The Forsaken

[Shadowdane]

The Forsaken

Part 1
Shadowdane sat at the edge of the Pools of Vision staring into the mystic waters. It is said for those who can channel their energies, the pools give visions, and hence their name, but Shadowdane had seen nothing.

“Long have you stared into the pools old friend, has nothing come to you yet?”
Shadowdane didn’t turn at the voice of his friend Malakai Cross, but continued to look into the misty waters.
“I’m afraid not. Perhaps there are no answers to the questions I have.”
“Or perhaps you already know the answers and thus the pools would be no use to you.”
“Perhaps.” Shadowdane said rising to his feet.

Shadowdane looked gravely at his friend.
“Sadye has asked me to tell her how I became forsaken.”
“Hmmm, I see. And what have you decided?”
“I’m… I’m going to tell her. I knew I would someday.”
“And you’re worried that when she learns of your past, she will dismiss you from her side?”
“Yes. I fear that possibility. But I love her Malakai. She has a right to know… really know what kind of man I am.”
Shadowdane looked down to the pools once more.
“What kind of… monster I am.”
“Nonsense” Malakai rebutted, “You are no monster. Your case is singular and unique to a degree that I can barely understand. Your exact circumstances have eluded me all these years. Believe me Shadowdane you are no mere undead. Sadye sees that as well. Tell her how you came to be here and I think you’ll have her understanding.”
“But not her love Malakai; never her love. She could never love an undead monster like me.”
“Perhaps, but you may not be this way forever, Shadowdane. You may yet find your redemption.”
Shadowdane looked up at his friend with excited eyes.
“Have you done it then, Malakai?! Have you found a way?!”
The undead Priest shook his head, hating to disappoint his friend.
“I’m sorry Shadowdane, but what you ask just isn’t possible. The pathway to humanity is lost to you. Not even the most powerful spell can permanently restore you to the way you were before.”
Shadowdane sighed heavily.
“Well, it was a good dream while it lasted.”
Malakai Cross patted Shadowdane’s shoulder.
“Well hold on to that dream Shadowdane. There are more things in this world than even I know; so who is to say what can and cannot be? Ah one more thing, I have a gift for you.”
Malakai removed a large crystal from his robe.
“A souldarite crystal?” Shadowdane said.
“Well thank you Malakai but these are used for creating enchanted armors; I haven’t the ability to create such things.”
“Oh, but this is a very special piece of Souldarite. I’m sure one day it will come in handy.”
Shadowdane was confused and began to examine the crystal.
“If you say so. How do I use it?”
“The Souldarite can only be activated by an act of love.”
“Malakai you are speaking in riddles, what is the purpose of this gift?”
“Shadowdane, just as you came here to look into the Pools, so also have I looked into them and this is what I saw. I was to give you this crystal, and so I have. What its fate is now is no longer in my hands.”

Shadowdane looked at Malakai Cross suspiciously.
“Right.” He said, removing his large brimmed black hat. Shadowdane pulled back the band on the inside of his hat and placed the Souldarite underneath, where it fit very snuggly.
“Well Malakai, Sadye is expecting me in Silvermoon city. I don’t want to keep her waiting.”
“I understand completely.”

Shadowdane whistled for his skeletal warhorse, Griever. The large beast emerged from the nether and Shadowdane mounted it.
“Goodbye Malakai, until our next meeting.”
Malakai gave Shadowdane a wave as he trotted down the path leading to the Spirit Rise of Thunder Bluff. Once the undead rogue was gone, Malakai looked toward the Pools of Vision and a sad expression came over his face.
“Farewell… my friend.”


Part 2

Shadowdane found Sadye sitting by a fountain in the Royal exchange of Silvermoon city. City. It never ceased to amaze him how beautiful she was. The sun was bouncing off of her golden hair and her smile warmed even the coldest undead heart. On seeing him approach Sadye stood to her feet.
“Hello Shadowdane, it’s a beautiful day for an adventure isn’t it?”
Shadowdane dismounted and smiled at Sadye.
“It is indeed.”

