Journeys - 1 (Patreon)

I hummed lightly as I ran my fingers through my hedge's leaves, brushing against branches and feeling them curl at my touch, trying to latch on and bind me – before they realised who I was. Just a little more vicious than yesterday, and with a few blackwald thornvines sprouting in the gloom beneath to make a nasty surprise for anyone unwanted who intruded while I was away.

"Another pass, I think." I mumbled as I reached the riverside, doing much the same to the reeds that decorated the waterfront of my home. I'd never be able to make it properly secure, but the memories I had here were worth the effort.

It was only after I'd come back again, being surprised by Frazzle's changes to my workshop all over again – and finding a prototype miniature steamship tied up by my waterwheel – that I'd realised just how long I'd been gone again. Last year I'd been gone from summer to harvest, before rushing to the wall to help with the refugees;  then the Scourge themselves. And, since then, besides a few days... I'd not been back at all. Frazzle had lived in my house more than I had over the last year.

Looking back at my house, my country cottage, with its invitingly cheerful smoking chimney, the creaking waterwheel slowing lifting water into the watertower, the warm and cosy air that surrounded the place I'd lived for the last six years, I wondered if I'd ever be back at all.

I reached up and ran a hand through my hair and pulling my ponytail over my shoulder to fiddle with it. The thought of never coming back niggled at my mind, could I justify spending time in Crowford, wandering out to heal bruises from a bout of boyish stupidity? Afford to walk through the fields to bolster the flocks before shearing season? We'd fought off the Scourge, come out of the Northgate Rebellion well – even if Liam seemed to be more like his father than I'd hoped – and even gotten a good head start on dealing with the worgen.

But that wasn't the end of things, not by a long shot. Any semblance of timing was gone, everything from here on out was so nebulous as to when it happened as to be useless, and there was so much I had definitely forgotten something. The fact I'd been focused on the Scourge and the worgen, seeing them as the most important things to make notes of, didn't help much there either.

"At least some things are derailed." I muttered, idly noting more people arriving and stopping the hedges from attacking them. "Alterac Valley, for one." Probably, at least. Only time would tell if the official peace and trade deals would last, but that, at least, I hadn't minded doing.

Frowning, my mind drifted towards what else Liam had tried to get me to do. Tulvan, I had minded, but not because of some aversion to death; I'd killed enough people that I wasn't sure of the actual number by this point. No, it was because it was premeditated murder, setting out to kill someone in particular, that left me uncomfortable with it. How simple it had been to achieve, how the vast majority of people in Gilneas couldn't do a damn thing to stop me if I tried, and of course just how cold it had been.

I didn't even hate her. I certainly didn't like her, and with what she'd been planning – and I'd taken the time to listen in and be sure of that – she had to go, but that didn't mean I hated her.

Really, I'd hated when Liam had tried to get me to sabotage Celestine – and alienate myself from the Order of Amber entirely – more than I hated her. My loyalties were to Gilneas, but not just Gilneas; the Order, Vivi, my apprentices... they all came well before the bloody crown's authority, let alone some marginal gain to his popularity.

If he wanted to prove himself a king of the people he could bloody well do so on his own merits, not riding on the coattails of 'The Miracle Witch'.

Letting out a long huff I pushed away the frustration that had built up. "It's good enough." It was sure as hell better than Genn was, not that it was a high bar, and that's what I'd asked of him. "More than enough to worry about as it is."

"You would know better than I." Darius said, stopping beside me and looking out over the river. "Deep thoughts before our journey, Gwyneth?" He asked, though he didn't give me much of a chance to answer. "I must admit, I've found myself melancholic of late. I care little for my family's legacy, but to be without my daughter..." He trailed off, a wistful smile on his face. " "It is a truly wretched joy see one's child grow and thrive, to watch them depart and make their own path. Proud as I am, my home feels empty."

Humming my agreement I kept on walking; Lorna could, physically, visit quite easily at any time. Donovan saw to that. The problem, as I'd heard from both her and Darius, was that he couldn't be seen to have too much influence over her lest it seem like the rebellion had won and drive the royalists into an uproar.

