There was a moment of stunned silence before Rommath yelled out in rage, "Braelyn!" He ran over to her prone form, kneeling beside her. "Light..."
Braelyn's injuries were severe; unconscious, blood poured from a wound on the back of her head, and from where the rocks had pierced her armour. One of her arms was at an unnatural angle, clearly broken, and these were just the visible injuries. Who knew what damage had been done internally.
He reached out and brushed a strand of hair away from her face, noting with concern how pale her skin was, the freckles standing out vividly against her cheeks. Her breath was shallow, and laboured, and for the first time in a long time, Rommath didn't know what to do.
"Ah, B, Sweet Pea, no," Boxer groaned. "We need to get her to Tranquilien, they have healers."
"We can't move her!" Rommath hissed, glaring at the goblin. "It'd kill her." He paused, thinking quickly. "Halduron, run to the village for the healers. Boxer, bring me my bag."
Rommath was so focused on Braelyn, that he didn't notice that Halduron had already left for the village. When Boxer handed him his bag, he pulled out a couple of healing potions. They were nowhere near strong enough, but were better than nothing. He gently pried her lips open and poured the potions down her throat, stroking her neck lightly to encourage her to swallow. Taking advantage of her unconscious state, he moved her arm back into its natural position, before grabbing some bandages and pressing them to her wounds to stop the bleeding.
The potions helped a little, and her breathing eased, becoming deeper, and less rapid. Rommath took her uninjured hand in his, stroking his thumb over the worn leather, unaware that his every action was being observed.
Boxer was shocked by how bad Braelyn's injuries were, and sent a silent prayer for Halduron to hurry up. He was more shocked, however, by Rommath's behaviour. The blood elf mage was acting as if his own survival depended on the human woman's, holding onto her hand, and muttering that she had to get better, that she was 'too stubborn to die'.
Oh, Sweet Pea, the goblin thought, if only ya could see this, then you'd see how ya feelings aren't completely one-sided... and if only Rommath wasn't too proud ta recognise his feelings for what they are.
Rommath tensed when Braelyn gave a groggy moan and opened her eyes. She seemed dazed, staring at the Grand Magister without recognition. She blinked a few times before her eyes narrowed in pain and anger.
"Get away from me!" she spat at Rommath, before dissolving into a coughing fit. "Why... why couldn't you just let me go?"
"Braelyn..." Rommath began, startled by her venomous tone, but the human passed out again before he could finish his sentence.
Behind him, he could hear Halduron return, dragging some very curious paladins with him.
When Braelyn regained consciousness for the second time, she was back in Silvermoon. The healers of Tranquilien had fixed her as best they could, stabilising her condition enough for Rommath to carry her through a portal. She was then taken to her room at his house, where she was placed in the care of Lorelai.
For two days, she lingered in a coma, Rommath leaving her side only when forced to by his duty to Lor'themar Theron. When she woke up, the first thing she saw was him, leaning against a wall and staring at her as if fearing she would vanish should he look away for even a second.
When he saw those beautiful blue eyes open, Rommath called for Lorelai, who immediately hurtled into the room. The priest scanned the human, then asked if she was all right. Braelyn, who had yet to do anything but gaze at Rommath, nodded her head stiffly.
"Is there anything I can do for you?" Lorelai asked, expecting her friend to ask for a painkilling potion, or perhaps a bath. Braelyn, however, was determined to prove just how petulant and unreasonable a person could be when gravely injured.
She turned her gaze to the priest, then said as firmly as she could, "Get him out of here."
"What?" Lorelai and Rommath said in unison.
"I don't want him near me," Braelyn said. "Get him away from me, or send me home."
Rommath moved forward as if to touch her, but Braelyn pushed herself backwards, screaming in agony as her ribs, most of which had been broken, throbbed in pain. "Braelyn, I need to... ." The mage would have continued in his movements, but Lorelai grabbed him.
"Rommath! Just go," she ordered. "We can sort this out later." Rommath wanted to protest, but a stern look from the priest saw him capitulate, walking out the door with shoulders slumped in defeat.
"Braelyn," Lorelai admonished her, "he saved your life."
"I didn't need saving! I needed to be let go," the human replied. "Why couldn't he just let me go?"
"You would have died out there."
