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Shattered	By : Koori Category: +S through Z > World of Warcraft Views: 8001 -:- 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.

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Chapter Thirty-One – Thomas Conway
“Open”
At Norah’s command Nathaniel’s lips parted, the elf’s humiliation showed, even the tips of his ears were crimson. Their words could not soften the shame of being hand-fed by his parents. The repair work had gone well; the old barn would now keep the hay dry in the stormy weather. During the labor, he had learned more details about the time his son had been held prisoner. It was difficult to listen to, but he knew getting Nathaniel to speak about the horrible atrocities would help with the healing. Thomas began to realize there was a chance his son would never recover fully, for now all he could do was hope. Nathaniel had tenacity, even if he was unsure of it himself. The fact he had come this far proved that. For now, Thomas would be his son’s strength and keep him standing.
“Pa?”
Shaking himself from his musing he looked over at Nathaniel, “yes, son?” Norah had finished feeding him.
“Are you sure you want me sleeping with you tonight? I could try …”
Thomas shook his head. “Like elves,” he said, “I’ll sleep better knowing I’m close enough to keep the nightmares at bay.”
“Yes, sir,” Nathaniel said. “I’m going to go to my room for a bit before bed.”
“Of course,” Thomas said, “we’re here if you need us.”
After helping Norah clear the table and with the dishes, Thomas sat down by the hearth and took out his pipe. His wife joined him, taking up her needlework. “You wear your worry, Tom,” she said over her sewing. “He can pick up on that … he doesn’t want to be a burden.”
“Never,” Thomas said, “he’s family. He’s been through hell, Norah. That alone will forge a will of steel. His mind is just too fragile to see that. It’s full of all these demons; I’m slowly forcing them out of his head. But I have to do it gradually otherwise …” He took a puff on his pipe and sighed. “I miss him in moments like this,” he whispered, “He knew his brother better than anyone.” Norah’s hand shook slightly and Thomas cursed himself silently. “I’m sorry,” he said, reaching over and taking her hand in his. Standing he kissed her. “I’m going to check on the animals, guessing Nathaniel has taken care of them.”
Norah nodded her eyes watching the fire, lost in memories. Thomas prayed they were happy ones. Walking outside, his pipe still in his mouth he moved toward the barn when he heard something whimpering. Frowning he changed his path, the sun had set, but the moon gave plenty of light to see by. “Dog?” he said.
A low shadow moved and whimpered. Kneeling down he placed a hand on the large dog, the fur felt wet. Pulling back his hand, he saw it was covered in blood. “What the hell did you get into?”
Without warning there was a crash behind him, whipping around he saw Nathaniel on the ground, his blonde hair glowing in the moonlight. He was wresting with something or someone. Suddenly his son was knocked away, the elf rolled with the attack and was quickly on his feet, placing himself between his attacker and Thomas. James Clark stood up, his axe in hand, he stunk of ale and Thomas swore.
“My son is unarmed …”
“He was coming at you pa,” Nathaniel said, “While your back was turned.”
“Guess we can add cowardice and backstabbing to your repertoire,” Thomas said darkly.
James charged and Nathaniel ducked under the axe aimed toward him and grabbing the arm holding it. As he did, he twisted, wrenching the shoulder. The other man let out a scream and Nathaniel brought his other hand down. There was the sound of bone breaking and the axe dropped. The screams caused lights to appear around the logging camp. Norah raced out of the house. She started toward James withering on the ground. “Leave him,” Thomas growled, “he hurt Dog, can you help?”
Soon a small group of loggers appeared. “The damn elf broke my arm!” James wailed.
“He attacked our dog,” Nathaniel replied, “and then tried to do the same to my Pa … I stopped him.”
“The elf is lying,” James said struggling to stand.
Supervisor Raelen picked up the axe; the blade was covered in blood. “Since when do trees bleed?” she said coolly. “Take him out of here,” she ordered and a couple men grabbed the injured man and escorted him away. Looking over at Nathaniel she shook her head, “I’m so sorry, I thought he would let it drop. There are a couple of Marshals visiting from Stormwind I will turn him over to them in the morning.   After I let him stew a bit with that broken arm … is your dog going to be okay?”
