Another update :-)
Disclaimer: I don't own War Craft…
Agraelith gently kissed the back of her neck and wrapped his arms around her. He could not even begin to describe how much he had missed her. "So my little elf, glad to be back?"
She turned her head slightly so she could look up at him, "Yes, but I am afraid it is not for long."
His smile disappeared, "What do you mean not for long?"
"I mean that we must get back to the caravan…"
"Illyath is in charge of the guards, he'll be able to take care of it," part of Agraelith admired her integrity while the other part simply could not believe what he was hearing.
"I know that, but they sent us out as scouts. We will seem unreliable…" she trailed off realizing that Agraelith was still set on the fact that Illyath would set things straight.
"Please Carya, just stay…"
They heard banging on the door downstairs and a moment later Illyath shouted for Agraelith. Groaning the knight rested his head on her shoulder before straightening. "Looks as if I'm being summoned," he said sardonically.
Carya hugged him, "Do not look so saddened."
They found Illyath and a stony faced man standing by the door. "Agraelith," the man bowed his head slightly, then raised his eyebrows. "I was told that a boy came looking for you, said that it was urgent," he looked from Agraelith to Carya, "I can ah…I do believe I understand."
Feeling her face flush she spoke, "I needed to speak with him, it was rather important…"
"Then one thing erm…led to another…and well…"
The man shook his head, "No no, there is no need to explain. Though I must remind you Agraelith that as you are still in training you are not permitted to spend nights away from the barracks."
Agraelith looked at Carya uncomfortably, "I'll…I'll be there momentarily."
The man bowed once more and exited.
Once the door had shut Agraelith reached for her hand, "I'm sorry Carya, but I can't…I can't stay."
She stared at him, "You cannot stay? You had to have known that you were not permitted to stay nights away from the barracks…yet you were telling me that I had to stay. That I could not go back to the caravan when it is my duty and yet you knew you had to leave."
"Carya, I didn't know!" he protested, realizing what an idiot he had been. He had known of course, he just had not been thinking. All he could think about was how glad he was that he was able to be near her again.
"You did know Agraelith. How could you not?" she turned away from him and ran a hand through her hair. He was controlling, that was what it was. He wanted to be in control, he could not stand it when she did something that was of her own choosing. Knowing that she was being irrational she could not help it. She felt her anger rising again, how could one man infuriate her so much? How could she love him so much…
"I forgot all right? All I could think about was us being together, especially after how we parted ways last time," he grabbed her shoulders but she shrugged him off.
"Just go, you told them you would only be a minute," without waiting for a reply she strode from the room, cursing herself. She was afraid and she would never admit it. She was afraid of loving him and found it easier to keep pushing him away. She took the opportunity to push him whenever a situation presented itself. It was probably true that he had only forgotten, in fact she knew it was true.
Why did things have to be like this, so complicated. For once in her life she wished that she had not been born a night elf. For once in her life she wished that she could feel what it was like to be human. To feel what it was like to taste mortality.
If she had learned one thing it was that humans thirsted for immortality, to live forever. Here she was in want of the opposite, it was not that she wanted to die…it was the fact that then she would not have to feel scared. Scared of living for eternity when Agraelith had been born doomed as all humans had.
Not only that but she wanted to feel what it would be like to have been born free. To not have been born chained to the knowledge that she was an outcast of the world. Not to have been born with no choices of what she wanted to do. She had been born into a life of weaponry and war. A life where choices had been made for her.
Not until she left had she had any say in her life. Perhaps being exiled was one of the greatest things that had happened to her. She was just now beginning to see it.
Sighing deeply she sank into a chair. She had driven him away yet again with frustration and fear. How was it that she could feel so conflicted.
"Everything all right Carya?" Illyath had taken the seat across from her.
"Yes…no…I do not know. For once in my life I do not know."
"I know something…listen, I care for you but Agraelith has been my friend for far longer. I don't know why but you seem to be having problems every time you talk with each other. If you don't mind me inquiring…what the hell is going on!" he snapped.
She fidgeted in her seat, "I just, he makes me so angry sometimes. First he tells me I have to stay, that I cannot go back to the caravan. Then he is the one who has to leave."
"Yes but I warrant there's something more going on then that."
"I…Illyah, I am…scared," she could not believe that she had finally admitted to it.
He stared at her for a moment then started to laugh, "You? You, scared?"
When she did not make a move to say anything his laughter abruptly stopped, "Wait, are you being serious? Did you, a night elf, just admit to being scared. You just admitted it to me?"
"Yes, it is not the first time…"
"But it's the first time you've ever admitted you were scared about being in a relationship."
She scowled, "This is the first 'relationship' I have been in."
"Oh. So what are scared about? Agraelith won't bit…well…okay, so he may but that's besides the point." Seeing her face he stopped, "In all seriousness, why are you so afraid?"
"You know why Illyath, you warned him."
"I…what?"
"I am not human, I have a 'gift' as you humans like to refer to it."
He looked thoughtful, "Ah, you mean you're afraid because well…let's just say that we won't be living quite as long as you."
