HOME | DD

Description
Dijie's throat tightened as she stared at the female kneeling by a cooking fire, tending the embers in her hearth. The part-Drakkari swallowed hard and quietly took a deep breath, ducking her head as she entered into the hut.

"Mamma," she whispered, making Najie look up sharply from her task. The Revantusk female's face lit up when her gaze rested upon her daughter.

"Dijie," Najie exclaimed, standing quickly and rushing forward to embrace her daughter. Dijie leaned forward, her arms slipping around her mother's slender figure, making her wish she was shorter so that she could feel that Najie was the bigger of the two of them. "You've been gone so long, daughter. Welcome home."

Reluctantly, Dijie let her mother lead her inside, to sit by the fire. They spoke of many things, including their shared craft. Reaching into her bag, Dijie retrieved a bolt of Imbued Frostweave and offered it as a gift to her dam.

"I won't know what to do with this, Dijie," Najie admitted, shaking her head.

The part-Drakkari smiled wistfully. "I will, Mamma. For now, just place it in storage until you wish for me to make something for you," Dijie replied, reaching out to caress her mother's face with her fingertips. Much to her surprise, Najie reached up and lightly wrapped her fingers around her daughter's wrist.

"You've come to tell me something, haven't you?" The tone Najie used was grim, her expression somber as she spoke. "What's happened, daughter?" she asked, soothingly.

Dijie shook her head and looked away, letting her dark blue hair fall forward to hide her face. Najie's hand smoothed her hair back, tucking it gently behind the part-Drakkari's long, pointed ear. Dijie's heart ached at her mother's kindness. Too often, she'd wanted to run home to Najie and seek advice, or alleviate painful loneliness in those moments when her solitude was too much to bear, just by being able to speak to her mother.

Closing her eyes, Dijie let the tears fall. Najie's arms slipped around her, comforting, and the sob tore itself free. Clinging to her mother's slender figure, the former mage wept uncontrollably. Wordlessly, Najie permitted her, stroking her daughter's hair with a steady hand, making soothing noises.

By the time Dijie felt empty, she couldn't find the words. Accepting that she needed time, Najie helped her daughter to bed and let her rest. There would be time to speak tomorrow.

*********************************************************************************

In the morning, Dijie pulled on an old pair of trousers and a tunic that had belonged to her father. Tying it with a belt at the waist, she stepped out of her mother's hut and calmly made her way to the shore.

Revantusk Village had changed very little since she'd left it, over a year ago. It suited her that this was so, offering her at least one small constant in her life, something that did not require adaptation or change. Walking out onto the dock, Dijie watched the Revantusk males as they began preparing their boats to go out fishing.

A few of them stopped in their tasks to look up and study her. Some of them she recognized and hailed them appropriately. They returned her greeting, for the most part. Other than that, most of them focused on their work, for which she was grateful.

Part of her yearned to go with them, as she'd done while growning up. Tol'ron had always taken her out in their boat. The village's livelihood depended on fishing and Dijie's family had done its share of providing for it.

The smell of the sea and the sounds of boats, gulls, and trolls made Dijie smile suddenly. It was always good to come home.

Moving away from the dock, Dijie made her way to her raptor and mounted up, guiding it towards the cliffs and the incline what would take her to the Hinterlands. She followed the path, letting the familiar sight and scent of the pines fill her senses. When she reached the gates to Shadra'Alor, she rode past them, circling around the central lake and heading straight for the Temple.

Dijie dismounted in front of the steps, offering the reins to an attendant. The troll recognized her and bowed deeply, surprising her. As she made her way up the stairs, Dijie moistened her lips slowly, a nervous flutter in her belly.

The altar beckoned. The last time she'd been here, Dijie had folded her Gurubashi tabard and placed it there, leaving it in Shadra's keeping. Today, however, Dijie felt less certain about her presence here. Going down on one knee, she bowed her head reverently. She counted her breaths, closing her eyes.

When a presence wavered above the altar, Dijie held her breath and opened her eyes, staring hard at the floor.

You are gracious to present yourself to me, Dijie, Shadra's voice whispered, filling her mind.

