- It was truly the best time of my life. Not only did I find myself, I also started to communicate, I stopped being afraid to talk to people. The dwarves were warm and open enough to teach me that. But that wasn't all. I made lifelong friends here, even though I hadn't seen them for a few years and we only communicated through letters. Aneth and I stayed in Ironforge for a while, helping the dwarves restore their kingdom. I didn't miss Lordaeron. I finally felt at home and welcome in Ironforge, like I had never felt before in my life. Few people can imagine how it feels to be a person who has not been welcomed anywhere...and then finds a home and friends. A person who has everything and lives in the Light all his life often finds the way more slowly than someone who has lived in darkness and has come to know the beauty of the Light. Aneth was right before I realized it myself. My soul was slowly healing, and even though Aneth had told me back then that I had saved more people than just her and Doriel, I still kept trying to make amends for the first years of my life. My past has driven me forward and forced me to learn and become better. How I miss those years… how I miss snowy Khaz Modan… and green Lordaeron… I miss sunshine… and free will.
Thomas and Aneth actually helped clear the rubble of the local settlements and villages for a few weeks. It was decided that Kharanos would be built first, and only then would it be decided what would happen to the burnt settlements and whether it was necessary to rebuild them.
After those weeks, Magni himself called them. Aneth and Thomas spoke to him for the first time in the whole year. Sometimes they caught sight of him, but the king had so many duties and worries about the war that he could not concern himself with the other two of the people. They went along with Korth'azz as one of the nobles so they wouldn't feel nervous. Magni greeted them in the throne room, where dwarves were still running around showing him various papers, messages from Lordaeron, whether Ironforge wanted to participate in rebuilding Stormwind. However, everyone noticed their own and so they felt unobserved.
The King signed off on the subsidies to repair Stormwind and finally attended to them. Both Aneth and Thomas bowed to him as etiquette demanded, but Magni didn't seem to think twice.
"Finally I can have a few words with you," Magni said, smiling at them. Even though he was shorter than them, they both felt intimidated by him. "It's stupid that only after a year, but still. Muradin was often mentioned in you,” he looked at Thomas, “and so was Korth'azz. And the healers from the infirmary, again, about you.” He looked at Aneth. “If you were dwarves, I might not notice you so much, because two people in Ironforge are more interesting than the townspeople here… but I have to thank you. You could have gone back to Lordaeron, but you were here instead. I have written a letter of thanks to Faol,” he actually pulled out a rolled scroll sealed with a red anvil seal from somewhere and handed it to Aneth, “and I want you to know that I have taken this as a diplomatic mission all along and not that you have strayed from the waters of your patriotic duties .”
"We were here voluntarily," Aneth allowed herself to point out.
"And I thank you all the more. Even two people can really do wonders at the right time in the right place.” He shook hands with both of them in thanks. “I see you've already figured out what you want for all this,” he said towards Thomas, who just smiled, which was completely unheard of for him, “but I still want to tell you both that the gates of Ironforge are for you opened. And I want you to reconsider what I can offer you.”
“I will see to it, King,” said Korth'azz, who had been silent until then.
“I am counting on you, Korth'azzi,” Magni nodded. “So, Lady Aneth,” he nodded at the surprised healer, “Sir Thomas Zeliek,” he also nodded at Thomas, “you may leave Ironforge and go home to rest. You deserve it. You have done more than any other person in your place would be willing to do.”
Aneth, still shocked that he had given her the title as well as Thomas, who hadn't asked for it any more than she had, looked at Thomas. He gave her a fleeting glance and Aneth could not get rid of the impression that without a cassock and in the clothes of ordinary townspeople and with his hair tied back, he really looked like a nobleman... even his gaze showed high intelligence and deeper thinking.
"I don't know what to say, King," was all she managed.
"Well, I can't see either," laughed Magni. “We will escort you to Lordaeron if you wish. My brother Muradin is going to be staying in your capital often over the next few years and I believe he is leaving in a week-”
"-five days," Muradin corrected him, who was hiding somewhere among the crowd of officials who were crowding his letters this time.
“So if you wait another five days, you can go home with him. I'm sure he'll be happy to accompany you and you him."