He'd get to say goodbye before we left, but I didn't imagine he expected much more than that; what little time they'd had to spend as father and daughter at Tal'Doren was the last they'd get until things settled more. And even that had been cut short, turned to arms length business under the auspice's of Darius' new role as Gilneas' chief diplomat, the moment the guests started arriving.

"Our lives move on, whether we want them to or not." I said, with no little melancholy of my own.

He chuckled lightly in response. "We have certainly come a long way since the days you entered my home and sought to prove yourself useful with your magic and win my trust. From fighting demons and befriending savages, all the way to winning wars, and now being sent to bargain with kings."

I shook my head, tossing my ponytail back over my shoulder. "Honestly, I'd rather settle down, teach my students, and just... live." I said wistfully, closing my eyes and imaging waking up to warm sun with Vivi's arms around me and coming down to find Trix begging for lessons, like she used to, only to be interrupted by someone calling for help. "Being a village witch again sounds nice after the last year."

Darius' patted me on the shoulder, his chuckle becoming a deeper laugh. "Power might grant freedom from many things, but it does not grant freedom from one's own sense of duty and morality." He looked down at me, eye crinkling as he smiled warmly. "Our country needs us still, how are we to refuse without hating ourselves?"

Averting my eyes from his gaze I huffed. It would be pleasant, peaceful, and slow; a life I'd be happy living. But, I couldn't. It wasn't in me to ignore what I knew, to pretend it wasn't my problem.

What did it matter that I couldn't snap my fingers and fix things like some kind of god? That I wasn't a powerhouse capable of fighting against a dreadlord one on one? With just Darius' help, or my helping him, we'd managed to save thousands, tens of thousands – likely even hundreds of thousands – of lives. We'd changed the course of Gilneas' future and defanged the crisis that would have brought our homeland low before it even began.

It didn't matter that I alone wasn't enough. My efforts, alongside those of so many others, were still important. Vital.

"Yeah, yeah. The reward for a job well done is more work." I grumbled, brushing off his hand and moving towards my house. "That doesn't mean I have to like it! And what about you, anyway? Not worried about neglecting Crowford for so long?"

"The town will be in good hands." He answered, an amused rumble still lingering in his voice. "Howard served as my steward long enough that he can manage the duties, and he shall have his wife to support him. I fear your presence will be more dearly missed than mine – Sister Roper has found her stride with the Light thanks to Sir Magroth, yet that leaves us without a witch."

My lips quirked slightly, trying to smile at that thought, before I fought them down. People wanting a witch around to help them was a big change and one I was proud of.

And, I actually had an idea on that front– "Oh! Vivi!" I said happily, breaking out into a proper smile and taking her hand as I found her standing at the corner of my house. "How long've you been standing there? I didn't even notice." I blamed the wind, it really enjoyed letting her sneak up on me.

So long as it was Vivi, it was fine. She could sneak up on me all she liked – if it let Trix do it, we'd have problems.

"I didn't want to interrupt your talk." Vivi said softly, an equally soft smile gracing her lips.

I puffed up my cheeks for a moment then pulled her into a hug, resting my head on her shoulder. "You're my girlfriend, Vivi, and this is my house. You can't be interrupting when you're supposed to be here!" I squeezed tightly, enjoying the closeness and her warmth for a moment, before pulling back slightly. "It wasn't a private conversation, anyway."

"Indeed it was not." Darius' agreed with me, his eyebrow raised curiously as he looked at Vivi. "Merely idle conversation before our journey begins. Though, I suspect we should complete our preparations."

Annoyingly, he was right. "True enough. I've secured the garden as much as I can now, so I'd best get back to packing." Stretching I reached up to give Vivi a peck on the cheek before heading inside to talk with Mama; I'd left her to pack while I sorted the garden, and I hoped she hadn't gone overboard.

Well, that and I hoped she wouldn't be adverse to my new idea. Mama might be... weak, but she could bless a field and help animals that needed it; Sister Roper could manage the villager's healing needs where she couldn't. She could even keep an eye on my apprentices, teaching them the lore I'd been neglecting and helping them along like she had mean when I was a child!

