Sorry this took so long to upload, starting exams
so I had very little time to do... anything.
Reunion
"Friendship is unecessary, like philsophy, like art..
It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things
that give value to survival."
~C.S. Lewis
The night had gone by too fast, and by the time morning came it was as if Eva had not even had a wink of sleep. She lay on her bed, tossing away from the massive window as the shining rays of light taunted and teased her fading sleep. Groaning in surrender, Evangeline sat up and rubbed her weary eyes. Paco jumped up and landed neatly by her side, rubbing his blue crystalline cheek over her arm.
"Aww, silly Paco. Did you have a good night sleep? Huh, did you baby?" She said, cooing at the little creature at her side.
Paco tilted his head to the side and ran around in a circle, letting off a bit of energy.
"Show off, I wish I was that well rested. How did they treat you while I was out yesterday?" Eva had been wary of leaving Paco alone with strangers, but the castle's attendant and her daughter had a particular fondness for the crystal kitten. Paco himself seemed overjoyed at having someone else to play with, and thus he and the little girl played happily in Eva's room the entire evening until she returned.
Paco looked around the room before sitting down and starring at his stomach.
"Is your tummy grumbling Paco? Why don't you come along with me down to the kitchen? I'm sure they'll have something for you to snack on" Eva said with a tiny yawn from her coral pink lips. She bounced off her bed and moved toward the closet, she had noticed yesterday that human ambassadors did not wear armor, and so, with motivation from Calia, she would wear more – casual – clothes.
Evangeline took out a deep blue dress from her closet, the sleeves moved down from her shoulders until they ended at her wrists. The neckline scooped down into a deep V shape, while the rest of the dress fell limply to the ground. It was a plain dress, nothing that would gain attention, and she knew that no one would single her out of a crowd simply because of what she wore. It was what she was that did that.
She went to the dresser and pulled out a couple of chain earrings. She placed one of the studs at a hole on the top part of her elongated ears, while she pinned the other into a hole a couple inches lower. Both studs were chained together by a lithe silvery white binding. While finishing up her second ear, Evangeline looked for something to complete her casual look. Opening the drawer she removed a black sash that she buckled around her waist.
"Okay Paco, I'm ready let's go!"
Paco and Evangeline moved down the familiar staircase to the dining hall. On their way, they past the kind attendant and her daughter, who paused to give Paco a quick rub on the cheek, before continuing with their work. Evangeline and Paco stopped at the entrance of kitchen and stole a couple glances around the big chamber. Being his usual fearless self, Paco trudged on into the kitchen, holding his tiny blue head high, while Eva inched in slyly behind him.
"Vat, are jou dooink in mah keetchun!" A man called from somewhere behind them.
Eva and Paco froze mid-stride, sweat forming at the top of her brow, Evangeline turned around with a guilty smile on her face. Paco let out a huff before turning around to face the massive and – rather plump, chef.
"Zee's, eez mah keetchun, vat do jou steenk jou are dooink eer?" He stated his eyes glowering madly between the elf and her pet. Clutched in his hand was a massive meat tenderizer.
Evangeline eyed the weapon warily, "I'm sorry sir, I was just looking for some food. King Terenas told me I could come here whenever I wanted."
"Ahh, keenk Terenas sent jou? Oki, oki, I saught jou ver a seef comink to steel mah foodt! Take vat jou neet, haha, sory for zee confusion." He said giving a hearty chuckle before continuing to pelt the meat with his huge cleaver.
Wide-eyed, and rather unsettle, Evangeline and Paco dashed to the cellar, took out some food and ran off without speaking to the chef again.
Paco had made his way back to the room himself, carrying in his mouth a hunk of meat larger than his whole body. Evangeline took with her an apple and roamed around the castle, looking for a nice place to enjoy the spring weather. She paced through the halls before coming to the giant stone archway that marked the threshold between the castle and the outdoor world. Sighing deeply; Evangeline moved into the cool air and it wrapped around her skin and caressed her gently.
She moved through the castle gardens quietly, grazing her fingers lightly over the red roses, or dancing merrily in the budding bushes. Evangeline stopped her trek once she came to a grey stone bench, wedged comfortably in the grass beside a massive willow tree. The branches of the willow swung down gracefully, billowing sadly in the wind. The solid tears moved back and forth in the spring breeze, making a barrier between the seat and Evangeline.
