Fairbreeze Village
Eversong Woods
A small line of light broke through a seemingly endless sea of darkness. It grew larger and larger with every passing moment. Cracks of golden energy sliced through the blackened wall and cracked it clean in half. Slowly, an image beyond the light revealed itself. It was pure white on the upper half and rustic brown on the other. Everything was so blurry it was hard to focus on what was going on but soon enough, the evidence came to light.
Euphoria caressed her back like the gentle touch of an angel. The soft mattress below carried her heavy body and provided a safe place for blissful rest. Hand woven silk sheets enveloped her smooth alabaster skin. Every strand appeared to be finely spun as if crafted by the most delicate hands in the world. She pulled them in closer to amplify this regal feeling and allow herself to get lost in a state of idyllic paradise. The way each fiber tickled her skin was too glorious to walk away from. However, something felt terribly amiss.
The girl slowly lifted the sheet and marveled as she gazed upon her stark naked body. Her heart began racing as she tugged the sheets all around her in the vain hope to protect her innocence.
Blood began to rise in her face. The added warmth soon helped paint a better picture of her surroundings. The large bedroom began to take shape. A mirrored dresser appeared on the eastern side of the room while a wide window covered in red and gold drapes stood opposite of it. Golden rays of light began to peak through the curtains. The sun was painfully bright. She could barely stand the sight of it. Two night stands were affixed on each side of this massive bed. It was clearly designed for more than one person to sleep comfortably in. That became readily apparent when she caught another humanoid indentation nestled inches away from where she awoke.
The girl began to panic. She had no idea where she was nor how she got there. There may be enemies lurking behind the closed door that stood only a few feet away from the foot of the bed. She quickly began to survey her surroundings in the vague hope to paint a better picture of what had happened.
Clothes were strewn all across the ground. Female garments were tossed aside as if feverishly thrown in the heat of passion. Her mind raced with the countless horrifying possibilities of what transpired here but for some reason, none of them seemed to swell with the faintest sense of fear. The furniture was unscathed. The sheets were a bit tangled and messy but there were no scratches, rips, or traces of blood. Whatever happened in this room happened because of direct and explicit consent by both parties. It only seemed to fill hear heart with continued dismay.
She slowly slithered off the bed and retrieved as many pieces of clothing as she could reach without leaving the safety and security of the soft area. One by one, she slipped into the available garments. Each piece cuddled her body and fit perfectly in their intended locations. It had now become very clear. These were her clothes and she was definitely involved in whatever transpired last night.
The girl tightened the notch of her brown pants and quickly snatched the white shirt hanging on the door knob. She draped the cotton garment over her body, tossed back her long strands of hair and allowed them to rest gently across her now covered skin. At least now she could move around with a bit of dignity. If anyone caught her in such of precarious position, the shame alone may be enough to render her unconscious. However, her mind never really placated those thoughts as anything but frivolous. Something was entirely amiss.
Her eyes slowly began to drift towards the mirror. Before her body could come into view on the reflection, a small crack could be heard from beyond the door. She pressed her long ears against it. A powerfully savory smell began wafting through the splinters. Her stomach began to rumble in great anticipation for whatever was being prepared outside of this wooden prison.
"Lorelei," a voice called from beyond. "Are you awake?"
The girl pushed herself back from the door. Her eyes met the mirror and painted a picture of what she desperately needed to know. Staring before her was an angelic creature. Her shimmering blonde hair was gleaming in the faint sunlight peaking behind her. Long, pointy ears raised up high on the sides of her slender head. A pair of glowing emerald colored eyes looked back at her. It all started to fall into place. Memories slowly began creeping in.
The door opened. Their quaint home carefully came into view. A couch sat next to crudely carved wooden rocking chair facing a large window. Green hills spanned as far as the glass would allow you to see with other homes large and small scattered within view. The front door was just beyond that and on the ground before it was a small, jade-colored kitten.
