Games of the heart

The evening hours had set in and the golden rays of the sun had begun to set along the horizon of the North Sea and the evening lights of Silvermoon grew brighter and the city itself began to shine defiantly amongst the darkening sky. Selenthiel stood and observed the city below from one of the grand chambers inside Felo’melorn Spire with her arms crossed as her siblings; Tyavel and Andithiel continued to bicker back and forth behind her.  They were coming up on their second hour of discussions as to what the ‘official’ position of House Felo’melorn would take in response to Biara Sunfire’s decree.  “Well I still think we should just put matters behind us and grant her what she wishes by giving her some of our ships.” Tyavel said in a defeated tone.  “No. Granting Biara and her bitch of a sister some of our ships would just give them more power and maneuverability and we would all be foolish to presume Biara would not use this gesture against us to make us look weak.” Andithiel said with hostility as he arose from his chair. “No, we will give them nothing.” Selenthiel sighed and turned to counter her brother’s words, “Something must be done and unfortunately it must come at a cost to us. Let us not forget as to what brought us to this current situation.” Tyavel smirked at her words and she too arose from her chair, “Quite right my dear sister, and let us not forget who indeed….” But before Tyavel could finish her words, Selenthiel already interjected “You are as much to blame for this as him, sister!” She walked towards a large wooden table in the center of the room and glanced over pieces of parchment that lay scattered among its surface.  “You both have been negligent in your duties and have allowed your emotions to rule your actions resulting in this mess we now see before us. “  She picked up a single parchment which consisted of treasury totals and shook her head.  “We have been lucky thus far that the Council and other Houses do not think us to be joke with the way we have been negotiating politics and business as of late. “ Selenthiel returned the parchment to the table and bent over and placed her weight against the upper half of a chair in front of her. Tyavel looked over toward Andithiel and sighed, “The Council has accepted you as Head of House Felo’melorn. I went through great lengths to make sure the power and influence of our House would not be effected by this and with their acceptance  no other House would dare oppose the support of the Council.” She stated as she walked toward Selenthiel.  “You claim we have been negligent in our duties but I feel that we…or, I, have done what is to be expected of a Magistrix. “  Selenthiel looked over her shoulder and frowned, “What you have done is merely taken the burden of leadership off of your shoulders and placed it upon mine like it is some sort of garment. “ Turning to her brother, Selenthiel awaited any response he would have but he said nothing.  She knew his heart was broken and he was torn in the matter of still not fully understanding what he did and what the consequences would or could be.  “Andi…” said softly spoke and suddenly her brother seemed to return from wherever his mind was. “ Do what must be done in order to rectify the situation but I will refuse to ….” His voice trailed off, once again becoming lost in personal thought.  Selenthiel knew his mind fought with the truth on really what he had really done and in a way she was glad her heart belonged to know one to spare her the pain that her brother was going through.  She signed and observed her two siblings, they were both opposite of one another and she was no more different or similar to them in anyway.  Giving in to Biara’s demands would make her House look weak and may have other Houses take advantage of that in the future but also denying Biara anything would have severe consequences for Biara herself held much influence within Quel’Thalas as it were.  “What should I do…what should I do...” she thought to herself.

Tyavel, Andithiel and Selenthiel continued to wager their ideas and opinions off one another well into the morning hours. The chamber floor was littered with wrinkled parchments, all consisting of ideas that were deemed ‘bad’.  Selenthiel herself grew tired as her eyes gazed over another parchment that indicated a small bill from the Bilgewater Cartel for services in Pandaria.  She arose from her chair and stretched out her arms, “Enough of this. “She said as she walked toward one of the chambers large windows overlooking Silvermoon. “Tyavel, you appointed me with the task of administering leadership of our House. Correct?” she looked over her shoulder in the direction of Tyavel who in turn nodded, “Of course. However I still hold the title as Magistrix but you are openly known as the one to make decisions for our House.”  Selenthiel smiled, already knowing the answer beforehand but wished for her sister to make the statement aloud. “And you my brother, you have never disapproved of this. Do you do so now?” she asked. Andithiel turned to her and shook his head, “Of course not. I have always been supportive of you and your leadership.” He stated back to her. Selenthiel nodded and turned her gaze back to the window.  “Then I have decided.  Tyavel, prepare a message to be ‘delivered’ to Magistrix Sunfire; I will be issuing my response to her as she issued her decree to me.  Andi, inform a courier to send for a Bilgewater Cartel representative,  House Felo’melorn is in need of their excavation services.” Tyavel and Andithiel both departed the chambers.

