The secluded cabin high in the mountains was barely visible as the wind whipped the powdery snow around, sparkling as it swirled in the rising sun.
The Warlock rose a little before dawn as usual, wrapped herself in a thick floor-length robe, then she padded to the large fireplace. With a wave of her hand, the wood in it crackled and roared to life, the flames making intricate patterns on the hearth stones. The cabin warmed quickly as she fixed a large mug of steaming tea, adding some brandy to it before settling in an overstuffed chair by the fire.
The air was much thinner where she was, but Celise got used to it before too long. She'd been ensconced away in this home away from home for a number of years, but lately, over the past few months, she'd grown restless, edgy, bordering on irritable. And recently, fragmented dreams kept waking her. She recalled bits and pieces of the dreams, and oddly enough, flashes of the Stormwind king. She shrugged. "I think I'm ready for another change. I should go back to the cities." she said to Fitzgerald, half-filling the empty tea mug with brandy. "Then you should go." said Fitz, as he padded over and curled up next to her, purring.
The Warlock had come up here because she needed to get away for a while. All of the losses she'd suffered over the years were getting to her. Most painful were the loss of her beloved parents, her sister and friend Elzabetha, and of course losing Sowelu. Even now after all this time, the pain never really goes away. She sighed as she idly toyed with the pendant emblazoned with the Danae crest that hung on a necklace around her neck, a gift from the priest; her vault held the robes and boots that Elza had made for her. There were other losses of course, other friends and acquaintances, some who passed on and some who just disappeared. Those saddened her as well. Celise realized that she couldn't allow anyone to get too close to her, ever again. She dropped the crest to the inside of her shirt; it rested next to another necklace already there.
After some breakfast, the Warlock bathed, dressed, and packed a few bags. It was time her self-imposed exile came to an end, at least for now. Although she wasn't fond of leaving her cabin and her love of the mountains, and she could return at will, she felt ready to head back to the cities. Her first stop would be to Darnassus, where she'd built her home long ago, to check on it, especially her laboratory. The place was like a fortress, so she never worried when she was gone. Then her next stop would be Stormwind.
Celise opened the cabin door and, with a flick of her wrist, sent a blast of fire to clear a path through the snow well enough so that she had space when she called for Adiemus. Locking the door behind her, she whispered, and her white drake answered, flying down to gently pick her up.
As the Warlock flew back, not knowing what or who to expect, she wondered if she'd run into anyone she knew after so much time had passed.
~~~~~~~~~~
(( Celise's return to WoW. Mood music of the cabin scene:
Oasis by Tarja - from 'My Winter Storm' cd.
English translation, roughly:
The shadow of goodness covers the tear,
Brings a step to the finder
Peace may, rock the cradle to sleep
Hope remains, a pathway to love
A pathway to a deep freedom
))
Good to see you back and writing. Glad you found this place!