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"Treachery?" Her voice snapped across the intervening space and he looked at her, pale eyes mocking. "I wasn't the one stood in shadow ready to stab anyone in the back." Her tones even harsh as they were, rolled sensuously over the noise of the crashing water. "Or do you Alliance Knights not deem it necessary to honourably engage in combat?"
He laughed, rich mocking tones that bounced off the sides of the canyon as he pulled himself upright to tower above her. He stepped closer and she held her ground, acutely aware of the rushing flood not five paces behind her. A pace away, he stopped moving and stared down at her, amusement radiating from his form. "I waited for you to notice me." He whispered as he leant closer, bending his head to stare at her face. "You were very busy with that Hacklefang. I stood there for several minutes before you realised." She swallowed, icy fingers running down her spine. "Had I wanted to slay you unnoticed, you would be dead."
"Noble of you." She hissed back, refusing to be intimidated. "Not like it was an even match."
"You think not?" He reached for his shirt and pulled it aside, revealing dark scorch marks against pale, smooth skin. "You gave as good as you got." Leanadas swallowed, staring at his chest as though it were the first time she had ever seen one. The marks of her magic traced over his skin like some child's scrawl; and a warm feeling of accomplishment sang through her.
"Consider it fair payment for this," She retorted, pulling aside the tear in her robe, revealing the long raw wound that sat above her hips. "We both landed blows, however, I can do something about mine." She turned and focused, her magic bringing into being several small cakes and a jug of cool water. She turned back, holding the conjured food in her hands and watched his eyes spark with sudden hunger. He reached for one of the small cakes in her hands, only to see it vanish as he drew it free.
"Ah ah. You can't take them. They have to be given freely." She answered, settling back on hard floor and biting into the first cake, feeling the magic flow through her body, healing her wounds and refreshing her tired mind. He reached for her then, his fingers seizing her by the neck and pushing her back against the edge of the cliff.
"Hand them other." He did not tighten his fingers, but she could feel empty air just behind her and his eyes threatened death.
Leanadas chuckled hoarsely beneath the pressure of his hand. "This is no way to convince me." She uttered, her eyes staring into his, daring him to kill her and condemn himself to starvation. "Play nice and I may." Several heartbeats passed and he snarled in frustration, pulling her back from the edge.
"Alright." He hissed, his fingers relaxing their grip on her throat. "Please may I have some healing?"
She waited, considering his request with an almost bored look on her features. The Night Elf stared down at her, anger warring with the need to stay calm.
"Do you wish me to beg?" His voice was low and menacing and his gaze roved across her face. "I'm sorry but I won't beg for what you have to offer. I have some pride left, I can last until rescue."
"I doubt it." She finally spoke staring up at his eyes with triumph. "I don't want you to beg. I want you to promise me, as a Knight, that you will not throw me from here once you get what you need." He stared down at her, amazement entering his gaze as he stared at her.
"Alright." He whispered, leaning close to her. "I promise I will not throw you from this cliff." He raised an eyebrow challengingly. "Is that good enough?"
Leanadas paused for a while, before carefully handing over the food. He took them from her fingers and then his hand found her throat again. "I didn't promise not to strangle you." He hissed into her ear as he gently applied pressure. "Does that seem fair?" She reached her hands out and found his chest. Her fingers pressed against smooth skin and she focused, sending a burst of flame through him, throwing him back from her.
"Perfectly." She gasped out, stroking her newly acquired bruises with her fingers. "Maybe I should just fry you here and now?" She advanced on his fallen form and placed a foot on his chest. "How does that sound to you? At least I won't be afraid when I sleep."
"Okay... I'm sorry.." He whimpered as he feet dug into the scorch marks on his chest. "Perhaps I was a overly dramatic."
"Perhaps." She pulled back from him and stood, fingers held in a spell casting stance. "Remember I can't lose my weapons. Try that again and you die." She whirled around and sat on the furthest side of the cliff wall away from him. "And people accuse us of treachery."
He pulled himself to his feet and swallowed the squashed cake, feeling the wounds on his chest vanish. "We are enemies you know." He called across to her as he settled back on the floor.
"I know." She retorted, staring across at him. "But I did save you from that." She waved at the flood in front of them. "If it wasn't for me, you'd be in the depths of Feralas by now, probably skewered by a tree."
"And I'm grateful for your unexpected altruism," He responded, finishing the last crumb with relish. "It doesn't get you a free pass." He stretched back against the rock and stared at her with his pale eyes. "I am curious why you did."
"Does it matter? Surely we'd be better pondering why that tidal wave happened." Leanadas replied, trying hard not to think about why she had saved the Night Elf. It hadn't been a conscious decision and not the best one she had ever made-, she was now stuck with a mortal enemy until rescue.
"That can wait," he murmured, staring at the raging flood in awe. "My curiosity can't. Why did you pull me up?"