Broken Dreams

She knew her time had come. She had committed the final crime. Her death had been avenged after all these years. The witch was gone...…….. She made her way back to the woods where it had all began. Her original grave marker was still there. Her loves as well. He was still buried beneath it all. She had dismissed all her pets back to where she had collected them from. She was alone now. Her energy was slowly draining. She was tired. The grave had been redug. She lay down beside the bones of her love. She touched the bones of his fingers and closed her eyes. 

Rain poured in the woods as if it was crying for the lost lovers finally reunited.

Never had gold in her pockets felt so good. Jaen had paid well but they had paid better.  She gave them flight plans and left. She would not help them kill her only tell them how she flew. She cared not for why they wanted the information. Besides Jaen was the mother of the bastartd that had killed her and had never told her he was still alive......... Oh yes he was.......... she had found out. And she was preparing.........

Gwen knew the time had come to set things in motion. She had followed the plan to a t. She had stayed out of sight and mind to people. She had gotten a new employer that was looking for people to kill worgens. It would all put her in the right place when people came looking. She stood out in the field killing them for days now. It would be anyday some one would come looking for her.  Suddenly she heard a sound behind her. She smiled. He helded his hands up to not be shot "Hello there." She lowered the bow to her side, though still keeping it taunt. "Ello." She motioned for her spiders to stay still. He slowly stepped closer "Gwen, correct?" She raised back up her bow. "Who be asking?" Her spider made a chattering sound. She made a small whistling and it moved beside her. He bowed slightly "I am the Butcher, I was looking for you i am in the goal to help a friend of yours. I have heard that you are very skilled at what you do in your job Anafae has told me a good little bit of you" She nodded. "Ahh that be little dove. She be a sweet heart but too trusting. Next time you see her let her know Holly says hello." She tapped the spider beside her. "But yes I do what is needed to get by. And for that which pays the most or who wants to kill me the least. Which ever one sounds the best to me." The Butcher smiled threw his mask "She is not so trusting any more but i will tell her Holly says hi. And i understand doing things to make sure something gets done. I am not looking to get you or come close that this I found a wonderful staff and i am bringing the other parts of this wonderful item together. I know where Jaen is and soon where those items are. And there seems to be another person looking besides me and her i would like to beat them i would hate someone to get these things and control her." Gwendallin raised her bow again. On the inside she smiled. Jaen had been right. Let the others gather it for her. She played along. "Let sleeping dogs lie. That monk shut off her mana use right now. I figure she has a very short time left before she looses her mana forever. This world would be better off with her magic gone. Don't get me wrong, I benefited greatly under her but my new employer is paying very very well." She smiled. Her empty eyes glanced around. "Please dont get me wrong. I can point you towards at least one person that holds the stones you seek." He nodded "I can pay for your info and from what i have watched she wont run out of Mana. Having two of these stones already she will finish i would rather be on her good side then be the one that let her lie. I can find the stones but the process takes time." She patted Holly again. Beside her another spider appeared. "I have been on her dark side and no it is not pretty. If anything I would rather die again then be there. I can give you information. I can even help you but I cannot make it easy for you." The Butcher smiled again "Easy is boring and i haven't played this game in a while, most of these people are to easy." Gwendallin nodded. "Fine. Too many people want the easy way out anymore. All though if its the out the want I usually give that to them but I make them play first." The spiders made a wide circle around the man, eyeing him up. They left a small trail of webbing on the ground. "The one you seek once trained as a warlock, then became a dark knight. Her once lowly blood became noble upon finding her family. She is best known for her sword though. It reminds me that it is time for dinner."

She tilted her head. "I can give you more if you wish but she hides out in Gilnaeas watching over her friends that once belonged to a very noble house in Silvermoon. He glanced down at the spider stepping over the spiders web to the left "Are you speaking of Delphine? Or Sav." She shook her head no at both. "No, I doubt you have met her. Your dear dove knowns her." The Butcher asked again "There are few i havent over there. Does she cook very well?" Gwendallin laughed. "Only if you like raw items. She is called the Queen of Thorns. That is all I shall give anymore and it shall be too easy. I will look for the other piece for you." He nodded. "The other piece i will assist in looking for there is a warlock scrying for the items with her soul in it, I had found one and a little troll to full of him self crossed me but it ended well Jaen gained it. Thank you for the help Gwen. If you need anything let Anafae or Thalana know They can find me."

