Jesika stood at the edge of the Valley of Wisdom, chewing the inside of her cheek. She had participated in many of the evening gatherings here recently, both before and after her healing sessions with Aku, and the Tauren residents now seemed to accept her for the most part. Instead of vicious glares, the majority regarded her with apathy and a few had grown fond enough to offer an acknowledging nod now and again… and then there was Mai. She always greeted Jes with a warm smile and a wave, even going so far as to embrace her on one occasion, much to Aku's disgust. A smile tugged at the corner of her lips. In light of these developments, Jesika had become comfortable walking the valley alone and spent much of her down-time relaxing by the waterfall or the nearby pond, but she had grown bold in her safety. Today she wanted to venture out.

The minutes dragged on as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other, hands on her hips. There were eyes on her, of that she was sure, but when was that not the case? Jes looked around for the umpteenth time and, finding nothing, steeled herself and pressed on.

Vendors lined the canyon walls, hawking their wares to a sparse crowd. "Potions! Get your potions!" one shouted above the hum of idle chatter, boasting the freshness of his ingredients.

"You there!" A goblin crowed from his booth. "Need enchantments? We've got 'em! Best in Orgrimmar!"

Jesika resisted the urge to see if he was speaking to her, and instead swiftly pulled on the cowl Theron had made her, cursing herself for not thinking of it sooner. Still, it didn't make her feel much safer. She couldn't shake the feeling of unfriendly eyes boring into her back. Unsettled, the young woman decided to stop at a jeweler's table where the vendor was already occupied with a small gaggle of folk, and pretended to browse while she scanned her surroundings. Just as she was about to breathe a sigh of relief, something caught her eye: a burly orc with a long, braided goatee she found oddly familiar, slowly making his way through the Valley of Wisdom. She frowned. He was too far away to make out any more details, but she could've sworn she saw him earlier that very same morning. Wasn't he wearing a tabard though? Something in her gut urged her to return to the guild house, and she wanted to listen, but it also told her to keep her distance from that man. Unable to double back, Jes placed a hand on her dagger and broke away from the vendor's table.

It was useless. No matter how she tried to hide or lose him in the groups of people that littered the main path, that damn orc stayed behind her, and he was gaining. Swearing under her breath, Jesika was about to duck into an Inn when a hand suddenly clapped over her mouth. Before she could do so much as scream, a familiar voice chimed in her ear: "Hey there, Gorgeous!" The young woman wrestled out of their grip and, sure enough, it was Aedyndel with that stupid shit-eating grin.

"What the fuck?!" Jesika hissed as he ushered her to keep walking. "You scared the shit out of me!"

"Sorry, did you think I was one of the people following you?" He asked, chipper.

Jes blanched. "One of?"

Aedyndel's expression remained pleasant, but lost its playfulness. "Theron was right, you know."

"About what?"

"It's dangerous for you to be out here alone, even with the Warchief's blessing."

She stopped searching for her other stalkers to look at him a moment. "I know, that's why I agreed to a curfew. He didn't need to be such an ass about it."

"Clearly, it isn't safe during the day either, Princess. And I think you know that."

Jesika bristled. "Princess? Look, buddy-"

"You need a chaperone from now on."

"I can handle myself!" Her stomach twisted as she spoke.

"Is that right?" Aedyndel took her hand and pulled her off to the side of the main path where he leaned casually against the canyon wall. Jesika's eyes widened and flitted back and forth, fearful of her pursuers closing the distance between them, but the elf gave her hand a squeeze and tugged gently. "It's alright," he said, "come here."

Between Aedyndel's soothing voice and his reassuring touch, Jesika's panic subsided and she hesitantly stepped toward him. She yelped as he pulled her close and wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders, holding her so that her chest was pressed firmly against his side. A deer in headlights, Jes stared up at him. His dark hair was pulled back into a messy half-up, half-down style that left stray pieces framing his face. She tried to look away before her mind began to wander but instead found herself studying the tiny bits of stubble that decorated his face from his prominent cheekbones down to the chiseled jaw hovering mere inches above her head. Jes fidgeted, unable to stop herself from imagining what it would feel like between her thighs. It had been far too long since she'd last taken a partner. The young woman suppressed a whimper and breathed deeply through her nose in an attempt to calm herself, but instead took in a smell that sent her heart racing. Good lord, is that him?! Another deep breath confirmed her suspicions and it took all of her willpower not to bury her face in his chest.

