A/N: Sorry it took a while to get this posted but this chapter gave me fits. I'm still not entirely happy with it. The next one will have more action in it, I promise! Thanks again for the reviews and follows!

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Laura: Yeah, she is almost that old. I did do some major time jumps in some of the chapters though so its understandable that she might not seem that old. :) Thanks for the review!

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It all belongs to Blizzard Entertainment. Except Rae and the other OCs and their part in the story.

As the gryphon angled downwards, the humid air of Zangarra hitting her full in the face, Rae wondered once again what in the world Khadgar could possibly need all these blasted crystals for. This was the sixth trip she'd made to the Archmage's tower in the past three weeks and she was beginning to wish Thaelin would hurry up with the Iron Star so they could move forward with their attack on Shattrath. While she couldn't deny she relished any chance to be around him trying to find these crystals was a major headache and she could only hope it was worth it. Gaige had certainly been giving her an earful lately about how often she was leaving to bring things to Khadgar. Yes, it had pulled her from things she was pestered about at the garrison but … she had enjoyed five visits with the Archmage. Though feeling tongue tied a lot of the time she had managed to carry on some short conversations with him, mainly about trivial things, but they had never-the-less been slightly eye-opening. It had also been fun to discover that the man had a keen, though dry, sense of humor, and couldn't seem to resist telling the most awful jokes. Rae found it made him even more intriguing ... and endearing. Now if she could just get over this childish crush she appeared to be suffering from it would be much easier to work with him.

Once she was back on the ground she grabbed her pack and made her way to the portal that would take her down to the entrance of the tower. However instead of Khadgar one of the mages that worked there greeted her when she stepped from it.

"Hello, Commander Eastcroft. I'm Serena. The Archmage told me you would be arriving today."

"Yes. More of the crystals he requested." She looked around as they passed under the propped open doorway. "Where is Khadgar?"

"There was something that demanded his attention but he said he hoped to return before you left."

Fighting back the disappointment – and mentally pinching herself for feeling such a way in the first place – she dropped her bag on the table against the wall and began pulling the crystals out.

"The Archmage talks about you all the time you know. You're quite the hero," Serena said with a smile as they sorted through the crystals. Rae just stared at her over the table. Khadgar talked about her to others? Called her a hero? Though the idea that he actually thought of her made her heart do a few ridiculous flips she tried to brush it off. That was not knowledge she ever wanted anyone to have. Besides, she was now nothing more than another cog in the machinery of the Alliance in a fight they were all determined to win. She supposed it might be natural to discuss the newcomer on the scene.

"I don't know why he would say such a thing," she replied, hoping her voice was calm.

The other mage eyed her a bit skeptically. "You fought in Northrend, correct? Brought down the Lich King?" Rae nodded as she finished pulling all the crystals from her bag. "If surviving in that place and helping defeat Arthas doesn't qualify you for such accolades then I don't know what will."

She shrugged. "I did what needed to be done and what was asked of me."

"Oh, good, you're here," a deep voice said from the doorway. "Thank you for your help, Serena. I can take it from here."

Rae swiftly looked down at the table, taking a few deep breaths to hopefully calm her suddenly racing heart as she was left alone with Khadgar. She really was going to have to get this under control as her mission here on Draenor would most likely take some time and she could not be reacting like this every time she was in the man's presence.

"I suppose you've wondered what all these are for," he asked, waving a hand over the piles on the table.

"The thought has crossed my mind a time or two."

"The crystals were created by ancient orders of the Apexis in lieu of tomes or scrolls to contain knowledge. In my research I found that just by touching one you can gain all the knowledge it contains and some even believe that it is possible to see the memories of the one who constructed the crystal."

"So what are your plans for them?"

Reaching over he picked up her hand and held it up between them. "I am going to use them to empower the ring you were given after arriving in Draenor. With the knowledge contained within them combined with the power already in this ring you will gain a substantial advantage over the leaders of the Iron Horde."

Trying to say something that sounded mildly intelligent was proving a challenge so long as he had her hand in his. She hoped it merely looked like she was thinking over what he'd just explained.

"Well, let's get to it, then. I've got all the crystals you asked for."

He looked at her a bit sheepishly. "I am a bit embarrassed to tell you that, since setting you to this task, I have discovered that I do not need quite as many of these crystals as originally thought."