“He’ll be fine,” Norah said standing, “just needs to rest now. Will you two go find a blanket we can put him on to carry him into the house? He has earned a place by the fire for tonight.”
Nathaniel nodded and Thomas shadowed him into the barn and up into the loft. Once inside the small apartment he grabbed a blanket sitting on the bed. “No!” Nathaniel cried snatching the blanket away, “not that one.” He pulled the one off the bed.
Thomas frowned and gestured to the one his son was clutching. “That one is more beat up, your ma doesn’t want use to use a good one.”
His son shook his head. “Not this one, there are others in the chest.”
Something wasn’t right but Thomas didn’t have time to pursue the matter, his wife was waiting outside. He rummaged through the chest and found an old wool blanket. “Come on,” he said. Nathaniel followed a few moments behind and once outside they spread the blanket out and carefully moved the unconscious dog onto it. Then both men grabbed the edge of the blanket and carried Dog into the house sitting it down on the rug in front of the hearth.
There was a knock and Nathaniel faded into the shadows as Thomas answered the door. The elf reappeared as Grant and Rosemary came inside. “Is everyone okay?” Rosemary asked. “What happened?”
“My ears happened,” Nathaniel answered giving the older lady a hug. “We are fine, Dog took the brunt of the attack but Ma healed him.”
“After all this time,” Rosemary said looking up at him. “They still judge people by how they look and not what is on the inside. Glad you are okay, Norah would you like to share a cup of tea before bedtime?”
His wife approved of the idea and the two women disappeared into the kitchen. “Did you take care of the animals?” Thomas asked his son as he motioned for Grant to sit down.
“Yes, sir,” Nathaniel replied, “though Omelet grows restless, I’m going to need to take him out hunting soon.”
“The livestock safe?” Thomas asked.
“For now, sir,” Nathaniel said. “Sara told him to leave them alone.”
“And the beast listens to her?” Grant said with a shake of his head.
“He’s not as mindless as you think,” his son said. “He’ll obey here until instinct says otherwise. As long as we keep him fed he’ll be content.”
“He can’t live in a barn stall,” Thomas said, “We’ll need to think of a long term plan.” He sat down in his chair by the fire and took out his pipe. He waved to the pillow on the ground between him and the hearth. “Have a seat, son,” he said. And, just like that, he spawned another demon. The terror which came to his son’s face was heartbreaking and he tossed his unlit pipe down and covered the distance to his son in two steps cupping his elfin face in his hands he growled to be heard over the memories. “Me,” he said, “focus on me. You are safe, what monsters did your heart release?”
“He …”
“Say his name,” Thomas snarled.
“Vance,” Nathaniel said, his thin frame trembling, “used to make me sit at his feet by the hearth. It was so cold in there, I was always cold. The fire felt good but the cost … Pa the cost was too much.”
Thomas pulled his son into an embrace, for once the sobs did not come and after a long moment a shudder ran down the elf’s back and Nathaniel pulled back. The pain was still in his eyes but the horror had left. “I’m going back to the apartment,” he said.
“Don’t run away,” Thomas said, “you’ll never stop.”
“Not away,” Nathaniel said, “to …”
The truth came to Thomas. “It smells like him doesn’t?” The elfin heightened senses had picked up on a lingering scent on that old blanket.
Nathaniel nodded, confirming his suspicions. “I won’t be long; I just need to catch my breath.”
“You’re not as broken as you think,” Thomas said to the retreating back, “thanks for saving me, son, I’m sorry I unwittingly brought about bad memories.” Thomas sighed and bent down to retrieve his pipe after Nathaniel had retreated.
“Vance?” Grant said, “Vance Dixon? What hell, Tom … thought that boy died years ago.”
