A/N: Legion has hit! I am honestly so in love with it so far. I haven't hit 110 yet, but I am still having such fun! Demon Hunters are so cool. Anyway, onto the next chapter!

Disclaimer: I own nothing except Katryn Silverbane. All rights for World of Warcraft belong to Blizzard Entertainment, including places, events, and characters.

Of Blood and Arcana

Chapter Four

An Anecdotal Drink

Katryn stared at Garrosh. These words, albeit very condescending and curt, startled her. These were the first words she had ever heard Garrosh speak at all, let alone to her. He had always been quiet, almost brooding, when she had seen him in the past. Now, however, she had heard the orc's voice, and she could hear the aged hatred and emotion that was now imbued into it. His voice grated like blades on stone, and yet held a certain amused contempt, as though his insulting her brought him sick pleasure.

"I'm sorry?" By the Light, did she sound stupid as all hell saying that.

The orc actually rolled his eyes at her. She saw them, glowing yellow in the dim light of the fire. She felt her face flush, as colour rushed to her cheeks.

"Will you end your high pitched mewling about my well being if I drink this swill." He put disdainful emphasis on the last word, looking down at the tea and, had he been anatomically able, Katryn wondered if he would curl his upper lip above those gleaming, pointed tusks. She shuddered at the very thought, but instead of showing her fear, she squared her shoulders, and spoke back, trying to keep her voice as steady as possible.

"I hardly think that's an appropriate tone for a prisoner to take with one of his captors." This wasn't something Katryn would normally say, but she felt that, if she were to be able to carry a conversation with Garrosh, she would need to exhibit strength and confidence, rather than fear and weakness. "I was only offering you drink; you haven't had anything since your arrival here, and I very much doubt you had much before then. I'm sure you don't want to wither away in a cage, yes?" She didn't want to be rude to him, but at the same time, she had shown him kindness, and he had attempted to insult her, so she must show that she was not afraid of him. In reality, this was not untrue. She wasn't so much afraid of him, as she was afraid of Jaina's wrath should he come to harm under her watch, or her friends'.

Garrosh sneered at her through the bars of his cage. "Captors?" His tone was full of malice and still held an edge of amusement, much to Katryn's surprise. "You are no captor, mage. You are a woman with a stick." He jerked his chin in the direction of her staff, which stood propped up beside her bag at the hearth. Katryn felt her eye twitch at his comment, responding in a way that was unlike her, though Garrosh had piqued a nerve.

"Better a woman with a stick, than a man in a cage."

Garrosh looked, for the briefest of instances, taken aback, but it was so fleeting that perhaps Katryn had imagined it. The orc then snorted, leering at her through the iron bars, which glowed faintly with magic. "A man? I am no man, you foolish woman." His words were gruff, as though it caused him pain to even say them, but not a pain that suggested he regretted it, but a pain that he had to even speak to her at all. "I am not a pathetic, quivering human, who puts those different from her in cages to protect herself." He couldn't have sounded more hateful if he tried. "I could tear each of you limb from limb with my bare hands, before you even had a chance to recite one of your piss-assed little phrases that you call magic. I have seen real magic, and power, and it did not come from some pale, small teethed, skinny little human with an oversized twig and a dress."

A heavy silence hung in the air between them. It clung to the dancing shadows like fog, and filled Katryn's lungs like smoke. She found herself staring at Garrosh, and knew her mouth was hanging open slightly, because Garrosh was still sneering at her, looking mildly triumphant at his more than unsurprising dramatic outburst. He had said those words as a means to attack her directly, despite not knowing her, and get in her head, making her feel worthless, useless, and sad.

But, Katryn did not feel any of those things.

She knew that Garrosh was lashing out because he was angry, tried, hungry, and thirsty. She knew he probably felt like he had failed himself by not being able to raise up his "True Horde", and allowed himself to be beaten by adventurers and, of course, Thrall himself. He was so hateful, bitter, and possibly filled with regret, and betrayal. He reminded her of a child. By that definition, she would treat him as such.

