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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 Five - Thomas Conway, Age 25
The cries of Nathaniel woke him; Thomas listened as Norah shuffled around in their bed, which was just a mattress on the loft floor. At his wife's tired sigh, Thomas put a hand on her arm. "He's not hungry?" he whispered.
"He won't take it," she said, exhaustion clear in her voice.
"Give him to me," Thomas said. Taking the offered infant he put him on his bare chest. The cries instantly stilled. He could feel Nathaniel's heartbeat, it was racing and his tiny face was damp with tears. "My son, what haunts your mind when we're apart?" Running a caressing hand down the small back and arms he found the baby's fist curled around the ring that hung off the chain he wore. "Miss her do you?" Thomas whispered. A thought occurred to him, "or is there something more?"
"What are you rambling about, my husband?" Norah asked. "The hour is late and the sun still comes up on time."
"I'm sorry, Norah, but bear with me for a moment longer." Thomas said apologetically. "Can you remove the chain I placed about my neck, the one that holds his mother's ring?"
The cool fingers of his wife nimbly worked the clasp in the dark, as Thomas uncurled the baby's fingers from the ring. As Norah pulled the necklace away Nathaniel confirmed his father's thoughts as he let out a scream. "Place it on him …" She did as he asked the baby calmed down.
"By the Light," Norah whispered, "is it magic?"
"It is for him at least," Thomas said. "Tuck the ring close to him while he sleeps, under the blanket so he doesn't get caught up in the chain."
Norah took the baby from him and did as he asked. Afterwards she laid back down and Nathaniel remained quiet. "I believe our days will be a lot less noisy," she said with a smile. "I'll make a small pouch to attach to his clothing tomorrow."
"I'm happy for him and for us we have figured it out," Thomas replied with a yawn. "I was pondering how I could work the fields with a child attached to me. Sweet dreams, beloved."
They awoke to the day of rest and after a cold breakfast, they crowded into the wagon for the trip to church. Clean quilts had been laid down in the back for Foster and the infants. Norah came out of the house wearing a simple cotton gown, it was modest but Thomas loved the way it looked. His own brown suit was a bit tattered at the hem; his wife saw it and promised she would fix it. Thomas helped her into the front seat and then climbing up beside her urged the horse down the path to the main road. Once on the road he turned east toward Corin's Crossing, where they would attend services.
"What are we going to tell them when they ask?" Norah asked.
"We found him in the cabbage patch," Thomas said impassively. This got him an elbow in the side and he smirked. "I don't like lying, nothing good comes of it."
"So we should just tell them the truth?" Norah said, "how you …"
"Little ears," Thomas interrupted.
Norah glanced back where Foster was playing with a small wooden horse.
"I said I didn't like it," Thomas said in a hushed voice, "but in this case if we mean to keep this ruse up I see no other way. They know my family in these parts, yours is from down south, your sister's kid …"
"I don't have one," Norah pointed out.
"They don't know that," Thomas said. "She passed on; you became keeper of Nathaniel, just arrived."
"More holes in that tale than a butterfly net …" she started.
"There is talk of war that way," Thomas replied as Corin's came into view. "I doubt people will ask many questions if any at all. Folks in these parts keep their noses in their own business." Pulling the wagon off the road and under a shady tree, Thomas hopped down. Wrapping the long reins around a low branch, it gave the horse plenty of room to graze.
"I know you like to give the horse comfort of the shade, but we now have one more to carry." Norah said as he helped her down.
"It's too crazy in town; it would be easier to find the needle in a haystack than a hitching post on church day. You take Janice, I got the boys." Scooping Foster up he plopped him on his shoulders, his other hand he cradled Nathaniel. Once assuring the eldest had a firm grip he offered his free arm to Norah and they walked together to the church in center of town.
The children were well behaved for services, the infants slept through most of it; when they did awake, their parents arms kept them still. Foster spent most of the time pushing his wooden horse up and down the pew but wasn't screaming so Thomas marked it as a success. Their newest addition was noticed but their fabricated tale was easily accepted and after the typical coos from the ladies, attention moved on to other thoughts. Mostly to talk of the war down south, there was mention of a new kind of beings that the troops were battling … stout and with fangs. Thomas had to believe the tales were stretched the further north they got. If there had been such creatures in this world they would have been seen before now. New races just didn't appear overnight.
"Thomas!"
Turning he saw the approach of a stout man, Donald O'Connell, the innkeeper. Thomas nodded, "Donald, beautiful day today, hope you and yours weathered the storm safely?"
"Aye, just rattled a few windows" the innkeeper replied, "kept travelers an extra day which didn't hurt either."
"How are Ellen and little Bethany doing?" Thomas asked. The infant in his arms started to stir.
Donald motioned to his wife and daughter who were mingling in the crowd outside the church. "They are doing just fine; wife wants to take a trip to Stratholme soon, something about being behind the times in Lordaeron fashion." He glanced over at Nathaniel. "Have another mouth to feed, huh? What fascinating eyes, I have never seen such a blue before."
Glancing down Thomas saw two bright blue eyes looking up at him. With the ring tucked in a velvet pouch under his tiny shirt, the babe had been almost unnaturally calm. "Aye," he agreed. "He'll be quite the lady charmer in a few years." Over Donald's shoulder he saw Norah with the other two children approaching. "Ah, here comes the rest of the family," he said. "We're headed over to lake for a picnic and a swim; please feel free to join us."