He smelled like comfort- like earth and sun-warmed leather with just a hint of Amberwood. It filled her head with images of rainy days spent reading by the fire and hugs from loved ones. She wanted nothing more than to be held like this, to breathe him in and banish the loneliness that had gone unnoticed until now… until she was reminded of it by the firmness of his grip and the sensation of his body pressed against hers.

Jesika squeezed her eyes shut and reluctantly adjusted herself so she was facing the road. Heart pounding, she stared at the ground and released a pent up breath. "What are we doing?"

He squeezed her. "Just wait."

A few moments passed before the orc she'd noticed earlier appeared in front of them. Jesika straightened her back and set her jaw.

"Can we help you?" Aedyndel asked smoothly.

The orc grumbled something incoherent and crossed his arms. A moment later a second orc, this one being a far lighter shade of green than the first, joined them. Before Jesika could even say anything, a third approached. "Aedyndel, it's been a long time," he said with a toothy grin. Two, four inch tusks protruded from his mouth.

"That it has, Zon."

A tense silence fell over them and Jesika's anxiety continued to grow beneath the stares of the three orcs, each wider than a door. She searched for an escape route, but with her back pressed against the wall and the orcs blocking her way out… She slowly reached for her dagger until Aedyndel squeezed her so tightly that she couldn't lower her arm any further.

"Why are you following us?"

"Following?" Zon laughed heartily. "Don't flatter yourself, Dawnsinger."

Aedyndel half-heartedly mimicked Zon's deep chested laugh. "Ah, that's right, how foolish of me. You three just so happened to be meeting here."

"We were just passing through and happened to see you two. We wanted to… introduce ourselves to the newcomer." The orc attempted to step forward, arms open in a peaceful gesture.

Aedyndel stopped him with a look. "Oh no, friend, no closer. You wouldn't want to upset Thrall, would you?" He stared pointedly at the nearby city guards who had shifted their focus to the group. Zon followed his gaze.

There was a pause. "Would you look at that?" the orc said, smiling once more. "Seems like we'll have to do this little meet-and-greet another time."

He sucked air through his teeth. "That doesn't work for me. Never, I think, would be best- best for both of us. Don't you agree?"

Zon chuckled wryly. "Until we meet again, Human."

A foreboding chill settled in Jesika's bones. She shivered.

"You'd do well to remember what happened the last time you made threats, Zon. Otherwise-" Aedyndel's hand swept against the pommel of his weapon- "I would be happy to remind you."

Zon's face fell.

"There it is. Off you go, then."

"Watch yourself, Dawnsinger." He spat at Jesika's feet and left, stiff-backed, with his lackeys in tow.

Aedyndel watched them for a time before turning his attention back to Jesika. She looked up at him with fear in her eyes. "Three of them?"

The elf nodded, sliding his hand down to the small of her back and pushing her toward the road. It was innocent enough, but his touch made her face hot. "Yes, they were following you since you left the guild house. They let you see Olnok so that you would stay focused on him while they closed in- they did the same to another apprentice some years ago. Still think you could've handled yourself?"

Jesika grimaced, willing away the knot in her stomach. They probably would have killed her, she knew that, but she couldn't accept the idea that she'd get caught with her pants down. "I think I could have made it home before they got to me," she replied, though there was little confidence behind her words.

"Zon is one of the best rogues the Horde has to offer and he holds a grudge against humans in particular. He would have killed you in a heartbeat and not a soul would have seen him- not even you. Do you understand?"

She seethed for a short time, pride wounded. After mulling it over, she offered a begrudging 'thank you'.

"For?"

Jes shot him a contemptuous glare. "For saving me."

Aedyndel lit up with a dashing smile and threw an arm around her shoulder once again, briefly embracing her with such force that she wheezed. "See?! That wasn't so hard, was it, Princess?"

"Oh, fuck off!" She scoffed as she ducked out of his grasp and shoved him aside.

"I'm sorry!"

Jes gave him a knowing look. "No, you're not."

"Okay, you're right, I'm not." He shrugged. "What can I say? You're kind of cute when you're angry. Your face gets all red and pinched together- yes, like that."

Blushing furiously and too flustered to put a coherent sentence together, Jesika's mouth gaped open and shut, a fish out of water. Aedyndel seemed awfully proud of that, with his smug grin and laughing eyes. Despite her best efforts, she smiled. "I hate you."