Lorelei's eyes shifted towards the kitchen. Standing over a roaring fire in a stained white apron was a man with golden blonde hair and a calm expression pressed upon his face. His massively muscular arm gently tossed the black pan from side to side. A pinch of seasonings sprinkled from his free hand onto the delectable meal being seared below. He paused for a second and slowly began to turn his head to face the elf. Powerful blue eyes stared back at her. It was like looking into an ocean that was painfully too beautiful. A smile formed on his lips carefully revealing a few of his glimmering white teeth.
"Good morning."
His voice was stern, confident, and warm. It tickled her soul just to hear him speak to her with such adoration.
"Good morning," she smiled back.
The elf carefully moved the strands of hair draped on the right side of her face and tucked them behind her ear.
"I didn't wake you did I?" He asked. "I'm sorry, I was hoping to have breakfast ready before you woke up."
Lorelei fervidly shook her head. She had no idea who this was or why he cared so much about such trivial things like sleep or food. Her eyes scanned the rest of the dwelling desperately hoping to find something, anything that could cure her of this blasted amnesia wreaking havoc upon her mind. Every inch was covered, not a stone was left unturned and yet she couldn't find anything to relieve her of this growing nightmare.
"Is something wrong Lorelei?"
He looked at her with a dismally oblivious expression. For some reason, the fact that he was unable to tell exactly what was wrong irked at the elf even more. She stared back at the aloof creature and suddenly her mind felt at ease. Just beyond his beefy frame sat a pink silk ribbon tied to a roughly carved wooden heart. In the center of that heart, two names were careful engraved upon the hard wooden flesh.
Rayne + Lorelei
"Nothing Rayne," she smiled.
Her heart began to fill with fervent joy as all of the memories came back to her at once. The paladin never stepped onto the field of battle at Wintergrasp. He never spoke to his comrades about his decision. He didn't let the young elf out of his sight the day she confessed to him in that engineering shop. They quickly fled together, returning to the safe haven of the Eastern Kingdoms and leaving the war against the Lich King and their faction's ongoing conflict behind them.
Weeks after they departed, Rayne proposed to her and offered that they move back to her home village. He boldly stated that no one would think to look for them if they hid in plain sight. One of the most charming things he did was purchase the land that she used to live on and from there, build them a spacious home they could call their own.
Rayne quickly made friends with all of the locals. It didn't even matter that he wasn't an elf. He helped tended the fields, pick crops, and built stables for all of the animals in the village. They loved him so much that they were just as invested in protecting their secret as the two fated lovers who met by faint chance on that rainy day. It seemed like ages ago but Lorelei couldn't stop the incessant thumping in her chest from nearly beating a hole in it.
"That smells really good," the young elf smiled.
"Just the way you like it," he winked back.
Any time he looked her way sent a swarm of butterflies dancing throughout her stomach. Lorelei coolly sat down at the table only a few feet away from her lover and gawked at his muscular backside as he continued cooking. Her elbow graced the table and she rested her chin into her open palm. The fact that he could turn around at any second was the only thing keeping the elf from grinning like an idiot.
"What made you decide to get out of be so early?"
Rayne paused for a bit concentrating on flipping the pan carefully before responding.
"I was watching you sleep for a bit but then I figured I'd do my duty by surprising you with breakfast first."
He carefully set the steaming heap of scrambled eggs onto two separate plates nearly filled with fruits, bread, and luscious chops of pork.
"Did I disappoint you?"
Rayne smiled and carried the two plates of food to the table.
"A little," she coyly smirked. "I was hoping to keep you in bed a little longer before we started the day."
Lorelei's mind cracked. She couldn't believe the words that were coming out of her mouth. They were bold and amorous yet she spoke them so calmly as if recited a thousand times prior.
"Well then eat up," he said while placing the plate before her. "Because you're going to need your strength."
His lips gently grazed the young elf's forehead and delivered a soft kiss. Lightning exploded from the site of impact and drove her innocent heart wild. The welcoming aroma of the delicious breakfast before her didn't even register. She got a little taste of the passion he offered and as of this moment, that was all she was hungry for.
Rayne took his seat and began digging into his food. How he could do so after such a bold move prior was beyond the elf's current comprehension. Whatever happened last night must have really done a number to her memory. Perhaps some of the stories she overheard as a child were true. A passionate night of love making can alter one's mind in strange new ways.
