Chapter Four - Family

Cairaeleen observed her surroundings and noticed the ruined and abandoned old house in front of her. The wood, out of which the house was made, was rotten or heavily damaged. The house was at least five meters tall and ten meters wide. The windows were either broken or nailed up. She stepped on the veranda and heard the scary creak of the floorboards. She walked to the door and opened it, the loud crack, hurt her ears. Cairaeleen felt that the air was cold as she entered the scary house. She came to the conclusion that she stood in a small lobby.

The lobby was almost empty, only a broken chair and half of a table lay on the ground. A few floorboards were missing and Cairaeleen almost stepped in one of these holes in the floor. She spotted rat shit in the left corner of the room and a few dead rats in the other corner. The walls were covered by huge spider cobwebs. Thick spiders were crawling on these webs and Cairaeleen saw that a lot of flies hung in these webs. She walked through the room until she came to the stairs. She observed the stairs and noticed that two steps were missing. She was about to claim the stairs as she sensed the presence of another person in the room. She turned around and spotted not only one person. A few steps away from her stood Vaero with a few well-armed guards.

"What does this mean? Why are you here? Why are you following me?" Cairaeleen asked feared, her heart beat so fast that she thought it would jump out of her chest.

"We know that you hide a human and we want to know where she is" Vaero said and came closer.

"I don't know what you are talking about" Cairaeleen responded nervously and stepped backwards.

"Tell us where she is and your punishment will be reduced by a lot"

"I don't know what you are talking about" Cairaeleen hissed aggressively. "Don't you dare to come closer" she added and drew her sword.

"Then this counts as treason" Vaero responded and drew his sword, the guards did the same and they came closer together. "I'm sorry" Vaero said and rushed to towards Cairaeleen, he prepared a strike but she blocked it with her sword. Vaero tried to hit her again more than one time but she blocked his attacks. Every time their sword clashed together the noise, which was produced, sounded like a loud knock. Vaero tried to hit her again but he hit the wall behind her and the knocking sound was louder this time.

Cairaeleen was torn out of her dream by a very loud knock on the house's door. She was thunderstruck for a few moments and wasn't sure what was going on. She heard another loud knock and finally realized that she had a bad dream. She got up and rubbed her eyes before she walked towards the door. She yawned before she opened the door and spotted Daynlia, who wore her usual mage outfit.

"Good morning" Daynlia said with small smile and hugged Cairaeleen quickly.

"Good morning. It's a wonder to see you up very early in the morning"

"Early?" the mage asked irritated with a raised eyebrow. "It's twelve o'clock"

"Really?"

"Yes really!"

"Wow. Normally I don't sleep so long" Cairaeleen responded and covered her mouth with her hand to prevent another yawn.

"I guess you have been awake for too long before you went to bed. Have you examined ghoul without me? Daynlia asked strict with a raised eyebrow, her hands rested on her hip.

"I just looked at it one time I swear but…"

"But what?" Daynlia asked disappointed because her best friend looked at the ghoul without her.

"I… I accidently set it on fire. I barely managed to get it out of my house before it ignited my house. Sadly the ghoul was completely burned. I'm so sorry Daynlia" Cairaeleen said and supported her lie with a worried and sad expression. The facial expression of her friend changed from a disappointed on to a sad one. Daynlia didn't say anything for a few seconds then she sniffed and responded. "It's okay. I thought I could study them but now it is too late"

"I'm really sorry"

"It's okay. If you find another please bring it to me or wait for me before you examine it next time" the mage answered with a forces smile, it was hard to her to keep eye contact with her best friend. Both women were silent for a few minutes. Daynlia calmed down and looked in Cairaeleen's eyes.

"Do we want to hang around and do something cool?" the petite woman asked and placed her left arm around Cairaeleen's right one. The warrior looked at her and responded "I'm sorry. I don't have time because I have to get ready for my military duty".

"I thought your duty on Tuesday normally starts in the evening" Daynlia asked, not showing any sign of suspiciousness.

"Yeah but my commander asked me if I could start earlier and I accepted" Cairaeleen replied. She still felt bad about lying to her friend but she had no other choice if she wanted to make sure that nobody finds Janelle.

"Ah now I know that is going on" her best friend said with a wide grin on her face.

"What do you mean?" the warrior asked.

