Sweet Release.

[Llucia]

Llucia, crouched in her cat form, watched as her undead prey searched the remains of his own recent kill. Relishing in her newfound power, Llucia moved her mind to the happiest of thoughts and quickly shifted into bear form. Not one hesitation. Her block was finally gone, thanks to a certain young paladin who proved to be not only a good source of information, but a good friend as well.


“Llucia, that’s it!” Lewena exclaimed, a smile spreading across her face.
Llucia looked up at her in her bear form, smiling at the paladin. Though from the young girl’s expression, it wasn’t much of a smile. She quickly shifted to elf form and wrapped a tight hug around Lewena.
“I can’t believe it,” she whispered. “I never thought it was possible.”
Lewena laughed. “Just think, now I don’t have to make you angry just to get you to fight me. You can change to bear form at will, and finally tap that power I know is in there.”


Llucia smiled, mentally thanking the paladin once more, and prepared to charge at the undead. Her steps faltered however, when a sudden terrifying, multi-toned voice entered her mind.

HALT, YOUNG DRUID. I WOULD HAVE WORDS WITH YOU.

Her bear form dropped, returning her to elf form as she fell to her knees, clutching at the sides of her head.

FIND A SAFER PLACE. I WOULD NOT HAVE YOU DIE FROM A PITIFUL UNDEAD CREATURE.

Llucia could do nothing but obey, in hopes of releasing her head from the wracking pain. She quickly called Ashe to her side and rode the big cat out of Sorrow Hill, back to the road where she transported herself to Moonglade.

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The voice was silent until she reached the large stone structure near the Barrow Dens in Moonglade, where it came upon her once more.

DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM, LLUCIA?

The pain was not as bad this time, but still there in the back of her mind, threatening to pound her to the ground. She shook her head, shifting her eyes across her view. The voice laughed in her head.

I’M NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN SEE. MY BODY WAS LOST LONG AGO. I AM SARGERAS.

Llucia’s eyes widened. She jumped up, searching fervently, but for what, she did not know. Her mind raced to images of the Dark Titan, what every book told her of the fallen champion. Extremely powerful, manipulative, and dangerous.

The voice laughed again.

AS I SAID, YOU CANNOT SEE ME. CALM YOURSELF, YOUNG DRUID. I HAVE NEED TO SPEAK TO YOU. OF YOUR MOTHER.

Llucia sank back against the stone wall, calming herself quickly, erasing all emotion from her face.

“My mother is dead. You can have nothing to say to me about her,” she said, her voice amazingly steady.

Again the voice laughed.

DEAD, I THINK NOT. SHE LIVES, REBUILDING HER BLOOD ELF HOME. YOU WISH TO SEE HER, DO YOU NOT, LLUCIA?

The druid bit her lower lip, realizing now he knew her name. Not only that, he knew her mother was a High Elf. Was this voice really who it claimed to be?

YES. I AM SARGERAS, LLUCIA. YOUR MOTHER, ANORA VA’LORE, IS A POWERFUL MAGE AMONG THE BLOOD ELVES. YOUR FATHER, SE’NAK VA’LORE, WAS A POWERFUL DRUID. HIGH IN THE RANKS OF THAT PITIFUL ORDER THEY CALL THE CENARION CIRCLE. SHALL I LIST ALL YOUR RELATIVES?

Her hands shook as she wrapped them around her knees, drawing them up to her chest. The one thing she wanted more than life itself, and he was offering it to her. The words dangerous and manipulative rang through her mind again, and she quickly threw his offer away.

“No. Whatever it is you want from me, not even that would make me want to help you. Leave me, return to the nether where you belong, daemon!”

WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT OF ME IS TERRIBLY WRONG, MY YOUNG DRUID. I WAS A TITAN, A PROTECTOR OF THE WORLDS. WHY WOULD I WANT TO HARM THEM? I ONLY OFFER YOU THE ONE THING YOU WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING, IN EXCHANGE FOR A SERVICE. I WISH TO USE YOUR BODY TO EXERT MY POWER ONCE MORE. TO HELP THIS WORLD, NOT HINDER IT. AM I NOT HELPING YOU BY GIVING YOU YOUR MOTHER BACK?

Llucia remained silent, staring down at the stone ground. She shook her head, “No. No, Sargeras.” Her words however, lacked certainty.

YOU HAVE ONE WEEK TO DECIDE. I’M HERE TO HELP YOU LLUCIA. REMEMBER THAT.