"You brought enough food for everyone?" Donald asked.
"Nay," Thomas replied with chuckle. "You'll have to supply your own there, but company is good."
"I'll see, Ellen is not too excited about picnics," Donald replied. "Eating with the bugs is what she calls them."
The two men shook hands and parted ways. Thomas fell in step beside his wife as they walked to the wagon with Foster running about in front of them. Once there Norah used the back of the wagon to change the diapers on all three children before the family walked toward the lake behind town. As expected they found other families with similar thoughts. Soon the field and lake were filled with chatter and laughter.
After eating an enjoyable lunch, Thomas slipped out of his suit. Underneath was a pair of cutoff denims. "Want to go swimming, Foster?" he asked. His son let out an excited squeal and Norah quickly undressed him down to his diaper. Leaving his wife with the two youngest Thomas carried Foster down to the water. There was very little shore, after only a few steps the bottom of the lake disappeared but Thomas was a good swimmer and easily treaded water holding onto his son. Around him others were enjoying the same cool water on a hot day. An unexpected large splash caused both him and Foster to sputter. Glancing over at the source he was greeted by sheepish chuckles from the Redpath boys, Joseph and Carlin. Flipping onto his back so his feet faced them he kicked with such gusto that the two boys were soon drenched. "We yield," they gasped as they laughed. A shout from the shore brought the boys to the edge where their mother, Tessa Redpath, gave them their younger sister, Marlene who was just a little older than Foster. This got her, "do we hafta?" from her sons.
Thomas motioned them over. "I'll keep an eye on her, Tessa!" he shouted. The boys gladly surrendered their sister to his arms and Thomas spent the time in the water floating with both children either sitting on his chest or in his arms. After noticing Foster's nose turning pink from the sun, kicked himself to the edge of the lake.
Tessa smiled as she collected her daughter from him. "Thank you, Thomas," she said. "Their father couldn't stay today had to get back to Darrowshire."
"Do you want me to escort you home," Thomas asked.
"The boys are old enough," she replied. "Thank you for your offer though."
Tipping his head Thomas walked over to where Norah was waiting with a warm towel for Foster who was now shivering as the wind blew on his damp skin. Taking a towel for himself Thomas quickly dried off as he did, he noticed Nathaniel missing from the quilt.
"Where's the babe?" he asked.
"Oh Ellen O'Connell wanted to coddle him a bit," Norah said pointing to where the O'Connell family was camped out under a tree. "We're going to have to make sure we don't neglected Janice for all the attention her star-kissed brother is getting."
Slipping a shirt over his damp skin, Thomas bent down and picked the babe in question up planting kisses on her face. "We wouldn't want that would we," he cooed at her. Cradling his daughter he walked over to where Ellen was spoiling his son. Her daughter, Bethany, who was the same age as Foster, was sitting on her mother's lap with Nathaniel resting in her tiny lap.
Smiling he approached, Ellen returned the grin but as always when he spoke to her Thomas couldn't help but feel as if she was a cat about to pounce on a mouse. The way her eyes slowly looked up and down him, his damp shirt clinging to the muscles from years of working in the field. His short dark hair still wet from the lake, glistened. Thomas couldn't help but blush which brought a giggle from the woman ogling him.
"My son behaving for you, ma'am?" he asked.
"He's a darling," Ellen replied. "Have a handful now don't you, sweetie? With three children already and so young …"
"They are a joy," Thomas replied.
"Foster!"
Norah's scream was heartbreaking; Thomas turned around and frantically tried to find his wife or the child she cried out for. Not seeing them, he turned and ran toward the most dangerous thing he could think of, the lake. Still cradling Janice to him he raced toward the water, there he saw Norah standing on the edge and Carlin Redpath was lifting a small limp form from the water.
"Please, no," Thomas prayed as he ran to his wife's side.
Someone grabbed his son from her arms and as he went to get him back hushed voices whispered, "Fordring …"
Thomas's hand fell on the arm of the other. "Please help him," he pleaded.
"I only turned my back for a moment," Norah wailed.
The paladin that held his son whispered a prayer and the small body glowed with a soft light. A moment later Foster let out a gasp and the man turned him over and helped the water be purged from his small lungs. Afterwards he handed the now crying Foster back to his mother. With a tip of his head the paladin walked back over to a horse being held by the reins, by a young woman astride her own horse.
"Thank you," Thomas said following him.
Tirion Fordring smiled as he climbed onto the saddle of his horse. "I am just fortunate to be passing through, take care."
Thomas watched as the famed paladin of Hearthglen rode off. The cries of Foster brought him back to the present and he turned to comfort both son and wife. After assuring Norah that he held no fault against her, he traded their children so he could hug Foster and reassure him as well. As he walked by the lake to collect Nathaniel from the O'Connells, Foster let out a screech and clung to his father. "Shhh," Thomas whispered. "We're done swimming for today."
On the ride back home Norah sat in the back with the children as if afraid to let any of them out of arm's reach. As they approached their homestead, Foster seemed to be over his near death experience and was happily using his mother's lap as a path for his toy horse.
Thomas thanked the Light and prayed it would continue to watch over his family.
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Brothers