Roan awoke the next morning to the sounds of plate clanking together. He looked up to see his sister in silken lavender skirts, as she piled her armor to the side.
"Lumina," he growled. It felt far too early to rise.
"I'm sorry, did I wake you?" She asked timidly, as she abandoned her armor. "I was going to clean it," she fiddled with the hem of her skirt.
"Where did you get those?" He asked.
"The robes? It's some of Orlaith's. She said that plate would be too hot and cumbersome to wear casually."
"Where did Orlaith get the time to make such a dress?" He grumbled, scratching his eye.
"This morning. Why, Roan, it's almost noon!" The rogue let out an angry grunt, as he threw a pillow at his sister to banish her from the room. She giggled and flounced off. As she closed the door behind her, he tried to roll over in the hammock and go back to sleep. Lumina had slept in his room that night, and he had spent most of the night expelling the thoughts of their family from her mind. She also asked him about the scary warlock girl who had glared at her from the table. Roan had laughed and changed the subject. Now that he was quiet, he could hear noises from the kitchen, and voices. He heard Amuuru's deep and kind voice, and his ears perked up when he heard the warlock's voice. The rogue forced himself to rise from the bed, and he went to the mirror to pull his onyx hair back into a foxtail. He checked to make sure he wasn't about to embarrass himself with sleep in his eyes, or a line of drool across his cheek from the night before. Then he departed through the door, and bellowed,
"Who here dares wake the wrath of a rogue?" He looked at the table to see all four women sitting around with teacups in their hands. His gaze directly went to Sabina, and locked eyes with her. Those passionate deep green eyes stared back at him, and his eyes fell to her luscious mouth. The rogue felt his shaft harden as she licked the corner of her mouth. He strolled over to her, and she snapped her head back to the women to excuse herself. She jumped up from her seat and coolly walked towards the garden. The back door slammed behind her, and Roan grinned. She was so much fun to tease, and she reacted just the way he wanted her to.
"Brother, it seems you have made her angry," Lumina piped up.
"I rather enjoy her tantrums." He mused, and shot her a grin. But he wondered how much longer she was going to resist him, for the thoughts and desires of her were now beginning to take a toll on him.
"I think you should be careful. You may have taken things a bit too far." Amuuru suggested.
"It's not my fault, is it?" The female paladin asked, timidly.
"By Elune, darling, don't think for a minute that the warlock's anger is your fault. In any way." Orlaith leaned over and patted her hand. "Your brother, is trying to make her jealous for some sadistic reason."
"What was that?" Rage flashed in the rogue's eyes, as the priestess smiled and shook her head.
"Oh dear," Lumina giggled. "Roan can be a bit of a handful when it comes to females." She looked at her brother, who shrugged at her. "I think he has trouble with keeping females, he's used to just loving and leaving."
"You know I'm sitting right here, sister," he mumbled, disturbed that his sister somehow learned of his sinful ways.
"You're going to have to fix this," sipping her tea, the shaman mused at his sake.
"I don't need to fix anything," he glared, growing tired of the female banter. "Where the hell is Kay?"
"What's the matter?" Orlaith asked, knowing her husband was in the backyard, mending the fence.
"Our food rations are dwindling. It's time for a hunt." The rogue snarled, feeling the need to escape all the females surrounding him. Akken couldn't come home soon enough, he was getting tired of the arrogant paladin. "On second thought, I'll go by myself." He retrieved his swords and armor, and hustled through the door to mount up and escape. Some blood on his hands would feel invigorating right about now.
"Scoundrel," snarled Sabina as she paced back and forth in the grass as she wrung her hands. She hadn't said a word while the females drank their tea, she just watched everyone enjoying themselves. Why did she feel so empty? Whenever the timid blood elf smiled, why did she feel like someone stabbed her in the middle, and twisted the dagger inside? "Stupid rogue," she hissed, kicking a stone in her path, trying to hold on to her anger. Anger was easier to understand than the pain she felt not knowing what the relationship Roan had with the blood elf.
"You okay?" A voice came from behind her. She whipped around to see the golden haired blood elf, gathering up his tools beside a few tall tomato plants. The warlock went bright red.
"O-oh. Kay," she felt bad that the only few times she had spent with her comrade were awkward moments where he caught her when she thought she was alone. "I didn't see you there."
