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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 Two - Thomas Conway, Age 25
The sun had long since set by the time the weary horse turned down the lane toward the homestead. Nestled between Darrowshire, Corin's Crossing and the mountains to the south, it wasn't much to look at for the moment. It was just a small cottage and a slightly bigger barn that was home to two horses, a cow and various other farm animals. Thomas's pride and joy were the two large fields that lay in the distance. There were plans and dreams of a bigger house, more fields and hired hands to work them. For now there was only Thomas and his young wife, Norah. Pulling on the reins the horse stopped outside the house. As Thomas leapt down off the wagon and reached back to collect the baby, he heard the door open.
"The hour is late, Thomas," his wife said behind him. "Did you have to fight old Mr. Paterson for a fair price?"
"Nay," Thomas replied, keeping his back to his wife. A warm glow surrounded him as Norah stepped outside with the lantern she held. There was a soft gasp as the dark stains and dried blood on his arms became clear.
"Yours?" Norah asked.
"Nay," Thomas repeated as he turned to face her. He loved his wife; she was the most beautiful and strong woman he knew. Her long auburn hair had been pulled into a single braid down her back. Emerald eyes that usually twinkle in a constant state of amusement were laced with concern. The babe in his arm let out a pitifully weak cry and his wife startled.
"Tom?" She whispered.
"His mother was being attacked by bandits near Thondroril River. I tried … she was already too close to the Light … I did what I had to, to save her child." Warm arms embraced him as Norah wrapped hers around him. The crying baby nestled between them.
"The attackers?" she asked.
"Dead …"
"Good," Norah took the baby from his arms. "He's still covered in life-blood. I'll bathe him … have you fed him?"
"How could I, my wife?" He asked. "Thankfully he has slept most of the journey."
His lovely Norah nodded her head. "I'll tend to the babe; you take care of the horse and Wags. I've fed the rest of the stock for you."
Thomas kissed the forehead of his wife. "Do you know of the beings they speak of, to the far north? The ones that are said to have the skin the color of milk and the eyes that burn with an inner fire?"
"You mean elves, beloved?" Norah sounded confused. "This is not the time for fairytales."
"They are no fantasy," Thomas said as he turned back toward the wagon. "I buried one tonight and you hold her child in your arms."
His wife gasped. "By the Light … no matter he is a babe and I know what all babies need be they mine, a puppy or an elfin child."
Thomas smiled and kissed her once more before heading off. It took him no time to feed and bed the horse for the night. He gave Wags a meaty bone to chew on as the dog settled into his house outside the barn. With their furry protector they hadn't lost so much as an egg to bandits either the two-legged or four. Walking over to the pump located outside the barn, Thomas removed the money belt from around his chest. Then using the chilly water he scrubbed as much of the blood as he could from his hands, arms and chest. Then putting his hands together under the water he pooled some into his palms and used that on his face. Afterwards he shook the water off and headed into his home.
Soft singing greeted him as he stepped inside, along with the smaller of their two dogs, a white female mutt that his wife had named Daisy. He patted the dog on her head as he slid off his boots and left them at the door. Norah was sitting in her rocking chair near the fire. Her stocking foot rested against the small cradle in front of her making it sway in time with her as she rocked. Inside slept was their daughter, Janice. The elfin child was nursing on her breast. Thomas smiled at the sight, she was right. She knew what every child needed and due to the birth of their daughter earlier in the month had the means to provide it.
"Foster?" Thomas whispered, asking about their first born.
"He's asleep in the loft," Norah replied in the same hushed tones. "He tried to stay awake until you got home." Due to the small nature of their house the living space was an open area with the small loft being bedroom to all. "Your dinner is in the icebox," she said. "Just sandwich it between a couple pieces of bread and call it done."
