Greetings readers! This story is going to be a continuation of my first fic, You Are Mine. If you have not read it you may wish to do so in hopes that this makes a little more sense, though you are completely welcome to read this first and try to follow if you like =)
I will warn you that this story will be somewhat AU as WoTLK has not yet been resolved in game and also due to events that transpired in my first story, you know, minor things like killing off NPC's and destroying whole factions...heh.
As usual, all NPC's, names, places, etc. are from Warcraft and belong to Blizzard, I am not writing this for profit, merely enjoyment.
The rating will be M again in the event of much foul language, goriness and potential naughtiness. You've been warned! This first chapter does contain some disturbing themes, so do not read if that kind of material offends you, please. But enough about that, on with the story. Hope everyone enjoys.
Prologue
"Ooo, that tickles!" She giggled in between squirms.
"Well, that's not very much incentive for me to stop, now is it, love?" Tayvan smiled down at the young woman, his large hands sliding beneath clothing looking for skin.
"Ahh, why not?" Vaedra tried to cover her mouth and slap his hand away simultaneously. "Do you want someone to hear us?"
"Of course not!" The night elf admonished, seizing both slender wrists between his fingers and continuing his unabashed assault. "But you need to practice keeping quiet, don't you?"
"I don't need practice!" She cried, the end of the last word upturning in a squeal.
"Obviously." He chuckled lowly, hands finding their way down the waistband of her pants. "You see, this way if we are discovered I can truthfully declare that we were using the room for training."
The chamber was indeed an exercise facility, targets and dummies lay about the room in disarray, weapons fully lined two of the walls, but all was quiet save for the the soft murmuring of the two rogues shrouded in shadow in the corner.
Vaedra finally submitted, sighing deeply as she gave in to Tayvan's kisses. The night elf had come to Stormwind barely a year before after the end of the Third War, swiftly gaining the notice of the Stormwind Assassins and rising among their ranks for his skill and subtlety with both his blades and words. He had taken note of Vaedra, a young and aspiring Assassin herself, shortly thereafter aiding in her training and becoming much more than that as well.
Still a teenager, Vaedra had quickly become enamored with the charming night elf and despite her desire to focus primarily on her studies and become a higher-ranking rogue she knew now that she had fallen foolishly and recklessly in love with him. But she couldn't remember ever being happier, finally feeling as though she had a place in the world and a sense of belonging.
Tayvan grinned against the girl's mouth as he began to deftly untie the laces of her clothes, amused at the ease in which he had seduced her. Humans were such a young race, often hasty and overeager to live out their short lives to the fullest extent filling them with an overabundance of excitement and arbitrary loyalties in an attempt to make it seem like it was more meaningful. Vaedra was certainly talented and sweet, though terribly lonely and obviously inexperienced in the ways of relationships as was to be expected. But she suited his needs for now, and he suspected soon enough she would be yet another brief memory of the many that had made up his past thousands of years of life.
When Vaedra realized she was being undressed she gasped and pushed the night elf away. "What if we're caught? What if Master Shaw finds out?"
"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me."
A new voice entered the chamber, surprising both of it's existing occupants, heads turning to peer through the darkness at the arrival. Of course they hadn't heard him enter in a building full of rogues...
Mathias Shaw stood in the doorway with his arms across his chest and an eyebrow raised at the two lovers. Vaedra blushed furiously and scrambled to straighten her clothes while Tayvan merely shoved his hands into his pockets and smirked smugly.
The man had dark hair and intense brown eyes and though his slight stature didn't exactly cut an imposing figure any that dare underestimate the newly appointed leader of the Stormwind Assassins could quickly find themselves missing vital appendages. He stood just barely taller than Vaedra's average height, lithe and muscular with finely trimmed facial hair and lips that were often curved into a quirky smile.
Right then though, his mouth was set in a hard line as he observed the pair with a critical eye. Without another word and sighing deeply, Mathias crooked his finger indicating that they should follow.
Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and attempting to smooth the wrinkles from her shirt, Vaedra followed him out keeping her eyes glued to the floor in an effort to hide her embarrassment.
