Yeah, I know it's been a zillion years since I've done anything. I am a lifeless pile of human. But in any case, I have most of the next five chapters written. Just... holding on to them.

Blizzard, you own my soul. I am yours to command, o awesomeness.

"Ash! Hey Ash!"

Ausheilen Sundragon looked up from her stack of books, catching sight of her sister running at her. Blinking once, she looked back to her book, continuing her studies.

"Ash! Dad stopped by today!"

The pries sighed, placed a marker in her book, looking up through her white blonde hair at her sister.

"I know. He came and paid me a visit."

Fiaccola grinned. "Isn't it great? He's going on an adventure with Namue."

Ash raised a shapely eyebrow. "Monsoon?"

Fiaccola's expression darkened. "Yes, of course. When has father traveled anywhere without that leech?"

"Indeed," She let out a breathy sigh, "And Namue reacted?"

"Oh...well..."

Ash narrowed her eyes. "Well?"

"Father has always been blind to Monsoons faults, hasn't he? All these years and he hasn't changed one bit."

Pursing her full lips, Ash stared at her younger sister. "Namue was ridiculed, wasn't she." The priest was closest to her Paladin sister of all of her siblings.

"Her men seemed to be unfazed. Oh!" The mage smacked herself on the forehead. "Almost forgot to tell you!"

Ash took a deep breath, counting to ten for patience with her blustering sister, "Yes?"

"Namue has a lover!"

Ash's eyes widened considerably, staring at her sister in disbelief. "No..."

Nodding, Fiaccola proudly grinned, "Yep. He's quite the looker. Their kids will be cute, I bet."

"Don't get ahead of yourself." Rising from her pillow, the priest inspected her sister, "A lover... Are you sure?"

Fiaccola gave her sister a smug look. "If you had seen the way her captain looked at her-"

"Her captain? That Peridaous man?" Ash held her brow, "Oh, this is not good."

"What? Why?"

But Ash was already inspecting the many shelves that lined the room. "L...l...l..."

Fiaccola nudged her sister, waving her hand slightly. "What book?"

"Laws of a Paladin."

The young mage curled her hand, muttering an arcane word of command and the book name. From the shelf higher up, a musky book flew down into her open hand.

Ash immediately grabbed it and her sisters arm, towing the girl over to a secluded table. The redhead watched as her sister looked up a certain section.

After a few minutes of reading, Ash sighed.

"Well, this claims that Paladins are allowed to follow whatever romantic interests they please. That speaks nothing for the social ridicule they may receive." Ash curled her hand to a fist.

"What?"

The Shadow priest looked grimly up at her sister. "Namue needs to be careful. There have been a lot of would be Paladins who dropped out of the order because of similar cases. Things not in the rule book still effect lives drastically." And her shadow form blew over her with a sound like air being sucked into lungs.

Fiaccola, realizing maybe a romance in Namue's life might not be such a good thing, sighed and trudged back to the mages hall, leaving her shadow engulfed sister to stare at the Laws of a Paladin.

Peridaous flung the bear that was attacking him off with a grunt, turning to pierce the rabid beast through the heart.

"And the Night Elves want to protect these beasts?"

Namue glanced over her shoulder at her captain, hearing the jest in his voice. Catching sight of the carcass, she held back a grimace. "Maybe not the rabid wild crazy bears."

She turned her horse and inspected his kill, crinkling her nose.

"That thing reeks. "

"So I noticed."

Namue fell silent, thinking.

"Are you alright?" she asked finally.

Peridaous looked up at her, shading his eyes with a hand. "Just fine, milady. And yourself?"

Namue let out a deep sigh, inspecting the forestry around them. Green light filtered through the higher branches of trees, reflecting off of the pollen and such that sifted slowly downward, giving the land an enchanted feel.

The portal left them off at the northern part of the Barrens, leaving them to ride for a half day through the Ashenvale forests.

"I suppose I am well." With a discreet glance around them, the Paladin leant down slightly in the saddle.