The voice and pain were gone suddenly. Had she been able to concentrate, she would have realized how empty it left her. Those feelings however, would come later, pushing her to make a decision she was sure to regret. If she lived through it.

[Llucia]

The following days went by with untold slowness. Her days were filled with thought, but above all, doubt. She yearned to see her mother, but was that a ploy for Sargeras to use her? True, he did protect the worlds, but history makes him out to be evil, ruthless. Manipulative.

“Manipulative. I must remember. Why entice me with the one thing I would give anything for?” she says quietly as she skirts the edges of the Pools of Arlithrien.

“Talking to yourself?”

Inspite of her thoughts, Llucia smiled. The young paladin always seemed to have a knack for finding her. As she turned to meet her, Llucia noticed something different about Lewena’s gaze. She seemed to be searching the druid.

“Is there something wrong, Lewena?”

The paladin shook her head slowly. “No… no, there’s nothing wrong. I just thought I sensed evil in the area. Perhaps I’m spending too much time in Andorhal. Anyways, I’ve been searching for you for a few days now. Someone asked about you, and I thought I should make sure you weren’t getting yourself in trouble.”

“How sweet of you,” Llucia replied quietly, giving Lewena a mischevious smile.

Lewena rolled her eyes. “Yes, very sweet. What exactly are you doing? Did I hear you say something about being manipulated?”

The druid’s smile left her face and she turned away from Lewena. “No, of course not. I was merely thinking back on a book I read.”

Lewena frowned at Llucia’s back, narrowing her eyes slightly. The druid turned back to her, smiling strangely, as she did on occasion. Lewena knew for a fact it was fake, the same smile she used when she lied, though the paladin merely played along.

“I suppose I’ll leave you to those books. I’m still getting the feeling something evil is here so I may patrol out here a while. Don’t fall in the water and drown while I’m gone.”

Llucia nodded. “As you command, my lady paladin.”

Lewena grunted in reply and ran off, distancing herself quickly. Llucia watched her go, wishing she could have told her everything, but knowing, however, she would be alone in this decision.

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Lewena ran on until she was out of sight of Arlithrien. The feeling of evil had left her once she left the druid’s presence. Confusion worked its way into the paladin’s thoughts, and she definitely did not like not knowing everything.

“Just what are you up to?” she mumbled to herself. She would have followed Llucia, however her employer was awaiting her in Stormwind. Though he displayed a calm, pleasant demeanor toward others, Lewena was afforded no such thing. There would be hell to pay if she was late.

“One way or another, I’ll find out Llucia. I’ll find out. Just don't make me kill you.”

[Llucia]

HAVE YOU DECIDED, LLUCIA?

Llucia shook as the multi-toned voice rang through her mind. How long ago was it that her mind belonged solely to herself? It seemed like ages. Ages she wished she could have forgotten.

The druid sat in the stone structure in the southern part of Moonglade, watching the pink magic float up around her as the voice returned to her. Not even Tyrande Whisperwind would believe what was happening this moment. She shook her head slowly, wishing someone was there with her. But how could she bring another into this, knowing they would most likely die?

“I have questions for you, before I agree.”

The voice was silent. Llucia began to think it had left her, perhaps unwilling to answer the questions it knew was coming.

GO AHEAD.

She sighed lightly.

“Isn’t it true you took over Medivh’s body, and used him to open the Dark Portal, unleashing the Orcs upon these lands?”

The voice went on without hesitation.

YES, THOUGH NOT IN THE WAY YOU SEE IT.

“Then what? What good did that Portal bring? Long wars between the people of Azeroth and the Horde?”

WARS, YES. BUT PERHAPS YOU RECALL A CERTAIN SORCERESS NAMED JAINA PROUDMOORE. AN ALLIANCE WAS STRUCK BETWEEN HER AND A YOUNG ORCISH WARCHIEF. DO YOU REMEMBER HIS NAME?

“Thrall,” Llucia whispered. “Are you telling me you caused those wars for this alliance alone?”

AN EVIL MUCH STRONGER THAN THE ORCS INVADED THESE LANDS, DRUID. OR HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN?

Llucia shook her head. The Legion. Doubt became stronger in her mind, picking its way through the cautions against Sargeras.

“But, the horde is still an enemy.”

THE LEGION WOULD HAVE DESTROYED EVERYTHING IF THE INHABITANTS OF AZEROTH HAD NOT HAD HELP. THE LEGION WILL FIND ITS WAY BACK. YOUR ONLY HOPES ARE TO ALLY ONCE AGAIN TO PUSH THEM BACK. THAT IS WHY I NEED YOUR HELP LLUCIA.