The two rogues trailed Mathias to his office within SI:7. Leadership of the organization had recently been handed over to him by his grandmother, Pathonia Shaw, after years of training by her hand to become one of the very best assassins. The transition had been seamless as he had been so well-prepared, and in the months that followed he had attempted to further perfect the already well-ordered establishment only to find that it was already rather flawless in design.
He settled behind his desk with his hands folded, watching intently as the pair stood before him, Vaedra looking decidedly more uncomfortable then her night elf counterpart.
Mathias cleared his throat and began speaking, "Vaedra, I-"
"I'm sorry, Master Shaw!" She suddenly blurted out with youthful impetuousness, worrying that she was in a great deal of trouble. "I didn't mean for us to be seen... erm, what I mean is we shouldn't have been there in the first place and well I didn't know..."
Mathias held up one hand, smiling a bit to himself as her words came tumbling out. "It's all right Vaedra, calm down. That's not what this is about."
The rogue quickly closed her mouth, pale skin flushed red all over again. Mathias was her mentor but often felt like an older brother to her; him finding them in that situation had been mortifying and something Vaedra couldn't easily forget.
"Your recent work as a Third Finger has been impeccable. Your skills for gathering information and diversionary tactics have improved remarkably and I feel that you are almost ready for the next step." Mathias gave a slight nod in appreciation, a small sign of praise.
"I have one more task for you, however, before you can be promoted to a Second Finger Assassin. Recently several shipments of grain and goods have been ambushed coming out of Westfall, caravans on their way to Stormwind. If it had been an isolated incident we may not have paid much attention, but now that these attacks are occurring more frequently we're worried that perhaps it isn't just a lone band of scoundrels out to make easy coin but perhaps a more organized group striking out for a reason. I need you to find out who they are and track them down, discover who they're working for and what their motives are."
Vaedra tried to put on a serious face to hide her obvious excitement at both the importance of her task and the potential advancement to the next tier of Assassin; she nodded stoically. "Of course, you can count on me."
Mathias gave her a stern look before continuing. "This is strictly an information-gathering mission. You are not to engage them in any way and ensure however possible to keep your presence hidden. Is that understood? Though you may just be observing and looking for clues there is still a high degree of danger involved. The caravans have been left in... poor shape, to say the least." His lips were set in a grim line.
She nodded again, more fervently. "Absolutely. They'll never even know I'm there."
The elder rogue smiled again. "I know, and I trust you, but I'm still going to insist that Tayvan accompany you on this mission. He will see to it that you stay safe."
Vaedra's mouth fell open, protesting indignantly. "But Master Shaw! I know I can do this alone. I need to prove myself effectively in order to move up to the next tier!"
Mathias shook his head; he had known she would argue on this point. "No doubt. But I am taking this precaution nonetheless. Tayvan's presence will not lessen any prestige you will gain if and when you are successful."
"But-"
"No."
Vaedra visibly pouted before she realized how childish she must have looked and covered it up.
Tayvan took the silence as an opportunity to move away from that point of the mission and find out more information.
"Has the Westbrook Garrison been at all successful in stopping any of these attacks? Or finding a pattern?"
"No," Mathias began, pleased for the change of subject. "The frequency and location have been erratic thus far, and they have few men to spare to patrol the roads constantly. It seems whomever has been attacking knows their movements and are able to circumvent them."
Tayvan thought a moment, tapping his chin. "When was the last ambush?"
"Four nights ago."
The night elf nodded, glancing over at Vaedra who stood straight trying to cover her sulking. "I'll take care of her." He promised quietly, earning a dismissive nod from Mathias.
After Tayvan departed, the elder rogue rose and came to put a hand on the girl's shoulder. He had taken Vaedra under his wing at a very early age and though he may have felt over-protective of her his caution for the mission was still well within the acceptable range.
"There will be plenty of solo tasks for you yet to come, have no doubt. You have shown great potential and promise, but for now I suggest you take advantage of your companion's experience and skill while it is available. You can do that for me, can't you?" Mathias flashed her a disarming grin.
Vaedra's resolve to stay annoyed wavered under that look; she returned his smile with a small one of her own.
"Good girl." He began leading her to the door. "Oh, and dear, next time you might want to wait until you get home rather than using the training room..."
