Author's Note: Again want to thank my friends for letting me use their characters for Cera's story, and as usual some of the story my not be accurate as to what happened in game, cause you know, it never rains in Stormwind, hur hur.

Chapter Three

Fatal Attraction

Ceralena had never felt so refreshed, relieved. It was the best night of sleep she had had since coming to Stormwind. Her arms stretched up over her head, whining lightly as she stretched herself out to get herself up and running. She swung her feet around and over the side of the bed, glancing around the room. There wasn't anyone else in the room as far as she could see, which was good enough for her cause she didn't really want to talk to anyone anyway.

She pushed herself up from the bed, grabbing her satchel and putting the strap over her shoulder and across her chest, heading out to the great hall of the Cathedral. The area was quite busy for the morning, people stopping in and paying their respects, offering prayers while others who looked like priests were tending to the alter or listening to the confessions of the attendants. Cera looked around the hall before heading out to leave, bypassing a few people before stopping as she stared down at someone, or rather a group of people. Cera was stunned.

Conversing on the steps was a group of small human like creatures. They all looked like children with high pitched voices, chatting and giggling and causing Cera to subconsciously sneak closer to them. She stopped behind one of them, watching them with interest as she knelt, still not even remotely close to their height even when she got down to her knees. Two of the creatures looked up at her till the one she stood behind looked up at her, offering a kind smile.

"Hello there!" The creature in front of her said. The small woman looked young, pink hair tied back into a ponytail while her bangs feathered off to the sides of her forehead. She wore a vest with a white shirt underneath, and a blue skirt, much similar to the one Cera herself wore. She had a scent to her that smelled a lot like sweets.

"Little people..." Cera muttered out to her, slowly reaching out to pat the pink haired one on the head. The small woman blinked, accepting the pat before giving a soft giggle.

"Not little people, Gnomes!" She smiled, looking up at her. Cera looked down at her before expanding the space between her and gnome, blushing from her ignorance.

"G-Gnomes? What's a Gnome?" Cera asked rather bluntly, the two other gnomes looking at each other with a confused look.

"Well, we're gnomes!" The pink haired one grinned, clasping her hands together before handing one out to her. "My name is Ninwyn Loopop, you are?"

"C-Ceralena Lambelle..." Cera said slowly, still amazed with these people in front of her while she reached out, missing Ninwyn's hand completely a few times before finally clasping the tiny hand in her own.

"Nice to meet you Ceralena!" The gnome shook her hand from within Cera's, then tried to pull her hand away, giving it a couple of yanks before Cera finally got the picture and let go.

"S-Sorry..."

"It's okay, are you new to Stormwind? I don't think I've seen you around before." Ninwyn asked, taking a seat on the steps of the cathedral.

"I uh … come from … far away..." Cera looked off to the side, sitting down as well instead of kneeling. At least this way she was close enough to hold a normal conversation rather then towering over her.

"Are you one of the Gilnean refugees?" She asked innocently enough, however it caused Cera to cringe, looking around to see if anyone heard her.

"Nope! Not from there!" She blurted out, waving her hands defensively in front of her. There was a small awkward silence before Ninwyn cleared her throat, still smiling kindly.

"Well, welcome to Stormwind anyway!"

"Yes … thank you." Cera nodded, glancing around before looking back down to the gnome. "Is there a place to get apples around here?"

"Hmm, there's apple trees all around Stormwind if you're tall enough to pick them!" Ninwyn pointed across the square, many of the trees in the area had shiny red apples hanging from the branches, while on the ground near them were ripe, but not as appealing apples. Cera's eyes lit up at the sight of the apples and quickly stood, getting ready to take off until she found her manners, she giving a light bow to the gnome.

"Thank you Miss Ninwyn!" She chimed at her, then took off for the trees.

"See you around then Ceralena!"

Cera looked up at one of the apple trees within the square, frowning as she compared her height to the towering tree above her. She bit her bottom lip, then narrowed her eyes behind her glasses, reaching out and grasping at the bark of the tree. Cera was never the agile type, falling, tripping, just generally getting into trouble in the oddest way possible. However now there was something different about her. She had confidence, something she lacked before.