"I'm terribly looking forward to it," Muradin snarled, so that neither of them knew if it was irony or if the dwarf was just fed up with the flurry of correspondence.
"Well, I'd say so!" Magni batted him and looked at Thomas. “Thank you for saving him. He learned from the dwarves watching here that you saved his life on the way out to Kharanos. The orc could have killed him. I only learned about it from Khardos. Muradin won't tell me himself, and you didn't brag twice either.'
"It was a matter of course," replied Thomas honestly.
"No, it's not obvious. And be assured that I will remember anyone who saves the life of one of my brothers. They're the best brothers in the world and I can't bear to think of what it would be like to come inside them.” He put a big hand on Thomas's arm because he couldn't reach his shoulder. "Thank you, you two. And don't forget: they're leaving in five days."
"Thank you, King Magni," Aneth and Thomas said in unison, bowing and leaving the throne room with Korth'azz.
"Well, you see," said the dwarf towards the healer who was still taking it all in, "I originally intended it only for Tom and von gave the title to you as well." He smirked. "Well, if I were him, I'll do it too. You look like a married couple.'
"What did you say?" Aneth snapped at him, rather than angry, she looked a little startled, like she'd been exposed.
"Um… nothing… nothing at all," said the dwarf, preferring to get out of their sight. Thomas and Aneth looked after him, both in the same frame of mind. It wasn't until a moment when a dwarf carrying a stack of Magni papers almost bumped into them that he forced them to come to their senses. They looked at each other briefly and immediately looked in different directions. It looked like they wouldn't have the courage to talk to each other for a few days.
Thomas wondered whether or not to take his armor with him to Lordaeron. The sword went with him, no matter how ordinary it was. But he wasn't sure about the rest. He didn't want to strain the poor horse any more than necessary. So for now he had only packed the rest of his clothes that Korth'azz had made for him when he heard a knock on the stone wall of his room. He turned to Doriel, who was standing in the doorway, sizing him up sternly.
"Hello," she said rather sharply. Thomas could tell she was angry with him, but he didn't know why.
"Hello," he replied, waiting to see what he would get spanked for.
“There's a few things we need to talk about.” The dwarf sat on his bed and tapped the covers to indicate that he should sit down as well since it was going to be a long time. "I noticed you're missing a few things. I mean, it usually doesn't happen to guys, but it seems to me that nothing happens to you at all, as if no one taught you this in your life at all."
"I… depending on what…" he said cautiously.
"What about mom and dad? Didn't you wonder how they met or something?'
Thomas stared at her for a long time before he dared to say, "I don't have a mom and dad."
Doriel swallowed hard and cleared her throat apologetically. "Sorry, I didn't know that. That probably explains everything. And you didn't notice anything like that at the orphanage either?
"I wasn't in the orphanage," he replied. He was only able to talk about it because he had properly armored himself and decided not to let the memories bring him down like this anymore.
"So where?" Doriel blurted out.
"On the street." Thomas fought not to cut her off. When he looked back on those years now, they were miserable years.
Doriel silently clasped her hands together and looked down at the ground. She seemed to regret starting out so hard now. “I suppose you don't want to discuss it.” When Thomas nodded, she continued. “Hey… Aneth likes you. Very happy. She already told me six months ago when you saved her. But it wasn't until last month that she came to me with the fact that she doesn't know what to do and whether she should tell you."
"Say what?" Thomas didn't understand. He didn't know how else Aneth should like him. He respected her and tried to protect her. He always felt better when he was with her and he didn't know why. He did not navigate these feelings.
"She likes you as only a woman can like you," she tried to tell him in a roundabout way. "And believe me, if she hasn't found anyone by this time, she probably means it. And she lived in a monastery with a lot of people and met people outside the monastery as well."
It finally clicked for Thomas. He was silent for a long time before he dared to answer, “But he doesn't deserve me, do you understand? That's why I didn't think about it, and I wouldn't have thought of it in my life.'
"Well, she must be thinking something else."
“But she's a priestess! I thought-"
“What, priests aren't allowed to have families?” Doriel laughed. "False opinion of the people. I also asked her about it, because people's thinking is still like that.