Taking care of the delicate fabrication, she pushed her way through its sparse branched wall and sat down quietly on the bench, munching at her shining red apple. In the distance Evangeline could hear the bustling of the town, but that required much concentration, and the only thing surrounding her now was overpowering silence. The kind of silence that exists when the world you live in disappears and there is nothing around but yourself, no people, no places, no memories, no thoughts, no dreams. Emptiness.
Eva closed her eyes, contemplating her new solitude, a lark intruded into her thoughts for but a minute before fading off in the distance. Wow, this is really quiet. I think this will be my new meditative spot. I'm going to come here from now on, if only to escape the world for a little while. The winds blew softly as she opened her eyes to the bright world in front of her.
Lordaeron had seemed like a terrible place to be a couple weeks ago, and now it seemed like the most serene place on Azeroth. The terrible feeling of unease she usually had was replaced with peace, and her fears and uncertainties faded like the dawn mist.
Crunch, crunch, crunch, snap. Eva opened an eye to see what had broken the general silence of her spot. She saw nothing in front of her, nothing to her sides and the sound had faded away. Frowning in confusion, she closed her eyes once more, and inhaled deeply. Crunch, crunch, crunch.
Evangeline exhaled, now irritated. She got up from her spot and looked around the tree. Where on earth is that sound coming from? She questioned. Finished her apple, she threw the core into a couple bushes, where it would decay and degrade in peace.
Well, this was nice while it lasted. Evangeline began moving toward the castle angrily, unwilling to leave behind her little niche. Until she heard a massive thud resound from behind her. Spinning around instantly, Eva faced the creator of the sound. Standing on his feet, clad head to toe in his ebon black armor, stood Marwyn.
"Oh my, what are you doing here?" She asked in shock, her heart racing in her chest.
"I was enjoying a nice day off in the sun, on my favorite little spot in the tree, until someone came to disturb my peace." He said with a frosty chuckle.
Evangeline looked around in confusion, until she realised he had meant her. "I'm sorry; I didn't know anyone was there. Who hides up in a tree anyway?" She asked, moving away slowly.
Marwyn moved toward her as he spoke. "There's no need to run off, I'm not going to hurt you Eva. And I wasn't hiding up in the tree, I was relaxing."
"Why didn't you ask me to leave when I got there then? Why just stare at me for, however long that was?" She asked, continuing her move backward until she edged into a tree. There was no escape now.
"You looked so peaceful; I didn't want to bother you. Plus you weren't doing me any harm, I saw no reason to send you off" He smiled beneath his large helm, the glowing green haze from his helm flickering calmly in the breeze.
Evangeline squirmed uncomfortably, she was between a huge tree trunk, and a (probably just a big) man that made her feel extremely awkward. She blushed mildly at his closeness, she had never been so close to Marwyn, and he was a lot larger than he was further away. Duh.
"Well, you can have your spot now. I was done; I'll just be getting back to the castle now. I probably have some things I need to do anyway." She faked a smile before swerving around the tree.
Marwyn scoffed at her. "You know, you're a terrible liar. I wanted to show you something, will you come with me?" He asked Eva in a low voice, reaching out his hand toward her own.
Her mind was conflicted; go with the man that you think will kill you or no? She wrestled silently for two seconds before agreeing with Marwyn, placing her pale, trembling hand within his own.
He immediately began to guide her away from the castle, away from the garden, down a long winding dirt path. He carried her down the rocky steps and set her down carefully in a bed of orange Gerbera Daisies.
"Close your eyes." He ordered. Immediately, Evangeline snapped her eyes closed, smiling to herself and letting him guide her through the field of flowers. When they came to an obstacle, he would pick her up and carry her over before gently setting her back down on the soft ground.
They had walked for quite a bit before Marwyn stopped and told Eva to open her eyes. The light filtered in painfully to her opening eyes, tears formed quietly as she gazed out in front of her. Standing steadily before her was a maze of thorny red roses. Each bush carefully planted and each entrance carefully chosen.