"I...well...I know you were upset for my prying yesterday, Peridaous, and I was wanting to apologize for it. It isn't any of my business."

He stared ahead for a moment, continuing to march without saying a word. For a time the men were silent.

"I find there is nothing to apologize for, my lady," he looked up at her, "It's not my place to deny your inquiries, if you are worried." Shrugging, he smiled crookedly, "I think I must apologize though, for acting upset and then refusing to explain."

Namue laughed quietly, "So do you think it would be worth explaining to me sometime later, captain?"

"Of course, if only..." he bit his lip.

"Yes?"

"I find my tongue being held for fear of rumors, milady. Oh don't," he held up his hand when she looked like she would protest, "you know well enough that-"

"Namue!"

The paladin whipped her head up, catching Monsoon giving her the sign of an ambush.

Swearing quietly for letting her guard down, the elf turned her horse, stopping the men.

"Weapons out, people."

Peridaous hefted his two-hander, peering into the bushes around them. "We should get off the road."

Namue paused in inspecting her men, hearing her captain mutter something. "Off the road?"

"They have a clear shot at us here, Lady. They expect it." He gestured to the bones on the side of the beaten road. "Besides, they have practice."

At that, Namue caught a sound on the wind. Though, after centuries cut off from her darker skinned cousins dulled such senses, she still managed to hear footsteps in the brush, and a fight ahead.

"Quiet, into the trees."

She sent her horse farther off, knowing he would only hinder her. Kneeling beside Peridaous, she smiled grimly.

"There's nothing we can do to best their woodlore."

"Did we ever expect to?"

Arrows suddenly cascaded silently from above. Shields were raised, catching the deadly rain. Namue and Peridaous, without shields, had to improvise. Namue cast waves of light that destroyed arrows that hit it. Peridaous settled for swiping arrows out of the air with his small boot dagger.

A battle shout sounded: Ray discovered the main group of Night Elves. Frantically Namue signaled for her men to cross the open road.

They caught the side of the Night Elf raid group. Apparently they were heading to Warsong Gulch as well. They were armed to the teeth.

Ray blasted them from behind, catching their healers off guard and slaughtering three before the warriors could reach him. As chaos was ensuing, the elves trying to re-strategize their main body, Namue blasted them from their vulnerable side. She caught a poisoned dagger in the calf, but Peridaous cut down the gnome rogue that stuck it there. Namue grinned a thank you to him. He briefly saluted, before both were tackled out of range from more arrows.

Namue sprung back to her feet, looking around for her captain in the swarm of arms, legs, and weapons. Another Alliance raid group had descended on them without her realizing it: the odds were quickly turning against them.

Through a break in the fighting, she caught sight of her father, and was forced to stare. He was cutting down two Alliance every swing, laughing with Monsoon, who was dropping totems behind the Elf and rifling through the dead for anything of value.

Someone stumbled into Namue, and she caught the Blood Elf, quickly healing the wound across his chest. He managed a ruff thanks before leaping onto a Night Elf priest.

"Namue! Look out!"

Namue jerked into a short roll, letting the axe swing pass behind her harmlessly. Staggering to her feet (she'd never attempted to roll with full plate on before) she caught the next swing near the hilt of her sword and slung the other weapon away. Quicker than thought possible, she whipped her two-hander back, raking the Night Elf female warrior on the arm. She cursed something in her feathery language, taking a step back before leaping back at Namue with a swing of both her axe and her sword.

The paladin ducked and sprang at her, throwing her shoulder into the elf's stomach. Alright, Namue admitted it was a cheap trick. Even the Night Elf warriors looked down on brawling. They thought it was barbaric.

However, Namue had grown up with a dozen siblings, and when she was older, managed to get into quite the impressive number of bar room brawls.

She landed on top of the frail-er elf, and knocked her weapons aside. Without emotion, she murmured a prayer to the Light for the life she was about to take, ignoring the random pleading the elf was babbling.

A sudden weight, probably the bashing of a shield, threw Namue into the air. Despite herself, she was impressed.