She shrugged, withdrawing the cup to her. "Suit yourself," she returned to her spot by the fire, her back to him. Over her shoulder, she added, "Though, I don't think that someone like you would want to waste away to nothing in a cage, and face the trial of his life as a husk, rather than everything you claim to be." She could feel his eyes on the back of her head, and she felt her mouth twitch in a small smile when she heard Garrosh emit a low growl of irritation, because she knew he knew she was right, despite not verbally answering her.

She glanced back over her shoulder, a small smirk on her lips, watching the orc with mild interest as he watched her, refusing to speak. She took that as a sign, and returned the tea within the cage. No sooner had she put the cup down, did a great, brown hand snatch it up, narrowly missing her fingers. She pulled her small, white by comparison hand back, drawing it into her breast, trying to stifle the gasp that attempted to escape her lips.

Garrosh's eyes flitted to her for a moment, but he did not acknowledge her withdrawal, instead gulping down the liquid in a manner of seconds, before smashing the cup to the floor of the cage, shattering it upon impact. Katryn watched him, her eyes narrowed, having not expected such a reaction. There was a brief silence, before Katryn carefully conjured another cup, bringing it to the cage once again.

Garrosh watched her from the cage, his yellow eyes glinting in the darkness. She slowly approached him, the steaming cup hot against her skin, causing her palms to sweat. Steam rose, filling her nose with the smell of tea and honey, as she slowly placed the mug in the cage again. She could feel the orc watching her as she did, his eyes practically burning a hole in her skull. She paid him no mind, instead waving her hand once, conjuring a small loaf of bread. This would be all she could give Garrosh tonight, seeing as if she gave more, she risked being labeled as a traitor.

Katryn turned her back on Garrosh, returning to her place by the fire, hearing the sounds of him wolfing down the bread, and slurping back the tea. He would never admit it, but she knew he needed the food and drink she had provided for him.

There was silence between the two of them for several minutes. All Katryn could hear was the sounds of the Jade Forest, and the crackling of the fire. In the background, she heard the dull chatter of her friends from within their tent, and the distinct sound of laughter. Part of her longed to be in there with them, going along with whatever joke Tormant had told, or smiling fondly as Claudia and Aerin bickered, as usual. Another part of her enjoyed sitting alone, relatively, and listening to the nature surrounding her. She relished in the silence, inhaling the humid air, letting it fill her lungs, knowing that tomorrow, the trek through the remainder of the Jade Forest would continue, and make way for the Valley of the Four Winds.

Pandaria really was so beautiful, she marvelled yet again. It was a shame that Garrosh had brought about so much destruction to this place. A thought struck her then, and she felt her eyes drift to the caged orc again, and she felt a small smile tugging at her lips. She knew what was about to say may antagonize him, but she couldn't resist.

"You know," she mused thoughtfully, playing with her ponytail, and she saw Garrosh raise his head, watching her, his eyes narrowed. He may have been an orc, but he was the farthest thing from stupid. He could probably tell by the tone of her voice that she was about to say something irritating. That, and based on his earlier outburst, he perhaps felt all humans said things that were meant to irritate him. "Pandaria is quite lovely. I've never seen it before." She glanced sideways at Garrosh, and had his eyes narrowed any further, they would have surely closed. Katryn felt her smirk grow, "I'd heard stories about its beauty, but I never imagined I'd ever see it in person. The words really don't do this place justice."

Garrosh's voice came out in a low growl, his annoyance showing, giving her a momentary spike of satisfaction. "If you have a point, woman, make it." He was in no mood to talk, and Katryn knew it, but she still couldn't help but bother him a bit more. The orc was, after all, their prisoner, and Katryn knew she was able to speak to him however she saw fit, but did not want to be cruel. Banter was one thing, blatant insults was another.

She turned her head fully now to look at him, fixing a large smile on her face, and she was Garrosh make a face that looked almost surprised, if not a tad frightened; she almost laughed at him. "No point; I was simply remarking on the beauty of this place. Don't you agree, Garrosh?" Her voice was too sweet, and she knew she was getting under his skin, because the look of mild fear was replaced by one of mild gloating, laced with what she could only interpret at loathing. She leaned back again, looking back up at the stars that littered the night sky, letting out a long, drawn out sigh of contentment. After another few moments of silence, she added.