Gwen made her way out of winterspring. Hell had broken loose. What the hell had those ... those idiots been thinking. They had not known what hell the had unleashed. She sighed. No longer was her mission one of peace and of trying to be a messenger. Oh no.... Now she had been sent out to make sure that all knew who she was. 

Gwen sighed. She sent Holly away and summoned Iris. She sighed and threw the spider a piece of meat. Holly was all for looks. The bright purple color of the spider usually threw many into panics. But Iris.... Iris was her ace in the hole. The spider was quick and quiet. She was stealthy. And she was truly the site to be scared of. She glanced at her many pets in their stables. All served a purpose. Tiger for tracking, the turtle for underwater retrieval. Her dinosaurs where for big game. But her spiders.... they where her favorites. They worked the best for hunting people. And thats just what she was going to do. One by one everyone who had wronged her... Gwen shivered which seemed odd. She was dead after all but somethings still gave her chills. 

GOOD hunting! — Aye, good hunting,

Gwen stood watching for a moment as the priestess headed into Eversong woods, disappearing into the nights fog. Where she was headed, Gwen did not know, nor did she want to know. She had known the priestess for a long time, even before her death at the hands of the hunters. She had been the one that had found Gwen after she had been raised with the plague as well.  She shivered at what she had been through with the priestess. Even though she was dead, she still feared what might happen to her at the hands of what she considered pure evil. It was better to be on her side then one of her … toys as she called them.

  She looked down at the letter in her hand that the priestess had handed her before riding off. It was sealed with a bright blue wax and an emblem that held a hawk with two swords in its talons.  In places bits of bone could be seen through her flesh. Even being dead the letter still scared her. This was it. This tiny piece of paper held all the answers to her past. It held the answers to her future. It held everything….. All these years of searching and the answers were right there in her boney fingertips.  She knew the contents. Within the letter were the three names of her rapist and murders. She slide her finger under seal but could not break it. She just stood there looking at the letter, trying to figure out why she could not break the seal. Why did this letter scare her so much? The only thing she could think of was … What was next…..Say she was able to to avenge her death and kill all three of them… What would be left for her to do…..? Go on living as she was? She chuckled at the thought… Living? Bah… Living was wasted on those still alive.

Wherever the forests call;

But ever a heart beats hot with fear,

And what of the prey that fall?

She glanced up to see the sun was rising up of the tree tops. In the distance dark smoke curled up above the tree line, reaching out to meet the morning sun. She chuckled again. Well that explained where the priestess had gone. She looked back down at the letter. How long she had been standing there with the letter she knew not. She finally just ripped her finger through the wax and opened the letter. The paper inside was nothing fancy, very basic. The writing looked forced. Drops of blood littered the paper as well. The only thing written on it was three names. The panther, the bear and the bird. The orc, the tauren and the blood elf. Memories of her death came flooding back. The three arrows as the found their marks. The crippling poison seeping through her veins. The site of the inn just beyond the tree line. She remembered the orc and tauren grabbing her legs and dragging her back through the snow into the woods. The look of confusion and uncertainty in the bloodelfs eyes as she tried to grab his boot for help. The look of shame he had before he turned and ran to the others as they shouted commands at him. He ….. He had just stood there as the others had their fun. All she had been was just a puny human after all. Wrong place at the wrong time during a long drawn out war. He had healed her at their commands, furthering her torture.  And in the end as the other two had walked away, leaving her bloody in snow, it had been him who had snuck back and finally answered her pleas for death, sending the knife in her heart. He…. He would be the last.

Who gave the right for me to smite?

Why those that boasted when they smited me?

Good hunting! — Aye, good hunting,

She had searched for them through the years and finally had their names. As she had guess, they had changed their names during the years, even going different ways. She would know them on site now though. Those faces had been burned into her memory. Specially those of the elf. She folded up the letter and slipped it into her pocket. Grabbing her reigns she jumped back up on her horse and headed back towards Silvermoon. She let out a shrill whistle and her tiger appeared beside her. She disappeared into the morning fogged, headed to who knew where.

And dim is the forest track;

But the sportsman Death comes striding on:

Brothers, the way is black.

But the tracker Death comes striding in:

Brothers, the way is black

 My name is death. 

