Elunara made her way into Zelinnia's house. "How are you feeling, Sweetheart?"
"Achy." Zelinnia sighed and shifted Nara to the other side.
Elunara massaged her shoulders. "Flow still good?"
"The greedy little bugger seems to think so."
"Where's Abigail?"
"Already down for nap."
"Get Nara down and I'll give you a full body massage."
"Oh, that sounds delightful."
Once Zelinnia climbed into bed, naked, Elunara climbed on and began to rub Zelinnia's back.
"Sweetheart, you really need to tell Tulani what's wrong with you..."
Zelinnia sighed. "You know why I don't want to."
"Yes, but you're hurting her. She comes home so upset, and then gets mad at me. She knows there's something wrong, and it's scaring her. Then you won't answer and she gets insulted. You're doing more damage now, than if you'd just freaking tell her."
"Fiiine." Zelinnia grumbled.
Renwa walked in and raised a brow. "I saw you come up here... how come I wasn't invited?"
"That one is entirely up to sugarbutt here."
"But MOMMA!" Gingy stomped her foot.
"I said no. I will not stoop to that nasty creature's level. I do not care what she said." Misty fluffed her hair out. "I'm going to visit your uncle in the keep. That always cheers you up, yes?"
"I guesso." Gingy grumbled.
As they walked through the city, Misty wiped her hair out of her face. She waved a hand to her friend. "Oh, Jennifer, what a lovely gown!"
"You like it? It's called a day dress!" She gave a little twirl. "It's a Tulani exclusive!"
"A..."
"You know; that Draenei tailor that came over with the Goddess?"
"The Goddess?" Misty cleared her throat. "That title is just honorary, you know that, right?"
Jennifer snorted. "Yeah, right. Have you SEEN the way he looks at her?" She shook her head. "Anyway, so Tulani came up with this gorgeous design and used some of the sturdier materials, so it can be worn any time. She says that a girl should feel pretty any time she wants. I also have her designing me a gorgeous ball gown." Jennifer giggled. "It's SO difficult to get on to her list, but I know the secret."
"Secret?"
"Yes!" Jennifer winked. "The quickest way to get a fitting with Tulani; is to go through her family. If you have someone do an art sitting with the Goddess, then Tulani will fit you in her schedule! However, there's a second secret." She wiggled excitedly.
"What is this special secret?" Misty tried to maintain her polite air.
"If you have a soldier in the service, they get preference for a sitting!" Jennifer giggled. "All I had to do... was ask my Larry to head over!" She grabbed Misty's arm and bounced. "In the door and ahead of the game!"
"How... good for you." Misty blinked. "You let that... woman... have your husband? For a DRESS?"
Jennifer laughed. "Oh lord, it was nothing like that." She waved a hand. "She's very clinical. Ina swears by her work."
"You were there?"
"Well, no. But, I trust my husband, and he told me every minute. Even the... embarrassing little side effect." She giggled.
"Side effect?"
"Well, the woman IS good at her professions." Jennifer shrugged by way of dismissal. "My little Ember is currently getting a fitting for her dress. She should be along shortly." She clapped her hands together. "You have a husband in the service! Well, he USED to be, but I'm certain that counts! You could get a sitting, and get your name on the list!"
"I'm not as sold on it as you are." Misty sighed.
Jennifer shrugged. "Suit yourself, but Tulani is the hottest thing these days. Not having a Tulani in your closet is... terrible." She shuddered. "So, where are you headed?"
"Up to the keep, to visit my brother."
"Oh, that's always fun. Excuse me; I need to pick up Ember from her fitting." Jennifer bounced away.
"Momma?" Gingy hazarded.
"DON'T start." Misty growled.
Varian frowned down at the paperwork. "How are the repairs coming along?"
"We're almost back to normal. Just a little bit left from the last Horde attack and we'll be right as rain."
He nodded. "Good." He spotted Misty and Gingy, and was polite enough to not roll his eyes. Promptly, he ignored them both.
"Hello, Uncle Toppa." Gingy said in her politest voice.
"Hello, my girl."
