Burden of the Heart
Sorry that this chapter took so long to type, so much to get into it and I kept adding more and more. This chapter is longer than the last one and longest chapter so far. I want to thank all those who added this story to their favorites and watches. A special thanks to those who reviewed the story. By name, Storyteller's Dream, Mdnight, naruto7155, Alzriel, Skye1236. Thank you for the input. It always helps me to get going on writing the next chapter!
This chapter has more action, more crabby Darion, an argument, the Highlord and his hatred of Taynia's mare (Which is increasing), sprinkling of confusion, and lots of other busy busy things. This is the first chapter with an M rating, more for Darion running his mouth and other things. Not what you are thinking I assure you!
Enjoy, my dear readers.
Also I got more then three reviews SO I do owe you all a picture of Darion and Taynia from last chapter. If I can get the time in between other obligations and get a pose I'm happy with, you shall have it as soon as humanly possible.
As always,
Le Pomme
Chapter Six: Surviving
The sight of the Wetlands stretched out before them, mist rising with the swarms of stinging insects and muggy heat was enough to blacken Darion's mood further than it already had been the past week. For once it wasn't Taynia who was the cause of it, well, at least not much. It wasn't even her damn mare's fault. Truth be told, the mare hadn't done much to annoy him and it was more his own Deathcharger's wickers and prancing about the damn thing that was getting aggravating every time they made camp. For her part Taynia had done nothing to make him dislike. Actually he was finding her companionship...somewhat comforting in a strange way.
What was making him particularly cross was the news that was becoming a common discussion of gossip across the continent. There were tremors across the world, doomsayers predicting the end of things, talks of Gilneas being under siege, and there was even gossip about the goblins rejoining the Horde. There was even more alarming developments as Varian became more aggressive in keeping Alliance lands and there was news that Cain Bloodhoof was dead, slain by Garrosh himself. To say the least, the entire world was changing and Darion felt himself being sucked into the cyclone of politics slowly but surely.
In the vortex of all these events though, Taynia remained the same and remained almost aggravatingly optimistic. The damn priestess seemed to be the only being alive that had hopes for Garrosh becoming more neutral in terms of the Horde and Alliance tensions. But then, she was the peace loving sort...
"The Wetlands are kind of pretty, aren't they? The way the mist just rises off of it, it looks very tranquil in the early morning," Taynia said, snapping him from his brooding thoughts.
"Yeah, if you like swarms of blood sucking insects and the smell of rotting, dead plants..." Darion grumbled.
The priestess turned to look up at him, "You are so depressing at times. Do you always like to talk about everything dead and dying?"
Darion frowned, quirking an irritated eyebrow at her, "I don't always talk about what is dead and dying, thank you very much, priestess,"
"But you are always pointing out the negative! There are positive things in life you can enjoy if you just stopped being such a stick in he mud you know. You find more cheer in a graveyard when you get in one of your moods..." She shot back slumping a bit in the saddle in front of him.
"...when I'm in a graveyard people think I'm raising an army or some other nonsense so I wouldn't know about that oddly enough," Darion said with a roll of his eyes, "Just because I'm undead doesn't mean that I sit around in graveyards, writing sad poetry, and commiserating with ghouls and zombies about how terribly sad it is to be undead..."
"...really? You seem the type to at least wallow about when there is still so much to live for, "Taynia said looking up at him with a touch of a smile, "The light can touch even someone like you again if you just open yourself up to it. Live your life again,"
Darion scowled and looked away back to the road. The light...he really didn't care for it as he used to. It had never touched him. Not like it had touched other paladins. The one time he remembered it was just before he died...just before he had plunged the Ashbringer through his own body to save his father.
"Darion? You alright? Are you composing sad poetry in your inner monologues or something?" Taynia teased to lighten the mood a bit.
"If you wish not to walk to Stormwind, priestess, you will not accuse me of such ridiculous hobbies," the Highlord snapped.
Taynia slumped away from him meekly, "...I could always just ride my mare,"
"That mare, that stupid ass mare," Darion said, "Why don't you just kill it? It is a useless bag of bones that causes nothing but trouble!"
