Months passed and none of the trio even noticed. The orcs seemed to be moving towards Lordaeron, where quite a few battles were currently raging and only a few times a month did a larger group of orcs try to get through the gate. The dwarves took no notice of them, though they had sentries guarding them in the towers above the gate, but otherwise nothing happened. Although life in Ironforge was much more comfortable and peaceful than in the northern part of the continent, no one let their guard down if messengers appeared asking for help.
As for Thomas, his life moved forward rapidly. Every day he had such a busy schedule that he only had time to sleep and eat. He picked up the base armor from the tailor and the blacksmith made him the base armor within two weeks. From the beginning, he didn't want to wear it to training at all, because he thought it was hindering his movement, and that's why Muradin allowed him to train with only a "pad" and a wooden sword. However, Muradin didn't always have time, so Korth'azz took over his training. In the beginning it was difficult for both of them, as Thomas was very tall and Korth'azz was simply a dwarf, but they both got used to it and the training soon went without a problem. As they both gradually discovered, Thomas had a talent for movement. This was mainly due to the first twenty-five years of his life, when he had learned to be constantly on his guard and to defend himself in order to survive both on the streets and occasionally in the wilds beyond Stratholme. Although he took a lot of hits in the beginning and went to bed with nasty bruises, he soon learned the correct posture and steps to keep his balance.
After training, he went to see Aneth in the chapel. This took place in no other way than with the help of guided meditation and often just by talking about the Light and its principle. It only took a few weeks for the first results of the work to appear. Not only did he feel energy and warm warmth flooding his body and soul with each subsequent meditation, but at the same time Aneth also noticed that his eyes were brighter and for the first time in all the months she had known him, she recognized the color of his irises. They had been so dark before that she hadn't noticed the color at all, but whenever he looked at her now, she could make out a light maroon laced with emerald threads around the pupil.
Then came the moment when she invited him to form the Light over his palms. It was harder than he thought and than it was originally even out there. But he did it and to his surprise a pleasant warmth flooded his palms and he saw a golden glow floating around them.
"It's so hard," he confided to her as the glow faded. "Why do I feel like it was easier out there?"
"Light often strikes on an unprecedented scale when it is most needed. But when everything is perfectly fine and we are not in a difficult situation, it is always more difficult. But it's still great progress. I was able to do this only after two months of hard training."
"Why is it different for me? I don't understand why it goes so fast for me.'
“I've been thinking about it…” Aneth looked at the prayer book she held in her hands. The candle lights that were placed around created a pleasant dimness. "And I think that sometimes it's not a bad thing to have something dark inside us that makes us fight with ourselves. The person seems to be stronger afterwards. A person who lives a peaceful life in the Light may not know the real reason why he needs the Light, and therefore makes contact with it much more difficult than someone who lived in darkness and recognized the beauty of the Light. After that, the flash of knowledge is much more intense than in someone who has been living in the light of the sun since birth.
“I guess that makes sense… but believe me, I wouldn't wish what I'm going through on anyone. It's hard to stay calm and not go off track," he admitted bluntly.
"It's your lesson that's sure to come in handy later." Aneth smiled and opened the volume somewhere in the beginning. The pages revealed a beautiful decorative font and symbols. "Sometimes it seems to me that just being good inside is not the best thing. One so easily loses focus and becomes naive and does not see reality as it is. A person who can be kind to those who deserve it and, on the contrary, strike hard when necessary... in my opinion, this person is a true warrior of the Light. Not someone who has never known evil… because one who cannot recognize evil can easily be swept away by it.”
They had a lot of such discussions. But one of the very long discussions that stretched from earlier in the afternoon until late at night was the principle of Light.