"I was fixing the wire here," he explained. "My mom has been complaining about critters getting into her garden." She noted that Kay rarely smiled, except when Orlaith was around. He seemed cold, and somewhat distant from human life. She shivered and longed to be back in the house.
"Yes," she said, dumbly, robbed of all speech.
"Are you feeling okay?" Kay asked again, rising from his position. Sabina observed the differences between the scowling paladin and the charming rogue; like how the paladin's lips were thinner than Roan's. Kay held himself with such discipline and sincerity, it gave him the appearance of being much older than he was. Strangely, she felt herself missing the presence of the rogue, who would be poking fun at her instead of speaking so seriously.
"I-I'm fine," she stammered, bringing a hand to her chest. Kay shrugged, and looked away to the horizon.
"You know, he only plays games with you because he finds your reaction amusing." Suggested Kay, then he looked back at her, with a brotherly fondness in his eyes as he smiled. "I think he's in grave danger of finding someone special in you. Keep your chin up," he patted her on her shoulder as he walked past her and into the house. Sabina touched her lips, remembering how passionately the rogue had kissed her, demanding for more of her. Her autumn lips tingled, begging for Roan to kiss her again. Then she thought of the stunning beauty that had come to the house last night, and she thought of Roan kissing her instead. A shock of pain ran through her body, as if she were knocked by a shaman's Chain Lightning. The warlock shook her head vigorously, as if that would banish the images and thoughts from her mind. Instead of dwelling on such confusing emotions, she would try to calm herself, by meditation. The warlock knelt down in the grass and folded her hands in her lap. She would banish all thoughts from her mind, and try to get her mind strait.
The afternoon changed to late evening, as Roan brought in his catch to feed everyone. He dropped the dead beasts beside the doorway, and called for Orlaith. The skinner could easily gut the animals and he could smoke them to make sure they didn't spoil. The priestess emerged from the house and tended to the food. Roan gave her an appreciative nod, as he went around the back to rinse the blood from his hands. There, he stopped dead in his tracks, as the sight of Sabina made his heart skip a beat. She was meditating, with her eyes closed, and her back was to him. He cursed himself, for the sight of the innocent maiden had such an effect on his pulse. It was diminishing to be so infatuated with her like a puppy. However, he couldn't help ravishing his eyes on her. His gaze followed the curvatures of her back and middle, and he settled on her round bottom that was settled on her feet, as she had tucked them under her to concentrate on meditation. Roan couldn't help himself, as raging desire pulsed through his veins. He crept through the grass in stealth, eyes locked on his target as she continued meditation, unsuspecting of any attack. The rouge crept in front of her, and knelt before her. By the Light, she was so enchantingly beautiful, her lashes fanned over her creamy, flawless cheeks, sprinkled with tiny freckles. Her autumn lips were soft and round, and the remembrance of her taste filled his mouth. His mouth went dry, then he gently raised his mouth to her down turned face, unable to control himself any further.
Sabina felt pressure on her lips, as she opened her eyes to see the faded figure of the blood elf, as he slowly materialized in front of her, his concentration elsewhere at the moment. She started to pull back, alarmed at his boldness, but Roan deepened the kiss, as it turned from soft and inviting to hot and demanding. Sabina knew she couldn't deny him and gave in, closing her eyes and softening as a lightly calloused hand reached up to the back of her neck. Sharp tingling rushed through her neck, where he held a tight, but surprisingly gentle grip on her. She shivered as she felt his teeth nip at her lower lip, and he sucked lightly. The warlock melted as she pushed her soft curves against his rigid chest, fearing that she would drown in Roan's kiss, but refused to break from him. Her small hands went into his silken obsidian-hair, and he started to lay down in the grass, pulling her on top of him. She straddled him, and clung to him, hungrily kissing him back as she desired more. The rogue let out a savage groan, as he felt her smoothness seat itself on his taut abs. His desire grew, as his pulsating loins begged to be inside the gorgeous warlock. He wanted to brand her as his, so no other could ever take her away from him.