"It's a shame you had to go try and kill everything and everyone here."

When she looked at him again, his face was unreadable. To her, it seemed a mixture of shock, disgust, and an even deeper loathing. However, there was also an air that he was impressed with her statement, given how bold it was. She fixed him with a look, watching him from under her lashes, her mouth still in that same, smirk of a smile. "I doubt the land will ever truly recover."

Garrosh let out a low chuckle; it rumbled deep in his chest, and his lip curled over his tusks again. "Bold words, for such a skinny human." There it was, the loathing again. "I will admit, I am impressed. You have heart for someone whose neck I could snap like a dried twig, were these bars not protecting you." He looked taken aback when she rolled her eyes at him.

Katryn stood, moving slowly and gently towards the cage. She stopped right in front of it, so close to Garrosh that she could feel the heat radiating from his skin. She gently ran her hand along the enchanted bars of his rolling prison. "Idle threats," she said, not looking at him. She raised her eyes to look him directly in his, suddenly. "My magic could tear you apart."

Garrosh suddenly lunged at the bars, a roar escaping him. Katryn didn't even flinch when he clanged against the metal, making the cage shake on its hinges. She took a slow step backwards. She was glad her friends seemed to be immersed in whatever they were doing, for none of them exited their tent to see what had happened. She looked up at Garrosh, her eyes searching his face. The orc was breathing heavily, a mad look in his eye. She knew he could kill her in a manner of moments, had he not been caged. She also knew, however, what she was capable of, and that she was able to keep a level head, whereas he was not.

Her voice came out softer, kinder, than she had expected, given the situation. "You're filled with so much hatred, aren't you?" Her whisper was carried away with the wind that blew through their camp. Garrosh calmed almost instantly, his yellow eyes seemingly confused by her statement, and yet still filled with mad rage, and some murder. She stepped away from the cage, watching him. "I won't use my magic against you, don't worry." When he narrowed his eyes for the what seemed like the hundredth time, she added, "At least, not to harm you." She gestured absently to the cage. "I just wanted to see what you would do." She turned away, and returned to her spot by the fire, not looking at the orc, who she could feel was watching her every move now.

Katryn played with a twig laying next to her, reminded of how Garrosh had compared to neck to such a thing. She felt a stab of something. Was it pity? Garrosh was so angry at the world; he felt personally victimized by it, even before he had gone on his murderous, genocidal rampage across Pandaria. She had used such simple words, and yet Garrosh had looked as though she had insulted his entire lineage, right back to the origin of the Hellscream name. She knew she had probably crossed a line by saying what she had, but she also knew that Garrosh needed to be told that he wasn't this all powerful, undefeatable being.

After another moment, she spoke again. "I know you could kill me if you wanted to, without that cage. Easily, I might add." Silence. She knew he was ignoring her, but she continued to talk anyway. As she did, she looked at him again, and saw that the scars left by the Sha were still so prominent, seeming to glow in the firelight. "That Sha really did a number on you, didn't it?" More silence, but she thought she saw his eyes flit to her briefly. "I can see the scars." She saw his eyes move, though not to her. They glanced down at the scars she was referring to. She took a daring step with what she said next. "Is that why you're so angry now?"

He actually looked at her now, his face blank, but that crease still in his brows. He said nothing, but she could almost see the gears in his brain turning as he processed what she said.

"I remember you, you know." She gazed into the flames, remembering the Argent Tournament. "It was at the Argent Tournament, years ago. You were there with Thrall, back when he was Warchief." Garrosh twitched at that comment, no doubt reliving his time with Thrall, something Katryn knew probably caused him great pain. "You were different then," she mused, a light laugh escaping her. "Still arrogant as all hell, but not quite as bitter as you are now." He looked at her with that comment, and she let out a little laugh as he did, though his expression did not show amusement. When Katryn had sobered, she glanced back at him again, and felt a small tug at her heart, that feeling of pity returning.

"For what its worth," her voice was soft, pensive, and careful. "For all that has happened to you, I'm sorry. It must have been a nightmare, being fused to that Sha, having it drown your mind, and fill you with all that hate, despair, and fear. I know it was voluntary, but –" she was cut off when Garrosh spoke.