"Sir, we still haven't replaced the five guards killed by the Horde. We should look at replacing them soon." One of his advisors continued.
Toppa stepped forward. "Sir, My cousin Devin just got–"
Varian turned and walked out, followed by several others. Toppa and Misty jogged after Varian, with Gingy on their heels. He made his way down to the training yard and stood on the platform overlooking the troops.
"General Grogek! Could you come here please?"
Grogek halted his work and headed over. Many whispered to each other. Elunara was nowhere to be found. Grogek made his way up on to the platform. "Yes?"
"In the last Horde attack, we lost five good men. I would like some replacements for my guard, can you recommend some?"
"I will give you a comprehensive list."
"Thank you." Varian turned to leave.
"Sir?"
"Yes?"
"Can you please give Elunara their names?"
Varian's eyebrow rose. "Of course?"
"Elunara keeps a memorial list, and it would please her to honor them."
"I was not aware of this." Varian said quietly.
Grogek shrugged. "This is Elunara."
"I will tell her, when next we meet."
Grogek grinned. "Whenever her whims drive her."
Varian laughed. "That much is true."
Grogek turned back to the training yard. "If you have the energy to GOSSIP, you have energy to WORK!" He jumped off of the platform and headed in.
Misty frowned down at Grogek, before following behind Varian.
Zelinnia clung to Elunara's hand. "I don't want to do this."
"You're going to do this, or so help me..."
"I am! I am!" Zelinnia sighed. "I just don't want to."
"Come on, Sweetheart, let's get it over with."
The door opened, and a fashionable woman and a small child stepped out. "Thank you, SO much!" The woman bubbled.
Tulani nodded. "I'll have it finished in a couple of weeks."
The woman giggled. Spotting Elunara, the woman curtsied. "Goddess." She nudged her daughter, and the little girl curtsied as well.
"Oh, please don't." Elunara sighed.
"Be well, our goddess." The woman smiled, before bouncing away.
Tulani eyed Zelinnia. "Yes?"
"Oh, don't be like that." Zelinnia sighed. "Can I come in?"
Tulani gave a jerky shrug and stepped back into her studio.
Zelinnia's fingernails bit into Elunara's hand.
"She's hurt, not mad. Let's go in."
Tulani was fiddling with her designs on her table.
Elunara closed the door behind them. Dislodging her hand from Zelinnia, she smacked the Blood Elf's butt. "Do it, or I will."
"Tulani?" Zelinnia took a shaky step forward.
Tulani sighed and turned around. "What?"
"I'm sorry..."
Tulani closed her eyes and crossed her arms. "For?"
"I..." Zelinnia looked back at Elunara before closing her own eyes. "IhadElunaradestroymyreproductivesystem." She blurted as one word.
Tulani's eyes popped open as her mouth dropped. "You what?"
Zelinnia gasped for air. "The reason my emotional state has been all over the damned place, and the big secret I've been hiding, is that I harassed Elunara until she... broke me."
Tulani sat down heavily in her chair. "Why didn't you tell me?" She squeaked.
"Because I didn't want to bring back your nightmares." Zelinnia frowned. "I know what they did to you, and I didn't want you to cry again..." She sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. "I thought I could hide it from you. I had no idea what it would do to my emotions..." She dropped her hands. "Please forgive me."
Tulani stood up and walked over, wrapping her arms around Zelinnia. "Oh Gods, I was so terrified for you. You've been acting so strange and you wouldn't tell me. I thought you hated me or something. Gods, you little idiot, why couldn't you have just freaking TOLD me?"
"Because I didn't want to hurt you!" Wrapping her arms around Tulani, Zelinnia cried.
"But, that's exactly what you did!"
"I'm so sorry." Zelinnia whimpered.
"If you're just going to cry on each other, I have stuff to be doing." Elunara laughed.
Jordan scrubbed a hand through his hair as he made his way down to Tippy's. He was feeling pretty good about himself. Far as he was concerned, he was the luckiest guy in the whole damned city, possibly the universe. Well, ok, Grogek would always be over him, but eh. He was getting used to that. In fact, he didn't mind being second in command to his brother.