Lorelei scooped a large helping of eggs onto her fork and raised them to her lips. The exquisite silk clump instantly melted in her mouth and sent her taste buds into a new state of euphoria.
"These are amazing," she quietly cheered. "How did you get them to taste so good?"
He responded with a short laugh and a smile.
"I tweaked a few things here and there. Alelay at the Dewbrook Farm gave me some cream and butter this morning and told me to add them to the eggs to give them a richer taste."
Rayne took another hearty bite and continued before he finished chewing.
"I can't say she wasn't wrong. Looks like I'll have to stop by her place more often."
"The Dewbrook Farm?"
The young elf's inquisitive stare bore into her lover's eyes.
"Isn't that all the way at the Northern end of the village?"
He looked at her, smiled, and only offered a simple shrug in response.
"My, you were busy this morning," Lorelei grinned. "What else have you been up to while you left me naked under the sheets?"
Another hard crack slapped her in the back of the head. It was as if any time she spoke freely, something was right there trying to smack some sense into her. She had no idea why it was being so obnoxious. This was the way things were after all. There wasn't anything more she could do about it.
"Well someone had to feed Emerald, water the garden, and clean Icarus' stable."
Rayne ripped a piece of bread between his teeth and scarfed it down as he finished.
"There's a lot of work that needs to be done before sunrise. I know how much you hate doing that stuff anyways."
He looked at her once more with an adoring grin.
"Besides, I promised to never bring you any sorrow, didn't I?"
Lorelei dropped her fork atop her plate. Her heart was so full it was practically screaming at her to acknowledge this resoundingly powerful feeling. All she had to do was let the emotional overload flow. Otherwise, she may never get a chance to experience such a pleasure ever again.
The elf looked Rayne in the eyes. She could sense her feelings going into overdrive. Faint tears began pooling in the corners of her eyes.
"I love you Rayne."
There. She said it. She finally let it all out on the table. It felt so terribly good to push those words out of her lips. Her hands trembled. Adrenaline actually began flooding in her bloodstream and she hadn't even see a lick of combat in ages. It only took three simple words to bring this young elf's emotions to its knees. Nothing made her happier than to live in this very moment.
Silence filled the room. A painful sense of dread began to set in. Too much time had passed and he hadn't said anything in response. Something strange was going on. She couldn't put her finger on it but desperately pleaded for this horrendous feeling to disappear.
Rayne kept his deep blue eyes locked on the gorgeous visage of the elf before him. His lips slowly curved and formed a delicate smile. Lorelei's heart lifted. This was the moment she had waited far too long for. Her heart screamed at him to say the words.
"I –"
His voice was immediately silenced by a loud thump in the pantry. The young elf quickly turned around and noticed a small trickle of liquid beginning to drain from the wooden closet. Perhaps a bottle of wine had fallen and began leaking underneath the door. That had to be the explanation.
Lorelei quickly stood up and kicked the chair away. She put a hand on each knob and with one stern twist, ripped the doors open. A monstrous scene was painted in the black closet. Her heart stopped beating. The air in her lungs dissipated. Her throat went completely dry. There wasn't a morsel of bread, not a chunk of cheese, not even a crumb of food within this dreaded pantry. The only thing that stood in this wooden tomb was the mounted corpse of an armored blood elf. A hideously large gash from the bottom of his neck to the tip of his waist nearly split his torso into two. His skin nearly turned grey. Bits of decayed flesh exposed what was left of his rotting organs. Dried blonde hair slumped over his haggard face. Lorelei carefully approached and lifted some of moldy strands away to firmly identify this rotting body. Her mind nearly broke as the truth smashed into her mind with the strength of a thousand Titans.
"Jean?!"
The young elf panicked. She quickly turned around to find a scrap of clarification.
"Rayne, what's going –"
Terror struck Lorelei. It pierced her fragile heart and shattered it into countless pieces. Standing before her, the dreaded paladin Rayne Templar sneered in horrific savagery. Splatters of crimson fluid stained his otherwise shining gold and silver armor. He carried a large red sword in one hand. Pools of freshly ripped blood oozed from the blade's edge. A sinister smirk encroached upon his lips.