The two stood together in silence for a moment and then Sadye’s smile got even bigger.
“Look at this fountain Shadowdane. Isn’t it beautiful? I think of all the fountains, this is my favorite design. See how the ramps go up on each side to the pillar and at the top the floating blue sphere?”

Shadowdane took in the fountain with the large circular base. He really didn’t see much difference in fountains, but if Sadye thought this one was special then he knew it had to be. Then Shadowdane had an idea.
“We could meet here if you want.”
Sadye looked at Shadowdane oddly.
“What do you mean Shadow?”
“I mean this could be a special place for us to start our adventures, if you like.”
“So you’re saying if I come here you’ll be waiting?”
“Yeah. I’ll be here. I’ll be waiting here for you, so if you come here, you’ll find me.”
Sadye smiled at him.
“You promise?”
Shadowdane smiled at her.
“I promise.”
Then they both laughed as if from some jest that only the two of them were content to know.

“So Shadowdane my undead friend; where do you think the fates will take us today?”
Shadowdane looked into Sadye’s eyes for a moment.
“To the past… I think.”
All silliness left Sadye’s expression.
“What do you mean?”
Shadowdane let out a deep breath.
“I mean it’s time; time to tell you how I came to be forsaken, how I became cursed.”

Sadye’s breath caught in her throat and a chill went through her. But she wasn’t sure if it was a chill of excitement or fear. She had been curious about her undead friend for some time but now he was willing to tell her and she was slightly afraid of what he may reveal and how she would handle the truths.
“Are you sure you want to? I know I asked you before but if you don’t want to tell me I’ll understand.”
“No. I thought about this. I want to tell you, I think you should know. And it’s been a long time since I told this story. I only ask that once it’s over, once you’ve heard the whole story that you still be my friend.”
Sadye felt that twinge of fear again but ignored it as best she could.
“I will be your friend Shadowdane. I promise.”

Shadowdane smiled and hugged her.
“Thank you. Well, let’s get started. Our first stop is Deathknell.”


Part 3

In a secluded corner of the undead village of Deathknell, Shadowdane and Sadye came to a large mausoleum.
“This is the Shadow Grave. This is the first place I remember when I awoke as an undead.”
“Hmmm that’s funny.” Sadye said. “I’ve always thought that the undead had to rise from their graves.”
“That’s true with most undead but I…” Shadowdane paused for a moment.
“I didn’t have a grave to rise from.”
“You weren’t buried when you died?”
“No. I don’t suppose I was.”
“What was waking up here like?”
“I remember pain. I was cold and disoriented. It was like trying to learn everything over again. It took me a while, but soon I was able to crawl from this tomb. I guess I accepted the fact that I had become an undead easier than most. The truth was I kind of expected it, so I did the only thing I could. I started to explore the world as an undead rogue.”
“How long ago was that?”
“It’s been over forty years now.”
Sadye gasped.
“Forty years? And you never change?”
“No, I never change.”

They continued to tour Deathknell and Shadowdane pointed out various creatures and places that he encountered in his early days as an undead. But then Sadye stopped as if something had just occurred to her.

“Wait, Shadow.”
“Yes?”
“You said when you woke up here you expected it. How can that be, don’t the undead lose all memories of their previous life?”
Shadowdane’s expression grew grim.
“I’ve been told that is true. When you awake here in Deathknell or pull yourself from your grave, you are in a state of confusion and from that moment on you begin to learn again. If an undead does remember their past life it’s only vague shadows like that of a dream and is soon forgotten once more.”
“But you…”
“Yes… I remember everything. I remember my past life and how I came to wander these past forty years in this husk of a body. Some would say I am the most cursed undead because I can remember and in many ways I would agree.”
“It must be terrible for you, to remember what you have lost and can never have again.”
“I think… that’s the point.”

