A/N:
I was torn between whether to split this into two chapters or not, but decided to keep it as one. It's the longest one of the story and has been one of my favorite chapters to write so far, so enjoy!
Twisted Fate
Chapter 13
The next day, feeling slightly refreshed, Molikor suggested they leave Undercity. Solarius readily agreed, and Nariel was not in the mood to argue, so they decided to meet back in front of the inn when everyone had collected their equipment. Nariel was the last to arrive, and as she led her wolf out of the stables the other two came over to greet her.
"Ready?" asked Molikor.
"Yes." She replied flatly.
She hadn't slept well the previous night – a recurring theme for her since Solarius had become a growing interest - and she was still upset over what had happened, so she wasn't in a particularly sociable mood. The whole morning she had avoided the Paladin where best she could, and as soon as she felt his curious gaze on her she wished she could do so for the rest of the day as well.
"We were just discussing our plans earlier" said Solarius.
"Aye." Nodded Molikor.
"And they are?" asked Nariel, refusing to look at the Paladin.
"We've been asked for assistance." Solarius said. "A Tauren traveling to Silvermoon wishes for us to escort him."
Nariel frowned at the suggestion. She was already in a sour mood and now they had decided they were heading back there? She hadn't been back to Silvermoon yet, and had no desire to return.
"Any other options?" she asked hopefully.
"Unless you want to wander around aimlessly, no." said Molikor, his attempt at humor falling flat.
"I see no reason not to aid him." Said Solarius, the Orc agreeing with a nod.
Nariel tried – and failed – to hide her sigh. "Well, let's go then. Where are we meeting him?" she asked.
"He's arriving by airship tomorrow morning. We should be able to get to Brill by the end of the day, and meet up with him early tomorrow near the Zepplin tower." Solarius said as the trio began to move towards the edge of the city.
"He's not here yet?" Nariel asked, looking to Molikor.
"No." the Orc said, shaking his head. "It was another Blood Elf who approached me for the task. They're expecting him in Silvermoon."
"I see." She replied, not wishing to converse any more.
As they traveled, Solarius and Molikor were locked in some debate that Nariel was ignoring, and Frostbite strolled casually at her side. The cat had seemingly forgotten about the previous night, happy that the rogue was still there. Nariel had been half concerned that the tiger would be on edge once again this morning which would certainly raise Molikor's suspicious but the cat had only risen from her sleep, stretched lazily, and then gone to Molikor's side to gobble up his daily offering of meat, sparing the rogue no more than a casual glance.
The journey to Brill was shorter than they expected and they arrived in nearly half the time Solarius had predicted, so after they had stabled their mounts they found themselves with an entire evening to spare.
"Let's see if these undead have anything edible around here." Molikor said after they had paid for their rooms.
"As long as it's not alcoholic." Solarius joked. "I need a few days off of that stuff." He added, Molikor chuckling beside him.
"I'll pass." Said Nariel to the surprise of her companions, adding "I'll be upstairs if you need me." Before turning to retreat to her room, gone before they could argue.
"Hm." Said Molikor curiously as he watched her go.
"Maybe she's tired." Said Solarius uncertainly.
"No matter, more food for us." Said the Orc with a slight wave, turning to survey the inn.
Nariel made her way upstairs quickly. Her room was dark, the mark of an undead inn. The wooden walls were faded and the Candle had burnt out and never been replaced, though she wouldn't have lit it anyways. The sun was just setting, and a few minutes later the room was enveloped in near total darkness, except for the little bits of moonlight that shone through the broken window. Nariel sat quietly on the bed, her back against the headboard and her legs pulled up to her chest. She crossed her arms across her knees and lowered her head to rest on top of them, trying to clear her mind. Downstairs she could hear Molikor's booming orcish laugh mixed with the muffled voice of Solarius. It created an unnerving ambience that made the task of pushing them from her mind that much more difficult.
Well…pushing him from her mind.
Solarius had taken over her thoughts. Images of him with the elf taunted her. She had forced them down the night prior, but they had returned with a vengeance. She wanted desperately for them to stop. If he was not hers then so be it, but why did she need to dwell on it? Why couldn't she just be normal? Why am I so broken? She thought with despair. I want what hurts me, and I can't keep what I finally get. She told herself. Her mind turned over and over again as she searched desperately for a way to shut it off. She didn't notice that her door – broken already – had crept open until she heard the knock.
"Ahem…" Solarius cleared his throat as he peeked around the edge of the opened door.