As Tyavel opened the large wooden door leading to the hallway, two House guards who had seemed to be caught by surprise quickly regained their composure and stood to salute the true Magistrix of House Felo’melorn.  Tyavel smirked at this and walked past the two guards silently with her brother in pursuit. Having enjoying the luxury of time itself without the duties of Magistrix was a pleasure to her, for she was finding time to do things she could not have otherwise had done before.  She turned in the direction of her personal chambers but instead she quickly changed her mind as she raised her hands before her waved them while saying a small incantation and soon found herself in the center of her bed chambers.  Tyavel’s personal chambers was circular in diameter and located in higher portion of Felo’melorn Spire to where she could relax, research spells all away from the bothersome interruptions of others and of course it was the largest room within the spire.  Tyavel walked over to the edge of her room which held her depository for magical materials that she utilized daily and began to rummage for the materials she needed in order to produce a magical sphere similar to what Biara had sent over issuing her decree to House Felo’melorn.  As her hands pushed aside vials and other magical contents, a blue aura began to glow below her and slowly crept up to the side of her right arm. Without giving it much thought, she smiled and said “Ara’nal…” The blue wyrmling crept down her right hand and into the depository, shifting around the many magical items patiently waiting for Tyavel to open one like a pet awaiting a treat. “Now now, what have I told you about wandering into my things?” she scolded it playfully. Ara’nal made a slight hissing noise in response and continued to shift through the depository. Tyavel focused her attention on her companion with great hesitation, quickly remembering  the last time she allowed it to enter it spilled two vials which mixed together negatively and resulted in a rather large explosion causing quite the stir with not only the spire but with the Magistrate as well.  “By the light of the sun, where did I put them?”  Giving up her search within the depository, she turned her attention to the opposite end of the room in which a number of wooden book cases sat.  “Ara’nal…come.” she said as she began to walk across the room. Each case looked similar to the other down to the very detail of the contents of what was rested on the shelves, all containing medium sized wooden boxes sealed with a small golden clasp. Raising her hand, she motioned in the direction of one box that began to levitate off the shelf and in her direction. As it grew closer the box opened up revealing three orbs; one being green, red and lastly yellow. The box gently landed into Tyavel’s hands and she carried it over to a small desk not far from her.  Normally it would only require one orb for what was desired from Selenthiel but Tyavel knew that Biara would have magically wards placed in every section of her estate that would detour any magical incursions and removed all three from the box as she chuckled to herself; envisioning Biara’s angry face as the three orbs appeared before her as she retired for the evening.  Tyavel removed the red orb from inside the wooden box and placed it before her and began to cast anti-warding magic upon it, with any luck each one of the orbs would draw on each other’s power thus breaking through Biara’s wards. She highly approved of this versus just sending the traditional courier as it were hoping it rile Biara on a personal note.  If Tyavel could have it her way she would do more to the orbs then just deliver a message but she would adhere to her sister’s wishes in an attempt to repair the damage caused by Andithiel. She sighed and began the process of adding magical properties into the orbs and from there she would give them to her sister and assist her with activating the orbs to rely the message to the Sunfire Estate. 



