Chapter 15

#-# Merri POV #-#

I'm exhausted, sleepless and sad. I haven't felt like this since my father's tiger, Nashra, died. Right now it seems so stupid to cry over a dead pet, but when you are nine years old, that is about the worst thing that could happen to you. I had known that tiger since I was born, and when it died I felt like I had lost my best friend. I remember my father grieving with me, singing sad songs in his language to lull me to sleep. If my mother noticed I couldn't sleep she would crawl into my bed, holding me and shushing me as I cried. They always took care of me no matter what. And now they're gone.

I didn't even have the chance to say how much I loved them. I never expected that as I rode to Stormwind that I would never see them again. I never even got to say goodbye. All that's left of them is a burned letter and a staff I took from the secret treasures that are now stowed in a vault. I'll never be able to see those things again, since I am now an outcast. So much has happened in a matter of days. My village destroyed, parents murdered, dignity taken by a Troll no less, tainted and discovered as a warlock. And last but not least I was banished from a faction I had called my own for 17 yearsThinking of the Alliance brings the face of that little boy back to my memory. Is that how they gaze upon the Horde as well? I start to feel contempt for my former faction. Do they really believe that if they banish new shadow casters from the Alliance, that the lore itself will go extinct? Pagrin told me that as long as there are people, there will be shadow.

Pagrin, I miss the imp. In all the events that have happened since I arrived in Stormwind, he seems the only one to show understanding. But Jalane told me he is travelling through the Netherworld, and that I will not see him again until we reach Ratchet. I feel alone right now. I know Jalane is there for me, but somehow I cannot urge myself to tell her of my parents, or why my wrists are bandaged, she has had her share of grief. I cannot turn to Creton at all; for he seems to have gone back to the person he was when we first met. Tears threaten to come again and I try to keep them away.

Why him? Why must I cry over the actions of a man I hardly know, while there are so many other things I should be crying about? I should be grieving for my parents and friends, who died in the Horde attack. I feel sad when I think of them, but tears do not come. Even my banishment doesn't bring tears, even though I am condemned to a possibly short life of wandering the borders of the Alliance forever.

But one stray thought of his harsh tone and the tears start stinging in my eyes. I will the tears away when I hear the click of the door. A hand is touching my shoulder, silently shushing me like my mother once did. But her words cannot soothe me. The tears don't fall, yes, but that is because my pride will not let me cry in front of her. Another click from the door and Jalane lets go of me. It's probably Creton.

A bigger hand than Jalane's touches my shoulder briefly and I can hear the man rant about how he only protects me and that I should learn to not be so light-hearted. There are worse things in the world than a harsh tone and I shouldn't be so damn sensitive.

I don't feel tears this time, but anger. Not sensitive? Who in the world said anything about being sensitive? I have been through hell and back twice, so excuse me if his harsh tone hurts me more than it should. I sit up from the bed, not looking at them, for I fear that I'll cry out of anger if I do.
"Worse things in the world? Name me ONE that I haven't gone through in the past week."

When I hear him starting to speak I cannot believe that he is actually going to answer. Even a fool would know better than to retort to such a question.

"Leave!"

"Merrilynn…" It's the first thing Jalane has said since Creton came in. her voice is soft, hesitant, like she is afraid of me. I don't see why. I cannot hurl fire at them without hurting myself, nor can I cast shadow on them because I do not know how. But I cannot bear to have them near me. Every second of him in this room angers me more. But he doesn't budge.

"I said LEAVE!"

"You are not the boss of me."

I can't help myself. I rush towards him and slap him across the cheek, staring heatedly at his face for a few seconds, before I rush out of the room. If he won't leave, I will. Outside the ocean breeze calms my nerves and as I lean over the boat I once again feel sadness. Why did he not understand that I am not one of his soldiers? Then I realise that they would never understand what happened. Heck, I'm not even sure if I will ever truly understand what happened to me. It's just too much in such a short time.

"Why da face human?"

Looking besides me I see a Troll hunched, his head cocked to the side and giving me a questioning look. Even though he is not standing straight, I still need to look up to look in his eyes. He's grinning and I can't help but cower a little. I have no memory of my attack whatsoever, so I cannot be sure that this wasn't one of the two Trolls that attacked me. I realise too late that I do not have the hood on.

"I see, too good to be talkin' to a Troll are ya…Fine mon."

He turns and I can't help but cry out wait. Why did I do that? Horde raided my village, his kind attacked me, hell, he could even be one of my attackers. He turns back to me, as surprised that I called out as I am. Now what? How in the world do you talk to a Troll?

"You speak human?"

"No mon, I speak common. You humans just be da only race that has no tongue of deir own."

I can't help but feel a little hurt. He just insulted my race for being the only one without a dialect. Shouldn't that be a good thing?

"Didn't mean to insult you human. Was just sayin' you can't have no secret converstations if everyone understands you."

