Author's Note: As always, I have no affiliation with World of Warcraft or Blizzard. I don't own any of it except, of course, a love for the game. Oh, and Trolls...I love trolls... *drools*...Ahem...Anyway, I couldn't believe how fast this chapter came to fruition! Thank you all for your wonderful comments and reviews. And please remember, if you don't tell me what's wrong with it, I can't fix it in the future! ^.^ Thanks so much, all! Enjoy!
The mage groaned. Her head hurt...why did her head hurt like this? She tried to open her eyes and instantly regretted it. What the fell was going on? She rolled over, suddenly aware that she was in a plush bed. Silken sheets skimmed over her bare arms. How did she get here? And just where, exactly, was 'here'? So many questions needing answers. She couldn't keep them all straight in her head.
"I'm very pleased you've awakened. Did you sleep well, my dear?"
Abruptly, Jinny's eyes flew open as she tried to sit up. Finding this near on impossible, she resigned herself to slowly scanning the room from where she lie on the bed. It was a large room, tastefully decorated in the true style of the High Elves. The sun found its way through the long sheer drapes that covered the glassless windows, reaching with outstretched fingers to the expensive, hand woven rugs that adorned the floor. Potted ferns hovered in the corners and around the windows. Luxurious, overstuffed pillows surrounded low tables covered with soft linens. The room screamed opulence. Two large, wing-back chairs upholstered in lavish fabric stood around a small table, forming a breakfast nook of sorts. Tall, pointed ears stood above the crown of a white head of hair that bobbed just above the top of the seat.
The silky voice came again. "Do not worry, the effects will wear off soon." Jinny groaned in response as the man stood and poured her a glass of wine. The grace with which he walked was almost hypnotizing as he made his way across the room to the bed where she lay.
"The effects of what will wear off soon?" she asked, groggy. She threw an arm over her eyes. "What have you done to me?"
"The effects of the potion you took to make you...more compliant." He smiled, bright white teeth gleamed in the sun beneath his thin lips.
"I took no potion..." she started to say, her voice trailing off. Had she?
The man shrugged. "You did."
Her strength was returning and she sat up in the bed. Only then did she realized that she was not wearing her outer robes. She pulled the coverlet up to shield herself from his appreciative stare. "Then I did not take it of my own volition."
"No," he conceded. "You took it of mine," he smiled again, sitting on the bed and offering her the glass of wine. "Here, this will help to counter the effects of the potion." A deep rumbling chuckle that spoke of dark evils beneath the surface rolled from his throat. "I assure you, it is simply wine. Dalaran Red, if I'm not mistaken," he continued as she gingerly grasped the slender stem of the wine glass, swirling the dark liquid within and lightly sniffing the bouquet. She carefully sipped. Jinny jumped when he grasped her wrist. "Do not fret. I give you my word that no harm will come to you here."
The woman looked at him apprehensively. "How do I know you will keep your word?"
"Simple," he replied, "you can guarantee your own safety by following my instructions to the letter, my dear."
The tiny elf nodded and tentatively offered her hand to the man. Making sure to keep her voice even and compliant, she asked, "And if I don't?"
His fel green eyes captured hers. Malevolent shadows swirled within the emerald glow. "Well, let us suffice it to say, things will end badly if you do not wish to obey." He looked at her for a moment longer before returning his attention to her wrist, placing two fingers slightly below her thumb and falling silent as he studied an old pocket watch.
Jin'ala studied him. High cheekbones framed a straight and stately nose; long, white hair that fell to right above a belt that was cinched around a slender waist; high, pointed ears; thin lips. Jinny gasped in recognition. "Am...am I...dreaming?" she asked hesitently.
Once again, the man chuckled. "Not this time, my dear."
"But you are the man from my dreams, are you not?"
It was his turn to nod, his ears bouncing slightly as he did. "I rather enjoyed meeting you in those dreams, darling. Didn't you?" his smile turned decidedly lustful. "Especially our first meeting."
The mage blushed. She could feel the warm tingling spreading across her face. Jinny remembered all too clearly the first dream she'd had. Jin'ala and Darreek had been camping only a short distance away from Crown Guard Tower when this man caused her to dream. He'd disguised himself as Darreek at first, giving her a false sense of security; practically seducing her before allowing her to awaken to the Warrior's voice.
Then, there was the dream she'd had at Tarren Mill. The one she had awaken from with a terrible hangover. It was then she felt it. That crackling in the air that seemed to envelope her, sharpening her senses; causing sensations that she couldn't quelch if she'd tried. She shifted under the covers and he smiled knowingly at her. Goose-bumps prickled her skin as her blush deepened.