She landed in a heap. Her arm was at a funny angle, but she grit her teeth and came up snarling to face a male warrior. The way he took a protective stance over the fallen female, she surmised they were attached.

Namue hesitated, shifting her hold to better swing her blade one handed. Light coursed through her veins, making quick work of the broken bones.

Still, it wasn't fast enough. The male shouted something and charged her. Weakly, she threw up her sword and dodged, sweat beginning to pour from her hairline as she struggled to both heal herself and remain agile. The warrior attacked again, a rage overcoming the elf. Namue retreated bit by bit, dodging more and circling away. Flexing her fingers of her broken arm, she flinched and set her mouth, biting through the pain as she gripped her weapon again with two hands. He came at her recklessly, still thinking she was injured, and was caught off guard when she wove her blade around his to slice deep into his thigh.

The female behind him screamed and struggled to his side, lifting her weapons against Namue even as she threw herself between them. Namue paused again, furrowing her brow.

The female was sobbing, though still cursing the Paladin before her. Behind her the male was trying to protect her, grasping his leg and circling an arm around the other elf and pulling her behind his torso, as if saying, "To kill her, you must kill me first."

Namue would have shrugged and dealt them both the death blow, but the female was still sobbing and trying to protect the male. Namue didn't have time to wait and see who would come to meet her blade first, though something was bothering her mind.

They were so desperate to save each other... Namue set back on her heels as the male swiftly pressed his lips to the females and told her something. Both were crying now- by the Light they really were the most sissy race on Azeroth. They clung to each other and looked to Namue, who blinked back at them.

They were in love. Wanted to die to save the other, or to die in each others arms. The concept was obscure to Namue. How could you care so deeply for a sentient being, capable of fault and corruption? How could you entrust it with everything you had, when it had the possibility of failing you, of tricking you, of hurting you? But there was no question in the two pairs of eyes that looked wordlessly, if not a bit questioningly, up at the blood elf. They were so sure of one another.

In Namue's mind, it was preposterous.

The question of their end was taken from Namue's hands as Monsoon came cackling into the premise, hacking the females side with his axe and puncturing the males stomach with his iron claw. He continued onward, slaying and killing and laughing, unaware of the two lives he just finished, unaware of the predicament his adopted sister faced in her own mind.

Namue watched, now utterly curious, as the female struggled to reach the male, and they pulled themselves closer, their blood mingling in the short grass, their foreheads touching in wordless comfort. They gazed into each other's eyes as their breathing slowed, as their hearts stopped, as the blood halted its flow.

They died in their lovers arms.

Namue was completely stunned into a numb silence. How long she stood staring at the two she didn't know, but she had the itching feeling that she just aged by several decades by the spectacle she just witnessed.

The thought of being in love, of marriage, of anything like that had never crossed her mind. She was born a Paladin, spent her early years slaving in her studies, and had set her life on the belief that this was all she was meant to do.

And she wished vehemently that she had never seen the two elves that day, because from that moment on there was a shadow in her mind that pulsed every time she saw a couple, or children... or a certain male.

The feeling, she knew, was unwelcome in many ways.

The water that dripped through the logs seemed to aim for Namue. She sat, miserable and hiding it, among the other commanders at Warsong Outpost. Instead of her battle armor, she wore simple cloth garments, as everyone around her did, though the paladin fidgeted as if deprived a comfort. A glance at her father left her sitting a little straighter: he had given her a disappointed sigh before turning back to the table before them.

"I still say that their lack of activity only hints at ulterior motives." One blood elf pressed. The orc beside him nodded.

"Indeed. They are too proud to merely admit defeat."

Another elf frowned and fiddled with several posts of their warriors on the battlefield. "Still, look at what they have given up. No small losses that would set us up to be counter-attacked."

A tauren's eyes lit up, and she nodded. "They have suffered great losses and major battle stations. They have a weak connection to resources now. We may very well be able to wait them to starvation."

Namue stifled a yawn, looking on.