"Don't."

It was a simple word, and yet it held so much emotion. His tone was filled with anger, fear, agony, betrayal, and despair. He sounded so tired when he said it, and also alive with the contempt that burned in his soul. His voice did not break upon uttering the word, but Katryn could hear the sadness in it, possibly for the loss, and lack of living up to, his father, and loss of his Horde, and his title. He needn't say any more, because Katryn knew that she had crossed some kind of line. She felt a pang of guilt, but pushed it down. Instead, she spoke gently to the orc, her enemy, and her prisoner.

"As you wish," her voice was quiet. They looked at one another for a moment, before Garrosh turned his great back to her, his posture that of someone who did not wish to speak anymore, if he ever had to begin with. She stood, feeling the weight of exhaustion hitting her, and knew it was time to switch watch with one of her companions. She would advise them to let Garrosh be, using the excuse that Jaina did not want him harmed, as she had requested, to ensure that he would be left alone, lest someone do something stupid…er. She moved towards the tent, but not before looking back over her shoulder at the great, hulking form of the former Warchief, former conqueror, and current wanted criminal.

"Goodnight, Garrosh." She did not know if he had heard her, she didn't even look back, she simply entered the tent, and that was the end of it.

Morning dawned bright and early. Katryn had had only a few hours of actual sleep, and her head was starting to pound as she gathered up her things and prepared to depart camp, and continue their journey through the Jade Forest. As she did, Claudia approached her. After Katryn had returned to get some sleep, Aerin had taken the following watch, then Tormant, then Claudia. Aerin had stated upon return that he had tried to deliberately antagonize Garrosh, despite Katryn's disapproving scowl, and mentioned that Garrosh had appeared to be made of stone, for he had not reacted once to any of his jabs. Katryn had found this both amusing, considering how annoyed Aerin had been, and also odd, seeing as Garrosh had engaged her quite a bit. She wondered if what she had said had upset him that much. Claudia had said something similar, as did Tormant, remarking on Garrosh's stoic nature.

Claudia spoke to her now, as they prepared to depart. "How did last night go?" She asked, her tone inquisitive, and her eyebrows raised. "Hellscream seemed kind of down when Aerin, Tormant, and I, took watch. He was so grumpy earlier; did you say something to him that hurt his feelings?" She sounded like she found it amusing, and Katryn felt a prickle of irritation. Claudia and the others were being unnecessarily unkind, and she felt it was unlike them, and not needed. However, she didn't let it get to her.

"Nothing happened; he ignored me. He didn't want anything to do with me, or any of us." She said curtly, strapping her staff to her back, as they began to head out. Garrosh, seated in his cage, rolled passed them, the mages bringing up the rear of the party. As the rolling prison passed them, Katryn felt a gaze upon her, and she looked up, only to find Garrosh watching her again. This time, however, his expression was anything but hateful. Instead, his gaze looked pensive, almost thoughtful, even a bit confused. It held mild interest, and something else, though Katryn could not place it. It both confused her as well, and sent an odd chill up her spine. Why was he looking at her like that? Garrosh did not break eye contact until the cage turned at the end of the path that led into the winding trees of the Jade Forest. She stared after him, her mind racing.

Claudia walked up beside her, looking after Garrosh in the direction he had disappeared in. Ahead of them, Aerin and Tormant waved from up the path, gesturing for them to follow. Before hurrying to catch up, Claudia turned to look at Katryn, her expression that of smug knowing, a look she only gave Katryn if she knew her friend was lying to her.

"Nothing happened, did it?" Her lips twitched, and Katryn wished she were invisible. "And I'm from Argus."

Claudia rolled her eyes at her friend, before hurrying passed Katryn to join the others, leaving the young woman standing in not only her dust, but with her swirling, turbulent thoughts. All Katryn could see were those two yellow eyes, watching her, and she felt a chill pass through her, despite the humid climate.

Oh, dear.

A/N: Updated! I hope you all enjoyed this. It may take me a bit to get into the swing of how Garrosh's character will speak, but once I am in his head, I feel this will come easier to me. Thanks, all!