It didn't take Thomas long to find the roast in question and using a knife he cut off two thick slices of bread from the freshly cooked loaf on the counter. He poured himself a mug of ale and joined his wife in front of the fire. It was a comfortable silence as he ate, with only the soft suckling noises from the hungry infant. It was only after he finished that Norah asked him what happened. He told her, leaving nothing out.
"The poor babe," Norah said, "the poor mother … those men …" Her emerald eyes flashed. "You did right by them Thomas, they deserved no less." The infant had fallen asleep on her breast. She gently removed him and then laid him down in the crib beside Janice, covering them both with a soft quilt. "So what now?" she asked.
"I promised the mother I would do right for her child," Thomas said.
"But how, Tom?" she asked. "We know so little of his people, they keep to themselves. They are no friend of humans …"
"Nor do I believe they are enemies," Thomas pointed out.
"If the tales are believed their home is far to the North, it would take months for you to reach it. And would they accept the babe into their arms if you did?" She asked.
"What do you mean?" Thomas frowned. "The baby is their blood, why would they not?"
"Think, my love, why would a mother in her current state be alone in a foreign land?" Norah asked. "This child was not born early, he is healthy. Perhaps the mother was not welcomed with her people."
"Or maybe she was trying to get home to them," Thomas said. "There is also Dalaran, far to the west. They say it is a place of learning that both human and elves reside."
"It is still many days journey and what would a scholar want with a babe," Norah said.
"It seems to me you are playing the devil's advocate, my dearest wife," Thomas said. "Perhaps it would be better for you just to speak plainly?"
"I heard once, be it true or not that elves live a long time; that this babe will still be here when Janice's grandchildren, children are farming these lands. I do not think this is a decision we should reach lightly or quickly. For him time does not have the same meaning. The Light guided you to the woman for a reason."
"He's not some lost puppy, Norah," Thomas said. "There is a chance he has a family out there, think of what you would go through if Janice or Foster was taken from you. There may very well be a father out there right now wondering where his wife and child are!"
"And there may not be," Norah said. "Something is just telling me that this baby was meant to be here with us. The only other choice I can see is for you to leave and take the baby to Stratholme's orphanage. We do not have the means for you to hand-deliver it to wherever the elves live. You have a family and fields that need you here."
"You wish to keep the child." It wasn't a question but his wife nodded and Thomas relented. "He'll need a name."
"Nathaniel," she said.
"After my father?" he raised an eyebrow.
"He died in service to his country," Norah replied.
"He died for nothing," Thomas growled, the old wound from the loss still not healed.
"You were once a warrior for the same cause, if only for a few years."
"And I left that life behind to raise our family together," Thomas replied. "I have no regrets."
"Nor will you regret this decision," Norah said as she stood and collected the child now named Nathaniel. "Take your daughter, Tom, let us head to bed. It has been a long day."
Gentling cradling Janice in one hand he climbed the ladder to the loft. The ceiling was low there so he had to move on his knees, but it wasn't far. He laid Janice down on the quilt beside his wife so she could nurse her as needed. Nathaniel was already there. Norah tucked them both in as Thomas checked on his eldest. Foster had the same dark hair as his father, and was sleeping with his chubby arms wrapped around a battered bear. Kissing him on the forehead and making sure he was tucked in; Thomas whispered a prayer to the Light to watch over his family and to the spirit of the mother lost that day. "I promised your child a safe haven and he will find no other more secure than here. Please rest in peace and watch over him as he grows."
Then he moved over to the bed he shared with his wife, banging his head on a low beam he muffled a curse. "Three bedrooms …" he whispered.
"Oh at least five," Norah replied as she snuggled close. "And a proper kitchen …"
"Would you like a sitting room with that, my lady?" Thomas replied with a grin.
"To match your study, but of course!" she said.
"Five bedrooms and just how do you plan of filling so many rooms," Thomas asked as he playfully rubbed her belly, his fingers circling lower.
Strong finger entwined around his own stopping his teasing. "You touch me and you die," she said flatly. "They will be filled very slowly."
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Brothers