Andithiel followed Tyavel out of the room and almost immediately watched her teleport away; presumably to her chambers to start on whatever it is she needed to do for Selenthiel. His attention turned back to the now closed door of the room where Selenthiel still was, “Is this must be done? Can I not rectify this on my own accord with Kyliska? Why must my sisters get involved into a matter that is of my own creation?” he thought to himself.  Regardless of who was involved he now knew that he had to prepare for the outcome.  Walking down the hall he soon found his gaze in the direction of windows that opened up to the tranquil forest of Eversong in which the Sunfire Estate was located and it was there that he knew Kyliska would be as his thoughts began to drift. He had not seen nor heard from her since he caught her with Tiandril aboard a ship that belonged to Biara off the coast of Eversong. What seemed like so long ago was in fact only just a few days ago but he had difficulty wrapping any realization around the matter as he struggled with his own feelings; part of him was filled with rage and it was that side of him that caused this issue and then there was the softer side, the side of him that longed for the touch of her, just to wrap his arms around her hoping this was all just nothing more than a bad dream. “But it is no dream.” He said to himself as he continued on his path down the long hallway.  Two wonderful years of his life were gone and now his future was uncertain. Even if there was a small chance he could forgive her, there was always the issue of Tiandril returning to the picture and of course the damage that had been done between the two Houses.  As Andithiel turned the corner two Sin’dorei men wearing Sunreaver tabards walked past him in the direction of the chamber Selenthiel was in but he quickly disregarded the two as the main entrance hall of Felo’melorn Spire in where the courier normally would be found.  Upon approaching the entrance hall, his eyes searched for the courier whom would normally be distinguished by a tabard bearing the crest of House and lightly armored to make their deliveries with haste but before he could locate them he was interrupted as a hand gently came to rest on his right shoulder. He turned around to see Selenthiel behind him smiling with two Sunreaver members behind her. Her left hand extended gracefully outward and in it she held a sealed envelope addressed to the Bilgewater Cartel.  He shook his head with disappointment in himself, he had forgotten to write the requested letter as she had instructed earlier. “My apologies sister, I mind was elsewhere and …” but before he could finish his reason for not completing her task she interjected; “Andi…think nothing of it. I took it upon myself to write a quick and detailed letter after Tyavel and you departed, I could tell by the look upon your face this probably was not the best of times to involve you with the politics but you of course understand why I had desired you to be included?” she said as her smiled disappeared, revealing Selenthiel’s stern facial expression.  He nodded and understood, “Of course sister.” She offered one last nod and turned to the two Sunreaver elves behind her but quickly turned back to him, “We will discuss this further if you wish, in private quarters of course. I am here if you desire someone to speak with.” She said and turned back to the elves, gesturing them back towards the meeting chambers. Andithiel watched his sister walk down the hall, her every stride was as elegant and calm. “If only I had had the emotional reservation she had that day…” he said to himself turning back to the main entrance hall.

An hour had passed since Andithiel had found and instructed the courier to deliver the message to the cartel and found himself wandering the forest of Eversong. He needed to clear his thoughts and normally leaving the spire or Silvermoon did just that but, even now he found himself thinking of Kyliska. “Damn you… damn you to hell! “He shouted in anger as he clinched his fists. “What was going through that head of yours? What did I do wrong to cause you to betray me?”  He said aloud as a small tear now ran down his right cheek.  He kneeled down and slowly sat on the soft grass below him feeling tired and weak from a sleepless night before, only wishing to have Kyliska next to him. 