"Then what would I ride? That mare was a gift and I've raised it since it was a little foal!" Taynia protested, eyes wide.
The Highlord felt all the irritation about everything building and he knew what he was doing. He was well aware he was just using the mare as something to lash out about because he truly did hate the damn thing.
"Let me get you a damn Deathcharger. Never tires and is fast," He responded.
Taynia frowned, "I'm not a death knight Darion. I doubt I could control such a powerful beast like you can and the mare is special to me! My uncle gave it to me,"
He groaned. Of course it would have to have personal meaning to her. It was just his luck. Darion looked down at the priestess giving a withering look, "Listen, that mare could've been bred by the king of Stormwind for all I care. It is a stupid animal with a stupid lineage and I hate it,"
"Hate is such a strong word Darion. You should never use it really. You should just...strongly dislike things," Taynia chided with a frown.
The Highlord rolled his eyes, "Fine, I intensely dislike your mare and I strongly dislike that you think you should tell me how to talk,"
"You do it all the time with me!" She said back as the argument started to boil.
He opened his mouth to argue back, feeling his temper rise despite a voice in the back of his head telling him he would regret what he was saying later. Then the object of the argument, that damn mare, let out a shrill whinny rearing up. Taynia let out a cry of distress as the reins slipped from the loose knot tied to saddle of Darion's mount and the mare took the chance to flee back up the path they had just come down from. The Highlord let out a low angry growl but ignored the fleeing animal hunching over and keeping his eyes forward.
Taynia twisted about in front of him trying to look over his shoulder armor to watch her mare run off, "Darion! Stop! We need to get it! The letters and my supplies are on it! Darion Mograine! Stop, please!"
He flinched slightly as she used his full name. That tone of voice made him think of his father. Only Alexandros Mograine had ever used his full name and only when he had been in a lot of trouble. Renault and him knew to shut up when their father had said their full names. However Alexandros was dead and long gone, his soul finally at rest with Arthas's demise. It was only an annoying priestess bringing back such nearly forgotten memories.
"Darion, please!" She was nearly in tears now as he ignored her keeping his eyes ahead. Taynia looked down sniffling and whipping at her eyes trying to appear strong, trying to appear unscathed by his harsh, cold attitude of late towards her.
The Highlord felt a terrible wrench of guilt rush through him. It stung and his dead heart felt like it was throbbing painfully. He sighed, "Look, it is probably fine and someone up at Dun Modr saw it running by to the bridge and grabbed a hold of it. Just stop worrying about it..."
"Why don't you just go after it?" She said trying to keep her voice steady.
Darion frowned, "Just..." he never got to finish that statement. It seemed fate was extremely agitated with how things were going for the earth began to quake. The Highlord growled tightening his grip on the reins of his Deathcharger to steady the animal. Taynia leaned back, holding onto the thighs of the Highlord to keep herself steady on the jittery mount.
"An earthquake? Here? By the light...!" Taynia yelped as the earth bunked and trembled. The Highlord hissed and kept his steed steady as the earth buckled and groaned under them.
"There has been reports of earthquakes all over the bloody world! Of course one could happen here!" Darion shouted back over the roar of the earthquake.
Then he felt a prickle of power that ran down his spine like the Lich King himself was breathing down his neck. Without even thinking he pulled the reins tight sending his Deathcharger running head long into the brush ignoring Taynia's protests at the action and the branches tearing at them. Something told him to get out of sight, get off the road...
A terrifying roar cut through the air and the death knight felt a chill, even a fear of sorts, take root in him at the sound. Taynia sat rigidly in front of him, silent, before pressing back against him more, her hands gripping his thighs with white knuckles. He didn't think but simply wrapped an arm about her pulling her closer. She needed to be protected because no one was going to touch her...not even whatever was making his blood freeze.
