2,568 years ago according to the standard Azerothian calendar…
Nestled in a small cave, two night elves found shelter from the intense blizzard outside. A small fire snapped and crackled as the gathered wood began to break down into embers. Although the howling of the wind outside was fierce, the two kaldorei ignored it. The groaning and cries from agonizing pain suppressed anything and everything else.
A baby was about to enter the world.
Beleron held onto his wife’s hand, hoping to provide her an anchor as she continued her rhythmic breathing and purposeful pushing. His wife Leira, resting on the ground on top of a soft blanket was glistening in sweat, her magnificent long silver white hair matted wet as the trials and labor of childbirth pushed her body to the limits.
“Just a few more pushes, my love,” Beleron encouraged as he observed the progress, “I can already see the head.”
Leira closed her eyes and nodded. With concentrated effort, she pushed again, crying out in pain with her hands clinched tight. She didn’t quit. She took a deep breath and pushed again, willing herself to go against the strain and resistance of her body.
Just when she felt she had no more, Leira gave one more push and all her efforts finally were rewarded. She heard the cry of her child, free from her body. Allowing herself to rest, she let her head fall back onto the blanket. Beleron quickly gathered the child, cutting the cord and wrapped their newborn tightly in another blanket. It would have been much better had they had a midwife, but Beleron thanked Elune under his breath that Leira was quite capable of instructing him before she went into real labor. As a priestess and healer, one of her many duties involved being a midwife.
Satisfied that the baby was clean, safe and warm, Beleron gently handed the baby over to Leira who lovingly cradled it against her bosom. Whatever pain she endured seemed to vanish as she gazed into her newborn’s face.
“It’s a boy,” Beleron whispered with a proud smile as he concentrated on a minor healing spell on his wife.
Leira smiled back, “I can already see he has your eyes.” She pulled back a part of the blanket around the baby’s face and said, “Even his hair is like yours. Dark and blue like the midnight sky.”
“But his face is yours,” Beleron noted, “full of patience, love and wisdom.” He leaned over to his wife and kissed her. As he pulled back, his eyes wandered over to the entrance of the cave. The storm had lifted. Even from their position in the back of the cave, he could see the outside landscape and the sky. Leira’s gaze followed her husband’s eyes and noticed the change as well.
“Look,” she explained, “Elune has blessed us greatly tonight.” She pointed to the sky where Elune, one of the two moons of Azeroth appeared in full behind some passing clouds.
Beleron nodded. They were on their way back to Hyjal but during their trek, they were caught unexpectedly by a winter storm in Winterspring. The baby was not expected to be due for another week yet there they were, cuddling their newborn son.
“So we are agreed on the name?” Beleron asked.
Leira nodded, “Yes.” She looked down upon her son once again, who had fallen asleep. She whispered, “Welcome to the world Kalen, born under the Winter Moon.”
