Shocked, Initiated, and Not At All Unhappy

Have you ever had a situation where you hoped something good would happen, but when it actually did, it caught you off-guard?

I wasn't really expecting that I would be marched to the Valley of Heroes and called forward when I wandered into the Rose meeting that afternoon!

I'd originally heard about the Order of the Rose when talking with Reias, way back when I'd first arrived in Stormwind. Not too long after that, she managed to inform me of their Hallow's End party, which I was eventually accompanied to by Kerias.

After attending that party, I knew these were people that I wanted to spend time with. Friendship is a two-way street, and I was certainly more than happy to reciprocate by offering any service they would have me do.

Certainly, I realized that an invitation into the Roses was within the realm of possibility — Kerias volunteered to sponsor me, I received an interview, I've been attending meetings regularly, and I even wrote a little about myself in response to an assignment from them. So I've seen the induction process a few times, but I never realized that the process would be over so soon!

So when Mrs. Smallwing looked at me meaningfully, and then ordered everyone to the Valley of Heroes... I nearly choked.

My new tabard.

So I'm in. I'm not even sure what I'm supposed to be feeling, but I'm excited enough that I doubt I'll sleep much tonight. Everything feels surreal, like a waking dream, and hopefully tomorrow I can think a bit more rationally about it.

For now, though, I may as well enjoy my excitement!