He glanced over at his old friend. “That boy turned into a monster, almost cost me four of my children. He may very well be the reason behind Janice’s death, I know he killed Foster and he tried his damnedest to do the same to Nathaniel and Sara. Grant, I know Norah and I owe you more than we can ever repay but I beg you don’t ask me for more specifics. Maybe someday, but not tonight, my boy has been broken pretty badly. I’m just trying to help …” tears threatened to spill and he blinked rapidly. This was not the time for weeping.
“Damn,” Grant said looking away, giving Thomas a moment to collect himself. “Don’t worry about him too much, Tom.   He’s been through hell and back a few times, a soul forged like that doesn’t break so easily. It may not be obvious now, but guessing any normal person would be dead by now. Your boy will be okay.”
“I’m not sure about that,” Thomas said, sitting down and lighting his pipe. “He needs …” he struggled to find the right word.
“Foster,” Grant said, “but that’s not going to happen. He has to stand on his own; he’s destined to outlive us a hundred times over.   You should send him back to the elves; let him grow old with someone that he won’t outlast by centuries …”
“No!” Thomas said a little too loudly, “they would kill him on sight because of the color of his eyes. His people made choices …”
“There are still High Elves in the world, Tom, they would take him in.”
“They don’t take well with weakness,” Thomas said, “They would cull him from the bloodlines as he is. He needs to find his inner strength again. It’s there, inside him, I saw it tonight.”
“Pardon me,” Grant said, “but you aren’t as young as you used to be.   Nathaniel has always needed someone to lean on. It was a role Foster took willingly and had the strength to do. My old friend, it will crush you … I can see the weariness in your face. Where there should be joy in the return of two of your children, there is fatigue.”
“I appreciate your concern,” Thomas said, “but that is the price I am more than willingly to pay. I promised Norah years ago to protect the children, I’ve failed twice I won’t fail a third time.”
“That was when they were children,” Norah said, startling him. “This troubled world we live in, you can’t keep them safe all the time.   We raised them well; we have to trust them to walk their own paths.”
Thomas and Grant stood as their wives walked into the room. “My husband is right,” Rosemary said, “you do look tired. We’ll excuse ourselves now; we just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“I’ll walk you back to your house,” Thomas said picking up a lit lantern.
“No need,” Rosemary replied, “it’s a short walk. The night is beautiful.”
“I will walk you to the end of the path at least,” Thomas said, kissing his wife on the cheek. “I need to check on something in the barn anyway.”
After seeing the pair to the end of his drive he walked into the barn. The animals were settled down for the night including the large raptor curled up in a nest made of straw. Shaking his head, he put the handle of the lantern on a hook, giving a soft glow to the barn and climbed up the ladder to the loft. Walking into the small apartment, he found Nathaniel sitting cross-legged on the bed, the old blanket draped around his shoulders. Dark circles under the elf’s eyes spoke of exhaustion.   Sitting down beside him, Thomas placed his back against the wall and crossed his legs. “Sit,” he said, patting his lap.
Nathaniel looked over at him and with a small grin, adjusted himself into the lap. The elf weighed nothing at all. Adjusting the blanket so it draped over Nathaniel’s shoulders, Thomas leaned against the wall, wrapping his arms lightly about his son’s waist. A slender arm reached up and draped around his neck as the elf nestled his head into the crook of his shoulder blade. “Just for a minute,” Nathaniel whispered.
“Aye,” Thomas said, “just for a minute.”
A while later Norah came looking and joined them, lying down in the large bed. Thomas dozed on and off as he held his sleeping son. At one point, his back ached from being forced to sit for so long and his legs were numb but he remained still, listening to the steady and light breathing as Nathaniel slept. The sky was just starting to lighten when his son let out a strange noise; it was a mix between a moan and whine. Thomas cursed silently and tightened his hold around the elf. “Your pa is here,” he whispered, “you’re safe.”
“No,” Nathaniel whispered, the elf was trembling. “Please, no … I’ll eat it … I swear … please don’t do this.”