With ease she began to scale the tree, reaching the branches as she pulled herself up and sat down on a more sturdy one. She grinned as all she had to do was reach up in front of her and begin picking the ripe apples above her. Cera made sure to keep her balance, taking each apple she picked and placing it into her satchel for later.

"I'll get a few for Balverine too!" Cera said with a smile to herself, wondering what kind of apple he liked. There were so many kinds to choose from, red apples, goldenbark, green and yellow. Her apple fascination might have looked odd to some people, but she couldn't help but love the fruit, it was what she had grown up on! With a few final reaches she had picked her quota, her satchel bulging with her belongings and the more then a dozen apples within. Cera began to descend the tree, holding onto the bark as she slowly climbed her way down.

Once her feet hit solid ground she smoothed down her skirt, a large happy grin present on her face. She was headed on her way back to the Cathedral, a skip in her step as she walked. There wasn't possibly any way for her day to be ruined. Cera walked up the large steps, looking at the building before glancing at the start of the walls surrounding the steps at the top. She would wait for Balverine outside, catch him before he went inside and offer him an apple.

Gently she took a seat on the steps, setting her bag down beside her and leaning her back against the wall. Hours had passed as she waited on those steps, every hour that happy smile on her face would start to fade before there was simply nothing left but a thin line across her lips. Bal had never shown up and now it was starting to get dark, the street lamps getting lit one by one. She wasn't sure what was going on, why would he say he'd be here today, but not show up.

With a heavy sigh Cera slowly stood up, lifting her bag up over her shoulder. She knew the streets of Stormwind were a dangerous place at night and it would make sense for her to turn in now. Where was he? Thoughts swirled around in her head as she headed inside the Cathedral and to the back room with all the beds. Was he hurt somewhere? Did he get lost? Wait how would he get lost … he was in this city every day longer then she was.

She turned to head into the resting room, stopping short as she saw someone already in there. It was a man more then likely older then her, yet still in his twenties. Long silvery hair was tied back in a ponytail and he wore dark green robes. Cera's head tilted a little as she watched him from the doorway, he seemed to be writing in a book as he sat at one of the tables. The man's head lifted from the book once he noticed her, offering a smile and a nod.

"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you." Cera frowned, her bag lowering in front of her lap.

"Nonsense, you are more then welcome to come in." The man smiled, offering her one of many chairs around the table where he was at. She took him up on the offer, moving in and setting herself at the table. She looked at the book he wrote it, staring at it intently.

"Are you writing poems?" She asked, trying not to intrude but that wasn't covering up the fact that she was basically leaning over the table to see what he was writing.

"Ah no, this is a text book for the novices of the Clergy, it has information gathered by various sources along with my own. I'm just making sure everything is in order." The man gave a small chuckle as he spoke, lowering his quill to the table.

"Clergy? Oh! Bal told me about them! He said they're really nice people! Are you part of them too?" She spoke with excited tones to her voice, nearly bouncing in her seat.

"Father Aros Drakewing." He simply said, offering his hand out to her in greeting. Cera reached out, taking his hand in her own and giving it a nice shake. Once she returned her hand to her lap, glancing down at the book he was once writing in.

"Ceralena Lambelle, oh! You wrote that book that was in the other room!" Cera smiled as she introduced herself, then remembered the book she had been reading when she had first got here.

"That I did." Aros nodded to her, giving her a light smile.

"It's written really well, very literate! Do you like apples?"

"I'm partial to green myself." He said with a smile. Cera opened her bag, digging through the various apples that she had collected earlier in the day. She frowned when she couldn't find any that were green.

"I don't have any green on me, but next time I find one I'll bring one for you!"

"I would like that very much, perhaps we could even have some hot apple cider to go with them?" The man smiled once he saw Cera's eyes light up like fireworks. She nodded happily, standing up and throwing the strap of her satchel over her shoulder.

"I look forward to having those apples with you!" Cera said with a wave to him, Aros waved back with a smile as he watched her head over to the sleeping quarters. She was happy she was making friends so fast now that she was within the care of the cathedral, as long as she didn't say anything to them about who she was, where she was from, she would be fine. However she was starting to grow concerned with the whereabouts of Balverine, he had not shown up to the cathedral that day when he said he would. She would have to go look for him soon if he didn't come back to her.