The roar echoed and then another rented the sky closer and Darion looked to the skies as a comet of black steel, wings, and fire raged over head. The sweep of those powerful wings launched the beast forward, a dragon of unimaginable vileness yet at the same time, an undeniable majesty. The dragon shot by and a powerful wind buffered against the Highlord nearly sending him off his mount. The deathcharger whinnied in wild panic as the wetlands soon began to go up in flames.
"By the damn light!" Darion cursed turning his steed to rush back onto the the path as all that was green began to burn. He gritted his teeth leaning over to use his own body as a shield against the flames to Taynia. He at least had armor on rather then simple cloth garments. That and the fact that frost enchantments were a bit more useful against the licking flames. Rider, passenger, and mount crashed back onto the path, both sides ringed with the flames of the wetland. The Highlord looked about for a way, some sort of way, to get to water and use that to navigate through this sudden inferno. As if answering his prayers, the Heavens decided to give Darion exactly what he wished for...the cracks in the great Stonewrought Dam widened and water cascaded outwards in a foaming torrent.
"Darion!" Taynia's shrill cry brought the Highlord's head around to gawk at the wall of water crashing down from the dam onto the burning wetlands. His mind was at a blank and some small voice in him was wondering if he was going to die here, burnt then drowned in this freak cataclysm brought on by that monstrous dragon. Then a fury overtook him.
He had already died once trying to protect those he loved, by the burning Hells he wasn't about to die a second time against the damn elements! He wheeled his deathcharger towards the onslaught of water narrowing his eyes in defiance and took off towards the on coming rush. Taynia's eyes widened and she looked widely up at Darion, panic clear in her eyes, "What are you doing! Do you want to get us both killed?"
He didn't answer her only riding closer to that cascade, the white foam raging. He steeled himself and squared his shoulders forward, "Trust me," was as all he said before they crashed into the water.
Ice sprang from the hooves of the deathcharger as it fought like a ship on a stormy sea over the wave. The cold water seeped through his armor even but Taynia was completely soaked, sputtering as they emerged from the white water again. Darion gritted his teeth as he fought the tide of water, forcing his deathcharger forward as he fueled the frost spell that kept them moderately now on top the water although it was slippery grasp. One stray wave, one hit from the side might be their watery doom. Turning sideways was suicide but the Highlord did it anyways fighting towards the higher ground inch by inch. Taynia just held onto him. Her arms were wrapped around him in a tight squeeze, her eyes wide and teeth chattering as the cold water soaked through her clothes to the bone. The chill of the frost spell wasn't a comforting warmth either. It was merely a comfort that it was what was keeping her and the mad Highlord alive at this point.
Eventually the deathcharger found even footing of ground and it dragged itself out of the torrent onto the highland panting heavily, ice and water dripping off of it onto the ground. Darion sagged in the saddle slightly as a temporary safety was achieved. Taynia though continued to cling at him. She shivered as she watched the waters continue their rampage through the wetlands flooding everything in its path and she seemed to be glued to the Highlord. Darion was torn between finding it extremely annoying or finding he very much liked her hugging him. He opted to just sit there watching the flood roll on feeling drained.
It had taken a lot of mana to fuel the frost spells and Darion was feeling the overuse. He slouched forward a bit and Taynia yelped a bit at the sudden weight of the death knight on her form. She let go to look up at him shivering still, "D-Darion? You o-okay?"
"...I just road a deathcharger through a burning swampland followed by a flood. You tell me," he said wearily.
Taynia silently regarded him before shaking her head, "Darion Mograine...you are the craziest most magnificent son of a bitch I know,"
Before the Highlord could even respond to her comment she had leaned up to put a quick kiss to his chin. She might as well set his face on fire with how bright a blush blossomed across his cheeks.
"...I probably owe you my life twice over this time," She said quietly, wrapping her arms about her to keep warm, "First the ghouls, then you kept me from running into Southshore and probably contracting the plague and now you saved me from fires and the flood..."
He gave a shrug trying to brush it off, "Yeah, yeah...I said I would safeguard you home. Just keeping my oath," Darion said gruffly trying to save face despite his vivid blush.
