Three days later, N'jeri crossed the river and entered Orgrimmar, purchasing supplies. She paid a messenger to deliver a letter, scrawled in childish, barely legible orcish, to Silvermoon.
He arrived the next day, bearing ale.
She had an impressive string of fish waiting, hanging from a tree outside the hut. They built a fire outside, as the afternoon air was unusually cool. "Here, long-ears," she tossed him some of the fish.
"I hope you are feeling more at ease than the last time we spoke," Sylenas said quietly.
"I am. T'anks." She said truthfully.
"Have you given more consideration to the matter we were discussing the other day?" He enquired casually, turning his attention to preparing the food.
She snorted. Of course, it had been all she'd thought about. But the weight on her shoulders was lighter, having brought everything - well mostly everything - out in the open.
"Yah, an' fah now ah'm tryin' ta take ya advice, an' da advice ah da priestesses, an' jus' see what happens."
She expected him to answer, but he was silent once more. She could predict nothing of his thoughts. It frustrated her. Trolls in general were very straightforward, and she was accustomed to being able to see the emotions of others written plainly on their faces.
"Ya t'ink too much," she observed.
"I do?"
"Yah. Ya t'ink too much, an' don't say enough." She was scowling.
He chuckled a little, but did not comment.
They dined again on fresh fish and ale. "Ya knew I had a reason fah askin' ya here," she joked.
"Always a motive... eh?"
"Mmmhmm."
"I don't blame you. I seem to benefit as well."
"We are - a good team," She smiled wistfully.
"Indeed."
N'jeri abruptly felt her mood shift. Pushing her plate aside, she sighed. She got to her feet, and paced the room for a moment, before kneeling to rearrange various baskets in an attempt to hide her agitation. She could feel his eyes at her back.
"Don'tcha like me, Sylenas?" She asked suddenly, unthinking. "Sometime I t'ink ya do, an' sometime..."
He did not answer, and she couldn't see his face, so she continued. "Ah seen ya lookin' at me, but ah don' know if ya like whatcha see, or if ya like me despite whatcha see." She wrinkled her brow in puzzlement, not sure she even understood what she'd said.
"N'jeri, I love what I see." He protested.
She rose, and spun around. His face was serene, and it irritated her. "Then why dont'cha say so? When a troll want ta mate, he tells ya. But you are too damned stubborn!"
He sighed. "I am sorry. In truth, I did not want to burden you with my thoughts. I don't wish to cloud your head further when you have such important decisions facing you."
"Ah would not have asked if I didn' value your opinion!"
He was quiet, and she knew he was thinking again. Damn him. "That is true. The truth is... that if I were to say I was to say I want things to go further... if I was to say I was attracted to you, it would be an understatement."
She simply stared at him.
He sighed heavily. "I only know of your people from what you have told me. I was not sure how you would react to an elf saying such things."
N'jeri clasped her hands in front of her, wringing her fingers. "I don't know eithah," she admitted. "An' I hardly know anyt'ing about ya... I like ya. Ya make me laugh, an' ya treat me equal, an' ya don't take t'ings too serious... usually."
He smiled a little. Relief blossomed within her, along with a strange fluttering in her stomach. She returned the smile.
"Mmm. Yes... I feel that same comfort with you. I do wish we had more time to get to know each other." He was rising to his feet, moving closer to N'jeri. "I love being around you... and I admit that I don't want to lose that comfort. Or the chance to build a stronger relationship..." He trailed off.
The young priestess was stunned. Was he really saying what she thought she heard?
"Well," she joked, continuing to wring her hands, "enjoy one ah da only times ya will see me lost fah words."
He laughed, looking a little lost for words himself. "Then I think this causes for a change of scenery, and of topic, for now."
She agreed.
"...Wait. Am I to understand that you were frustrated waiting for me to tell you my true thoughts... but you would not admit to me your own?"
She poked him playfully.
"Dat be different."
---
"If ya still hot, we could swim," The water was always nice at this time of day.
"I always enjoy a nice swim." He smiled.
"Ah know a good spot," she said, "but it be a fair swim away. Maybe jus' here fah now, but next time..."
They approached the river. Remembering the elf's foolish modesty, N'jeri undressed only to her undergarments. She wanted him to look at her, not spend the entire time politely looking away. She splashed into the water, which was pleasantly warm. A moment later he joined her.
"Did ya know that trolls can hold our breath under watah fah several minutes?" She stated playfully.
"Oh? Do I smell a challenge in the making?"
"Ha! If you be da one makin' da challenge, shure."
"Hmm. For some reason I suspect I will regret challenging you, but you only live once. You're on."
N'jeri giggled, and submerged herself in the water. She saw him sink under as well, opening his eyes to peer at her. She made a face at him, and concentrated on holding still.
