Mika's Champion

[moonshadows]

Storm up, outraged. “Dad!” Grab his arm, pull him around to face me – not that I could do that if he weren’t cooperating.

Amusement and mild warning. I’m only getting away with this because I’m his daughter, and this better be good. “Yes, Mikanna?”

Let go, step back and cross arms. “’My champion serves me well’?” The words are sharp, an incredulous challenge.

Now he’s got that ‘you’re not going to make me lose my temper, so don’t even try’ look. “I see you’ve met your champion.”

Blood boils even more. “Champion?” I spit the word out. “Don’t you mean ‘slave’?” Oh, that struck a nerve. “How could you – YOU – do that to Aunt Ryxl?”

Not lost, but he’s holding his temper tighter. “Earth is patient, shaman,” he growls.

He’s right; I crossed a line. Let go of the fire, draw on the calm earth. Get my own temper under control, nod to let him know I’m not going to lash out again. He nods back, accepting the gesture of submission.

“So, you have met young Daran Ironheart and are appalled at the spiritual enslavement he and his mother bear.”

Nod, unable to get words past the outrage and betrayal. He smiles, pride and love radiating from every line of his body.

“Mikanna, you would not be my daughter if this had not enraged you.”

Rage dies, crushed under confusion. “You…you knew? About Daran?” He nods. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You want to free him, don’t you?” His voice is a low, sympathetic rumble. I nod. “That’s why. I wanted to free Ryxl, too. I, more than anyone, detest all forms of slavery – but more than anyone, I know that no slave can be freed against his or her will. Ryxl bears her shackles easily; she is strong and fierce and comfortable using them as a weapon – but she is not ready to stop being my Champion just yet.” Pain crosses his face, and I feel the burn of shame at my  earlier accusation. “I never wanted a Champion that was bound to me through spiritual enslavement. Until she decides to lay down that responsibility, however, all I can do is be her friend, and remind her that she is more than just Champion Ironheart.” Brief look of amusement. “You should know by now that no one can make Ryxl do something she doesn’t want to do, not even me.”

Start to smile at the truth of that, but it falters. “Daran said you created a trigger phrase…”

To my surprise, he laughs. “That wasn’t my intent at the time. I did want to shock her back into being herself, but I didn’t think I was creating something that would be used for the next decade or two. Do you know why that phrase works with Ryxl – and why it will work with Daran?”

Shake my head no. I’d been too busy being outraged to think about it.

“What I said to Ryxl that day was, ‘My champion serves me well – but I miss my friend’.”

He doesn’t have to explain. I blink away tears and suddenly want to give Daran a big hug.

“You’re going to be Warchief some day,” he says softly. “You will need a Champion, someone you can send places you cannot go, who will act as you would act and say what you would say. Someone who can represent you, and trust that he will never play you false or dishonor you. But more importantly, you will need a friend who will never turn from you or drift away. Someone you can say anything to and trust that it will not be repeated. Someone who you can show weakness to without shame.” Wry grin. “Someone who can, and will, remind you that there is an actual person inside Orgrim’s armor, not just a leader. Forcibly, if needed.” He shakes his head ruefully. “I would have gone mad and declared war on someone, or worked myself into a bitter, crippled man years ago if not for Ryxl.” Eyebrow raises. “Nor would I have won your mother, I’m sure.”

Blush, drop eyes. It’s still weird seeing my father act like a love-struck teenager with the mother I’ve never known.

One big finger traces my jaw lightly. “When I first held you, the child of my flesh and blood, I felt the weight of a responsibility greater than what I bear for the entire Horde. Here was a child that I created, whose life would forever be shaped by my actions. I knew your path would not be easy if you were to be my heir and follow in my footsteps – I was weaned and raised on war, and you were born from peace – and I wanted you to have someone who would be able to follow anywhere you led. Someone I could trust with your life.”

Look up in surprise. “Don’t you mean, ‘someone you could trust with your life’?”

Amused grin. “No.”

Duck head, blush again.

“It was not an easy decision, asking Ryxl to bear a child to be your Champion. Asking her to use the dagger that had been used on her, to create a child bound by the same magics that bound her. I wasn’t sure if it was true wisdom, or just a father’s protective fear making it seem like a good idea. So, I refused to command her, just explained my thoughts and asked her, friend to friend, what she thought. Watching her fight the shackles, not wanting to agree to do it, was horrible enough. Watching her embrace them as the only way she could bear to agree was worse. I didn’t want to force her to do it, didn’t want to invoke Champion Ironheart – but she said I was right, that you should have a Champion, and used her shackles to overcome her reluctance.” He sighs, looking miserable at the memory. “I have never felt like such scum, watching my closest friend debase herself because of me. Knowing what she went through…it was one of the bravest things I have ever seen, and I regretted inflicting that on her every day between when she agreed, and when I saw her curled in her mate’s arms at long last. I never like invoking her Champion mode, but that…that was worse than anything she’s ever done in my service.”

“But why-“ Pause to find words that are not an accusation. “Why is she your Champion to begin with?”

Oooh, he looks angry. Thankfully, it’s not at me.

“I did not make her.” The words growled out like two stones ground together, one hand gripping the haft of the Doomhammer reflexively. “Rend Blackhand had one of his warlocks breed with her mother, against her will, using their foul magics to create a child that would have the best traits of both parents and be utterly loyal to the Warchief. To her honor, Kalika Ironheart had the strength to flee, and raised Ryxl far away from other orcs. She taught her daughter that Doomhammer was the true Warchief and Blackhand the false, and when my orcs finally brought Ryxl to Orgrimmar, she became my champion instead of Rend’s.” He shakes his head sadly, hand falling off the Doomhammer. “It took us years to realize what had occurred, of course, and for a while it shook Ryxl’s faith in herself. I tried to get her to lay down Champion Ironheart, but there were too many ways she could use her shackles to benefit the Horde, and she took it upon herself to do so….so I gave up. I tried one last time to free her after Daran’s birth, but she refused, saying that while I was Warchief I would need a Champion, and she would not abandon her Warchief or her friend.”

Tears prick my eyes again.

“You need Daran,” he says, voice a gentle rumble again. “And he needs you. Be his friend. Accept his Oath. When you have a child of your own, tell him or her what I have told you today. And some day, when you pass the Doomhammer on to your heir, Daran will let his shackles fall – just as his mother will when I pass it on to you.” He brushes my hair and cheek lightly and smiles at my nod. “You make me proud, my daughter. I love you.”