If I Could Tell Her

[Music Inspo]

The war in Outlands had been raging for some time. Arturus had been acting off and aloof, causing Brianithill to begin to doubt and worry. Seeing those of their homeland who had defected to the enemy had proven troublesome. When orders came that Bri and others were to head Netherstorm, her stomach twisted into knots at hearing that Arturus had been ordered to help conquer the fel riddled areas of Shadowmoon Valley. Neither were in position to argue their placements, or against the orders set before them. Arturus had been shipped out nearly immediately after receiving orders, while Brianithil had been sucked into a meeting with the other magi on how to locate where the traitorous Prince and his followers. With heavy heart and mind, Bri had trekked with the others to Cosmowrench to begin scouting and determining the Prince's plans from afar.

Bri found herself standing on the edge of the rocky abyss one night, letting the cosmic winds whip around her as she stared up at the Draenei's large hijack ships. Her mind wandering to her estranged lover, leaving her guard down as another came wandering up beside her.

"Good Evening, Magistrix." The man's voice caught her attention.

She turned her head to eye the young man standing beside her, dressed in soldier's garbs. One of the lower ranked foot soldiers that had been sent to work with her and her task force.

"Good evening." She spoke quietly, "Did you need something?"

"You seemed distracted. I thought I'd come offer a coin for your thoughts." He responded, taking off his helmet and hooking it on his belt.

"Merely worried. Just someone close to me has been acting strange.. I just-.. I'm concerned. My father has already defected to the Prince's side. I'd rather not see another." Bri brought her hands up to hug her arms.

"What reason would he have to defect?" The man inquired lightly, a small smile tugging on his lips.

She looked away, sighing a bit, "I don't know.. It's just a nagging feeling. Arturus isn't one to be open about such things."

"So it's Arturus? The one sent to Shadowmoon?" The man folded his hands behind his back, staring out at the sky.

"Yes.. Though I'm not sure how much I should speak for the subject." She gripped her arms more.

"Your worries are a bit silly, My Lady. He thinks quite highly of you. I'd doubt he'd defect while you remained here." The man said confidently.

"What makes you say that?" She peeked towards the stranger curiously.

"He talks often about you. Words of praise." He shrugged his shoulders as he closed his eyes a moment.

"About what?" She turns a bit to face the man, watching his expression with keen interest.

"He says you're amazing." He began, "Your smile is like a shining sunlight, full of warmth and welcome. He talks of how when you begin to daydream, your eyes will gleam in the candlelight and your fingers tap against your legs as if playing music."

Bri began feeling the heat rise to her cheeks, "Really?"

He nods, "He would often talk to the other rangers when off duty about you. About how pretty it was when you put streaks of blue in your hair. How elegant you looked when you danced- and how you could light up rooms with your presence."

She felt a small smile beginning to creep on her lips, "Did he say anything else?"

"Plenty. He said you always looked adorable filling out those quizzes in those Goblin Magazines." The man chuckled, causing more blush to rise to her cheeks, "But he keeps it all inside his head. What he sees, he leaves unsaid. He could never find a way to talk to you, but he'd always tell us. 'If I could tell her, how she's everything to me. But we're a million worlds apart, and I don't even know how to start. How do I tell her?'."

"Really?" She blinked in surprise.

"He says you look amazing under moonlight- be it covered in blood of enemies, or in just a late summer dress." He continued on.

"How do I know you aren't just saying these things to make me feel better?" Bri stared the man down.

"Hm.. You don't. But you can." He held up a hand, sand forming in his palm before moving to form a sphere to peek into.

There in the orb was Arturus, sitting on the edge of a planter box and looking off in a lovesick haze. The voice coming from the orb was one of familiarity to Bri yet she couldn't place it.

"Why don't you just go over and tell her?" The voice asked in an annoyed tone.

"Cause we're a million miles away. She's like the sun.. and I'm merely some blade of grass. She'd never take interest in me." Arturus sighed heavily as his shoulders slumped.

"I think you're putting her too high up on that pedestal. Honestly seems kinda bitchy to me." The voice continued onward.

"Hey! Watch your tongue!" Arturus got up and towards the viewpoint, "You don't know anything about her!"

The image faded and the sand blew away.

"Still don't believe me?" The man smirked to the woman.

She brought her hands to her chest as a smile grew on her lips, her gaze casting down as she felt the butterflies in her stomach like the first day they had met, "No. I believe you now."

"Good. So don't worry about it. He'll never leave you behind." The man remarked, moving to pluck his helmet from his waist, "Try not to stay out too late. Best not to get sick before storming the ship."