"Mistress, I apologize for my long absence. I beg your forgiveness," Dijie replied, speaking out loud.

Shadra's voice chuckled. I know why you're here, Dijie. I find it odd that you would seek my approval for what you plan to do. Aren't you confident enough to know what my answer would be? Shadra asked, a soft chittering sound echoing against the stones of the Temple.

Dijie flinched at the question. "I simply wished to remind myself of those things you've told me before, Mistress. I had no idea I would be graced by your presence."

It is wise for you to not assume I would reveal myself to you. Nonetheless, Dijie, you've woven your web. It's for you to choose what step to make now. For all you know, it would be fruitful, or you shall find that your anchoring threads might fail you. I cannot guide you, but you were a good listener and a worthy Champion; your idea of what it meant to be Shadra's Champion was different, at least. Farewell, Dijie.

The presence faded as suddenly as it had appeared, leaving Dijie stunned and silent. Lifting her head, she looked to the altar and exhaled harshly, the breath rushing out of her lungs.

Still neatly folded, her Gurubashi tabard rested where she'd placed it, months before.

Rising to her feet, Dijie cautiously approached the altar. When she realized her eyes hadn't deceived her, she snatched the tabard up and hid her face against it, making a sound low in her throat. It still smelled of the Vale and of...

Her heart skipped a beat and she sighed, rubbing the fabric gently against her cheek. She would bring it home, at least. From there, she would see what to do with it. As she left the altar, the attendants bid her farewell, bowing respectfully to her as she rode away.

Riding with her head held high, the tabard carefully placed in her saddlebags, Dijie returned to Revantusk Village. It was time to speak to her mother.

**********************************************************************

At Dijie's urging, Najie had shut the door to her home, ignoring the beaded strings that served as an announcement that visitors had entered the hut. Kneeling side by side, the two females sat in silence, studying each other quietly.

"I haven't been completely honest with you," Dijie finally admitted, a sense of panic making her blood run cold. "And someday, I'll beg for your forgiveness for it, because I should have been open to you instead of doing what I've done."

Seeing the fear in her daughter's eyes, Najie reached out and circled her arm around Dijie's waist, offering her silent support. "I assume you have a reason for this?" she asked quietly.

Dijie nodded quickly, her expression one of complete misery. Folding her arms over her stomach, she took several deep breaths, her hands trembling even though she gripped her upper arms tight enough to bruise. Najie shook her head slowly.

"Dijie, why are you afraid? What's wrong?" Najie whispered, tightening her arm around her daughter.

"Oh, Mamma," Dijie gasped, her eyes filling with tears. "You didn't deserve this. Not like this."

"Stop that, Dijie," Najie snapped, using a tone of voice that had caused her daughter to instantly obey when she'd raised her. "Ground yourself, you need to calm down. Breathe, Dijie. Again...take slow, deep breaths, there's nothing that can harm you here."

Obeying, the part-Drakkari troll closed her eyes, ignoring the tears that slid down her cheeks. After a moment, she nodded and faced her dam once more, sorrow in her gaze. "Over a year ago," she began, smiling at the memory. "I took a mate, Mamma."

Najie blinked, stunned by the news. Her jaw dropped slightly, her eyes widening. "What? You did? Dijie, this is excellent news! Why are you so upset to tell me?" Najie demanded.

Dijie shook her head, lifting a hand to ward off her mother's questions. "I'm upset because I had no intention to tell anyone, and you should have known, at least. Oh, Mamma..." Dijie trailed off, her shoulders slumping, rubbing at her face with one hand. "I love him to the point of being blind, he means everything to me, I wish I could tell you but I lack the words."

Najie gently stroked Dijie's hair, using her thumb to wipe away a tear. "I don't think you need to, daughter," she whispered. "I adored your father, he was my world, and he gave me you. He loved us so much, and I never doubted it." Najie tilted her head to one side as Dijie's sorrow deepened. "Do you doubt your husband's love, Dijie?"

