A/N: I've combined two chapters together, kinda want to quicken the pace and plus one was a little too short to my liking. Thank you again for reading and reviewing.
The sun had almost disappeared under the horizon as Tahldre arrived home from the academy. Raven always badgered her if she didn't wait for him after her class as it was "Not safe for young girls" to walk home by themselves at night. She would just roll her eyes, since arguing with the invisible and insufferable man was futile. If he was comfortable staying in denial that one, she was a fully grown elf, and two, they were in a highly guarded capital city, then so be it.
Her tears had nearly dried when she opened the oak door that represented the entrance to her small apartment. What was she supposed to call that incident on the balcony? Maybe Eirran did it out of passionate love? Tahldre pursed her lips. No… the "kiss" did not feel out of love due to the pain she felt as she just slightly touched her lips with her fingers.
She took her satchel off her shoulder and threw is half-heartedly on the chaise, her newly acquired glyph could wait to be learned. Tahldre looked about the apartment. Everything looked exactly the same as she had left it this morning. To anyone else, that may have been good, but the way Tahldre's face turned to dismay told otherwise. The young elf had hoped that there would be evidence of Raven's return from wherever he had vanished four days ago.
"Don't worry. I just have to do some work in another region I'll be back in a day or two. I promise to be here before you graduate so we can celebrate." That's what he had said before his presence had disappeared from her room and had never become known again even four days later.
"So much for that," Tahldre thought pathetically. She usually didn't feel so sorry for herself or be so immature, but today was her graduation and she was even assaulted by the only other male she had trusted in her life before the sun was even down. Could today become any worse? Maybe she would trip down the stairs or be whisked away by thieves in the night. Maybe then someone would actually care to spend their time for her, even if it was because she was stolen or killed.
Tahldre muttered her irritation not only at the world she currently lived in but at herself, "Stop this train of thought, you are a noble priest of House Tyrghymn, I'm sure they would never let such petty factors hinder them."On the other hand, how could she know how her family may have reacted to today's events? They had all perished by the hand of the Lich King, and thus they were forgotten almost entirely.
As she made her way through the house, turning on the lamps that lit with holy energy from her priesthood, Tahldre recalled Raven's adamant tutelage of her family line. He sure hadn't forgotten of their legacies, and told her it was an honor to even be in the presence of a member of the family house. She would just flush, embarrassed by his words, not understanding such importance on something so insignificant in today's time.
After all the lamps were lit on the main floor of the apartment, the light revealed the unusual emptiness of Tahldre's household. Of course she would not have many belongings, no heirlooms of her great ascendants, since anything that may have been in her inheritance was either stolen or destroyed by the scourge and way-ward thieves alike. Even so, Tahldre did not care much for anything other than what Raven would acquire when his job called for him to complete some important quests or another. She was happy with his gifted heirlooms and her books.
She sighed as she made her way up the spiraling staircase that led to her curtained adorned bedroom. As she pushed the azure blue curtains aside, she instantly noticed a glimmer originating from a pillow of her equally azure bed. She quickly lit all the lamps in her room with just the twist of her wrist, proving the skill and precision of her class.
Tahldre neared the bed, realizing that the item on her pillow was a necklace. She brushed her light brown hair behind her ear as she picked up the silver chain. A smile spread across her face as she fingered the pendant that hung lightly on the chain.
She eagerly clasped in around her small neck, the raven feather lay delicately over her collar bone.
Duty was the only reason Korik Thoathiel forced himself to go about the capital city without any disguise. That, and sometimes it was nice to relax in the open without anyone trying to cut his head off in the name of the "King". The dark elf rolled his eyes, there was no glory in killing, he should know, but that never stopped any of these well-loved leaders.
Korik sat in Wayfarer's Rest Inn at the bar, currently fuming about politics and warfare. The letter had arrived today. Signed and stamped by the Warchief Thrall himself, basically commanding Korik to join arms with his "brothers" and "sisters" and face inevitable death in Northrend. Oh course they would choose him to lead a group of recruits into that dreadful fortress.
Well, not everything was so downtrodden today at least. Korik had just left his rogue guild after catching up on news circling around the city as well as refilling his poisons. He had turned to make his way to the Walk of Elders when he stopped startled by the young elf walking towards him with her distracted gaze looking down. He should have moved, just slipped to the side like a phantom, an easy maneuver for his class. But he stayed put, dumbly staring ahead like a deer about to be shot with an arrow. She collided with his chest, hardly able to move him back a step, and had looked up at him with those eyes…
Korik groaned as he wiped his hand none too gently down his face. Although he was one of the highest ranking rogues in the city, that rank was nonexistent when it came to allowing a hardly graduated novice to distract him so.
