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Brothers	By : Koori Category: +S through Z > World of Warcraft Views: 1830 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own World of Warcraft, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Chapter Fifteen– Thomas Conway, Age 35
"You are not your father. You will not abandon them; you will be here to protect them."
Thomas awoke with the whispers of his wife on his mind. He had talked Norah into leaving her post beside Nathaniel and catch a few hours of rest. Cursing for dozing he looked down at his son and was surprised to find two very blue eyes looking up at him. The pain his son felt was written all over his face, the fair cheeks were damp with tears he couldn't stop from falling. His breath was coming in soft gasps, through clenched teeth.
"Sorry," he whispered between breaths, "didn't mean to wake you, Pa."
"Can you tell me what hurts, my son?" Thomas asked. When Nathaniel's eyes moved behind him, he reassured, "Foster is sleeping downstairs tonight, you won't wake him."
"Everything, Pa," Nathaniel said. "I am hot and cold all at the same time. My muscles hurt like I've been hauling rocks for days. My head feels like it's going to explode …" He suddenly let out gut wrenching scream as he curled up into a ball. Thomas could hear the sound of footfalls racing up the stairs. "Oh no …" Nathaniel wailed between sobs.
"It is okay, my son," Thomas said as the door flew open and Norah raced inside.
"I … soiled myself," Nathaniel whispered, shuddering.
"It's okay, baby," Norah said, putting a hand on the sweat-coated forehead. "We'll clean you up, you just rest a bit more … dream happy dreams, please … my son." Under his wife's touch and magic the crying and gasps stilled as Nathaniel was aided to slumber.
Looking over his wife's shoulder, Thomas saw his eldest standing in the doorway. "Check on your sisters," Thomas told him, "then try to get some sleep." After Foster left, he helped Norah clean Nathaniel, cradling him against his chest afterwards as she changed the bedding. "I wish I had the magical touch to calm him down like I did when he was a babe," Thomas said, feeling helpless.
"If he doesn't get better soon," Norah said, "we'll … we will have to find his people and ask them for aid. Give him some more time first, perhaps it's just the shock … maybe he'll recover on his own, he's a strong boy."
"That he is," Thomas said, laying Nathaniel down on the clean bed. Knowing better than to ask her to go back to bed, he kissed his wife and walked downstairs. He was not surprised to find Foster sitting up on the couch a quilt pulled around him. "We're both going to be exhausted tomorrow," Thomas said sitting down beside Foster and draping an arm around his son's shoulders. Adjusting the quilt over both of them, he put his feet up on the coffee table and closed his eyes.
The following morning, Foster talked him into letting him go to school. Janice went as well, 'to keep him out of trouble', as she put it. The twins begged to stay home with Nathaniel and Thomas wasn't going to argue it. Instead of dropping the children off in front of the school, he went inside with them.
Gale Kettle, the teacher, met him at the door. "I am so sorry about what happened, Thomas," she said. "I should have nipped it in the bud. As you can see I've moved the troublemakers into separate corners." She gestured around the room where in each corner stood a solitary desk and chair. Only one was occupied at the moment, by a glowering Vance Dixon. "The other fathers bought their sons home after the night in the jail, they'll be back to school next week. Mr. Dixon seems under the impression his son can do no wrong. I am not sure what I am going to do with that man or his child, thankfully his daughter Wendy doesn't share the same traits."
"That man is a waste of flesh," Thomas growled slightly. "He's lost my business."
"You are not the only one saying such," Gale said. "People around these parts don't take kindly to children getting hurt or those that encourage it. I thought about kicking Vance out of school but I am willing to give him another chance, but only one."
"I trust you, Gale," Thomas said with a tip of his hat. He put a hand on Foster's shoulder, it was tense. "Behave, young man," he said under his breath, "you promised."
"Yes, sir," Foster said.
Kissing his daughter's forehead, Thomas headed outside. Before he could step up onto his wagon he was called over by Henry. "I have my boys going through the stables again, straw by straw for your boy's missing ring," he said "They are thinking Vance may have picked it up in all the hubbub after I broke down the stable's doors yesterday."
"You did that?" Thomas said, gesturing to where the two doors to the barn were hanging off their hinges.