Shadowdane turned Griever and made toward the gates of Deathknell.
“But this is the end of the story. The beginning is elsewhere. Come. I’ll take you to where it all started for me.”


Part 4

Sadye and Shadowdane made their way to the Zeppelin between Brill and Undercity. They boarded and rode to Stranglethorne Vale. From the Grom’Gol base camp they headed northwest into alliance territory.
“Shadowdane, are you sure we want to be travelling into the heart of the Alliance?”
“Don’t worry Sadye we won’t be too close to the large cities. I promise a safe journey.”
And Sadye accepted his word and they continued on their path.
They rode to Duskwood and then silently passed through Darkshire undetected until they came out on the northern side. The two rogues continued along the road into the Redridge Mountains.
“We’re almost there.” Shadowdane said picking up his pace.

Continuing eastward they came to the Lakeridge highway which led them into Render’s Valley. Shadowdane scanned the landscape looking for a small path.
“Ah, here it is. Come up this way.”
Sadye followed Shadowdane up the path and onto a cliff ledge. The ledge overlooked the small valley. Shadowdane dismounted and began to study the terrain.

“This is where I grew up some eighty years ago. I was just called Dane then.”
Sadye looked at the valley and the camps of orcs just below.
“Not much of a home.”
“No, not now,” Shadowdane agreed, “But eighty years ago it was. My father’s house was down to the right in that vague clearing. Apparently this land has been overrun with orcs, murlocks, and gnolls since. However back then, it was ours. Oh many a day would I find myself swimming in that lake and wasting away the hours. I grew up here with my father and my brother, Kane. My mother did not survive my birth and I think that it gave my father a reason to hate me. My brother Kane was a source of good in my life. He taught me many things and would often rescue me from father’s wrath but he died leaving me alone with father. Needless to say I didn’t leave here on good terms and I guess that’s why I didn’t really care to come back. When I reached my seventeenth birthday I decided to travel the world. It was a little later, that I met the people that would change my life, forever. And I guess that’s where the story truly begins.”


Part 5

The mighty Stormwind city stood on the horizon as a shining beacon for all alliance forces.
Shadowdane and Sadye viewed it from a safe distance.

“This is where we met for the first time. I was twenty two. I’d spent five years learning to be a rogue of the land. I honed my stealth abilities, lock picking, and sleight of hand skills. I could detect the most hidden trap and disarm it and I wasn’t too bad at finding treasure either. I guess that was what put them onto me.

I had been living in Stormwind for about three months and I would frequent the taverns on a regular basis to see if I could find work. Usually it would entail opening lockboxes that people would find. It was a meager living but it usually turned a few pieces of silver and maybe some gold. Well, one day I was in the tavern and the barkeep laid a foaming glass of ale in front of me. He said it was compliments of the group in the corner and they would like the pleasure of my company. I turned to the corner and saw a group of three. I smiled and lifted the glass to them and began to walk over. I took them in as I approached. There was a Dwarf, a female Night Elf, and an Orc.”

Sadye’s eyes widened.
“An orc keeping company with a band of Alliance?”
Shadowdane laughed.
“Oh it was a different time then. were allowed to roam freely in Alliance lands and were considered to be second class citizens. As long as they behaved themselves their money was as good as any ones.”
“Hmmm, interesting. Continue please.”
“Well like I said, I walked over to thank them for the drink.”


