Aris - Fighting Death, Part I

The woman settled down with her back against the grave, staring at the ill-maintained graveyard with a little frown playing at her lips. Grass grew unevenly and many headstones needed cleaning and repair. Aris' eyes swept up to the city beyond: Gilneas, where she'd been born. It bore the scars of years of battle with the Forsaken. 

"I made it back, mum." She tilted her head back to rest against the rough stone and stared at the cloudy grey skies. "Didn’t bring mah boss, Ardell, this time though—he’s mah boyfriend by the way. I'm hopin' ya don’t mind. He's been pretteh busy leadin' AESOP n' all. It didn’t feel right ta bother him."

She chewed on her lip. "Ah hell, I dun know where ta start. Mah brother Riq's gone. I lost him right in front of me. Just a pile of clothing, but nuthin’ else left. He's nawt dead so don’t think he's with yah either. He's jus’ gone." Aris reached back over her head and patted the stone. "Found him and jus' like that… gone. Sorry, mum."

Her mother had died in her youth. Her pa and brother had never gone into detail, but it seemed that she'd been a strong-willed woman, but cursed with a weak heart. Still, before her mum died, she'd given her one thing.

Aris tugged at the chain around her neck leading under her leather bodice. A locket slid out, and the woman caught it in her other hand, pressing the release on the side with practiced ease. Two pictures were inside. On the right was a beautiful pale-skinned woman with red-hair. The woman’s hand touched a flushed cheek as she smiled brightly. Gnomish inventions had allowed her mother's joyous smile to be captured forever in a fading photo. 

Her gaze lingered for a moment before shifting to the newer photo on the left. A photo of her father on one of their last sailing trips together. His brown hair was peppered with grey. He stared gravely out from behind the ship's wheel, guiding it toward some destination that only he saw. He'd been lost at sea for years and, unlike her Uncle Brogen, she didn't think he'd return.

However, it was her Uncle Brogen's eventual return that drove her to Gilneas despite the danger and battles still occurring. She would talk to her mother, but, afterwards, she'd wait at the docks for a ship that she never expected to return but always hoped for.

A corner of Aris' mouth quirked up, her maudlin mood easing with an old memory. "I remember all the trouble we used ta cause fer Ardell." She giggled and pushed a longer bang out of her face. "Yah were already gone, o' course, but I don’t think I've told ya this 'un. This wus a bit 'fore the first attack on the wall, when pa n' us still sailed freely. We'd jus' gotten back…"

* * *

A much younger Aris bolted down the street, tossing her arms around a familiar neck as she leapt on his back. She wrapped her legs around the man’s waist as he stumbled with an audible grunt and caught himself against the storefront wall. "Ardell!"

"Aris, one of these days I'm going to drop you." Despite his chiding tone, he put his hands under the woman's thighs to support her.

Ardell turned the direction she’d come from, asking her, "Did you leave Riq behind in your excitement?"

"Yup!" The young woman was unrepentant as she laughed lightly by his ear. "He wus bein' slow. I figured he'd catch up." She released his neck with one arm pointing down the cobblestone street to a neatly dressed young man, grinning and waving at them. "See! There he is!"

Chuckling, Ardell's long legs quickly ate the distance between them. "Riqard, it's good to see you, but don't you feel like you lost something?" He grinned and trusted Aris to hold on as he let go long enough to clasp his friend’s hand in greeting.

"Lost? Nah, little Ariseth ain't ever lost. My sister always knows wut she wants." He winked at Ardell. "I don’t think you’re gettin' rid of her."

Aris scrunched her face at Riq. "Ain't no brother of mine if'n ya can't git mah name right."

Riq reached up and ruffled his sister’s auburn hair. “Just because it ain’t the name ya prefer, ain’t meaning that it’s wrong, Aris.”

Ardell chuckled. “I didn’t expect to see either of you yet. It feels like just yesterday that you set sail with your father.” He looked up at the rooftops as he pondered the time.