Vaedra's smile turned into a look of horror as what he said registered. Ears turning pink and teeth biting into her lower lip, she quickly nodded and fled from the room.
-
"So, where shall we start looking?" Vaedra asked enthusiastically, her previous irritation gone and replaced with alacrity once the two rogues had departed the city and begun their search. She truly was glad to have Tayvan along, his knowledge was invaluable and he would certainly help the time pass more quickly when the seemingly endless waiting began.
"I think..." the night elf began as they traveled the road through Elwynn Forest to the west, "... that we might not have to do any looking at all."
Vaedra's face twisted in confusion. "But aren't we supposed to be finding out who they are? Surely they have a base of operations somewhere..."
"Yes," Tayvan agreed. "But we could spend months searching Westfall trying to find out where that is. Instead I think we may be better off letting them lead us straight there."
She began to understand. "You're saying we should let then attack another caravan and then follow them back to wherever it is they're holed up?"
Tayvan nodded.
Vaedra could definitely see the logic in the plan. "That would eliminate the need to wander Westfall aimlessly and probably keep our scrutiny well-hidden." Her brow furrowed after a moment. "But it would also mean that we would have to stand by as the people carrying the shipment were ambushed."
Tayvan shrugged.
"We can't do that," she argued.
"You were instructed to not interfere directly," he reminded her.
"Yes but..." Vaedra's conscience nagged at her. "...how are we supposed to just sit by and watch as the caravan people get slaughtered by bandits?"
The night elf sighed. Humans could be so naive. "You can't interfere for two reasons, love. Firstly, your esteemed Master Shaw would probably not give you the promotion that you desire so much and likely not trust you on any important missions for a good, long while."
Vaedra grimaced but said nothing.
"And secondly, if you were to charge in the moment the caravan was attacked not only would you be destroying the opportunity for the bandits to lead you back to their base but you would also be tipping them off that they were being closely watched, setting them on edge and possibly into hiding."
She felt helpless. "But I don't-"
"Listen," Tayvan quickly interrupted. "Your choices are to forget that plan and begin searching Westfall painfully and slowly, which would mean that the next shipment is going to be attacked and destroyed anyway, you just won't be there to see it, or to be there when it happens and help yourself out so you can move up to the next level of Assassin. Either way those people are already dead, there's nothing you can do about that, love. But you might as well help yourself and stop them quickly at the same time, preventing more caravans from being ambushed in the future. Right?"
Vaedra nodded after a long while of consideration; everything he said made sense. The attacks were going to continue either way, why should she feel bad if there wasn't anything she could do to stop it?
"Do you think," she said quietly chewing her lower lip, "that Mathias gave me this particular task on purpose? Like a test to see how I would handle it and see which route I would take to solve it?"
Tayvan shrugged again. Mathias was surprisingly far-sighted for a human.
"Did he want to test if I would venture into the morally gray ground and allow those people to die for my own personal gain or take the safe path and keep myself absolved from that responsibility but inevitably go slow likely resulting in more attacks anyway... shit." Vaedra grumbled, a string of curses under her breath.
"Such a mouth!" Tayvan playfully reprimanded, pulling her into his embrace for a kiss, effectively shushing her.
After a moment, he withdrew and looked at her meaningfully. "Love, the man may be interested in how you solve this problem yes, but I hardly think he would put you in a situation with no correct outcome. He doesn't wish you to fail, he loves you too much."
Vaedra sighed and continued walking, and the night elf almost felt bad for her. She would learn. Either that or she wouldn't and never realize what it was she had.
"You're right." She admitted after they'd traveled in silence a while, slipping her hand into his. He squeezed her fingers lightly.
She still had a great deal to learn.
-
Two nights passed without incident and on the third Vaedra realized how much patience was really necessary for what they were doing.
"It's been a week since the last ambush," she reiterated for the fourth time, growing exacerbated at the inactivity. They had been trailing the latest set of wagons for several hours and though the caravan had left early so as not to get caught traveling in darkness, a broken wheel had set their time back significantly and had the drivers beginning to look rather nervous.