**

“Have a seat lad.” The gruff dwarf pulled out a chair for me.
I took it graciously but as I was sitting I heard a small growl and that’s when I discovered a fairly large black wolf near the female Night Elf.
“Bruff, be still.” The Night Elf commanded. The wolf lay down at its mistress’s rebuke but continued to eye me suspiciously.
I leaned back in the chair and once again held my drink up to the party.
“Much appreciated my good friends, now how can I repay you for your kindness?”
The dwarf began. “Am I right in thinking that you are a rogue of these parts named Dane?”
I hesitated to answer because sometimes my work had a way of coming back to bite me.
“And who wants to know, good dwarf?”
The dwarf chuckled as he detected the change in my tone.
“Fear not friend, we are not here to lay vengeance on you but to ask you to join us in our adventures.”
“And you are?”
The Dwarf stroked his beard.
“I am called Tenison Grimstone. I am a Paladin of the light.”
The dwarf pointed to the fair haired Night Elf.
“This is Alinda Rameses; she is a druid from Darnassus.”
Grimstone was about to move on when Alinda coughed.
“Oh yes, and this is Bruff, her companion which I believe you’ve already met to a degree.”
I smiled at the wolf, who still kept a wary eye on me.
“And last but not at all least, this large fellow here is named Lorak. He is a warrior from the lands of Kalimdor.”
Lorak smiled and waved at me.
“Hello.”
“He’s not the smartest orc in our lands but he is quite mighty. So, there it is then. We have a good little group here all we need is a bit more cunning. So what say you rogue, will you join us?” Tenison finished.

I looked at the trio sitting before me. There was… potential here. For the most part I was a loner, but with a small group I could get into places that would otherwise be difficult for me. I decided to join their little band but made no promises to stay. I figured I’d see how profitable it was and when I got tired I’d leave.

Eleven years later we were still travelling together. We had become more than a group of adventurers, we had become a family. But soon… all of that would change and I… would be dead.


Part 6

It’s funny how things work out. I never had any aspirations to be a great leader or to plan attacks but slowly over the years that was the part fate had me play. We were a young bunch and didn’t seem to mind a challenge. We would raid dungeons and keeps looking for treasures and going on quests for odd people who would have need of things. Usually we would plunder the scarlet monastery and risk the dangers of Shadowfang Keep. They were good times.

I guess one of the first turning points in our lives was the day Tenison told me about his plan. We had just cleaned out a group of troggs from the Gnomeregan and were heading back to Ironforge.
Tenison rode beside me as Lorak and Alinda rode ahead.
“How long has it been now Dane that we’ve all been riding together?”
I thought about his question and tallied the years.
“It’s been about eleven and a half years Tenison.”
“Hmmm, has it been so long? Time flies in the presence of good company.”
“Aye, it would seem that way.”
“Something has been on my mind of late, an issue that excites me to no end.”
“Tell me Tenison.”
“Well it is just in all of the years we’ve travelled, never have I set eyes on anything fairer and as lovely as yon elf.”
I will admit that I was surprised at Tenison’s revelation. He never seemed much interested in women dwarf kind or elf kind. But some adventurers are like that. Myself I enjoyed a good barmaid every now and then but Tenison? He had kept his desires secret until now.
“Hmmm, you mean to say you have feelings for Alinda?”
“Aye, I think so.”
“Have you discussed it with her?”
Tenison seemed to get flustered.
“Bah, what would a dolt like me say? Handy I am with an ax or a blade but I seem to be lost when a job requires mere talking.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Look here Dane, I would ask that you teach me some of those fine words you speak to the ladies, but more sincere ones. I mean to win Alinda’s heart.”
I thought about what my friend had asked me.
“Have you thought about this Tenison? Elves and dwarfs are all kinds of different.”
“I know that, I know that we may not be the normal couple but beware the man, dwarf, orc or elf who dares criticize us.”
I chuckled at Tenison for his tenacity.
“Very well friend. I will help you out.”

Well it took a week but Tenison was finally ready to try his hand with Alinda. Lorak and I decided to make a run for supplies and left the two alone together at our campsite. When Lorak and I returned we thought there had been an attack. Our campsite was in ruins and neither Alinda nor Tenison were anywhere about. I studied the tracks on the ground but didn’t find any that belonged to an intruder. Lorak and I followed them down to the nearby creek and found a most amusing sight.