All I had to do was get her to agree.

-oOoOo-

"Stop fretting, you'll do great, Mama." I said, wrapping my arms around her in a comfy hug; it had been years coming, but, at last, I think I was ready to trust – and love – her without fearing she'd disappear on me again. "Merigold'll help out like I used to, and no one's stupid enough to try and run you off – they know better than to try!"

If they didn't, she'd have my house to stay safe in, as well as both Howard and Heather's support if she needed to it. Vivi was happy to extract the promise from her brother to look out for her, and my old friend was... the pain of Richard's loss had only half numbed with time, but she'd moved past blaming me.

"Besides, the kids need to be taught the lore. I kinda focused on everything else over that, and you know the stories as well as I do." I smiled and pulled back, noting that Mama was still of a height with me; shortness ran in the family. "You taught me them, after all."

Mama shook her head slowly, but she was putting on a smile despite her worries. "Only some of them. You've known the stories from before... everything." Hesitating just for a moment, she leaned in to kiss my forehead. "Safe journeys, my little blessing. May... may the Dreamweaver watch over you and the fox guide you through danger to return home once more."

I puffed indignantly. "We're only going to Ironforge!" Travelling through Hillsbrad, even with the Alterac Mountains between them and Lordaeron proper, had been more dangerous. "Kul Tiras is peaceful and secure, and Gnomeregan has mostly dealt with their trogg problem. We'll be fine."

Her smile fell away as I mentioned Kul Tiras, her mouth opening and words getting stuck. I was trying to puzzle out why in my head when we were interrupted.

"Gwen! We're all ready to go, you're holding us up!" Vivi yelled out from the stagecoach that'd take us all the way to Keel Harbour.

I could just fly on ahead, or catch up, but Vivi wanted to travel together – and I wasn't about to refuse the chance sitting in close proximity to her for hours on end. I had, however, packed numerous books. Snuggling was good, reading and snuggling was better.

Mama looked at the Stagecoach, looking deeply conflicted, and took a deep breath. "Gunther never said much about... about anything. But, but... he said he was from Drustvar. The forests there. If... if you want to look." Her gaze dropped and she started wringing her hands again, an air of fear and rejection rising around her.

Gunther. My... father, for what that word was worth to me. "I won't choose him over you." I said softly, ignoring Vivi for the moment. "If I look for the Wicker Men–" That's what Jaina had called them, if I remembered right. "–it won't be for him. It'll be for the Order, to pool our knowledge so that we can strengthen the Old Ways and... well, everyone."

Pulling her hands apart I squeezed them gently as I smiled as reassuringly as I could. "Love you, Mama. Take care of Triss, Marigold, Merrie, Trent, and Howard for me."

She closed her eyes, pulling my hands to her chest, and started to cry. "Of course I will. I love you, Gwen. So much."

We stood like that for a minute or more before Vivi started calling after me more insistently, demanding my attention and time. I was glad for the goodbye – for the days we got to spend together preparing for my trip; cleaning and packing everything away, sorting out my clothes for the cold mountain winter, practising bits of a khazud phrasebook at each other... it was so much like the older, more peaceful days, when she had been teaching me everything she could as we travelled.

My fingers trailed to my scarf, which Mama had poured all her heart and soul into, as I climbed into the stagecoach. Good memories, and hopefully a good omen for what would come.

"About time." Vivi huffed without any heat, guiding me in to sit beside her, then lowered her voice to a fraught whisper I scarcely heard. "I... I wish Father was here to see me off."

"Howard will be present in Keel to wish you well on your journey, alongside so many others." Darius said from opposite us, sitting calmly with his eye closed. "Irwen's relationship with Speaker Celestine prevented her from doing so as well; do not begrudge Gwyneth her goodbyes. We will arrive in time regardless."

"Thank–" My words fell away as I looked at him, or rather the person sitting beside him. Trix, a bag clutched to her chest with an expression that could only be described as defiant terror etched onto her face as she looked at me. "Trix?" I asked, feeling very confused.

