Leahalani lay beside Danaan. His arm held her still. She knew he had stayed up most of the night watching over her and had finally succumbed to the sweet lure of sleep. She, herself, had cried herself to sleep in his arms only hours before. As she lay there, letting him slumber, her mind began to sort what had happened.

It had been a fluke that she had been found last evening. She had returned to Menethil for supplies and letters. She had filed her reports and gathered more amongst the letters to sort. Stopping near the griffins, she had bent to down to fix her boot. When she looked up, a woman with a horrendous mask of a cat stood over her.

This woman, ordered Leahalani to disarm. At first, she had refused, but looking over her and the way she moved. Leahalani suspected she would not win this battle. She stood slowly and tossed her sword, daggers and bow to the ground.

The woman took Leahalani by the arm and pulled her to the mail station. While the catmasked woman was busy, she slipped the man who watched it for her a note. He knew what to do with it. Leahalani had then been forced to the stables where she knelt. Leahalani had demanded to know why she was detained and the words repeated back to her brought no surprise. "My lady wishes to speak with you."

~Chiabella~ The name brought sadness to her very soul. Did her sister know that the day she had pulled that bow, had been the hardest of her life? Most likely not, nor would she care. What concerned Leahalani was that Dareca was most likely with her. Realizing her death, was most likely at hand. She sent her good-byes to her husband and the Ambassador who had been so helpful to her. She then contacted her lord, her attention on the onyx and not on the woman in front of her.

Leahalani was hard pressed to force Danaan in his whispered pleas to remain away. She would not see him die this day in a futile effort at gallantry. She told neither he nor the Ambassador where she was but if Danaan thought, he knew where she was getting supplies. Her attention was refocused at the sound of footsteps. There before her was Chiabella and .. Dareca.

At first, Leahalani had panicked. She concentrated on her lord, intent on saying her farewell's when Chiabella ripped the onxy from her ear. The pain, was intense for such a small wound.

"Who have you contacted." Chiabella demanded.

Knowing she could not speak her hometongue, Leahalani answered in sarcasm. "I have said my good-byes." Dareca was forced to translate.

"Give me your hearthstone." Tne young woman demanded coldly.

Leahalani quietly retrieved the stone and handed it over. Now, she could only communicate with Danaan and only because he had erred that day and bound her too him. The foolish mistake that he had placed upon her, now had great value. Urgently, she ordered him to stay back, using her rank and not her relationship. If they all died this day, there would be none to make these women pay.

The next demand by Chiabella was no surprise either. She demanded the body of Ivyssa. Leahalani knew, that the only thing keeping her alive at that moment, was the body of Ivyssa. She refused. The anger, that came from Chiabella was palpable. But despite taunts of the painful long death she would have by Dareca, Leahalani held fast. She knew, the only way that she would live is if they did NOT know, where Colvin was.

They pressed more, the threats and taunts washed over Leahalani. Her heart hammered in her chest and she was forced more then once to block Danaan's frantic calls out. Without the onyx, she hadn't the strength to keep up the flow of mental converations. Leahalani held fast, going as far as to tell Chiabella that if she died that day, Colvin would make sure Ivyssa's body was NEVER found.

(Reply) (Thread)

Chiabella turned and walked away. Leahalani was forced to smile at her frustation till it dawned on the young huntress that they had left her alone with Dareca. Dareca stood there, taunting her with death. But the news that came next, stilled her very soul.

"I have orders from the council. A warrant..." The rest of the words were lost on Leahalani as she realized her actions to save her mother had just caught up with her. As she looked up into Dareca's angry eyes, she knew without a doubt, she was going to die.

Keruptis had never answered her letter as to what purpose his words outside the slaughtered lamb had posed. She had searched frantically for meaning in his actions. But at that moment, Darkness washed over her and she felt a great sense of peace. Her death would not be fruitless if it were to come. Of that, she was certain. She, herself, had caused great rifts in friendships. She had sent two paladins down a path of darkness and not light. There was a legacy that would grow from her choices. If it were not to come, then it was as it should be. Her eyes came up to meet Dareca's and for the first time, there was little fear in them.

It was then that she had noticed Surath. She sent an urgent order to Danaan. "Under no circumstances, give Ivyssa to them."

Dareca noticed Surath as well and moved closer to Leahalani, weapon drawn. Leahalani closed her eyes and waited. She did not look at Surath for to speak to him, would be to distract him. She wondered if her dead love could take the huntress. She was not certain and part of her mentally wished he would run as well. She wanted no more deaths of guildmates to be because of her actions.

Suddenly, Surath was bound in a block of ice. Things became crazy. Sentinels rushed over. People began to die. Surath had broke free and was upon Dareca. The moment their blades, clashed. Leahalani jumped and ran. So close to the gates, she made it without challenge. She ran as hard as she could across the bridge and over into the water. A strong swimmer, she had swam far up the coast before finally seeking land.

Without weapons, her skills at moving through the wilds came into play. She stopped for a moment. "Do not act. I have escaped." She ordered Danaan. She heard some confusing thought about Tehrannis leading Chiabella and sent the order once more. "Do NOT give them Ivyssa."

Leahalani ran all the way to the Sundown Marsh were a friend had an outpost and supplies. Leahalani bought a small dagger and drug her cold and tired body to the fire. She knew, it was not safe here. This was the first refuge that lay outside of Menethil. But at the same time, she was winded and had been unarmed. Not a smart feat in the wetlands. She would dry and regroup her thoughts. She sent a message with her waning strength to Danaan to give him her location. It was not long before first Thelesar and then Danaan had arrived.