"And what did she say?" Thomas found himself wondering. He wanted to meet Aneth and be near her, but he had given up on being with her for life. His humility prevented him from thinking that.
"That Light is love. And that's why it's wrong to stop people when they love someone. Love is the highest virtue of the Light, and if it is not only superficial, the Light does not prevent priests from falling in love. That's what she said, and Faol will probably tell you if you ask him.'
Thomas was slowly getting the hang of it. He had given up in advance that Aneth could like him like that. "What if I let her down? What if I don't love her as much as she deserves?'
“You?” Doriel laughed really heartily. "That someone who went into a blizzard for her in a territory full of enemies is saying this! But you make me happy! Well, no fun," she pinched him in the ribs, "go after her and I won't hear anything like that from you again."
"But I'm serious!" Thomas defended, covering the place where she had pinched him with his palm. "I lived on the street for over twenty years and that speaks for itself. I'm the last person she should spend the rest of her life with!”
"When you worry about being good enough for someone, that's a sign that you really like them," argued Doriel.
"But-"
By then, Doriel had already waved her hand angrily out of the room. "AND OUT!"
Thomas jumped somewhat startled and realized that he had better shut up and do as Doriel told him, even though he was worried and he himself didn't know if he was just lying and the dwarf suggested it to him.
The dwarf was sitting on the bed, somewhat breathing the whole discussion. Then she shook her head and said to herself, “Badger one… the perfect guy, really.” Surprisingly, she was dead serious.
Aneth was also packing at that moment. She wasn't even looking forward to going home and hoped to see both Doriel and Korth'azz in time when they had a trip to Lordaeron or the two of them to Ironforge.
“Aneth?” she heard Thomas's voice and immediately turned behind him. She gave up on him coming to her with the same thing she'd been wanting to ask him for months. And it didn't hurt her either. She just let things run their course. She knew that he grew up on the streets and things like this didn't happen to him right away, which is why she kept waiting so long.
When she was silent for a long time, Thomas began alone. “I didn't save you just to cross one life off my list. I did it because you came for me too, without asking for anything in return.'
"I know," she nodded and remained silent.
"I don't want you ruining your life with someone like me," he finished. “I'm not 100% good and you know it. You have known me since Faol brought me to the monastery.'
"And you try to do something about it. I have never met anyone in my life who was willing to work on himself as much as you. Not because someone told him to, but because he decided so himself. It amazed me because I didn't believe that someone like that existed and that I would meet someone like that. Don't think Thomas… I choose. I'm also not young anymore, and many women my age already have families. I could have fallen in love so many times, but my intuition always told me that I shouldn't do it. And I decided for you and it won't just be like that. And no, I'm not just head over heels in love. I just chose."
Thomas was stunned. She had very good arguments, but so did he. "I'm afraid I'll hurt you. That I won't show you my feelings the way you deserve. I'm not used to showing emotions. I wouldn't want you to worry about it.'
"It looks like you're in the same situation as me… you just don't know it." She smiled at him. "The light told me, and it's telling you, but you still couldn't admit it."
Thomas thought about it. If it was the feeling in his chest whenever Aneth came near him, or he could be with her and talk… then that was it. "But what if I'm not enough for you? What if you deserve someone better?'
“I've never heard a man say that.” The healer hugged him, whether he wanted to or not. He still couldn't get used to being hugged by her or Doriel or anyone else, but this time he forced himself to hug her too. “I know you will be a good man. And I intend to help you with that.
Thomas' heart leapt in his chest with emotion. No one had ever liked him so much and he had never shown it. That's why he couldn't recognize positive emotions and actually never even felt them and therefore didn't even show them. He mentally thanked Faol for not letting his head be cut off. He was happy that he had started a new life despite the obstacles. He didn't remember when he was born and no one in town knew… but he decided to ask Faola about the date of the trial the guards had dragged him to… and he decided to take that date as his birth date. Because on that day he was truly born again.
Saying goodbye to Korth'azz and Doriel was a long one. Doriel couldn't help but cry that she wouldn't see the two for a long time and was already planning her trip to Lordaeron, with or without her father. They had already loaded things and Thomas decided to leave his armor in Ironforge. He told Korth'azz that he didn't know how he would carry her and it would be an extra burden on the horse, but Korth'azz didn't seem to mind at all and Thomas could have sworn he caught a similar crazy idea on his face as when granted him a noble title. He preferred not to ask about it, he hugged both of them for the last time, thanked them for the shelter and everything around them, and finally they left.