He ruffled her hair. "I know."

"You're really pushing your luck there, stud."

The two of them walked in comfortable silence for a spell. As they traversed the city back toward the Cleft of Shadow, Aedyndel spoke up; "What do you think of coming out tonight for a drink with me and some friends of mine? You still have one day left to recuperate before Xer'ri steals you away from me." He winked. "And I think it might be beneficial for people to get to know you."

"Beneficial, how?"

"People are far less inclined to kill their friends. Perhaps if you make nice, the citizens of Orgrimmar will no longer fantasize about putting your head on a pike."

"And I suppose you want me to just waltz into a bar crowded with people who want me dead and say, 'Hey guys, let's be friends'?"

"Hey, easy, that's where my friends come in. They are some highly respected champions, so if they're seen fraternizing with and accepting you, others are likely to follow."

Jes mulled it over. "What if Zon is there?

Aedyn shook his head. "He wouldn't dare try something."

"Why? Because you're there?" she asked sarcastically.

There was a far off look in his eye and for a fleeting moment he wore a sour expression. "Something like that. Besides, I'm friends with some good people, they'll help me look out for you."

Jesika chewed the inside of her cheek; the thought of a night out with friends was a tempting one, but it would mean she'd be stuck in a room with people who would rather dance on her corpse than share a drink. On the other hand, it had been quite a while since she really socialized, which made the prospect particularly enticing. Jes nudged a pebble with her foot. "I'm not sure."

He nodded. "I understand; it must be frightening for you to feel surrounded by enemies. Let me ask you something." Aedyndel stopped walking and took her kindly by the shoulders. "Do you trust me?"

The young woman searched his eyes, thinking back to the weeks she'd been in Orgrimmar. Time and time again, Aedyndel took action to keep her safe, spoke up in her defense, and tried to make her feel at home. The danger of it all set her chest on fire but... "Yes," Jes answered as the realization dawned on her. "I do trust you. A lot, actually. I'll go." She gasped and adopted an expression and tone of mock surprise. "Does this mean we're... friends?"

Aedyn snorted as he released her shoulders. "I would like to think so. Anyway, I'll meet you in the common room around dusk. Unfortunately, Duke can't come, will that be alright?"

"Shouldn't be a problem. We have some training to do and that always exhausts him- he'll be asleep before we even leave."

"That settles it then; see you tonight."

^v^v^v^

Jesika pressed her lips to the top of Duke's head. "Be good, baby," she whispered lovingly.

"Ready?" Aedyndel asked as she padded into the common area.

"Let me just put my boots on and we can go."

Theron was sitting on the loveseat, nose buried in some novel. "You aren't actually going to participate in this…. degeneracy," he stated in disbelief, peeking over the top of his book.

"Yes, I am. Does that surprise you?"

Theron sniffed. "I thought you would be above such things."

Jesika rolled her eyes, refusing to dignify his words with a response, and turned to Aedyndel. "Let's get out of here."

"As you wish." He gestured toward the door. "Lead the way."

The two of them made their way to the Cleft of Shadow at a good clip, largely due to Jesika's desire to get away from Theron as fast as she could. "'I thought you would be above such things'," she sneered as they emerged from the Cleft. "He's only known me for…" Jes faltered, unable to remember how long she'd been on Azeroth.

"Theron tends to idealize people and then get upset when they act out of line with what he expects," Aedyndel revealed. "I've been trying to get him to stop for years but he won't listen to me. This way, Jesika."

She snapped out of her thoughts and followed him to the Valley of Honor. It wasn't long before she caught sight of the crowd gathered outside The Wyvern's Tail and inhaled sharply. She looked up at Aedyndel, unwilling to hide the fear on her face, and was met with sympathy.

"Look, Jes, if you really don't want to do this, then I won't push you, but I need you to make a decision." He reached out as if to place a comforting hand on the back of her head, but seemed to think better of it and gently touched her shoulder instead. They slowed their pace.

"Do you really think this is a good idea?"

"I do. You're wise not to ignore your fear, but there are times to listen and times to set it aside."

"And you think this is one of those times?"

The elf nodded, the tips of his pointed ears bouncing lightly.

Jessika pondered it a moment, then took a deep breath and resumed a normal pace. "Alright, but if I die, I'm gonna kill you."

