him within my orbit. That he would love me, no matter what world we existed upon. If his life ended tomorrow, then he would die happy for having had time with me. If his life spanned years, then he would want to live it all beside me. And at the end of our lives, we would immortalize our love in song so that others would carry it forward, unto our next lives where we would be reminded. It touched me to my very heart and beyond.
 
I told him that I wanted to be with him always, until there were no more timelines left and as we stood on the precipice of the End Time -- at the edge of the end of all things -- our magic, whatever power exists between us, would find a way to live again. Rory wept. Not in sorrow, nor grief -- but in joy. He said that he had never before wept in joy and that clearly he must love me so much he sprung a leak. If there were one person in the entirety of the world that I would want to bring such joy to, it would be Rory.
 
Before we left the Plane of Earth, we went to the Temple at the heart of it all and it was there that Rory told me of the origins of the centaur, which in turn led to an in-depth telling of the history of Desolace. But not until after we adjourned from the realm of stone and earth to find somewhere more comfortable so I could rest my leg and be a spoiled princess for a while.
 
Just not Theradras.