Story of the Orchid: Chapter 4

The following is the fourth chapter of a six part history of the Order of the Elder Orchid and its Township of Darel'horth, written by Sir Ferenold Stormshend.

Chapter 4
I awoke from the dream. It was neither a pleasant dream nor a nightmare, but certainly one that I yearned to see manifest in the waking world. I had managed to convince myself the last night that I could truly stay in Darnassus, even after the offer of Lord Vanston. Now I knew it was not possible; it may not be possible for many other Gilneans, for I am not the most vigorously patriotic, but I certainly do have pride in the land I hail from.

I sauntered out of bed, I garbed myself in the rustic brown leather, I strode out of the hollow in the elven beech that I made my residence in. I could still teach druidism, but not nearly as often. I could still see Darnassus, but I would not live here, and I would be woe to go back instead of aiding the town, anyhow. The town, I now thought of it myself, I thought of the position I would obtain from being one of the first on this return home. And I remembered that even the Lord acknowledged me for whom I was, despite his prejudice. I remembered how the town we would move to had been my suggestion, and I remember when Farlund told me of it as a boy.

The time was riper than ever for Gilneans to be brought back to their ancient ways. But perhaps more importantly, the time was riper than ever for the South of Gilneas to be repopulated. And Lord Torean Austerlitz would be coming as well a good man, he had always been a good man of his country, despite some of the other qualms I had with him. He was a capable fighter too, I knew that much.

I took the walk to the Howling Oak in slow silence. I will confess that perhaps I am a coward, for I fear going back to Gilneas where the undead aberrations dwell, yet I simultaneously wish for it more than ever now.

I had come in view of the Oak now, which had been my true home, the place I taught, ate, and labored for nearly a year. Both Lord Vanston and Lord Austerlitz did not dwell often in the Oak, and despite their respective stations they were not well known there due to this. Lord Vanston, I knew not where he dwells, likely in some Royal Court with the southerners, and Austerlitz was serving in the Grey.