“Light is not a religion, it is a force that is omnipresent. He does not force anyone to profess it. He has understanding for all those who are just finding their way, whatever it may be. It is a way of life, a philosophy and a desire to make the world a better place. The light does not make contact with us… it is we who make contact with it whenever we help someone, do a good deed, desire to make amends, and are aware of our mistakes. Respect and tolerance for all living beings, perseverance and patience in everything we do and what we want to achieve and above all compassion, these are synonyms of Light as we know it. If we combine all these qualities together, we connect with the Light. When we help someone, we know we are. If we love someone, we know that we exist and can connect with the whole universe and thus understand ourselves and others. And once we connect with the universe, we connect with the inner self. When we have a connection to our higher consciousness and to the other beings around, then that is the real strong connection to the Light itself.” Aneth spoke non-stop and completely fluent, as she grew up in this philosophy from a young age. Thomas understood all this, even if it was more difficult in the beginning. He liked the philosophy very much and was willing to follow it. He only occasionally asked a question to make sure he was getting it right, and he seemed to get a lot of things right because he figured them out himself. The Light bonded with him because he blamed himself and reflected that he had killed someone and had a desire to make amends and become better. He tried to help and sympathize with all those who lost a family member in battle or narrowly escaped death. And last but not least, he respected everyone around him and realized that they have a story and that they have something in them that is not just visible at first glance; that they too are fighting their own battle. He met all the criteria to become a follower of the Light and didn't even know it. He still worried about whether he was worthy of the Light and became so humble that it only strengthened his assumptions. His dark path led him to the Light faster than all the others who had no idea about the darkness. His past was completely gone… it was the past.
"Presence creates our past and our future. We should only look to the past if we want to learn from it. To the future, to remind ourselves how to decide right now. But presence is the key to being in touch with the Light. It is important how we think now. We may have a dark past, but if we try to fix everything, it's like it doesn't exist.'
Through these discussions, Thomas learned that it was good to experience evil and darkness first hand. This made his conviction and desire to help stronger than anyone else's... His past became his asset. He may not have realized it, and it may not have been obvious, but he began to have continuous contact with the Light. He meditated whenever he could because he felt more rested afterwards than after sleeping… so he didn't even go to sleep and just meditated all night until dawn. Aneth was initially worried that she was exaggerating, but Thomas was sharper, had more energy, and was no longer so distracted. His movements were smoother, calmer, and when she caught a glimpse of him writing something in a smaller notebook, his handwriting was much neater than it had been a few months ago. She was greatly delighted at his progress, and looking back she could not believe that he was the same man who, when brought into the convent, had a wild look and convulsive and stiff movements. She was proud to know him and to have been there when his complete transformation took place.
His weapon training was also going much better thanks to his meditations. He had faster reactions and was generally smarter. This made Korth'azz recognize that it was time to start training with real weapons. And Thomas, knowing that he could come to a real injury, tried even harder. Because the better he was in combat, the more likely he was to protect anyone who was in danger.
Muradin only watched the training occasionally, but mostly he was pleased with how quickly Thomas was learning. And often Khardos also came to see and brought food for both of them.
They trained five days a week and Thomas was relentless. Often, even though he was covered in bruises and sometimes didn't cover the wound, he managed to heal it and immediately asked for an extra hour. He spent the remaining two days off together with Aneth, Doriel and Korth'azz at their home, where they also started sleeping over. They discussed all kinds of things, and Korth'azz did not fail to ask him at least once on such occasion:
"So, have you changed your mind?"
"No. I don't know what I can afford," he replied.
“Look, I'm a local yeoman, which is something like a baron or at least a viscount, if nothing else. So if you want to set up a house in Lordaeron after the war, feel free to say so. Anyway, I arranged a tailor for the two of you, at least for the shoulders of the dress. You can't keep wearing those cassocks.'
Thomas stared at the dwarf for a long time until Doriel laughed.
"Dad, von didn't know," Doriel laughed.
"Well, neither do I," Korth'azz defended, thanking the messenger who brought him a box of sorts. He then unfolded it and it turned out to be a chessboard with pieces. "So, will you play chess with me?" he asked Thomas.
"I can't play chess," Thomas admitted. He had no other way to get it.
"Then we'll teach you them."
And so he learned to play chess in his spare time, something few in the upheaval Lordaeron could afford at the time. Of course, the four of them also discussed the fact that they would very much like to help Lordaeron, but Faol wrote to them that they should stay in Ironforge and so they did.
Half a year passed like this, day after day, week after week. Thomas grew stronger and finally tried the armor after so many months. He seemed to tolerate her much better on his body. He didn't notice it on himself, but the others could see how his muscles grew and he got bigger. He was still thin and lanky, but certainly not as frail as he had been when he came to Ironforge. At the same time, his hair was already longer than Aneth's.