He reached up one of her long legs, trailing his fingers up the silky skin, and he felt her shudder against him. That's it, sweetheart, he thought, but couldn't bear to separate his lips from hers. Their bodies had been denied for too long. Too long, she was left to dangle in front of Roan, tempting, torturing him as she refused his touch. But now, he could see for himself how much she wanted him. He slipped his large hand inside her panties, and Sabina gasped in protest, but he silenced her with a demanding kiss. Sabina felt the world around her spin, as the rogue gently rubbed her sensitive area. She was appalled at herself when she lifted her hips to him, to allow him further access. She felt his manhood throb against her bottom as she suddenly realized where this could lead to if she didn't stop it right then and there.
"Mmph!" She moaned in protest, as she forced their lips apart. "Have you no shame?" She demanded, as she thrust her body away from him in the grass, panting heavily as if she had run from Stormwind to the edge of Westfall.
"By the Light, you want me as much as I want you!" He growled, his mind clouded with passion. "Why deny ourselves the pleasure I could show you?" Roan's lust grew to sheer anger, he sat up, and looked down at Sabina. His eyes raked over her breasts, which rose and fell quickly with excitement.
"I never said I wanted you," she taunted, eyes wild with her defiant spirit. The anger in Roan's chest quickly switched to rage, as he snapped on top of her, grasping her wrists and pinning them down on the ground.
"Your body betrays you," he hissed, as his manhood swelled greater, pressing against the warlock's maidenhead. It took every ounce of strength he had to keep from ravishing her at that very moment. "You were warm and slick. You responded to everything I did to you."
"How dare you!" Fire rose in her cheeks, as embarrassment filled her. "Don't think for a minute that I would allow such a thing to happen right under the nose of your lover!" She spat, but to her own disappointment, amusement flashed across the rogue's face.
"Once again, you betray yourself. She is my sister, she came here to be neutral. Jealousy is not very attractive on you, Sabina." He taunted.
"Ha!" She went in for the kill, "Even if she is your sister! You probably got her with child. That's why she's here!" Roan snapped. A hand lurched out to her small throat, as his strong fingers wrapped around her neck.
"You will never, ever, speak that way of her again," he snarled, and the female struggled beneath him. Sabina then fully recognized the true power the male had over her, and she did not wish to curse him again. She also realized that she had taken things a step too far, and backed down.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it," she replied, and his grip on her neck loosened.
"Apology accepted." Roan nodded, as he finally released her. Sabina quickly scooted away from him, and rubbed the area where his fingers had wrapped around so easily. His touch had sent her skin there ablaze, and she was determined to try and suppress it.
"I have caught dinner for all of us, so if you wish to freshen up you should do so." He told her, as he rose and went into the house. The door closed behind him, and Sabina cursed him. How dare he threaten her! She took a stone and chucked it as hard as she could at the door. Then, she collapsed on the cool grass, breathing deep in relief. So the beautiful female is his sister, she felt as the whole world had lightened a bit. That explains why her hair is so dark. She closed her eyes, and thought of how close she came to surrendering before the rogue. She squeezed her eyes shut, inwardly wincing at how much she desired his touch. It was only a matter of time before she would stop resisting his advances. And if she buckled and gave in, what would she have in return? He would probably grow tired of her, and find some other female to woo. Sabina bit down on her lip, as she knew she could never go through that, not in a thousand years. A strong, metallic taste filled her mouth and she realized she had pierced the skin of her lower lip. She pressed a finger to the opening to stop the flowing of blood. What am I going to do? She asked of herself, as her eyes pricked with tears.
Dinner that night was, once again, awkward silence. Amuuru sat next to Sabina, Sabina next to Kay, Kay next to Orlaith, and the two sibling blood elves sat next to Orlaith and Amuuru.
"Um," Lumina spoke up, her voice wavering, "Orlaith?"
"Yes?"
"Could you pass the water jug, please?"
"Of course."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome." There was silence that fell over the table, before Lumina spoke again.
"I was just wondering," she said to everyone, "how does Orlaith speak Oricsh? And I've heard you all speak Common to the warlock."
"Lumina-" Roan warned, about to silence her.
"It's okay, Roan." Kay's voice spoke up. "Lumina," she looked to her paladin brother with interest. "It's a very long story, perhaps someone will tell it to you in more detail later. The truth of it is, our family owns a very dangerous bridge to the Horde and Alliance's relationship."
"What?" The female paladin's expression grew to confusion.
