Day 33

"Most necessary 'tis what we forget to pay ourselves is debt. What to ourselves in passion I propose, the passion ending, doth the purpose lose. The violence of either grief or joy their own enactures with themselves destroy. Where joy most revels grief doth most lament. Grief joys, joy grieves, on slender accident."

As time passed, Stalara found herself more and more comfortable talking to the stranger without a face on the otherside of the granite wall. The darkness however, was suffocating. The longer she sat in her cell, the harder she found it to breath...the fire and brimstone from the nearby Molten Core seeped through the walls of the Blackrock Depths. And the everlasting darkness that was her only companion before the man deemed Dietrich spoke to her. And now was her time to explain her predicament to this man. Why would a rogue of her sixtyth season fall victim to the damned Anvilrage clan...so foolishly did her youth show to have fallen prey to the imprisonment.

"So...are you gonna explace your situation or am I gonna have to play the guessin game. How did such a well trained warrior as yourself get caught here?"

"Well, as I had already mentioned to you once before...I chose to come to Blackrock by myself."

"Which again was suicide quite honestly."

"I know...but hey...who's tellin the story here Dietrich?"

"Sorry."

"I only done it because I wanted to prove to not only myself, but to Ayree as well that I could do it. I wanted to prove to her without even an ere of doubt that, though she's been there for me all this time...for once, I could be there for her and to prove to all without a shadow of a doubt that I could handle myself out there in the world...and I could help better both her and my future by gettin the both of us in good with Argent Dawn so we could gain passage into one of the most dreaded citadels known in all of Azeroth...though I have heard whispers of great movement near the dark portal in the Blasted Lands...but so far...I've heard only rumors. Nothing has been made quite concrete...but then again, I have been locked up down here for quite a while...so there's no tellin what has been goin on in my time of absence."

"Ah yes...the dreaded Outlands...it is no rumor milady...it has come true. The dark portal has reopened. Armageddon is upon us unless both Horde and Alliance can set aside their differences and come together to stop the inevitable onslaught, but alas...our brothers and sisters can not alow the past wrongs to be buried with our ancestors. The war shall rage on until the lost gods return to the world and bring peace to all."

"What...are you serious?"

"Did you not notice the rapid activity of the Draenei and Blood Elves before you wound up finding yourself here."

"Well, I had noticed their numbers had greatly risen. But then again...they were my furthest of concern...I was still seeking the ever elusive Shadowcraft armor."

"Wow girly, you sure don't seem to keep up with current events to well do you."

"Not really, they bore me too much...and besides...someone of my art...we prefer to keep it that way. I'm ever traveling and really do not concern myself with the here and now aspects of everything. I'm never in one place long enough to burden myself with that."

"I understand that, but that wasn't a here and now deal...that's something that may change the face of the world that we know...Horde and Alliance alike are likely to be obliterated and erased from history."

"Kinda like us right?"

"I don't follow." Dietrich was puzzled by her comment to him.

"Don't you see...we're lost in the folds of history as long as we are lost down here in this hell. No one cares...no one even probaby realizes that we are here...so we remain...lost to this world...what happens to those on the surface...is of no concern to me."

"I can't believe you just said that?"

"Why not? You are the one who has helped me realize that."

"WHAT!!?" Dietrich found himself furious at her placing the blame upon him...till he realized what she meant. "Wait, you mean about the fact no one has come for you...somethin I made mention of a couple ofnights ago?"

"Yes."

"Please Stalara, do not take what I said that night by face value. I know what I said...but you must understand my frustration at how everything has played out for me. Of course I'm gonna have spite toward the surface dwellers who condemned me to my life of damnation to this prison...all because I didn't want to fight their fight. In all truth however, I would much rather remain here, rotting away...then to ever see all those above suffer like I have all my life. No matter what...I love them all...they are my brethren...and I would never wish any misfortune to befall them."

"But, you were so angry at them for placing you under arrest for not wanting to join the war."

"Aye milady. And I still am...but I also understand it is their duty to try and uphold the balance and peace among the Alliance. If they had left me unpunished...it would have done nothing but cause an outcry that the Alliance just can't afford right now...we do not need a large movement f vigilantes to start happening because they allowed so many people to go free though they broke the Creeds set by those before us and those before them. I will serve my time here without trouble...it is my duty. It's only right that I pay for the crimes against the kingdoms that I have committed...but regardless...I still love them all...just as you do Ayree. Mentor or not...you love her Stalara...more than life itself...it's no wonder you put your own life on the line down here for her."

Stalara found herself knocked back into silence...not knowing what to say...what to do...or what to think. Could this man be right...was it possible that the feelings she had for Ayree were much much more than someone should have had for their 'mentor.' What was this man implyining...this man who didn't even know her...or anything about her? It's impossible...Stalara could not even fathom what he sid...sure he loved her...and everything about her. Her hair...her eyes...her smile...her...her...

Shit...like the fiery Breath of General Drakki...it hit her so hard she stumbled backwards at the realization that Dietrich had just reminded her of. She did love Ayree...with all of her heart and soul. Ayree always rested somewhere in her mind...rather she was asleep or awake. Stalara always found herself thinking of Ayree, even now as she spoke to Dietrich...it was Ayree she envisioned on the other side...her sweet melodic voice soothing her...calming her. Stalara knew it wasn't her...but it did not matter, it was just the thoughts...remembering the happy days...when it was only her...and her beloved Ayree...the woman who had been by her side since her tenth season of roguehood. Most people did not trust the rogues...but not Ayree...she accepted Stalara as who she was...not by the art she had chosen...but as the woman she was and would soon grow to be. And for that...Stalara...truly...loved her. Was that even plausible? Yes...yes it was...there was no wrong in it. Love was love. Stalara as so enraptured by all the thoughts coursing through her mind she arely understood Dietrich when he spoke...snapping her out of her thought.

"Is Ayree worth fighting for Stalara...is she worth living for?"

Without even the slightest hesitation, "YES! Yes she is! She's worth every bit of this hell...just knowing that one day, her and I will be reunited and I will be able to gaze upon her beauty once more...and hear that beautiful voice again...and feel the warmth of her embrace once again. It was by my own foolishness that I allowed myself to be separated from her in the first place...something that I don't expect to be forgiven of. As long as she accepts my most humblest of apologies for leaving her like I did...and if she don't, then that is just another sin that I will have to attune for."

"I may not know this woman myself, but she is very lucky to have someone like you in her life. And with the way you talk of this angel of frost from above...I'm almost sure that she will forgive you for all your foolishness...and will instead just be grateful to have you in her arms again."

"You know...I think you're right."

"Stalara...I know I'm right." Dietrich said with a sly smile.

To Be Continued...