"...Darion? I think the light guided you into my life to be my savior," she said with a smile looking up at him.
The Highlord just stared at her, mutely. Him? A savior? Well, it did seem like he had an affinity for saving people but really he wasn't some holy savior. He was just a grouchy bastard. He sighed and leaned back a bit looking towards the south at the broken dam, "Whatever...if we keep to the high ridges, we might be able to make it to Dun Algaz and up into Loch Modan and to the town of Thelsamar to wash up and rest a bit before going to Ironforge,"
Taynia sighed as he once more changed the topic abruptly, although she couldn't argue about the idea of a nice warm bath and soft bed, "Fine..."she sighed again, "If only my mare was here..."
"Good riddance. Hope it drowned," Darion grumbled as he moved his deathcharger to pick along the ridge.
Taynia turned, scowling, to scold him for his harsh words before she blinked and her entire face lit up, "Spring Greens! Oh! She is alive!"
Darion turned his head quickly and stared in disbelief as that damnable bloody indestructible four-legged irritation meandered over a nearby ridge grazing. The letters and supplies were gone, probably lost in its headlong charge, but overall the damn thing looked fine, "you have to be kidding me..."
Taynia slide out of the saddle and moved towards the mare calling its name like it was a dog. Darion hated the mare even more now. The lack of Taynia against him was keenly felt. It almost felt like something important had left him when she was close by and it was a feeling that Darion was uncomfortable with. His scowl darkened as he stared down the mare as it came trotting to its master and was spoiled rotten with pets and kisses to its muzzle.
"If your through with your little love affair with that horse can we go?" Darion growled, "I'm starting to smell like a damn ghoul now, by the light's sake,"
"Oh hush...I'm just glad she is safe, Darion. You almost seem jealous that I'm giving her more attention then you right now," Taynia said, walking back over to him, her mare in tow.
The Highlord frowned, "Am not. It is a stupid horse. Why would I be jealous of a horse?"
The really sad fact was he knew she was absolutely right about his jealously. He wanted her to continue to pay attention to him. After all, he might be dead but in the long run wasn't talking and kissing a dead man better then getting it on with a horse? Darion blinked as that thought crossed his mind before quickly shoving it aside. He didn't want anymore of her wicked kisses. The death knight raised a hand to rub at his chin lightly touching the spot where her lips had met his skin for the first time. She hadn't even flinched at the fact he was dead.
"You okay?" Taynia asked tilting her head, "You looked troubled,"
"It is nothing, priestess. I'm just tired, cold, and maybe hungry..." he grumbled offering her hand back up onto his mount, "Let's go Taynia,"
Her smile could've lit up the darkest tomb and probably make flowers sprout in ash. He felt something stir in him as he pulled her up into the saddle again close to him. He shifted a bit to allow her to get comfortable and tied the reins of her brain-dead mule to his saddle tighter this time. If she loved her mare then might as well keep better tabs on it. She might leave him next time over it...
"You ready?" He asked idly looking down at her.
She turned to look shyly up at him pushing a lock of hair behind her ear, "Yes. A warm bath and a clean soft bed sounds like a blessing right now,"
"And that is something we can agree on," The Highlord said kicking his deathcharger forward.
It was funny how that flood not only washed away a good portion of the Wetlands but also all those stormy feelings...or perhaps it had been that smile that Taynia had given him. Darion let out a sigh giving his head a slight shake. When had things between them become...so confusing?
…...
Thelsamar was a small, lazy town with a scenic view in the twilight. The sunlight was pouring into the taproom where Darion sat. In front of him a couple of empty plates sat that could've fed a whole troupe of hungry dwarves. The innkeeper had made a comment about his extremely healthy appetite and wondered where he put all of it. Darion only scowled and mulled over a mug of ale listening to the gossip and talk about the breaking of the dam. He also heard about Deathwing...that monstrous lizard that they had seen moments before all Hell had literally broken lose. No doubt there were messages piling up at the Ebon Hold for him to read when he returned. That was perhaps one positive thing about this whole trip. It was hard to fill out paperwork while riding and with a priestess in your lap.