"Patience." Tayvan said automatically, the same response he had given her all four times. This time though he added, "But if I were a bandit, I certainly wouldn't be able to pass up such a temptingly vulnerable target."
The pair were both dressed in black leather armor, not especially flashy and quite thin, but it would protect them from shallow wounds and aid in their stealth efforts. Tayvan also had a cloth mask covering the lower portion of his face and had his silvery-white hair pulled back away from his face.
"If you were a bandit?" Vaedra teased suddenly, grinning at the night elf. "That mask does make you look rather dangerous."
The night elf struck a heroic pose, making Vaedra giggle into her hand when a cry sounded from the caravan below. The rogues peered over the top of the hill just off the side of the road watching as a group of men descended upon the wagons filled with supplies and grain. The shipment had nearly made it to the bridge that crossed over from Westfall into Elwynn Forest at Forest's Edge when the bandits seemed to materialize out of nowhere.
Several of them wielded wooden crossbows while others sported short swords and daggers but they all appeared to wear a distinctive red bandanna that covered their noses and mouths. Vaedra watched in horror as the drivers were overwhelmed, one brave young man had even come equipped with his own blade which he ineptly brandished when a crossbow had been aimed at his chest.
She tried to rise from her position on the hill and sneak down to the caravan's aid when Tayvan's heavy hand forced her back down onto her stomach.
"No!" He hissed in her ear. "Don't be foolish."
Vaedra struggled uselessly for a moment as she watched another man try to flee and get shot in the back with a heavy bolt. She turned her face away into Tayvan's shoulder.
"I won't watch then."
Grabbing the back of her head none too gently he forced her neck around and whispered harshly, "Yes, you will. You need to."
And she did.
The sharp clicking of the crossbows rang out twice more followed by an agonized groan and the quick slash of metal indicating that the remainder of the drivers had been dealt with. The bodies were dragged into the bushes and the bandits seized the wagons and began guiding the horses back around and down the southwestern road.
Tayvan released his grip and rose from the hill, indicating that it was time to move; Vaedra followed.
Staying a safe distance away, they were only able to pick up bits and pieces of conversation and Vaedra thought she heard something about how it had been far too easy with another responding that it was only right seeing as how they were only reclaiming what was owed to them.
The band of thieves weren't stupid and traveled slowly down the road while keeping their voices low despite the successful haul. Finally they stopped at a farm with a shoddy two-story home and a large silo next to the field. They pulled the wagons up next to the house and quickly began to unload.
The rogues crept up to the fence surrounding the field, keeping their heads low and watching the bandits unpack the supplies. Tayvan whispered for Vaedra to stay put for the moment and began to sneak over to the silo, crouching behind a crate so he could get a closer look.
Vaedra's breath caught in her throat, stopping herself from calling out a warning as she watched a man emerge from around the silo, fastening his pants and hoisting his crossbow when he spotted the night elf.
"You there, don't move." He slurred heavily, stepping closer slowly to press the point into Tayvan's back.
The night elf cursed and slowly lifted his hands, nonthreatening, hoping that Vaedra would see his predicament.
And indeed she did, pulling her swords free she moved towards the man with the red bandanna when a twig snapped beneath her foot and he turned towards her, startled.
Tayvan seized the opportunity to turn and grab the man clumsily, loosing his footing and sending both of them crashing into the crate behind them.
A shout came from the house once the commotion began and Vaedra knew they were in trouble. She disappeared around the back of the silo.
The human man lay on his back on top of Tayvan, his movements slow and awkward from whatever alcohol he had imbibed, struggling against the night elf's superior grapple. Working his dagger free from his belt, Tayvan abandoned all subtlety and began making desperate, shallow stabs into the man's side and chest using his longer arms to his advantage.
The bandit howled and flailed, sending the man that had left the house to investigate running ahead with his sword drawn. As he came around the silo, however, Vaedra appeared behind him, blades piercing through his back, sending him to the ground.
Tayvan shoved the dying man off and rose, ready to flee, but it was too late. Six more men had emerged from the house and had the two rogues surrounded around the curve of the silo, crossbows poised to shoot.
"Drop your weapons!" One particularly ugly bandit snarled and the pair had little choice but to obey.
