Music: Hope composed by Brunuhville

https://youtu.be/h3RV8Y-Rf3E

The journey for revenge had taken so much longer than Tiene had anticipated, but finally, she was here. Home. Her beloved Quel'thalas.

Standing now at the very place she wanted to be, her heart trembled nervously. 

Imprisoned for ten long years, and fighting for another two after that, she could not help but fear Camnath had grown weary of waiting. The thought that his spirit was no longer lingering in the meadows unsettled and terrified her. 

Unable to cry since becoming a demon hunter, it did not stop the back of her throat from burning fiercely from the unshed tears.

As part of Illidan's army, Tiene had done what she had needed to do. Justice now served - her true love was avenged. The source which had stripped her of her family and husband was finally eliminated. Azeroth was now a safer place. 

For how long, she didn't know. Illidan had mentioned another pending foe - The Void. But for Tiene, her work was done.

Now it was time to join her loved ones.

Not a day had passed, even when entrapped within the felblood, that sweet visions of Camnath did not cross her mind. As always, he had kept her focused.

When finally the Illidari were released by Maiev Shadowsong, the very one who had imprisoned them, Tiene's final battle had begun. Now it was over.

Standing in the meadow, surrounded by her beloved Quel'thalas, she started to reminisce when she spied a lynx snoozing under a nearby tree, content, its belly full. 

 It evoked memories of her youth. She'd spent long hours watching and idolising the felines - their fluidity and gracefulness, and their precision during the hunt. 

Her eyes panned over the spires of Silvermoon; her home, a long time ago, it seemed. Many a memory lingered there, too. She wasn't particularly liked by some of the other youngsters as a kid, but looking back, that was trivial, and it didn't ruin her childhood per se.

Her family were her world: her mother, whom she sadly had little memory of but who had an impressive alter ego, one which Tiene eventually emulated; her father, a talented leatherworker and armourer (and also, legendary rogue), Duthan; her handsome Farstrider brother; and Inaris, the amorous warlock. And finally, but by no means least, her brother Lor'themar, the only survivor of her close-knit family.

She smirked as her early training with the Students of Shadow came to mind. Inevitably, her thoughts drifted to Camnath and his initial awkwardness around her. 

Her years at the Crimson Blades; Sauren at the top of the tree - she smirked. No doubt that would please him, she thought. But, in truth, she didn't place him on a pedestal; it was simply the fact he had been responsible for making her the rogue she ended up being. And perhaps he made her the woman she became too. 

She would never forget those who became close, invaluable friends; Brett, Lexie, Louvel, Fyn, Thil'las and Emmek. There were others too, but they were the hub of her friends. True friends.

A breeze played with her hair, and again, her thoughts drifted to her beloved. 

Their separation, orchestrated by Sauren, never dampened Tiene's feelings for Camnath. If anything, it perhaps strengthened the love she felt for him, even though she'd believed he'd forgotten her. 

And Belore did work in mysterious ways, as finally they were reunited, albeit under tragic circumstances.

Tiene tried not to think of how short a time they had together, but it could not be avoided, for here she was, hanging on to his dying words, a promise yet to be fulfilled.

Another soft breeze stirred, caressing her cheeks, and for a moment she thought she heard a voice whisper over the meadow. "Forever..."

Her spectral sight scanned the grasses and trees, searching for a sign. Was Camnath here? Was he still waiting? 

Nothing showed for her, and with a trembling sigh, she looked at the vial in her hand.

The apothecary promised it would be quick with very little pain. She chuckled. She knew that would not be the case. She expected pain, but she would welcome it, for it would be her last.

With one final look towards the Sunfury Spire and a silent, heartfelt farewell to her brother Lor'themar, she popped the cork of the small bottle and drank its contents. The tiny glass container then slipped from her fingers.

In her other hand, she held the lock of Camnath's hair. Her thumb stroked the ebony strands she'd lovingly plaited. A memento, cherished. She lifted it to her lips. "Please find me, my love," she whispered. "I'm ready to join you."

A dull ache spread from her belly up, the first signs of the poison doing its work.

The breeze stirred again, sweeping past her, playing with her hair. It rustled through the flora and the trees before finally washing over a sizeable flowering shrub to her left.

Butterflies rose from the shrub in their thousands. Her breath hitched as they came toward her, circled once, then flew toward the spires of Silvermoon, then back out over the meadow. Was this the sign? An echo of when she last stood there saying farewell to her husband?

Inner fire shot through her. Another flare, and another. It now felt like she was being ripped apart from the inside out. The poison was acting quickly, becoming more painful by the second. 

It made her stagger and her body spasm. Pitiful moans escaped her dry lips. 

