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Chapter Ten
"Well, I suppose that explains the wardrobe." Hyleana smiled as she acknowledged Ayysa's overly large fashion choice. The two had decided it be best that she knew whom she was housing at the moment. "It would be different if you were hostile." She'd said to Zan. "But it seems you two are good friends. And your cause seems noble enough. I suppose you could say I'm keen to help both of you."
Ayysa had been surprised by her last words; she'd not spoken of her own troubles and felt as thought the elder elf had already seen right through her. While she felt nervous around the other woman, she recognized her as a good person and as helpful. "You can both use my spare room upstairs. Although I'm not so sure how my husband will react to a troll and another elf in the house!" she laughed to herself. "Grothos is a kind man. It'd do you good to speak to him." She offered Zan. "I may be slightly smaller, but my sister leaves some of her clothing her for when she comes to visit. You should be able to fit into it." Hyleana smiled at Ayysa.
"Ya mean ta tell me ya want ta house a damn kidnappa?" Zan laughed. "I'm saying, I don't mind housing two people who clearly need my guidance. And word has not gotten here about any recent kidnappings. Surprising, seeing as this is the chosen place." She shrugged. "But alas, I'll speak to the druids and try to keep good word with them. They don't have your face, so you should be fine."
Hyleana had shown them to their rooms and given them both bathing tools and clean clothing. "I'll be down in my study, and Lea has offered to make food for the night. You could do with a good night of rest." She smiled as she left. Perhaps she had not heard, or perhaps she had not believed them, but Ayysa was quick to see that there was only one bed in the room. "I be sleepin on da floor love." He laughed as he grabbed the extra clothing. "At least bath first!" she smacked him as he attempted to change his shirt.
Ayysa was now at the pond, not far from the cottage, and bathing herself with proper soap, something she hadn't done since Zan had captured her. Now that she was alone, she recalled how much more insane things had gotten since she'd arrived at Moonglade. She'd met the oddest family that seemed to repel traditional night elf culture, found half-racial children and was now stuck sharing the same bed as Zan, if she didn't fix the situation before nightfall.
"Ayysa, ya dressed?" called said troll. The mist was so heavy, neither would be able to see each other. "Not yet! Let me get out..." she called back. Drying herself off, her body felt relieved to be clean. "I be tryin dis soap for da first time." Zan laughed. "That's not what's really bothering you though, is it?" she asked. "Nay... How did ya know?" he asked. She smiled as she put on the elven dress that Hyleana had let her bother; it was of druidic style with blue fabric and green patterns with a gold finish intertwined.
"I just know." She assured him. "Dey be kind here. I like dis family a lot. Buh I be worried about da fada of dat child." He grunted. "Because he's an orc?" she wondered if Zan had always been this apprehensive about the leading Horde race. "Aye." The voice sounded nearer as she could finally make out Zan's figure. "Ya look beautiful in dat dress." He said once she came into his vision. Looking away, she smiled and pushed his trunks lightly. "You saw her mother's skin tone; it doesn't match. Her father is of the Earthen Ring, which means he is a mutual fraction, not to mention peaceful. She even advised you speak with him." Looking to him, she smiled. "I would not be so mistrusting of these people. Hyleana seems to be a very smart woman. She's most definitely older than I."
"Olda den ya? Dat makes sense." He laughed as he took off his shirt. "What's that supposed to mean?" she asked. "She look smart!" he laughed and Ayysa pushed him into the pond. "Hope that soap washes off your bad sense of humor." She bared her fangs as she walked back towards the cottage. In the yard, Laami was playing with a large white frost saber. "Haru! Come here!" she called to the large cat. "My, my, is this your mother's saber?" she asked. The cat took a large yawn as she approached.
"Ayysa! This is Haru! Mommy has been on a lot of adventures with him." The child chirped. "Is that so?" Her small head nodding, she added, "But that was before I was born!" Laughing, Ayysa sat beside the child. "How old are you Laami?" The little girl looked at her hands and counted. "...Four! But mommy says I might grow slower..." she looked down on the ground. "That's because you're half night elf!" Ayysa remembered being a child; it'd been fun, but this one would probably have half of the time spent as a child. "Yeah! And mommy says one day I'll get my own saber and become a hunter, just like her!"
"Your mother is a hunter?" Ayysa had not grasped that by the woman's appearance. "Used to be." An older voice came from the mist. Lea appeared with her bright smile. "Her motto was to live for herself for a long time. But I guess when you have a family, things change." Her pervious attitude seemed to grow more serious, Ayysa thought. The half elf watched as her younger cousin began to chase the large saber once again. "You seem close to the troll. You can't blame Laami for thinking you're lovers." She snickered. "So you hear?" Ayysa laughed. Nodding, the smaller woman added, "Auntie told me some of your predicament. Betrothed to a worgen? An odd pairing." She shrugged and sat with her legs crossed in front of Ayysa.
"Stranger than a night elf and a troll?" she asked. "Ha! I suppose you have me there." The young girl tilted her head back and stared up at the misted treetops. "But I could have sworn you two were a couple when I ran into you. That's why I thought you might want to meet my auntie. I've seen a lot of interracial couples, and many seem disheartened. I wanted you to know that there is still a possibility and that it isn't as prominent as we make it out to be." Sighing deeply, she added, "But seeing as you're to marry a worgen, I'm sure you've already grasped that fact."
"You are not completely wrong." Ayysa started slowly. "I don't think I would have felt that a relationship could happen between Zan and I. But I think once I've seen your aunt and uncle together, I'll think differently about it..." Lea looked to her with a gentle smile and soft eyes. "By the way; your aunt only gave us one bed... Was that on purpose?" she added as an afterthought. Laughing, and back in her silly mood, Lea shook her head. "Don't ask me, I hardly understand my auntie. She normally has a reason though! Perhaps you should speak with her."
A gust of wind took them both by surprise and the bleat of a griphon stirred their attention. "Speaking of my uncle, it appears he's home!" she smiled. "Grothos has always been a kind man... You should prepare Zan. I am certain this is one person he'd not want to miss meeting." Her actions were counterproductive as she grabbed Ayysa's hand and dragged her through the back door of the cottage. Somewhere in the pit of her stomach, Ayysa found herself nervous to see the couple together; would she feel differently about her and Zan?