#Truedelle Rycroft

[brightbell]

DWC May Day 7 - Humility/Pride

“It was power I sought… but not to conquer or rule. It was a means to an end, to save Azeroth from an unstoppable foe.” – Illidan Stormrage

 There was nothing like losing one of the most important people in your life to humble you.

The letter was sent as fast as it could be to Rowena and Roxxanna, from their older sister, Phoebe, that still lived with their aging father. It was marked ‘urgent’ and highly suggested the twins make haste to their father’s home, as he was fading quickly. As soon as they got the letter, the girls threw together a bag, saddled their horses, and prepared for the ride north, where their sister and father resided in the Red Ridge Mountains.

Somehow, they made it in time. All three girls surrounded Earl’s bed, Rowena and Roxxanna clutching his hands as he told him how proud he was of them, and how much he loved them, one last time, before he went to join their mother in the afterlife. Roxxanna prayed that Earl was able to join Lillian, wherever she might be.

Rowena prepared their father’s body for burial, and together, with his body in a casket in the back of a wagon, the three girls set off to bury him beside their mother in Gilneas. That trip took a little longer with the wagon, but they made it, and were able to hire a few young men to dig the grave before they had a small, grave-side ceremony, with their cousin Truedelle in attendance as well.

“Won’t be the same without ‘em next year,” Rowena said through tears. Phoebe draped her arm around her younger sister’s shoulders and hugged her.

“No, it won’t, that’s for sure. But he’s with ma now, and I know that would make him happy. As would seeing us thrive, even without them.”

Rowena nods and wipes at her eyes, holding out her hand to Roxie and True. The other two girls join them, and just hug each other for a long, quiet moment.

“Thank you for being with him, Pheebs. It’s good to know he wasn’t alone,” Roxxanna said to her older sister, who nodded in return. Phoebe knew Roxie wanted to be there, but the distance between Stormwind and Silverpine was great, and that’s where the priestess’ work was. Once Phoebe determined Earl was not going to recover from his illness, even with the finest doctors treating him, she convinced him to move closer to the big city where his other two girls lived.

It had been the correct decision, Phoebe reminded herself, even if had meant a long, arduous journey, and lots of complaining, on both their parts. But it also meant that Nena and Roxie could visit more often, and stay longer when they did.

The girls left the cemetery near dark and headed for an inn to settle in for the night. They pooled their gold together and got a large room all four of them could share, and spent quite a few hours reminiscing.  Finally, sleep took them.

“I shall look into getting a headstone for da, and a new one of ma, when we return to the city,” Roxxanna announced at breakfast the next morning. Phoebe nodded, but Rowena was quiet, staring down into her morning tea.

“Nena? Are you well?” Roxie asked her twin. Rowena just shrug, but finally nodded.

“I just can’t believe they’re both gone, aye?” The other three girls nodded in agreement.

“But they’re together now,” Roxie said, reaching across the table to grip Rowena’s hand.

“Aye, and that’s a comfort, sure enough. We should get on the road, tis a long way back to Stormwind still.”

@daily-writing-challenge​