Nariel's head shot up, and she instantly shifted, trying to look more relaxed, but she knew he had seen.
"Yes?" she asked, deceptively calm.
"Can I join you for a moment?" Solarius asked.
Nariel gave a sigh before nodding.
Solarius sat down on the edge of the bed and looked around the room slowly. "Seems a bit dark in here." He said.
"Yes, well…rogue." She replied flatly.
"Right." He said, shifting uncomfortably.
The pair sat in awkward silence for a brief moment before Solarius spoke.
"You were leaving last night weren't you?" he asked, jumping straight to the reason for his visit.
"I'm still here aren't I?" she replied.
"That's not a no." he said, her silence confirming his suspicions. "Why?" he asked.
"Do I need a reason to leave?" She replied, somewhat defensively.
"I would hope you would need a reason to leave, rather than a reason to stay." Solarius said. "Please talk to me."
"Why?" Nariel asked, suddenly on edge. "Why should I keep trusting you?" She continued, her voice beginning to rise.
"I trusted you once and look where that got me!" she yelled.
Her eyes turned harsh as she glared at him losing control of her emotions. "You're no different than him!"
"What do you mean I'm no different than him? Who?" cried Solarius. "What did I do?!"
"How can you not know what you did?" Nariel accused him. "You were perfectly clear with your intentions!" she added, his words from the bar echoing in her mind.
Solarius only looked at her shocked.
"All you wanted was some girl to wear out!" She yelled. "You don't even care who!"
"Nariel! What are you talking about?" yelled Solarius incredulously.
"Is that why you were so friendly to me?" She asked, her voice cutting him like a knife.
"How can I trust you after…" She yelled, her voice trailing off at the end.
"What in the world is going on?!" Solarius asked desperately, the worry clear in his voice.
"Please just go away." Nariel said, her voice suddenly quiet before adding firmly "Now."
He sat there with his mouth open, thoroughly confused before she turned away from him.
"Go!" she shouted.
At this he rose quickly, moving towards the door. He gave her one last worried look before stepping out, pulling it closed behind him. And with him gone, Nariel returned to the embrace of the darkness, silently wishing she had run when she had the chance.
The next day Solarius was upset to see that when Nariel emerged from the inn, she was wearing her mask. He understood the meaning well, though he was still clueless as to the cause. Wordlessly she gathered her mount and joined her companions just as the Tauren arrived, the huge Zepplin having docked only minutes prior.
"Greetings" Said the large bull slowly. "I am Rantuk."
"Well met Rantuk." Said Solarius.
"I am Molikor." Said the Orc.
"These are my friends Solarius and Nariel." He said, motioning to the pair.
"Hail." Said the Tauren with a nod, his greeting returned by the elves.
"Are we ready then?" asked Molikor, to which Rantuk nodded.
"Very well then, let's ride." Said the Orc, as he and Rantuk turned their mounts eastward.
Solaris hung back momentarily, turning to Nariel when the pair were out of earshot, but she cut him off with a glare from beneath the mask and turned her mount swiftly to follow after them.
The trek went smoothly but as they rode Nariel found herself overcome by uneasiness. Tirisfal was a lonely place. A couple months ago she might have found it perfect; it was dark even in the day, the Forsaken cared little for socializing, and there was always work for a rogue. But now it served only to amplify the feelings she no longer wanted to embrace.
To make things worse Solarius rode stubbornly at her side. She knew the message in her eyes had been clearly received: stay away. Still out of stubborn defiance he matched her pace. Several times she had slowed or sped up only for him to do the same. He said nothing but she knew he was only waiting for the opportunity, should they fall out of earshot of the others.
By the end of the first day they were at the border. They camped on the Tirisfal side – "We'll face little trouble until we cross over" Molikor had noted – and in the morning they set out at first light, entering the Plaguelands with a heightened sense of danger.
As they neared the ruined city of Andorhol, Rantuk spoke. "This land calls out in pain." He said.
"What?" asked Molikor, confused.
"He's a Druid." Said Solarius pointedly.
"The Paladin is correct." Said Rantuk. "Many view this land as dead; for the most part they are correct, but parts of it are still alive." He said. "Not visible perhaps – the undead destroy any signs of life that they find. Much of what little spirit the land retains is secreted away in the nutrients of the soil or the freshness of hidden water springs, away from the claws of the Scourge." He continued "but it is still there, and it still reels from the loss where life flourished not long ago."