The death knight drummed his fingers on the tabletop. Speaking of the priestess, he wondered why it was taking her an ungodly amount of time to take a simple bath. She probably managed to get a thresher in the tub and was fighting for her life knowing her luck. He couldn't help but grin at that thought of that naive, crazy little priestess struggling naked with a thresher...and he blinked flushing red as he realized he was imagining her naked in the first place.
Such a thing was...was juvenile! It was the kind of stupid thing he had done as a young man...well...when he was alive and a young man. Death had come fairly early for him, preserving his looks around his early twenties eternally. He rubbed his clean shaven chin, the stubbles that had been coming in gone again. Taynia liked him clean-shaven. Taynia liked him even when he was in a foul temper. Despite all he had done and how rude he had been, she wouldn't leave him.
And Darion didn't want her to leave.
He let out a growl propping his head up with one hand, the other one running tiredly down his face. He felt tired. So light damn tired for the first time in a long time. His mind didn't want to think about anything.
Darion looked up around the room. His gaze came to a halt, eyes widening slightly as Taynia descended the steps. She was dressed in a simple white cotton dress with some fancy gold trimming done in the designs of crosses and and vines. Her hair was combed and wavy, framing her delicate face that was smiling shyly over at him. He felt the burning of a blush and turned away quickly grumbling and rubbing at his face as if that would erase the blasted blush.
"How are the drinks here?" She asked Darion politely taking a seat next to him. He glanced at her as he took a small sip of his drink.
"I didn't know you drank," he said looking away again.
Taynia shrugged, "Just asking really because I didn't know you drank. You don't seem like the type..."
He remained silent as she waved down the tender and ordered some sort of drink for herself. He wasn't paying attention to the catch the name. His mind was musing over his drink and over what she said. It was true. He didn't drink, mostly because he hated the taste and his father had always been adamant about his sons never partaking of alcohol. Right now he was only attempting to drink the ale because he was bored. Darion looked up as a mug of some steaming amber liquid was pushed in front of him by Taynia, "here, try this. It will warm you right up inside,"
"...What is it?" he asked picking up the cup, eying it suspiciously.
"Just hot apple cider. It is a delicious drink. Warms you up body and soul," She answered picking up her cup warming her hands around it, "You look like you could use it..."
Darion frowned taking a short sip. It wasn't bad but you couldn't go wrong really with apple cider. What bothered him was that the priestess had become good at knowing when he was troubled about things...
"It is good..." he said at length.
Taynia smiled taking a few sips of her drink before setting it down again, "I always like it after a cold day and I think that today counted...is something the matter? I know, I know, it really isn't any of my business but I...well I just want to help. I mean you've done so much for me in the pass month or two,"
"Has it really been that long?" he asked out loud. Musingly he sat back in his chair, frowning again. He took a long draw from the cider. Well at least he couldn't say it was ridiculous that he had started to care for in a short amount of time. Two months...
"Darion?" Taynia asked putting a hand on his shoulder cautiously, "You can talk to me..."
"I know I can," he snapped slightly, tensing at her touch, "I just have nothing to say that you have not heard before,"
"Are you upset about my mare or is it something else?" she said. It was clear she wasn't going to give up until he admitted to whatever was bothering him. The truth was he didn't want her to find out that it was her that was the root of his confusion.
"Yes. Among other things going on in the world. Everything is going to Hell and you expect me to just be a chipper fellow?" He growled inching away from her.
Taynia removed her hand with a sigh looking down, "Yes, but...this isn't your usual discontent at the world, as it were. Fine. I won't pry anymore Darion but know if you ever need someone to talk to..."
"yes yes, I'll run to you and spill my life story on my second death bed alright?" he scowled again finishing the cider feeling the warmth of the drink in the pit of his stomach heavily like it had suddenly turned to a glacier, "I'm going to sleep tonight now that we aren't on the road anymore,"
That was something that was exciting him a bit. Sleeping itself was a new, wondrous, and strange ideal he had only taken that first night out thinking he could trust Taynia to keep awake. Tonight though, being in a town, he could indulge in that state of unconscious bliss. Maybe it would help to organize the chaos in his head into something coherent.