"It's going to be all right." Tayvan whispered before he was clubbed over the head and knocked out cold.
Vaedra cried out as she was pushed onto the ground, an empty grain sack covering her head. The last thing she heard was a grizzled voice ordering them to be separated and brought inside before everything went dark.
-
Vaedra awoke to an awful stench. She was lying on a hard, dirty floor and the throbbing in her head only intensified as she cracked one eye open and she saw the light seeping in through the filmy window that left a square of brightness on the musty wood. When she tried to rise she found her hands bound behind her back and her feet tied with rope.
Gingerly turning her head she discovered the source of the smell, an old man lay dead, apparently for some time, with his head bashed in and blood long dried matting his hair and clothes. A filthy rat stood on the man's chest nibbling at his torn lip and Vaedra had to look away and swallow the bile in her throat.
Her mission came rushing back to her, and she realized that the bandits had apparently taken over one of the farms in Westfall, killing the residents and using it as their own hideout. But they had been captured... and where was Tayvan?
All was quiet in the house for many hours until she heard the stirrings of daily activity. And it wasn't long after that that Vaedra began to hear agonized groans that quickly became screams. She trembled violently; she knew it was Tayvan.
The door to the room she was in crashed open some time later; the ugly man from the night before entered with a hand covering his nose.
"Hey! Someone come get this body out of here, looks like the little, pretty one is awake." He yelled behind him, turning to smile at her lewdly.
Vaedra's wrists twisted against her bonds futilely.
Two men entered and dragged the body away, the rat scurrying off to crawl into a small hole in the floor.
The ugly man was covered in hair and dirt and smelt of smoke and cheap liquor; Vaedra nearly gagged as he bent over her and began to stroke her neck.
"Hello, pretty." His eyes raked over her body. "Your friend downstairs has been rather uncooperative so far. He refuses to tell us who you two work for. Can you believe it? Even when we threatened to do horrible, nasty thing to you he declares that he doesn't care, that we can do whatever we like. He's a cold fellow, eh?"
Vaedra spat in his face.
He laughed as he wiped the saliva away. "That's what I thought you might say. But it's all right. We've got plenty of time."
When the ugly bandit tried to shove his tongue into her mouth and she attempted to bite down though, it earned the rogue a black eye and a split lip.
Muttering angrily, the man rolled Vaedra onto her back and roughly pulled her pants down around her tied ankles. "I wasn't going to be dainty with you anyway, pretty, but it's a shame that I have to rough you up so soon."
Vaedra tried to wriggle away unsuccessfully as the man undid his own pants and leered down at her. There was no escape.
She moaned softly as he raped her. He slapped her hard across the face suddenly, making her cry out. "Why don't you scream for me, pretty? That way your friend downstairs will know exactly what I'm doing to you. We'll see how cold he really is once he finds out we've been fucking his plaything."
Vaedra knew she cried from the wetness on her cheeks though she didn't remember later actually doing it. After a minute or so the man above her grunted and shuddered as he finished, grabbing her breasts and squeezing painfully.
He refastened his pants and began to leave when the two men from before appeared in the doorway, silently asking permission. The ugly man tossed an amused glance over his shoulder at the half-naked girl before he said, "Go ahead, boys. Unless of course, pretty here has something she'd like to tell us?"
Vaedra whimpered in response. Even if she did tell them anything they'd likely still use her however they wished.
The man shrugged after a moment, not surprised. "All right then. An extra share to whoever can make her beg for mercy first." And he left.
For Vaedra, the night seemed to last an eternity.
But many more followed and her only comfort from day to day were Tayvan's tortured cries because at least then she knew that he was still alive.
The evening they stopped though, she feared the worst. She had heard that the bandits were going out, probably to raid another caravan, maybe they didn't want the trouble of keeping the two rogues alive anymore...
She lay there helpless and battered, having barely moved after the first incident, becoming catatonic and detached after being violated repeatedly. She knew she would probably die here, the bandits would never let her leave and reveal their hideout to anyone... she wasn't even quite sure how she even felt about that.
The girl stared blankly at the wall as the door slowly creaked open, trying to control her trembling when a soft voice whispered.