A moment later she realised her eyes were roaming over his body, appraising his well-shaped limbs and that bright hair that spread out all around him like a cloud. His eyes were on her, and she could see him begin to strain for breath.
She didn't allow her own discomfort to show as her need for air made itself apparent. As soon as the elf kicked off the bottom of the river and surfaced for air, she did the same.
"Ahha!" She breathed triumphantly. "Do ah win again?"
"Alright..." he panted, "you win... again..."
"I let dis one go, 'cause ya still owe me fah da las' time." She teased.
"Hmm. Yes, but what do I owe you?"
"I don' know. Ya said ya would figure dat out!" They had floated close, and she shoved him playfully.
"But I can't!" He protested. "I already think too much."
She laughed. "Not fair!"
They exited the water, and N'jeri shook herself off. They sat briefly on the rocks, letting the warm breeze wash over them.
"You know... there is one thing I am told I'm rather good at."
"Oh?" She raised an eyebrow, a half-smile on her face.
"Yes. Growing up, I took training in relieving muscle pains and such. In other words, I give a great massage."
"Mass-age?"
"Yes a massage. You have had one before, right?"
"Ya crazy."
"Really? Well let me explain then. In plain words, a massage is where I rub your muscles down with my hands, relaxing them."
His voice was even, and casual. But N'jeri's face grew hot, and she thanked the gods for the waning light. In the circumstances, she had to wonder about his intentions. "I see." She said dubiously. "And they teach ya elves dat?"
"No, not all of us. But I was bored."
"So do ya owe me one or two mass-ages then?" She could scarcely believe the suggestion. What strange people these elves were!
"How about I give you one... and you can judge if you want another?"
She could only nod.
"Go back inside, I will get dressed and join you." He grinned.
She did as directed, moving things around a little to busy her hands. He returned in under a minute, and passed her clothing to her.
"You left these."
"Should ah get dressed?" She looked down at herself. Her underclothes were still damp.
"No, that's quite alright. Lay down! On your stomach." He directed her to the mat in the center of the floor.
She smirked at his businesslike and direct manner, one she hadn't seen in him. But she did as he bid, resting her forehead on her arms. She sensed him sit on the floor close to her.
"It's been a while," he admitted, "but I think I still have my touch." He rubbed his hands together briskly. She laughed, somewhat nervously, her body tense and alert.
She felt the gentlest touch of his fingers on her shoulders. N'jeri involuntarily jumped a little, turning her head on the side to look at him. He was seated at her side with his legs crossed. As she turned, his hands ceased their contact.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
"Yah," she smirked, and poked out her blue tongue. "Ah didn't say stop, did ah?"
She saw him grin. "Just try to relax." He rubbed her shoulders again, harder, and moved slowly down to her upper back, rubbing the palm of his hands over her clothing, gently working the muscle.
"Hmm. You are all knotted up." He mumbled, his fingers faintly brushing her sides.
N'jeri squirmed a little, trying her hardest to lie still and finding it difficult. "Yah, well ah nevah done dis before, have I?"
"That is true..." His fingers worked their way carefully down her spine to her lower back, pushing forcefully into her flesh.
N'jeri had never had the hands of another touch her so intimately. The sensation was unfamiliar, and sent small shivers throughout her entire body. In the back of her mind she wondered how she'd allowed herself to get into this situation. And if she should stop it. But this time, the insistant demands of her body won out.
"I am sorry if I have complicated things between us..." he muttered.
"Shh." Is all she said in reply.
She sighed deeply, and willed her eyes closed. Breathing deeply, she forced her limbs to begin to relax, and concentrated on the sensations.
Sylenas let his hands lose contact with her skin for a moment, before gently pressing into her upper thigh. Opening her eyes briefly, N'jeri glanced down as his hand touched her. She watched as he began to rub gently, his fingertips sinking lightly into her flesh as he pressed into the muscle. She flexed her toes in pleasure as a soft sigh escaped her lips. "Dat be nice."
He smiled into her eyes. "I am glad you are enjoying it." She felt his warm hands move down her leg, lifting her leg to knead the calf muscle.
She saw him shift closer to her feet, and moved, turning slightly to allow him better access. Her eyes now mostly closed, she nonetheless secretly watched his face.
He cupped his hands now around her foot, examining the rough and torn sole. "Well, these feet were made for walking," he grinned.
N'jeri giggled softly to herself, and pointed her toes. "I aint no soft-foot!" She felt him rubbing hard, pressing into the bottoms of her feet.
"That you are not, for sure." Her foot was released, and she felt him move back to her side, her arm lifted from the mat. His gentle hands began to sooth the muscles of her upper arm. "That is one thing I love about you, you aint no wimpy girl!"
The trolless rolled her eyes cynically and grinned. Flexing her fingers and stretching her captive arm out a little, she felt a soft contented growling sound rise in her throat.