Beside the creek there grew a large tree. On the ground circling the tree was Alinda’s Black wolf Bruff. He was growling upwardly. The base of the tree was filled with arrows in an ascending pattern and near the top Tenison was sitting on a thick branch.
I yelled up to him.
“So, how did it go?”
“Well, she said no. but I think I’m wearing her down.”
I looked around.
“Where is she?”
“Oh, she went to get more arrows.”

So the first attempt didn’t work out too well. After we calmed Alinda down and got Tenison out of the tree we continued our adventures. But Tenison never gave up and eventually he did wear Alinda down. They were married in The Moon Glade. There wasn’t a big turnout but the four of us were all that really mattered. Tenison had me as the best man. Lorak wore a ripped tuxedo jacket and even though it looked a bit silly none of us had the heart to tell him to take it off. He tried really hard to look nice.


**

Shadowdane became very quiet. Sadye wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not.
“Shadow, are you ok?”
Shadowdane looked at his blood elf companion with a big smile.
“Oh, I’m sorry Sadye I was just… lost in the moment. It was one of the last truly happy moments that we had before...”
“Before?” Sadye asked softly.
“Before I… betrayed them all.”


Part 7

A few months after the wedding, Tenison took a job as an Ironforge magistrate. It really didn’t affect our questing that much and Tenison seemed to enjoy the title. Magistrate Grimstone was how he would introduce himself from then on. I think however he let it go a little too far when while we were killing goblins and other foul creatures he would yell “I sentence thee to death!”
But we let him have his fun.

It was also about this time that Alinda decided she would like to broaden her experiences and wanted to cross train as a rogue. I really didn’t see the purpose for it. As a druid, she had abilities that were far beyond mine but I agreed. Looking back I guess that’s where I made my first mistake. Oh she had the ability for it. She was smart and quick to learn all my rogue tricks. But as the days passed and I spent more time with her, I felt myself becoming attracted to her. When we would spar I would feel her skin and her breath. I smelt her hair and I became so aroused. I knew that if I continued to train with her I’d become more attached, so I decided to cut back and told her she needed to also continue sharpening her druid skills.

One afternoon I received a letter from Tenison. It said that he had been called to Gadgetzan in Tanaris on urgent business and that he would likely be gone an entire week. He apologized that he would not be able to go on our adventures and asked if I would be kind enough to check in on Alinda while he was away. It was as if fate itself was working against me that day. I decided that I would call on her in the middle of the afternoon and would only permit myself half an hour at most.

Tenison and Alinda had made a place for themselves just southwest of Stormwind city. It was hidden away in the mountainous area around Thunder Falls. You had to follow the river to get to it. I remember I was travelling up the mountain path to their home when I heard a splashing sound coming from the river. I was surrounded by large rocks so I thought I’d cloak myself and take a peek. What I saw made my heart stop.

Peering out from behind a rock I saw Bruff lying on the river bank watching his Mistress. Alinda was standing waste deep in the river, bathing. The sun danced off of the droplets on her body making her glisten. It was as if time had slowed down somehow. I watched her, exposed and beautiful. I sat there taking her in for a moment and then my conscious got the better of me. I turned away. I headed back down the mountain and decided I’d come back at another time.

As it turned out I didn’t have to go back. She came to me. I was making a fire at my campsite when she appeared.
“I require training Dane. I do not wish to become dull while Tenison is away.”
“Oh I don’t think a weeks rest will make you dull Ali.”
“Never the less, I have time and wish to learn. Will you train with me?”