Aedyndel led her into the bustling tavern. Faint music could be heard beneath the sounds of boisterous patrons who packed it from wall to wall. Jesika wrinkled her nose in anticipation of the putrid scent of so many bodies crammed into one space, but was surprised to find that the smell of delicious, hot meals was almost entirely overpowering. As if on cue, an orc woman holding a tray of steaming meat shoved past her, nearly knocking her off her feet. Aedyndel caught her by the waist and guided her to the bar.

"Everyone," he hollered over the ruckus, "this is Jesika."

Four champions ceased their idle chatter and turned around. The first to speak was an elven woman who pushed past her tauren comrade and wrapped Jesika in an embrace tight enough to break a rib or two. "It's so good to finally meet you!" She leaned back, grasping Jesika's shoulders and smiling from ear to ear. Her beautiful expression and piercing eyes were marred by a mangled scar that traversed the entire left half of her face and tugged the corner of her mouth into a permanent smirk. "The name's Scarlett, but all my friends call me Scar." Jesika paled, unsure if she was being baited. Scarlett patted her shoulder. "The nickname came first," she said with a wink.

"Don't feel bad," said a thickset orc as he handed both Aedyndel and Jesika a mug of ale, "she does that to everyone. We think she likes to see that look of panic people get." Scarlett elbowed him sharply but he continued unfazed, first gesturing to himself, then his companions. "I'm Krogg, the cow is Nodin, and this is Larry." A forsaken man raised his hand in a silent greeting.

"Larry?"

"Yeah," he replied gruffly, "there a problem?"

"Nope, not at all, just… surprised." She shot Aedyndel a pleading glance.

The elf's eyes danced with silent laughter and he clapped his hands together. "Alright, alright, now that introductions are out of the way, it's time to celebrate."

"Celebrate?"

"Yeah!" Scarlett grabbed her drink from the bar top. "You landed an apprenticeship, and under Xer'ri, no less! She's very particular."

Jesika blinked slowly and looked up at Aedyndel. "That's why you wanted me to come here tonight?"

Aedyn winked. "Partially. To Jesika," he crowed, lifting his pint. "May she bring honor to her guild and to the Horde!"

"To Jesika!" the group cheered as they raised their drinks.

She beamed.

For a short time, it was bliss; they laughed and drank, told vulgar jokes and shared brief, embellished tales of bravery. Jes, ever the lightweight, was significantly drunk and very much enjoying herself by the time her first tankard ran dry. It wasn't until Scarlett hailed the bartender for another round, that others began to notice her presence.

"We don't serve humans here," the orc grumbled, planting two calloused hands firmly on the counter. A number of patrons within earshot ceased their conversations.

She glanced at her newfound friends just in time to see Nodin grab an enraged and, frankly, quite drunk Scarlett by the shoulders. "Guys, it's okay, really."

Larry ignored her. "You serve the Horde or not?"

"Humans ain't Horde." He spat in her direction.

"Oh...kay… gross," Jes whispered under her breath.

"NO! Nodin! Let me GO!" The tauren was at this point holding Scarlett by her waist as she thrashed, and looked to Aedyn. He nodded and Nodin carried her out the doors. Unfortunately, her behavior had already garnered far too much attention.

"Questioning Thrall's judgment?"

The bartender leaned forward, his upper lip twitching into the beginnings of a snarl. "Out."

Aedyndel joined in. "Can't we just be civil? Come on, Grom, we've been-"

"Think I'm gonna repeat myself?"

"Aedyndel, I-" Jes paused. Perhaps it was the alcohol, or just a run-of-the-mill bout of stupidity, but she frowned and locked onto the bartender. "You know what? Fuck this, and fuck you!" Grom jumped, momentarily stunned, and opened his mouth but Jesika didn't give him a moment to speak. "I've had it up to fucking here with this 'no humans allowed' bull- hic- bullshit!" It took great effort to keep from slurring her words too heavily; nevertheless, she forged on. "I'm loyal to the Horde! I've said it a thousand times before, I'll say it a thousand times again, and I won't stop fucking saying it until you motherfuckers get the goddamn picture!" Jesika's voice continued to rise in volume and she looked around at those who'd heard her. For better or worse, the Wyvern's Tail was noisy enough that only those in her near vicinity had noticed.

"Feh, words are cheap," snapped the orc beside her.

"Prove it!" another called. There was some scattered laughter.

"Alright, I will!"