I look at the passing ocean again. Not really knowing what else to say. I've never even had a Troll talking to me before. But instead of going away, the Troll stays besides me.

"Had a bad day human?"

"How bout a bad life?" I mutter silently, not really intending to say it out loud.

At that moment I realise that Troll have exceptionally good hearing. Because the next moment he is crouched besides me and has his arm around my shoulder. I don't want him this close to me and I inch away from his face, only now realising how dangerous his tusks can be.

"Want to tell unkie Troll bout it?"

My eyes widen a little. Unkie Troll? I might not have that much knowledge when it comes to Trolls, but I know that this is not your ordinary one.

"Euh…no thank you?"

Grinning he lifts his arm from my shoulders and holds out a hand. I look at him confused.

"You be hungry den?"

I really wish to Elune I could say no, but the word hungry awakens my stomach and it now grumbles loudly.

"I'll take dat as a yes. I hope you like fish. It's de only thin on da menu."

He chuckles and leads me into a room filled with the smell of fish. My common sense is screaming at me to run away, because he is the enemy. But I can only think that I am no longer from the Alliance, and that he doesn't pose much of a threat. I can see one of those cow-like creatures in the eating area again and I cannot help but ask.

"What are…those exactly?"

"Dose be Tauren mon. You never seen one before?"

"No."

"Well, you'll be seein' loads of dem where dis boat is goin."

"When are we going to arrive exactly?"

"Da way dese goblins sail? Few days, week tops."

Great, 6 days left on this boat with Creton and without my imp. One of those Tauren comes towards the table we are sitting at, and I can feel him looking at me in disgust. He turns to the Troll.

"Do you realise that this could cost you your head? Though you seem to have lost it already by talking to the likes of her."

I was right about how this Troll is one of the oddballs. But no matter how much I like to be treated like filth, I don't want him to lose his head. As I stand up, he grabs my wrist.

"Relax mon, dis be da ocean. Here we be equals, besides, da human looked hungry. Would you walk away like dat?"

"It's not about her being a human."

I must have the word warlock written on my face or something. How else does everyone seem to know? Getting my wrist freed from his grip I excuse myself. Feeling several pairs of eyes on me as I leave, I bang the door a lot harder than intended. I can vaguely hear one last thing before the door shuts.

"Ya know mon, it's people like you dat keep dis war going."

I'm back where I started, leaning over the edge of the boat, looking at the ocean as it's breeze warms me when someone grabs my shoulder and wrenches me around. I realise I'm staring straight into Creton's rage-filled eyes. Every word he speaks is spat out to me like I'm scum.

"Are you mad? Going out without your hood on. Communicating with a HORDE. Do you want to die?"

My rage flares up again at his words and I forcefully yank myself out of his grip. I regret it as my shoulder starts hurting, but my eyes feel like they can burn holes through his armour.

"How dare you command me like you own me? Like I am a child? In case you haven't noticed, you are not on Alliance ground, and even if we were, I do not have to obey you since I was BANISHED from it. What are you going to do about it? Take your sword and finish what your beloved commander wanted to start?

He grips my wrist and pulls me close. Call me a fool, but I felt no fear, I didn't even flinch as I felt the wounds on my wrist opening and the joint in question nearing breaking point. Jalane is tugging on the paladin's shoulders. I can see fear in her eyes. It's like she knows something we don't. I wonder what has got her so spooked.

"Creton, let her go, you're being unreasonable."

"I'm being unreasonable? It's time this half breed learns the word respect!"

His true colours finally show. After everything he still considers me as nothing more than a filthy half breed. I want to spit in his face and yell at him, but he lifts an armour clad hand and strikes me across the face. By the force of the blow, his grip fails and I am flung a fair distance away, my wrist breaking as he tries to hold onto it. As my body hits the floor, all the anger and hate leave it and make way for fear. Jalane begs him to stop, but he throws her to the ground as well and lunges for me again, his eyes aflame. I can't do much but raise my arms in a poor defence.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Creton's going berserk! The guy can't seem to make up his mind about Merri. Like, Hate, Like Hate…that's palas for ya xD

I hope the Troll way of speaking is ok. I translated most of it while sitting in the middle of Deeprun with an add-on called Trollizer. Thanks to the creator of that thing. But it's hell to spell check when you got a Troll talking.

The reason this chapter is posted so soon: I had a major inspiration surge a few days ago, and this chapter was actually finished at 5 a.m. yesterday :p. Just needed a rereading when my mind was more awake.

Thx to Someone, Uruquiel2, Gameplaya and Orannis4 for reviewing.

Gameplaya: The Troll didn't really know Merri, he just recognized her as the girl he and his buddies attempted to rape earlier, as Orannis4 smartly noticed .

Hope you liked this chapter

Read, review, flame…It's your choice