"Oh, wow, this is beautiful Marwyn. Where are we?" She asked in wonder as her fingers brushed the petals of the early blooming flowers.
"This is the Queens' Garden, not Lianne's; even she doesn't know about it. Come on, it's a lot of fun." He said joyfully, stepping in the rose maze.
Evangeline hesitated, "but what if we get lost, how would we find our way out again?"
"Don't worry Eva; I've done this a thousand times." He said, the fel green haze rolling upward toward the sky. "Trust me."
Only thirty minutes ago had Eva been completely and utterly afraid of the figure looming ahead of her, and now, it felt as if she wanted to trust him. To go with him. It felt, like the right thing to do. He stretched his hand out to grab hers, pulling her into the hypnotic scents and the euphoric setting. They walked and walked, and twisted and turned, and when they reached a wall they would laugh together and turn back around.
Evangeline loved the feeling of being so carefree, never in her life had she felt so happy and at peace. Marwyn brought out the better feelings in her now, no longer did she fear the hulking behemoth at her side, she felt safe, secure, happy.
He turned to look at her, she moved determinedly through the maze, a small smile etched onto her delicate features. Tiny pearls of sweat forming at the top of her forehead and her soft blue dress trailed behind her in air.
Evangeline felt Marwyn's stare on her, and turned to face him. "What?" She asked with a smile.
"Nothing." He said before looking away, his hand holding hers tightly.
Evangeline looked at him and shrugged. Suddenly, Marwyn pulled her into an opening, which could have only been the centre of the maze. It was a huge sphere, surrounded by the forest of red roses growing as a fortress around them, the middle of the circle held a small fountain, still working and pearly white after all the years of neglect. At its side was a small hammock, wafting around in the light wind that sent cascades of rose petals to the cold earth before scooping them up and sending them swirling into the sky.
"Oh, this is beautiful Marwyn, how can no one know about this?" Evangeline breathed in awe.
"Some people do, not many people though, and even fewer actually make it to the centre. They're lucky if they can even make it out alive." He said with a soft chuckle. She turned to face him in horror.
"Haha, just kidding, don't worry. Everyone made it out in one piece!" He said with a smile.
Evangeline groaned and rolled her eyes to the sky before lying down on the hammock. Marwyn looked at her, and for the first time since she had met him, removed his helm.
Marwyn had a really handsome face, by far more attractive than the high elven men, by Eva's standards. He had a milky complexion, with a full head of tousled dark brown hair. He had a five o'clock shadow spreading over the lower part of his creamy face, while his vibrant green eyes stared out mysteriously into Eva's sapphire blue ones. A small smile played on his face as he put the helmet on the ground and moved toward Eva. Unconsciously she moved over to give him some room on the hammock, which he took.
When she went to roll back into her spot, she found that Marwyn's body had taken its place. Instead of landing on a soft material, she rolled onto a frozen plate of black armor, but she did not cringe at the feeling, did not shy away from the cold. Rather, she welcomed it into her life, and clung to it happily as she dozed off in his embrace.
She had woken to an unfamiliar place, her mind had not yet returned to her as she stared around blankly in the fading light. All around her, red roses danced playfully on their stems, while a fountain gurgled magically at her side. Beneath her, she found she clung to a man sound asleep, so peaceful, so serene. She stared into his face, mystified by him, who was this man?
So she laid, for a good while contemplating her surroundings, her feelings, the strange emotions she felt deep in her stomach. Feelings she had never felt before. She made a move to get up, to remove herself from the comforting cold, she did not want to, but felt she had to.
He stirred beneath her, oh boy, woke him up. And his green eyes flickered open. At first he looked confused at the blond woman peering at him, her eyes glowing in the dying light of the sunset, the first stars visible past the caramel sheen of her hair. His memory came flooding back to him and he smiled at her.
They stayed there for a couple minutes, saying nothing at all, just staring into each other's eyes. Both feeling similar emotions, but not needing to express them with words. He closed his eyes and sat up, bringing her with him.
"We should get back; they'll be looking for you." He said with a chuckle, "and they'll be looking for me, but for an entirely different reason."
Evangeline pouted, she didn't want to leave, she was happy and peaceful here, she liked it here. This was the only place where it felt like home again. "You're right Marwyn."