“A month. Didn’t ya miss meh at all, Ardell?” She patted his shoulder. “Let meh down.”

He complied easily, crouching long enough for her to get her feet under her. “Of course, I missed you both, but things have been busy. I’ve been working with my father.” He straightened and sighed. “You know how that goes. He’s always been strict and exacting. Living up to that requires a lot of work.”

The woman grabbed their hands, “Well, ya can tell us all about it while’n we eat. I’m starvin’!” She smiled broadly at them and tugged the men along with her. “Let’s see… I’m tired of fish, so we’ll go ta that place that the butcher supplies. Then we can get steak that’s fresh n’ all!”

The two men shared a look. Ardell shook his head with a little grin, "Fine, but not too long, Aris, and no drinking. I have to get back to work."

"Yer pa is werkin' ya too hard if'n ya can't even take a break ta eat." Aris declared as they wound through the busy streets. "But I guess that ya can have tea or sumthin'. This time."

Riq freed his hand to lightly smack the back of her head. "You're always bein' demandin', Aris. He's goin' along. Be grateful and say thank ya."

Aris tossed a toothy grin over her shoulder at their friend, "Thank ya, Ardell." She looked back just in time to keep from walking into someone. They stopped and hesitated as they both tried to decide which way to go. After a moment, Aris waved for the young woman to walk between herself and her brother. “Sorry ‘bout that, Lyllia. Jus’ a bit too excited ta get ta food.” Aris grinned. 

Lyllia bowed her head graciously, tossing Riq a blushing look as he stepped aside to make room. Her eyes didn’t move as she answered Aris. “It’s no problem really, Aris. Welcome back.” She smiled at the young man that she still hadn’t been able to pull her gaze from. “And you as well, Riqard. Please stop by the shop when you’re not busy. I’d love to catch up.” With that, the woman hurried between them and down the street.

Aris grinned, “Ya gawt yerself an admirer, Riq.”

He didn’t answer, but smacked her shoulder as he rejoined them in walking down the street.

“Now, where wus we. Ah! I wus thanking Ardell fer joinin’ us!” The young woman grinned, but this time didn’t look fully over her shoulder in order to prevent another collision.

"It's fine, Aris. As you said, I need to eat and a steak does sound rather good." Ardell gave her a reassuring smile.

The auburn-haired woman waved to several as they passed through the market. She called out to one, "Oi, Durren! Tell yer wife I said hullo! I'd do it meself, but we're gonna have sum of yer delicious steak!" 

"I will, Aris! Good to see ya back!" The butcher grinned at her. "Ardell, keep'em out of trouble! Ya hear me!"

The young man in question smiled and waved in return, but commented dryly under his breath, "He's not asking much, is he?" While said plainly, there was a slight edge of sarcasm that peeked through.

Looking over her shoulder again, Aris raised an eyebrow, "Did ya say sumthin'?"

Ardell schooled his expression to one of polite confusion. "Hmm? Oh, no. You must have heard someone else."

Her eyes narrowed briefly before she turned back around and led them into a building. "Erick! Ya gawt a table fer us?" Her smile was in full force as she released Ardell to greet a man carrying a tray. 

She swayed over to the server in a way that Ardell knew too well. Even if there wasn't a seat in the house, Erick would be falling over himself to find them one soon. He leaned over and whispered to Riqard as they waited by the entrance, "She hasn't changed one bit. Knows everyone and does whatever it takes to get what she wants. Any man that falls for her is going to have his hands full."

Riq snorted, "Any man courtin' Ariseth better be knowin' what he's gettin' into to begin with, Ardell. He's going to have to accept her as is 'cause I don't see her changin' anytime soon." He gave a sly look at the other man, "Yah worried someone's goin' to snatch her up?"

"Hardly, Aris would be the one to--" Ardell cut himself off as she turned toward them.

She waved for them to follow her, and hollered across the busy dining room. "We gawt a table upstairs! Even ordered our food!"