"Yes, but you know how the ground itself will work for them. They need only pray to Elune long enough and reinforcements will be randomly sent by their priestess."

"And where would that leave us? Correct, caught in a crossfire. Have we mentioned how deadly their aim is?"

"What would you have us do? Stay here? They will only regain the ground they lost when recovered."

"I will not loose so many lives for an eager victory!"

Namue stood suddenly, bringing attention to herself.

"Take your forces through the woods, silently, around the side they have not lost. They should have scouts posted in the trees. If they were truly planning something devious, there will be forces slowly inching our way. When they are ready, they will blindside you that way, and drive you back against their base. While you scout the woods, send a war party across the open grounds, watching your sides. If they are truly on the brink of defeat, they will attack with one last 'heroic, valiant' charge, hoping to at least die in battle and honor. Should your scouts uncover anything, you can split the war party or perhaps redirect it." She bowed, promptly adding, "Sire," as she had forgotten to announce herself and address her father, "forgive my lack of manners."

The elf and orc nodded first. "It is a plan of action. I like it," the orc grunted.

"It shows action for many outcomes and plans for anything. I commend you, Ray," the tauren said, bowing to Namue's father, "You have produced a wonderful commander."

The older paladin smiled at his daughter, albeit tightly. "Yes, she has potential."

Monsoon pounded to his feet. "I say we smash the daylights out of them and let them spend the coming winter scrambling to survive. Maybe come spring they will be ready to spar again, but we will have the upper hand, as the Barrens and Durotar are not snow locked as their lands are."

"Another brilliant plan! Father Sundragon, what glorious teachings you must bestow upon your children!"

Monsoon grinned as the attention was artfully directed at him, and sent a wicked glance at Namue, who glared, ignoring her father as he praised the Shaman highly.

In the commotion of war plans that followed, Namue was able to sneak out of the room without notice. Her boot clad feet clod softly through the fort, and she swallowed another yawn. The moon was high in the night sky, reminding her how much time was truly wasted in that room of ridiculousness, and how tired she was.

She followed the wall to her men's barracks, where she had told her captain she would meet him for dinner. That meal had long since past, and the man was no where in sight. Disappointed, for he always managed to cheer her, she turned and made her way to the female's barracks.

"Drop it, Heidron. She doesn't need this right now."

"Yeah, but she's your friend, and she has our respect. She ought to know."

Namue fell into the shadows outside the barracks as her captain and one of the men he had been seen with recently came from the far side. Judging by the sweat on their brows and practice swords in hand, she assumed they had been sparring.

"She is a Sundragon. Perhaps you forgot?" The two elves stopped near their commanders hidden position. She felt her legs clench in adrenaline. If they so much as glanced around they would catch sight of her. Slowly, she inched her way further in the shadows, preparing to disappear to her bed.

"So? Seriously, how many times has she pulled that card? Like, three times in five years?" Heidron shook his head. Namue took a tentative step, then another. "She isn't like the other nobles. You know that even better than I do."

Peridaous sighed, and Namue watched his shoulders slump. He looked ragged again, making her pause in escape.

"By the end of this week it won't even matter." He inhaled deeply. "Winter's coming."

"Don't change the subject you old lynx."

"I'm serious Heidron. She won't even care."

The other warrior looked away. "I honestly thought better of you. But I guess you're still just a coward playing hero."

Namue felt her jaw drop. Peridaous took the insult and let it wash over him, never even looking at his friend. The other elf clasped his captains shoulder and muttered something she didn't catch, before entering the barracks and leaving her captain.

Without conscious thought of her body, she strode out of the shadows as if she rounded the corner.

It was only when he looked up at her, surprised, that she realized she walked into a horribly uncomfortable situation without a thing to say.

"Peridaous," she started, but fell silent.

"Namue." He replied, thinking she was merely greeting him. "How were the war discussions?"

The commander's mind went blank, and she managed to shrug, trying to remember. "It… well, it was long."

He smiled, the action slipping over his lips as if he was at complete ease. "Boring, I take it? They seem like they are all bark and no bite."