His hand moved to her face, raising her eyelids for a better view of her eyes. This man's movements seemed so clinical, almost those of a healer. "You...you seem so familiar..."
The tall man's humor had not subsided, evident by his humming chuckle. "You've said that once before, sweet," he remarked, tracing a single finger along her jaw.
His words echoed in her head. "You seemed disappointed that I didn't remember you. You said we'd met under different circumstances."
The man nodded, standing. "I did." He looked at her for a moment. "You still do not remember me, do you?" he asked with a disapproving frown as he searched her face, only continuing when she shook her head no. "I was at Eastwall tower when you and that warrior were found. The both of you were near death. I was assigned to heal your wounds and my associates were instructed to heal him."
Jinny shuddered inwardly. The venom with which he'd spoken that last word referring to her warrior dripped with animosity. "You...healed me?" Absently, her hand reached for her shoulder where the jagged scar lay.
He nodded. "I did. You had been drifting in and out of consciousness while I was ministering to your wound."
The mage sat there for a moment, mulling all this over in her head. Finally, she looked at him. "So, why am I here?"
He smiled, though he was pleasantly surprised that she hadn't been reduced to a sniveling carcass of a woman by the prospect of being kidnapped. He'd been right. She had turned out to be every bit of the strong, cool-headed woman he'd thought she would. Yes. She would make a fine match. A fine match indeed.
The man stood abruptly. "All in good time, darling. First, we eat." He clapped his hands and instantly there was a servant. Another Sin'dorei. Though, this one seemed weak. He was gaunt, pale and lanky; almost a shell of his former self. The servant was dressed in tidy, clean clothes and carried a large tray filled with covered dishes and platters of all shapes and sizes. The table was efficiently set and the most wonderful aromas wafted over to the woman laying in the bed.
Jinny's stomach growled. She blushed. How was she this hungry?
The man chortled. "Almost two days sleeping makes one rather famished, does it not?"
"Two days?"
He nodded, his humor continuing to shine behind his eyes. "Well, I suppose you would be surprised by that. But, you seem to be recovering adequately." The man smiled. Jin'ala was silent, but resolutely nodded. Warily, she inched her way to the side of the bed, swinging her legs over the edge and pulling the coverlet around her in a make-shift robe. "Though, I'm certain the coverlet would make a fetching dressing gown, would you prefer a conventional robe?" Laughter danced on his features as he studied her appreciatively. Jinny thanked him politely as he handed her a beautiful dressing gown made of fine silk. The soft material slipping easily over her bare shoulders, caressing her skin like a hushed whisper as she wrapped it around and tied the belt.
The man offered her his hand. Tentatively, she took it, testing out legs that felt like sandbags. It took a moment to steady herself, but with this strange man's help, she was able to gain her balance. Her stomach growled once more and her blushed returned. His chuckle rumbled over her, causing her skin to erupt in goose-bumps. His laugh, this place, the air, had a strange effect on her. Her senses seemed to be heightened.
The aroma from the decorative plates was heavenly. All manner of food was spread across the table. Sausages, eggs, toast, biscuits, bacon, cheese, fruit, hot cakes and jam made her mouth water. She'd almost forgotten the servant was there until he started spooning heaping helpings of each of the dishes onto her gold-rimmed plate.
"I assume that some introductions are in order." He stood to face her, his hair swaying with the movement. "I am Devante Givano. Once a piss-ant healer of the Argent Crusade, now a leader of my own...establishment." A smooth half-smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he bowed deeply.
The mage nodded in recognition of the introduction. She swallowed the mouthful of eggs before she spoke. "And I am..."
"Jin'ala Mouring." He finished for her, nodding and settling back into the chair. "From a tiny village that was destroyed by the Lich King's army." Her astonishment was evidenced by her slack jawed expression. Devante smiled at her, a soft chuckle rumbling low in his throat. "Surprised? You shouldn't be. I've been keeping tabs on you since I'd heard about the young, powerful magistrix that was showing great promise." He slowly reached out to push an errant hair out of her face and behind her ear; his eyes belied his ardor as they slid down her form . "Though, the reports never said anything of your alluring beauty."
The woman became very still. She didn't like it when he touched her. It seemed to sear her skin and freeze it all at the same time. A strange energy laced across the flesh of her ears where his fingers had been, sinking into the tissues beneath. It radiated down her neck and throughout the rest of her body, settling deep in the pit of her stomach. Jinny put her fork down; suddenly, she didn't have much of an appetite anymore, though her throat had become unexpectedly dry.
"May...may I have a glass of water?" she stammered.