And there it was. She was in my camp and wanted to train. So I told myself that training is all there would be to it, but I knew I was lying to myself. The whole approach was different. I was more timid than I had ever been, more gentle when attacking and more distracted. Soon I found myself pinned by her. She was smiling down at me with her hair falling in my face.
“So Master Dane… did you enjoy what you observed?”
My heart almost exploded. Had she seen me at the river, even through my cloak?
“I’m… not sure what you mean Ali.”
She leaned in closer to me and my heart began to beat even faster than it already was.
“This afternoon at the river? Elf senses are superior to even your stealth Dane.”
“I...”
I was really at a loss for words, I had no idea what would happen next. Was she about to kill me for spying on her or just hurt me really badly?
“Perhaps a reminder…” She whispered and opened her blouse exposing herself to me.
I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t believe this was happening. Not even when she came crashing down on my lips could I respond. I was dazed for a few more moments.
“I have seen you look at me out of the corner of your eye for weeks now Dane, I know you desire me.”
I grabbed Alinda by the shoulders and shifted my weight into her, twisting her onto her back and leaving myself on top.
“Yes… I do!”
Thousands of thoughts raced through my head at that moment, thoughts of caution, thoughts of desire, and thoughts of lust. I met her lips with a wild force and from there on it was a blur of passion, and sweat.

We made love for hours there on the ground, until we were both spent. The next day we spent together and the day after, and the day after that. It was like a fevered dream. Time seemed to pass without notice and all I knew was Alinda. On the fifth day I woke to find Alinda outside my tent. I stepped out into the morning sun to see her dressed and preparing her horse to leave.
“Tenison returns today. I must be home to meet him. Farewell Dane, it has been a delightful few days. No doubt we shall see you and Lorak soon.”
Then she rode off, and the farther she got, the more reason returned to my head.
Alinda had said something before she left, something that was slowly coming to me.

Tenison returns today…

Tenison returns…

Tenison…

And then it hit me like a ton of bricks.
“Great lords of old… What have I done?”



Part 8

My head was spinning as I lay on the floor of my tent. What had I done, oh what had I done? My stomach felt like it was one huge knot. My breath stuck in my throat. There was no explanation, no justification. I began to weep bitterly. Then I heard them, footsteps. Someone was approaching my tent. I quickly tried to gather myself together. When I opened my tent it was my worst nightmare come true. Tenison was standing there not five feet away. He said nothing, he just glared at me. My legs felt like I was walking in quicksand as I stumbled towards him.
“Te...Tenison…” I fell before him.
“I… I am so sorry… please… forgive me!”
Tenison stood motionless, expressionless. I heard his voice then.
“Aye lad I forgive you.”
I looked up, tears streaming down my face. I wanted to grab my old friend and embrace him but when I looked up to him, I saw a wild fury in his eyes and his raised war ax. The ax came crashing down on my skull as I bolted awake from my dream.

It was almost midday and I was alone in my camp. I stumbled from my tent and didn’t make it to the stream before I threw up. I fell on my face and cried into the ground. I lay there for what seemed like hours. At some point I managed to get back to my feet and walk to the stream. I splashed myself with water trying to regain some of my faculties. I stumbled back to my tent and sat down trying to easy my upset stomach.

I stayed there until I heard Lorak approaching. He had come to get me and together we were to go and welcome Tenison home. I said nothing the entire trip over. Lorak asked if I was sick and I nodded. I told him I must have caught something. Soon we were heading up the mountain path, had there been anything left in my stomach I’m sure I would have threw up again when I saw Tenison’s house.

Alinda greeted us at the door and welcomed us in. Tenison hugged me and was so happy to be home. We had a nice dinner and Tenison entertained us with tales of his travels. After dinner I helped Alinda in the kitchen.
“What happens now, Ali?”
“What do you mean Dane?”
“I mean what happens to us?”
“You and I?”
“No, all of us. Me, you, Tenison…”
“I don’t see that anything should happen. We continue as we always have.”
“Then we don’t tell him?”
“I see no reason to.”