Daynlia looked at her best friend and responded. "Someone sleeps in your bedroom. Someone visited you last night and you two had fun together. Who is it? I kill you if it's Vaero…"

Cairaeleen interrupted her. "Don't worry it's not Vaero it's not even a man"

"OHHHH" Daynlia spoke and her lips were formed to a wider grin. "Who is it? Is it Lady Liadrin? You never told me that you two had a relationship. I thought you two only spend a night together years ago"

"First of all we spend more than just a night together. I was on a mission with her three years ago for three months and I was the only woman in Liadrin's team. That's why we spend every night together were we could rest in a separated room from the rest of the team. Second…" Cairaeleen was about to explain the rest but she was interrupted by her best friend.

"Is she in your room or not?"

"Yes she is" the taller elf responded, supporting her lie with a blush. "She is still in my bed, covered by my blanket and she doesn't want to be seen by you.

Daynlia grin became wider and she said "You have to tell me the details"

"Not now but I will tell you later. Maybe tomorrow. Is that okay?"

"Yes it is" the petit woman responded. "I'm leaving you alone now with your girlfriend". Daynlia pricked her index fingers in both sides of Cairaeleen's waist and hugged her quickly.

"I'll see you later" the tall woman responded and watched her best friend walk away. She turned around and walked back in her house, locking the door behind her. She walked to her bed room and spotted Janelle, who was fully dressed and sat on her bed. She held one of Cairaeleen's framed pictures in her hand and regarded it. The blood elf walked to her guest and sat behind her. She saw that this picture was a picture of her family and herself.

Cairaeleen remembered that day. Her family and her friends had celebrated her 18th birthday. All members of her family were smiling on this picture. Her older sister had worn a short haircut on this day and her hair was dyed blood red. She had worn a beautiful blue dress and her mother had worn a red dress. Her older brother had short hair and he had worn formal clothes. Her father had worn formal clothes too but unlike the blue suit of his son he had chosen a purple one.

"What a lovely picture of a lovely family" Janelle whispered. Cairaeleen was silent and stared at the picture, remembering all the events happened on that day. She was brought back out of her thoughts by the human, who had started to cry. She looked at Janelle and noticed tears running down her cheeks. Cairaeleen put her left arm around Janelle's shoulder and placed the human's head on her left shoulder. Cairaeleen caressed Janelle's head softly and whispered "Shhhh its okay. Let it out". Janelle kept crying and the blood elf did her best to comfort. After thirty minutes of crying, Janelle managed to calm down. Cairaeleen stroke her chin softly and whipped her tears away. The human started at the wall, too ashamed to look at her hostess.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to break up in tears and bother you it's just…" Janelle started to explain with a low a weak voice but her voice broke.

"You don't have to be sorry. I can understand that you are still mourning for your family. Seeing a picture of my family isn't easy for you, I get that" Cairaeleen responded and continued stroking her guest's head.

"No, that is not the reason why I am sad. I have coped the death of my parents. The reason why I am sad is that I have a sixteen years old sister and I have to take care of her. I was travelling with her and we were separated as the guards were hunting us. Now I don't know where she is. I don't know If she is hurt, hungry or if she needs my help… I don't even know if she is alive. The world is cruel and she isn't old enough to take care of herself" Janelle responded with a low and sad voice while she stared at her fingernails. She would have burst in tears again if Cairaeleen hadn't comfort her by hugging her and speaking to her in a low and pleasant voice.

"Tell me about your family" the petite woman whispered and pressed her body against Cairaeleen's. The human's body felt strange at first but after a few seconds Cairaeleen got used to the feeling of Janelle's smaller body against her own. Janelle placed her arms around Cairaeleen's waist and hugged her tightly.

"Fine, I will tell you something about my family. My mother lives with my sister in a large house at the other side of the village. My brother lives together with his wife in a house in Silvermoon City. Together they have a young boy in the age of four and a cat as their pet. My sister is working as brewer for magical potions and other drinks. My brother also works for the military, he has the rank of a commander. My father… ", Cairaeleen made a small pause and then her facial expression and her voice became sad, "My father died during the invasion of the betrayer Arthas and his army of mindless ghouls and undead creatures"

"I'm sorry to hear that" Janelle responded quietly and tried her best to comfort her.

"You don't have to be sorry. It's not your fault. Most members of my family are at least healthy. I'm sorry to hear about your family, about your sister… I wish I could help you somehow but I'm not sure how I can help you"

"You don't need to help me Cairaeleen. It's my family and my task to take care of my sister. I failed and I have to face the consequences alone" Janelle responded and looked at the elf for a small moment before she shifted her gaze and looked at the blanket beneath her.

"But I want to help you. I will find a solution for you. Where did you saw your sister last time?"

"It was in the near of the frontier of Quel'Thalas. We ran away from a few human guards and then we got separated" Janelle explained.