"Right. I'll be back shortly." Bri waved the man goodbye as he left.

Caste Out

[Music Inspo]

Jealousy is a terrible disease amongst the remaining magisters. They stroke their egos and attempt to reign and control those who have struggled with strife. Even now, with the Sin'dorei's magic being at an all time low due to the destruction of the Sunwell, they continued with their arrogance.

As word began to spread amongst the echelons, Brianithill found herself within boiling water with the other children of Magisters..

"You must be out of your mind." Came the voice of an infuriated man.

Bri turned in time to catch the sight of a long blonde haired elven man before he was grabbing her by her shoulders to shout at her.

"Do you know what this could do to your standing? A lowborn?" His lips curled into a snarl.

She raised her hand to slap his from her, "Nolien. Such insolence is unbecoming. What are you prattling on about?"

"The boy! The one you've entered a courtship with! A wayward knight, at best!" The man continued, "You know that you were to begin a courtship with one of the men of court! How would your family look upon you now?"

With a twitch of her brow, Bri grabbed the man by his robe, "You know I could not give a damn what that vile woman thought of me. The other men of my standing are clueless imbeciles seeking power that they cannot control."

His hands clamped onto her upper arms, a spell going off as she was brought out to a field within the woods.

"What is the meaning of this?" She hissed angrily.

"A reminder of who you are and what you should be striving for!" The man shoved her away as his hands caught alight.

"You of all people should remember how many I have defeated in these pitiful duels." Bri's eyes began glowing with arcane as she raised a hand.

"Yes, but how well can you handle more?" Nolien retorted with a sneer.

Her eyes darted around, noting the three other shadows amongst the trees.

"I see. So you're all cowards." Her lips curled into a snarl, the ground around her beginning to frost over.

"If you wish to consort with lowborn scum, then you'll be treated like lowborn scum." Nolien stated, flames erupting from his hand.

"Call him Lowborn again, and I'll decapitate you, Phoenixblood." Her words were sharp as glass, "Ani-belar!"

With the words, ice crystallized in the air and shot at those hiding in the trees as she charged forward towards Nolien, drawing a blade from her hip. The man teleported behind her to avoid the sword strike as he pulled a bow from the air and created an arrow made of flames as he pulled the wire back. The various elves avoided the ice and the battle began.

The young Magistrix had trained for battle, those around her had trained for politics. Ice ensnared the youngest girl to a tree as she had remained still to try and conjure a Pyroblast. Bri's robe tore as she narrowly avoided the blades of arcane launched from another.  The attempt of flame, fel, and arcane towards her all fell as each were trapped or knocked unconscious. Nolien was the last but found little mercy.

"You betray your caste." Nolian spat blood at her.

"No. You betrayed your people." Bri's blade pierced through the man, drawing gasps of pain from him, "Remember this as a lesson. Next time I will ensure you and your conglomerate die in these woods for attacking me or my love."

She flicked the blade, scattering the blood on the grass before putting it away to begin her trek home.

Life within Death

[Music Inspo]

The world was made of tiny moments. Ones that allow relief to the mind and soul. Brianithill had believed that life would just continue as survival of the fittest. The Dread Scar- a reminder to the traitorous actions of man, and the hollowing call that death brings. Much like a phoenix, from the ashes arose something new. The Blood Knights. Most of the upper echelons were against such an order, rousing in rage. Her father would've spoke out as well, had he not joined the Prince in the march to seek aid. She often found herself scolding the older Magisters, as she was left in charge of her families home. Her mother had fallen during the storming as word went, and news had returned of her sister's demise when she had been shipped out with the rest of the children during the siege. Everything felt like a survival situation, even when it was merely rebuilding. The magisters plotted in the shadows with the Prince gone. They grasped for power and control, with their opponents often being from the Farstriders and Blood Knights and those opposed to their reach. Every move she made was now against dozens, waiting for a single slip to scream foul.

It started innocently enough. An Autumn Lily upon her window sill. Plucking the delicate flower from it's resting place, she found herself searching and confused. She couldn't recall which house used such a flower as a message. Was it a threat or a courtship gesture? She would leave the flower in a vase before leaving for her normal duties.

Everyday was routine, head to market to gather what she needed for the evening. Go about and fetch herbs for the medics. Spend the afternoon handling deals and meetings with the other houses. Then returning home to eat and try to curb the pains of arcane withdraws. Then come morning, she'd find a new Lily waiting for her.