Aedyndel, who had been observing the interaction with mild amusement, suddenly looked apprehensive. "Jesika."

She ignored him, well aware of the danger she was putting herself in, and clambered gracelessly onto the bartop. Jes grabbed two empty tankards and banged them together. "LISTEN UP!" The tavern quieted and for a moment, beneath the angry glares of so many, she faltered. At least if they kill me, it'll probably be quick… maybe. Jes drew herself up. "You want proof that I'm not some Alliance scum?! Here it is!" She grasped the hem of her tunic and pulled it over her head. Aedyndel choked on his drink.

"Yeah!" Scarlett wolf-whistled from her spot just outside the doors. Nodin promptly cuffed her upside the head.

Jesika unwrapped her wound dressings and let them fall to the floor. The Horde symbol that encompassed the upper half of her arm had only somewhat healed since Laelani branded her; a good portion still appeared fresh, while other sections had formed a thick, reddish scab that cracked painfully each time Jes moved her arm and oozed clear liquid. "Thrall marked me with this on my first day in Orgrimmar," she yelled. "He told me that the spell would brand me according to my allegiances, and would kill me if I wasn't with the Horde. I took that chance because there wasn't a doubt in my fucking mind! I carry this symbol with unspeakable pride! I've already risked my life and endured an excruciating initiation- I don't know what the fuck else to tell you except that I'm not afraid to die and I'm sick of this fucking game so either kill me or shut the fuck up with your snide bullshit and drink your goddamn ale." Jesika scoured the crowd and, shockingly, saw more than a few scowls fade. Silence hung thick in the air.

The orc on the next stool over chuckled softly, earning a strange look from Grom as it crescendoed into a booming laugh. "She's got some courage for a human, eh Grom?" he slurred, banging his mug for a refill.

"More like a death wish," Grom muttered.

Their brief exchange was enough to lift some of the unease and, slowly but surely, conversations resumed until The Wyvern's Tail was bustling with revelry once more. Aedyndel released the breath he'd been holding and offered Jesika his hand. "Better?"

She hopped off the counter, blood pounding in her ears. "Much. You gonna finish that?"

He handed her the remainder of his drink while she pulled on her discarded tunic. "Sobering up, Princess?"

Jes rolled her eyes and tossed it back, wincing; the ale tasted awful and burned even worse, but at least it helped calm her nerves. "Yeah, near death experiences will do that."

Aedyn cocked an eyebrow. "I thought you weren't afraid to die?"

Jesika only sighed and stared at the bottom of her tankard. No, it wasn't death that scared her; in fact, she found it to be quite a comforting prospect, but they had a painful history that she would do anything to forget. Even now, as she tried to hold back the echoes that haunted her, the sounds of the tavern faded to the distant background, muffled as if underwater. She willed herself to stay afloat, fought against memories long since buried now unearthed by her foolish actions and rising swiftly to the surface, threatening to pull her under. She didn't want to remember. She didn't want to go to there again. But it was dark, and there were good memories there too… memories of- Jesika shook her head to interrupt her train of thought and took a shallow, shaking breath. Her chest was tight. Five things you can see. Mug, my hands, counter top, shelves, bottles… Four things you can feel. Wood, smooth glass, my pants- cotton...

His smile faded. "Hey, Jes, what-"

"Hey! Hot stuff!"

Jesika turned to see Scarlett half-skipping, half-running through the crowd and smiled weakly as the elf struggled to slow down without falling. "Aedyn, I think your girlfriend is calling." She tried to keep her tone light but it was difficult to mask her discomfort as she struggled to stay grounded. Three things you can hear. Laughter, clinking glasses, Scarlett's voice.

"Girlfriend?! Hah!" Scarlett stumbled into Jesika's arms. "He wishes!"

Jes laughed. "Don't we all." Her chest was only getting tighter. Sounds were getting louder. Two things you can smell.

"Oh?" the elven woman teased. She adjusted herself so that she straddled Jesika's lap, looking up at her through feathered lashes.

Jesika stared into Scarlett's eyes and found herself completely entranced by the face that greeted her with such closeness. Desperate to distract herself from the rising tide of memories, the young woman drank it all in, wanting nothing more than to brush her lips along the curve of Scarlett's neck, to feel the softness of her cheeks and the warmth of her lips... to tangle her fingers in her honey-gold hair and busy herself with the company of a beautiful woman. Jes swallowed. She could feel it- old emotions stirring from hibernation, locked away but never forgotten, patiently waiting for the thrill of lust to subside so they could push to the surface. Stop. Snap out of it. You promised you wouldn't go down this road again.

