Family Portrait - The Denholms

 It is said that long ago, a group of adventurers was tasked with retrieving the most unlikely item from the innermost sanctum of Strathholm: A painting of Azeroth’s twin moons, the White Lady and Blue Child, that held great personal value to Highlord Tirion Fordring whilst he lived. Beknownst to only a few, the moons held a secret, a painting within a painting. Underneath was a memory of another time, a family portrait of Tirion Fordring, his wife Karandra, and his son Taelan in his arms along the beachside of Caer Darrow (before doom visited that keep). As the story goes, it was the Highlord’s fondest memory, for at that moment, with his son in his arms, he felt a bond of love and family that would last with him forever.

What a farce, Lyanna thought, as she stared into her own soulless, blood-red eyes in the painting hung above the mantle.

Why Ilene had decided to commission the thing, she would never understand. She was more prisoner than family, raised by the Imp, their mistress, for the purpose of being a workhorse. An enforcer. A bloody dog. She wasn’t even present for the painting; she was off in the killing fields of wartorn Arathi, hunting for the justice that had been denied her. Perhaps that is why she was seated at the side, a way to portray her presence without her consent. 

“My lady...” A servant, a blindfolded, emaciated ghoul of a woman, approached slowly from behind, head low so as not to anger the Dread Raven.

“What?” She snapped, though her voice didn’t break its cold calm.

“Lord Danneth... immediately request your presence in the courtyard.”

The dark ranger scoffed. “Immediately? Why, we’re already dead...Tell Lord Danneth he can wait. I will make my way there in my own time.”  

As the servant left, bowing perfectly low, Lyanna wondered how they were able to navigate the house without eyes. Maybe that was a question better left unasked. Just like how it was best not to ask what she planned to do with the newest art installation once her jailers’ backs were turned.