Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost

Chapter 7

~Erro's POV~

"Now, before we study the book, what would you like to eat?"

"You don't have to, Khadgar."

"I insist. We can catch up over dinner."

"Alright, but you pick what we get." He disappeared for a moment before returning with food and drink. As he poured me a cup, he started up the conversation, "So, when did you leave?"

"The morning after you did."

"Why?"

"I had no one besides you, Khadgar, and I couldn't get away with pranks anymore by blaming it on you." He laughed, "Yeah... What did you do after you left?"

"I made my way to Stormwind first and checked the Heroes' Call Board. Said they needed help in Duskwood, so I went and helped them out. Then, checked it again, needed help in Darkshore, so I went and helped them out. Been doing that ever since. After helping out a bit in Elwynn Forest, King Llane found me. Callan had put in a good word."

"So, you and Callan?"

"What do you mean?"

"Like, are you two..."

"No, no, no. I think Callan, Lothar, and Llane have been the only friends I've had since you left. But, none of that. What about you, why did you leave?"

"It just... wasn't for me."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Khadgar paused, mid-bite of the food he'd brought. He set his fork down and scratched the back of his neck, "It's... quite stupid now that I look back on it. I..." He sighs, "I thought you were going to convince me to stay, and I didn't want to see you upset when I left."

"Khadgar, you idiot. If you would've told me, I would've gone with you." He chuckled, looking down at his food. I took a bite, "We're best friends, Khadgar. I would've jumped off a cliff if you told me to." We laughed a bit at our young stupidity. "Where'd you go after you left?"

"Well, first, I went and saw Darnassus. I visited there often. It reminded me of you." I felt my cheeks heat up slightly, and I took a drink, willing my heartbeat to go back to normal. "I will be honest, Khadgar, I thought you had forgotten about me."

"Is that why you didn't talk to me at first?" I nodded, looking down at my plate. "You idiot, Erro. I could never forget you. Like you said, we're best friends." I nodded, playing with the stray hairs that had escaped from my braid, "So, where did you go besides Darnassus?"

"I researched, really. Worked on my abilities, found some abandoned libraries." I laughed, "I imagined you did that. Fight some wolves along the way?" He laughed, "Maybe."

So, we talked, and we talked until our food was gone. Then we read, and we read late into the night. I sat next to Khadgar on the floor as he flipped through the book, mumbling to himself. I read over his shoulder, feeling my eyes droop. I rested my head on his shoulder and fell asleep.

~Khadgar's POV~

"The Great Gate... Erro, look at thi-" I paused as I looked over to see she had fallen asleep. I chuckled as I continued to look over the page. "From light comes darkness and darkness light. Well, that's clear. Ask Alodi..." I picked up my quill and scribbled some notes down on the paper. I flipped through a few more pages before resting my head against Erro's. Her breath came out in soft bursts, a pause between each in and out. I moved her cloak gently to the side and traced the markings on her arm. She hummed in her sleep, and I let out a soft chuckle as she wrapped her arms around me. "Looks like this is where I'm sleeping tonight." I relaxed in her grasp and drifted off myself.

When I woke up, I was laying in bed with the blanket half draped over me. Erro appeared just then. She wasn't wearing her cloak, and her hair hung down her back, not in a braid. She looked more like she did when we were younger. "Morning. About time you woke up. I made breakfast."

"What did you make?"

"Your favorite."

"Really!?" I hopped up, and she laughed, handing me a plate. "Garona is supposed to take Lothar and a few soldiers, including us, to where the orcs are."

"Do you trust her?" I looked down at my food for a moment, thinking on it before nodding, "I do trust her. Do you?"

"I do trust her." We finished eating, telling jokes like old times before there was a knock at the door. "Khadgar, Erro, it's time to go." I grabbed the dishes, "I'll wash these and be out there."

"Are you sure?" She nodded and turned, quickly cleaning the dishes before braiding her hair and clasping on her cloak. She opened the door to reveal an impatient Lothar. "Sorry, had to clean up breakfast," she said seriously. "It is fine, but now we must hurry. C'mon, Khadgar." I put on my cloak and followed them out. Erro climbed up onto her horse and offered her hand to me. I accepted it and climbed on, pulling out a book and reading during the long horse ride.

~Erro's POV~

On our way to where the orcs were camped, we passed through the village where I'd been attacked. "Lothar, may we stop?"

"Why?"

"This was... the village I found on fire." He noticed my thoughtful look, and he allowed us a short break. I climbed off the horse and hurried to the house I had been attacked. It was exactly how I'd left it, and it was the only house left standing. I ran my hand over the singed books. Why was I drawn here? Of all places, why here? I examined the dust on the bookshelf. I looked away from the bookshelf to the fireplace. There was a painting above it that had been burned. All I noticed was the purple skinned legs and boots. I could almost make out a stuffed animal dangling from someone's arms. The photo looked awfully familiar.

I pulled the painting off the wall and brushed away the ash. A familiar night elven face appeared in the painting. My eyes went wide, "Of course she would look for safety with another kind who didn't know." It was my mother in the photo. She looked weary and tired. I blew away a mixture of dust and ash, seeing a young version of me. My eyes were bright and full of hope for a good life. My old stuffed animal dangled from my small hands.

I dropped the painting, jumping at the sound of another voice, "What'd you find?" It was Garona. "This was my mother's home... She was not allowed to be with the other elves after she gave birth to me. So, she must've come here to find safety and shelter."

"Why did your kind exile her?"

"My father is an awful man known as The Betrayer. It is a long story. I can find a book if you would like to know more."

"Perhaps one day. Is that you in the painting?" I nodded, "And that is my mother," I add, pointing to the one next to me. I remove the frame and roll up the painting, hiding it away in my bag. Then, I continue to search the room, finding a chest underneath one of the broken floorboard. I open it and pull out my old stuffed animal and a letter.