Chapter Three
Acceptance

The look on his guildmate's faces nearly made Raybourn laugh out loud when he strode in with Aerdrie on his arm. Bog moved his mouth but couldn't say anything, and Squishy just sat back and sneered at the elf. Verii and Fiernaa, however, were extremely pleased to meet the elf in person, and fought to introduce themselves first.

Laughing softly, Aerdrie accepted a seat between Raybourn and Verii. Aerdrie took an instant like to Muche, who shrieked and cooed happily at the elf for some time.

Raybourn ordered a small glass of white zinfandel for Aerdrie, then sat back and watched her taste it carefully.

"This… isn't too bad," the elf nodded, taking another sip. "It's not as refined as I'm used to, but good nonetheless."

"Bah, ya need ta knock back some ale wit us sometime," Verii laughed. "Dat stuff is really 'refined'!"

Aerdrie laughed, then looked up at Raybourn. "Thank you," she said softly.

"Of course," he said, his eyes locked on her luminous face.

"Not for the drink," she replied slowly. His face knotted in confusion, but she shook her head. "I'll explain later."

By now, Bog had found his voice, and he was regaling Aerdrie with all manner of tales. Long into the night, the group sat and exchanged stories, and asked many questions of Aerdrie with great interest- all except Squishy, who remained in the corner and sulked. Finally, the elf begged fatigue, and the group began to break up. Eventually all that was left of the group was Raybourn and Aerdrie.

"I need to be going," Aerdrie said, gathering her skirts and standing up.

"What did you mean earlier?" Raybourn asked, touching her chin lightly and tilting her face up to meet his.

Aerdrie smiled, and he felt his chest constrict with pleasure. "Thank you for the companionship," she whispered.

"I imagine that's hard for you to find," he replied softly, pushing a loose strand of shock-white hair from her face.

She blushed and looked down. "Yes, it is. But I expected that, I know I am rather… out of place."

"You seemed quite comfortable tonight."

She looked back up, her emerald eyes flashing with happiness. "I was! I honestly was."

"Then perhaps you should come here as a patron with us from now on. When you feel like it," he added hastily. "I know you must be busy."

She sighed and wrapped her cloak about her tighter. "Yes, my teachings are difficult to translate so that my Tauren friends can understand. But I learn so much from them too, sometimes I'm overwhelmed with everything!"

He patted her small shoulder. "You should take a break."

"I would, but I have nowhere to retreat to, really. I'm not welcome in the elven forests anymore."

"I have a large estate at the base of Thunder Bluff," Raybourn said eagerly as they began leaving the tavern. "You are more than welcome to come and prowl around my home anytime!"

Aerdrie raised an eyebrow at him, and he had the grace to blush.

"…You know what I meant."

"Perhaps," she whispered, smiling widely at him.

Raybourn could swear his heart stopped beating for a moment.

"You could at least show me where it is, I guess," she added, smiling shyly.

He let out his breath that he'd been holding. "Of course, follow me!" He whistled and a large white war kodo thundered around from behind the inn. Aerdrie shrieked and cowered behind him. The war kodo ran up to Raybourn and stopped, stomping a hoof and snorting at his master.

"This is my beast," he explained to the elf, who was clinging to his cloak fearfully. "He's friendly, don't worry."

"So big," she said worriedly, detaching her death grip on his cloak.

Raybourn winked down at her. "I know."

She looked up at him in confusion, and then giggled, hiding her face in embarrassment. "I didn't mean…"

The shaman laughed and swung himself up on his kodo, then reached down and grabbed her hand. "C'mon."

"I…" Her wide eyes were focused on the huge shiny horned head.

"C'mon," he repeated, pulling her hand gently. Finally he coaxed her up, and he sat her in front of him, gently holding onto one of her hips to keep her stable. He kicked the kodo and it snorted and began running.

"Ahh!" Aerdrie reached forward and grasped on of the many chains crisscrossing the beast's back.

"Are you alright?"

She nodded slowly. "It's just so… not anything like I'm used to," she replied, turning and making a face at him.

"How so?"

"Our gentle nightsabres are as comfortable to ride as they are graceful and swift," she said. "This kodo is the exact opposite!"

Raybourn laughed loudly. "It may not be the smoothest ride, but they are vicious in battle!"

"So are our nightsabres!" Aerdrie added quickly.

"Oh, I know, I've had to fight quite a few myself." He leaned forward and showed her a scar on his shaggy arm. "See that? That's from the claws of a nightsabre a few years back."

She touched the scar gently, leaning closer to study it. Her touch sent a shiver down his back, and he was glad that the rough ride hid his reaction.

"I can cure that for you," she said, twisting to look at him. "If you wish."

"Really? Hmm. Perhaps once we arrive you can look at me more closely."

She smiled slyly at him.

"Err... I mean…"

"I think that's a good idea," she whispered, then turned back around, still smiling.

"Yes, well, because I do have an old wound that troubles me at times…"

"I'll look at that, too," she replied, giggling.

"Should I keep talking, or take my foot out of my mouth?" he laughed.