They both sighed and got up, she was a bit wobbly on her feet when she first moved, but Marwyn held her tightly in his strong arms to keep her from falling. They walked through the maze, back and forth, twisting and winding, until they exited the Queens' Garden.
Marwyn left her at the entrance of the castle, problems had arisen in his absence and Falric needed his help. Something was wrong.
Evangeline moved suspiciously through the halls of the great castle, guards running past her in a cacophony, the attendants rushing into their rooms and locking the doors. What's going on? Mid thought, Eva walked right into Arthas.
"Oh Eva, thank the light I've found you. There's a problem, but I don't think I'm the one that should tell you the details. Come with me." He ordered as he led her toward King Terenas' throne room. Barging through the doors and pushing through the throng of yelling people, Arthas and Eva came to the foot of the king's throne.
"Father, I've found her." Arthas said, kneeling to the floor for his father.
"Ah, Evangeline come with me." The king spoke hurriedly and led her hastily to the cities docks. Tied up to the docks, floated several high elven battle ships, drifting madly in the dark swirling waters. Evangeline and the king moved down the rocky stairs toward the boats, where several elves stood waiting to be addressed. Uther the Lightbringer, an old man Eva did not know and a young man she also did not know stood before a young high elven woman.
"Alleria Windrunner? Is that you?" Evangeline called out in shock. The elven woman turned her magical gaze toward Eva and a smile lit up on her face.
"Sister!" She called out in their native tongue.
"What are you doing here? Why are there battleships here sister?" Evangeline spoke in a hurried, confused voice. Her rich voice singing in the musical language of the elves.
"Anasterian sent us here to honor the pledge we made with the humans of Arathor." Alleria spoke solemnly. "As you might know, Sir Anduin Lothar, the commander of the alliance forces here, is the last true descendent of the Arathi bloodline."
Evangeline nodded in understanding, "so our king sent you to help with the war?"
"No," Alleria sniffed contemptuously "he sent a battalion to help; me and my rangers come by
choice, I believed more should have been sent to help the humans."
"I agree, he sent merely one battalion?" Evangeline said in disgust, looking behind her friend at the awaiting elves.
Alleria continued silently, "he also sent me to tell you that you are to return to Quel'thalas until
the war is over."
"Absolutely not! I'm not going to go cowering home when I made the decision to come here."
She steamed angrily, foreign words spilling from her mouth; the gathered humans looked on mystified by the musical words spoken by the two women.
"Don't worry sister, my Farstriders and I will help Lordaeron as well, it's our duty after all" Alleria smiled fiendishly, while Evangeline smiled back.
"Lady Evangeline, if I might impose for a moment." Uther the Lightbringer had moved forward toward the two elves. "But what exactly is going on here?"
Evangeline looked to him and back to Alleria, who smiled in support. "We're going to help you win this war." She said with a grin on her face.
Alleria and her forces had left a couple days ago with the main alliance army, led by Commander Anduin Lothar, his second in command Turalyon and the wizard Khadgar. Evangeline had wanted to go with them, not only to help in the war against the orcish horde, but also to catch up with her old friend. They had not had nearly enough time to speak, during Alleria's stay in Lordaeron, but she found that she could respect the king's decision to keep her here. It was Arthas that was complaining.
"Father, I should be out there on the front lines, fighting alongside my people. Not cooped up here like a cowering noble!" He called angrily.
Eva had never seen Arthas so upset, his anger frightened her and the negative emotions flooding the room threatened to suffocate her.
"Arthas, I am king, and as long as I'm king you will follow my rules." Terenas shouted at his son as Eva sat in the background, wishing to be anywhere but here.
Arthas stalked off angrily, throwing cold, contemptuous stares at his father. Both men had been locked in a fierce struggle for dominance the whole week, the king stood by his rule and Arthas was not able to leave the confinements of the castle. Unfortunately, neither was Eva.
"I'm sorry ambassador, but it's not safe for you to be roaming the countryside, the horde is snapping at our feet. I don't want you running off and getting hurt." He had said.