She found comfort in it, though it was driving her curiosity mad. The strange man still did not appear to give any answers either. So attempted to ask the local florists if they knew, but their lists were jumbled messes and of no help. Finally she gave up on her routine for just one day to try and find what stranger was leaving such notes on her window.

She kept hidden from sight, deep within the foliage of the near by tree. The normal guards did their patrols, and for a time she wondered when it was the person would show or how she'd know. Finally, a knight in dark crimson and black hair crept to her window. She slipped from her perch, getting ready to move towards him from behind. As he placed another Lily upon the windowsill, the young Magistrix weaved a spell to freeze his feet in place.

"Aha! I got you!" She spoke in triumph, quickly approaching the stranger.

A chuckle escaped him, raising his hands, "That you did."

As she moved to inspect his face to see who had been coming by, she blinked at his dorky grin. A knight! Her cheeks began to glow faint pink as she took in his features.

"Care to explain yourself?" All confidence in her tone had begun to waiver.

And with such a simple thing, the courtship began to bloom- much to the chagrin of the older Magisters.

The Fall

[Music Inspo]

Whispers filled the woods and city. The boy prince of the human kingdom is knocking on the gates of Quel'thalas. Bri found herself anxious as she paced among her gardens. If the undead breached the walls, then the Farstriders would face heavy combat.. Meaning her new interest would be in danger. Her gut twisted and fear chilled her veins, distracting her as she turned and ran head first into a familiar stranger.

"What- How did you get in here?!" The woman looked up at the scrawny man, quickly standing upright.

"There's no time. You must head to the woods. The undead are coming." The man informed her.

"No.. Not possible.. The gate-" She began to argue, despite her instincts telling her the man spoke truths.

"Now's not the time to argue. You are in danger and must go. He will find you out there, but only if you leave now." The man gently grasped her arms to shake her.

Peering into his gaze, she knew he was correct. Without another protest, she grabbed her satchel with a spellbook and some basic survival necessities and ran from home. She didn't stop for anyone, her long ears flicking back as she began to hear screams in the distance behind her. The man had been correct.. Saved her yet again.

As she fled deep into the woods, she finally stole a glance back to see some people with her, but the smoke that rose in the distance and the screams kept them moving forward. She refocused forward as she ran to a place further in the woods, one she knew would harbor the refuges until the knights or rangers could come find them.

The group hid among the trees and hills. Bri had set up wards around them for precaution, keeping vigil while the others rested. They were all villagers from the outer towns, and none of which knew any true combative skills. So she told herself, as the daughter of two magisters, that it would be her duty to see them safe until rescue could come.. If it ever came.

Weeks had past, more survivors had been found and brought to their hideaway. She had gotten a few villagers to be able to cast basic spells to keep safe. Some rangers and knights had made their way but were often battered and near death. Bri would spend most evenings skulking through the woods to gather herbs, shells, and other such natural items to create makeshift medical supplies.

As night began to fall, the stranger returned to her once more. She felt concern at his presence, could their home be in further danger?

"It is safe.. You can lead them all back now, child." The man said, adjusting the snowy colored cloth of his robe.

"What do you mean?" The young woman asked, brows furrowing.

"The undead have passed. Remanants of your people are attempting to rebuild.. but know it will cause a great toll on all of you." The man warned, staring at her past his hood.

"A toll?" She laughed weakly, "Surely losing our home is toll enough.."

"This is merely the beginning. Be prepared, child." He spoke again, before disappearing from sight.

She let out a sigh, glancing at her camp and then preparing everyone to venture home.

What will await her return?

A Twist in Fate

[Music Inspo]

The young elven woman found herself on the outskirts of the city of Silvermoon, once more having fled from a disagreement with her mother. She had gone so far out of her way to avoid the guards that were meant to watch her, that she now found herself lost. She knew the way back to Silvermoon, and instead decided to find the nearest path and follow it away. The curls of apricot fell around her face, as her slender fingers brought themselves up to cast a spell to summon her cloak so as to hide her identity as she began to traverse the roads of Quel'thalas. Traversing the road of Eversong was a rather easy task, and she found herself able to blend into crowds to avoid any searching guards. The political machine that was the Magisters was always troublesome for one born to two of their caste. 

Brianithill found herself wandering into the small village of Fairbreeze. The township was rather unassuming, with Farstriders abound and training to fight the Amani. She kept her cloak pulled tight around herself as she tried to both inspect the area around her, while also trying to keep out of sight of any notable figures. Having not kept a good eye on where she stepped, the young woman found herself smacking into an older kinsman, stumbling back and falling on her rear.