–

A couple days had rolled around and again Cera waited outside on the steps of the cathedral, each day Balverine had not returned, and yet she still sat there, waiting for him to come back. She told herself each day that if he didn't come back she would go look for him the next day, but her hope held out that he would return on his own. It was getting to the third day and her hope was starting to wear thin. After a small conversation with Ninwyn she lifted herself up off the steps, grabbing the strap to her bag and marched inside the Cathedral. It had been far to long for him not to show up and she was going to go find him where ever he was.

Cera packed her bag with things she thought she needed. She didn't have a lot to start out with but something was better the nothing. After packing the final thing she gave a nod of determination to herself, grinning and turning around only to slam face first into someone. She fell back to the floor, her satchel spilling it's contents on the floor as apples rolled out at her feet. She looked up at the person she had run into, her eyes going wide as she saw Balverine before her. Well, at least she didn't have to go out to look for him now.

"B-Balverine!" She managed to sputter something out, her eyes locked on the bandages that covered a lot of his body. "What happened to you?"

"Don't worry about it Cera." Balverine gave a small sigh as he adjusted his arm by rolling his shoulders a little.

"Don't worry about it? You were gone for almost a week and now you come back with a bunch of bandages? How can I not worry!" Cera frowned, whining at him as she reached up and took hold of his hand. He looked down at her, giving a small sigh and allowing her to hold his hand as she used it to pull herself up.

"Listen, come walk with me. I guess I have to tell you what happened."

He lead her along to the cemetery, Cera frowning the entire time as he told her stories about a warlock, a holy artifact that he was entrusted to protect, the unholy thing that had been done to him. Hearing these things infuriated her, made her inner worgen growl and howl to be released. She tried to keep it under control, her voice growing raspy as she spoke to him.

"W-Why didn't you come to me for help?" She asked him as they finally sat down on one of the stone benches.

"B ecause you don't belong in these problems, this is my burden to bare alone and me alone." He looked over at her, listening to the tenseness in her voice.

"Of course I belong! That's what friends do Balverine! We help each other!" She barked at him, her eyes becoming blood shot, her teeth were beginning to turn more canine like.

"Ceralena, I ask you as a friend, to stay out of this. It is not your war." Balverine spoke firmly, causing Cera to frown before reluctantly agreeing.

"Fine..." She muttered softly, making a small noise of disagreement. He gave her a kind, gentle smile before he finally said something after a long pause of silence.

"You're from Gilneas, aren't you?"

"W-What? No, I told you I was from the mountains!" She stuttered out, Balverine shaking his head lightly.

"You don't have to hide it Cera, you're a worgen, aren't you?" He spoke with kindness in is voice, not the harsh tone that others before him did when they knew what she really was. Cera stared at him, frowning deeply before her body began to shift. Fur began to cover her body, her hair growing out into a long mane of fur, her once blue eyes were now canine like and bloodshot. Her ears lowered in shame as she closed her eyes, Balverine looking her over with observant eyes.

"I knew you had to have been Gilnean when I first met you. The sudden rush of immigrants from the city, the fact that you showed up around the time everyone else did?"

"I … um..." She looked flustered, her ears lowering more before they drooped behind her head like a puppy. Balverine looked at her and with a gentle touch he placed his hand on her muzzle, giving her a comforting pet. Cera's eyes lifted, looking at him from the half-moon glasses that balanced on her nose.

"You don't have to worry about me judging you Cera, I know plenty of worgen that are wonderful people, including you." He said, Cera looking at him as a large blush formed under the fur on her cheeks. Thanks to her fur's dark color, it wasn't noticeable other then sudden look of adoration on her face. With her ears still lowered, her head leaned down, bumping against his chest as she nuzzled into him. Balverine blinked, looking down at her with wide eyes as a blush formed on his face and he gave an unsure hug to her, giving her a pat on the back.

"I won't interfere … unless you get hurt again..."

Weeks went by, and each day Cera found herself falling for this paladin a little more. The more time she spent with him, the closer it brought her to him, however it was not the other way around. While Cera found herself infatuated with this man, Balverine wasn't feeling the same. Cera would care for him as she could, while she wasn't the best cook in the world, she made him meals. She brought him gifts of the best, fresh picked apples she could find. Yet he turned all these gifts away. He began setting a distance between them, avoiding her before one day he simply vanished again.