The trio said nothing in response, but felt the sadness of the druid shared between them. It was true; the Lich King and his minions had ravaged the former nation, leaving it even worse than the parts they had destroyed in Quel'thalas. The human kingdom had been unlucky enough to be at a location the undead would later claim for the dread citadel Naxxramas. The very fortress itself spread contagion wherever it went, so it was unlikely that the land could be healed.
Surprisingly, nothing exciting happened for the next few days. The group found that while the Plaguelands were indeed overrun by Scourge, the Argent Crusade had at least managed to hold the roads. Several times, Nariel had thought she had seen the glowing blue eyes of an undead only to find that when she turned to look into the trees they had disappeared. Though she suspected they did not get through unnoticed, they did get through undisturbed, and before they knew it they had crossed the Thondoril River and turned north.
The river marked a sort of border; the Plaguelands encompassed a wide swath of what was formerly Lordaeron, but all that was east of the river was even more corrupted than the unrecoverable area to the west. The Crusade held even less of a grip here, and not even the roads were safe.
As they rode, Nariel caught a hint of movement in the corner of her eye. She paused, turning to look but saw nothing. Unsure of her instincts, she nudged her mount aside and pulled slightly behind the group to investigate. Peering around she saw dead trees toppled over, mounds of soil that had been dug up by the Carrion Maggots that infested the area, and the skeletons of the wildlife that had populated the land prior to its corruption, but nothing particularly dangerous or alive caught her eye. When she turned back to look for the group, they had progressed quite farther than she expected.
She nudged her mount forward, preparing to catch up with them but just as the wolf took its first step, a stiff bony hand connected with her side, knocking her cleanly out of the seat.
"Rrreeeeaaaaaghhhhh" Came the sickeningly dull cry of a skeletal warrior.
Nariel landed hard on her shoulder, the breath knocked from her by the surprise attack. She lifted her head to see the creature's armored foot coming down at her face, and rolled aside just in time, jumping back to her feet.
To her horror, as she began sizing up her opponent, not one but two more skeletons appeared, shambling out of the trees with surprising speed. They made no fierce battle cries, but gave only a relentless dull moaning as they stared at her, their faces holding two small but very telling blue glowing orbs rather than eyes. Nariel looked around for a path of escape but saw none as the warriors surrounded her.
The first lunged again, his huge bony cleaver coming down where she stood and sending her dodging backwards, where the second warrior immediately thrust his sword forward, a strike she barely managed to parry with her two small daggers. Immediately the third slammed it's shield into her back, sending her flying towards the first again with a pained cry where she managed a desperate swing that connected, knocking the tip of his blade away just in time.
As she twisted away from each attack, the skeletons drew closer and closer, taking away her space inches at a time. She dodged strike after strike, but more and more their blades began to find their mark. At first they only managed to slice her armor, but then she felt a freezing sting as a blade cut into her waist, then another caught her leg. They were little more than cuts but she could feel her resistance giving out as she continued to spin wildly, caught like an animal in a trap.
Her breath grew more panicked and she began to look around more franticly, searching for any source of retreat. Finally she ran out of room as a strong rusted gauntlet landed squarely in her chest and sent her flying, landing on her back a short distance away. She lay there motionless, trying to regain her senses but when she did, all she saw were three sets of bony feet shambling towards her. Already exhausted, she closed her eyes accepting her fate.
Surprisingly, it did not come.
Instead she heard a high pitched wail, along with a soft hissing sound. She opened her eyes to see one of the undead attackers explode, light shooting from it in all directions like drops of burning acid. The second warrior turned away from her, swatting the glowing light that landed on it frantically just as a perfectly placed arrow severed its head from the rest of its body, snuffing out the blue fire that had burned within it as it split the bone forming his neck cleanly in half. The third skeleton however had closed in on her, determined to finish what they had started. As it thrust its giant sword downward, she squeezed her eyes closed. She heard the familiar sound of a sword connecting just before she felt it, followed by the sickening wet slosh of blood spraying out.
And then the pain came.
It seared, her whole body on fire as the rusted and plague infested blade sank deeply into her. This time it was no small cut; no slice in her hip or leg. The sword was buried in her shoulder, impaling her and pinning her to the ground, barely missing her heart as she had turned away at the last moment. Seconds after the blade came down, a burst of light shattered the warrior, not a single bone left intact.
Nariel screamed in agony, but as the infection began to tear through her, she grasped a single thread of hope – she was alive. Clawing back to reality, she forced her eyes open and looked around at her savior.
