Through The Dark Portal

In the early morning, Zyane packed what little clothing and provisions she would need for the trip while the bulk of her belongings were already on their way to Shattrath. She still felt sad, but there was excitement there, too. After all, she had waited her whole life to be given this opportunity.

Grand Magister Rommath, Lor'themar Theron and Rillen met her outside by the wyverns' hold. Each one of them wore a sad, but proud, smile as they watched Zyane approach. Dallas Brightwing was there, too, waiting patiently for her to say her goodbyes.

Zyane approached her father first, who was adorning his usual long red cape over his sparkling gold armor. She wrapped her arms around him. "Goodbye, father, and thank you."

"Train hard, dear, and mind yourself," Lor'themar reminded her. "I love you."

"I love you, too, father."

Next, Zyane hugged her master. "Thank you for everything you have taught me, master."

"Make me proud in Shattrath, Zyane," Rommath replied.

Rillen waited next. Zyane said nothing, but hugged him the hardest and longest.

"You'll do well," Rillen said, trying to reassure her. "I'll write to you as often as I can."

"You're my very best friend. Don't forget that," Zyane whispered before letting him go. Rillen smiled back.

Finally, after a few tears and more kisses and hugs from her father, Zyane moved to join Dallas on the wyvern. She waved excitedly to her family, friends and city before the wyvern took off and soared into the sunrise.

They rode together in silence and Zyane was grateful for it. Dallas was already far too close to her for comfort, but he had made no pass at her. He kept his hands only on her enough to keep her steady, nothing more. Dallas' new attitude was more than refreshing.

After an hour, Zyane was glad to see they were reaching their destination despite how bleak the Blasted Lands looked. The broken horizon of the land before them mixed with the dirty orange of the mountains made Zyane uneasy and anxious to land.

Then the Dark Portal came into view. It stood in a large crater, protected by two huge cloaked guards embedded in the stone columns. The portal itself was made of emerald green and black swirls that led into a different world. It was both terrifying and mesmerizing in its beauty. Zyane couldn't fathom that they were going to just walk through it, as if it was just a curtain of sorts.

The wyvern landed with a thud in front of the stairs that led up to the portal. Small groups were running or riding their way up to the portal, cheers of glory and bravery ringing through the thick air before they simply disappeared.

Dallas helped Zyane climb down off the wyvern and handed her the small pack she brought with her.

"Ready?" he asked.

Zyane nodded.

Together they walked up the grand staircase made of some sort of marble or polished rock. Zyane didn't know, but she noticed that the colors of the portal seemed to gleam off it. At the top, Zyane bit her lip, feeling very small in the face of such a massive… she didn't even know what to call it.

"You want me to go through first, princess? It's intimidating," Dallas explained, "but you'll only feel a bit disoriented, nothing more."

Zyane considered. "Maybe you ought to go through first, then." That way, she thought, she wouldn't have to be faced with the unknown alone.

Dallas shouldered his own pack and then, very confidently, approached the Dark Portal. He stood there for only a moment, as if he was preparing himself, and then he took that last step through. He was gone before Zyane could blink.

It was Zyane's turn now. She cautiously approached the Dark Portal, feeling the air being pulled through it around her. With a finger, she brushed the surface. It ripped like water. Having nothing to lose, Zyane decided to go for it. She clenched her fists and stepped through.

Immediately after she felt her feet touch solid ground, Zyane knew Dallas was right. She was very disoriented and dizzy. And the sounds of swords clashing, fires raging and grunts dying didn't make her want to open her eyes. Had she gone through wrong and ended up in the middle of some fierce battle?

"Princess, open your eyes. It's okay," Dallas' voice said somewhere close.

One green eye opened after the other and the whole of Hellfire Peninsula was before her. Demons, giant ones with large swords, were fighting, killing and dying only a few hundred yards away. Horde and Alliance ran back and forth in front of her, consumed in their own battle-born confusion. Yells and orders filled the air.

"Welcome to the front lines," Dallas said sardonically.

Zyane didn't like this. This was too much all at once. She had never seen any member of the Burning Legion, let alone its entire army. It was truly eye-opening and she wanted nothing more than to do what she could to stop the Legion from breaking through and getting to Azeroth. With her training, Zyane hoped it would give her the strength that these people on the front lines had.

"Come, let's go before we get in the way," Dallas stated. He led her over to another wyvern which would take them into the heart of the Outlands.

