** Please note, I do not own World of Warcraft, nor do I claim any ownership of any part of Blizzard's works.
This is my first attempt at fanfiction, please review so I know whether it's worth continuing the story I have set up for these two in my mind! For context,t his is set in WotLK, shortly after the events of the Wrathgate.
It was his scent that alerted her to his presence first. The breezes allowed to sweep over Krasus' Landing brought the scent to her as the regiment of windriders bringing a Horde diplomat to Dalaran touched down on the sparkling tiles. Of all the men she'd been around, none had smelled quite like him. There was a fresh, clean scent to him that no other elf, Sin'dorei or Quel'Dorei, had ever managed to match. Taneela Cloudstriker raised her head to look and see, because it couldn't be him. He would never come to Dalaran, and he certainly couldn't be the diplomat Ranger-General Windrunner had sent her to meet. She stood, the book she'd been perusing slipping from her fingers to drop into the dewed grass on the Landing. It was him.
Taneela looked around, hoping to see one of her fellows of the Silver Covenant that she could pull aside, tell them she was ill. She couldn't face him. Not now, not ever. She felt color rising in her cheeks, and her breath sped up. Running was not a choice. Everyone would notice, and later gossip, about how the Lady Taneela had fled like a doe from a rabid worg if she ran. Desperate, she backed closer to the bushes edging the Landing and began inching towards the stairs. Her breath sped up and her heart pounded as they drew closer. Escape was so close.
"Lady Taneela! The Horde's guest has arrived! " The flight master called to her before she could duck away around the corner that was agonizingly close. Steeling herself for the confrontation, she turned and knelt Thalassian style, with one knee touching the ground. Mustering up her priestly training, which included projecting one's voice to fill a noisy cathedral, her voice rang out over the Landing, "Lord Regent, you are welcome here in Dalaran."
She waited a moment before rising, not letting her eyes meet Lor'Themar Theron's. She was glad that she had not had time to do her wine-red hair like she normally did, but had it down in waves that could hide her face from his. The toes of his Farstrider boots entered her field of vision, and he spoke in that deep, arrogant voice she remembered so well. "Taneela Cloudstriker. We thought you had perished in Menethil's attack on Dalaran."
Startled, Taneela looked up at him. He remembered her. And now he could clearly see her eyes. Her blue eyes. His fel-green ones darkened for a moment, then with the grace of a master Ranger, and the dignity of an uncrowned king, he picked up her hand and bowed over it, placing a kiss on the back. Her hand tingled from the brush of his soft lips, and her stomach flipped at the sight of his white blonde head bowing before her. Once, long ago, she had secretly dreamed of this moment, except it had been him asking for her hand in marriage. Foolish dreams of a foolish girl. "I am pleased to see you are alive and well, Lady. I should send a message to your father immediately."
"You mustn't!" Taneela jerked back, tearing her hand from his. His eyes widened in surprise, and Taneela composed herself quickly, heat rising in her cheeks. "I… I mean, no, but thank you, Lord Regent. I'm sure my family at home in Silvermoon would be less than pleased to find out that I am alive, and … not affiliated with the Sunreavers. Or a mage. If you will follow me."
Lor'Themar gestured to the escort that had come with him, and with the precision training a Ranger-General surely expected, they fell into line behind him. She scooped her book from the grass and clutched it to her chest, tilting her head down so her hair covered her face. All she needed to do was get him to Ranger-General Windrunner and she could hide. There were plenty of little hidey-holes in the Silver Covenant's designated area of Dalaran where she could lose herself until he left. Quickening her pace and taking the stairs down from the Landing two at a time, she knew is eyes were burning a hole in the back of her head. She was required by etiquette to give him a short tour of the City of Mages before presenting him to Rhonin, Ranger General Windrunner, and Grand Magister Sunreaver. Passing the area where incoming and outgoing travelers' animals were stabled, she stopped in front of the Sunreaver's Sanctum.
"In here, Lord Regent, is the area of Dalaran that has been designated for the Horde and any who are aligned with the Sunreavers. Uda, the orc who runs The Filthy Animal, has been notified by the Grand Magister that you and your entourage are to have the finest lodgings she has to offer."
"The Filthy Animal? I'm not to sure I'll like the place."
" I personally don't know what The Filthy Animal is like, Lord Regent, as I am not allowed to enter the Sanctum. However, for Uda to have been allowed to establish the place, she must have met at least some of the standards for lodgings to be found in Dalaran."
The Lord Regent stayed silent for a moment, then flicked his fingers for her to carry on. Heat rose a bit in Taneela's cheeks. She was no servant or low-born commoner to be ordered about, estrangement from her family notwithstanding. Throwing her small shoulders back and tossing her wine-red waves, she somehow managed to look down her nose at attendant standing off Lor'Themar's left shoulder who was at least a good foot taller than her and looked like he could hold his own against a Tauren.
"You there, make sure to speak to Uda at the Filthy Animal. Let her know the honored guest has arrived, and her attendants will be sure to gather your luggage." The man raised a blonde brow at her and glanced at Lor'Themar. With an amused smirk, he nodded at the man, who grumbled something under his breath as he entered the Sunreaver's Sanctum. He then bowed to Taneela, and said in a mocking tone, "Lead on, Lady."