Blinking, she managed to get her head on straight. "Well, they really just don't know how to take action more than anything. They were astounded at the most simple of battle tactics." She let her shoulders relax as she spoke. "Hence why Monsoons bloodthirsty proposal earned more pride from Father than my tactical appeal to both sides of the war room."

As he frowned, she realized he was masking what bothered him. And the fact that he was very good at it unless she looked close enough told her that she should have been paying more attention to her friend.

"Everything alright, Peridaous?"

The question seemed to catch him off guard. "As well as I could be, my Lady."

It was the same line he fed her the other day. This time she grasped his shoulder as she pressed, "Are you sure? You seem as if something bothers you." She paused, not knowing how to ask to be let into his trust. "Is there anything I may do for you?"

His eyes spoke leagues at this, sparkling lightly. Then the light faded, and he shook his head. "No, my Lady. You owe me nothing."

Laughing at this, she leaned closer to him. "Oh come on, Peridaous. I owe you my life at least twice over." Serious once more as he merely shrugged, she stared him down. "Please tell me."

"It… it is silly…"

Hunger pains bit at Namue, who remembered she failed to consume dinner. Slipping her arm to encompass both of his broad shoulders she led him to the cooking house, saying, "Tell me anyway, as I eat."

The pork was good, still warm. Her captain filled a mug of clear water for her, and she handed him the bowl of sweetened pears and berries of dessert to share before commanding, "Speak."

"It is my family."

She nodded, setting aside the pork and plucking a blackberry from his hand. When he looked up, she smiled and popped it into her mouth. "Yes? What of your family?"

"We… we were once a very honorable house. As of late though, well… I am the only male." He grimaced.

"There is only one son in my generation. What of this?"

The captain sighed. "Yes, but…" He actually bit his lip, which made Namue pay a little more attention. "Sundragons… with your family, you only need one son, to carry the name. The women… they are…"

"What?"

"You are all intended."

Namue raised a perfect brow. "I assure you, I have no plans for a husband."

He raised a hand, but dropped it. "You are too young then. I never did ask how old you were." When she opened her mouth he quickly continued, "Not that it matters. It just means you were not around, and no one saw fit to tell you."

"Tell me what?"

"Female Sundragons, born from a Father Sundragon. They are all intended for a Sunstrider."

Namue cocked her head, trying to puzzle it out. "That is why you mention us being 'bred', isn't it?"

"Crudely put, but true."

"So…" a realization hit her, "But there is only one Sunstrider still alive, isn't there? Just-"

"Kael'thas. And if he wanted all of the Sundragon daughters, he has every right to you."

Namue stilled, hand frozen as it reached for another pear. "No…"

Nodding grimly. "It was a pact made. Something that is probably in your archive you love so much. You know, the books that let you trace back your lineage? Somewhere in that archive there is a whole book on the promise for the Sundragons." He sighed. "I suppose it would be a good promise, were he not insane."

"Father would never do that to us. He… he probably doesn't even know-"

"Oh he knows. Why do you think he trains all of you so hard? Let's none of your sisters dally around and become proper ladies?" The elf's ears drooped. "You are sworn to a miserable, hard life, should Kael'thas realize what he has, and you must be strong should he come calling."

Namue sat, silent. None of her sisters knew of this. She idly rubbed her neck, thinking. Perhaps Rispah. But she was never around to talk to, really. And then Namue was next oldest, and never heard of this.

Her sisters shouldn't know.

"But this is all very well and grand." She said, remembering why they were even talking. "What of your family? Why is it important that you are the only son?"

He rolled a blueberry between his hands, eyes on the little ball. "It means that there is only me to bring honor to our name, and they do not think I will bring it for them from a Lieutenant General's position. They see no nobility status in their future, unless… unless my sisters marry one of the old magisters. You know the kind- marry a young woman, bed her, kill her, and repeat."

His blunt foretelling of his sister possible future made Namue's stomach roll.