"No, Mamma, I don't," Dijie whispered, looking away. "But I'm selfish. I can't stand it, knowing he's mine but no one else knows except two others. They will tell no one, I know that for certain, but it hurts." Dijie's breathing hitched as she sobbed and hid her face in her hands. "Mamma, I'm ashamed. I want to stake my claim, I want the entire Empire to know that I love him, that he's the one for me. The first day we stood in public together, we were in Northrend, in Zul'Drak. I asked him to be my mate the night before the Empire performed a ritual for the air spirits, and he accepted me. I have a mate, Mamma," Dijie finished, a note of awe in her voice. "I have a mate I love more than anything, he's my world, Mamma. That's the first time I've said that out loud, did you know?"

Najie smiled at her daughter, her own eyes filling with tears as she shared her daughter's happiness. Dijie laughed, even though she wept, following the line of tears down her cheeks, down her throat, resting both her hands over her heart.

"I feel complete when I'm with him, I leave a piece of me behind when we're apart. Is it supposed to be this way?" Dijie asked, her chest heaving as she struggled to breathe.

Najie shifted to the side to face Dijie, reaching up to frame her face between both hands. She wept as much as her daughter did, surprised, delighted and shocked to hear her speak this way. Dijie had been a reserved child, a thoughtful one, rarely given to emotional outbursts, and to see her this way was something Najie had always hoped would happen; her daughter had found love, as they had always hoped she would.

"Yes, Dijie," Najie replied, forcing her to meet her gaze. "It hurts just as much as it brings joy to you. Love is like an ocean: a true ocean is deep, and it comes with storms just as much as good weather. What you feel is what we should all feel, daughter." As Dijie wept, Najie smiled up at her, stroking her thumbs along her daughter's cheeks. "Will you tell me who he is?" she whispered.

Dijie hesitated, her flame-colored eyes filling with uncertainty. After a moment, she swallowed hard. She tried to speak once, but her voice failed her. Several deep breaths brought her better control and when she answered, her voice was steady.

"I married Shro'gan, Mamma. The former High Priest of the Gurubashi Empire, now the Emperor, Chosen by Damballah Himself."

Description
Dijie's throat tightened as she stared at the female kneeling by a cooking fire, tending the embers in her hearth. The part-Drakkari swallowed hard and quietly took a deep breath, ducking her head as she entered into the hut.

"Mamma," she whispered, making Najie look up sharply from her task. The Revantusk female's face lit up when her gaze rested upon her daughter.

"Dijie," Najie exclaimed, standing quickly and rushing forward to embrace her daughter. Dijie leaned forward, her arms slipping around her mother's slender figure, making her wish she was shorter so that she could feel that Najie was the bigger of the two of them. "You've been gone so long, daughter. Welcome home."

Reluctantly, Dijie let her mother lead her inside, to sit by the fire. They spoke of many things, including their shared craft. Reaching into her bag, Dijie retrieved a bolt of Imbued Frostweave and offered it as a gift to her dam.

"I won't know what to do with this, Dijie," Najie admitted, shaking her head.

The part-Drakkari smiled wistfully. "I will, Mamma. For now, just place it in storage until you wish for me to make something for you," Dijie replied, reaching out to caress her mother's face with her fingertips. Much to her surprise, Najie reached up and lightly wrapped her fingers around her daughter's wrist.

"You've come to tell me something, haven't you?" The tone Najie used was grim, her expression somber as she spoke. "What's happened, daughter?" she asked, soothingly.

Dijie shook her head and looked away, letting her dark blue hair fall forward to hide her face. Najie's hand smoothed her hair back, tucking it gently behind the part-Drakkari's long, pointed ear. Dijie's heart ached at her mother's kindness. Too often, she'd wanted to run home to Najie and seek advice, or alleviate painful loneliness in those moments when her solitude was too much to bear, just by being able to speak to her mother.

Closing her eyes, Dijie let the tears fall. Najie's arms slipped around her, comforting, and the sob tore itself free. Clinging to her mother's slender figure, the former mage wept uncontrollably. Wordlessly, Najie permitted her, stroking her daughter's hair with a steady hand, making soothing noises.