He studied her for a moment, half of a grin tugging at his thin lips. "Thirsty, are we?" She couldn't stop the crimson hue that washed over her cheeks. His low chuckle was the only sound in the room save for the soft rustling of the curtains in the gentle breeze. He obliged, handing her a tall glass of the clear liquid. Eagerly, she drank. The cool fluid trickled down her parched throat but did nothing to quell her thirst. In fact, she felt a little strange.
"This water has a peculiar taste," she observed.
He shrugged, pointed ears bouncing slightly as he tilted his head quickly toward his left shoulder before he looked around. "Out here, the very air itself is infused with fel." The corner of his mouth tugged upward in a lopsided smile. "It does take some getting used to, but I assure you, there is nothing of ill-effect in the water." She nodded, setting the tall crystal glass down. She'd just have to conjure up some water when he wasn't here.
For some reason she didn't feel comfortable casting spells under his watchful, bright green eyes. Eyes that had haunted her dreams for the past few weeks. Eyes that, if only for a moment, had seen her at her most vulnerable. Her thoughts traveled to the base of Crown Guard Tower where the dreams had begun. He had been so...familiar with her in that dream. Touched her where no other had. Until they'd reached Andorhol and Darreek had... She shoved the thought aside. If she had been so easily taken, then obviously he was dead. Her heart sank along with her features. She shuddered.
"Cold?" the dark voice from her dreams asked, raising a snow white brow. She looked at him, hoping her thoughts weren't written on her face as they normally were. She shook her head in the negative. "Are you certain? I could get you something warmer to wear." His hand came up to cradle her cheek, shooting that strange, dark energy through her jaw. Jinny shook her head in the negative, grateful to have a reason to pull away from his hand.
The tiny mage cleared her throat. "I'm fine, thank you."
A long finger trailed across her collar bone, tracing a painfully slow track over her shoulder. She wished he would stop touching her, much less, stop sitting that close. He gave her this awful feeling, seemed to emanate a darkness that she'd never felt before with merely a touch. Deep, impenetrable, inky black shadows swirled around the outside of her vision.
Her senses grew more intense. She could actually smell the dirt inside the planters, even the smell of some sort of savory meat cooking slowly in the kitchen, wherever that was. Her hearing even picked up the guttural growls of the felhunters patrolling the area with their Warlock masters. Jin'ala fidgeted. Those dark magics and demons made her anxious. They always had. She shuddered again.
The slender man seemed tall, even though he was still sitting. His look conveyed his concern for her. "You're certain you're not cold?" She nodded and he studied her for a moment longer. Finally, he signaled the long forgotten servant to start cleaning up. "Very well, I suppose I shall take my leave and allow you some time to get dressed. I've a busy day planned for you, Miss Mouring. You'll find your garments in the wardrobe, just there," he pointed, offering her a warm smile as he rose. Taking her hand, the man brushed his thin lips across her knuckles, bowing as he did so. "I shall return in an hour."
In an instant, he was gone and Jinny breathed a sigh of relief that quickly turned into a sob. Her Warrior! Darreek simply couldn't be dead! And yet, she knew he had to be. There was no other explanation as to why she were here. The woman covered her face with her hands, sobbing until her tears ran dry. She sat there in silent contemplation. She had to wait until she was free of here to fully mourn her lost love... Her head jerked up and she stared at no particular spot on the wall, her thoughts racing in her mind. When had that happened? A wistful melancholy sigh escaped her lips. It didn't matter now, she'd never be able to tell him.
She needed time. Just a short amount of time to be able to get her head on straight and recover her bearings. She had to be strong until she could get away. Somehow get to Shattrath...wherever that was in relation to this place, and get to safety. She'd play along with this strange man and be the humble servant he probably expected her to be, if only to find the chink in his defenses and escape.
Resolutely, she stood and strode over to the wardrobe, throwing open the doors. Jinny's breath caught in her throat as she was struck by the sight of the most beautiful gowns she'd ever seen. None of which were hers. She chose a soft turquoise shift and covered it with a sheer blue robe. Pulling on the softest lined slippers she'd ever felt, she stood in front of the full length mirror to study her progress. She supposed it would be satisfactory to her needs. The fell if she cared what he thought about it.
Walking over to the small vanity set, she settled onto the seat and picked up a silver brush, tugging it through her hair. She was almost surprised at how long it was now. Had it really grown that much since she'd left Silvermoon?
A knock at the large oak door that was the entrance to her room broke through her musings. She sighed, taking one last look in the mirror before standing to greet her host. If you could call him that.
Jin'ala Mouring took one last steadying breath before she started this farce; she cleared her throat. "Come in."