Aneth and Thomas had a hard time leaving the city, both wiping tears from their eyes on the way. Muradin, who was riding with them, noticed this and did not fail to exclaim: “Come on! I want to see proper patriots! More tears and more roars in memory of cranberry lemonade and barley beer!”
The words made them both laugh and the rest of the days were peaceful. They spoke little with Muradin, for the dwarf followed them obediently to be led, and it was only when they set up camp that he exchanged a few words with them.
On the way they passed a lot of evidence that the Horde was here and it was clear to everyone that the war was really cruel. Still, the journey was peaceful and they were warmed by the knowledge that the world would soon recover.
They reached Lordaeron after a week of travel and said goodbye to Muradin in the capital. Muradin was an ambassador to the dwarves and decided to reestablish close relations with Lordaeron after the war.
They continued on through Andorhal, across the river Thondroril, through the forest through Corin's Crossing, and arrived at Stratholme for the evening. All of Lordaeron bore the marks of war, but they were slowly fading away.
They drove through the city and felt as if they had returned to a place they had once lived in, but it was not their home. They dismounted as far as the courtyard in front of the monastery and led the horses into the stables behind Tercy, who, however, had not changed at all and remembered Aneth in particular and, looking at Thomas, wondered if he was who he thought.
As they walked through the monastery and greeted the other brothers and sisters, Thomas heard whispers many times, “Is this really the young man that Faol brought to the monastery?” Thomas didn't know whether he was pleased or horrified. He really has changed.
They only reached Faol, who was meditating in the chapel. He immediately turned to them and greeted them with joy that they had returned safe, alive and well. From his smile as he surveyed the two, it was obvious that he sensed how the relationship between Aneth and Thomas had changed. He looked at Thomas in particular with a smile, as if he were looking at the result of his work, in which he had at least a minimal share.
“So tell me Thomas, how was your time at Ironforge?” he asked.
"Okay, father," he answered immediately. "I found myself there." He couldn't hold on any longer and wiped a tear of happiness from the corner of his eye. “Thank you, father. Thank you for everything."
Faol squeezed Thomas's hand and placed the other on the back of the pressed one. "It's a pleasure, boy. You're welcome."
For years, Lordaeron recovered from the war. A year later, the invasion began again, but it was no longer the concern of Lordaeron, but of the Stormwind Alliance, which was slowly repairing itself with the help of all the other kingdoms: Lordaeron, Khaz Modan, and even with the help of the somewhat neutral Gilneas, which was a kingdom in itself. The Alliance expedition went into the world beyond the Dark Portal… and never returned. Khadgar, Alleria Windrunner, Kurdan Wildhammer, Danath Trollbane, and Turalyon… they remained behind the portal that closed for good. It was a great tragedy and Faol prayed for them the whole time the war was going on in the world beyond the portal and he prayed for them even after the outcome of the war. The orcs were locked up in internment camps and Lordaeron was quietly recovering.
Thomas and Aneth got married after the end of the second wave of the war. Faol himself had given them away and blessed their relationship, and neither could be said to have made a mistake. On the contrary. They began to discover that they complemented each other perfectly. Sometimes they argued about something, sometimes they raised their voices at each other, but they never really got on each other's nerves.
Korth'azz and Doriel sent them letters regularly. They first sent them a letter that read:
- Say hello to our favorite friends!
- You forgot something at my place when you left. It should be enough to build a smaller house for both of you. And possibly for a little one, if you decide to have children.
- Regards,
- Korth'azz and Doriel
The letter was attached to the package that he and Aneth opened. It was full of gold coins. The dwarf meant it and let them know it. At first they were reluctant to use them for themselves, but at least they gave work to carpenters and laborers from the area and gave people an honest job. They built a house close to Stratholme so that it would not be far either there or to Corin’s Crossing and Darrowshire. Thomas and Aneth found that they meditated better in nature than in the monastery, because the Light was all around, not just in the chapel.