Norah sat up and reached over, placing hand on their son’s cheek. “Shh …” she said, trying to calm him.
Nathaniel recoiled at her touch and let out another choked sob. His body suddenly went rigid as he screamed, “Foster no!” The elf struggled to escape his hold and Thomas had to fight to keep him. Finally throwing him down on the mattress and holding him down with his own body.
“Son!” he shouted, “wake up!” The elf’s eyes flew open; the terror in them was heart-rending. After they looked around the room frantically they seemed to focus on his face. “That’s right,” Thomas said, loosening his hold, “you’re safe.”
“I’m going to get sick,” the elf said and Thomas quickly moved as Nathaniel stumbled over to the wash basin and did just that. Afterwards he sat down on the edge of the bed, taking deep breaths.
Norah reached out and placed a hand on his back, rubbing it in small circles. “You couldn’t save him,” she said.
A look of confusion crossed Nathaniel’s face.
“You shouted out for Foster,” Thomas said.
“What else did I say?” he asked.
“You were …” Norah sighed, “you were pleading with someone, saying you would eat and begging for them not to hurt you I would guess.”
“They used to make me,” Nathaniel looked over his mother and shook his head. “Sorry, I can’t …”
“She’s just as strong as Foster ever was,” Thomas said, knowing their son was trying to protect his mother from the horrors he suffered. “What did they do?”
“Feed me, make me vomit and force me to eat my …” Nathaniel trailed off and buried his face in his hands.
“And the punishment for not doing as Vance asked?” Thomas pressed, “You were willing to eat your own vomit in your nightmare so he wouldn’t … wouldn’t do what?”
“He …”
“Vance,” Thomas interrupted.
“Vance …”
Thomas frowned, his son struggled with the name, but it wasn’t because of fear … his son was lying.
“Vance,” Nathaniel said, “he would take me up on a griffon and drop me to fall … over and over … if I was lucky my head would hit first and knock me out but more often I was wake when bones shattered to be healed and dropped again.”
“By the Light,” Norah said, she embraced their son.
Why was his son lying now after all this? “Foster, no!” His son hadn’t screamed out his captor’s name … or … Thomas felt as if his breath had been kicked out of him. He struggled to his feet and stumbled back as his numb legs refused to support him.
“Love?” Norah asked. “What is wrong are you okay?”
“Norah,” he said hoarsely, “go to the house, now.” His wife was confused and his son terrified. He repeated his request. “Please, to the house now. I need to talk to Nathaniel alone.”
“Ma,” Nathaniel said, “don’t leave me, please.”
Norah looked torn. “Tom, what is it? You’re frightening him.”
Thomas shook his head and reaching down he grabbed Nathaniel’s wrist in one hand in his wife’s hand with the other. He dragged them both to the ladder and motioned Norah to climb down. “Go!” he growled.   Shock was giving away to anger.
Norah hesitated and then hurried down the ladder and out the door. Pulling Nathaniel back into the room he let him go and asked. “Vance wasn’t the only one that hurt you in that hell. You mentioned a watch dog, a death knight.” Nathaniel’s eyes got wide with fear and he cowered back. But the room was small and there was no place to hide as Thomas advanced. “The death knight had a name didn’t he? What was it?” When Nathaniel didn’t answer, he continued. “You said you went back to the old homestead you didn’t find a body it wasn’t because it was burnt to ash was it?   You shouted a name tonight; it wasn’t Vance … who threw you from the back of the griffon? Who made you eat your own vomit? Who beat you until you wanted to die?   Who knew exactly how to hurt you in the worse ways? Who damn it?!”
The elf in front of him crumbled to the floor but Thomas roughly pulled him back to his feet. “Say his name,” he demanded.
“I promised him,” Nathaniel pleaded.
“His name!” Thomas tightened his hands around Nathaniel’s arms and shook him harshly.
“Foster!” Nathaniel yelled back, “it was my big brother.”
Norah screamed from the doorway, at her side was Grant. Thomas’s legs refused to hold him and he sunk to the ground.
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