"My hair doesn't grow and you have it halfway down your back," Aneth told him when she met him in the morning combing his hair.
"But it's not practical for battle," Thomas replied. He was already starting to have a problem with it during training.
"So sit down and we'll do something about it," she suggested as she began braiding him. It should be noted that even as a man it suited him very well and only emphasized the sharp features of his face. He was already a completely different person. And Aneth found herself looking at him more than once with unusual interest, trying to find something of his old self in him. She searched for it only with great difficulty.
"I think once we're back in Lordaeron you won't have to be afraid to go out," Aneth ventured to point out. "I don't think anyone knows you."
Thomas hoped so. He was willing to take responsibility for his past actions, but he also wanted to be in the world as long as possible to correct the mistakes he had made. He didn't say anything to the healer.
One day, when everyone was sitting at the table playing cards, one of the city guards peeped into the room and said:
"An army of men is coming here!" he cried, and was tatam.
Aneth and Thomas looked at each other, immediately put down their cards and ran out. Thomas managed to pick up at least his sword from the rack on the way. He had no armor, but Korth'azz had new clothes made for them both, and Thomas had since shed his cassock and worn only linen trousers with a lace-up shirt.
The whole foursome ran up to the gate, in front of which the dwarves were already gathering. A rumble could be heard from outside as the orcs tried to get through the gate again and still couldn't. It was obvious that the gate would soon open and the dwarves would rush at the enemy. And that happened exactly a few minutes later.
Hundreds of thousands of tons of cold metal rose and an icy wind and orc scream blew in. It was the first time since the start of the war that the gate had opened, and until now Thomas hadn't fully realized how huge it really was.
Then a whole host of dwarves, wielding axes, swords, and spears, poured out of the city, and before Thomas could run outside, there was not a single orc left. Looking at the mountains of meat, even if dead, Aneth became a bit confused, but Korth'azz and Doriel were clearly starving that there was nothing left for them, they didn't throw their axes on the ground. Only Thomas was the first to try to explain why it was so soon after the fight. He did not doubt the bravery of the dwarves, but the fight was over very quickly even for the best warriors.
His gaze immediately fell on an elderly white-haired man whose appearance radiated almost everything that a true commander possessed. It must have been Anduin Lothar, the Knight of Stormwind. And right next to him, a blond youth in majestic armor stained with blood and riddled with battle scars, this had to be the Turalyon that Faol had written about in his letter. And perhaps an entire army of people stood behind them.
"Well, if Muradin gets scolded for not joining them," Korth'azz didn't forgive the remark.
Muradin and Brann seemed to be talking perfectly calmly with Anduin Lothar, learning more and more information about how things had been going on in the northern lands for the past year. At the same time, Muradin also made it perfectly clear to Lothar why they couldn't arrive, but that they would definitely use their help now. At this Lothar nodded and the dwarves stepped back to make way for the entire Alliance caravan, including Lothar himself and Turalyon. None of them doubted that they would need to rest for at least a few days before moving on.
Since that day, Aneth, Doriel, and Thomas have not slept. They were still mulling over the information that one of the soldiers who had come with Lothar had given them. Aneth and Thomas felt a bit strange after such a long time only among dwarves and meeting people here was a bit strange for them and it seemed that they were perhaps too used to life in Ironforge.
Korth'azz finally appeared in the doorway and everyone in the room looked at him questioningly.
“Well,” the dwarf began as he sat down at the table next to them, “I've been asking Brann how he sees things going. Sir Lothar first wants to go to Blackrock Mountain, where the orcs have settled. Know it before you kick their ass yourself. They'll be here until tomorrow and then drive away.'
"I'm going with them," Thomas said immediately.
"Yeah, and they'll kill you there, and that probably doesn't go well with your plans for life."
"I've been through worse."
“Well, I believe you, but the battles we fought here in Dun Morogh are petty compared to what was going on in Lordaeron. And if there is to be a final battle at Blackrock, you should avoid it altogether. Aneth is still recovering and you've done enough. I don't mean to say that you don't continue your training quickly, but I seriously won't let you into battle even if I have to arrange the ban with Magni.
Thomas sighed rather annoyed. "So what have I been training for all these months?" he asked bluntly. His anger was beginning to reawaken, but thankfully he controlled it, as he always did.