Calia was no more of a comfort, "why would you even want to be out there fighting? Have you ever seen one of those monsters? They're these massive green brutes that want nothing more than to decapitate your head, oh it's so tragic." She exaggerated extensively, although Eva doubted she even noticed. Calia probably believed every word she was saying.
They can't be that bad, can they? Even when she voiced her thoughts to Marwyn, she received the same reaction.
"Evangeline, promise me you will not set foot outside the castle walls!" He had told her forcefully, grabbing her softly by the shoulders. "I know you can take care of yourself, but, those things are dangerous. Even if they lack in cunning, they make up for it in brute force. We found one within the castle perimeters the other day and we have yet to catch it."
Marwyn's words were enough to keep her from venturing outside, she trusted him. She could believe what he said, but after a couple days of confinement, she couldn't care less what would happen. She just wanted out.
Days went by deathly slow, the minutes inching by in silence. Evangeline played constantly with Paco when she was not fulfilling her duties as ambassador, but even Paco needed to rest sometimes. This day had been like all the others lately, she walked down the halls alone, nothing to do, nothing to see. She'd been around this castle a million times now.
Calia was sleeping, Falric and Marwyn were busy, Arthas was – brooding. Ugh, there's absolutely nothing to do. What I wouldn't do for a little entertainment.
Her boredom had bested her reason, her youthful rebellion triumphed against her maturity, and Eva silently stalked into the room to her left, pushed a large drawer away, and slid down a tunnel leading to the outdoors.
The sun kissed her skin, and wind hugged her body, it had felt like a lifetime since she had come outside last. She breathed in the comforting smells of the outdoors, rain, of course. But she didn't mind, the rain was a welcomed reprieve of her previous situation, and she danced happily into the gardens, while mindfully avoiding the sharp eyes of the royal guard.
Evangeline moved through the bushes in a rapturous joy, her hands brushing through the wet leaves. She came to her seat by the willow tree, looking up to make sure Marwyn wasn't there; she entered and lay down on the cold stone. She had lain there for hours, looking up into the grey sky as the raindrops fell onto her smiling face. Her quiet euphoria keeping her from paying attention to her surroundings.
Crack.
Her ears snapped up and her eyes opened, alert for any movement in the vicinity. Looking around, upward, left, right, Evangeline moved slowly from her seat. Not making any sudden movements and willing the light that she made no sound.
She backed up silently in a bed of rose bushes and nestled herself inside, thorns probing every inch of her body painfully. She looked out quietly from her hiding spot, noticing a humongous green creature move onto the grass, clasping in its huge burly hands, an axe twice the size of her body.
Stifling a whimper, she backed away silently from the horrid sight, moving quietly through her red haven. Snap. Evangeline's heart sank into her stomach; the green creature lurched into the roses, and barreled straight towards her. Swinging its massive axe back and forth, back and forth, like the pendulum of a clock.
She jumped out of the way at the last second, thanking the light she was wearing her leather trekking gear today. The orc swung its head to meet hers, its red eyes glinting hatefully down at her. She scrambled up and made a run for the tree, easily outrunning the clumsy oaf. But the orc was not dazed for long, and soon gave pursuit, running swiftly in a straight line. Evangeline couldn't run forever and could feel the years of inactivity catching up to her. She desperately climbed the willow tree, climbing up its ancient trunk and sitting at the top of its primeval crown. She looked down at the lumbering beast below, yelling up at her and shaking its fists angrily.
"Why don't you go pick on someone your own size, you big brute?" She yelled down at the orc.
Smiling it picked up its axe and began chopping at the ancient willow tree.
Oh no. Eva wanted her sword, she wanted her armor, if she had them, she wouldn't be in this mess. If I get out of this, I promise I'll listen, to everyone! I think I'm also going to enchant that damn sword so I actually have it when I need it! She thought with a roll of her eyes. The tree began to sway beneath her feet, only a matter of time now. When this tree comes crashing down, I will need to fight. There's no telling how much damage I can actually do with my bare hands, but it's better than sitting there and waiting to die.