"Nariel!" Solarius shouted, kneeling next to her.
"Shit!" cried Malikor. "How bad is it?" he yelled, already on his way over.
She screamed out as the pain returned in full force, her body being devastated by the plague that had been thrust into her by the blade.
"Stay with me!" yelled Solarius, cradling her head. "Rantuk! Do something!" he yelled.
As the pain grew worse she felt her consciousness fading and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.
"Hold her still!" yelled the Tauren, moving to her side. "I can cure the infection and close the wound, but I must act fast. She cannot move!" he cried as his hands began to glow a soft pale green.
"Nariel! You have to fight this!" Yelled Solarius, clutching her tightly. "You have to control it!"
As her mind began to grow hazy, she clung on to his words.
"KILL!" Boomed a raspy voice.
She let out a pained gasp as the voice tore through her head, forcefully trying to push out all other thoughts as she clawed at his arm, trying to find an outlet for the torture.
"YOU ARE MINE NOW!" it echoed, bolstered by a fresh jolt of pain as Molikor tore the sword free of her shoulder.
Still she fought. She clung to the words of her friend with all her might, desperate to survive, but the voice was relentless, each second bringing a new command, bellowing through her mind as if it were a battering ram, shattering her thoughts and immediately expanding its control to fill the void.
Suddenly it faltered. The overwhelming pressure of its presence in her brain began to shrink and she felt the pain dull the slightest bit with it. Then it shrank a bit more.
"I think it's working." Said Rantuk as a soft green light flowed from his hands to her, to which Solarius gave a relieved sigh.
"Thank the light." He muttered.
As Nariel slowly began to calm, he laid her back gently on the ground, moving his own hands to help the druid heal her. He was not extremely proficient in the art, but if he could help in any way he would. Small streams of light shot from his fingertips towards her body, twisting effortlessly around the seams in her armor to slip between them and down to their target.
She looked like hell. Her skin had paled and her bloodshot eyes held dark circles around them, nearly black. She was covered in cuts and bruises and blood seeped from her shoulder, even as the wound sealed itself under the green glow of the Tauren's healing. Her hair was a mess, and it fell sloppily around her face in a tangled heap. Even as terrible as she looked, Solarius gave thanks that she was alive.
Weakly her eyes crept open and she whimpered in pain. Her shoulder was still on fire, but the wound was closed and the infection was gone. The rest would just take time. She peered up at her friends, worried looks on their faces and did the best she could to smile in appreciation, but finally her body gave out as she drifted off into unconsciousness.
"Nariel!" Cried Solarius, panicking.
Rantuk put a gentle hand on his shoulder. "She is only unconscious." Said the Tauren. "She will live."
Solarius nodded solemnly, saying nothing.
"Come." Said the druid. "We should depart before more Scourge appear." He added, to which Molikor readily agreed.
Solarius carried her gingerly to his mount, crawling up behind her as Molikor fashioned a sling for her arm out of some torn cloth from her pack. The group set out at a tear, Solarius holding onto her as they rode as fast as they could. They needed to get out of the Plaguelands; it had been luck that Rantuk was with them, but now both he and Solarius were spent. If something else were to happen, there would be no hope.
They rode for hours, and just as they crossed into the Ghostlands, Nariel began to eek back into consciousness. Her mind felt exhausted, as if it had been pummeled. Her whole body ached and she felt drained, but she was alive. It was a far cry from being seconds away from death, or worse; Nariel shuddered slightly at the memory of the voice.
Solarius noticed her shift and pulled her close, saying nothing but feeling his heart soar when she weakly grasped his hand and leaned back into him before closing her eyes again.
"Let's stop here for the night." Molikor said, pointing to a nearby cave.
"Yes, that will provide good cover." agreed Rantuk, as the group made their way into the cave.
Quickly they settled in. As soon as Nariel dismounted she began to feel better. Though her body had been forced to shut down earlier, it had made good use of the time she was out; as Solarius helped her move around, he even commented on how much healthier she suddenly looked. Her eyes no longer bore the dark circles and Rantuk's healing had taken care of many of the smaller cuts entirely, though there was no doubt that her shoulder would bear a scar for the rest of her life.
"I'll take first watch." Nariel offered as Molikor fed Frostbite. "I don't think I'll be sleeping anyways." She said.
"You shouldn't do it alone." Said Rantuk. "If anything were to happen you are not at your full strength."
"I'll stay up with her." Offered Solarius.