"Do you think that the battles for your life will not be enough? You never know what will happen and if you want to help people, you should save yourself. You probably can't do much as a dead person.'
“Thank you, Korth'azzi. Finally someone who told him," Aneth thanked.
"But I'll be useless here while the future of Azeroth is being fought over there." Thomas barely kept from slamming his fist into the table. He didn't like these situations. He always reminded himself that he was not yet in control of his emotions. It was easy to hit someone and he knew it, but it was even harder not to.
“The future of Azeroth is a pretty broad concept. Do you know what will happen in twenty years? Listen to us for once and stay here, you stick. Finally start training that instinct for self-preservation, or you won't be here long.
Thomas took a deep breath so he wouldn't run into any of them, got up from the table and went out into the street.
“Bravery and minimal self-preservation are two different things,” Korth'azz began. "If he doesn't learn to take care of himself too, he really won't be here long."
"I wanted to tell him too, but I've known him longer than you and I understand why he's acting like that." The healer thought about whether she should go into detail and finally got over it and didn't continue. "It's noble to care for others, but if something happens to us, we can't help anyone. It also took me a long time to start taking care of myself, because it seemed unimportant, I was just in second place. And then I couldn't help someone, just because I wasn't well myself."
"I'd rather not say it. That's why he stays here. He probably thinks he hasn't done enough, but help us get most of the villagers to Ironforge. That's more than any other person would settle for.'
"But it's not enough for him," argued Aneth.
“What did he do so terrible that even this is not enough for him?” asked Doriel rhetorically.
At that moment, Aneth became silent and refused to talk about the subject again that day.
It didn't even occur to Thomas that he would run away and head off to Blackrock with the army. Fortunately, he learned to cool down and act only after reassessing the situation. The others were right. This battle will probably be no small thing, and he can't afford to die before he fixes everything. He still has a lot of work to do here, and one battle might not mean anything… even if one person can change a lot of things.
You sighed. He will wait in Ironforge and pray to the Light that all will turn out well. He didn't return to Korth'azze's house until after several hours of wandering the streets of the city. He had worn the collar almost constantly since Doriel had given it to him. No one was going out that much anymore, but if they were going back to Lordaeron it would be autumn by this time, so he wouldn't take it off until spring. Besides, that piece of clothing already belonged to him, and he wore it more out of habit than for any reason. He also looked into the stables to see how their two horses were being led, which he could only occasionally lead around the city by the bridle. Hopefully they will look out again soon. Only then did he return back to the others. They were already asleep, and Thomas was reminded of how much he had changed his routine over the months. It was at least three in the morning and he didn't even notice. He went to his room where he changed and still couldn't fall asleep. With his eyes closed, he thought about the world. What if the orcs win? What if there isn't enough time left in his life to do everything he swore off? Before he knew it, it was morning and Doriel was knocking on his door.
"Get up, you clubber! Dem for breakfast, and if you want to sulk, you'll come in a waffle with cranberry jam!'
Thomas always admired how the dwarves could shake off the thought that there was a battle going on for their future and instead go quietly to breakfast. He had no choice but to get up and go with them.
No sooner had he dressed and left the room than Doriel was already wrapping her arms around his waist.
"We were afraid you'd get your way anyway," she explained and let him go. "Don't worry about it, really. You will experience such battles again. Azeroth has never been a peaceful place and who knows if it ever will be. But on the other hand," she was already opening the door to the street, "who is going to be bored here all his life."
Thomas just smirked at the thought and followed her to catch up with Korth'azz and Aneth who were leading the way. A whole long day awaited them, at the end of which they should hopefully learn how everything turned out. Everyone had butterflies in their stomachs, except for Thomas.
Most of the Ironforge army, including Muradin and Brann, left with the Alliance for Blackrock. Aneth and Doriel were still talking about something, and Thomas and Korth'azz were sitting over a game of chess. The dwarf was doing much better at the game because he had been playing it for a very long time, but Thomas was slowly getting the hang of it. They played like this for a few until late in the afternoon, when Thomas couldn't take it anymore and had to go for a walk. The uncertainty of how it would turn out consumed him. He would rather be on the ground and know how things were going than sit miles away from the scene of the decisive battle and wait to see how things turned out.
