trans_9 | In Honor... [Open - before Under Siege]

Ronnae had been fairly silent the past few weeks. She didn't do anything out of the ordinary; went to work every day, did her time, came back home, spent some time with loved ones and made dinner before bedtime. If anything, it all felt like it was going too well recently, which meant it was high time for her thoughts to drift into more unpleasant memories.

There was a lot that had been nagging at her head, the missions, their 'sponsors', the ship, the enemy... It all felt as if more and more weight was being put on everyone's shoulders and she wondered when she too would succumb to the overbearing feeling that it was to be a member of this crew.

This is why during one of the days that she had off, she packed her bag, grabbed her massive weapons and set off towards Religion Row. She had never been one to pray, or hope, or rely on the gods of yore. But she needed something familiar, something that held a very important place in her life... And when she had scanned the files on the City a long time ago, she had made a mental note of the location of a place that struck true and sounded very familiar.

Light's Hope Chapel.

Even as she neared the location, she could see the singular bell tower that made up the front of the Chapel and instantly recognized it. It really was it wasn't it? Her steps took on a hurried pace of urgency, as if she expected to see familiar places in the location. but she knew better... Even as her heart raced, her steps slowed down once the place came into view. The old and war torn building still bruised and battered, just as she remembered during the wars she took part of. Even now, in this close proximity, Shadowmourne hummed violently as if warning her to not go there. And she couldn't blame the runeblade... Light's Hope Chapel had once held the most holy of grounds in Azeroth. Even the Lich King failed to take it down with almighty Frostmourne, so it was no surprise that Shadowmourne felt the same way about entering.

But this was both hers, and its destination, whether on the ship, or back in Azeroth. It was here that she had intended the final resting place for the Runeblade to be at... She made her way slowly towards the Chapel, each step causing the Runeblade to curse at her in her thoughts, to hum violently and begin to glow in that eerie purple aura from the thousands of damned souls inside the blade and yet, the counter balance that had been gifted to her aboard the ship by Daja and Aibghalien seemed to be working to keep it from becoming too overwhelming. While the legendary Runeblade was vastly more powerful, the opposing forces and elements canceled each other out a great deal, enough to make it easy for Ronnae to continue on even against the powerful influence of the blade. Ironic that she had named her new weapon Light's Hope, in honor of the place she was just visiting.

Tattered Argent Dawn banners still decorated the Chapel and the stained windows seemed to be intact. Images of the heroic acts of the great heroes of the Light depicted on them. Images of stories that she grew up on. Stories told by her father, an elven Paladin of the Silver Hand and devoted follower to the Argen Dawn. This was a place of peace for her, and it was exactly what she needed.

The young, half-orc girl knelt in front of the altar and placed her Runeblade in front, much to it's dismay and hatred. It almost seemed as if the blade was burning just from being in the hallowed place. It was here that Ronnae closed her eyes and placed her hand upon the cold burn of the angry Shadowmourne, wincing a little as the pain from the freezing burn began to leave it's mark on her hand, but it mattered not, she knew of the pain, and she had carried the burden for long enough, it would heal over soon enough... After a deep breath, she began her prayer;

"I come here to honor those who have fallen, and for those who will still fall during this war. Allies and enemies alike. I bear the burden of thousands of lives and if fate deems it, there will be countless more until I fall... It's the way of my trade, of my people, the ways of a world where war is never ending and it seems as if those ways will follow me wherever I go. As such, I pledge my blade once more to keep those I care for safe, those that are unable to fend for themselves, those that are caught in between the warring sides even as I do my duty for my own.

I see my foes as equals. Souls intertwined in this on-going war, same coin, different sides. They deserve as much honor as those who fight beside me for it is them who my blade is meant to cut down just as it is theirs that is meant to end my journey.

I see my allies as my wards, meant to be protected and defended against those that mean to harm them. They deserve my protection no matter how different we my be for it is them who are at my side and my back, protecting me just as well.

I see my friends and loved ones as my strength. They deserve my everything for without them I'd be lost, alone, and caught in the void that is inside. They are the ones who I fear for the most, they are my life line, they are my driving force and I'll do anything for them.

It is for all of them that I will continue to carry on the burden bestowed upon me when I pledged my life to this until I fall and cannot get up no more.

Today I reinforce my pledge, my promise, my dedication, my word given when I first became a warrior. In honor of the fallen the past, and the future."

With that, she gripped the cold, burning Shadowmourne once more and strapped the massive axe to her back once more before standing up and staring at the large stained glass image of the bearer of the Ashbringer. One of the many heroes she admired.

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At first, Ronnae couldn't recognize the amplified voice, but as soon as she turned the figure was unmistakeable and she promptly nodded her head in a respectful bow.

"Hello Nehaalista, I wasn't expecting company... but it's nice to see you seem well."

She had heard much of the woman but had interacted little with her, nonetheless she had immense respect for her due to the things she did know from listening to Nokosi and Ellistree.