"It's interesting to see how far you can get it in there!" she chortled.

"Not helping…" he grumbled back, though with a smile.


They arrived at Raybourn's just as the moon was peaking over the distant mountain range. A natural fence of dense foliage and trees lined his property. Carefully he dismounted, then reached up to help Aerdrie down. Distracted by the ancient trees, she sat on the kodo for a moment, absorbing the sight.

"Isn't it beautiful?" the shaman said softly.

"Amazingly so," she whispered back.

"My family has lived here for generations," he explained. "I'm the last of my line, however."

"What will you do?" she asked, tearing her gaze from the trees and grasping his hands.

"I have to father a successor," he shrugged. He lifted her by her waist and set her down in the damp grass beside him. "Hopefully I can find the time to do that soon."

She nodded, her face sad.

"What is it?" he asked, letting go of the kodo's reins and giving it a gentle shove to set it roaming.

Aerdrie shook her head. "You and I are the same, although, I will not have anyone who will bear a successor with me."

Raybourn patted her shoulder fondly. "Who knows? You came to accept the Horde as your family; perhaps others will do the same?"

Aerdrie laughed, a dark, bitter laugh. "I left my race behind because they cannot change. I do not find it likely there will be others like me. My mother always told me I had human blood in me somewhere- I think she is right, too." She stopped to admire a starling singing to the night above them, her anger gone for the moment.

"Well, the possibility still remains; you're here, so you've proven it can be done," Ray nodded. "But I can understand your sadness."

She whirled, her green eyes shining in the moonlight as she looked up at him. "Why are you so kind to me?" she blurted.

Ray blinked. "Well, I…"

"Why did you seek me out so fervently?"

"Well, you know the answer to that one," he replied, smiling happily. "I simply had to tell you in person how much your dance touched my heart."

"But why did you continue after you told me…"

He bent down so that their faces were level. "Frankly, you fascinate me."

"How so?" she breathed softly.

"Your voice, your grace, your beauty, your history… Every aspect of you appeals to me in a way no one ever has." He took a deep breath. "And I feel the Earth in you. It's in your blood, I can feel it. I communicate with the spirits of the Earth and Elements… It's no wonder I am drawn to you."

"I see," she nodded. "I feel the Earth's presence in you, but it seems different somehow from what I know."

He nodded back. "Perhaps there are things we can learn from each other, you know?"

She grinned. "I would love that, I'm very eager to learn anything I can."

"I can see why our Druids accepted you into their ranks," he said thoughtfully. "I'm sure you will be a valuable ally, provided you want to stick around."

Shyly, she reached out and touched his arm. "I don't want to leave for a long time," she smiled.

Raybourn swallowed a lump in his throat. "Here's my house- it's not much, but it's stood the test of Time."

Before them a large stone structure loomed, covered in ivy and other creeping vines. The trees seemed to bend closer to the house, forming a leafy roof high above. A bird's nest was nestled in one of the glass-less windows.

"It feels like home," she said happily, trying to stare everywhere at once. "It's so peaceful."

"And very, very old," he added, opening the iron-clad door. "My father was the one who removed the glass from the windows, as the trees offer all the shelter we need. It was his way of inviting Nature into the house."

Aerdrie crossed the threshold, her delicate hands touching and admiring the smooth stone walls and solid oaken beams. "I'm serious, Raybourn, this feels like home."

"Then you are welcome to call it your home as long as you like, and the woods surrounding." He brushed some leaves from the table. "I admit it's a mess, though, as I haven't been home in nearly a year-" A small sound interrupted him, and he glanced over to see Aerdrie staring out one of the windows, her back to him. "Are you alright?"

She nodded silently once.

He walked over and laid a huge hand on her shoulder, and he felt it shake slightly. "Are you sure?"

She sniffled once, then looked up at him with wet eyes. "You have no idea how much this means to me, Raybourn. No idea."

"Hey, there's not cause for tears," he said, alarmed. Carefully he reached down and wiped her eyes. "I just want you to feel secure. I just got back from a very long trip… I constantly felt uneasy, and I longed for home. I can relate to how you're feeling."

"I know I haven't made the wrong choice, Raybourn-"

"Please, just Ray."

"Ray. I know I haven't made the wrong choice, but lately I have felt so alone…"

"Not anymore," he said firmly.

Wiping away another tear, Aerdrie smiled at him. "Then, if you don't mind, I'm going to go find a place to sleep outdoors."

"If that is where you are most comfortable, by all means," he smiled back.

She nodded, then curtseyed to him. "Rest well, alasanth'ra."

"Which means…?"

She tilted her head. "Closest I can say would be 'earthen friend'. It is how elven druids often refer to each other."

Raybourn looked down. "I'm definitely not an elf."

"Thank goodness," Aerdrie giggled. She leaned up and kissed him on the nose, then shifted to catform. Purring, she padded out the front door and out of sight.

Raybourn stood staring at the door for some time, frozen by the thoughts tumbling through his mind. Finally he stripped his mail armor off and laid down for the night, staring through the window at the night sky.