Sylenas trailed his hands down her arm slowly, gently rubbing into her muscle all the way, before taking her hand in his. Rubbing the palm of her hand, he gripped her fingers, gently pulling until her knuckles cracked.
"Aah!" Surprised and shocked she tried to pull her hand away.
He leaned close, smirking. "Whats the matter, didn't know they did that?"
"Well..." she relaxed a little in the face of his humor. "Ah broke plenty ah fingers before, but nevah fah relaxation!"
Smiling at her words, he dropped his hands, lingering on hers for a moment. "It's good to stretch them out." Releasing her hand. "So how did you enjoy your first massage?"
N'jeri opened her eyes again and rolled lazily over onto her back. "What, dat's it?" She frowned, looking slightly disappointed.
"Well... if you want more, I could rub you down all day." He smiled mischeviously.
Her face felt hot. She caught a glance of the sky through the open ceiling. "Not day time anymore, but ya welcome ta take as long as ya like..." Light headed from the ale, she stretched her arms lazily above her head.
Sylenas smiled down at Njeri, and she noticed with delight his eyes wandering up and down her body. "I think I might have missed a couple spots in any case. And you seem to be getting quite comfortable yourself."
"Mmmhmm," she accepted this with a slight smirk and let her eyes drift half-closed again, watching him through her lashes.
She saw him lean over her body, and felt his warm fingers on her upper thigh. Rubbing into it gently, he worked the muscle with his fingertips, sending an involuntary shiver down her leg. She turned her head to the side.
Slowly letting up the pressure in his fingertips, Sylenas began to caress her thigh softly, enjoying the touch more than concentrating on the massage at this point.
Unwittingly, N'jeri lowered her arms, her hands brushing his lightly. She began the purring growl again, quietly, a smile coming to her lips. She had never heard herself produce that sound.
Noticing her pleasure, he allowed his hands to trail upwards over her stomach, leaning to face her as he drew his fingers slowly up her body.
She felt his slight shift, and opened her eyes, centering her head to face him again, her hands still hovering near his. "Sylenas? Sy... can I call ya Sy?"
"Of course," he murmured, nodding. His hands remained resting on her stomach.
A puzzled, almost petulant expression on her face, she peered up at him. "...Why don'tcha kiss me?"
"Umm... well, I was working on it." He grinned. His hands moved quickly and he cupped the back of her head as he leaned down to press his lips gently to hers.
She met his lips eagerly and a soft noise of relief came from her throat. Her hands rose between them to tentatively rest against his chest, her fingers trembling with nervous energy.
He pressed his mouth tightly to her. Her lips parted and she breathed softly against him as their tongues met. His tongue lightly massaged hers. Her head was swimming.
His hand rose to cup her breast. Drawing in a sharp breath, N'jeri impulsively took his lower lip between her teeth and bit, none too gently.
Sylenas pressed his body against hers. Breaking their kiss, he grinned. "Well, that was nice!" Still cradling the back of her head, he twirled his finger around her nipple playfully, through her damp clothes.
N'jeri looked somewhat chagrined. Seeking his lips again, her fingers explored his chest. Her body felt as if it were about to melt.
His hand fell across her mid-section and he pressed his mouth against her again, kissing her tenderly as his tongue quickly found her. "Mmmm," she felt him hum against her mouth.
How much time passed, she could not say. She was lost in the blissful contact, her entire body sighing in long-awaited relief.
N'jeri opened her eyes. Noticing the pitch-black sky, she let out a sigh of regret. She broke their kiss, restraining herself from biting, with difficulty. His arm wrapped around her shoulder, and he held her close. She smiled gently.
"As much as I love where this is going... I think we should get some rest for now." He whispered.
N'jeri smiled nodded. "Ah didn't want ta say anyt'ing. But... there has ta be proper preparation. Dat is, if we were..." blood rushed to her face. "Hey! Dat was some mass-age!"
He chuckled, close to her face. "I am glad you enjoyed it. I assume you will be taking another one then?"
"Aye. Ya owe me anothah one an' no backin' out!"
"I wouldn't dream of it. I shall even add a little extra touch next time."
"Oh? Dat a surprise den?" She resisted the urge to kiss him again.
"For now, yes..."
He moved to sit up, assisting her. "Let's get to town and get some rest. I promise you that you will enjoy the next one as much if not more."
"Actually, I be stayin' here tonight. If ya can get back by yaself, dat is." She grinned impishly.
He shouldered his bag, and placed a hat on his head. She hadn't seen it before, and laughed.
"Nice hat."
"Thank you." He smiled, missing her sarcasm or not caring.
"I shall be here tomorrow, if ya be in da area..."
His gaze lingered on her body. "I am sure I will find my way here."
He grinned, leaned in quickly to give her a peck on the lips, and then he was gone.