And that was it; we would keep it a secret. But some secrets are like poison in the veins. A huge weight began to build upon me. I couldn’t sleep, food had no taste and not even the most voracious barmaid could satisfy. I was living a lie, and I couldn’t continue doing so. I met Alinda one final time.
“I have to tell him.”
“What must you tell him?”
“I have to tell him what we’ve done.”
“Would you betray us?”
“I have already betrayed us! All of us! I can’t live with it Alinda!”
Alinda slapped me across the face.
“Fine, then satisfy your guilt but know that the wrath you bring down shall destroy everything and everyone we hold dear.”

And she was right.

I wrote Tenison a letter. I told him what I had done and how sorry I was. The next day he came to my camp and destroyed it. I was cloaked behind a nearby tree as he thundered his shouts of rage.

“WHY?!”
Tenison screamed as he ripped through my tent with his ax.
“DAMN YOU TO A THOUSAND BURNING HELLS DANE! YOU WERE MY BROTHER! YOU TOOK THE ONLY THING I EVER LOVED!”
I wanted to go to him, throw myself at his mercy. But how could I ask forgiveness for such a crime? He had so much pain and hurt in his eyes. And then it was as if he looked at me, even through my cloak.
“HIDE ALL YOU WANT DANE, BUT KNOW THIS… I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE! I WILL FIND YOU NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES! I WILL JUDGE YOU AND YOU WILL SUFFER! DO YOU HEAR ME DANE?! YOU WILL SUFFER, FOR ALL ETERNITY! THIS I VOW!”

He let out one last angry scream and rode off. And that was the last time I ever saw Tenison Grimstone.



Part 9

Sadye gave Shadowdane a surprised look.
“You never saw Tenison Grimstone again?”
“No.”
“Humm. Well I figured he was the one who killed you.”
“No… He didn’t have the opportunity.”
Sadye stopped her hawkstrider.
“Was it Lorak?”
Shadowdane gave no reply.
“Alinda then?” Sadye guessed.
Shadowdane hung his head low.
“Come Sadye… we’re almost to the end.”
Sadye snapped her reigns and her hawkstrider continued after Shadowdane.

The two rogues travelled long into the night. Their path took them north through the badlands and into the alliance territory known as Loch Modan. As they rode, Shadowdane continued his tale.


**

I sent Lorak a letter and told him I wanted to see him. My only hope was that I would get to him before Tenison. I wanted a chance to… say goodbye. I knew there would be no coming back from this. Lorak had always been an honorable and selfless friend. I wasn’t about to put him in the middle of my mess. In fact I decided that no one would suffer the anguish and pain I saw in Tenison’s eyes on account of me.

I met Lorak at Thelsamar. It was a small dwarven city here in Loch Modan. He arrived on his silver wolf about midday.
“Hello friend Dane. Me am here.”
“Hello Lorak.”
“Where are Tenison and Alinda, we go on adventure yes?”
My heart broke as I saw his excited smile.
“No, Lorak we’re not going on an adventure today.”
“Oh, ok. Then why you want to lee Lorak?”
“I wanted to say goodbye. You see I’m going away.”
“Why you go friend Dane, is it something Lorak did?”
I almost started to cry. Lorak was the bravest orc I had ever met. He had saved my life over and over, and I think I would miss him the most. He viewed the world almost like a child. He wasn’t greedy and would never hurt anything that didn’t attack us first. He protected us all.
“No Lorak, it wasn’t anything you did. I know you won’t understand this but I… I broke things.”
“Lorak understand. Lorak break things a lot too. Maybe we can fix.”
“No Lorak. What I broke can never be repaired. The wounds I caused can never mend.”
Lorak didn’t understand but thought of a new idea.
“Then Lorak go with Dane. Tenison and Alinda have each other so I stay with you and we can go adventures ourselves.”
Now I was crying.
“I’m sorry Lorak, where I have to go, I must go alone. You can not follow.”
I gave Lorak every bit of money I had. I hugged the orc and mounted my horse.
“Goodbye my friend…”
I rode off and the last thing I head was Lorak calling my name.
After my meeting with Lorak there was only one thing left to do.


