Warcraft 3: Broken Blessings

Chapter 4

When she was introduced to the other Blood Elves, they were stunned that she sated their need for magic so acutely. Even as she walked out of the forest, she sensed a bit of sorrow. Then she paused at the pinecone that dropped in front of her. It appeared to be a parting gift, and she was quick to pocket it. Smiling at the forest once more, she let herself get led out to the main traveling road.

"We didn't bring an extra steed," Kael'thas frowned when they approached the area where the large deer were grazing patiently. "You can ride with me."

"I would prefer for her to stay with me," Perhin said. "You did inform me that I was to protect her at all times. I shall borrow a steed for her."

"I can walk," she said softly.

"No," Kael'thas said with a dismissive wave. "I won't have that."

"Well, what are we to do then?" a knight frowned. She seemed to frown in thought. Then she heard gasps when a red-eyed, white stag loped over to stand next to her.

"I suppose you are here for her?" Perhin smiled. The stag nudged her and sided up to her.

"Maybe I should ride that one," Kael'thas mused. He found himself staring at a set of horns in his face. It was clearly a 'no'.

"Can Perhin ride with me? He vowed to protect me," Rosalia asked. The stag seemed to snort and showed no malice to him. "Okay. Help me up, please?"

"How does she have such power?!" a mystic mused.

"That's something we are trying to figure out," Kael'thas chuckled.

"Oh," Rosalia said suddenly. "I want to see my parents before we go."

"Why?" Kael'thas frowned.

"Ah, because they are my parents and deserve to know I'll be leaving?" she said with a touch of irritation. "They have a right to know."

At how she was talking to the prince, several of the guards were outraged. However, it was Perhin that was in complete agreement with her. "She's right. They do deserve to know."

"Very well. I'll meet with them. Lead the way," Kael'thas ordered.

"Not through the town," she said. "It will cause too much disruption. There is another way to reach my childhood home, and it's safer. Just follow me."

The stag easily moved with her gentle nudges with her hands. Perhin was sitting behind her to cradle her in his protective embrace. For some reason, Kael'thas didn't like that. He would have preferred for her to ride with him. He had to let it go for now.

She led them down a narrow path that their steeds easily traversed. Regular horses would have to be careful on the narrow dirt trail, but the deer instinctively knew where to step. When they reached the back of the small cottage, she saw her mother working on clothing. She called out as loud as she could with her weakened voice. "Mother! Is Father home with you?"

"Rosalia?!" she blinked and paused at the other Blood Elves with her. "Ah...yes. He's inside."

"Good. Okay, we can leave our rides here. We need to talk inside. I don't trust outside talk," Rosalia said. This was agreed to right away. When they stepped inside, her father waved at them. Then he noticed who was with them.

"What is the meaning of this?!" he growled and stood up from where he was sitting.

"Father...um...I am being ordered to leave," Rosalia frowned. "To retreat to a safer place."

"What?" he blinked. At how Perhin was giving a sad look, he understood. "I see."

"I am Kael'thas Sunstrider. Lord of the Blood Elves. Your daughter is a prime need for my people. She generates raw magic of the like that equals our once whole Sunwell. I am bringing her back with me to see if such a thing is true," the regal Blood Elf said calmly.