Seemingly out of nowhere, another elf female seemed to grace Korik with her presence as she plopped down onto a stool next to him. Soliel grinned at the glowering rogue next to her.
"I saw what happened today."
Korik shifted his eyes to her swiftly, trying to disguise his surprise with indifference.
The blonde elf leaned in closer, "You know, an old man like you shouldn't be preying on such innocent priest novices." His reaction nearly got a laugh out of her as he whipped his head towards her to glare.
"I was not preying on her. She got in my way. I knew that making her uncomfortable would hurry her along and get away from me." The dark haired elf nearly seemed to pout at his words.
"But yet you still allowed her to see you," Soliel said almost gently. Korik replied with a growl, "She doesn't know who I am to her, and I am going to make sure it stays that way."
Soliel sighed and looked at Korik with what seemed as pity. "Do not be so naïve, Korik. Are you to seriously believe that she will not find out after-"
"I can make it possible. Do not doubt my class, Soliel. I have experience with multiple disguises, this is no different." Korik's dark green eyes glowed intensely with his words but calmed as he slowly turned his head to look upon the bar counter top once again.
"You may be a master of disguise, Korik. But will these facades stay aligned when it comes to your emotions?"
Korik opened his mouth to reply, but as he turned to speak, the elf woman had already left.
Two bags filled with Tahldre's belongings dangled off her shoulder as she exited her apartment. The sun had hardly breached over the horizon as she made her way to the bank just a few blocks from her home. In order to survive the frostbitten land of Northrend, Tahldre needed some warmer clothing and a better staff than the one she had for her priest training. Luckily Raven had been saving any little money she made during her quests around Eversong Forest and the Ghost Lands. She had made him swear that it was her money only being saved, but a part of her knew that the mysterious rogue was adding in a little more gold than she could have made by herself.
Tahldre was ashamed to admit that when she had just started her training, the rumors about rogues from the other students had caused her to question Raven's way of life. He could always tell when something was bothering her and had coaxed her into telling him about how she was worried he may be a thief or possibly kill innocent people with his poisons and daggers. When he hadn't replied for what seemed like hours, but were most likely minutes, Tahldre had apologized profusely for questioning the only person who had cared for her. She was instantly struck with relief and a slight bit of surprise as a chuckle had escaped the invisible man's lips.
"It is true that I have killed, Tahldre. I have never purposely hurt an innocent, never by my hand. Rogues who steal from their allies are looked down upon in my guild. If you must know, I've only stolen items of power that have fallen into the wrong hands, of evil intent. I do not care for wealth and any wealth that I receive is from my missions to rid this world of corruption and hate. Will it not be the same for you, Tahldre? After your training you will be around death and evil, but your eagerness to heal the injured and the weak will in time erode corruption and hate. Your means are just more pure than mine."
A cool azure glow surrounded the young elf as she entered the Bank of Silvermoon. She hurriedly strode to the bank teller and asked all her money to be withdrawn in her name. The elf behind the counter quirked an elegant eyebrow, "Miss, are you sure you want to withdraw all of it? That is a lot of gold to be carrying around by yourself if I say so myself."
Tahldre furrowed her brow in confusion, "I should only have as much to fill up a small sack. Roughly two hundred gold I would assume. Is there a problem?
The teller replied with laughter in his tone, "Well Miss you are in a nice surprise for this early in the morning. The total I have here states that you have over one hundred thousand gold in the name of Tahldre Amarimil."
She stilled in shock as the banker's words were slowly understood. A blush slowly spread on her cheeks. "Ah, I'll just withdraw two hundred." Tahldre stated shakily. The bank teller nodded and handed her a purse filled with the gold. The young elf swiftly turned around and hurried out of the bank.
Tahldre noticed she instinctively clutched the raven pendant every time her thoughts flowed to Raven. This time was no different. She knew he had arrived in the city last night. Was his mission that took him four days to finish had been for this gold? The priestess huffed irritably under her breath, "I am not a child. He does not need to go to such lengths to provide for me."
This incident could be solved later. Tahldre retrieved a letter from the mail box next to the bank:
Tahldre Amarimil,
It is with great honor for me to write to such a highly ranked priestess. I have heard about your considerable achievements in your studies and you aide to your people. Your request to be assigned to Northrend and help heal our brothers and sisters as they fight against the Lich King has gone unnoticed. Your help will be significant to our cause, but I warn you that there is great sacrifice when it comes to war.
If you are still willing to travel away from your home and loved ones to fight for the greater good and the victory of the Horde, I have notified a commander stationed in Silvermoon City to escort you to Northrend where they will then lead you and a group of other recruits such as yourself into the Icecrown Citadel. They will be waiting for you at the entrance of Sunfury Spire before the sun in down.
Strength and Honor, Tahldre.
Warchief Thrall