ecthelionsilverleaf

[ecthelionsilverleaf]

Chapter 1

An elf lies tossing in a small cot in an unassuming room, afflicted by nightmares, the memories of war, screams of terror, wails of unimaginable pain, he woke up all of a sudden, agitated; this is no way to start a day he thought to himself.

He could feel the light breeze and warm rays of sun that the last weeks of summer bring, slowly he sat at the edge of his cot, slumping forward and letting his elbows rest on his legs, a heavy sigh came out of his mouth, heavily he stood up and walked towards a washbasin, almost mechanically he washed his face and looked at his reflection on the mirror; how much had the face that stared back at him changed, he couldn't help but to remember a day, not unlike this one long ago in the past, his eyes glowed with a light blue hue and of course the face was one of a young boy, as a human of seven or eight years of age, a face that even with the haziness of the morning managed to smile at the unusual sounds coming from the common room of his house, and there was where his mind drifted.

The young boy pulled his hair in a simple ponytail and ran out of his room and towards the kitchen, he had a beaming smile when he saw a tall and grizzled man standing beside his mother. -Father!- He said, almost screaming as he ran to hug him, barely reaching his waist.-Aren't you going to work today?- He asked looking up at him.

His father smiled softly back at him and brushed his hair, he admired this man, to him, he was the definition of what a man should strive to be, his father crouched to level their eyes with each other.-Actually son, I'm not, we were invited to a celebration in Silvermoon, want to come?- Said the man as he was standing up again.

Young Ecthelion smiled again.-Of course! What's the occasion?-. This time, the answer came from his mother, a lithe woman, not particularly tall but very beautiful, strong and tough when it came to raising him but incredibly loving and tender at the same time. -Well, dear, Alleria Windrunner has been promoted to Ranger General, every Farstrider has been invited, as well as the nobility of Quel'thalas, it would be good for us to be there as a family- She said with a small smile on her face. After the conversation the three of them sat down and had breakfast, sharing the occasional joke, news from other parts of the kingdom and discussions of the particular affairs of the work of each of his parents.

Sometime before noon two hawkstriders were waiting outside the house, his parents both changed their clothing and although the change was noticeable, it was even more so in his father, the usual green and brown clothing were replaced by an elegant suit of armor a mix of fine leather and mail with a blue and silver tabard, emblazoned by the crest of the Farstriders, his mother's was a purple and blue tunic, typical of the magistrate back then.

 They rode for hours before reaching the gates of the city and the sight before Ecthelion's eyes would be forever etched in his mind, while Suncrown village was beautiful, the grandiosity of the city couldn't be compared, he marveled at the height of the buildings and the ethereal beauty of the gardens, he observed curiously at the attire of the people living in the city, he was out of words; suddenly, a strange voice snapped him out of his stupor. -Hail! Lord Silverleaf, Lady Sungaze- exclaimed a guard moments before saluting his father, he saw how his father answered the salute and his mom bowed respectfully, he tried to do the same but by the time he did they were far away from the guard. -I really don't know why they insist on calling me "Lord"- His father said chuckling to his mom. - Love, you may not be part of the nobility, but you are a Ranger Lord, besides, a bit of respect never hurts dear.- Said his mom in a serious note.-You're right of course, but still...it's weird you know? I suppose I don't spend enough time outside of the Enclave, I have lost my sensibility to social graces.-

  After they had arrived at the Court of the Sun, they were seated in the front, Echtelion was able to see for the first time King Anasterian and his son Kael'thas as well as the young blonde woman that was to become Ranger General of Silvermoon standing beside the king and her mother, the previous General, his father pointed him out to another pair of women that looked very similar identifying them as Sylvannas and Vereesa, all of them rangers according to his father.

After the ceremony was over and the mandatory vows were sworn, his family and stood up in line waiting to congratulate the newly appointed general, while they were waiting Ecthelion asked  his father about the vows that she just had taken.-Farstriders are sworn to protect this kingdom from any threat son, we are expected to do everything in our power in order to achieve that, we sacrifice much, this life is not for everyone, and the Ranger General answers for all of us to the King as well as acting as head of the military in Quel'thalas in times of war- He paused, turning his gaze away from his son towards the blonde woman. -She has an enormous responsibility now, but I think there's no one better suited for the job.-

When finally the new general came where they stood she greeted his father with a smile on her face and exchanged pleasantries with both his father and his mother, then she turned to see him. -And what about you young one? Are you planning on becoming a ranger like your father when you come of age?- she asked him. He remembered how he tried to answer, but he stumbled all over his words, he was very ashamed and expected her to be annoyed but instead she just offered him a smile.

-Captain- a voice was heard on the back of his head, he ignored it, still submerged in his memories.

Keeping her smile she said kindly to him. -There's still time to make up your mind, sorry for pressuring you.- She turned to his father and saluted him martially, he recalled them saying something about being honored to serve both with her and under her.

-Captain.- that voice again, this time more insistent, he ignored it again.

He thought to himself that maybe that was the point where he decided to become a Farstrider, the work of his father always made him curious, but when he heard about what being one was all about he felt somewhat...inspired, maybe he could help to keep that beautiful city safe just as his father did, he felt insecure, people always talked about how skilled his father was, and he always felt doubtful about his own capacity, but unbeknownst to him, those words lit a small ember within him, an ember that one day would turn into a wildfire.

-Captain Silverleaf!- this time the voice was too loud to ignore, loud enough to snatch him back into the present, he took one last look at the grizzled grim face on the mirror and then turned to see a young elf looking at him with a worried expression at his door's threshold, he sighed heavily knowing all too well why the urgency of the message that the elf sure carried. -It's finally time- he said in his mind.