Evangeline closed her eyes and thought of all her loved ones. She thought of her mother and father, Paco, Ali'isha, Bren'de and Amorae. She also thought of King Terenas and Lianne, Calia and Arthas, and of course Marwyn. Why didn't she listen to him? He had warned her about exactly this, how ironic it is. She looked down, the beast was nearly done cutting through the wood, soon she would know death's cold embrace. Nothing lives forever, someone had told her, how foolish she had been to deny it, everything dies, even elves. She squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the sickening crunch of metal to wood.
"Hey orc, why not pick on someone your own size?" A loud voice resounded. Her eyes flung open. Marwyn? Here? Why? She didn't listen to him; he should have left her here to her fate. Let her die to the blade of this savage.
"Marwyn, go away! I don't want you to get hurt." She called down to him.
"Eva, shut up! Stay right where you are, and for the love of the light DON'T MOVE!" He yelled to her, the green haze of his helm glaring up at her in fury. She shivered at his anger, she knew she deserved it.
The orc was confused; the elf was much easier prey, but the man was a more accessible target. Grinning to himself, the orc heaved and brought the axe down onto the tree.
The willow groaned as the blade cut through its body, its flesh ripping, tearing, dust spouting out as a fountain of blood. Its lifeless carcass plummeting to the mossy floor, its visitor falling in tow.
Marwyn charged at the distracted orc, slicing his blades through its glowing green skin. The orc roared in fury, turning to meet his assailant, he swung his massive axe toward Marwyn. Jumping out of the way skillfully, Marwyn spun around to hack the orc as he lumbered to regain his balance.
Evangeline felt the earth spinning around her, the sky burning its image in her mind, the rain falling coolly on her face. The macabre clouds danced tauntingly in the sky, smiling down at her, teasing, always teasing. Her eyes closed, she heard the sounds of metal against metal, sword against skin. Who was winning? Is Marwyn still alive? Had he saved her? Or had she killed him? Gotten him hacked to pieces by the burly monster that would finish her off soon enough? Clang, the weapon swung again, hitting a lifeless body. The sounds stopped, it was just like that day beneath her now dead tree, except this time the silence was provoking, it sneered at her contemptuously. She cried in silence, not able to find her voice, not able to breathe, until she felt a touch on her arm. It was cold and delicate, tugging at her body, freeing her from her wooden prison. It carried her numbly home, and set her down silently on a bed.
Evangeline woke up, how long she had been out? She did not know. She was tucked into her bed, Paco sleeping peacefully at her side. On the table to her right she noticed a glass of water, which she drank greedily, and a bottle of an oozing purple liquid. She sniffed at the bottle and wrinkled her nose in disgust. Foul stuff.
She made a move to sit up, but found her body ached chaotically, sharp pains shot throughout her spine and muscles. She let out a tiny whimper.
Instantly the doors to her room flung open and Marwyn marched in. "Eva, are you alright?" He asked in concern.
"Wha – Marwyn, what are you doing here?" She asked, clearly confused.
"Taking care of you. You took a pretty nasty fall from that tree after the orc chopped it down. What were you doing out there anyway? I told you it was dangerous." He said; his green eyes boring into her blue ones.
"I was bored." Evangeline answered pitifully.
"You. Were. Bored?" He asked robotically. "I risked my life Eva, and you could have died! Just because you were bored?" He asked calmly, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Aren't you going to yell at me?" She asked in a frail voice.
"Why would I do that?" He asked, repulsed at the idea.
"Because you should."
"That's a terrible thing to say Eva, I would never yell at you."
"I want you to yell at me."
"What?"
"Marwyn, I want you to yell at me, curse me out, shout profanities, get mad at me please."
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
Evangeline looked at his face sadly; he was staring at her in confusion. "I would feel much better if you yelled at me." She whispered in a strained voice.
Marwyn moved his hand up to her face and brushed away a tear that formed at the corner of her eyes. "I wouldn't, you've been through enough. What happened to you is punishment enough."
"No it isn't."
"Go to sleep Eva."
"Marwyn?"
"Yes?"
"Will you stay here tonight? To protect me? Keep me safe from monsters?"
He looked into her eyes and kissed her forehead softly. "I would do anything for you."
Cheesy? Check
Cute? Check
Makes no sense? Check
I always wondered why in movies,
the characters fall in love so quickly =S
I still don't know...
Regards ~ EvaStar*