"Yes, I had thought of it before of course…but…I find myself loving him more and all I want to do is push him away from me. I do not want…I do not want the hurt that I know is coming."
"Listen to me Carya, I can't tell you what to think or do. But I can tell say this, you don't want to live your life in fear. You want to live it to the fullest and if that means making some risks then so be it," he shook his head, "Besides, with the war coming who knows if we'll even be here in the next month? You aren't invincible as well are you?"
She shook her head, he was right. Who knew, with the war coming Agraelith could outlive her. "Thank you Illyath."
"You my dearest are very welcome. You know, I have a question for you now."
"Yes?"
"Why is it that you would choose Agraelith over my most handsome and wonderful self?"
"Illyath?"
"Yes?"
"I honestly do not believe you want me to answer that."
Ream was stretched out on the floor in front of the fire, much as Illyath was so prone to do. Nudging the sleeping boy with her foot, Carya wished that she could do the same. Sleep would be much better then riding through the night. "Ream?"
"Hmm?" he murmured.
"We need to be going now," she knelt down next to him, "We have to get back to the caravan."
He groaned, "I was hoping you had forgotten."
Laughing gently she prodded his shoulder, "Come on, up you go."
Rolling his eyes he sat up, "If we really must."
"Yes we must, we told him we wished to be scouts and he so kindly let us. We cannot simply disappear on him, how do you think that will look?"
"Was saving an orc not enough? Where is it anyways?"
"He is still in hiding; it is too dangerous for him to go wandering about the house. Now quit stalling, we must be going."
They were soon on their way, both wanting nothing more than to be back at Illyath's house in a proper bed. "I thought I heard you and Agraelith arguing again," Ream began nonchalantly. "So, erm…I take it you guys are still having some problems?"
"I suppose you could say that," she snorted. Still having problems…when would the problems end? When would she finally be able to come to terms with it and stop trying to find a way out of what she truly wanted?
"What was it this time?"
She knew that she did not have to answer it; he would have understood had she not. For some reason though she was tired of keeping things to herself. "He told me not to leave when he knew that he was going to."
"What?"
"Exactly."
Ream pondered this for a moment, "I don't think he meant anything by it…he probably forgot."
She shrugged, suddenly wishing that she had not said anything.
Thankful when they finally saw the lights of the caravan her relief soon turned to panic. "Ream," she hissed pointing towards the flames. The caravan itself was on fire.
"What do we do?" he asked frantically.
Drawing her sword she dismounted, "You do nothing for now."
Walking in unnoticed she scanned the grounds. A small battle was being waged around her. The guards were unsuccessfully trying to fight off what looked like a group of very large people…no…trolls. Goddess help them.
Glad that she was able to move unseen she began attacking, once she had taken one down the ones closest to her began to look wary. She struck again, and again. Suddenly they were in an uproar over the unseen attacker. The guards too seemed uneasy. No matter, she could bring the battle back under control.
Again she struck and again, slashing them from behind, stabbing them, watching as they fell under her blade. They were bigger than her, much bigger but her advantage of being unseen proved to make killing easy. They were not the smartest of the bunch and the silent killing was throwing them into a panicked frenzy allowing the guards to once more gain the upper hand.
She felt a power that she had not felt in a long time. For once she was completely in control, nothing could touch her. Nothing could—
Wincing as she landed flat on her back she rolled out of the way before a rather large foot came crashing down on her. One had gotten lucky; staying on the ground she touched her hand to its leg. Fire …goddess give me the strength…flames consume this evil…
It was always harder to use magic offensively; it was harder to kill with it then to heal. Willing it with all her soul she concentrated, feeling the rough skin beneath her hand. It attempted to move, to shake off the invisible force. She held him with her mind and her magic. Burn. Focusing her rage she willed the fire to come. It erupted from her, consuming the creature. It shrieked with pain and fright, the knowledge that death was near. By the goddess did she feel powerful.
Everyone stopped, time seemed to stop. The remaining trolls and the guards turned to stare. They had seen nothing like it. One moment the troll had been stumbling around, the next it was being consumed by flames.
Shrieking with anger the rest of the trolls turned and fled, but not before one more was caught by the spell. Once they were gone from view Carya gave a sigh and allowed her self to reappear.
The humans stared at her in wonder and a little fright, "We…we thought you'd abandoned us," one of them stated.
"Ream and I…we were held up," she gasped for air. Flames still reflected in her eyes and one of the men leaned down to help her up.
"I can't say I've ever seen anything like that."
They were staring at her in awe but she to busy concentrating on remaining conscious. She had never learned to master her dark magic as some could. Lyra had once commented that it was because it was so powerful, so raw.
Ream had pushed his way through the crowd, "My God Carya…I had no idea…no idea…"
She was thankful when they finally left her in peace. Ream laid her blanket out and she sank down on it, falling immediately to sleep.
As the men put the flames of the caravans out they could not help but glance over at her. None of them, not one, had had any idea of the power she held.
The war is coming up soon!
Please review, I'd really appreciate it.