By the time Dijie felt empty, she couldn't find the words. Accepting that she needed time, Najie helped her daughter to bed and let her rest. There would be time to speak tomorrow.

*********************************************************************************

In the morning, Dijie pulled on an old pair of trousers and a tunic that had belonged to her father. Tying it with a belt at the waist, she stepped out of her mother's hut and calmly made her way to the shore.

Revantusk Village had changed very little since she'd left it, over a year ago. It suited her that this was so, offering her at least one small constant in her life, something that did not require adaptation or change. Walking out onto the dock, Dijie watched the Revantusk males as they began preparing their boats to go out fishing.

A few of them stopped in their tasks to look up and study her. Some of them she recognized and hailed them appropriately. They returned her greeting, for the most part. Other than that, most of them focused on their work, for which she was grateful.

Part of her yearned to go with them, as she'd done while growning up. Tol'ron had always taken her out in their boat. The village's livelihood depended on fishing and Dijie's family had done its share of providing for it.

The smell of the sea and the sounds of boats, gulls, and trolls made Dijie smile suddenly. It was always good to come home.

Moving away from the dock, Dijie made her way to her raptor and mounted up, guiding it towards the cliffs and the incline what would take her to the Hinterlands. She followed the path, letting the familiar sight and scent of the pines fill her senses. When she reached the gates to Shadra'Alor, she rode past them, circling around the central lake and heading straight for the Temple.

Dijie dismounted in front of the steps, offering the reins to an attendant. The troll recognized her and bowed deeply, surprising her. As she made her way up the stairs, Dijie moistened her lips slowly, a nervous flutter in her belly.

The altar beckoned. The last time she'd been here, Dijie had folded her Gurubashi tabard and placed it there, leaving it in Shadra's keeping. Today, however, Dijie felt less certain about her presence here. Going down on one knee, she bowed her head reverently. She counted her breaths, closing her eyes.

When a presence wavered above the altar, Dijie held her breath and opened her eyes, staring hard at the floor.

You are gracious to present yourself to me, Dijie, Shadra's voice whispered, filling her mind.

"Mistress, I apologize for my long absence. I beg your forgiveness," Dijie replied, speaking out loud.

Shadra's voice chuckled. I know why you're here, Dijie. I find it odd that you would seek my approval for what you plan to do. Aren't you confident enough to know what my answer would be? Shadra asked, a soft chittering sound echoing against the stones of the Temple.

Dijie flinched at the question. "I simply wished to remind myself of those things you've told me before, Mistress. I had no idea I would be graced by your presence."

It is wise for you to not assume I would reveal myself to you. Nonetheless, Dijie, you've woven your web. It's for you to choose what step to make now. For all you know, it would be fruitful, or you shall find that your anchoring threads might fail you. I cannot guide you, but you were a good listener and a worthy Champion; your idea of what it meant to be Shadra's Champion was different, at least. Farewell, Dijie.

The presence faded as suddenly as it had appeared, leaving Dijie stunned and silent. Lifting her head, she looked to the altar and exhaled harshly, the breath rushing out of her lungs.

Still neatly folded, her Gurubashi tabard rested where she'd placed it, months before.

Rising to her feet, Dijie cautiously approached the altar. When she realized her eyes hadn't deceived her, she snatched the tabard up and hid her face against it, making a sound low in her throat. It still smelled of the Vale and of...

Her heart skipped a beat and she sighed, rubbing the fabric gently against her cheek. She would bring it home, at least. From there, she would see what to do with it. As she left the altar, the attendants bid her farewell, bowing respectfully to her as she rode away.

Riding with her head held high, the tabard carefully placed in her saddlebags, Dijie returned to Revantusk Village. It was time to speak to her mother.

**********************************************************************

At Dijie's urging, Najie had shut the door to her home, ignoring the beaded strings that served as an announcement that visitors had entered the hut. Kneeling side by side, the two females sat in silence, studying each other quietly.

"I haven't been completely honest with you," Dijie finally admitted, a sense of panic making her blood run cold. "And someday, I'll beg for your forgiveness for it, because I should have been open to you instead of doing what I've done."