"Alright. I think I will turn in as well. Luckily the innkeeper had a room with two beds," Taynia said getting to her feet with him.
"If it had been one damn bed I would've split it down the center," Darion growled.
Taynia looked down as they headed to their room, "...is sharing a bed with me that terrible? I mean it isn't like we are lovers or anything like that Darion. It isn't like you are Roland,"
Darion blinked as she asked that terrible, terrible question that if he answered, he was going to end up either insulting her or giving her ideas that he had a crush on her. Well, it was true that he did enjoy her company and like her but it just wasn't the same thing. This was different then a silly, childish crush but he couldn't find the word to describe the feeling although it was always at the tip of his tongue.
"Uh..." He cleared his throat, "It is just...improper and I like my space in bed,"
"I see. That makes sense..." she said and he could even hear a sense of relief in her tone.
Darion sighed as he opened the door, "Look, we don't have to share a bed so why are we even discussing this?" he said, frowning, "let's just get some rest,"
He had removed his armor earlier, the large black, decorative plate lay stacked in a chair. It always felt good to peal off the cumbersome mail to wear the lighter garments underneath. However, the casual clothes weren't perhaps what most people slept in. He remembered that in life he had usually just slept in his undergarments. Of course it would be kind of rude to prance about in nothing but his boxers when he was sharing his room with Taynia. He doubted she would appreciate the view of his nearly bare body.
However that did not mean he could not just simply go shirtless. Carefully he undid his shirt pulling it off. He paused as he heard a stifled gasp. Turning, Darion arched an eyebrow as he frowned at Taynia, "What?"
"Uh...nothing," she mumbled looking down at her feet as she sat on the bed, blushing crimson.
He only snorted turning back around. The Highlord though nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt her hands upon his back, "...this scar..." she said quietly, "it came from when you took your own life with the Ashbringer isn't it?"
Darion closed his eyes giving a slight nod,"...yeah."
There was not much to say or he wanted to say about the white scars, one on his chest over his heart, the other on his back, where the corrupted blade had entered and exited. It was a badge of sorts. It was an act of love that had placed a mark upon his body for all eternity and not even the Lich King had been able to remove the scar. Darion stepped away from Taynia, "Goodnight, priestess," he said gruffly.
She stood watching him before lowering her eyes to the ground and turning to get into her own bed, "Goodnight, Darion,"
He gave a slight grunt as he pulled the covers over him turning his back to her. Self consciously he raised a hand to touch the scar over his heart. There was no regrets about that action. Darion would do it again for his father if he had too. That was love. As his mind started to drift away as he allowed himself the pleasure of sleep again, he wondered if he would do the same thing now for another...a priestess who was a light he was following out of the shadows again.
...
"Who do you love?"
Darion couldn't see the Lich, but he could hear that jeering ice-cold voice of Kel'Thuzad asking that damning question, "Piss off..." the Highlord growled reaching for his blade only to discover it wasn't there.
"Who do you love?" the nearly mocking voice of Kel'Thuzad said again and the death knight whirled about trying to find the Lich snarling.
"Enough of this game, Lich! I love no one but my father and he is beyond your reach now!"
"Who do you love?" That same question again although it sounded like the Lich was laughing and then finally he appeared.
Kel'Thuzad stood tall with frost clinging to the bones of the powerful spellcaster. The chains about his form shifted with a life of their own and a smile almost seemed to be present on the skull that served as the Lich's head, "Who do you love, Darion Mograine?"
"No one that you can get now, Lich! Return to the abyss with your dark master. There is no place for you now!" The Highlord said snarling. Sword or no, he would kill the damn Lich even if he had to rip him apart with his bare hands.
The Lich only laughed and brought a hand down on the shoulders of another figure who appeared suddenly. They stood still in the grip of the Lich and in a near whisper, Kel'Thuzad asked again, "Who do you love?"