Shattrath City was the only city in the Outlands that offered protection and salvation. Many had lost their homes or families and had nowhere else to turn. Shattrath was built with them in mind. Because of that, it was filled with the poor and downtrodden, which led to crime and turf wars in the Lower City parts. But high ranking officers or well-known trainers were stationed there so the city wasn't only for those who have had bad luck.

The wyvern landed on the Scryer's Tier, a large peninsula cut out of Terrorkar Forest that overlooked the inner city and the large dome sanctum in the middle. The Scyers were the blood elves who left with Voren'thal to help build Shattrath with the naaru. Zyane knew that immediately, as the blood elf flag flew high from some of the surrounding trees and the magnificence in blood elf architecture was present in the Scryer's Library. Zyane almost felt at home here.

As soon as they had both dismounted, a young blonde blood elf came at them with her hips swinging side to side and a large smile on her face.

"Dallas Brightwing!" she cooed wildly, throwing Zyane out of the way. "I knew you'd come back!"

Dallas shrunk away from her, embarrassed. "H-hello, Cynthia. I thought you were supposed to be in Sunstrider Isle with your father?"

"Oh, my father decided that I wasn't ready," Cynthia said, pushing her bottom lip out in a pout. "But that doesn't matter because you're here, now." She took her slender finger and traced the engravings on his chest plate.

"Yes," Dallas said sternly, removing her hand, "on official business."

Cynthia raised an eyebrow skeptically. "What kind of business?"

Dallas nodded towards Zyane, who was brushing the dirt from her robe impassively.

Cynthia's eyes widened. She walked past Dallas and right up to Zyane. "How far along are you, sweetie? You know, your child's very lucky to have someone like Dallas Brightwing as a father."

Zyane interrupted her. "I am not pregnant, especially with Dallas' child."

"What?" she turned back to Dallas, placing her fists on her hips. "What are you doing here then?"

"I told you already, Cynthia. I'm here on official business. Don't you recognize your own princess?"

Cynthia turned back to Zyane, who regarded her quizzically. "That's the lord regent's daughter? Why, she's doesn't look like royalty at all. You've certainly lowered your standard in women, Dallas."

"I will not have you disrespect the princess in my presence!" Dallas yelled, grabbing Cynthia's wrist. "I should have you arrested for your vile tongue!"

"Ow, okay, okay, Dallas, let me go," Cynthia cried. She looked at him while she tentatively rubbed her wrist. "You've changed." With that, Cynthia left.

Dallas stood there, huffing as he controlled his anger. He looked at Zyane over his shoulder. "I apologize, princess."

"She's right," Zyane said, approaching him. "You have changed."

Dallas and Zyane checked into the Scryer's inn. Zyane was happy to smell familiar scents of home inside the inn; the delicate fragrance of fresh flowers mixed with the pleasant smells of brewing honeymint tea.

"I'd like to get a room for two nights, please," Dallas asked the innkeeper.

"One room?" Zyane asked nervously.

"I'm sorry princess, but I only have enough gold for one room. Besides, you'll be moving into the library in a few days," Dallas explained as he handed a handful of gold coins to the innkeeper.

Zyane rolled her eyes. She had a feeling Dallas had planned this. As if he didn't know how much gold he would need to house the both of them. Reluctantly, she followed him down the hallway and into the room assigned to them.

There was a large bed, covered in a heavy feather blanket with soft plush pillows, red silk curtains covering the small round window. A small vanity and armoire sat in the far corner, giving the room a homely feel. But there wasn't much room overall. Zyane had a feeling she would feel very cramped these next two days.

Dallas obviously had no qualms about the room; he wasted no time getting comfortable. Right in front of Zyane, Dallas removed his armor and the clothes underneath it, stripping down to only his under clothes. Zyane tried not to look, but the various scars Dallas had collected drew her attention. One ran down from his chest through his abdomen. Another was round, and the size of her fist. All were badges of his bravery.

Once he was dressed in his common clothes, he put his armor in the corner neatly. "I'm going to gather supplies and stretch my legs for awhile," Dallas told Zyane. "Feel free to have a look around if you wish, but I'll return before dark." He bowed quickly at the waist before leaving.

Zyane waited till she was sure he was gone before changing out of her robes into a night gown. She climbed into the soft bed and promptly fell asleep, dreaming of home and Rillen.