“You want to use me like you used Medivh? But his powers far exceeded mine, and I have no doubts that there are much more powerful people than I. How could I possibly be of any use?”

I WOULD NOT HAVE CHOSEN YOU HAD YOU BEEN WEAK, LLUCIA. YOU ALSO HAVE TIES TO THE BLOOD ELVES, AND IT IS THERE THAT WE WILL BEGIN REPARING THE BONDS BETWEEN THE ALLIANCE AND HORDE RACES.

Llucia remained silent for a time. Had it all really happened like that? Was this Titan on the side of good all along? The overwhelming desire to see her mother tugged at her.

“I’ll do it,” she whispered and immediately the presence of Sargeras filled her, probing the depths of her mind. Her blood heated, making her lightheaded and her vision blurred, the stone structure suddenly seeming to sway in her vision. She closed her eyes tightly to stave back the nausea.

“Llucia! Stop!”

The familiar voice of Lewena reached her ears distantly and she opened an eye. Before her stood the paladin, blood red armor gleaming, her large sword to match her armor grasped in her hands, ready to strike. A glow of light surrounded her for an instant.

“A demon is inside you, Llucia. You must let me cleanse it.”

Llucia thought she detected a hint of worry in the paladin’s voice. Quite surprising, but not as much as having her body stand up on its own, and a strange voice issuing from her mouth. The multi-toned voice of Sargeras, along with Llucia’s feminine tone spoke acidly to Lewena.

“You dare challenge me? I was among those who created this world. You would do well to bow before me, light-spawn.”

Lewena stared back at Llucia, searching her eyes.

“I have no qualms about killing that druid, demon. You would do well to kill me, before I destroy you.”

Tears started to roll down Llucia’s cheek. She knew inside she had made a horrible decision. All his thoughts, all his plans were laid out before her. Manipulation was the least of her worries now. She fought for control of her body and won a slight victory. Until Sargeras regained more of his power, she may yet have a chance to rid herself of him.

“Lewena, run. Please. I don’t have much time. Get away from me. Tell Staghelm. Tell him and get his help. You cannot destroy Sargeras alone,” Llucia said quickly. She grasped the sides of her head as the demon within fought for control. Lewena sneered at the druid.

“I will not leave a demon, especially one claiming to be Sargeras, to run free. Forgive me Llucia, but your life ends here.”

Sargeras regained control and flung the paladin back against the stone, pressing her harder and harder against it. Lewena unleashed a wave of light, striking Llucia and sending her back. The multi-toned voice merely laughed as the demon made Llucia stand.

“Foolish mortal. You think you can destroy a god? I shall show you what— No!” Llucia’s voice interrupted Sargeras as she once more regained a slight foothold in her own body. “Please, Lewena, run! Tell Fandral Staghelm!”

The paladin staggered up, staring at Llucia defiantly. “You don’t know what he can do to you, Lewena. Please, run!”

The point of Lewena’s sword met Llucia’s forehead. “Mark my words, demon. I will personally see to it that you are thrown back into whatever pit you came from. There is no place for you here. Keep him at bay Llucia. I will return soon.”

The paladin cautiously backed away, keeping her eyes solely on Llucia. “I will return quickly.”

Sargeras screamed with anger inside Llucia’s head.

YOU FOOLISH DRUID. YOU CANNOT KEEP ME FROM WHAT I WANT FOR LONG. ONCE I KILL HER WITH YOUR HANDS, I WILL SEE TO IT THAT YOUR UNCLE AND ALL THOSE YOU KNOW SUFFER.

The leaf pendant around Llucia neck suddenly floated up, hovering in front of her face.

WHO IS THIS DAERTHA? I CANNOT FIND A MEMORY OF THIS NAME WITHIN YOUR MIND.

Llucia cried out in relief. Her block on the memories of the one man she loved still remained. Sargeras would never know. He would never be hurt. The necklace suddenly erupted into flames and Llucia grasped it quickly. The hot metal seared into her flesh as she broke the chain from her neck and threw it to the ground outside the stone structure.

The name Daertha was forever branded on her palm.

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Lewena watched from behind a tree as Llucia struggled with the demon. She saw the pendant fly from her hand and land not too far from her hiding place. She quickly snatched the pendant up and rode out from that desecrated place.

“Fandral will kill you, Llucia. I hope you know that,” she muttered under her breath. She quickly wrote a short note to the name on the pendant and sent it out. Three short words were all she could write.

Llucia is dead.