Thelesar had been distraught, demanding what Leahalani knew of Ivyssa's death. But despite her desire to help the grief of Thelesar, Leahalani knew nothing of how Ivyssa had come to die nor who held the soulstone that bound her. Danaan had arrived and when Leahalani had asked where Tehrannis had gone, his words came crashing down around her. "He leads Chiabella to Ivyssa's body in exchange for your life."

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Leahalani had felt pure anger wash over her. She remembered Tehrannis words from earlier. He had sworn to pay any price to keep her alive. Despite her attempts to explain to him, that death was not something to fear, he had been adamant that he would do anything it took to preserve her. Had the druid not realized that by giving Ivyssa to Chiabella, he had freed Dareca from holding back her sword arm? Anger pulsed through Leahalani. "Order him to not give them Ivyssa."

Danaan's next answer confirmed her worst fears. "He is not answering me."

"Try again!" It was no longer his wife that spoke, but the pure command of a felsworn Pylortes.

"He says you will be angry with him.. and good-bye." Danaan said softly.

Grief swept over her. She had broken her oath to her lord. She had not kept Ivyssa safe. She had broken her oath to Colvin as well, for now she knew not where they would take him. He would resist, but it was unlikely he had enough command of that body to stand against Chiabella. The events of the last few hours, swept over her and she sank to her knees.

But what happened next, she was unprepared for. She felt as if a blade slit across her throat. She felt Colvin cry out... not heard him. It was such an intense pain and the connection severed so suddenly, she collapsed to the floor.

When she awoke once more. Grief swept over her. She burst into tears as the words came out between sobs that they had killed Ivyssa's body. Denial took hold as she repeated again and again that they had done so and tried to make sense of why.

Thelesar reacted as well, tears fell down both women's faces. Finally, reason took hold Thelesar insisted they get Leahalani to safety.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

It had taken some skill and careful planning to get all of them on the next boat to Auberdine. Dareca still stood within the gates of city of Menethil. Finally, at last, they had made it to the boat and to safety.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Thelesar had traveled with them as far as Darnassius. Leahalani's grief and confusion had been nearly as great as that reflected in Thelesar. The one person who had the answers Thelesar needed, was also the one whom she was ordered to kill on sight. Finally, caught in her own delimma of what to do with the paradox, Thelesar had left them.

Danaan and Leahalani had traveled to where they were building a small cabin. It was a hidden spot and defensible. Leahalani had found it some time ago and arranged to give it to Danaan as a wedding present.

"Give me your ring." The cold demand from Leahalani had Danaan producing the ring immediately. His concern and compassion pulsed before her and yet she was having none of it.

Using Danaan's onyx, she sent a call to her lord to report. She made sure in no uncertain terms, that Keruptis knew that Tehrannis had not only given them Ivyssa's body, but had been responsible for Colvin's death as well. When questioned, she reiterated that Tehrannis had broken a direct order given by an inner council member.

Keruptis ordered her to meet with Tehrannis as he had sent a package to her. Furious at this request but loyal to a fault, Leahalani agreed to meet the druid. Keruptis could feel her fury and even apologized for sending the druid since he had not know of the man's transgression but encourgaged the young huntress to go and accept her package.

Leahalani had relayed their order to Danaan. The two returned to Darnassius to await the Ambassador. As she stood waiting, more and more anger filled her very soul. Keruptis had let out that Surath had died in her escape. Her undead love had died that she might live. Danaan's eyes had watched her closely as the very darkness of her heart, seemed to swirl around her. When she saw Tehrannis at a distant, gone was the grief stricken huntress. In her place, stood a very angry, poised Pylortes.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

Tehrannis had faltered in his approach, for Leahalani's anger was palpable. Despite his attempts to apologize, she remained cold and hard. She would hear none of his reasons, excuse.. only reiterating again and again that he had betrayed the order. He had handed her the package, hoping it would soothe her anger. But when Leahalani saw the cold dead stone in his hand, her anger only intensified.

She took the stone into her hand, expecting it to be cold and lifeless. But deep within, she felt a familiar connection. She steeled herself against it immediately. She would not let either man know that Colvin lived. Her anger, at the nearness of his loss, turned once more on Tehrannis.

Finally, she could not take his excuses anymore. "Go to Lord Keruptis and tell him you have done as requested." She ordered.

Tehrannis death was almost certain at that point. "Does a rock.. really mean more to you then me?" He had asked.. or words to that effect.

Her hand had dropped ot the dagger she had purchased. Danaan did not still her. Pure rage flooded through so intensely that she could barely see the druid before her. Only her oaths,.. kept her still. She managed to order him to go once more.

When at last he was gone, she turned her attention inward briefly, consoling the fear and questions Colvin had. She promised him, he would never leave her again unless her lord once again, requested it. Finally, Danaan was able to guide the rage filled huntress back to safety.

When they reached their small hideaway, the anger left as abruptly as it had filled her, leaving her empty. The pain of Colvin's death, the knowledge that Ivyssa's body had died, the death of Surath to save her, the betrayal of Tehrannis to his orders, all these events rushed up in the wake of departing anger. She had burst into tears in the arms of her husband and sobbed until she slept.

Now, laying there the next morning, she was calmer. But in that calm, there was something new. Gone was the young huntress that had sought validation from her lord. Gone was the naive young woman who had thought that blind faith could bring peace. In her place, lay a woman with purpose. She would make sure that one day, Dareca paid for Surath's death. She would watch with pleasure as Tehrannis was forced to work to regain favor. She would wait, till the day she could make Chiabella feel the pain of the loss of someone she loved. In her mind, all these deaths lay ultimately at Chiabella's feet. Had Chiabella not left the scions, these events would not have taken place. Chiabella would die.. and Leahalani prayed to the Great Dark, that it would be in her presence if not her doing! Yes,the young huntress was gone. In her place, a Pylortes with unbending faith, lay waiting to regain the shadows once more.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)