Clutching her stomach, she desperately scanned the meadow for the kaleidoscope of tiny wings, but they were now nowhere to be seen.

The pain sliced through her.

"Camnath!" she breathed. "Find me. Please!" Her bottom lip quivered -  maybe she was going to the Nether alone, after all.

Music: Reverie – composed by BrunuhVille 

https://youtu.be/wnjB7GvO-Q4

Her legs gave way, and she fell to the ground, cushioned by the soft, vibrant grass. Pins and needles ran rampant through her limbs before giving way to numbness. Her wings spasmed, stirring the small seedlings where she lay, and her breathing started to falter.

An image formed in her mind:-

A young girl hunkered down, watching a lynx stalking a young deer. She waited patiently, anticipating the moment the cat would make its move. A bolt of fire shot past her head, and the deer collapsed.

The girl spun round, and behind her stood a handsome warlock, smiling, teasing her. It was her brother. The girl stomped past him, furious, as the warlock laughed gently.

Suddenly, the girl was being swirled around by another young man. This one had fair hair and a smile that melted many a heart. He was the girl's eldest brother, a Ranger. Beside him stood his friend, and, although not blood kin, he was also a brother.

The two Rangers stood looking at a young boy standing beside the girl. They were assessing the ebony-haired elf who trained with her at the Students of Shadow. He was the boy with the beautiful mouth who was repeatedly interrupted as he tried to talk to her.

Clouds swept over the image, and Tiene found herself back in the present. She could feel the life draining from her body. The pain, although acute, was strangely sublime. It was as if all her burdens were being lifted from her shoulders. 

Her spectral vision was starting to fail now, and she feared the worst - Camnath was no longer waiting. 

Then movement from the right commanded her attention.

And memories unfolded once more:-

The girl was in her father's workshop, trying on exquisite armour he had made especially for her. He was a master craftsman, and a lot of love went into making the girl's armour. He hugged her for the longest time.

Next, she saw the girl at a wedding. She attended the event with her father and brothers, along with the ebony-haired boy. The girl was so happy. How handsome the boy was, and so charming. He was about to kiss her as they stood on the beach. Oh, he was angry when they were interrupted.

A stab of pain gripped her again, causing a mist to cover her memories briefly. After a moment, the pain eased a little, and the visions returned:-

It was years later, and the girl was no longer a youngling or naïve; she was preparing for her wedding. Many people attended the celebration. The ebony-haired elf was waiting at the altar for her. He was so dashing, and his eyes were full of love. When announced as man and wife, butterflies rose from a garland around their shoulders.

The image was swallowed as crippling pain sliced through Tiene once more. She cried out, woeful, but her voice was weak, barely a whisper.

She tried to focus on the movement she saw moments before.

The kaleidoscope had returned, moving gracefully towards her. And within the sea of colour, another shape... 

Tiene smiled, the effort almost too much. But nearing her, a figure walked with a slow, steady stride and long ebony hair rippling behind them.

Tiene's heart slowed to a whimper, its rhythm melting into the air.

Bright green wisps snaked and twirled from her body, rising on the currents, and meeting the kaleidoscope. The butterflies fluttered around her in their thousands, like a rippling, multi-coloured voile, absorbing the ghostly tendrils and drawing them from her.

Tiene's vision, failing rapidly now, just caught sight of a hand reaching through the mass of tiny wings. 

The butterflies parted, dancing, rising on high. 

And the face she loved so profoundly came toward her, his beautiful mouth smiling. "Tiene," he whispered. "My love. I'm here."

The sigh of a hundred distant voices left Tiene's lips for the last time.

The kaleidoscope rose from her still form and took flight over the meadow. The body left behind was no longer a demon hunter.

The demonic wings, tattoos, horns and eyeless sockets were no more. She was once again the golden-haired Sin'dorei, Tiene Firefury. 

Illidan had absorbed the demon, allowing her purest form to join her husband in the Twisting Nether. As she was, before becoming part of his Illidari.

Kneeling beside her, the spirit of Camnath Sunspear gently stroked Tiene's hair. He cradled her spirit within his arms. "Wake now, sweet lady. The wait is over. Our future begins. Welcome home, my darling Tiene."

Tiene's lips parted in a soft smile, the sound of his voice pulling her up from the ether. 

Her eyes opened to see Camnath smiling down at her, his ebony hair floating loosely over his shoulders.

She reached out and touched his face; he was beautiful, with so much love in his eyes. His mouth covered hers in the softest of kisses.

Tiene's emerald eyes, once more bright, shed tears for the first time in twelve years. But these were tears of unbounded joy. No more sorrow. No more emptiness. Now, she was complete.

Finally, Tiene Firefury was all she could be.

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