"Scrolls of translations, dear," said Amuuru, "We possess translations of Orcish and Common, so either side can learn of the foreign language."
"To answer your other question," Orlaith piped in, "Sabina doesn't speak Orcish because she's never read any of the scrolls. However, I have had plenty of time to study them." Kay kissed her on the forehead.
"And you're very smart," he murmured.
"Oh, Kay," her eyes sparkled at the compliment, as she tilted her chin to him. Sabina made retching noises, which drew the couple away from each other for the time being. True, it was infantile of her, but she couldn't handle the tenderness between the night elf and her paladin. Not after she realized she could never have such bliss from the one male in Azeroth she truly desired.
"Would you like to learn Common, Lumina?" Amuuru changed the subject. The blue-black haired female's eyes widened, revealing a sparkle beyond her glowing green eyes.
"Is it really possible?" She asked.
"Well, you have to study it, and practice it. And the biggest issue of all is who hears you speak it. The knowledge of the scrolls require absolute secrecy. There are those who desire them, and are willing to kill us all because of them." Lumina gulped, but gave a sheepish nod that she would comply with their rules. Amuuru changed her language to Common, "Maybe our warlock would like to learn Orcish." A fiery eyebrow shot up as she thought of the benefits it would bring. She could ask Lumina about Roan's past, and if he was ever married before.
"I'll think about it," she decided. "Do we have any more of those potions Akken made? The ones that cure headaches?"
"You're not feeling well, Sabina?" Asked Roan. The corners of the warlock's mouth twitched, but she stayed silent.
"I'll get you one," said Orlaith, as she went to the cabinet where Akken kept all of his potions and retrieved her a small, red vial. "This one won't upset your stomach." She winked. Graciously, the warlock accepted it and excused herself to retreat to her room. After the door closed behind her, she downed the liquid. Her heart had begun to pound as soon as she saw Roan at the table, but he acted so casually around her, as if she didn't affect him. Though she was relieved that there was no competition in the house, he hadn't responded exactly the way she prayed deep inside. Struggling for power with him was also difficult. More difficult than obtaining her minions in training. Sabina touched her tongue to the spot she bit open on her lip. The taste intrigued her, for it took her mind off of the things transpiring around her. It stung a little, but her lip would heal if she left it alone. She gathered her skirts up, sighing heavily, and crawled into her bed. The warlock looked up out of her window, counting the stars that led her to the Neutral Family.
Later, when Roan was crawling into his hammock, and Lumina curled up, fast asleep in hers; the rogue looked up to the stars through his own window. He couldn't believe how worked up he was, over an alliance virgin. He desired her more than any other female he had come across, but the tension between them was beginning to strain his mind. Roan rolled over in his hammock and closed his eyes. He would have to get Sabina alone, without interruptions, to see where she stood. If she was satisfied with playing games with him, or if she wanted something more.
The next morning, Roan rose earlier than usual. He strolled into the kitchen to hear the disputes of the family that morning.
"We're running out of cooking supplies." Orlaith pointed out.
"And if I am to repair armor, I'm going to need an anvil," chimed Lumina.
"I could use more parchment, and we could always use more needle and thread." Sabina spoke up.
"Enough!" Amuuru boomed, as the women ceased their chatter. "My goodness, you all are like starved vultures! Now, we will make a list of everything we need, and someone will go to Booty Bay to barter for these things."
"I'll go," Lumina volunteered. Amuuru began to stop her, but she spoke again. "I've been here only a few days, so no one will be able to tie me with you all."
"It makes sense, but Lumina, are you sure?" Orlaith asked, and the female paladin nodded. She smiled fondly at her new friend and assured her she'd be fine.
"Then let's start our list, shall we?" Lumina smiled.
After the list was formed, Kay and Roan helped her get the wagon from the backyard. Lumina hitched up two of her hawkstriders to the cart, and hoisted herself up on the seat. She adjusted herself in the seat, for the plate she wore was heavier than usual from wearing cloth for a few days. She looked down at her brother's concerned face, and couldn't help but smile at him.
"Be careful, sister," Roan warned. "Be sure to wear your helm, and come right back." His sister made a face at him, but gave him a kiss on the cheek. He watched her leave, as the wagon slowly creaked away, heading towards Ratchet to make the boat to Stranglethorn Vale.
