Chapter 7
Ellie was shocked into a state of alertness by the force.
Standing over her bed, already fully dressed and looking as if she was entirely capable of functioning in the morning was her roommate, Fi.
"Sorry! It just looked like you were having a nightmare. You were rolling around and your face was all scrunched up. I figured that seeing as we have a big day ahead of us it would be better to help you out. So that, you know, you can help me out. The violence wasn't necessary, I was going to let it go but you looked kinda pained... Sorry again."
Fi gave Ellie a half smile, hoping that she would be forgiven for the strike, as well as the fact that it was eight in the morning on a Saturday.
Ellie was far too embarrassed to correct Fi on the nature of her dream, so she simply nodded and gulped a few times, trying to ignore the fact that she had just experienced her first ever sexual-esk fantasy.
Ellie choked out "Yeah. Umm, thanks." Before collapsing further into her mattress. Her brain was turning with thoughts.
Was she attracted to a troll? Was that legal? What would her Uncle Lor say?
Shocked once again out if her thoughts by her roommate, Ellie took a few moments to tune back in.
"I'm sorry could you repeat that for me Fi?"
"I said; the party is BYO, but we have to supply at least a little to kick start it. I'm not of legal buying level, and neither are you. Sooo... Iwaswonderingifyouknewanyonewhocouldgetussome?"
Fi smiled a little too widely, hoping badly for Ellie to say yes.
"I...I..."
Ellie was blanking completely. Zeke would never buy her alcohol because he was so protective. That only left Ramdell, who she wasn't sure would be a good idea to tell that she would lose some of her inhibitions.
"I can think of one. He'll do it too. But, how are we paying for this?"
Fi squealed with excitement and handed Ellie a small pouch.
"That's ten gold. Just get then to buy a variety. I'll take care of everything else while you're gone. That's the only thing that was worrying me. Thankyou! I knew we were put as roommates for a reason."
Fi's bright smile seemed to get shinier this time. Ellie felt it's radiance from where she was and was incapable of holding back her own.
"So, I just take your money and deliver it to my special friend to buy whatever he can get."
"Ooh, a special friend ey?" Fi winked at her before continuing. "Yeah that's all you need to do. Be back by five though! It won't actually start until later, but still! Back by five because I'll need some finishing touches help!"
Ellie nodded and finished getting dressed. With a quick goodbye to her preoccupied roommate she wandered out of the room and down the stairs heading swiftly towards the entrance doors. Once off the campus she walked back through the bazaar and towards Murder Row.
Murder Row was called such simply because it was the crime capitol of Silvermoon. Any heat or smog formed by the rest of the city seemed to be drawn towards the infamous alleyway causing it to be darker and danker than anywhere else nearby.
Walking cautiously through the eerie ally, Ellie stopped in front of a small door situated in the lowest section of the street. She knocked four times receiving no answer.
From the corner of her eye, Ellie swore she saw fel,green eyes gliding ever closer.
When she spun around there was no one there.
Collecting her courage she knocked slightly louder on the door, this time awakening the person in the next door.
A gruff voice resonated next to her.
"Just pick the damn lock! Stop makin' such a ruckus!"
The door opened to permit Ellie to see a stout goblin, who looked no less surprised to see her than she was to see him.
He grumbled something that remotely sounded like 'useless women' before turning to the door that she was plagued by.
As the tiny, green man stepped forwards, Ellie continued her overt stare. Most races, apart from blood elves, chose to not settle in Silvermoon due to the uppity members of society that made up 90% of the population. She was pulled from her scattered thoughts by the click of the door and realised that the goblin had unlocked what had been her obstacle.
She whispered words of thanks, but the goblin was already back through his own door. Having left Ellie no option but to walk straight into the lion's den that was Ramdell's house.
The inside was pitch dark, reminding Ellie of the physical test the day before. As she made it to what she believed would be the first room in the house a voice emanated from a corner.
"I'm not open today. I suggest you leave."
She recognised it as Ramdell's voice, but the quality of it was far raspier. Eerier.
"I just wanted to..."
She was cut off by the feeling of a cool blade against her neck and her arms being held behind her back.
"Ramdell! Stop!" She managed to choke out as carefully as possible. Instantaneously she was released.
"Ellie! What? Oh Sunwell! I'm sorry! I would never have. Oh! Ellie! Forgive me please!"
"Ramdell calm down! It's fine. I shouldn't have tried to creep in like that." She desperately tried to slow her heart rate and breathing so as to calm Ramdell as well as herself.
Candles and crystals suddenly illuminated the room allowing both elves to see each other properly. The both of them could see the other attempting to accept what had just happened.
"I'm sorry it's just... Your neighbour let me in."
Ramdell gave a sigh before muttering "He has to stop doing that. Ellie sit down please." He said, gesturing to all three of his sofas.
"Thanks. I hadn't realised being a rogue paid so well. Plush furnishings and finishings? I would never have thought."
She noticed how his eyes shifted away and knew that she would be able to steal the correct answer of his wealth. Perhaps at a later date. Right now, she had her own agenda.
"As much as I'd have liked this visit to just be for you, there's a second part." His eyes and ears perked up; encouraging her to continue.
"I need your help with supplying for a party."
She gave him a small smile which fell as she saw his eyes narrow.
"I'll pay. I've got the money! I just need a variety. Apparently it's needed to 'kickstart' everything. Just the usuals, you know? A couple of girly drinks, a few 'normal-esk' ones and some of the harder stuff too." She pleaded with him. The survival of this party and could very well depend on this. She couldn't imagine letting her bubbly roommate down. She imagined Fi's face falling before she masked it with another smile and saying that everything would be fine anyway.
"Hmmf. Sure Ellie. Anything for you. Although, there is more than one way to pay a man..." He trailed off, looking particularly relieved about something but also having a cheeky glint in his eyes.
Ellie gave him her flirtiest smile before leaning in and whispering, "I pick this way." And then unceremoniously shoving the gold pouch into his hands.
"You're killing me here Ellie! But fine, I'll do it. Wait here, I'll be back before you know it. No wandering." He gave her his best wink and then was gone.
Having nothing better to do, Ellie simply lay down on the expensive sofa and began to drift off to sleep.
. ... ... ... ... ... ... .
"You look good enough to eat, Ellie."
Waking up to those words, that face and that voice were what Ellie imagined heaven might be like. Seeing her unofficial love interest wink again as he gestured to a large amount of crates she sat bolt upright.
"What's the time? Oh no!"
"Relax Ellie. It's only around three. Stay a while longer. For me?"
He sat of the sofa next to her and gave her the most attractive puppy-dog eyes she had ever seen. She placed her head in his lap and relaxed to the feeling of him trailing his fingers through her hair.
She let out the tiniest whimper at the feather-light ministrations on her scalp.
"Don't do that, or I'll be forced to do something that will end in you being here for longer than you planned."
Ellie burst into peals of laughter as she sat up.
"I'd better leave than. Wouldn't want either of us staying too late."
As she managed to skilfully pile the crates into her arms, Ramdell spoke for the last time.
"I'll collect my second payment one day, Ellie."
She could practically feel his smirk and wink as she left his doorway.
"I don't doubt that for one second, Ram."
And she didn't.