The journay through the city had been uneventful. Except for the normal squabbles on Murder Row between some rogues, the city was unusually quiet. She had met with the Elders, each meeting more odd then the last. Even the locations seemed to be more unusual then they used to but she never questioned. She only did what was asked and what she was payed for. Asking is what had gotten her killed in the first place. Too many questions had brought those three down on her in the forest those many years ago. She had found all but of them and taken revenge. She had become a merc to locate the last one, the blood elf.  She sighed as her horse clopped out the front gates. The house near falcon Square had been confirmed as the young elfs home. The elders wanted a report. So a report she would have but on her terms this time.

As her mount slowly made its way through Eversong woods to the small house her thoughts wandered. She knew what several of the people on the list where and why the elders where looking into them. Several she had found weak and had reported so. The final one had been added after she had recieved the list. Little Anafae had grabbed her attention quickly. She could not say what or who the girl was but something about her was different then the others. A few on the list had that draw but none as much as her.

She stopped her mount just short of the walk up to the house and tied him to a fence. Her spider, Iris, came skuttling up beside her. She walked slowly towards the small house. The front door stood wide open as demon servants skuttled too and fro. She entered the door way but never passed over the threshold. Demons came from every direction. Standing in front of her was the young girl. Short blonde hair, normal blood elf eyes, dressed in normal priest robes but she knew underneath was something different, but once again it was not her place to question things. She eyed the girl up and down.

Anafae seemed calm despite her hands shaking. “So you come at last,” she said softly. The elders would not be happy with what she was about to say but then again they where rarely happy with her but she had never failed or betrayed them yet. Gwendallin tilted her head to the side. “Come for you my child? No not yet. Just stopping in. Wanted to see how you where progressing. The elders wanted a check up and cat and mouse was no fun any more.” She glanced at the demons. “Call them off. I am not here to harm.”

Anafae nodded slowly at that, her eyes peering at her with interest and curiosity in her eyes. “They only seek to protect, but very well,” she offered in her low voice.”Tell me then, what is it that the “Elders” would wish with me?” She could tell the girl that stood before was trying her best to show a strong side but there where small signs that she was scared. She also continued to watch her spider very closely.

Gwendallin noded as the demons backed away. “I cannot tell you about the elders due to they remain in the shadows and only contact me when needed. I cannot tell you more till you meet them and meet them you will. All in due time.” She tried her best not to scare the young girl the way most undead would by playing the crazy card. She quickly changed the subject.”Did you recieve the care package?”

Anafae nodded at her question. “I was puzzled as to why you’d sent it, I must say…I thought it was either to let me know you were watching me…or to somehow advise me of someone wishing for me to…well grow, as it were.” She chuckled slightly to herself. She had switched without out a fight. A little of both she thought to herself. The elders knew nothing of the care package but then again they never questioned her acts as long as in the end they got what they wanted. She watched the girl who still eyed the spider more then herself. With a small flick of her finger, Iris moved to stand behind her facing out the door.

Ana took a deep sigh, seeming to be relieved about the spider. Gwen dually noted this. Looking back at the young girl she said “I cannot say why but make good use of the items. they will aid you in the upcoming future. Do not be worried about what is to come and do not run from what you are. It is in you, accept it and life will be easier.” She had done her research and knew the girl had issues with others taking her and such. She had even had a recent run in that almost killed her. Anafae frowned the comment. “What I am,” she said softly. “My Lady, you do not have the slightest idea of what I am,” she added. “But tell me…you seem capable in your work. How does one do this kind of thing and…well not know why exactly?” She seemed to think for a moment and added very curious “Do you not…well want to know?”

Her thoughts once again raced back to that day in the woods. “I ask no questions. I just do what is asked. I am capable in my job and have not failed and do not intended to fail. I know what I need to know and I know the way to you is not with fighting and capture but to let others do the work for me. To show you what kind of monsters are really out there. If the elders seek you out above the others then there is a reason. They see potional. And how I know you have not fully accepted what is there is due to the fact that you sit here, alone, by your self with these demons. You go by their rules. Do what they say. If you full accepted what and who you are inside then you would not be sitting here idol. You would be doing things for your self. But I over step my bounds.”  She bowed hiding the smile that crossed her lips and slowly backed towards the door. She had never lost her skills at being a word smith.