Cera grew to a point where depression began taking over her daily life style. Why was he avoiding her? Where had he gone this time? She began thinking of the things he had told her, about the warlock and the horrible things he had done. She cringed at the thought of what could happen to Balverine, and decided now it was no longer an option to stand back and watch him get hurt. Cera was going to help him whether he liked it or not.

Thunder rolled over the darkened sky as Cera looked up at it. It was almost like the depressing rain had followed her from Gilneas. Her satchel bulged with the contents of apples, she stood at the bottom of the steps of the Cathedral, staring up at the sky. Rain began to pour down from the clouds, causing her to move up the steps with needed haste. Only a little wet she managed to make it inside before the larger downpour started.

Cera was greeted with the scene of a crowd gathered around someone, she pushing and shoving her way through to see what was going on. Her eyes widened as she stopped at the front of the ground, Balverine laid on a bench while one of the clergy members knelt over him, muttering words under her breath while she kept her hand to his forehead.

"W-What happened?" Cera dropped her things, rushing to the edge of the bench next to him. No one answered her, she simply falling silent once she realized the crowd was being dispersed by the bishop. Cera remained at his side, not even sure what was wrong with him but none-the-less remained with him. Once the woman working on him had finished her job she got up and left, leaving Cera alone with him for a brief moment. Cera opened her mouth to speak to him, but paused when she noticed another person enter the area.

It was a woman Cera recognized as one of Balverine's friends, Mesphia. The woman glared down at her as she looked up at her innocently, Cera's glasses falling to the end of her nose.

"What are you still doing here?" Mesphia stared at her, causing Cera to flinch under the pressuring eye of this woman.

"I-I'm staying with him. H-He'd want me here with him." She managed to blurt out.

"He doesn't want you here, what do you think he was doing that whole time he was avoiding you?"

"Avoid … ing me... I..."

"He DOESN'T like you! Why don't you see that?" Mesphia shouted at her, causing Cera's eyes to widen and then shoot a glare back at her.

"T-That's a lie! He told me he liked me no matter what I looked like!"

"You're just … UGH!" The woman glared and was about to spout more words before she was pulled off by a man, Cera only assumed he was her husband. Cera looked back down at Balverine, wondering if what she said was right. Did he lie to her? Did he really not like her at all? It wasn't much longer before Balverine's eyes opened, he groaning and catching the attention of Cera.

"B-Balverine! I-I was so worried about you, are you alright?" She whimpered to him. He looked at her as if trying to clear his mind, get focused until the words rolled from his mouth.

"Go find Mes..."

Cera stared at him, lightning cracked across the sky. She was right … she had been right all along.

"But, I-"

"Cera, please, just go find her."

She slowly stood, biting her bottom lip as she nodded and moved away from him, heading to the entrance of the cathedral. She wouldn't go find her, not in this rain, who knew where they were. Besides her mind and heart felt like it was going to be torn apart. She stood in the doorway for a long time before her head turned to see Balverine walked towards her. Her heart was as light as air again before she noticed he was following a large man. He walked right past her.

"W-Where are you going now?" Cera asked him calmly, he stopping and looking back at her with a cold look.

"This doesn't concern you Cera, I told you before."

"Well I'm coming with you! I'm tired of sitting back and doing nothing as you get hurt!"

"Cera you're not coming with me, stay back now or I swear I will remove you from my life. This is what's best for you." Thunder cracked across the sky again as he gave her a threatening stare. The two began walking again, heading out into the rain as the man used his shield as a barrier to the rain. Cera gave a snort and followed after them, determined not to be pushed away any longer.

"Balverine I said I'm coming with you! Now wait!" She called out to him as she ran through the rain after him. He quickly turned around, causing her to stop and look at him with wide eyes at the glare he gave her.

"Cera I warned you and you did not listen. From this point on you are no longer part of my life."

Thunder roared in her ears after he spoke, lightning flashing across the sky as she stood there frozen. The crack of thunder was like the sound of her heart breaking in two, the words echoed in her head as she watched him and the man take off while she was stunned.

"No … wait please..." She whined, falling to her knees and holding her hand out to where he once was. Her world was suddenly spinning out of control, crumbling around her and falling apart at the very seems.