02-08-2013, 09:43 AM
Path to Greatness
Garonir of Sunnyglade, a simple courier of the Alliance, sat in a chair in watch of the inside of the Lynch homestead. He could not sleep, though this was getting rather common. He asked himself if it had anything to do with being a simple soldier, but he passed it off as simply being something normal at the wrong time. He had been reading the books from the Lynch's bookshelf and slowly sifting through the tales of old captains of great armies who above all odds won the day.
Often he would do it, but he couldn't resist. He made sure to pronounce words carefully to keep himself from stuttering as he stood up in the middle of the Lynch household in a 'heroic' stance. "I am Commander Garonir of Sunnyglade, Hero of the Alliance and your only hope in this time of great need!" He drew his sword dramatically and stood heroically.
The Missus of the homestead silently padded down the stairs and looked over the railing down at the heroically posed courier. A sly smirk spread across her lips as she held in snickers, and lowered herself from as much sight as possible.
Garonir swung his sword around and danced around, giving silent 'huzzah's and 'hoorah's in military fashion before turning in one final swipe of his blade to stare up at the observing Mrs. Lynch. His left eye twitched a little, and he slowly sheathed his sword, clearing his throat and brushing down his leather armor, trying to make himself look presentable. "U-uh, wh-what did you n-need, ma'am?"
"Just a glass of water, Garonir." She answered with a gentle smile, straightening and finishing her descent down the stairs.
"O-Of course, m-ma'am." His stuttering increased slightly now that he had thoroughly embarrassed himself beyond thought right in front of the sister of his Commander and wife of his Lieutenant Commander. The request was swiftly sated, and the missus lowered herself into a chair near the hearth.
"Come here, Garonir. Sit and enjoy the fire." She smiled and motioned to one of the nearby chairs.
The embarrassed Garonir gulped lightly and stepped forward, lowering himself into the closest seat, staring at the fire. "Y-You aren't g-going to tell a-anyone about... T-that... A-are you?" He asked, looking at the missus as if the leaking of such information would result in him forever being the center of jokes and humor.
"Tell anyone about what?" She said with a widening smirk and a wink of an eye, sipping from the glass of water.
Garonir exhaled out not only air but also all of the tension and general embarrassment, breathing in and then calmly sighing.
"You know, Garonir." Missus Lynch smiled softly, looking over at Garonir. "Rest assured that my brothers were the exact same way when they were your age, maybe a little different with great wars on their way, but generally the same thing." She snickered slightly.
"T-They were, m-ma'am?" His curiosity now peeked, he was eager to find out more.
"Indeed. You should have seen Dalikan. 'Captain of Lordaeron, Slayer of a Thousand Orcs!'" She began to laugh gently at the memories. "And Neveen was 'Marshal of Lordaeron and Savior of Stormwind!'"
Garonir resisted the immediate urge to smirk, hoping to display his audible respect for the first and second name, knowing both of their stories. "W-What do you m-mean by it, m-ma'am?"
"Well, my point is... This is normal, I guess. But most of all, most all men of great ends have humble beginnings." She smiled at Garonir. "Today you are a courier, a corporal. Tomorrow you could be a sergeant, or greater. This is not advice to try hard to succeed; this is advice to never let yourself down no matter what. That's what people want to see in a good soldier. Self-confidence, bravery, the like." She patted his shoulder lightly, and finished the rest of her glass of water. "You'll know this one day, Garonir."
Garonir opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He simply bowed his head and nodded once, grumbling to himself.
Missus Lynch once again patted him on the shoulder, and then used him as support to stand. "Get some sleep, Garonir. And remember, you just need to run a little as a courier on the path of service to sprint even more on the path to greatness." She nodded to him and then went back up the stairs to her room. "Good night, Garonir."
"G-Good night, M-Missus Lynch." Garonir managed out, and then he let out all of his breath, leaning back into the chair and closing his eyes.