A/N: the quote about friendship is from Zelda. Enjoy.
Beyond the Boundaries.
Chapter 2
Will not see me? Mysha's heart raced. What was she to do now? She had not expected this obstacle. Her immediate reaction was to reach for her blade but she stopped and rested her hand on the small pummel. She was no diplomat but it could not end here. She needed to speak to the man.
"Why will he not see me?" She asked in the calmest voice she could muster.
The gangly looking human stuttered out a response. Something about " war" and "trust" or at least, that was all she understood of it. Stupid humans, she thought. I could kill this unarmed full right now. There are no guards here to protect him. But that certainly would not earn trust. She eyed the human before her as she paced back and forth. He was twitchy and nervous but she was no good without her blades and poisons which caused further frustration.
She weighed her options. She could leave and come back in the broad daylight, exposing her presence to the student body, which no doubt would raise questions in their impertinent little minds. No that will not work. She continued to pace. Sneak in- do what I do best and spy… But that could take too much time. Their land and their magic was new and completely alien. Time was a luxury that her people could not afford. Is discretion really necessary? The way things were looking, the entire population of the school would know about her world before the academic year was over but that would not be very roguish. She was the one who was sent for a reason.
Writing a letter was out of the option. Though she could speak and understand the language, she could not read or write it and having this old fool transcribe it was out of the question. Who was he to know the details of war?
She was startled out of her thoughts by a small sound to her side. Mysha turned to see a young human child there, looking up at her in slight confusion and fear. The old man began to fuss at the young boy, but the boy heard none of it. So young, Mysha thought as she stepped closer. He could not have been more than 15 or 16 years of age. Such disgusting beings; this one's ears and teeth are far too large for his head. She kneeled down before him-how's this for trust?- and with her hood still shielding her face, she looked up into his eyes, the torch lights reflecting off the glow in her own.
The boy gasped and took a step back but Mysha held up a hand to still him. Having seen the plant carried underneath his arm, she had an idea. With her free hand she reached into her satchel and pulled out a small bundle of yellow-green grass. The boy took the herbs cautiously and studied them. Never before had he seen grass like this. It radiated with an unearthly shimmer.
Mysha leaned towards the boy and whispered, "Sungrass," in her heavy Elvish accent. The boy looked both delighted and confused. After all, Sungrass to them was either unheard of or, to the well studied herbalist or alchemist, only mentioned in folklore and legend.
With reluctance, Mysha made a small bow to both members of the enemy race and retreated out of the castle without a word. She would be back. She had no choice but her anger had flared and there would be no way to earn their trust with threats and violence.
As soon as she was out of the castle, she summoned her quietest mount. In the shadows of the castle's grounds a large Netherdrake appeared. Mysha ran her fingers along his thick, green scales and the beast purred at her touch. She climbed onto his back and they took off towards the highest tower of the castle.
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"They came from the shadows."
"What can be done about this, Lady Sylvannas?" asked a warrior of the Forsaken. His rotted flesh and skinless bones were hidden beneath his heavy plate armor.
"We will have to send the rogue," said the Dark Lady. She turned her cold eyes upon the Blood Elf. "Mysha, will you accept this task?"
"Of course, My Lady," she said with a bow of her head. "I will do whatever you ask of me."
"Good," said Lady Sylvannas. "Expect to leave by morning. There is no time to waste."
"As you wish," said Mysha.
"Aldoroth will fill you in on the details and escort you to the edge of the boundary," said the Dark Lady. "Any questions?"
"No, My Lady," said Mysha as she turned to smile at the heavily armored warrior beside her. "I have no doubt that Aldoroth will take excellent care of me."
The Dark Lady nodded and displayed a rare vision as she smiled down at the warrior in the rogue. "It is something that grows over time… A true friendship. A feeling in the heart that becomes even stronger over time. The passion of friendship will soon blossom into a righteous power and through it, you will know which way to go."
Both Mysha and Aldoroth smiled at the Dark Lady's rare display of affection then bowed before retreating from her throne room.
"I am not sure what to think of all this," Aldoroth said in a raspy voice. They had kept the conversation light while traveling the plague-green lit tunnels of Undercity but as they boarded the elevator, their tone became somber. Goodbyes were never easy during times of war.
"I know," said Mysha. She looked down at her feet, until the elevator stopped.
"This is insane. Unheard of. The boundaries between this world and the next were shut off for a reason."
"I know," she said.
"Could you not withhold and do your whole 'I know' routine," he asked as he removed his helm. "I am freaking out."
"I know."
"Stop it," he said, dropping his helm and squeezing her shoulders. The black void of his eyesockets stared back at her; the rotting flesh along his jaw twitched.
"What else do want me to say?" She shoved his bony hands off of her and continued to walk out of the ruins of Lordaeron.
"Anything," he said as he followed her.
"There is nothing else to say. We are both uncomfortable but what choice do we have? I have been chosen by the leaders of the Horde. I have to do this for the good of our lands and people… For the Horde. This is our only hope."
"Do you really believe that this is the only way?" He asked. "Answer me!"
Aldoroth reached out to Mysha but again, she pushed him away. "How Aldoroth? I do not have all the answers! I do not know what the future holds."
"I have rarely seen you blindly follow orders."
"Well this is one of those rare occasions," she argued. "I see no way around it and I do not have time to. It could take years to earn someone's trust."
"And seconds to lose it," he muttered.
"Take me to Brill," Mysha said in a threatening tone that suggested the subject be dropped. "Take me to Brill and brief me," she said in a calmer tone as they reached the crossroads that led to the small town of Brill. "Then escort me to the boundary just before dawn."
Aldoroth bowed his head for a moment, then nodded. Putting the heated discussion in the back of their minds, they walked in unison towards Brill and tried to remember happier times.
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Severus studied the old wizard with concern. "Is something troubling you, Headmaster?"
The older man toyed with the remainder of the food on his plate and shook his head. "Just an odd feeling," he said somberly.
In the many years Severus had known him, he knew something was awry. "The visitor, perhaps?"
When Dumbledore did not respond, he knew he had nailed it. Before he could inquire, the doors to the Great Hall opened again and Neville Longbottom came scurrying into the room. Severus watched the insolent boy as he shuffled up towards the end of the Griffindor table. Under one arm he held a potted mandrake and in his hand… something small. It gave off the faint hue of a sun from another world.
Severus gasped softly and looked towards the Headmaster, who was equally transfixed. Looking down the table, Professor Sprout was engrossed in her meal and a conversation with Professor Sinestra. No one else at the head table seemed to have noticed Longbottom's artifact.
Severus and the Headmaster watched as Neville took his seat amongst his housemates. They gathered around him in excitement as he began to speak and show off the small bundle of herbs.
"Is that what I think it is?" Severus asked Dumbledore in hushed tones. There was a childlike wonder in his voice that even he was surprised to hear.
"There is only one way to be sure," said Albus, his eyes never leaving the group of students.
By this time, others in the Great Hall had noticed their Potion's Master and Headmaster looking at something in wondrous contemplation and had hushed their conversations to follow their masters' gazes.
Granger was the first to sit back. Though he hated to admit it, brilliant as she was, Severus knew that she had an idea of what Neville carried. His suspicions were confirmed when her eyes flicked up towards him. He smirked. Smart girl.
By this time the entire room was silenced. Everyone's eyes were on those few Griffindors and theirs were on Snape. After a glance and a nod of approval from Dumbledore, Severus stood and walked calmly towards the Griffindor table- all eyes on him. As he approached, Neville swallowed hard and sank in his seat.
"Wherever did you get that?"