Chapter 12: Mother
(Chapter 12 Mother)
It was early morning, and Tempest was in a carriage with his father, heading towards the Proudmoore mansion. The silence between them was heavy, broken only by the rhythmic clatter of the wheels on the cobblestone road. His father was preoccupied, smoking a cigarette and reading a newspaper, his attention entirely absorbed. Tempest gazed out the window, lost in his own thoughts, the soft light of dawn casting a golden hue on the passing scenery of Stormwind.
"So, what do you think of the Hydro Archon, my son?"
Mengsk finally broke the silence as he asked Tempest, not even sparing a glance at him.
"Her eyes... Were beautiful."
Tempest simply answered, refusing to elaborate further.
"Is that all? Hmph, I didn't expect anything from you anyway. But remember, my son, Focalors was the reason why the Proudmoores lost their blessing from Ra. We were the true protectors of Fontaine, not the Marachaussee Hunters, not the Oceanids, but us. The Proudmoores were the true guardians of Fontaine. It was thanks to her that we lost our power, our influence, and our honor. Remember it well Tempest."
Mengsk took a drag from his cigarette and blew it, he then continued.
"But fret not, my son. One day, the Proudmoores will rise from the ashes to reclaim their honor and rightful place. I assure you, everything I do is to secure our family's future for generations to come. Our legacy will be restored, and we will once again stand as the true protectors of Fontaine."
Mengsk finally finished what he was saying.
"Right."
'What a cunning deceiver my Father is... Everything you've done was simply for your own selfish gain, not for your family...'
Tempest thought to himself.
Once again, silence engulfed the carriage, with the only sound being the rhythmic clatter of the wheels on the rocky terrain. Eventually, the carriage arrived at the gates of the Proudmoore mansion, and the maids and butlers were lined up at the entrance.
"Welcome home! Your Grace and Young Master!"
They said in unison, bowing their heads. The carriage door was opened by Pierre, and Mengsk was the first to step out, followed closely by Tempest.
Mengsk didn't even acknowledge the gesture, immediately heading inside the mansion with Pierre following close behind. The maids and butlers then scattered, returning to their duties.
"Welcome home, Young Master."
Melissa his personal maid said.
"I'm home, Melissa."
"I'll take care of your belongings, Young Master, please take a rest if you feel tired from the journey."
Tempest nodded in response to her.
"Brother!"
The voice of his sister called to him.
"Penance, Teacher."
Penance approached Tempest along with Constantine.
"Welcome home, Young Master."
Constantine spoke to him, and Tempest nodded in response.
"Did you get it, Brother?"
"Mhm, here."
Tempest gave her the paper bag that had the book Penance was looking for.
"Thank you, Brother, I'll read it tonight. Oh, right, Mother wishes to see you."
Penance said while taking the paper bag from him and checking inside of it.
"Mother?"
"Mhm, she's in her room."
"Very well. I'll see you two later then."
Tempest walked past Penance to walk towards Constantine.
"Find the knight named Rohan from the Golden Hand. He has agreed to join us, and I want you to inspect the sword I gave him. We'll speak later."
Tempest said only he and Constantine could hear. Constantine simply nodded in response, Tempest then entered the mansion to find his Mother.
"Mother..."
Tempest muttered to himself under his breath as he walked through the long, ornate halls of the mansion, lost in thought.
"Will you support me?"
After a short while of walking Tempest found himself on the doorstep of his Mother's room, he took a deep breath to compose himself and finally knocked at the door.
"Come in, Tempest."
Tempest heard his mother's voice from behind the door, and with her permission, he gently opened it and stepped inside.
"Mother, you called for me?"
He said to the person sitting in a wheelchair, gazing out the window, his Mother. Merlyn Proudmoore the Duchess of House Proudmoore.
Though she had not married Mengsk out of love and had done so solely for diplomatic purposes, she never once regretted giving birth to Tempest and Penance. Her love for them surpassed any political alliance or duty she had entered into through marriage. Unlike Mengsk, she provided her children with unconditional love and companionship. She was the reason Tempest never fully lost his emotions. It was thanks to her that Tempest did not become like his Father.
But she had lost the use of her legs when she protected Tempest... When Mengsk wanted to punish Tempest for accidentally knocking food off the table when he was young, his Mother shielded him from his Father's wrath. Mengsk slapped her hard across the cheek, causing her to fall and hit the back of her neck on the edge of the table.
At that moment, his Mother lost the use of her legs permanently due to the injury that damaged her spine. She rarely left her room after that, and whenever she caught sight of Mengsk, fear gripped her heart. She had married a monster, and the realization haunted her every day.