Seeing the fear in her daughter's eyes, Najie reached out and circled her arm around Dijie's waist, offering her silent support. "I assume you have a reason for this?" she asked quietly.

Dijie nodded quickly, her expression one of complete misery. Folding her arms over her stomach, she took several deep breaths, her hands trembling even though she gripped her upper arms tight enough to bruise. Najie shook her head slowly.

"Dijie, why are you afraid? What's wrong?" Najie whispered, tightening her arm around her daughter.

"Oh, Mamma," Dijie gasped, her eyes filling with tears. "You didn't deserve this. Not like this."

"Stop that, Dijie," Najie snapped, using a tone of voice that had caused her daughter to instantly obey when she'd raised her. "Ground yourself, you need to calm down. Breathe, Dijie. Again...take slow, deep breaths, there's nothing that can harm you here."

Obeying, the part-Drakkari troll closed her eyes, ignoring the tears that slid down her cheeks. After a moment, she nodded and faced her dam once more, sorrow in her gaze. "Over a year ago," she began, smiling at the memory. "I took a mate, Mamma."

Najie blinked, stunned by the news. Her jaw dropped slightly, her eyes widening. "What? You did? Dijie, this is excellent news! Why are you so upset to tell me?" Najie demanded.

Dijie shook her head, lifting a hand to ward off her mother's questions. "I'm upset because I had no intention to tell anyone, and you should have known, at least. Oh, Mamma..." Dijie trailed off, her shoulders slumping, rubbing at her face with one hand. "I love him to the point of being blind, he means everything to me, I wish I could tell you but I lack the words."

Najie gently stroked Dijie's hair, using her thumb to wipe away a tear. "I don't think you need to, daughter," she whispered. "I adored your father, he was my world, and he gave me you. He loved us so much, and I never doubted it." Najie tilted her head to one side as Dijie's sorrow deepened. "Do you doubt your husband's love, Dijie?"

"No, Mamma, I don't," Dijie whispered, looking away. "But I'm selfish. I can't stand it, knowing he's mine but no one else knows except two others. They will tell no one, I know that for certain, but it hurts." Dijie's breathing hitched as she sobbed and hid her face in her hands. "Mamma, I'm ashamed. I want to stake my claim, I want the entire Empire to know that I love him, that he's the one for me. The first day we stood in public together, we were in Northrend, in Zul'Drak. I asked him to be my mate the night before the Empire performed a ritual for the air spirits, and he accepted me. I have a mate, Mamma," Dijie finished, a note of awe in her voice. "I have a mate I love more than anything, he's my world, Mamma. That's the first time I've said that out loud, did you know?"

Najie smiled at her daughter, her own eyes filling with tears as she shared her daughter's happiness. Dijie laughed, even though she wept, following the line of tears down her cheeks, down her throat, resting both her hands over her heart.

"I feel complete when I'm with him, I leave a piece of me behind when we're apart. Is it supposed to be this way?" Dijie asked, her chest heaving as she struggled to breathe.

Najie shifted to the side to face Dijie, reaching up to frame her face between both hands. She wept as much as her daughter did, surprised, delighted and shocked to hear her speak this way. Dijie had been a reserved child, a thoughtful one, rarely given to emotional outbursts, and to see her this way was something Najie had always hoped would happen; her daughter had found love, as they had always hoped she would.

"Yes, Dijie," Najie replied, forcing her to meet her gaze. "It hurts just as much as it brings joy to you. Love is like an ocean: a true ocean is deep, and it comes with storms just as much as good weather. What you feel is what we should all feel, daughter." As Dijie wept, Najie smiled up at her, stroking her thumbs along her daughter's cheeks. "Will you tell me who he is?" she whispered.

Dijie hesitated, her flame-colored eyes filling with uncertainty. After a moment, she swallowed hard. She tried to speak once, but her voice failed her. Several deep breaths brought her better control and when she answered, her voice was steady.

"I married Shro'gan, Mamma. The former High Priest of the Gurubashi Empire, now the Emperor, Chosen by Damballah Himself."