"What do you want from me?" Darion hissed, rage a hot flame in his soul. Every inch of Darion hated the Lich nearly as much as he had hated Arthas. It was in part thanks to Kel'Thuzad that his father was killed, that he was corrupted to a death knight. The path to the damn that Darion had followed blindly was thanks to this monster.
The Lich laughed again and the hood of the figure fell away to reveal Taynia, staring blankly at Darion and the rage in his veins ran cold. An aching dread took its place, "What...what is she...?"
"Who do you love? Who do you love, Highlord?" The Lich taunted gripping the priestess harder drawing blood as the bony fingers easily pierced through the cloth of her robes.
"Don't touch her. Get your hands off of her," Darion said although he felt more like he was whispering it. His body felt like it was estranged from him, unable to raise a hand even as he watched the Lich laugh louder, maddeningly, and continue to dig those claws into Taynia. Frost crept over her body and her lips parted in a soundless cry for help.
"Get your hands off of her!" He screamed it now and forced his body forward even if it felt heavier and ever step seemed to take him further from the Lich then closer. The darkness was stifling and he felt more and more like he was drowning, struggling, and sinking into it while he swore and cursed every inch he lost. He fought on this time not content to sink into oblivion, "Did you hear me Lich! Unhand her! You won't take her! You won't take her!"
Kel'Thuzad only laughed before darkness engulfed the enraged death knight...and then Darion was sitting up quickly, a snarl on his lips and one hand already looking for his blade again...only to realize that there was no Lich, no shadows...only the calm of the tiny inn room. His sword lay where he put it before he had taken his rest and his armor on the chair. He looked over to where Taynia. She was still in her bed sleeping peacefully not being killed by Kel'Thuzad. In fact the damn Lich was dead by all reports. The whole time such mundane facts had escaped him. It was only a vivid nightmare.
Darion let out a sigh of relief dropping his head to both his hands, "...just a dream," he mumbled.
He sat their silently allowing his thoughts to recollect and his heart to stop racing so much from a simple nightmare. He didn't know that such a thing could be so...real. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair swinging his legs to the side of the bed, slipping his boots on before heading out for some cool, fresh air.
It was the middle of the night but then the night had always been a peaceful time. The air of Loch Modan was crisp yet heavy with moisture. No doubt there would be a fog from what was left of the lake rising up and a thick layer of dew on the grass in the early morning before dawn. For now it was just what he needed to calm himself. He leaned against the railing in front of the inn, looking out over the town of Thelsamar. He didn't look around when he heard the door of the inn creak open and someone step up next to him either.
"...I heard you wake up," Taynia said looking ahead at the town, a simple robe wrapped about her shoulders against the night chill, "I know you won't answer but if something trouble awoke you, I'm here for you. You know that I care about you, Darion,"
He gave a nod listening to her words and remembering Kel'Thuzad's jeers. He react to Taynia in his dreams like he would in the waking world. Something in him wanted, no needed, to protect her from harm. He was just reacting as a friend would or a protector would. But...
"Who do you love, Darion Mograine?" he thought to himself, "You love her...?"
"It is nothing," he said with a growl, "It was just a stupid dream. You didn't have to come out here and interrupt my solitude,"
She stood quietly, taking his harsh rebuke of her offer of comfort. Then she reached over wrapping her arms about his waist leaning her head against his back lightly, "Darion...you don't have to be alone anymore," she said firmly.
He tensed up but didn't pull away from the embrace nor really accepted it. Half of him wanted her to let go and leave him alone while another part of him wanted this. Human comfort was something many death knights did not have the luxury of enjoying being exiled from most circles of society.
"I'm here too. You can be crabby all you want but I'm not going to let you suffer when I can help you. You needed a hug," she said stubbornly.
Darion closed his eyes allowing a faint smile to grace his lips, "Heh, believe what you will, Priestess..."