In preperation

Selenthiel stared at the parchment bearing the words from the High Priestess of House Dawnsea and sighed, she knew Seluna could not be trusted even though her words spoke otherwise. Even Biara herself could only be warranted a certain amount of trust as sometimes Biara was more trouble than she was worth in Selenthiel’s eyes. This endeavor of making sure Biara’s relic was returned to her from the depths of the sea was proving to be almost too taxing for Selenthiel.  Having to already divert a good portion of her armed forces just to accommodate Biara strained what she had available to deploy and to make matters worse she had temporary relieved Andithiel from command leaving only herself or Tyavel to take charge of his duties.  Selenthiel continued to sulk in solitude becoming ever angrier over the current situation, “Damn you Andithiel!” she said to herself as she arose from her chair and walked over to a small table holding golden pitcher containing tea but before she could even grab the pitched the door to the chambers swung open almost startling her. Selenthiel turned around in anger expecting to see one of the guards but instead saw her sister Tyavel happily smiling, which only angered her further. “Ah, sister…you startled me.” Selenthiel said as she turned towards Tyavel.  Tyavel did not respond but instead turned towards the door she entered and closed it behind her. As the door shut close, Tyavel sighed “Sister…I am at a loss of words to describe on my feelings for your desire for me to take charge of the recovery of Biara’s ancient relic.” Selenthiel simply shook her head and smiled, knowing all too well that Tyavel would protest being given the responsibility of such a task. “That is not all that you are at a loss for. Clearly with as much time as you spend in your chambers experimenting with arcane spells has resulted in a loss of manors.” She said gesturing to the door for her sister’s rude and abrupt entrance. “If not you than whom?” Selenthiel asked. Tyavel slowly walked over to the table holding the pitcher and poured herself a small glass, briefly ignoring her words. As the tip of the glass reached her lips her facial expression became disappointed, “No wine?” she asked with Selenthiel shaking her head.  Tyavel returned the untouched glass of tea to the table and turned to her sister, “Andithiel of course is the one suited for this task and…” but before she could finish her sentence Selenthiel hastily interjected “ANDITHIEL … is temporarily relieved of his duties and I will not subject him to any further stress that may cause further issues to develop between House Sunfire and this House!” Tyavel was quickly agitated over her words but Selenthiel did not care, Tyavel was in her eyes nothing more than a spoiled noble who wanted nothing to do with the responsibilities but all the luxuries that came with it but, she did love her. “Tyavel…please do this for me.” Selenthiel said with sweetness in her voice. Her sister only offered a simple nod acknowledging Selenthiel’s wishes.  Selenthiel smiled and walked back to her chair and sat down elegantly, she than picked up a piece of parchment from the table and reached for Tyavel to accept it, “This letter was received in acknowledgement from the Bilgewater Cartel that they have agreed to assist us in the retrieval process of House Sunfire’s ship, at a steep price might I add.” Tyavel walked up and reached for the letter and quickly began to go over the letter herself. “The letter is not the defining contract and we will be required to pay the total lump sum before hand, which I have already sent with a courier whom will escorted by armed guardsman. Your task is simple; I want you onboard the Goblin ship during the retrieval process to direct, verify and if needed, guard Biara’s relic.” Tyavel cocked her head with great curiosity at Selenthiel’s words. “Guard her relic? Are you expecting someone to take it? “Selenthiel adjusted her position in her chair with the uncomfortable question as Seluna’s letters raced through her mind. “House Dawnsea has expressed an interest of whatever may lay on the ocean floor and needless to say Biara herself seems on edge on wishing to retrieve her rightful property. “Tyavel laughed at her words and placed the parchment back on the table, “How delightful! Perhaps it would be best to allow each of them to set their differences aside and work together to retrieve this relic?” she said jokingly. Selenthiel smiled at her sister’s remark, for it would prove to be rather entertaining to see the two Houses spar against one another. “As much as I would love to remove ourselves from the issue I have already agreed upon terms with Biara herself and I will honor those terms.” Selenthiel stated. “Once the Bilgewater representative arrives you will be in full command of their services as well as our forces.  See to it that House Dawnsea does not interfere.” Tyavel grinned as if she already had planned out her course of action and nodded. “Of course sister, I will see to it firsthand that this relic is protected and returned to Biara.” Tyavel smiled and departed from the room.