When he came back he asked if there was any news. Nothing. So he forced himself to another game of chess with Korth'azz, who passed the time waiting for Thomas by throwing darts.
It wasn't until late at night that the rest of the army came back. The whole city could not sleep as it waited for the army to return. When they saw that the main body had not returned, the dwarf who was apparently leading the group back took off his bloodied battered helmet and laughed heartily, causing everyone around to drop a stone from their hearts.
“Doomhammer surrendered and Turalyon went with the others to close the Dark Portal! It's over!”
All who heard this and who were spread out in the crowd around the returning army began to embrace, laugh and cry with happiness. It wasn't definitive, but everyone believed that the Dark Portal would eventually fall as well.
With indescribable relief, Aneth hugged Thomas and then Doriel with Korth'azz. It was over. But they did not allow themselves to be intoxicated by the happy news and went to help the wounded, of which there were still many. There were both dwarves and humans among them. They helped lead them to the infirmary, where they had to decide who would wait a little longer. Strangely enough, one of the people, who didn't seem like his injury was minor, decided to do it. Through the bandages, the coal black tissue of the hand could be seen, which must have hurt him immensely. However, he decided to wait outside even though he looked very exhausted.
“Sir,” Aneth addressed him when she couldn't stand looking at the hand any longer, “you should go there. Some can wait.'
"It's alright. That hand won't heal anymore. I'd rather make room for those with wounds that can be healed,” he replied adamantly, and Aneth was clear that she wasn't going to talk him out of it.
"Then at least sit down," Aneth tried another way. "You are very tired."
The man didn't look like he was going to complain twice, even though he definitely had something to do, but he still listened to the healer at least on this matter. He hissed when he moved his hand, but otherwise said nothing, and the healer didn't seem surprised after the battle.
"What about Anduin Lothar?" she asked, unable to take it any longer.
"Falled in battle against the leader of the Horde," he replied, his emerald eyes fixed on her for the first time. “But he fought bravely, as he had always done before. He would certainly like it if we stopped having petty disputes with each other and realized what we stand to lose.'
“You're a paladin,” she guessed by his way of thinking.
"Yes," he smiled tiredly, "we've grown a lot over the year. I suspect you have been here since the beginning of the war.'
"We escorted the messengers and stayed here to help the dwarves."
"So you will be returning to Lordaeron," the paladin guessed. Aneth liked him very much. He seemed a little withdrawn, but that was probably just his tiredness. At the same time, his appearance was very specific. She didn't see many redheads with emerald green eyes.
"Soon I hope. We will help the dwarves as much as we can and then we will return.'
"I would like to accompany you, but I don't know how long I will stay. I have a woman waiting for me at home, who must be worried if I'm alive.'
"Family comes first. I just hope you can make it through the journey with that hand.”
"I'm not going alone," he assured her. "In addition: the roads will already be much safer. Fortunately, I live only a short distance from the capital.'
“So in Brill. Nice village.'
The paladin glanced at his hand before looking at the soldiers lining up outside the infirmary. “You should go miss. They definitely need you elsewhere and I'll be fine.'
Aneth agreed with him and got up to go to the infirmary to help where Thomas was already helping to treat the wounds regardless of whether Aneth was near him or not. She seemed to realize something and turned back to the paladin.
"I didn't even introduce myself. I'm Aneth.” The paladin probably didn't care that much, but she thought it was important at that moment, even if she didn't know why.
The man gave her a look of deep emerald eyes and nodded. "Alexandros Mograine at your service."
The healer gave a fleeting smile and hurried to the infirmary. She didn't even know why she started talking to him like that. She was mostly like that with people she met after a long time… and that's when they became important. Both in her life and in the lives of others. And that is why she has attached great importance to it ever since.
It was after the war. No one could still believe it, but it was true. All the kingdoms slowly began to recover from that dark time when no one was safe.
It took Aneth and Thomas quite a few days to treat all the wounded and send them home to Lordaeron. Both Muradin and Brann were seen only occasionally passing by, tending to the affairs of the kingdom, and otherwise making no attempt to ask if they were released. It was strange, but they didn't want to go home after the year spent in the dwarf city.