Scarlett's voice broke the hypnosis. "I didn't peg you for a love-at-first-sight kind of gal." Eyes that only moments before had gazed back with the beginnings of drunken infatuation now appeared nothing more than curious and peculiarly sober.

"I… I'm not." Jes gingerly grasped the elf's hips and ushered her from her lap. "I'm sorry, Scarlett, I think I'm a bit more drunk than I thought. I shouldn't have…"

Larry and Nodin exchanged glances.

"Scarlett, let us fetch another round," Nodin offered.

Still Jes turned to Larry while Nodin and Scarlett disappeared into the throng. "So what's the deal with this crowd, anyway? This can't be a common night… can it?"

He shrugged, giving Jes a glimpse of the exposed bone beneath his tunic as it shifted. "Eh, they're more common than you think. Tonight's gathering is to celebrate the coming of Brewfest next week."

She pinched her brows together. "Wait, Brewfest? That's not-"

"Larry!" Scarlett called, barely audible from the other end of the bartop. "C'mere! Help us carry this!"

"Jes…" It was Aedyn, and he was staring.

She swallowed the lump in her throat and kept her eyes on her hands. After a few tense moments, she met his penetrative gaze and asked, "So is Brewfest really in a week?"

He watched her in silence, one forearm braced on the bartop. It was an agonizing thirty seconds, thankfully capped by the arrival of their companions who came with trays of ale. "Yes," the elf said as they unloaded, never taking his eyes off of her, "Brewfest is in seven days."

"That it is." Larry rubbed his hands together. "Now, who's in the mood to lose some money?"

They started talking about something, but Jes wasn't paying attention. That's impossible. She frowned, deep crevices appearing between her eyebrows. There's no way I've been here that long. Over and over she added up the days since coming to Azeroth, and over and over she came to the same conclusion: three weeks, give or take. Three weeks since she last stepped foot on Earth… three weeks since she last saw her family. Three weeks since I left home… seven days until Brewfest… that means that today is… Jesika's chest tightened. Today was her birthday.

"Hello? Jesika?" It was Nodin; he was waving one of his gargantuan hands in front of her face.

"Are you really that far gone already? We've been talking to you this whole time. Did you hear the rules for our drinking game?"

"Oh, sorry Scarlett, I just..." Jesika shook her head. "Nevermind. Explain it one more time. I'm listening."

The six of them spent the rest of the celebration all but drowning themselves in ale, filling the air with off-key singing and raucous laughter well into the night.

"Thank you, Grom," Aedyndel said as he helped Jesika stumble out of the tavern. It was almost dawn and they were the last to leave. "As always, you throw one hell of a celebration."

Grom only grunted and slammed the door shut.

"He's… kind of a jerk…" Jes slurred. She could've sworn Aedyn said something back to her, but her stomach was fighting to eject its contents and it was taking every ounce of her focus to resist. She tried to disentangle herself from her friend's grasp, shooing him away. "I'm- hic! -I'm fine! Le-le…t me go." The world was spinning faster than ever before and despite being well-versed in such experiences, this intensity was something else entirely. "That'ssomestrong ale…" Jes muttered as she stared at the ground that moved beneath her, brows furrowed deeply.

"Let me help you." Aedyndel's voice was soft and kind, but she batted his hands away nevertheless.

"I said I- hic!- got it!" Of course, at that moment she took another step and the ground lurched violently to one side. Jes stumbled, preparing to meet the packed dirt road when two large hands caught her by the waist. "You know…" she mumbled, looking down at them, "you have some r…really nice hands."

Aedyndel hoisted her up. "Well thank you, Princess." He tossed her right arm over his shoulders and held it there while he cinched his other arm around her waist.

"They'd make for a good necklace." The elf faltered and stared at her- or at least, she thought he did. Everything was so blurry and hazy, it was difficult to tell which direction he was facing.

"Have you ever gotten drunk before, Jesika?"

"Yer…. your ears are… red…" She squinted. "...I think…"

"Jes."

Jesika laughed and tried to stumble away from him, but his arm wouldn't budge. Confused, she tried to squirm out of his grasp, again to no avail. She resigned herself to letting him help, barely aware of where she was. "Don't worry about me! I've gotten drunk pl-plenty of times! I used to… I used to get drunk almost eeeeevery day, especially on my- hic! -birthday! Did you know todaysmybirthday? I didn't know today's my birthday."