There was room in the house for them as well as for other guests or for someone who would need sudden help. Not for a child, they both knew that after a year of relationship. Not that they didn't want him, though Thomas doubted he'd be a good father, but the injury Aneth had received in Khaz Modan when she'd been dragged away by the orcs seemed to have taken its toll. She couldn't have children. She suspected it, but when it was confirmed to her, their first crisis of sorts began.
Thomas tried to really show her how much he appreciated everything she did for him, but it didn't help. From the beginning, he had no idea what exactly he was worried about, and he couldn't either. She didn't say anything to him herself. Once, in the middle of the night, she burst into tears, and when he hugged her, she cried even more. He asked what was wrong, but she always just shook her head and said, “Nothing.” The next week, he woke up a few hours before sunrise to find Aneth not in bed. He went to look in the hall. She was sitting at the table with her head in her hands, trembling with tears. Since the hug was only making it worse, he preferred not to even try, so he retreated back into the bedroom, sat on his bed, and meditated into the morning to try and figure out what he'd been overlooking all this time. But when Aneth started going to the river during the day, not even eating and coming home at dusk, Thomas was starting to wonder if she was worried about him and she was wrong about wanting to be with him and just not being able to tell him .
One day he decided that he was short on this problem and went to the monastery at Stratholme. He didn't know why, but he didn't go to Faol but to Sister Elin. Perhaps he had reached out to her because she had cared for him when Aneth and Faol had brought him half-dead to the monastery, and for the most part: because she was a woman. He immediately explained the whole problem to her and Elin understood immediately.
"It's not because of you, Thomas," she told him as she soaked the bandages in a herbal concoction of sun grass and calendula. "This is not your fault."
"For the last month, I've stopped thinking about it."
"You've been together for quite some time. At least a year, right?” Thomas nodded in response. "Most couples are expecting their first child after at least a year. Aneth cannot have children. The dagger just went too deep.'
Thomas didn't question how she knew about the orc incident in Dun Morogh, but this time he was grateful she was so informed. "And that's why he's worried? That she can't have children?'
"I thought you wouldn't understand. Even if you were your most empathetic self, there are some things you just can't empathize with women's problems. We take the ability to have children as a gift and a divine quality that gives life. And when we're not able to do that, we feel inferior and that we're here for no reason at all."
"Something like when a man finds he can't protect those he cares about?"
"I underestimated you. I didn't expect you to be able to find an analogy.'
"Okay, but how do I help her?"
“You'll figure something out when you know it's not about you.” She smiled at him and went back to her work to prompt him on his way home.
Thomas found Aneth by the river. Now she wasn't even crying anymore, just hugging her knees and silently looking at the stream of flowing water. This time he already spoke to her and asked if she needed a child for her happiness. She replied that it was a matter for both of them and when Thomas assured her that he wouldn't leave her or look down on her for something like that, she immediately scolded him and hugged Thomas for a good half hour. She came to terms with it fairly early and began to take it simply as a life lesson that she had to go through for a reason. Since then, she never thought he was emotionally cold. He just didn't know how to express emotions so much and rather acted... and that meant more to her than any words.
Together they went to the monastery to visit Faolo and also went to church services. They practically did not stray from life in Stratholme or from the monastery, even though they lived outside the city. Thomas told Faol what had happened in Khaz Modan and Faol was absolutely beaming that Thomas was able to connect with the Light. And when he told him he wanted to be a paladin, he just supported him. He also told him about the Order of the Silver Hand, founded by Uther the Lightbringer, but Thomas replied that he did not feel he should be a member of an order until he felt he was worthy of it. Faola was very pleased with his humility and so he at least introduced him to Davil Crokford, a young paladin who lived in Darrowshire and also did not take membership of the Order seriously.
He often went with Aneth to see Davil in Darrowshire, where they trained together. Davil didn't use a sword but a war hammer, but it didn't interfere with their training. Even after all these years, Thomas was able to create a light shield so strong that Davil could hit it with a hammer like a dead man, but it had no effect on Thomas.