Steel crashed into the young elf's face. The blow nearly took her head clean off her neck. Rayne slapped her aside with ease using his colossal gauntlet. Its tiny plates shred into her delicate skin and sent sprays of blood onto the hard wood floor where she immediately collapsed.
The pain was immense; both on her body and in her heart. Teeth spilled on the floor beside her. A faint taste of copper lingered where the blood continued to pool from the freshly torn wounds. She desperately tried to push herself up off the ground but her arms trembled in fright as did the rest of her body.
A hand clasped upon her throat. The armored vice of Rayne's grip lifted her from the ground and slammed her back into the wall. Lorelei gasped desperately. The blackened hole of her mouth was stained crimson with disgusting gaping holes from all of lost chunks of enamel. She stared into the menacing eyes of the paladin hoping to find an ounce of mercy behind those terrible blue walls.
"You stupid bitch," he mocked. "Who in the world would ever love you?"
The young elf pleaded for air. Her neck was completely sealed. Only agonizing yelps escaped.
Rayne stared deeply at her. A grin quickly formed and widened into a menacing laugh. His mouth expanded into a gaping maw. Each tooth split into thin strips forming hideous fangs while growing two times in length. The terrible laughter continued to echo as the ferocious jaw of the beast expanded. His eyes vanished and in its place stood two similar looking mouths. They began growing and popping up all over Rayne's face. The largest of which slowly began enveloping her skull. He drew closer and closer to swallowing her hole.
She tried to scream but no words came out. She tried to cry but no tears dropped. She tried to beg but the beast wouldn't stop. Death was staring her in the face and there was nothing more she could do.
Lorelei gasped as a wave of cold air flooded into her lungs. Her body was chilled. The freezing ground where she laid was hard and unkind. Bits of frost coated her eyelids and lashes. The seal was tough to break but with enough force, the young elf shattered the icy bonds impeding her vision.
Contending with the new amount of light startled Lorelei. The world was a giant blur. She painfully lifted her arms to block the blinding scene from overpowering her. Every muscle in her body ached as she had been sleeping for days. No doubt that terrible device had something to do with it but the fact that she was alive and relatively unharmed proved useful nonetheless.
The young elf pushed herself up to a kneeling position. Her body was stiff and cold. The thin garments that had covered her skin had vanished. In its place, a suit hardened leather armor with thick patches of mail sewn throughout. Memories of the vast truth before her started to filter in.
Puffs of white clouds pushed passed her lips with each painful breath. The horror she experienced played back in her mind in an endless loop. Over and over again she watched herself succumb to that sickening display of adoration and foolish lust. Suffering through that madness was more than enough to remind her of the ultimate goal awaiting her. Having to see that vile creatures face again while she was utterly exposed and helpless proved to wreck her nerves more than she cared to admit.
What can change the nature of a man?
Lorelei's vision cleared. A thunderous column of light rose from the center of an open ring. Numerous platforms surrounded the walkway; each of which led to a door or archway descending further into this titanic fortress. Several stone giants guarded these entrances while another bronze colored female creature, whose size and presence dominated them all, patrolled the grounds through a timed and rhythmic march. A pair of black cats followed her along the path.
A renewed sense of worry snapped at her conscious. The young elf looked around but could not find her pet Emerald anywhere in the vicinity. Whether or not he actually survived the journey through the portal was yet to be seen. Either way, she wondered why it was bothering her so much. He hadn't been much help to her as of late. His presence was proving to be a burden with every passing day. Maybe his push at the encampment was the final good deed he had within him.
Trust is your weakness…
The returning voice helped to sooth some of her trepidations. Lorelei stood up and followed the pleasant sound down the stairs to the left. Wherever it was leading her would be better than spending another second in that false paradise. Salvation was well within her grasp. This incredible soothing voice would give her everything she needed in order to thrive in this harsh, unforgiving world of theirs. She didn't want much. Gold, silver, trinkets, and weapons paled in comparison to her one true calling. The only things she desired was to watch Rayne Templar take his final breath.
