Story: With the Bathwater

[Darren Tereos]

Already, it promised to be a long summer in Kalimdor; Vereena Leafwind's hair clung to her lips as she moved slowly through Silvermoon City. Slowly because she was heavy with child and expected any day now to give birth to her second. Her first had the good fortune to be looked after by some kind wizards in Dalaran who had been willing to take the boy in merely on the assurance that he was going to be a great magician. While no easy feat, Vereena's family was a notable one in Sin'dorei high society and thus able to convince even the most realistic of wizarding schools the value of early intervention.

The Midsummer Fire Festival was in full swing and, not having missed the yearly celebration for many years now, Vereena did not intend to make this year the exception. Carefully stepping over the bones of hapless Alliance who had the audacity to think that they could desecrate her flame, the expectant mother moved toward the bonfire. Pausing briefly to purchase a toasted smorc from one of the merchants, Vereena sat down to enjoy the seasonal delicacy.

“Mmmm. Ohh. Ooooh.” Vereena's enjoyment was interrupted as a nearly naked Gnome jumped over her shoulder, all knobby knees and and stubby fingers. Landing rapidly at Vereena's feet, the creature grunted and scrambled for the bonfire, clearly intending ill. As the gnome reached the fire, a number of revelers disengaged themselves from the festivities. Unarmed and unprotected, the Gnome's life force was swiftly escorted from its mortal remains.

Vereena's admiration of the spectacle was short-lived, as a pain like being hit by a stampeding Dwarf doubled her over. A cry escaped her lips, sending a wave of embarrassment over top of the pains wracking her body. It would not do for a member of the Leafwind family to make a spectacle in front of strangers. Fortunately, her gasp went largely unnoticed by the celebrants, too consumed with a combination of Fiery Festival Brew and bloodlust over possible Alliance attackers to bat an eye at the discomfort of someone much more important than them.

Looking up briefly, silhouetted in front of her was some awful Forsaken, staring at her blankly. “You there! Fetch a priest!” The Forsaken walked several steps, beginning to sprint, then stopped and loped back to Vereena.

“Fetch a priest? What for?” The walking corpse looked at her with an honest look of questioning.

“The...baby...you...idi...mmmm.” Vereena's unsaid insult was swallowed by another wave of pain. “Fine. No priest. You help.” Vereena had already birthed one child and figured herself to be an expert at this point, probably the equal of the best priests in Silvermoon City, as far as bringing children into the world was concerned.

Awkwardly the pair waited, the Sin'dorei breathing heavily and the Forsaken staring vaguely. A Troll paused briefly and Vereena's hopes that she would not have another dirty creature from the Horde to “help” were quickly rewarded as the Troll cackled and ran off. “I guess I should know your name, undead.” Vereena attempted to fill the silence with something.

“It's Dayari. At least that's what I'm called. The name thing is a sore spot with the other elf; he'd yell at you, he usually does.” Unsure of what to say, Vereena shifted the topic. “Help me walk to my villa, just don't touch anything there. We wouldn't want you to rot on my fine things.” The two walked slowly through the city.

* * *

Positioned more comfortably in the luxurious Leafwind Estate, Vereena commanded her ersatz undead aide: “You're going to have to catch the baby, you can manage that, right?” At least the undead imbecile wasn't likely to understand what was going on. That thought alone spared the birthing Blood Elf from any further embarrassment or thought of her reputation in Silvermoon City.

“Catch the baby.” The Forsaken moved closer and kneeled before Vereena. It was near time, she was sure of it. Grunting and pushing, Vereena worked to bring her child into the world. Just as the pain seemed it would never end and could not possibly get worse, she heard a baby's cry. A clear and strong wail. Dayari held her child in front of her, stating “It's a small boy. That's what you say, I think I remember that.” Strangely in command of his faculties, the Undead quickly made a quick knot of the baby's umbilical cord and, with a savage-looking dagger cut the cord tying mother to child.

After cleaning and swaddling the newborn, Vereena held her newborn closely and said softly, “I have to think of a name for you.” Looking up at her most unusual midwife, “What do you think? His father never could come up with anything worthwhile. Blackraven is not a name, no matter what he says.”

“Darren. That's a name I've heard before.” Dayari looked with curiosity at the mother and child.

Satisfied, Vereena talked to no one in particular: “Well, Darren is going to have a great career as a sorcerer in Dalaran just like his brother, I can feel it. First I'm going to have to track down his father. Last I heard he was running off to Northrend to fight some giant whatever with tusks or horns or something.”

[Mahre]

I really enjoyed this story so far. Your vivid images pulled me right in =)

Will we be learning more of the background of Dayari (perhaps aka Darren?). She is stragely aloof about her children.....hope that we come to find out why!

You leave me with too many questions...I need answers....back to the keyboard with you! ;)