"No, I didn't know that. Does that have something to do with why you were acting so strange tonight?"

"My old guild used to throw- hic!- throw a belated p...arty for me every year dur... during Brewfest. Hey, h-how come… how come you're not drunk?"

"I didn't drink much." He adjusted his arm to a more comfortable position. "So why were you-"

"Why not?"

"Because I had to keep you safe. Now can you please explain-"

"That's really nice. You're really nice."

"Jes, you're slipping. Here, let me…" Aedyndel tried to lift her into more of an upright position, but she just shook her head with a sour expression on her face.

"I'm gonna be sick… I can't… I can't. Let me sit down."

"Jesika we need to get back to the guild house. I'm going to pick you up, alright? Ready?"

She nodded.

He guided her arms around his neck and swept her legs up into a bridal carry, pausing a moment to adjust his grip. "So what happened with you tonight?" Aedyndel asked as he began walking toward the guild house once more.

"I'm m…much more interest- hic!- interested in what's happening with us tonight."

"...You are a very bold drunk."

"Come on," she whined, dragging out the last consonant. "You know you wanna. I promise I'm good. I've had l-lots of… practice."

"Have you now?"

Vaguely aware of passing into The Drag, she nodded and then promptly regretted moving so much. Once the nausea passed, she clarified: "Yep! After… after my little sister died I- hic!- did it lots of times. My therapist saysitwastoomuch…" Jes frowned and repeated slowly, "says… it's… it was… too… much. But! It helped me forget!"

Aedyndel didn't speak for a while then, quietly, he said, "I'm very sorry to hear that. That must have been hard."

"It still is! But I don't wanna die so much now, only sometimes. I haven't m-made an… attempt on my life in a long time."

The elf regarded her with a different kind of softness in his eyes, almost sorrowful, and held her a little tighter to his chest. "I'm glad you're still around, Jes."

"Me too. Mostly."

"Do you want to tell me about her? Your sister?"

Jesika closed her eyes and was quiet for a spell, almost nodding off to the mild sway of Aedyndel's gait as he carried her to their destination. It felt like the walk was taking longer than it had earlier that night, but the world had just stopped spinning and she feared it would begin again if she tried to take a look around, so she kept them closed and nestled her head into the crook of Aedyn's neck. "Her name was Nicky, and she was eight years old," Jesika began in a soft voice, speaking slowly and poignantly. She tentatively allowed the memories she'd spent so much of the night trying to suppress rise to the surface. It didn't hurt so much when she wasn't sober. "She liked to play cowboy and make up new words for things. Her favourite colour w-was purple, specifically… lilac…" Jes continued listing facts about her late sister as Aedyndel made his way into the guildhouse and finally, her room, where Duke waited impatiently.

"Hey baby!" Jes squealed. "I missed you!" Aedyn lowered her onto her bed and Duke, giddy to be reunited, assaulted her face with slobbering kisses and excited nips. It wasn't long before the pup exhausted himself and settled beside his human mom, who promptly collapsed on her pillow and shimmied beneath her covers.

"Whoa there, Princess," Aedyndel cautioned, gently shaking her shoulder. "Don't fall asleep yet."

"Ugh, why though?" she whined, eyes closed. "I'm so… tired."

"I know you are, wait just a moment." The elf disappeared briefly and returned with a tall glass of water. "Here," he said, handing it to her as he took a seat at the foot of her bed. "Drink, or you'll regret it in the morning."

With an exasperated groan, she shifted into an upright position and reluctantly accepted his offering. "Why do you call me Princess so much?"

"Have you heard yourself complain?"

The corners of her lips twitched into a faint smile and she smacked him weakly in the face with her pillow. "Ass." They sat quietly together while she sipped on her water, seeming to sink into herself. "She was killed, you know," Jes whispered, breaking the silence. "Mauled by a dog. A Lab."

Aedyndel said nothing.

"I was 14. I tried to save her." Tears welled in her eyes, but she felt numb. She took a deep breath and drank before continuing. "I got bit pretty bad, right here." Jes showed the underside of her left wrist. "Dad stitched me up and somehow it healed without leaving even the tiniest scar. The doctors were baffled. I still don't understand how she's dead and I got to walk away completely unscathed."