"Vaedra?"
Tayvan knelt over her, his eyes wide. With her torn clothing it was obvious what had been done to her.
"Tayvan?" She cried, looking up to see him there. His face was bruised horribly, almost beyond recognition; he held a finger to his lips to quiet her.
The night elf reached over and began to tug at the ropes binding her wrists, but his hands were shaking badly.
"How did you escape?" She stuttered, unable to heed his warning.
"Not now!" He hissed, looking over his shoulder nervously.
A door slammed from somewhere on the first floor, followed by a yell, "The night elf, he's escaped!"
Tayvan tried again to untie the ropes, but he couldn't get the secure knot undone.
Vaedra looked up at him pleadingly, but in his shining, white eyes she saw something she'd never witnessed in him before. Fear. He was afraid at being caught and at what they would do to him if they did.
Tayvan stood up and took a step back away from the girl on the floor.
"Tayvan?" Vaedra whimpered, confused.
"I'm... I'm sorry." He stammered, inching backwards. He didn't want to leave her there, but he didn't want to die more. He could carry her, but that would probably only slow him down and likely get them both caught. He hadn't survived for thousands of years by being reckless... No, better that at least one of them could escape.
"I'm sorry, Vaedra." The night elf whispered again, fleeing from the room.
She blinked after him, disbelieving that he had abandoned her there.
"But...but..." she quivered to no one, tears spilling down her cheeks once again.
"Check the girl's room!" One of the bandits cried. Two sets of feet thundered up the stairs, the men glancing into her room and seeing that she still remained and that the night elf was nowhere in sight; they quickly departed.
She had been heartbroken and left to die all in one instant. No, she couldn't die here. She had to persist. That's what he did, isn't it? Tayvan served no one but himself, it was apparent. So she had only herself to rely on when situations became difficult? So be it. If he had found a way to escape than so could she.
In their haste, the thieves had left the door to the room open and unlocked. She glanced around, finally feeling like she had reason to shake free from the stupor that had gripped her and examine her environment. The house was old and shoddily made, perhaps she could find a loose nail to use to slice the rope apart...
Vaedra wiggled over to the hole that the rat had retreated through that first day, finding exposed hardware and jagged splinters from the plank that had been broken probably years ago. From outside she could hear shouts as the remaining bandits began searching for the escapee; she didn't have much time.
Twisting around and sliding her wrists over to the nail she began trying to saw through the rope, the sharp corners tearing and slicing into her skin. She felt wetness running down her fingers, mimicking the wetness that coated her face.
Groaning in pain, she finally felt the bonds loosen enough for her to slip them off and start on her ankle ties. She tried not to look at her hands; they were torn up terribly.
Rising shakily to her feet, Vaedra wrapped the remainder of her tattered clothing around herself and stumbled out of the room and down the stairs.
Have to get away...
She didn't think, she hardly breathed. She had to escape.
She disappeared into the night.
-
"Light!" Mathias breathed. "Vaedra what happened to you?" He held his arms out to her, seeking to comfort the battered girl.
She wanted to so badly. To fall into Mathias' embrace and cry until she had nothing left to give. To let all the hurt out to be washed away, to cleanse the terrible emptiness that seemed to have lodged itself in her heart. But she didn't. Vaedra brushed his hands aside.
Mathias swallowed hard, not wanting to imagine the horrors that she had experienced. He could already assume by her bruised face and ripped clothing at least one thing that had happened...
"Where is Tayvan?" He asked quietly.
Vaedra's face hardened into a stony mask; her voice was icy. "I don't think we'll be seeing him again."
Mathias wasn't sure if that meant he was dead or that he had fled, but he nodded, content with the answer for the time being.
"Can I..." he began, unsure of what else to say. "Can I get you anything?"
"No," she replied immediately, her tone sounded dead and flat.
To accept Mathias' help was to reach outward, to place trust in someone again. He had been her friend and mentor since she was young though she told herself, she knew she should let him help her. No, Tayvan had been an excellent rogue, even if he was a horrible person. He had shown her that she could only count on herself.
"But..." she said as Mathias had begun to depart and leave her alone thinking that's what she wanted.
"... I do need to practice more."