A sense of betrayal

Selenthiel fiddled with her hair as she sat on the edge of her bed, the golden threads in her lavish bed sheets caught the sun as it entered the room from the eastern side of the room. It was in there mere hours of the early morning and House Felo'melorn's servents were already preparing for an important guest. Selenthiel signed, taking in the last moments of here serene morning. In her right hand , she held a opened letter addressed to her from her sister Ty'avel. She raised the letter and once again quickly skimmed over the importance of what it said ;

 My dearest sister,

As you open this letter, I have no doubt that suspicions race through your mind with what motives I may have as to why I would temporary set aside my powers as Magistrix of the House.  For whatever reason or purpose you believe, I must assure you that I have the best of interest for the House, for Quel'Thalas and more importantly, for the Horde. For this very reason, my stay within Pandaria has been extended longer then I had anticipated and never before has my presence been so important, it was then I knew I must appoint a successor to our House should I not return.
<p>For reasons already known to you, appointing you was the only way to ensure House Felo'melorn would continue on without the threat of being absorbed by the other Houses, politically or forcefully.  As you will come to find out soon enough, being a leader is more then just being cunning or tactful, influence and power will also come into play. Therefore, in my absence, you must maintain House Felo'melorn's alliegiance to the Blackhearts Alliance. My work here, along with Denissia at my side, will prove to be valuable to Garrosh and the goals he has set in motion. If our work is a success, we will no longer have to worry about the other House's ever....again.Your loving sister,

Ty'avel

Selenthiel's hand tightened around the letter, immediately causing the letter to burst into flames as she focused her holy power . Releasing her grasp of what remained of the letter fell to the floor, she arose from her bed and prepared to head to the main entry hall of the spire. "And so you shall have a true leader dear sister...", Selenthiel said softly to herself as she opened her door leading to the hallway. Closing the door behind her, two House guards offered a gentle nod in her presence. "Guardsman,  I need one of you to deliver a simple message to House Sunfire and House Dawnsea. Tell them, effective immediately House Felo'melorn withdraws it participation within the Blackhearts Alliance.  Also, get a courier over to House Sunhaven requesting an audience with Lady Alleriel...I have new alliances that must be negotiated..."

Selenthiel slowly turned in direction toward the main entry hall as a devious grin formed upon her face.

The shoes

Selenthiel watched the battle unfold before her eyes. Before her, Annie was casting away at 3 Alliance as they all focused their attacks on her. Selenthiel was able to heal her without any distraction, making it easier for Annie to focus her own attacks. The two Sin'dorei women continued to hold out against the small Alliance force with ease and Annie started to become more mobile, forming a devious grin upon her face. "You are moving out of reach!" Selenthiel shouted at Annie. Annie, realizing she may be right, turned around attempting to quicken her pace back towards her. "Shit!" was the only thing that escaped Annie's mouth before a rogue sapped her.
Selenthiel sighed and attempted to decrease the gap between the two, moving closer towards Annie. As she prepared to focus her healing powers on Annie, a Kaldorei druid rooted Selenthiel to the ground , silencing her temporary. Selenthiel grew agitated, and quickly feared the druid long enough to escape and send a volley of heals off to Annie. In appreciation , Annie screamed back "Where the hell is Alleriel at?" Selenthiel , now having to deal with a druid attacking her had no time to look and quickly responded ; "I have the slightest clue!". Already noticing Annie once again was increasing the gap between the two , "Annie, you are moving out of reach agai--". She could not even finish off her sentence before realizing she had been sapped by a Human rogue.
"Keep up the good work guys! They are focusing on you two , allowing us to take the carts with ease!" Alleriel's voice boomed from deeper down into the cavern. Selenthiel , now able to break free from the rogue's sap quickly shouted back in response , "You have got to be joking!", fearing the Human rogue in the process. Annie cackled in the distance. Selenthiel looked over toward the shadow priest and saw she had gained an additional 'audience', putting the total number of Alliance forces at 6. Selenthiel shook her head and sighed, "All of this over because someone said her shoes were ugly....".

(( This was basically a little BG Annie, Allerial and myself did. Annie and myself were caught at a resource capture point , being attacked by initially 3-4 Alliance. We continued this fight well into about another 2-3 showed up. All of the Alliance healers moved in to focus in on us, in attempts to get rid of Annie and I while Alleriel and the rest of the team picked off the rest of the Alliance with ease. I am pretty sure it was because the Alliance was making fun of Annie's shoes. ))