"What do we have here? You should be more careful of where you tread, child." A man's voice spoke quietly to her, before helping her stand.

Her ocean gaze searched the features of the elder before her, noting the bright orange hair upon his head and the thin form of his body. 

"My apologies, sir.. I must've been further lost in thought then I first believed." She bowed her head before pulling her hood back up to hide.

"No apologies needed, Young Miss. What has your mind so astray?" The man fiddled with the hem of his sleeve. 

"Ah- I was thinking on.." She let her eyes flitter around to find something to grasp for use, ".. how the savage trolls seem to possess an odd magic. I was curious how they are able to craft such spells." 

There was a small crinkle of amusement in the corner of his mouth, "I see. Perhaps you should go take a closer look sometime? Perhaps with the Farstriders."

"Perhaps.." She took a step back, "I should stop taking up your time, have a good evening."

Before he could speak further, she quickly wandered off to find a place to hide once more. Though the conversation had been a simple excuse, she found her thoughts wandering to the suggestion. She could conceivably head deep into the woods where the Amani hid and try to study their crafts given how powerful their nature runes were. With power such as hers, it would surely be easy! At least, she had believed.

Once deep within the forest, the young woman found herself hidden behind only a small amount of rock formations near one of the Amani villages. She kept herself cloaked and a spell sustained to remain invisible, but she did not dare venture further- in case the spell was to fail. She watched a few trolls shout amongst themselves, as well as more prepare freshly caught food or carve runes into the wood of their primitive weapons. She lost her focus on her spell for a moment as she tried to further examine the rune from a distance. With her spell faltering, several trolls began to wandering towards her hiding place. Before she could react, an arrow flew past her head and into one of the brutes before her. She felt time slow down as her mind tried to comprehend what had happened around her. Hands grasped her arm and yanked her out of reach of an axe, weapons clashing in her ears and the colors of Farstriders blocked her view of the fight as she was pulled along and away. The scent of blood the only clue to her that something was amiss. Her vision blurring before fading to black.

When she returned to consciousness, she was once more in her home with a worried governess fretting over her as an unfamiliar man in white- a cleric- was over her, tending to wounds.

"Wha-" She had tried to speak but the governess's cries had drowned out any thoughts.

"Why did you go near those beastly creatures!" The shrill voice of her mother interrupted as she strode from across the room, "Do you know how this looks on us that you did something so brash?"

"Now is not the time to scold her.. She needs to rest, she had lost a fair bit of blood. Be thankful the Farstriders found her when they did." The medic gave a dismissive hand to the magistrix.

Her mind tried to regain and understand, and that's when the pieces began to fit together. Her spell had been faltering, an Amani had come up beside her while she was getting ready to run, the pain in her side and scent of blood before the shouts of command and arrows flew from Farstrider's coming to raid the trolls village. Why had she thought to listen to the strange man she had run into? It was unlike her... She closed her eyes and prepared for the battle she would face with her mother later that evening.

A Mother's Decision

Magistrix Aledori Solargift was a proud woman. Having married high within society, to a well-respected Magister, she had plans in place to carry out her goals of political control. Magic was the font and breath of High Elf society, and she wanted to be known for bearing the strongest magic casters within the high society families. When it was discovered she was to bear a child, she felt a swell of pride as she was able to maintain her duties and pregnancy. Though upon the birth of the child, she felt resentment. She had hoped for a male heir to help gain prestige. Instead, she was gifted a daughter by fate. That daughter was Brianithill. Aledori held no regards for the child, allowing hired hands to help tend to the child's needs until the day she was old enough to begin training her magic.

Bri held a large font of power within her, though the young girl often had the itch of wanderlust. The child, dressed in splendor, would often sneak out from under the watchful gaze of her guardians. She would explore among the woods of Eversong, carefully studying and sketching the herbs and flowers that littered the land around. Dirt clung to the edge of her robes and hands stained various colors from her attempt to carefully dig and move plants around. After many adventures, her mother felt the rage and disappointment at the lack of study focus. A decision made.

"You will either improve upon your skills.. Or I will marry you off like a simple doll you wish to be." Aledori hissed at the young girl.

She was obedient and focused on her studies, but took to them far too quickly then intended. Her skills were beginning to shadow her own mothers and her mind sharpened like a blade. She would use her mother's words against her, and spite her at every turn. Her mother got her wish, but it was from the corrupt genie ready to play and twist her words like a knife.