"Then I would have died free," Braelyn said, before changing the topic abruptly. "Where's my pet, Bitey?"
"He's outside," Lorelai replied.
"Can I see him, please?" she asked, frowning when the priest hesitated. "What?"
"Ah, Rommath wants him kept outside because the animal kept trying to bite him."
Braelyn smiled. "He's such a good boy. I named him well." She gave Lorelai her best puppy-dog eyes. "Please, Lorelai, I'd feel much better if he was with me. I promise I'll tell him not to bite the Grand Magister."
Lorelai caved. "Oh, all right," she sighed then stuck her head out the door to call for Auriel, who she instructed to fetch Braelyn's pet.
A few minutes later, Braelyn heard a happy roar, and her lynx bounded into her room, coming to stop by her bedside. Bitey looked at his mistress, cocking his head to one side and emitting a loud whine. He looked very pathetic.
"It's okay, Bitey," she said. "I'm okay." She grimaced as Bitey jammed his nose into her side. The lynx sniffed loudly, then flopped to the floor with a growl, paws over his nose.
"Hey!" Braelyn protested. "I don't stink! Do I?" she added, looking at Lorelai.
"Well, I wouldn't have said anything," the priest admitted, "but now that you mention it..." She laughed when she saw Braelyn's nonplussed look. "Would you like a bath?"
"I'd love one, thanks," the hunter replied.
"All right, but I swear by the Light, this better be the last time I have to bathe you."
"Oh, c'mon, it's just like old times," Braelyn smiled.
For three days, Braelyn refused to see Rommath, allowing only Lorelai, Boxer, Halduron, and Auriel into her room. Part of her knew she was being childish, but she was mad at him for saving her, and mad at herself for being glad that he had. She didn't know how to talk to him about the raid, or about her feelings, so she avoided him.
All of her friends tried to reason with her, but Braelyn refused to listen. She was headstrong, and not even Halduron calling her a stubborn mule could change her mind.
On the fourth day, Braelyn was attempting to feed herself lunch, when the sound of female voices arguing carried upstairs. She was concerned when she recognised one of the voices as Lorelai's. The women got closer and closer, louder and louder, and then the door was flung wide open.
"You selfish bitch!" Denaria Daybreak shrieked.
"Get the hell out of my room!" Braelyn retorted, as Bitey growled at the warlock. With a flick of her hand, Denaria feared both the lynx and Lorelai, causing them to run out of the room in mindless terror. She closed and locked the door before stalking to the bed to loom over Braelyn. Despite her anger, the hunter had to fight not to cower.
"Do you have any idea what you're doing to Rommath?" Denaria asked.
"Ignoring him," Braelyn said. The warlock hissed.
"Such a smart mouth will get you into trouble one day," Denaria warned. Braelyn sneered at her, even though she was curious as to what the other woman was on about. "I'll tell you what you're doing, human, you're killing him." Her green eyes flashed furiously.
"Stop being so melodramatic," Braelyn said, refusing to believe she could be affecting Rommath in such a way.
"Oh, I wish I were overreacting, but no. Rommath is not eating, he's not sleeping. He looks worse than you do He continually harasses that priestess about your state of health, hanging on her every word."
Braelyn's jaw dropped. There was no way...
"He even got banished form Sunfury Spire today because he set Halduron's hair on fire."
"What? But why..."
"I don't know what you did to cause this, human, but you will fix it. He is a great man, and he deserves better than being tormented by some pathetic human wench."
With that final insult, Denaria stormed out of the room. Braelyn could her slamming the door as she exited the house. The human raised a hand to her face, tears forming in her eyes. Had she really caused Rommath that much grief? She thought he didn't care about her, so why would he act like that?
Braelyn reached out and picked up the little golden bell that sat on her bedside table. It let out a melodious tinkle, and a few seconds later a scowling Lorelai walked in.
"I swear, that woman makes me wish I'd specialised as a shadow priest," she said. "Are you all right, Braelyn?"
"Is it true?" Braelyn asked. "Is Rommath really ill?"
Lorelai looked at her friend with sympathy. "He's not ill, Braelyn, but he is not well either. Your escape and injury weigh heavily on him."
"Do you know where he is?"
"No, but I can find him if you wish."
