Chapter Four

The desk was clotted with books, several of which where opened the reader of these books was a young teen girl slumped on the desk head on one of the open books deep in sleep. One would think that she was dreaming of the very magic that she was studying. For five years she had lived at the Wizard Sanctum working for the very mage she had attempted to steal from. The last few years she had been working on learning magic at night and working for the very books to learn from during the day from various tasks and tests given to her from the mage instructors in the tower.

The light from the oil lamp was long gone as the light from the sun shone inside the room. The Gnome that had entered the room his staff taller then himself seeming to be made for someone of a taller stature then he. His face revealed nothing as he looked upon the form of the young teen, this was not the first time he had found her asleep upon her books.

"Solest, wake up girl," he said yet she did not stir.

"Solest, wake up you silly girl," he said once more bringing down his staff unto the floor resounding a blast throughout the room. Bringing anything that was touched by it to the floor. Including Solest, waking her as she fell.

"What, ah?"

"I see that you have spent another night studying."

"You got that right, Talon."

"What did I tell you about calling me by my first name?"

"That I should call you by your title to show respect to you," she mumbled closing her books.

"That is correct and second stop with that attitude. Now you better start your chores, make sure you finish them," as he spoke walking around the room back turned to her giving, Solest a good opportunity to make some rather rude gestures behind him while he was going though the shelf.

"Are you listening?"

"Yes, sir."

"I also have a surprise for you, if you complete your chores in time."

The sound of footsteps running could be heard.

"So, Solest, when you are," he stopped when he found that he was merly talking to himself. "Where did that girl go?"

That morning went fast with Solest working hard to complete her chores in time, when the time came and the chores where done with. Solest then made her way to where she was told to go, there bought her the biggest surprise she had since going to Wizard Sanctum.

"Welcome are you one of the students here to learn the basics of tailoring?"

"Tailoring?"

"Yes, here you can learn the finer points of making new armored clothes for yourself, or maybe to start your own business."

This was her surprise tailoring lessons, just the thought of doing such a thing made her cringe, so as the students went to begin their lessons, she made her way out the door.

If she were going to do something she could at least practice some of what she studied, if she ever was to find her father or to survive the world she would have to defend herself. So she might as well practice aiming her fire spells correctly. Making her way to a firing range making sure that no one was there she began letting go of some spells. She had often played hooky from any lessons or chores to just practice anything that she had taught herself. She had advanced in her lessons far faster then any had thought she had. Though she suspected that Talon may know more of her skill level then any of the other mages. Since he was the one that would always catch her barrowings a book or two of the more advance spells. She didn't know it, but Talon was very much proud of her and what she had taught herself. It seemed that she learned faster when she was determined to learn something. He did not say anything as long as she kept up with her lessons and did well in them. He saw to it himself on any tests that she took adding a few suggestions or advice here or there.

At this moment she was mad, making sure that no one was around she began throwing fire spell after fire spell. Some of which hit her targets while the majority missed it. She was so concentrated upon her anger that she did not notice the Night-Elf that came near her target. As he turned to see where the fire spells where coming from one fire ball came towards him, hitting him on the chest, knocking him on the ground due to his lack of attention was caught off guard. quickly getting back on his feet he looked to his now scorched armor. Then looking up to the person that had shot at him, wondering what the hell happened.

"Oh no, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," Solest said repeatedly.

Trying to get things to be straightenout once more he found that he was laying on the ground a young human girl looking down on him. Quickly getting back on his feet he looked to his now scorched armor. Then looking up to the person that had shot at him, wondering what the hell happened.

"I'm so sorry, are you okay."

"I am quite fine, only shaken I was not paying attention to my environment."

"I'm glad you are alright and you didn't get to burn from that fire ball." 'I guess I still have to work on the effectiveness of that spell'

He couldn't understand why he was so drawn here, but when he had seen her throwing the fireballs he knew that she was the one that had drawn him from Darnassus to Stormwind. What could be so special of this human teenager's energy that she displayed, one thought came to mind, no there was no way it was even possible he was still in mourning from the lost of his wife.

"Hey, Mr. Night-Elf, Azeroth to, Mr. Night-Elf, come in."

"My name is not Mr. Night-Elf."

"Well how do you expect me to call you by your name when I don't even know it?"

"That is indeed true, my name is Grifindel."

"Grifindel. Well, Grif, I'm Solest."

"Well, Solest," he said ignoring the nick name that she had called him. "Why are you here throwing fireballs when a young lady like you should be in some sort of classes?"

"Well if you must know I'm ditching."

"And why are you ditching?"

"Answer me this then, why does everyone assume that I know tailoring and cooking, and if I don't why do they assume that I should learn these things. I mean come on it is quite pointless, I don't like wearing a dress while I'm on one of my errands for the tower I mean come on I trip every time I wear one of those things when I try to run! What use is a dress when someone that is clumsy is going to trip all over themselves and get themselves killed?"

"Well you have really…"

"And one more thing sure cloth is nice, but it doesn't work well for everyone look you don't wear cloth out there adventuring, no you wear leather or mail and that protects you better then cloth would. Sure they all look great and sure I don't mind a dress when I'm out for a date or something, but when am I ever going to get a date."

He just stared at her awed stuck that a human could talk so much like a gnome, must be a teenager thing, a human teenager thing. Though he only knew of one person that talked like this when she had something to say, that wasn't a gnome or a human female teenager.

"Okay, Solest, if you are quite done ranting maybe you could do me a favor and maybe I can help you out. You just said that your teacher sent you out to take some basic tailoring lessons, but you don't want to learn that. Why don't you do something better that will help while you are out in the world. Like leather working or herbalist."

"Herbs, that is it, I can learn herbalist and collect herbs to make potions those are always needed and I can possible make some starting money for some gear."

"Indeed."

"Ya that would be great!"

"Here why don't you come to me and I'll introduce you to someone that can get you started in it."

"Oh this is going to be so cool I can't wait to find out more about this and learn all that I can, and for helping me I will give you my first few potions on a discount price of let's say five silver."

"We will see for now let's get you started."

As she mixed the crushed herbs together –it was something that had become easier to her, a second nature over time and the friendship with Grifindel had grown over time- another memory had run it's course in her head. She could still remember that very day that they had met. Though she dreaded that when she would return how her return would seem to Grifindel. Somehow over the time that she had known him she had slowly fallen in love within. Though he never showed that love back to her she just couldn't help that her heart ache when he was near or even more so when she was not with him. Even if he did seem to complete him he just seemed to be distant to her must of the time a great sadness within his soul.

As she looked to the side looking toward the individual that at this time needed her help she knew that she must not falter with the potions that she was making for him. Though his wounds where bandage quite amateur, even the best of first-aid could not heal her father on their own. So after finding a safe place for the both of them she had began to work on the very thing that the elf and helped her along in their first meeting. Her brother she thought she was an only child that had long ago lost her mother. Though her father and taken her with him will he traveled Azeroth selling armor and weapons to the heroes that they would sometimes come across.

"Cartine, oh Cartine…"

"Sh, Father, rest you need to get your strength back if we are to find brother." She stopped from her work for a moment covering her father in the sheets of the inn and damping his forehead from the sweat.

Once he was healed and the fever was gone maybe he could answer her question about her brother and why he had left her to such an evil man.