Another place, another time, we carry on
Not getting any easier 'cause we're getting on
A creature from another world, it's gone all wrong

~Extraction Zone-Dragonforce~

The standing stones were guarded by two minor warlocks who kept the Fel energy constant, and a warrior type who acted as a lookout. They were poorly trained and unaccustomed to battle as evidenced by how easily Cordana and Jaaral dispatched them. They were disposable Shadow Council grunts, easily replaceable by the countless others who were keening to take their place and serve their dark master with the merest promise of power.

When the last stone had been cleared, Cordana and Jaaral headed off to the grotto. There were carcasses littered about, of animals and Shadow Council both.

"They are sending people here to be sacrificed to this demon," said Cordana with disgust.

"The terrible thing," replied Jaaral, "is that they willingly go like sheep, believing there is something to be gained by it."

Cordana remained in stealth, following Jaaral as he headed deeper into the grotto. He stopped suddenly and held up his hand.

"I see the vile creature," he said in a whisper. "No sense in trying to be silent. I will attack and keep its focus on me. You use the blessed water to weaken it and capture it. Do you have the Archmage's magical item?"

Cordana held up the tiny coil with two fingers.

Jaaral charged, surprising the Observer, who was floating lazily in a corner of the large antechamber.

"I see you!" it shrieked and lurched at the Draenei warrior.

Spinning, it turned his terrible gaze on Cordana who was still in stealth. "Not today, little Kaldorei!"

A blast of Fel energy shot from its main eye, narrowly missing her as she dodged out of the way. She wasted no time in throwing some of the water onto it, creating a hissing, steaming wound. Jaaral slashed and stabbed, avoiding its attempts to grab him with its many tentacles. The demon grew enraged as it received no satisfaction from its attempts at hitting either of its attackers. Cordana threw the rest of the water at it, and it screamed in pain and anger. As it began to drop nearer to the ground, Jaaral shouted at her to bind it.

Well, here goes, she thought and threw the coil. As it launched through the air it transformed into a giant net, glowing with arcane energy in a soft purple. It wrapped itself around the screaming, writhing demon, with a strand that twisted around Cordana's wrist. She tugged on it, and the demon was pulled towards her, light as a feather, as Khadgar had described.

"Light!" she exclaimed in awe. "Let's take it back to the Outpost and see that it is secured."

Moving as quickly as she could along the uneven ground, Cordana dragged the demon behind her.

"Come, foul creature."

When they returned to the camp, Khadgar was nowhere in sight. Fear gripped her heart as Cordana, still towing the demon, ran from one end of the Outpost to the other, calling his name.

Where could he have gone off to? There was nothing worth exploring around the Outpost. The demon cursed and howled and struggled in its bonds, and Jaaral slashed it to force its silence, which did not work.

Cordana was about to try and untie it from her wrist and give it to Jaaral when Khadgar sauntered in from somewhere outside the Outpost.

"Khadgar!" she cried angrily. "I told you to stay here, hidden!"

He was nonplussed. "Nothing terrible happened, I was simply searching for some berries for your Moonsabre. You did tell me he enjoys them."

Cordana sighed heavily, her anger gone at having found him safe and sound. "It would be easier to guard you if you stayed out of sight, Khadgar."

As much as he loved her, and understood the focus she had for her task, Khadgar found her over protectiveness slightly suffocating at times. He knew it was love as well as duty that motivated her actions but it was still hard to handle.

"I am not a child to cower beneath your cape, Cordana," he said, as kindly as he could.

Cordana did not say anything, but tightened her lips and held out her wrist for him to remove the glowing strand and the demon from it.

"We need more sacred water," she said and went to collect some from the moonwell once Khadgar had taken the demon away to the enclosure.

It rained curses upon them as it felt the magical bindings hold it fast and slowly drain it. If there was one thing the darkness feared the most, it was loss of power.

"Now that the veil has been lifted from the woods, we can make use of the demon. We will convince it to turn its eye upon Gul'Var and show us what the Shadow Council is planning," said Khadgar.

He handed her a scroll. "Delas gave me this before she left. It is a scripture of Elune. It, along with the water from the moonwell, will help you compel the demon."