Thomas didn't train so much anymore and rather went out with the dwarves to the burned down settlements, which they were slowly putting in order. Khardos and Korth'azz accompanied him and kept Thomas very amused with their constant nudges. Thomas didn't know it until then, but the two of them had trained together and were in the same regiment. As they cleared away the rubble, which was no easy task, Korth'azz didn't fail to ask, "So, have you changed your mind?"
The question started to drive Thomas so hard that he began to think seriously about what he might want. And he came up with it completely by accident, when he took out an old battered book of the dictionary of the old language of the dwarves in the library and leafed through it for a while. He didn't even really ask if he could borrow it, such was the sudden movement of his mind that he was already running to Korth'azz's house. He found the dwarf there in the typical company of Aneth and Doriel. The first thing the dwarf said as he looked up from the map of Dun Morogh where he was marking the progress of the village repairs was:
"So what, already?" To his surprise, Thomas nodded his head. Korth'azz was so shocked by this that he stared at him motionless for a long time.
"Don't talk." He stood up and headed for Thomas. They went out into the street, where he told him everything and asked him if it would be possible.
"Wouldn't you! It is a trifle! And I even know who you should go see about it. I'll write you a cover letter for it… and make it a little better. I'll just have to see Magni if he agrees." And so he went to write it.
Thomas knocked on the open door to announce his arrival. The priest who was praying looked up at him. Thomas clutched an old volume to his chest, and judging by the way he held it, the priest recognized that he knew how to handle books and that they were the most precious thing in the world to him.
"Let the Light guide your steps, father," Thomas greeted him.
"And yours, son. Feel free to come in,” the dwarf urged.
Thomas came closer and glanced at the book in his hands. “I was sent by Thane Korth'azz. I saved his daughter and since then he keeps asking me what he can offer me in return," he explained why he was here in the first place. “I did not help your kingdom or any dwarf to demand anything in return. But Korth'azz insists and told me that you could help me with this,” he said in a roundabout way, carefully placing the tome on a plain wooden table, on top of which lay other books of various contents, mostly medical. "I thought it over carefully and came up with this."
“Isn't this a dictionary of the ancient language of the dwarves?” asked the priest as he took a closer look at the tome.
"It is…" Thomas nodded and opened the book with unusual care, turning the pages with even more care. “I have no family, sir. Or maybe I have, but I've never seen them and I don't know them. The name I have was given to me by an old seamstress who happened to meet me in Stratholme. It's a name that a lot of people go by. I'm glad I have one, I'll keep it, but… I'd like a last name.”
The priest looked at him. "You just want a last name for all that?"
"Yes, that's all," Thomas replied, finally finding the page he was looking for. “I was skimming through the pages of the dictionary and came across this word. I like its meaning. It means oath, honor, patience and compassion all at the same time.”
The dwarf took his glasses from the table, as he could no longer see very well, and put them on his massive nose. “Yeah… it's a powerful word. All the virtues of Light in one single word. He was almost forgotten. But are you sure? Bearing such a name is a Vobrian responsibility, even if many dwarves, let alone humans, do not know the meaning.'
"It wasn't that long ago that I made a promise to myself," Thomas began, though he didn't want to broach the subject. “I'm not 100% good and I know it… but I'm trying to make up for it. I'm trying to make up for what I've done and I know I still have a lot of work to do. This will help me with that: to have something in my name that will always remind me why I'm still here.”
The dwarf looked at him calmly, not going to question him about what he had done. It was not for him to pass judgment. But he heard what he heard. Already in the infirmary, where he was on duty, he heard what happened out there so many months ago. That he went to get that healer from Lordaeron and brought Doriel. The Light suddenly began to listen to the person standing in front of him. Out of nowhere. And if the Light recognized that this person was worthy of using it, fighting it, and healing it, then that was perfectly fine, whatever the past.
He took the letter that Thomas was handing to him, written by Korth'azz, and skimmed it over. The dwarf improved Thomas's wish by something smaller, except for permission to grant a name. And it was clear to Thomas a moment later what he had to discuss with Magni.
“Sir Thomas Zeliek…” he said even with the title approved at Korth'azz's request by Magni Bronzebeard himself. "That will be a nice name," the dwarf smiled at him, and to Thomas' surprise the name sounded really nice.