The girl seemed lost in thought for a few moments as if trying to figure out how to reply. She sighed and said ““My Lady…I will be as honest with you as you seem to be with me,” she offered with a soft smile. “I am not what I seem. And nothing good for you or the Elders will come, if you persist.” She noded and curtsied, returning the favor. Gwendallin chuckled. “That is the answer I expected as well as they expected. You are exactly what they want. And when the time comes you will know why. For now I take my leave.” She reached into her pocket and pulled her hearth stone, rubbing the runes inscribed across it.

GOOD hunting! — aye, good hunting,

The men called out from the inn as she stepped out into the snow. She wrapped the furs tight around her as she made her way through the trees. Dark would be coming soon and a new snow had fallen while she had stopped to warm up. The tracks of her prey she had seen earlier where now gone. She had headed south hoping to come across either those tracks again or some other pathetic being that was out in this weather. Deciding it to finally hang up her bow for the night, she stopped to stare up at the stars. There was a clearing not to far in front of her where the moonbeams seemed to make the snow sparkle as if small sprites skitted across the surface. An erie quiet had fallen on the forest.

Wherever the forests call;

But ever a heart beats hot with fear,

And what of the prey that fall?

Good hunting! — aye, good hunting,

As she closed in on the small clearing she could see the bloody remains of only what she could have guessed was her prey. The scene was grim. The female had been staked out in the middle of the clearing, legs clearly broken. She had been left as a trap for the male. What had started as a secert randavue had seemed to end in a bloody disaster. The male lay face down in a puddle of his own blood. It seemed as if his neck had been cut and several knife wounds bleed out through the fur to stain the pure white snow underneath him. Several tracks led from the two into the woods to the north. It seemed some one had beaten her to them. If she had just left the inn when she had wanted to it would have all ended up differently.

Wherever the north winds blow;

But what of the stag that calls for his mate?

And what of the wounded doe?

Good hunting! — aye, good hunting,

The wind turned from the north and it seemed as if the sky cried for the two. Huge snow flakes fell almost as if creating some white coffin for the two that lay so close, yet so far away from each other. As she stepped into the clearing, suddenly she realized that what lay before her was the trap and she had stepped right into it.

And ah! we are bold and strong;

But our triumph call through the forest hall

Is a another’s funeral song.

The erie song seemed to echo in the air around her. She hunched down and slowly edged back towards the trees from where she had came. From the sound of the voices there was at least three of them. If she gauged the voices correctly as well it was the three that had stopped her at the inn. They had stalled her enough to track down her prey and set up everything against her……She knew it was coming. All mens time comes… She just thought she had longer time.

For we are hunters ever,

Panther and bird and bear;

Man and the weakest that fear his face,

Born to the nest or lair.

Yes, brothers, and who shall judge us?

Hunters and game are we;

Glacing back at the two that lay in the middle she said a small prayer. The nobles daughter and her lowly tailor lay within the dark, fingers almost touching yet a breath apart. Stupid girl, she knew Gwen had been tracking her and yet still ran. She took a deep breath in of cold November air and ran.

Who gave the right for us to smite?

Who boasted when he smited us?

Good hunting! — aye, good hunting,

The first arrow lodged deep in her right shoulder blade. They ment to play with her. The second one found its mark in her left one. She continued running. The trees started to clear, almost there, she dodge two more arrows before the final one landed at the base of her spine. She went down on her knees and fell forward trying to crawl the last few feet, she could see the inn not far away. Suddenly shadows gathered around her. As the world went dark all she could hear was the three mens laughter as they pulled her back into the woods. The young hawk stood back for a moment unsure on what he watched, yet as the panther and bear growled the young hawk flew to their sides into the darkness of the woods.

And dim is the forest track;

But the sportsman Death comes striding on:

Brothers, the way is black.

She looked up as her communicater went off. It had been many years since that night she died in that cold november snow. Even back then she had tracked people, things and objects. Decades later it was still that way. She laughed slightly as she pulled a second list from her pocket. She had knowningly let the the little theif pick her pocket. The list had the names of priest and priestess she was watching very closely for an elder. Stuffing that list away she answered the communicator. She laughed slightly before standing up and waving at the blood elf in front of her who had been trying to reach her. Another job, another name. Though this time they where all playing right into the elders plans.

But the tracker Death comes striding in:

Brothers, the way is black