Nariel shifted her eyes downward at his suggestion, but dared not refuse. He had been trying since the morning in Brill to get her alone; now it seemed he was more determined than ever after what had happened, and after everything he had done for her she wasn't inclined to argue. Before long, Molikor and Rantuk had created a small fire, which they quickly settled down around. As they drifted off to sleep, Nariel felt a familiar presence appear at her side as Solarius took his place sitting on the rock next to her.
"Thank you again." Nariel said quietly. "You've saved my life three times now."
"Three?" He asked.
"Yes." She replied. "Frostbite, then Blackrock Spire, and now this." She said
"Well, to be fair Rantuk did most of the work, but I suppose I can take credit on his behalf." Solarius replied jokingly, which brought a small smile to Nariel, though it was hidden under her mask.
"So" Solarius said.
"So?" She asked.
"You still don't trust me." He continued after a pause.
"What?" Nariel asked.
"I can see it in your body language." He replied. "Though I can't understand what I may have done to lose your faith."
Nariel sighed. "It's not you Solarius." She said. "By now you should know that."
"It seemed to be me a few days ago, when you were shouting at me to get out." Solarius replied.
Nariel turned to gaze at him. "I was" - she paused, trying to decide how to phrase it - "unreasonable…at the time."
"You were upset about something." Solarius said.
"Yes." She replied simply.
"Are you still upset about it?" He asked.
She turned her head, gazing out of the mouth of the cave. "Yes." She said quietly.
"What is it?" Solarius asked her gently.
Nariel paused, thinking over how best to express something with words that she could not entirely comprehend with feelings.
"The bar…" she said simply.
"In Undercity?" He asked, to which she nodded.
"You were different." She said. "The way you were acting…"
"It bothered you." He said.
"Yes." She nodded. "It shouldn't have." she said, shaking her head. "You are free to do as you please."
"That does not always mean I should." He replied.
His own mind was racing at the thought of why he had been drinking in the first place. Molikor's advice – as jokingly as he had intended it at the time – echoed in his head. Just ask her.
"Seeing it; seeing you like that reminded me of Sath." She said.
"Seeing someone I'm…" she paused as her voice trailed off "Seeing someone I considered a friend doing the same thing he had done unnerved me." She finished.
"Were you…jealous?" Solarius asked, testing the waters. To his surprise she nodded.
"Yes." She admitted after a pause.
Her answer sent Solarius' mind spinning. She was jealous? But why? Did she actually feel something for him? Or was it simply the sight of a friend with someone else bringing back old memories?
He put an arm around her and pulled her close, being careful not to aggravate her shoulder.
"Nariel…I'm sorry." He said, peering down at her.
"You don't have to apologize" She whispered. "You did nothing wrong."
"I hurt you. I can understand why you were upset." He said. "I'm sorry."
She said nothing, but turned up and looked into his eyes, unsure what she hoped to see. He stared back, frozen in her gaze. Slowly, without breaking eye contact his hand came up. His fingers found the mask, and when she did not protest he slipped it off.
As it fell away her full face was revealed. Her lips were parted ever so slightly, her nervous breath escaping at steady intervals and where she had hidden her emotions a moment earlier Solarius now saw only excitement at his touch. Before her mind registered what was happening, Nariel leaned forward towards him, tilting her head up slightly. Her eyes slipped closed and she drew ever so close to him. She felt his breath hit her lips, quickening as they drew near. Her heart stopped and her mind froze as she gave in completely to the desire she could no longer fight.
"Nariel-" Solarius whispered, anticipation seeping from his voice.
"Time to change." Grunted Molikor, rolling over and sitting up.
Nariel's eyes shot open, panic overtaking her. She hesitated for a second as her mouth opened slightly in surprise, a soft gasp escaping her lips as she gazed desperately into the Paladin's eyes, frozen with desire before she quickly withdrew, turning away. He saw something beneath them; whether it was fear of what she had almost done, or despair at the lost opportunity he did not know.
"I'll take next watch." The Orc said as he sluggishly crawled to his feet, oblivious to what he had disturbed. "You two get some sleep."
Nariel crawled onto her makeshift bed and closed her eyes, but her racing mind told her that sleep would not come. She tried everything to push the encounter out of her head, but she could do nothing except lay there, replaying it over and over, dread filling her.
Oh no. She thought, as she heard Solarius quietly move to the opposite side of the fire.
What have I done? He thought, silently falling onto his bedroll.