"Okay. No harm done I suppose. How many do you really need?" she asked with a slight roll of her eyes.

"Four."

She blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Ah … yes. Four. I, um, over calculated."

"You sent me out to collect over four thousand of these things and you only need four?" She put her hands on her hips. "That goes a bit beyond 'over calculating.'"

"I am sorry, Commander. I know acquiring them pulled you from your duties more than you would have liked."

Rae ran a hand over her face then shook her head.

"It doesn't matter now. Work your magic on this ring."

With a nod he bent over a large tome on the table, asking her to step into the middle of the room. She waited patiently as he murmured words she couldn't comprehend. A yellowish glow began to surround her, warming her skin and causing her to squint her eyes. Khadgar's words became louder and the heat wrapping itself around her body grew in intensity. It felt like it was trying to burn through her clothing. Her breath started coming in short pants as the light became stronger. The sound of the magic swirling around her was almost like a strong gust of wind down a corridor. Just as she was about to call out to him a hard pulse of energy shot down her body and into her hand. The force of it knocked her off her feet and she collapsed onto all fours as the light vanished. Everything spun crazily around her and she remained still, trying to catch her breath.

"Commander? Raegan?" Khadgar's deep voice was next to her, his hands on her waist and arm to help her to stand. "Are you alright?"

"I think so," she managed to squeak out.

"I am terribly sorry. I should have warned you but I wasn't entirely certain what would happen as I cast the spell."

She glared at him. "You wove magic around me without knowing the consequences?"

"Nothing in any of my research said there would be harmful side effects."

"That isn't very reassuring." Rae felt the beginning of a headache. "Were you successful?"

"See for yourself." He took her hand and lifted it up. The gold band looked about the same but the stone in the middle, nothing more than a grayish colored gem a moment earlier, now appeared to glow silver. It still felt warm against her skin though, thankfully, it was no longer painful. All she could do was nod, not sure what an appropriate thing to say would be at the moment. "Would you join me for the evening meal? I feel like I need to offer you something after almost knocking you unconscious."

She stared, unable to believe what he'd just asked. No, she shouldn't stay and for many reasons, the least of which were the ridiculous and unpredictable emotions she couldn't control around him. Spending any amount of time alone with him put thoughts in her head she had no business imagining. There was a stack of mission reports on her desk. The SI:7 folks had left a message for her earlier in the day. At least four people had come in that needed to talk to her before she'd left.

"I would be honored."

A smile graced his features and in a heartbeat he'd ported them to what appeared to be his private quarters higher in the tower. Rae's nerves immediately took control and she quickly grasped her hands behind her back in the hopes that their shaking wouldn't be noticed. As he conjured up whatever they were to eat she took in her surroundings, her eyes lingering on a couple seemingly random pieces of armor scattered amongst the stacks of books and rolled parchments. Stormwind's crest was visible on them.

"A couple mementos of a friend," Khadgar said at her side. She just glanced at him, hoping he would elaborate. "That sword and shield once belonged to the greatest, most selfless man I had the privilege of knowing."

"What happened to him?"

"He was killed by the Horde at the base of Blackrock Mountain."

She pulled back a bit to look him in the face. "Do you mean Anduin Lothar?"

He nodded. "Anduin was there to help me kill Medivh. We, along with Turalyon, Daelin Proudmoore, and Lord Uther, fought to drive the Horde back." He peered down at the shield. "Turalyon left these for me and I only came into possession of them upon my return from Outlands."

"I believe that was the war my parents fought in … for a time, anyway," she said as he led her to where food was waiting for them.

"Your parents were part of the war?"

"Yes. Father was a solider in Stormwind's army and mother … mother was a mage."

"You speak as if that fact is surprising."

"Considering I didn't know any of that until I left to begin my training at Northshire Abbey when I was fifteen I suppose you could say that."

"They never told you about their service?" She shook her head as she took a sip of the wine he'd poured. "When did they leave the war?"

"I'm not exactly sure, sometime after my brother and I were born."

"And you don't remember any of that?"

"My parents had our memories of all that … erased."

He stared at her with wide eyes. "Why would they do such a thing?"

"They wanted to keep us from following in their footsteps."

"I can understand a parent's desire to keep their children safe but to wipe their memory? That is a drastic move."