"Me? Oh no Khadgar, I am not going to play mind games with that giant eyeball! I told you that earlier!"

He took her hand. "I cannot read Kaldorei," he said, trying to look desperately innocent.

"Lying will not help your cause," Cordana answered wryly. "I am well aware that your brilliance of mind extends to the knowledge of every recorded language, especially Kaldorei. Try harder next time, Archmage."

He sighed and became serious. "Cordana, please do this for me. It will be easier to see if I am not divided in my focus. You keep it weakened and I will receive its vision."

She looked unhappy as she took the scroll. He was grateful to her that she agreed despite her personal reservations. "Keep in mind it is a demon and it will try to deceive you!"

As she walked up to the Observer it turned its main eye on her. "No!" it yelled. "Keep away from me with those things!"

She splashed it with the water, angering it. "I can see the emptiness in your soul, Cordana Felsong. In the end, it will be I who compels you!"

Cordana unfurled the scroll. "Elune's radiance, grant me strength!"

The Observer quivered with rage. "I will show you nothing! Nothing!"

The Warden began to read the beautiful, flowing Kaldorei script. The demon writhed, cursed, and pulsed with Fel energy. She could feel its hatred.

"I can see your future!" it screamed. "Cordana Felsong, who loves a human whom she will betray unto his death! Kaldorei Warden who will fall into madness just like her predecessors!" It laughed, a high pitched screeching sound.

Cordana splashed a larger amount of water on it and it hissed and shook. She followed it up with more of the Kaldorei words, trying to drown out its inane screeching. The demon cursed her but it deflated slightly. It began to turn away.

Khadgar's magic circle was draining its power while Cordana weakened its body. It did not have the energy to reject the hold the Archmage was taking on its consciousness.

Its gaze turned to Gul'Var as ordered.

Figures materialized out of the haze as Khadgar focused the eye closer.

The warlock Gul'Dan stepped out of a portal.

He began addressing a small group of his Lieutenants, discussing the next steps in his plans. It was valuable information.

He suddenly stopped and turned, facing the direction of the Observer.

"Eye, what are you looking at?" he snarled. He drew Fel energy and brought his hand up, cursing. "It is all fun and games until someone..."

Khadgar gave a grunt of pain and staggered back, stumbling as the Observer suddenly began quivering, spun around, and exploded.

Cordana dropped the water and the scroll and leaped towards the Archmage, shielding his body with hers as the concussive force threw them both back.

"Well," said Khadgar looking at the glowing eyes in the depths of the helmet above him. "It certainly had an explosive personality!"

Cordana removed her helmet but did not move from her position above Khadgar where she had gracefully landed. "Are you alright, Khadgar?"

He lay there with a happy expression on his face. "I most certainly am, my dear."

She stood and held her hand out to help him up.

"I would not have minded remaining that way for awhile, Cordana," he said winking at her.

The Warden gave him a sultry look. "There are better places in which to lay about, which do not involve the feeling that one's back is covered with mangled bits of demon...unless that is a thing for you, Khadgar?"

He turned her around. "No. Revolting. However, there is nothing on you that cannot be removed by a little touch of magic, like this!"

He gestured and her cloak was instantly cleared of the bits of offal that had decorated it moments before.

Cordana turned back and lay a hand gently on the side of Khadgar's face. "Are you sure you are not hurt?" she asked softly. "You did hit the ground rather hard." He smiled at her and turned his head, kissing her hand.

"I assure you I am fine. That Observer was able to provide me with a significant amount of information. We must continue."

Jaaral, who had been watching the proceedings from the edge of the camp while keeping a lookout, approached them. "Did you kill the demon, Archmage?" he asked.

Khadgar shook his head. "I did not. It appears that Gul'Dan sensed the unwanted observation and destroyed it. But I do not believe he knows about us. He may be catching wise to the fact someone is looking for him but at this point I do not think he knows who or why."

"The fact that he deals in dark magic should be reason enough for him to suspect that someone will want his head," said Jaaral.

"Gul'Dan believes himself to be invincible. I am hoping that this will create some errors on his part," said Khadgar.

