05. One year

[moonshadows]

This time, Drek’thar is not here to chant the words. It doesn’t matter; I know them. He is not here to throw the bundle of herbs into the fire. It doesn’t matter; I know which ones they are. Thrall is not by my side, but I have Golthak to watch my back. I sit before the small fire, chanting the words, and throw the herb packet into the flames. The smoke washes over me and I breathe deeply, feeling the world turn pale and tremble around me. When I close my eyes, the fire dances before me as white light.

I wait, but no one joins me at my spirit-fire.

I know you’re there. I know you can see me, and hear me.

You should not have come.

I hide a grin. Why not?

Across the fire, Grom’s spirit glowers at me. I told you that I would betray that trust eventually.

You atoned for your mistake.

I failed. Thrall was depending on me, and I failed him. His eyes, no longer red, blaze with his pain.

Sit. The word resonates sharply between us. Astonished, he sits. I will not hear such cowardly words from you, Grommash Hellscream. My eyes, too, blaze. You were not a coward in life, and I will not believe that so brave a death has changed anything.

I am dead. How can I atone for my mistake like this?

You already atoned for drinking the-

Not that! He sighs, hands briefly holding his head. I killed a forest god. One they call Cenarius. He came to protect the trees we were cutting down. That is why I drank – without the extra power, I would not have been able to defeat him.

Cenarius. No wonder the night elves allied with us so reluctantly. I wish I had done this before the battle – but there was no time.

You say nothing. You understand now how badly I betrayed your trust in me.

I’m thinking, Grom.

Why did you come here, Taretha? The spirit-words sound anguished.

Thrall was deeply grieved by your death. I thought it would be worth the effort to see if you would talk to me so that I can give him some shred of comfort. I wait while he looks away for a long moment. I was grieved by your death, too.

I’m sorry, Taretha. Tell Thrall….tell him that it was an honor to fight at his side. And even though I broke his trust, I am forever grateful that he chose to give it. He swallows. I envy Durotan. If my son had lived, he could not have been as strong, as fierce, as worthy as Thrall.

I didn’t know you had a son.

Grom smiles faintly. Garrosh. He was just a baby when I drank the demon’s blood. He caught the Red Pox shortly after and was quarantined with the others. The smile dies. I never saw him again, too caught up in killing for the warlocks, and then…the portal closed.

The portal?

Ah, Taretha, still so much you don’t know about us. We came to this world through a dark portal the warlocks created. With it closed, there is no way home and I will never know if my son lives. He shakes his head.

If the portal opens, I will tell you. And I will tell Thrall to search for your son.

No. His eyes widen. Please, Taretha, don’t tell him. I don’t want his hopes to be dashed If Garrosh does not live.

I nod. For you, Grom. But I want something in return for this favor.

He looks surprised. I’m dead, what could I possibly do for you?

Find Cenarius’s spirit. Make your peace with him. I grin at his expression. I’ll be back in a year’s time to check on you.

Grom throws his head back and laughs soundlessly. I’ll do it. Blood and thunder, Taretha, you should have been an orc. No human man could ever make you a worthy mate.

On that, I have to agree. One year, Grom. I smile. I’ll see you then. Victory.

He grins back at me. Or death? Well, I suppose I have no other choice, then. One year, Taretha.

As the spirit world fades, I faintly hear him say, thank you.