"Please," Braelyn said. "I need to speak with him."
"Very well," Lorelai said. "I'm glad you're seeing reason now. You two have much to sort out."
Braelyn could only nod in silent agreement.
While she was waiting, Braelyn did some serious thinking. While she didn't think her initial anger and disappointment unreasonable, her method of dealing with it was. She was ashamed at her behaviour, and the effect it had on the people that cared about her.
She also came to realise that she could no longer deny her feelings for Rommath. The blood elf held her captive in more ways than one, and to continue to ignore that fact would end up doing her harm in the long-term. She was dangerously close to falling in love with the proud, angry man whose devotion to his people was unshakable.
If fate was kind, and Light knows she'd earned some seriously good karma points lately, he may even come to care about her.
It was late when Rommath finally came home, and Braelyn had started to doze off. She jerked awake when she felt his hand gently touching her face.
"Braelyn," he said softly, "you wanted to see me?"
All Braelyn could do was stare. Rommath looked awful. He had black, puffy circles beneath both eyes, and he looked pale and wan. His hair hung limply around his shoulders, and he had obviously not eaten in a few days.
"Oh, Rommath," Braelyn said, reaching up to touch his cheek. "I am so, so sorry."
He watched her for a moment, then sat carefully beside her on the bed. "It is all right," he said. "You're anger was not unreasonable, and I should not have been so surprised by it. You acted just like anyone else would in that position."
"Maybe," Braelyn replied, removing her hand and placing it in her lap. She twisted her fingers together nervously. "But I was wrong to hold you responsible for so long. You are not to blame for me being in Silvermoon. You are not Lethallan."
"But I brought you back here."
"So did Halduron and Boxer, but I never shut them out." Braelyn reached out and tentatively took one of Rommath's hands in hers. He laced his finger through hers.
"It was probably a good thing that you kept me away," he said. Braelyn looked at him in surprise.
"Why?"
"I was very angry about certain things, still am," he confessed. "You didn't need to deal with that while you were so weak." His hand tightened a little around hers, the only sign he was still struggling with the anger.
"Angry at me?" Braelyn asked, softly squeezing his hand.
"No," he said, and his eyes blazed. "I was only ever angry at you when you so recklessly ran away from me in Tranquilien."
"Then what has you in such a state?"
"Where was he?" Rommath demanded suddenly, voice harsh. Braelyn flinched at his tone. "Your lover, this Andorien? The kal'dorei that stole you away from Silvermoon. Why was he not there to aid you in the Ghostlands."
Braelyn was confused. Andorien? Her lover?
"Ah, Rommath... " she said slowly, "I think you misunderstood a few things."
"Really?" the blood elf replied, and Braelyn swore his eyes lit up with something akin to hope.
"Firstly, that wasn't Andorien. His name is Severen, and I had never seen him before that day. I don't know what happened to him, he simply abandoned me in the middle of the night, as did a Dwarf paladin and a human mage. If I ever do see him them again, said night elf is going to find himself beaten to death with the dwarf."
"How curious," Rommath murmured, shifting closer to Braelyn. "It is most unlike a paladin to abandon someone in need of help. Continue."
"Secondly," Braelyn said, trying to hold back a blush as Rommath slowly invaded her personal space, "Andorien is not, and never has been, my lover. I may have been infatuated with him at one point, but his heart lies elsewhere... with my cousin, Odariah."
"That must have hurt," Rommath said, hand cupping her cheek.
"A little, but I got over it."
"Any lovers, Kal'dorei or otherwise, that I should know about?" A thumb brushed across her cheek.
"That's... none of your concern!" Braelyn squeaked indignantly.
"I disagree," Rommath smirked. "It's a matter of security. I need to know if there's a chance some outraged hero of the Alliance will attempt to kick the city gates in again looking for you."
"H... highly unlikely," Braelyn said, "but you never know; I may have picked up a secret admirer or two in my travels."
Her breath caught in her throat as Rommath's finger trailed down her cheek, not unlike the night of her bad dream. "You blush when I touch you, get flustered when I get close," he said.
"No I don't," Braelyn said, even as she felt her face heat up. Rommath chuckled as he leaned against her, resting his forehead on hers. His green eyes pierced her blue ones as his other arm slid around her waist. Braelyn's hands fluttered to his chest, digging into his robes.