He straightened up and turned slightly wrapping one arm about her shoulders and ruffled her hair, "You know...you are such a pest, Taynia. A real pain in the ass," the comment sounded mean but the tone was playful and lighthearted. He liked her. That he could accept.
"I may be a pest but your a crab," she retorted with a smile.
He couldn't fight the smile that was growing on his own face. The cool air was nice and gave some sense of peace but with her there, it just seemed so much better. He liked her, a lot. Darion turned fully to her and cupped her face lightly feeling a crazy idea taking root in his mind. Perhaps it was the apple cider combined with this euphoric feeling that was racing through his veins. Adrenaline was racing and the Highlord felt more like he was about to plunge into a battlefield. He tilted her head up and leaned in. He liked her, he loved her and right now his heart was going along with his body leaving his mind sputtering in the dust. He was sick of thinking about this. Mograines were known for their haste to action, not their patience or restraint.
Then a loud whiny completely shattered the moment and Darion looked up to look towards the stable with a scowl, "What is wrong with your damn mare now!"
Taynia blushed rubbing the back of her head giving a helpless shrug. Darion only scowled more grinding his teeth. He was going to kill that horse. He was going to slaughter it into so many pieces and sell it to the goblins to make glue out of. A part of him was relieved as his mind pointed out he had nearly kissed Taynia, this time of his own free will and not like in Undercity where she had made the first move. His mood only darkened as he stalked to the stables after Taynia. The priestess was always quick to make sure her horse lover was alright.
"That damn mare of yours better have a damn good excuse for making such a fu-" Darion began before Taynia let out a gasp covering her face and blushing beat red.
"Darion! Quick!" She exclaimed, "your...your deathcharger! It's...!"
The Highlord arched an eyebrow in irritation, "What? What is it doing that has your stupid mare all...Bloody Hell!"
Both priestess and death knight stood their gawking at the sight before them. The priestess looked away blushing and Darion couldn't look away his mind shocked in confoundment, "...I didn't even know that deathcharger was a stallion!" he finally sputtered.
"Huh? Did you think it was mare...? It looked male to me," Taynia responded softly.
"I know it is a male deathcharger but I thought it was gelding! You know? All...the family jewels removed...?" Darion argued weakly,"I thought all deathchargers had no gender actually!" The truth was he never really thought that an undead horse would want to make colts with a mare...that damn mare of all things!
"Er...well okay then...but...what should we do about this? You think my mare will get...uh...pregnant?" she said stepping out of the stable blushing still at the nasty shock.
Darion followed her out with a roll of his eyes, "Yes... it is going to give birth to undead horse babies. Of course it isn't going to get pregnant!" he snapped, "Just...just ugh!"
He stalked off back to the inn growling with Taynia following him blinking in confusion, "Darion! What about the hors-"
"I don't care!" Darion threw his hands in the air, "Today has been the worse day of my damn unlife and the entire world is making no sense! Soon Garrosh is going to be turning cartwheels with Varian in the light damn meetings!"
"Oh, okay...and I think you are overreacting just a bit Darion..."she said meekly. She wasn't a fool to be blind to his explosive temper at the moment.
"Damn it all to Hell, I'm going back to bed," Darion growled wearily, "Before anything else happens. I've had enough surprises for one day,"
Taynia gave a faint chuckle and he frowned although his temper has simmered out. He held open the door to their room, "Goodnight, Taynia," he grumbled as she walked past him.
She paused and got on her tiptoes to plant a kiss on his cheek causing him to blush, "Goodnight, Darion," she said with a smile before heading to her bed.
He stood their, frozen in place and touched his cheek lightly watching her climb into bed. For the briefest moment he wanted to stalk over to her bedside and return the kiss. The Highlord let out an irritated sigh and closed the door moving to his own bed and flopping back in it. He closed his eyes and rolled over. Hopefully tomorrow would be a blissfully uneventful day and they could get to Ironforge and then the Deeptram to Stormwind without issue. It would be at least, one more day of travel with Taynia before they parted ways. He scowled and ignored the sudden feelings of sadness that welled up in him. It was for the best. It had to be.