"And it looks as if my mother has begun to nose around for eligible magisters, and accidentally stumbled upon a widowed noblewoman. She is ancient, Namue!"

The paladin blinked, not quite understanding. Her life had been spent, like all her sisters, away from court. Possibly for this very reason.

"I… I admit that I do not follow…"

"I am to be married before the first snowfall."

This she understood quite well. When a warrior was married, he was to stay at Silvermoon for two years, long enough to produce several offspring and ensure his name continues. After that, he is back under the command of the Blood-Knight Lord, and is allowed more risky missions.

Namue was certain she wanted none of that for her friend.

"Do you… do you look forward to-"

"No." He clenched his teeth. "I have spoken to her twice, and I already hate her. I have reason to believe she had her husband murdered, and intends to keep me like a pet. If only there was more time!" Peridaous lamented, gazing back up at Namue. "If I could only wait until I was snowed in somewhere!" He turned his gaze quickly away, hiding a blush. "I… I could convince my parents another for me to pursue would be worthwhile."

An idea sparked in Namue's head. She was not one for rash decisions, but her friendship was something she was willing to jump without looking for.

"We could pose as a couple." She blurted. Two seconds later she felt warmth curl from her toes to her fingers as she realized what she suggested.

However, the Light does not allow its followers to simply eat their words to retract them.

Peridaous had frozen at her suggestion. "I… I don't…"

There was nothing for it. Namue had put her cards on the table, and now was gambling with something precious. "A Sundragon in an honorable choice. Tell them that I have shown interest in you, and you do not want to pass up this opportunity."

"It… it would be so strange to them. They would never believe-"

She rooted in her mind, a plan taking form. She snatched his hand, pulling his gaze to hers. "Tell them I am taking you on a hunting mission, to Winterspring." The plan began to flesh out even as she spoke. "Yes… tell them my father sent us with his best wishes."

"Namue, what-"

"It is perfect, Peridaous dear! Trust me!" She stood from the table, looking around as ideas came to her. "Perfect! Yes, tell them there is a monster terrorizing Everlook. And if you successfully aid me in its destruction, you will win my heart and hand in marriage!"

The older elf stood as well. "Namue, that is insane. Sundragons have not married out of the Sunstrider line since… well, ever! They will not believe this."

"They will when my father returns to Silvermoon with only praise to speak of you."

Here her captain faltered. "What?"

Her smile was far more sly than his was. She turned away slightly. "I… have told my father what a wonderful Lieutenant you are. He promises to send word to your family of it."

He still shook his head. "Still… perhaps another way? A courageous and daring adventure to the roof of the world seems we are trying a bit hard."

"You wanted to be snowed in, correct?"

He paused, stunned as she turned back to him. The intense look on her face promised him honor and an ease to his troubles. Finding he could not argue, he nodded.

"Then we will go to Winterspring, and bring only a few men with us. The rest will have leave to visit their families for the holidays."

"Namue… this is…" He tried to untie his tongue. The way her fiery hair framed her face did not help, nor did her low cut loose shirt, but he never let that distract him before. "This is too kind of you."

"It is also to my ends that I do this." She admitted, and smiled again. "I will not play dog for the Warsong tribe: if they want lumber they can have it. I want to prove to my father I am as good as Monsoon: battling extreme elements seems the best way to do it. They say there will be a large storm soon in Winderspring. If we are lucky, we can reach Everlook before it hits, and be cozily tucked away for the holiday. When it lets up after new years, we will return for my father's next assignment."

Her 'beloved' eyed her with respect. "Every day, my Lady, you astound me further."

She laughed. "Don't worry, I'll probably end up letting you down in by the end of this."

But he still reached across the table, and they clasped hands warmly.

Ahh... I have already bored my fiance with the history and lore and genetics of the Sundragon line, and therefore I don't feel the need to torture my few readers.

As for the story itself... don't expect any boring lectures. I am purposefully leaving a gaping hole in your knowledge. Let it be.

Mmmm... the underlying chemistry between the two is so tasty.

Review and tell me I am a loon, I need it.