"You are a terrible liar," he said. His gaze grew serious. "You will be the death of me, woman."
"A tad dramatic, don't you think? You weren't the one smashed by an abomination."
"Don't," Rommath growled, pressing into her, mindful of her still-healing body. His eyes flickered with doubt, before closing. "This will only end in tears."
"I don't care," Braelyn replied, taking a risk and placing her lips on Rommath's.
The kiss was soft and warm. Braelyn revelled in it for the short time it lasted. Rommath pulled away, planting another soft kiss on her cheek as he did so. "You need to sleep," he said.
"Will you stay until I fall asleep?" she asked, stroking his jaw.
"Yes," Rommath replied, and settled himself in the chair beside her bed. Braelyn lay down, carefully rolling onto her side. The discomfort was worth being able to face him.
"Rommath?"
"Go to sleep, Braelyn," he said with amused exasperation.
"Will you have breakfast with me tomorrow? I want to make sure you eat before you go to work."
"As you wish," Rommath replied. "Now, sleep."
Braelyn was smiling as she drifted off, and it was many hours before Rommath left her side. When he finally made it to his own bed, his heart was in turmoil. Braelyn had returned to him, and he didn't want to lose her, but he couldn't shake the feeling that they were doomed to failure.
Back in Astranaar, Braelyn had watched her cousin hand-feed Andorien, wishing that she could do that with someone, someday. At the time, she didn't know that in a few months, she would get her wish.
Rommath had kept his promise, waking her up with a kiss, bearing a heavily laden breakfast tray. She insisted he sit on the bed with her, ignoring his protests when she climbed onto his lap. His eyes shone with amusement as she fed him strawberries, and little bits of egg on toast. She was fussing over him like he was the wounded one.
Braelyn refrained from mushing the berries in his face. She didn't think he'd take it as well as Andorien. Then again, he would never set fire to an injured lady...
"Don't even think about it," Rommath growled in her ear playfully, grabbing the hand inching towards his face with an extra ripe strawberry. He guided it to her mouth, forcing it through her pouting lips. When she swallowed, he bent down and kissed the juice from her lips.
"Rommath," she said, eyes darkening with uncertainty, "do we have a future?" She saw his lips narrow, and almost regretted asking. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have..."
"It's all right," he replied, resting his head on hers, "it's an issue we needed to discuss eventually. It's probably better to deal with it now, rather than it let it fester." He shifted slightly so he could look into her eyes.
"Our situation is far from normal," he began. "There are many people, here and in the Alliance, who will not approve..."
"I don't care!" Braelyn said viciously.
"Nor do I," Rommath said, remaining calm. "But you need to prepare yourself; not everyone will react with as much happiness as Boxer, or Lorelai. I'm not even sure how well Halduron is going to respond. He was happy to tease us when we were so uncertain of each other, but now... "
Braelyn kissed Rommath's cheek. He smiled down at her, a sight that she cherished, because it was something that most people never got to see. "I want you by my side," he whispered, "but I don't want to see you unhappy." Seeing her about to protest, he added, "You will have to give up so much to be with me, Braelyn. Your home, your reputation, potentially your family and friends. Too much."
"We could go somewhere together," Braelyn suggested. "Shattrath, or perhaps Pandaria..."
Rommath groaned. "No, we can't, dear heart. I can't leave my people. They've been through so much, what with Kael'Thas leaving and our troubles with the Sunwell. They need me."
Braelyn wanted to protest, but held back when she saw the tortured look in Rommath's eyes. She caressed his face, and smiled, though her lower lip wobbled slightly. "Then we make the most of the time we have together."
After three more days of bed rest, Lorelai allowed Braelyn to leave her room. Which was a very good thing as she was going crazy cooped up inside, and driving Rommath mad with her. The first thing she did was head to the Bazaar to meet with Lorelai and Boxer, Bitey at her heels, and her new pet floating by her head.
It was a baby Dragonhawk that Halduron had rescued from a trap in the Eversong Woods. Rommath had asked for it, giving it to her as a gift. Braelyn loved it, not just because it was the perfect gift for her, but she knew how much teasing he would have endured from the Ranger General for asking for it.