Cordana gave him a hooded look. "Interesting how you came to that conclusion so easily, Archmage! Not much difference between you two then, is there?"

Khadgar laughed. "My dear Cordana, the difference is that Gul'Dan is incorrect, and I am not!"

Light, let him be joking, she thought.

The night had begun to settle in, and the Archmage pointed to the cold fire pit and it roared to life.

They ate and drank, then leaned back against some logs and watched the fire. Khadgar drew Cordana into his arms and she leaned contentedly against him. Jaaral began to sing softly, a Draenei warrior's song, and to the Warden's surprise, Khadgar added his voice to the Commander's. She didn't realize he was as well versed in the music of other cultures, as he was in his own.

Eventually, talk came back around to the next step in their mission.

"While it is good to know what Gul'Dan's Lieutenants are up to, and we can have the mission specialists deal with them, it is more important that we stop Gul'Dan himself," said Khadgar. "Some of his disciples can summon minor demons. To do this, lesser warlocks must use a soul shard. This foul crystal is created by siphoning the essence from another living being. The more powerful the being, the greater the soul shard. Once obtained, the crystals create a connection to the twisting nether, pulling a demon through against its will. Gul'Dan is as much demon as he is orc at this point. If we are able to gather some of the more potent shards, it is possible to combine them into something that just might capture him."

Cordana sat up. "I don't like this, Khadgar," she said. "If the trap fails, you will be compromised and he will know who pursues him."

"Cordana, we have discussed the need to take some risks to achieve our ends," he reminded her.

She wouldn't accept it. "Yes, we did. Rather, you dictated and I was forced to accept it, which I will not do in this situation. Your safety is paramount here."

Jaaral prodded the fire. "I need to agree with Cordana on this, Archmage," he said. "Allow me to set the trap and try to capture the warlock. The two of you can remain behind and hidden. If it is true that most magic users are not strong when faced with a physical attack, that will give me an advantage over him, even if it is only long enough to draw him into the trap."

Khadgar looked at Cordana, who stared back with an unyielding expression.

"I will not argue with both of you," said the Archmage with a sigh. "However, the trap must be forged by me. It is a magical entity we seek to capture, and neither of you are able to craft this trap. There is a magical forge in Gul'Var which we can use for this. But...let us not speak on this for now. The first thing that must be done is the collection of the soul shards. There are three acolytes within the camp that each hold a significant amount of power."

He detailed to them the locations of the three.

Jaaral nodded. "I shall see to that task in the morning, yes? I do not fear the Shadow Council, and these minions here are of no consequence. I will make quick work of them and return the shards to you. It will take me several hours, so do not grow concerned."

Cordana sighed with relief. Jaaral knew how she worried over Khadgar, and he had stepped up each time in her defense.

She got to her feet, a bit more stiffly than she would have liked. "I am tired, and wish to go to my bed now," she said. "Good night, Commander. Khadgar, I hope you will join me soon."

He looked up at her and smiled. "Indeed I shall. I wish to speak with Jaaral on the proceedings tomorrow for just a bit longer."

Cordana undressed down to her small clothes and crawled under the furs. She debated remaining stealthed outside the tent, serving at her post as she always did, but Khadgar had reassured her he had placed wards outside the Outpost perimeter that would alert him should something try and breech it. He knew that she could not take her rest during the day as she usually did, while he was engaged with his tomes and studies, and wanted her to sleep.

She could hear the men talking in low whispers. The mission as a whole was so fraught with danger, yet Khadgar had waltzed through each step without a care in the world. He chided her for her lack of confidence and her lack of faith. She lambasted him for his arrogance and overconfidence, reminding him not to underestimate his foes. It always ended with his griping about her being too overprotective. Cordana balled her fists up under her chin as she gripped the fur blanket. Her body was tired but her mind was racing and she could not settle. She was rolling over for the umpteenth time when Khadgar came in.

Undressing, he watched her. "Restless and worried again for nothing, Cordana?" he asked.

She sat up, frowning. "Why do you denigrate my concerns, Khadgar?"

He crawled in beside her and tried to take her in his arms. She resisted and he sighed.