Thomas' increasing power was due to the thoughts he woke up with. He never forgot why he was given a second chance and tried to help and find his way to the Light as much as he could. He was often remorseful for very strange reasons. He questioned whether he was being shallow to help people just to make up for a wrong, and whether it was rather selfish. These thoughts forced him to not think about his fate at all and to help simply because he existed. He also came to Faol with such questions, when even Aneth was at a loss, for she had never heard of anyone asking such questions.
One of them was this:
"How will the Light know if we are worthy of it or not?"
“Usually this first flash is driven by our desire to help someone. But that desire must not only be in our thoughts, it must come from our soul."
"And the others? How can one learn to be better and stronger in order to protect others?'
"This already stems from a firm conviction that we are doing good. And that conviction is in our thoughts and in our heart. There has to be a balance. The mind cannot be without the heart and the heart without the mind. The heart is our intuition and insight into the astral world and where the eyes cannot see. And the mind keeps us here, because matter is also important, because we remain in it."
Thomas somehow understood it all. But he couldn't finish the answer to which he was asking himself a lot of questions. “But what if someone believes infinitely that they are doing good… and at the same time they are harming someone? Even so, does the Light obey him?'
“I'm afraid so, Thomas. The Light perceives our beliefs and desire to help… even though it may be wrong. But even we cannot know whether some evil needs to be done in order for others to survive or to learn an important lesson.”
"So you don't know how to answer that question yourself?" Thomas asked in surprise.
"I've been wearing it myself all my life. I've never told anyone, Thomas, but I know very well that you understand the battle between the dark and the Light far better than anyone else in this monastery. There is a very fine line between Light and Darkness, Good and Evil… and it is a true art to recognize it. We often have no choice but to choose the lesser evil, and that very thought is very frustrating for many followers of the Light.”
"Then what are we to do, father, if we only want to protect others?"
"Then our intuition and our inner vision help here. Although even he can be blind sometimes. But I'm glad you're asking these questions, Thomas. Some grow up in the teachings of the Light and don't put them on all their lives. But those who can do it are truly ahead of the rest. Because the Light relies on pure hearts... it is an ancient power that did not and does not take into account abuse in its name... Fortunately, however, there is no such person among us. And I hope it never will be.'
Thomas was still struggling with the darkness inside him… he just didn't show it as much. He often wondered at night before going to sleep if it was all worth it, if it was worth being good, because he sometimes thought he was making himself out to be someone he wasn't. He often thought of the people he had killed and the former captain of the city guard, how he could make up for what he had done to him, killing two of his people and maiming a third, and instilling in him the idea that there was no point in the world in doing justice. He had bouts of depression, and dark thoughts awoke them. But Aneth learned to recognize it, so she always grabbed his shoulder, smiled at him, and said:
"By thinking about whether we are good or not, we also do good. Because no bad person blames himself for what he has done.” This always calmed Thomas down and he was able to continue functioning. Perhaps he did not realize it, but by his constant thinking about the course of the world, about Light and darkness, he moved on and grew stronger. Even Davil once told him:
“I don't know why you're not at the Silver Hand yet, Thomas. They would need a paladin like you.'
“I'm where I'm needed, Davil. Can we extend the training for another hour?'
"You really should do something about that humility, Tom," Davil snarled, swinging his hammer again. "That's a disease."
"Then hopefully I'll infect as many people as possible with her," grinned Thomas.
"That is not necessary. Already happened."
The day after this training, Thomas received another package from Korth'azz. Aneth didn't open it just because it was a really big chest. She handed him a letter addressed only to him. Thomas opened it without further ado.
- Hello stickman,
- remember how you left that armor of yours in Ironforge? He shouldn't have done that. I had a crazy idea to make you a new one according to those measurements... but one that would be really worth it. Aneth wrote to me that you often go away to see Faol and your paladin friend to train and become a good warrior of the Light. This is sure to come in handy! Write if it fits you and if you like it. If you were wondering that the tiara looks a little strange, I will tell you that it is made according to titanic stories. Titans wore armor with a wing motif, but I don't mean to imply that I'm associating you with them. I just thought it was a good idea. Because I like titanic stories and I know that you were also quite taken when we had fun with them in the evenings. You should probably just get some nice leather gloves made. I didn't have the courage to order these without your presence. The armor is made from our finest steel. May he serve well!