She called the Dragonhawk Violet, after the beautiful shade of purple that tinged its wings.
When Rommath had given Violet to her, there had been a small, square package tied to its back. Braelyn opened the box to find a pair of delicately crafted gold earrings, shaped like Quel'Thalasian phoenixes. She had donned them immediately.
She would never remove them.
Neither Boxer nor Lorelai were at the Bazaar when Braelyn got there, so she sat herself down on her favourite bench to wait. Violet perched awkwardly on the backrest next to her head, while Bitey stretched out at her feet, rolling onto his back for some belly rubs.
It didn't take long for Braelyn to realise that she was being watched, the hairs on the back of her neck prickling. She bent down to scratch Bitey's chin, casting her gaze about the area as she did so.
A few metres to her left, a male and female blood elf stood chatting. Hiding between their legs was a little blood elf girl with the most adorable black pigtails. She was staring at Braelyn and her pets intently, not with hostility or fear, but with curiosity. Braelyn waggled her fingers at the girl in a friendly greeting, smiling when the child waved back.
The couple, noticing their daughter's action also turned their attention to the human. Braelyn was expecting them to tell their child off, and glare at her, but instead they smiled politely.
"My pet is very well-trained, if your little one would like to say hello," she called out in Thalassian. After a shocked pause, not realising that the human spoke their language, they male elf said something to his daughter, who grinned, and ran over to Braelyn.
"Hi, I'm Allysandra, and I'm six years old!"
"Pleased to meet you, Allysandra. I'm Braelyn, and this is Bitey, and Violet."
"Can I pet him?" the little girl asked with great excitement.
Braelyn grinned and said, "Sure, but wouldn't you prefer to go for a ride?" She laughed when Allysandra's eyes almost popped right out of her head.
"CAN I?" she squealed.
"Bitey, roll over," she instructed, and the lynx did as he was told, giving Braelyn a 'how could you?' look. Braelyn lifted Allysandra onto his back, and instructed her to hold on firmly to his mane. "Bitey, walk."
As she guided her pet slowly around the Bazaar, Braelyn had a sudden epiphany. She looked around her, at the blood elves taking in the spectacle of a child riding a lynx around the city. Many were displeased, but plenty were looking on with amusement, shooting the human in their midst friendly smiles. She realised that maybe this was what that crazy Stormwind guard was talking about when he said she had to be in Silvermoon, that this was where her future lay.
Maybe it wasn't just about her finding Rommath, although she was certain that helping him to overcome some of his prejudices was a part of it. Perhaps she needed to be here in order to mend broken relationships, build a few bridges.
She wasn't stupid, or crazy, enough to believe that by wondering the city preaching about love and tolerance, she'd make everything fantastic forever. She planned on staying out of the city dungeons. But, it didn't have to be about fixing everything. By changing the mind of even one blood elf, she could achieve something positive. That one blood elf could go on to be a diplomat, or a soldier, who knew that not all humans were like Garithos, or Jaina Proudmoore, and be more willing to concentrate on a peaceful future, and not the violent past.
That was something worth fighting for.
Knowing that Rommath was probably going to call her a naive fool didn't dampen her excitement at all. For the first time in a long time, she felt like she had a purpose.
Watching from the shadows, a slender figure frowned at how happy the human looked, parading herself and her beasts around the city. Worse still, the citizens of Silvermoon were beginning to accept her presence, as if she belonged here.
She didn't belong here. She belonged back in Stormwind with her own kind. Didn't she miss her own family and friends? Or was she so caught up in her pathetic feelings for Rommath that she forgot about them?
Denaria knew she had to act quickly, before the human got her claws stuck into the Grand Magister any deeper. Luckily, she'd been preparing for this moment since Rommath took after the stupid cow when she'd escaped.
The Warlock reached into her bag and pulled out a small vial. Its contents caught the light of the sun, shinning an awful, unnatural shade of pink. A small label adhered to the side, small cursive letters spelling out the potion's name.
Lust.
"Time to take your medicine, dear."
AN - that Denaria, what a meddling bitch. But, as we can see, things are beginning to heat up. Good news is, the next chapter is also done.
Next chapter: we find out who that potion is for, and it's Rommath's turn to feel the pangs of jealousy.