Riq grinned and shrugged. "She makes my point better than I do. Ya better hope she remembered to order ya somethin' other than ale." He turned and left, heading after his sister.

Ardell sighed and followed them. They settled in at the recently cleaned table. The still-damp surface made that much obvious. He noted that this table had a view of every major entryway and a most of the dining room. He doubted that was by chance. Aris had always had a good head for her surroundings.

"-dell. Ardell!" Aris waved her hand in front of the young man, tossing a smirk at her brother. "Wake up, Ardell. Ya said yah wus gonna tell about the werk yer pa has ya doin'."

Clearing his throat, Ardell turned back to the siblings. He gave Aris a flat look, calling the young woman out for her blatant attempt to ply him for information. "I don’t recall mentioning that at all. In fact, I do think that you suggested it, but it's nothing interesting really. Not like your sailing adventures." 

Aris leaned back, putting one arm behind the back of her chair as she kicked it up on its back legs. "He’s gawt ya doin' paperwerk, ain't he?"

He nodded. Ardell continued, "It's important to administration though. Any business is run by tracking resources and output. I know he's hired your father a few times as well. I ran across it in the logs."

Riq leaned forward, pausing for a moment as drinks were delivered. He slipped his hands around his ale mug and smirked at Ardell's steaming coffee cup. "He hired our father? Pa never mentioned it. Do ya know what it was for?"

Their dark-haired friend shook his head. He only paused for a moment, but Aris' eyes locked on him with a sudden deeper interest. "Everything is written in shorthand. I'm sure it was just supplies. Your father is one of the few with a writ to leave the city."

"So… ya plannin' ta take over this family business or sumthin'? Sure seems like yer pa wants ya to." Aris plied gently for more information as she sipped her ale.

Ardell picked up his coffee and pondered his response again, "Yes and no. His work is based in Stormwind. He's hoping that I can manage the Gilneas branch."

Aris raised both eyebrows and her eyes flickered to her brother's just as curious look. "Stormwind, huh? I thought we pulled out of that on King Greymane's orders. We ain't a part of the Alliance."

Her brother nodded. "That's what I understood as well. That's why father needs so many permissions for his ship."

The young man blew on his coffee and took a cautious sip before setting it down again. "Businesses and trade are still allowed to cross the border. Now," Ardell smiled at them, "Are you really going to talk politics and paperwork with me all dinner, or are you going to tell me about your latest adventure?"

Aris guffawed. "Ya gawt me there, Ardell. We have a grand 'un this time, too! We saw those dark elves!"

"Night elves, Ariseth. How can ya remember all that ya do and still manage to get that wrong?" Riq nudged her shoulder.

"That's wut I said! Anyway, we sailed down to meet a small trade delegation. Ain't many of them over here, but they have herbs and stuff we ain’t. But we gawt ta spend a few days with 'em!" Aris chattered excitedly.

Riq grinned widely, gesturing to his sister. "Ya should have seen her begging to see how they used the weapons they had. They had these three blades that curved around a central circular grip. I saw it and I still don't know how they didn't lose limbs using them!"

Taking another careful sip of coffee, Ardell smiled over its rim. "Did they let Aris touch one?"

The woman huffed as her brother answered, "Not a chance. They were put off enough by her constant questions. She's lucky pa didn't send her back to the ship."

Aris leaned and looked over the railing. "Food incoming."

Ardell followed her gaze and looked over his shoulder. "Aris, that could be anyone's--" He stopped as the figure carrying three plates headed up the stairs. "There are still other people--" He sighed as the woman turned onto the landing and towards their table. "...or you could be right again."

She winked and smirked. "I'm always right, Ardell-luv."

Riq chortled at his sister’s confidence and didn't stop until after the food was settled.

The three friends dug into their food and spent the rest of the evening catching up on each other’s lives. Their casual banter lasted long after the dinner that Ardell had originally promised.

It was a shame that it would be their last one all together.