- P.S.: From Aneth's story, I became a bit more interested in Light, and guess what. I will probably come to Lordaeron with Doriel soon. Expect us within two months. We will write more for clarification.
- Korth'azz
Thomas was barely breathing when he and Aneth opened the chest. He carefully gripped the metal tiara, the inner circumference lined with leather so it wouldn't cut into his forehead. However, it was so artfully hidden that it was not visible at first glance. It was decorated with a beautiful worked amethyst and on the sides of the diadem were wings, just as it was in the description. Thomas put it on his head. It fit perfectly. Korth'azz had to go to a tanner who made his batat and had the measurements of his head. Then he pulled out a beautiful armband in a similar style but made of a darker metal. The rest of the armor was also amazing, but he liked the epaulettes the most.
“Korth'azz must have gone mad!” Aneth gasped as she saw the full armor on Thomas. It fit him perfectly. "I don't even want to imagine how much it must have cost!"
"Me neither," said Thomas. He really didn't want to think about it. But he wanted to at least write to Korth'azzo thanking him for the armor that fit to the millimeter. However, he had no reason to wear it for training yet. He promised himself that he would take it out when the time was right.
One evening as he was driving from Darrowshire, he didn't know why, but he felt he had to go deeper into the forest, a place he had never been before. As it turned out, after a while, he reached a smaller solitude. And in front of her he saw two men laughing. He wouldn't have attached much importance to it if he hadn't noticed the blood stains on their clothes. He dismounted from his horse, which he had bought with money from Korth'azz, so that he and Aneth could travel around Lordaeron in less time. The men immediately drew their daggers when they saw him. That's when Thomas understood why the Light had led him here. They had to be the bandits he'd occasionally heard about from the guards at Stratholme.
"Shut up," the first growled at him. "You have nothing to do here."
"I have a feeling neither of you have any business being here," Thomas growled, still not drawing his sword.
"Drain him," he said to the other bandit. He lunged at him unceremoniously… and Thomas knocked him aside with his lightsaber just a second later. The man fell to the ground, and as he got back up to try to kill Thomas, the paladin hit him with his lightsaber again. He stunned the other in exactly the same way. He didn't want to kill them until he knew if the hermitage was abandoned and they just inhabited it.
He gasped as he stepped inside. A dead man lay in a pool of blood on the ground near the fireplace. Thomas knelt down to him and tried to bring him back, but he couldn't. The ghost was already gone. He looked up and his wife was also lying nearby. Her stomach was ripped open, her clothes were torn and her eyes were wide open. Like she was still crying even though she was dead. Righteous rage gripped Thomas.
He ran out and grabbed one of the rising bandits by the neck and threw him to his companion.
“I fought the orcs so that people could live normally!” He almost yelled at them, but the bandits didn't take it seriously at all. They didn't seem to believe him to be any kind of danger. "And instead I meet monsters like you!"
"You're a paladin, you won't hurt us," one of them sneered. "The code forbids you."
“You know nothing of the codex or the Light!” Thomas knew he was out of control, but he couldn't help it at that moment. He fought for Azeroth, and when he met someone who didn't realize that everything could end in flames, it infuriated him like nothing else.
"Then why don't you go lead them to the other bank?" spat the bandit.
At that moment, Thomas drew his sword and aimed it at him. “People like you laugh in the face of the Light… even people who lived honestly.” As one of them was about to laugh, Thomas lost his self-control and pierced the bandit's heart with a single lunge. The other jerked violently and stared at the paladin with wide eyes.
“You're a paladin! You can't do this!'
"I can not? I really can't?” growled Thomas, pointing the tip of his sword at him as well.
"Paladins, don't kill people! Paladins slay demons and monsters!'
Thomas frowned and stretched. "Yes… but you are not human." And he cut off his head. He put the sword back in its scabbard and walked into the house as if nothing had happened. He could blame himself for killing them… but he had heard how many people they had already killed. And he couldn't just let them run around the world. They would kill more, and he would not be able to forgive himself if he let them go on doing evil.
He gave a final blessing to the victims and went out to dig the graves. It broke his heart that such people existed. He did not fight for such as they were. He buried them and left the bandits to the wild animals. He had such a rage.
