Chapter Text
Passed notes, letters, even vandalized books. They lined the walls and shelves of her room, some from Alleria. Some from Lirath and their mother. But the most treasured, upon the highest shelf, were from her younger sister. Vereesa. She pulls down one of the boxes, stuffed to the brim with notes and doodles and letters. Crumpled up scraps of paper, random brightly colored shreds of paper.
This box was her treasure - the whole shelf was. Especially during these days. Days where the sight and sound of their siblings, and their mother are hard to recall. Where Sylvanas would give almost anything to speak to them even once more.
The box had a different value. The value of one still living, one still nearby. Of one she could hug close and speak to if she so wished. Letters filled with words no longer spoken to silence, but instead filled with life. It means everything to her, and she acknowledges this as she takes out one letter. Today, they were going to a small lake, to mourn and grieve together.
Something was telling Sylvanas that today may be one of the last. And as hard as that is to believe - as ridiculous as it is… the fear nagged her until she cracked and finally decided to go somewhere.
The words are mere scribbles - lines with no meaning, no legibility. This was a letter from Vereesa's younger years, proof that she hadn't always been the smart one of the siblings. Like she is now.
"Sylvanas!"
Her name being called drags her from her thoughts, and she hurriedly places the letter back within the box and the box back atop the shelf. Grabbing her things, she rushes down the staircase and nearly runs directly into Vereesa. "Ah! Little moon! Are you ready to leave?" A sheepish smile, her confidence waning for just a moment as she nearly toppled her sister. "The lake is quite a ways away, nearly a half day trip."
It didn't deter the younger sister. In fact, it seems to make her more excited. "Let me grab my things!" Vereesa darts off before Sylvanas can respond, leaving the elder sister to continue her way down to the hawkstriders.
Their home showed signs still of the battle - parts of the walls were still damaged, rubble remained in corners. Whether a vivid memory or simply her imagination, Sylvanas can still see the blood at times. She always hopes Vereesa cannot.
The final preparations were finished quickly while waiting for Vereesa. And they were off before the peak of the day. Later than she'd wanted, but better than too much later. Hawkstriders tied together to keep the less-experienced Vereesa from losing control, their pace is comfortable. A bit slower than Sylvanas is used to, but comfortable for this.
Finally allowed to take in the beauty of her home - a reminder of what her family died protecting. What Lirath -
"Are we there yet?"
It's Vereesa's voice once again cutting through the thoughts, dragging her back to reality. To the fact that they'd been travelling longer than she'd noticed. The sun was lower in the sky, and the chill was starting to set in.
"Seems we are… almost." Sylvanas can see the trees that line the outer edge of the lake. Finally, she speeds up the hawkstriders, wanting to get there before the sun completely sets. Which they do… barely.
Vereesa immediately darts for the small cabin once they stop, leaving Sylvanas to deal with… everything else. Which is fine. There were so few plans for the night. Everything of importance was during the day of tomorrow, so she takes this moment to properly shelter the hawkstriders, and begin a small campfire.
Singing to herself the whole while, a song from her youth. A song of the Quel'dorei - a lament for the people. She had sung it the night of the attack, and she would sing it here too. For a moment, she can feel the spirit of Lirath hanging over her.
It's a while before Vereesa returns, and by that point, the fire's been crackling for a while and Sylvanas sits nearby, staring into the dancing flames. Her ears twitch at the sounds of Vereesa stepping on the grass, and she smiles warmly, not looking towards her. "Care to join me, little moon?" She's barely finished the question before Vereesa is sitting next to her.
They're quiet for a few moments. Sylvanas' face had softened considerably since Vereesa came back out, her breathing now even and calmed.
Silence can't last forever - soon there's the sounds of Vereesa moving, shifting her position on the grass, and her soft voice. "I miss them." Her voice cracks just a bit, it's muffled. Sylvans turns her head to see Vereesa sitting with her knees pulled close, gaze on her, tears in her eyes. "I tried to be strong like you… like Alleria…"
It's only a moment before Sylvanas has Vereesa in her arms, and Vereesa's crying. "It's okay, little moon." She tries to keep her own voice soft and comforting.
"Don't leave."
The request makes her chest ache. The soft and scared voice, the familiar pleading… "I won't leave you. I promise you." A soft kiss on the top of Vereesa's head. "I will let no harm come to you as long as I breathe."
It's hard to not cry with her. But this is a moment for Vereesa, and Vereesa alone. Sylvanas would get her chance later. Until then, she holds her younger sister close, taking some comfort in the fact that she's alive.
They're both alive, they're both here.
And Sylvanas will die before anything or anyone can take Vereesa away.