Nehaalista looked over Ronnae, and the Runeblade. [I didn't mean to interrupt your prayers, I was merely wondering if anything of Shattrath had made it here.] The high holy city of the draenei, second only to lost Karabor. She sincerely hoped nothing of the Black Temple was here on the ship. [Instead, I found the Chapel, and you.]

"I... was actually surprised to find this myself. I had made a note of it when I was going through the files on the ship, but never really came to check on it since my arrival..." Which she felt bad for, but it wasn't here, not there.

"I haven't seen anything of Shattrath no, but if I do find it, I'll make sure to let you know since I explore a good deal of the City weekly."

She had visited Shattrath frequently during her travels through Draenor, but she knew that it would mean a great deal more to the female in front of her.

Nehaalista seemed pleased by this, though it was hard to tell if the upward flicker of her lips was a smile of a twitch. [Thank you, that would be very kind of you.]

[Did you serve with the Aldor, or the Scryers?] she asked. It wasn't an uncommon question. Nehaalista had naturally chosen the Aldor, having good memories of them through the centuries when she'd been a shy youngling trying to become a Vindicator. But this girl, with her green skin and her blood elven features might have chosen her parents people.

Ronnae smiled a bit sheepishly and nodded, "Actually I served with the Shattered Sun Offensive. By the time I trained in Draenor, the... split was barely noticeable between the Aldor and the Scryers... Though, there was still a bit of that in-fighting."

As it was with most things involving Azerothians... It seemed as if it was ingrained into their very essences to quarrel with any other race or faction.

Nehaalista nodded. [The Aldor were very prideful priests, I imagine that some of it would always remain. But they never treated me unkindly when I was a youngling.]

Even if she only barely qualified as being an adult, really. Her tail twitched against her thighs as she thought, fingers constantly moving. [So, what has brought you here to pray in particular?]

"I'm glad for that then. They seemed like good folk, regardless of how they and others might have viewed each other." To be quite honest, Ronnae always thought that the strife between the races was unnecessary, but then again, she was simply that, a youngling who didn't understand the ways of the world according to the older generations.

At the question, Ronnae looked back to the altar before turning with a small smile. "I needed peace of mind, and I needed to remind myself who it was I was fighting for and to not forget my teachings and beliefs. There's been... much doubt ever since I arrived on board... it's rather easy to lose yourself in the chaos of it all."

She would know... having been a slave to Yogg-Saron for a long while during the Northrend campaign.

The vindicator nodded, [It is so. Without a strong core within, we will be worn away by everything around us. I have never believed the Light intended that for its followers.] They were tenacious for a reason, after all.

"I jus' wish more people would see it that way..." she replied before looking back up at Nehaalista.

"Do you remember much of Azeroth?" the question left her mouth before she even realized it as it had been something she had been wondering about the people on board the ship.

Without a way to tell time accurately, who knew how long some of the denizens had been here, let alone if they even remember their homes...

Nehaalista nodded. [I do. Before this, my husband and I were building a small home on Azuremyst Isle to raise our son. It was after the Cataclysm, well after. Hyjal was slowly recovering thanks to many heroes who threw themselves at the Firelands.] She hated that mountain, and its elementals that had the audacity to singe her curls. [Why do you ask?]

Ronnae frowned and her lips pouted just slightly into a worried expression, "I'm sorry, I didn't know..." she paused for a moment before turning to face her once more. "It must be hard... Being away from them and such, especially when you where beginning a family."

She could relate, not in the fact of her own child or significant other, she didn't have that back home, but missing and being away from such dear family had been very painful for herself.

At the latter question, she clenched and unclenched her fists a few times before frowning. "I... was just worried s'all... After... After the melting cloth incident, I haven't been able to remember some things... I'm glad I wrote my thoughts as they were fading as a child but... even with the images and pictures, there's just things I can't recall from my life before the ship...."

Nehaalista smiled, [It is. But I know my husband gave his life for our safety, and my son is aboard in the pods. I may grieve, but he would not always want me to do so. I have my memories of him, and though there are too few,] far too few, [they comfort me.]

[What can you not recall? If you do not mind my asking?] She wondered briefly if - as Nokosi had spoken of her at times - if she'd told anyone close to her.

"That's good at least. Having those memories of those dear to you can help in the most bleak of situations." Especially for those that were fueled by emotions.

At the question she sighed, "I can't recall some faces of my teammates, or names at times. Sometimes I can't remember what street I lived in, or what the neighbors were like... Or the smells that permeated through the house... I guess I should be glad I didn't forget more dire things..." Like members of her family, her fathers and mothers in particular.

[You are right.] Nehaalista agreed. [Be glad you have the important things, and though details make a memory, some are stronger than others. Be thankful.] She wondered if she would feel more or less burdened without the members of her sisters, brother, and parents, then thought better of it.

[Have you told many others how you feel?]

"Only Kosi. He thinks it'll come back no problem... I want to believe that and before tonight, (or today) I didn't believe him and just thought the worse was gonna continue happening... But, I think he's right. Just as things should be getting better as we continue to work together."

She hoped that at least, people could set aside their differences to be able to accomplish their goals, just as the great heroes of the third war did so back then.

In Honor... [Open - before Under Siege]

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