I've lost all ambition for worldly acclaim
I just want to be the one you love
And with your admission that you feel the same
I'll have reached the goal I'm dreaming of...
~I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire-The Ink Spots~
It was difficult to find time on a personal level with the mission a constant driving force in their lives. Often times all they had were a few stolen moments in the Tower library, and Cordana refused to give up her post at night. She remained, as always, stealthed in her encounter suit outside his door. She would sleep when he was in his study, writing his journals or poring over yet another tome in a strange language she would never understand. When Khadgar worked with his mages at the safe confines of the Tower yard, she would curl up nearby, lulled to sleep by the sound of his wonderful voice, invisible to all eyes. So great was her skill that even the tiny arcane familiars, created as a by-products of magical energy would not see her and explode in frustration at the unseen wall they crashed into.
Some days there was travel involved, and Cordana would ride her Moonsabre while Khadgar transmogrified into his raven form and flew alongside her. He was not fond of riding on animals and preferred to use his own wings or walk. They would camp if required, and Cordana would ever be on her guard, prowling around the tent, keeping wild animals at bay and watching for highwaymen and other rogues while the Archmage slept. There was always the ever present threat of Gul'Dan and the shadow council, which made dropping her guard even more impossible.
Cordana tried to push certain thoughts to the back of her mind, primarily the ones involving the final battle with the dreadful Orc warlock. She knew that Khadgar had come to stop the creature and end him before he and his Iron Horde could lay siege to their own timeline. That final battle might not turn out the way she, and everyone else, hoped. Initially of course, her fear was that of failure, the one thing that Cordana Felsong could not abide. To return to the Enclave having failed, if there would even be one left, would be a disgrace to her, and every bit of her railed against the idea. Now, while her fear of failure was still at the forefront, the reasons for it were greatly changed.
As a Kaldorei, she had always known that her people's lifespans were significantly longer than most. A member of the elven race, who took a human mate was guaranteed to outlive them, barring death by battle or accident, and there was always that chance that the elf would outlive any half-elven children also. If she had had any say in where her heart wandered, she would have vehemently chosen not to fall in love with a short lived human, especially not one who was already within his middle years.
But the heart wants what the heart wants. And wasn't there a saying along the lines of any love is better than none at all?
The thought made her chest tighten and she looked over at the sleeping mage. He had told her he never worried for his safety, and she wondered if it was due to either his own over confidence or her presence. She hoped it was the latter.
Cordana gently ran her fingertips through his hair and he smiled in his sleep. She wanted to lie down next to him and feel his arms around her, to be the one protected instead of the other way around. But their roles were clear, and she would not breech protocol because their feelings for one another had changed. It was more important than ever now that the mission succeed, so that she and Khadgar could return to a safe and intact Azeroth and plan a future together.