**

Shadowdane and Sadye travelled north in Loch Modan until they arrived at Stonewrought Dam. The slipped by the dwarf patrols and came to the very edge of the breathtaking sight. The huge full moon covered the entire area in a blue blanket of light.

Sadye gave out a whistle.
“That’s a long way down.”
“Yes.” Shadowdane agreed.
“And this is where it ended.”
Shadowdane looked down into the churning waters at the bottom of the great dam.
Sadye gasped.
“You didn’t... Why Shadow?! ”
Shadowdane’s dark empty eyes turned to her.
“Because it was over… I had betrayed the only people in this world that I gave a damn about! I failed them all! I was their leader and they trusted me! They TRUSTED me and in the end I took that trust and killed them with it! I stood right here, closed my eyes and jumped into eternity! But it wasn’t the fall that killed me. I was already dead. I died the day I saw how much hurt and pain I caused Tenison. The suffering I caused because of a stupid whim, a selfish whim of lust that damned me!”
Shadowdane fell to his knees. He covered his face with his hands and began to cry.
“I… deserve this.” Shadowdane sobbed looking at his undead claws.
“I deserve to suffer… forever.”
Sadye kneeled beside Shadowdane, holding him.
“Oh Shadow… you poor soul. I had no idea.”
“No Sadye… Don’t pity me! I got what I deserved! I’m a soulless monster and there is no honor in me!”
Sadye turned Shadowdane’s face towards hers.
“My friend… I do pity you. And I cannot agree with you. You are no monster. Your crime of passion destroyed you. If you had been a soulless monster as you say you wouldn’t have done what you did. You would have felt nothing. You have honor my friend, but there is something that you do not have, something that you’ve denied yourself all these long years...”
Sadye stared into Shadowdane’s eyes.
“Forgiveness Dane… And I forgive you, for the things you have done.”

Sadye brought Shadowdane’s face close to hers and kissed him, holding him close. At that moment a strange wind blew and a heavy burden was lifted. The two friends sat holding tightly to each other for a few more minutes until.
“Come on Shadowdane… let’s go home.”
Shadowdane agreed and helped Sadye to her feet.


Part 10

It was almost sunrise when Sadye and Shadowdane arrived at the ocean overlook on Sunstrider Isle. Neither one had said a word on the long trip back.
Shadowdane stood quietly looking at the endless ocean horizon. The sky was turning into a bright orange with the coming of the day.

“Thank you Sadye. It’s been a long time since I thought about the old days. I think in a way it really helped me get some things out that had been cooped up for a long time.”
“Thank you for sharing your story with me. I know it wasn’t easy for you. So do you know what ever happened to Lorak, Tenison and Alinda?”
Shadowdane shook his head.
“No. It’s been forty years now so I guess they could still be alive.”
“You were never curious?”
“I was, but I decided to leave them in peace. I did love them. They were my family and wherever they are, I wish them well.”

Shadowdane and Sadye continued to wait for the sunrise and the start of a new day.




Epilogue

Forty Years ago…

At the bottom of the Stonewrought Dam, Dane’s broken corpse washed up by a nearby dock. Two young wetland crockolisks were making their way towards it for a little breakfast. However before they could enjoy their meal two bullets pierced both of the crockolisk’s skulls. A swift brown ram slowly approached the water’s edge. The ram’s rider dismounted and walked to the half submerged body.

With eyes of fire Tenison Grimstone stared down at Dane’s lifeless body. He breathed low and hard and then erupted like a massive volcano.
“No, Dane! You won’t be escaping me so easily! I vowed that I’d make you suffer and suffer you will! You will awake an undead and think you have lost everything but that’s where you’ll be wrong. You’ll have your memories. You will suffer with the truth of your crime Dane, because you still have so much more to lose!”


THE END

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j71/scorp1701/TheForsaken.jpg