Rae shrugged. It had been years since her parents' decision had upset her. "My mother said it was for the best, for our safety, that it was a better life."

"How do you know that?"

"I found her journal in a chest of her things."

"Was that all she left for you?"

"No, though I don't think the things were actually left for me. I found them long after she died as I was preparing to leave for Northshire. Some articles of clothing, a necklace, a pretty little ring, and circlet were all stored in a chest along with the journal."

"What did you do with all of it?"

"Its still in my chest back in Stormwind, except the rings. I decided to wear them while I was in Northrend."

"Rings? I thought you said there was just one in with your mother's things?"

"Oh there was. One of her friends recognized me in Stormwind one day and said she had something for me, that my mother had asked her to keep it safe until I was ready to have it." Rae held out her right hand to show him.

Though he gave the one that had been stored in the chest only a quick glance the one Diadre had given her kept his attention longer. Taking her hand gently he brought it up closer to his face to inspect it, turning her hand sideways to see different angles.

"I wonder … there had been stories …" he seemed to murmur to himself before looking back up at her. "How did your mother get this?"

"I'm not entirely sure. I … had a dream, a vision, and I saw her give it to the woman that found me. All she said was it had been gifted to her."

Khadgar peered down at it again. "I am not sure … When we return to Azeroth I will look into this more. Unfortunately I didn't bring my entire library with me to Draenor or I could get an answer more quickly."

"Is something wrong with it?"

"No. I'm simply … curious."

She waited, hoping he would tell her why this ring had so grabbed his attention but the subject was dropped. They talked about random, unimportant things for a bit while they ate and Rae could feel herself finally starting to relax … until he asked about Northrend and the fight at the top of Icecrown Citadel. She stared down at her hands as she contemplated his question and how to answer it.

"It was satisfying to finally destroy Arthas but the cost …"

"I recall you mentioned losing someone close to you."

"Yes, Mila. We started at the Academy around the same time, both of us green and naïve teenage girls. She was the light-hearted, exuberant one. I tended to focus on my studies – probably because of my fear of being kicked out and sent back to Goldshire. Whenever she thought I'd had my nose in books too long she would pull me out to the tavern." Rae sighed. "That all changed after Outlands."

"You said you weren't there?"

"Oh, I wasn't the one that changed. It was Mila. Rainier, the man we were sure was going to marry her, was killed at the Black Temple during the fight against Illidan. When they returned to Stormwind it was like the life had been sucked out of her. She was never the same. I think, by the time we faced Arthas, she almost wanted to die."

His eyes roved over her face, searching for she knew not what, but there was sympathy there. "That could not have been easy for you."

"No though I suppose after losing my mother and father like I did such a sudden death wasn't quite as shattering for me." Taking another sip of the wine she shook her head. "My little sister seeking us out probably could have kept me out of trouble but then I lost her and Lane. That broke me like Mila's death hadn't."

"I don't think it was that their deaths were so much worse but they were just the final straw on a pile ready to collapse." He took her hand in his and squeezed it comfortingly. "That is quite a lot to keep bottled up inside and deal with alone."

Looking up she found Khadgar was quite a bit closer than expected. When had that happened? Their eyes met and it felt like a jolt of energy shot through her. It seemed like he could see straight through her, read her very thoughts, and though the idea that her crazy emotions where he was concerned were now in plain sight she couldn't have pulled her gaze away even if she'd wanted to.

"Mental and emotional wounds are the hardest to heal from. They leave scars deeper than any blade. What you have endured and emerged from is a testament to the strength of your spirit. Not everyone can do that. Most would have given up but you are still here. You are still fighting."

Rae wanted to say something but the ability had completed left her. His words, the sound of his voice, the earnestness of his gaze were all weaving a spell around her. Never had she felt so comfortable yet so nervous at the same time. She would have been perfectly content to stay right there, letting everything and everyone carry on without them, so long as he kept looking at her like that. His grip on her hand tightened and he opened his mouth to speak but the opportunity to speak vanished as one of his arcane familiars materialized through a wall.

"A message from Thaelin has arrived."

Khadgar's face changed in an instant, the stern archmage reappearing, and he stood – though not without a last, quick look down at her. Rae came to her feet as well. She knew what this message meant. The time for their attack on Shattrath had finally come.