"Hmm… It will be difficult to find her but not impossible. We have to go to the frontier and ask people who live in the near if they have seen her"

"That's a good idea but can we do that? I mean you have to work… right?" Janelle asked and looked at the blood elf for a small moment.

"I have to speak with my superior if I can have a few days off as a form of holiday. Hopefully she will accept my request"

"You don't need to offer your vacation for me"

"But I want to. I can't just live my daily life, knowing that there is a young, defenceless girl outside who needs our help. I'll try to do everything within my power to help her"

"Thank you" Janelle responded, looking this time at her without looking away after a few moments.

"Don't thank me now. Thank me when we find her. It won't be easy but I think that we will be able to find her" Cairaeleen said and looked at the human, who was smiling at her. She adored that smile so much and she knew she would do everything to see that smile one more time. Janelle's smile was more beautiful than every sunrise or sunset Cairaeleen had seen in her entire life. The blood elf didn't notice that her face had got closer to Janelle's. Her face was only a few centimeters away from her, from her beautiful eyes, her beautiful lips. Cairaeleen didn't know why but she wanted to kiss this human so badly. She hesitated and struggled with her inner self. Then she decided to lean in but Janelle already had turned her head away and had moved a few centimeters to the right side. Cairaeleen shook her head and stared at the wall.

What was I thinking? Did I really think that she would enjoy that kiss? What If she has a girlfriend or a boyfriend? Maybe she isn't even interested in women or in me… Even if I had kissed her, this relationship won't work. Our societies and families wouldn't appreciate that and she would stay with her sister and do everything to survive. We wouldn't have time for a relationship and I don't really know a lot about her. It's the best way and it doesn't get us into more trouble. I will just find a way to reunite her with her sister and then I will go back to my village. I don't know why I am taking so many risks for this woman but I hope it will be worth it.

"Is everything right Cairaeleen? Janelle's question brought the elf back from her thoughts. Cairaeleen nodded her head, she blinked a couple of times and then responded "Yes… I was just… lost in thoughts. You don't need to worry".

"So what are we doing now?" Janelle asked curious, looking at her for a few seconds and then looking back at her fingernails.

"I will make something to eat for us and then I have to prepare for my duty. I hope you will manage to stay here for a few hours without doing something stupid"

"Don't worry I will find something to pass the time. Maybe you have a few books, which I can read"

"I have about two dozen in the cupboard. Do whatever you want as long as you stay in my house. Do not open the door or look out of the window. I don't want to risk that someone sees you"

"Don't worry I won't risk anything"

"Good. I will prepare some food now" Cairaeleen told and walked out of the bed room. She came back twenty minutes later with two plates. On the plates lay a few slices of bread which were buttered and spread with cold sausages and cheese. A few tomatoes and slices of cucumber lay next to the bread. Cairaeleen sat next to Janelle and gave her a plate. Janelle thanked her and both women started to eat, barely speaking with each other.

Cairaeleen got up after she was done eating and walked out of the room. Janelle finished her meal and walked to one of the cupboards, searching through the first drawer for books. Instead of a book she found a golden necklace, which was decorated by expensive jewels. She regarded the beautiful jewellery and noticed that her countenance was reflected by these jewels. Janelle wanted to put it back but then came a thought in her mind. She asked herself what would happen if she would come back to her sister without her haul from her last mission. She wouldn't be able to buy enough supplies for her sister. She wouldn't be able to pay any form of overnight accommodation. She struggled hard with her decision but then she looked around to make sure that Cairaeleen wasn't watching her and hid the necklace in her neckline. She waited about twenty minutes and then took a book out of the same drawer and looked for Cairaeleen.

She found the blood elf in stood in the living room, wearing only fancy black underwear. The rest of her clothes lay on the ground and she carried new clothes in her hands. Janelle noticed that she was staring at the almost naked-woman, her gaze hung on her large breasts and shifted to her well-curved ass. Janelle felt that a heat rose between her legs and she looked away, with a blush on her face, before the heat would become more intense. Janelle stepped out of the room, without getting noticed and walked back to the bedroom. She sat on the bed and waited until Cairaeleen came. Janelle acted like nothing had happened and looked at the elf for a small moment before she looked back at her fingernails.

Cairaeleen had put her armor back on and said. "I'm going now. I will come back in a few hours. If you want to eat or drink something feel free to go to the storage room and take whatever you want"

Janelle looked at her and replied with a small smile on her face "Thank you. I will see you later". Cairaeleen smiled back and looked at the beautiful human for a small moment before she turned around and walked out of the room.