Hey people! So this is a new story of mine, though it does tie in with the rest of the Broken Wings saga. Think of this as a prequel of sorts, though it can absolutely be read as its own story, as the plot is completely self contained. It will be shorter than most of my stories, but hopefully that won't deter. Let's get on with it!

Partners

A gloved hand ran through a mane of long blonde hair as a young elf, not even into adulthood, let out a soft curse as he stared up at the ceiling.

It was official. Varimas hated Dalaran.

Only a week had passed since his arrival in the old city of the mages, snuggled comfortably in the Silverpine Forests, the elf had been subjected to what felt like non-stop study and testing.

As a member of a House of high notability he had been raised from birth by his parents with the presumption inscribed in his mind that he would one day become a magi, just as many a Quel'Dorei had done since the city's founding so many years ago.

He had arrived only the day before, along with a good host of other students also traveling from Quel'Thelas, though unlike them, he was far from a willing participant in the whole affair. Unlike the others, Varimas' parents had forced him to travel to the city of mages with the excuse that it was so he could begin training to carry on the Sorrowsun legacy.

Varimas knew the truth though.

It was to get him away from his friends. Those 'horrible influences' that his own father would rather see hang than continue to support or interact with Varimas in any capacity.

His silent fuming was interrupted by a soft, almost inaudible, knock at the door, followed by the sound of said door creaking open, causing Varimas to steal a glance over at the doorway to find a female elf looking in at him, her light blue eye shining even in the dull morning light.

"Ex-... Excuse me?..." The female Quel'Dorei near whispered as she stuck her head halfway through the door, a nervous look in her eye.

"Hmm? Who're you supposed to be?" Varimas carelessly glanced back to his books, making a visible effort to be uninterested in the visitor, though if the young elf had picked up on the dismissive gesture, she did not acknowledge it.

"M-...my name is Valethria Brightsong sir..." The elf, Valethria, stuttered as she entered the room, her hands rubbing together nervously. "If I may ask, is this room 214?... I missed initiation yesterday and wasn't given a proper tour of Dalaran, so I'm kind of wandering around right now..."

Now that she was in the room, Varimas was able to get a better look at the young woman. In most respects, at least physically, she seemed to be a rather typical Quel'Dorei. Her hair was a bright blonde, rolled into a semi-formal bun that betrayed the true length of her hair, which was no doubt substantial. She was clad in the traditional robes of a Dalaran apprentice, though judging from the way she shifted around she was far from comfortable in them.

"Yeah, you got the right one. I assume you're my mysterious new roommate I've heard about since I arrived yesterday."

At those words, as if by verbal command, an evil glint suddenly appeared in the elf's eyes, glazing over the look of shining innocence that was once dominant with a look of mischievous intent.

"Great! Finally wandered into the right room this time!" All at once, the act seemed to fall as Valethria let out a sigh, her nervous frown replaced by a grin of excitement. With a flick of the wrist, a tendril of magic shot from her fingertips, shutting the door behind her. "You would not believe how many endless closets a there are in this damn tower!"

"Wait, hold on, what?" Varimas asked as Valethria strutted over and planted herself on his desk, examining the room with a curious gaze, taking in every nook and oddity that would otherwise go amiss by others.

Once Valethria was satisfied she turned her attention to the elf who's desks he had just claimed as her chair. "What?"

"What in the world just happened to the shy little elf that peeked her head into my room?!..."

"Oh that? That was an act." Valethria shrugged, holding her hand up to spark a small flame between her fingers, staring at the dancing ember as it waved around on her fingertips. "Figured the 'distressed maiden' shtick would get me some directions, just in case this wasn't the right room."

"Right that... Makes sense?..." Varimas trailed off as he turned his gaze downward to find that Valethria's posterior had moved onto his document, her robe covering the page almost completely. "Erm..."

"So since you're so obviously staring a places you shouldn't, don't you think it'd be polite to at least tell me your name?"

"O-oh, right. Varimas Sorrowsun at your service." Varimas muttered as his gaze shot back up, quickly giving the female elf a nod of the head.

"Wait! Varimas! I know that name!" Valethria suddenly exclaimed as a look of excitement flashed across her features, her once uncaring expression traded for a bright smile. "You're one of the three Terrors of Silvermoon aren't you?!"

"Terrors of Silvermoon?"

"Mhm! All the kids on my street talk about the three most infamous troublemakers in Quel'Thalas! Dawnblade, Windrunner, and of course..." Valethria jabbed a finger in Varimas' direction smugly. "Sorrowsun. Son of the magister who holds a seat on King Sunstrider's court."

"Guilty as charged I suppose." Varimas muttered as he pulled out his book from under Valethria before closing it and stuffing it into a drawer. With this new visitor, there would be no way he would be able to pay attention to the literature anyhow. "Though it hardly matters in a city like this."

Valethria tilted her head at the words of the male elf. "You okay there? Don't go getting all gloomy on me already, we only met a couple minutes ago. I gotta wear you down a bit before you start getting depressed."

"Right, you'll wear me down huh? You'd have to catch me first." Varimas muttered as he glanced down at Valethria's apprentice robes, which reached down nearly past her ankles. "And you won't be chasing anyone in those without breaking a few teeth on the pavement first."

"Ugh, I know... I hate this stupid thing..." Valethria hissed as she tugged at the light purple robes which bagged around her body like a pillow. It made her look horrible! "What I wouldn't give for a simple pair of pants right about now!"

"A pair of pants?" Varimas asked, an eyebrow raised. "Judging by the look of you, you've never worn anything besides a dress in your life."

"And you don't resemble one of the three terrors of Silvermoon either." Valethria shot back, reaching over to flick Varimas on the forehead, only missing at the last moment when the elf leaned back, far out of reach of her flick. "Looks aren't everything."

"Still though, if it's such an issue then just put on the pair they gave you when you arrived."

"The pair they gave me?"

"Right. The pair they gave you. They should've given you that along with the robes."

"I didn't get a pair!..." Valethria whined loudly before a childish pout appeared. Crossing her arms she let out a small huff. "This sucks."

Varimas held back the urge to roll his eyes. Apparently Valethria was not the most mature of elves.

"I suppose they figured you wouldn't need any. Why don't you take my pair? They haven't been used yet, and I'm sure if you draw the string tight enough they'll stay on." Varimas said, pointing towards a dresser as Valethria eyes lit up. "I can just tell the quartermaster they were incinerated in a fizzled fire spell or something."

"You, Sorrowsun, are just about my favorite person right about now!" Valethria as she walked over and retrieved the article of clothing, holding them as one would a newborn child.

However, once she realized nothing was said in response, Valethria glanced over at her new roommate, only to see Varimas staring idly out of the window, showing no real reaction to her statement.

"Alright, seriously. Are you alright?"

"...No, I'm not... You know the other two people who used to make up the so-called 'Three Terrors of Silvermoon'?" Varimas waited until he received a nod from Valethria before continuing. "Well when I was sent here, and not exactly willingly, I was forced to leave them behind."

"Ohh... Well not too sure want I can do about them not being here..." Valethria sighed before adopting a grin that Varimas was relatively sure he would be seeing quite a bit more of. "But if you're just looking for someone to hang around, I'm always taking applications."

"You?"

"Yep. We're already staying in the same room, might as well make the most of it, right?"

"I suppose so, yes."

"Well, whadd'ya say?" Valethria asked as she walked over and held her hand out towards Varimas. "Partners?"

Varimas glanced down at her hand, reaching over and shaking it. If this elf was even half as interesting as his friends, then perhaps his time at Dalaran would not be as miserable as he had previously assumed.

"Partners."