"Your daughters had just come up to me asking if I had seen their sister when we heard Nathaniel call out. That is a cry I never want to hear again. When I found the door locked from within the only thought I had was to get inside as quick as possible. It was quite a shock to see my son there and Vance holding a blade …" The bearded man's eyes flashed.
"That ring is very important to us … if there is anything you can do …" Thomas started.
"Pa!" The men turned to see York running up.
"You best have the ring," Henry growled.
York looked ashamed at the sight of Thomas and looked down. "No sir," he said. "Kyle and I are still looking but we have customers … Pa, I don't know if their mounts take chicken feed or oats."
"What are you babbling about?" Henry asked, following York.
Curious, Thomas trailed them back to the stables. He couldn't hide his surprise at the giant cockatrices Kyle was holding the reins of, two rainbow feathered birds scratched at the ground in front of them. "Pa?" Kyle said confusion in his voice.
From the barn two slender figures appeared, hoods pulled over their faces. As if on cue they both removed their covers at the same time revealing the slender ears and features of their race. "Greetings, humans," the female of the pair said. She did little to hide the distaste in her voice. "Are one of you the owner of this establishment?"
"Aye," Henry said stepping forward, "Henry Madison at your services, my lady." The blacksmith's offered hand went untouched and after an awkward moment he lowered it. "How can I be of service?"
"We will be spending the night," the female spoke again, the male seemed content letting her do the talking. She tossed Henry a couple of golden coins. "Please see to our Hawkstriders, hopefully you treat the beasts in your care better than your barn."
Her gaze moved to where Thomas stood. "Is there an inn in this forsaken town?"
He nodded his head toward the O'Connell's; as they walked past he caught a flash of gold on the male's hand. "Please, sir," Thomas said, his heart in his throat. The long blond-haired male paused and looked at him, a look of disinterest on his face. "May I have a moment of your time, in private?"
The slender eyebrow went up and he glanced over at his female companion. She shrugged. "I'll be at the inn, Lor'themar," she said.
Lor'themar nodded and returned his gaze to Thomas, the coldness in the expression remained as he led the elf to the outskirts of town.
"Forgive me," Thomas said, "I'll try to be quick, so you can return to your wife."
"She is not my wife," Lor'themar said, but he didn't explain further.
Thomas stuttered and sighed. "I'll be as direct as I can. I noticed you are wearing a ring, I knew another of your kind that also wore a ring … he lost it and it caused him great pain. I never asked why and am curious …"
Lor'themar held up his hand, on the finger was a gold ring with a crystal in the center, and like Nathaniel's around the stone was the phases of the sun. "It's is called a Sunwell Ring," he said. "We High Elves place a great value on them; it blocks our magical addiction as well as the attached penalties when we're away from our blessed Sunwell."
"Magic addiction," Thomas said, "all High Elves suffer from this addiction even when they are babes?"
'It would be extremely hard if not fatal on a High Elf child to be away from the Sunwell," Lor'themar asked. "We do not let them be attuned to a Sunwell Ring until they are at least a couple centuries old."
"Do all High Elves wear a ring then when away from your lands?" Thomas asked.
"Some can maintain their sanity without such an aid," the elf replied. "Lady Windrunner, my companion, does not wear one. She considers it a crutch, she maintains herself by mediating every morning … she is stronger than I."
"Where can one find such a ring?" Thomas asked.
Lor'themar's eyes flashed. "There is no price one could pay," he said. "Each ring is crafted for an individual and then there is a twenty-four hour attunement process before a ring can offer the wearer its benefits."
"I see," Thomas said.
"May I ask you something now?" Lor'themar said. "What happened to this elf you speak of, we are not known for losing our rings."
Thomas paused on the edge, here was a man that could possibly aid his son but his stance was so cold and Nathaniel so loving. They were staying overnight, he had more time. "I don't know, sir," Thomas lied. "It was a long time ago. Thanks again for your time; I'll let you get back to your companion. I need to get back to my farm, chores to be done."
The High Elf nodded and returned to the inn. Thomas hurried to his wagon and headed home, he had been given hope for his son.
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Brothers