Even Tricks' presence, tucked in at her side, was less surprising than hers was. I'd half expected my foxy friend to show up at some point – she'd stopped sticking by my side so religiously but she still spent much of her time following me about. Trix, though, hadn't given me any indication she wanted to come with me – during my goodbyes to my apprentices she hadn't said a damn thing.

She tensed, pulling her bag tighter but not averting her gaze at all. "I'm your apprentice! I'm supposed to stay with you!" She blurted out loudly. "Even if it means going far, far away!"

With how long she'd been away from them already, trapped by the king and helping me with everything else, I'd have thought she'd want to spend time with her family. "But what about your parents? And your little brother–" The way her face flashed with disgust showed that he certainly wasn't a welcoming factor at home to her; whoops. "–they'll miss you."

"I'm twelve, nearly thirteen." Trix stated flatly. "Apprentices go live with their masters at my age. It's normal."

It was normal... for tradesmen. And for the most part, for boys, while women lived with their mothers for longer rather than travelling away to live with another. The perils, and stupidity, of puberty carried greater consequences for girls, after all.

Still, I wasn't about to refuse her. So long as she wasn't running away from them. "Well, if you're set on coming..." I paused dramatically, waiting for her to smile, "and have your parent's permission, Twix, then you can come."

"It's Trix!" She blurted out indignantly, ignoring my question at first. "I'm not a sweet!" When she finally processed it she tensed further, cheeks puffing up angrily.

Before she could answer, Darius did for her. "Mister Rhys has given his daughter into your care for the duration of our journey, with my assurances as to her well being." He said, nodding tot he girl at his side. He was staking his reputation on her being in good care – not that I needed the encouragement to treat my personal apprentice well. "In truth, he and his wife were reluctant prior to witnessing Miss Rhy's friendship with Princess Tess. They have little understanding of, or ability to provide, what is necessary for one who's life is now attached so closely to high society."

As he explained more clearly what was going on, Trix flinched and looked down, an irritated pout forming on her lips. One only made deeper as Tricks chirped with clear amusement at her predicament.

"Mother looks at me like I'm posh now. Even asked me if I'm gonna get betrothed to a noble and become a lady or something." Trix grumbled, abandoning her tension to gesticulate wildly, almost smacking Darius in the enclosed space. "I don't wanna be a lady! Just a witch! A fox like you, and learn magic and– and they'd have me go to parties instead of learning!"

"So, part of your reasoning is to escape from troublesome princesses?" I asked, an amused smile tugging at my lips.

"Yeah!"

Her response, swift and without thought, was perfect.

I burst out laughing, Vivi giggling alongside me, and I reached out to pat her on the head – Mama was my height, but Trix was... almost there. No Emmaline, shooting up like a weed, but she'd beat me out eventually. I wouldn't be able to do that much longer.

"It isn't up to me whether you can become a fox." I told her, still grinning as she pouted. "But I think you'd make a wonderful fox. Isn't that right Tricks?"

She lifted her head, taking a moment to examine Trix carefully, then hissed out that she was missing something. Her tails swirled in and out of focus around her as she focused, then, from atop Trix's blonde head, sprouted a pair of ethereal, almost electric blue, illusionary fox ears. Just like the ones Tricks herself had.

Satisfied with herself she chirped her agreement that Trix would make an excellent fox, planting her head on Trix's lap almost possessively.

It was adorable.

"What're you looking at?" Trix asked as Vivi and I started giggling again. As we shook our heads she looked to Darius, but he had turned his head to hide his smile and stare out the window. "Tell me!"

"Driver, if you would kindly take us away." Darius spoke with a tremble of laughter in his voice. A moment later the stagecoach started trundling onward, and we were away.

I definitely needed to practise my fox illusions more, enough to catch up with Tricks at the very least. And... seeing Trix's indignant pouting I couldn't help but wonder about the ethics of inflicting – I mean introducing her to more royalty.

King Magni had a daughter, didn't he? I vaguely remembered something about a kidnapping. Then there was Jaina, who was technically a princess – and awesome besides – and though Anduin might be a prince, he was, well, pretty enough to be a princess from what I remembered.

It was an idea that'd provide a good portion of my entertainment for the days long stagecoach ride.