That was one of the moments when the small fire in Tempest's soul grew bigger and stronger, fueling his hatred for his Father even more.
"Welcome home, my dear."
Merlyn smiled at Tempest and opened her arms signaling for a hug.
Tempest approached her and knelt down to her height then hugged her.
"I'm home, Mother."
"Mhm... How was the court, Tempest?"
His Mother let go of the hug and looked at him, the smile on her face still present.
"It was beautiful, Mother, and I made some new friends. The Melusine are wonderful people, they don't judge me because of our family's reputation."
Tempest smiled also, Merlyn put her hand on Tempest's cheek.
"I'm proud of you, my dear, did you meet her? Did you meet Lady Furina, my dear?"
"Mhm, her eyes were beautiful, Mother. I don't understand why my predecessors hated her. She seems like a true Archon to me. She loves her people, and the people love her."
Tempest said, her Mother returned her hand and smiled.
"Yes, she is a very hard-working Archon, and I've seen it myself, my dear. I am very pleased that the first time you met her, you recognized her as an Archon, unlike your predecessors. I'm very proud of you, Tempest."
"Thank you, Mother."
Tempest stood up from the floor and said.
"Shall we go for a stroll in the garden, Mother?"
"I would love to, my dear."
Tempest got behind her wheelchair and started to gently push it.
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In the garden, Tempest was pushing the wheelchair of her Mother gently allowing her to admire the beautiful flowers in the garden.
"Looks like the Rainbow Roses are now blooming beautifully this season."
His mother said softly as Tempest gazed at the flowers, indeed, they were beautiful. He paused in pushing the wheelchair, reaching out to pluck one of the roses from the garden. He then put it in her Mother's hair.
"Do I look beautiful, dear?"
"As radiant as the sun, Mother."
His mother chuckled softly at his answer and signaled for Tempest to grab another one. He smiled and carefully picked another rose from the garden.
"Here you are, Mother."
His Mother accepted it with a smile.
"Come closer."
Tempest did what she said and knelt down, her Mother then put the flower on his golden hair.
"Now we are the same. my little boy is so handsome."
Her Mother chuckled softly as she spoke.
"I'm sixteen, Mother."
Tempest smiled, savoring the precious bonding moment he was sharing with his mother.
"You're still a little boy to me, Tempest."
His Mother spoke softly, and Tempest rose from the floor, resuming his task of pushing her wheelchair once more.
"Shall we take a break?"
Tempest said to her.
"Sure, I would love some tea and some sweets."
Tempest nodded.
"Gardener, please call my maid, Melissa. To the gardens with a tray of sweets and earl grey tea, for two please."
Tempest said to the gardener who was tending to the flowers.
"Yes, Young Master."
The gardener bowed in response and left shortly, leaving them both alone in the garden.
Tempest then pushed her Mother's wheelchair gently to the garden pavilion. Tempest sat down on the seat beside her.
"You look like you have something to say to me, dear. What's wrong?"
His Mother spoke with concern on her face. Despite his unreadable and emotionless expression, she could see that something was bothering her son.
"I cannot stand and wait anymore, Mother. He is making deals with the Fatui and he is going to send my sister away in the next six months to Snezhnaya to some old noble..."
Her Mother's face darkened, she could not do anything but comfort her daughter for the inevitable to come. She is too afraid to approach her own husband.
"I want to take him down, Mother."
Tempest looked at her Mother with determination in his eyes, his Mother's eyes widened in response.
"You want to kill him, don't you?"
Merlyn asked him and Tempest nodded in response.
"I know what I have to do, but I don't know if I have the strength to do it. I need your permission to do this Mother."
Tempest confessed his head drooping down on the floor, his Mother touched his cheek, and turned his head towards her.
"Tempest."
"Mother?"
"Do you truly wish to get rid of your Father?"
Her Mother asked him seriously.
"I do, Mother."
"If you truly think what you're doing is right then I support you, my son. I have no doubts about your capabilities for I have seen them myself, but you have to promise me one thing."
His Mother tells him.
"What is it, Mother?"
"If you truly intend to kill him, then please, give him a quick and painless death. Even though he is a monster, there was a time in my life when I loved him. So, promise me this, my son. And once you replace him, never become like him. Lead with the kindness and compassion he lacked, and ensure our family's legacy is one of honor and integrity."
She tells him, Tempest holds her hand that was on his cheek and says.
"I promise Mother, I promise..."
His Mother smiled at him, satisfied with his response.
"I yearn for the day when the Proudmoores would once again serve our nation and the Hydro Archon. I want you to be the first in 500 years of disloyalty to revive our legacy, just as we once did with Egeria,"