"You didn't, Jesika." His tone was soft. "Mental wounds are just as real as physical wounds."

Jes took a few more sips of water and glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. He was right, of course, but it didn't help much at that moment.

The elf leaned forward, bracing his forearms on his knees and clasping his hands together. "So, when did this happen?"

"Five years ago today."

He blinked. "Your birthday?"

Jes nodded. "Afterward, I couldn't…" She trailed off, unable to finish her sentence; instead, her eyes glossed over and the world became an unfocused blur. She wanted to tell him how she started drinking every year on her birthday because the pain of Nicky's memory was just too much. She wanted to tell him how she threw herself into drunken promiscuity up until her 17th year because she needed so badly to feel something other than debilitating grief. She wanted to tell him that if she had to choose between death or experiencing that loss of control of herself again, she'd happily throw herself to the former without an ounce of hesitation. She wanted to cut herself open and let spill years of turmoil, to finally have someone to confide in again, but her lips were frozen and her mind was stuck.

Suddenly there was a soothing pressure wrapped around her torso, bringing with it the faintest smell of Amberwood. Jes blinked as the world came back into focus, and with it the realization that Aedyndel had pulled her into his lap. He held her there in a firm but comfortable embrace, curled up with her head nestled in the soft spot just below his collarbone. His cheek rested gingerly on her forehead and he was whispering something she couldn't make out. She pulled away to look at him.

"Hey, welcome back." Aedyndel said kindly as he brushed a piece of hair out of her face. An unseen shiver trickled down her spine. "Feeling better?"

Jesika stared at him a while, unable to tear away from the eyes that held her with such softness, except to look at his lips, pulled back in a tender smile. She wanted so badly to know what they felt like, and for better or worse, his expression robbed her of any remaining self control; without thinking, she reached out and cupped his cheek in her hand, slowly pulling him in to meet her. She could practically feel it already- his hands tangled in her hair, his lips soft on her neck…

"Jes, no."

The strained words ripped her from her fantasy and she opened her eyes, painfully aware that he was only a hair's breadth away. "Please?" she breathed, with a note of longing so strong it teetered on the edge of desperation.

Aedyndel took an unsteady breath then slowly, almost reluctantly, grabbed her wrist and removed her hand from his face. "As much as I love to hear you beg, Princess… now is not the time."

The sultry bass of his voice only served to entice her further. Jesika whimpered softly and pushed her face closer to his in a last ditch effort to close the distance between them. There was a deep, barely audible rumble in the elf's throat as he deftly slid his hand up the back of her neck to the crown of her head and grasped her hair by the roots. With a firmness that made her gasp, he pulled back and angled her head so that she had no choice but to look him in the eye.

"You…are making this incredibly difficult," Aedyndel grumbled. He watched her with an a mixture of amusement and slight contempt, as if struggling to maintain his composure in the face of insolence. Jesika pinched her eyebrows together pleadingly and squirmed underneath his penetrative gaze. "I'm going to let you go," he said coolly, "and then you are going to bed. Is that clear?"

Jes' face scrunched into a slight pout. "No."

Something dangerous flashed in his eyes. "No?"

She threw him a haughty, defiant look.

Unfortunately, her ploy didn't take; Aedyn only closed his eyes and set his jaw. "You're drunk, Jes." He moved his hands to her shoulders and slid her off of his lap.

"I'm sober enough."

"To speak clearly, perhaps, but not to…" He trailed off and stood to leave, shaking his head. "You're not in your right mind and… well, we can talk about this in the morning."

Jes frowned. "I'm not that drunk."

"Oh yeah? Then why don't you stand up and go put that empty glass in the kitchen for me?"

"Fine!"

"Go on."

Jes shot him a glare then looked at the nightstand, albeit a little too quickly. She narrowed her eyes. "Which gl…" Aedyndel raised an eyebrow and she clamped her mouth shut. One of those glasses was not supposed to be there. On a whim, she reached for the one on the right, smirking as she made contact. Confident as ever, the young woman stood, only to have her smug expression wiped off her face as the earth swayed beneath her and she stumbled, barely righting herself before Aedyn needed to intervene.

"That's what I thought." Aedyndel took the cup from her hand and helped her ease back into bed. "At least you'll have some pleasant dreams tonight. Perhaps a bit too pleasant."

"Fuck off," she grumbled sleepily.

"Goodnight to you too."