Just as he was about to leave, he heard something. He stopped and listened. He thought he heard crying. He went back into the house and went up to the second floor. He didn't hear the voice anymore, but then he thought to look in the cupboard in one of the rooms. He opened it slowly. A little girl, no more than eight years old, with red hair was hiding in the closet. She stared at him with big watery green eyes.
"Where's Mom and Dad?" she blurted out immediately.
Thomas was stabbed in the heart. With this sentence, he justified even more why he killed the bandits. He quickly thought of what to say so he wouldn't have to lie and not scare the little girl and only worsen her condition.
"They had to go," he said.
"Where?" she sobbed.
"Somewhere you can't go."
"Why didn't they take me with them?"
"Because you still have something to do here," he replied, still looking at the little girl. A lot of people had told him that she had a very stern yet reassuring look, so he hoped she didn't scare her.
The little girl wiped her teary eyes. "So I won't see them again?" she asked sobbing.
“No…” he said bluntly and thought. "But they told me to take you away and take you to good people."
The little girl looked at him rather uncomprehendingly. Thomas' words seemed to rub off on her. She understood that her parents had simply left and were not coming back and understood that she was to go with the gentleman with the long black hair. He offered her his hand and surprisingly the little girl took it.
Thomas took her in his arms and carried her downstairs. "Let's play a game like this, shall we?" he said as they walked up the stairs. "You're not going to look until I tell you to."
"Okay then," the little girl nodded, burying her head against his chest and not looking as they walked through the room that bore the marks of blood and struggle. She didn't even look when they walked past the bodies of the dead bandits. It wasn't until they were on their horses and far from solitude that he allowed her to look.
"My name is Sarah," she said after a moment, glancing at Thomas who was concentrating on riding through the forest and steering his horse with only one hand. He held Sarah in the saddle with his forearm. "What is your name, sir?"
“Thomas. Nice to meet you, Sarah.” Even though he spoke calmly, grief was tearing him apart inside. Now that little girl will be alone just like he was… she'll have to grow up in an orphanage, she won't have parents… and that's only because two people – or rather monsters disguised as humans – have said they'll just take the little girl's parents' lives. He was angry…so angry.
Thomas took Sarah to the orphanage that had been set up in Stratholme after the first wave of the Second War. He didn't tell Aneth about the whole incident at all because he was wondering if it was right that he killed two people even if they were monsters and if he was justifying himself properly. He left Sarah at the orphanage because he knew she would be well taken care of. He was led by a priestess from the church whom he knew from the monastery, and therefore he trusted her. Sarah watched him leave, still going over in her childish mind why her parents had left her here.
Thomas didn't come home until really evening and much later than Aneth was used to. She didn't ask him where he had been for so long, but she suspected something had happened. When he didn't say anything, she never questioned him. If he wanted to tell her, he would have told her by now. They both went to bed, but Aneth stared at the ceiling, unable to sleep. She looked at Thomas, who was apparently not sleeping soundly either.
She grabbed his shoulder and whispered, "Thomas."
Thomas grunted that he was perceiving.
"Out with it."
Without opening his eyes to show that he was awake, Thomas said, “I found the bandits the guard told us about in Stratholme.” He paused for a moment. “I caught them red-handed… they killed two people: a man and a woman… I killed them for doing this and not showing an iota of conscience.” Aneth said nothing. Apparently she agreed to that too, from what she heard. “And in that house I found a little girl who was not found. Now she is an orphan.'
Aneth now understood why he was so upset. She didn't say anything for a long time until she asked, "And why didn't you bring her here?"
“Because I didn't want to worry you. These decisions are not mine alone.'
"Well, now you know." She covered Thomas's exposed shoulder and lay down herself. "Tomorrow you will come for her. And if you don't feel up to taking care of a child, then you can be sure that at least I will be involved."
Thomas was surprised. This possibility hadn't occurred to him, and at least he didn't expect Aneth to agree. He thought he was just reminding her that she couldn't have children of her own and would only make it harder for her. He really didn't expect this reaction from her. Knowing that he would be watching over little Sarah to make sure she was safe, he slept much better.