"I do not believe that you realize how powerful I truly am," he said softly. "If you did, you would hardly try and place me in a bubble as you often do. Jaaral has far less skill than I do, and you do not see the Lady Toriona trying to lock him in the garrison! This mission in its entirety depends on me, Cordana."

"You cannot see to its success if you are dead, Khadgar!" she retorted. "And secondly, Commander Jaaral does not fall over in a stiff breeze!"

"My dear, I will not die that easily!" he said with a chuckle. "And it will take more than a stiff breeze to knock me over, silly girl!"

Cordana could not find mirth in the situation. This was part and parcel of the problem with Khadgar.

"Is there no other reason, than this mission, that would make you put a priority on your safety?"

Her voice was soft, and she did not meet his eyes. "Do you not wish to survive, in order to build a life with me?" She lay back and pulled the covers over herself, holding them tightly at her chest. "You see, Khadgar, when you prance about with little to no regard for your well being, and scoff at my attempts to protect you, it makes me feel as though you do not care enough about us...about you and I."

The Archmage lay down on his side and gazed at her although her expression remained far away and she would still not look at him. He had had no idea that she felt that way. He knew she loved him, but as to the rest, it had never dawned on him. Truthfully, Khadgar had not given any thought to a time beyond the mission. What else was there to do with one's life other than chase demons and close portals? Why think on situations that may not even happen? He supposed that life would always be the same; and suddenly he realized that this woman wasn't just along for the short term, and that things would not always be as they were. There would be an end to this war, and if they all survived it, there would be a new way of living to adjust to. This new life would include the woman he loved. He realized she had already accepted that.

"I am truly sorry, Cordana," he whispered. "My foolishness has overtaken me once more and I had not given thought to anything past the immediate future. I will do my best to stop being so difficult, for I care more deeply for you than you imagine."

She finally turned her head and met his eyes. Such magnificent eyes, eyes that had seen so much, and which were now so full of love. How could she ever remain angry with him? He was a good man, and he tried to do right, even in a situation as different and awkward as a new relationship. But Cordana was a realist, and knew that she could not change the core of what made him who he was. He could never settle into someone's shadow and hide behind a fortress wall. Khadgar was fire and brimstone and an electric light show, flamboyant and outrageous, arrogant and gregarious. He could promise a thousand times that he would be more careful, and promise to change the way he behaved but that would never happen. Not because he was malicious or was playing games with her, but because that is just who he was. She had to accept him or let him go. There was no middle ground, but still, she had to try and get at least a little bit of compromise out of him.

"Let me protect you, Khadgar. Let me do what I was born to do, so that you may do the same."

He leaned close and kissed her. She returned his kiss.

"I love you," she said softly.

They fell asleep in each other's arms.

Cordana woke up suddenly in the dark of night, after tossing restlessly in the grip of some terrible nightmares. The evil words the Observer had said to her ran through her mind, making her mind race and tormenting her dreams. She knew their tricks, and the way they tried to twist you up inside. Doubt and fear were their weapons of choice. But even knowing that, the mere idea that she could or would betray her beloved was unnerving. She would never choose to do that...what terrible scenarios could force her hand? Were these words based on truth or on the usual deceptiveness of demons? Cordana looked over and saw Khadgar peacefully sleeping beside her.

It was not the nightmares that had pulled her from sleep; she was sure that she heard something outside. If it were a wild animal, her Moonsabre would have let out a growl, but a person would be of no interest to it. Could it have been some sort of warning from the wards? She had no idea what such a warning would even be.

Cordana crawled, alert, to the foot of the bed, her hair pooling on the covers. She was aware she wore only her small clothes and was in no position to fight. She closed her eyes and concentrated, trying to hear beyond the bog frogs and the crickets. It would take far too long for her to put on her encounter suit, so she settled for her boots, helmet and the bladed cloak. Picking up the umbral crescent, the Warden stealthed outside. The moon was only halfway full, but it still illuminated the moonwell, giving the Outpost an eerie glow.

Although she heard nothing, her other senses told her something was not quite right. There was a disturbance in the energy of the sleeping Outpost. She stood by the Archmage's tent, her eyes scanning the darkness.

Nothing moved.

Neither did Cordana, for the duration of the night.