Chapter 1
A Light Touch on a Dark Deed
A fair toned young elven woman stood silently within the massive underground tunnel, nervously looking over her shoulder in anticipation of the fast moving tram. "Where is he..." she muttered anxiously, stopping suddenly as she felt something move behind her. Her blue eyes narrowed dangerously as her dagger slid from its sheath. Feeling the cool breath of someone blowing on the back of her ear, sent a quiver down her spine. A husky voice whispered seductively in ears, "You know, Baeliana, if you keep starring off like that, someone might get the idea that you prefer your prey behind you." A sinister grin appeared on her face as she spun quickly, driving her blade into a shield of dazzling light. Shield bashing her, he knocked her weapon to the ground, and with a sly smirk across his face, grabbed her by the waist, pulling her up off the ground into his arms. Ramming her back into the cavern wall, she groaned in pain before wrapping her legs around his waist. His fingers sank into her well-toned ass as he closed the distance between her lips and his own, "And here I thought rogues liked to be behind their target."
A slender index finger stopped his advance in its tracks. Opening his eyes fully, he found her fading from his view until all trace of her had vanished. Looking around him, a thin quel'dorei arm appeared from his shadow and wrapped around his chest as the other arm reached south of his utility belt, hand gripping his 'Hammer of Righteousness.' "And I thought paladins were supposed to be chaste, Arotar."
Smirking, he enveloped himself in a shield of impenetrable force that bounced her back a few steps. Hoping back agilely, she stopped and twirled the paladin's utility belt around on her index finger. Looking down, to find it missing, he watched her slide it over her strawberry blonde hair, squeeze it over her ample size breast and hold it over sultry hips, "I don't think it'll fits your leather motif, love." Dropping it to the ground, she looked up at him grinning. Her eyes looking over his fair half elven skin, broad shoulders, and strawberry blonde hair. Walking forward in an alluring manner, she counted out loud until the invisible bubble dissipated with an audible pop. "Fifteen seconds? I know you have abilities that last longer than that."
Nimble slender fingers worked effortlessly beneath his armor, unlatching his breastplate and exposing him to the cold air. "Don't worry my sweet Arotar, that's not a finishing move tonight... I'm just getting started." He wrapped his arms around her waist, forcing an excited giggle as he nibbled at her neck, "Is that right, love? Well, it seem like I have to give you all my righteous fury."
Laying her hand on his chest, she backed him into a dark corner of the cavern and dismantled him, letting his and her own armor roll around in the dark. Thin elven arms flowed over broad sinewy shoulders as lips came together in an explosion of passions that sparked his illumination. His body radiated their dark little corner as she felt her adrenaline rush flow through her. Taking the opportunity and the initiative before he could take control, she was relentless in her strikes driving him to his very limit. Just as the illumination was fading from him, he let out one final flash of light, gaining back some of his strength and unleashing the full force of his holy wrath on her. Over and over he struck at her with his 'hammer of righteousness until he felt the words of glory come to mind. His holy radiance sent a wave of righteous force flowing into her.
"How was that," he questioned, smiling satisfied and looking up at her as he rested on the floor.
"You need a moment to recuperate?"
She smiled back to him, throwing her midnight hair to the side, as she peered down into those bright blue eyes, "Oh, Arotar, my sweet. I always combat ready." Running her fingers through his hair, and smiling as she kissed him; she prepared to get her second combo point.
Chapter 2
Too Many Drinks is to Loosen Those Lips
The quel'dorei rogue thumped the flagon down against the table with a loud clunk, reaching for the jug of bourbon and attempting to pour out some more. After managing to half fill the flagon -- as well as getting twice as much over the table than into the cup -- she raised it to her lips, looking around the room and swaying unsteadily in her seat.
Her gaze traversed the tavern slowly as it swirled around her, draining the contents of the flagon and thumping it down to the table once more. It was only her third... no... fourth... jug of bourbon -- and she'd spilled half of the last one as well. Three or four flagons per jug was only -- well, more than a few -- it didn't matter anyway. She waved her hand haphazardly in a dismissive gesture, almost toppling from her seat as she did but somehow managing to grab the table and steady herself before she fell to the floor. Slowly she looked up across the table meeting his gaze, the one thing in the room that didn't seem to be dancing around her randomly, transfixing her with his unnaturally blue eyes.
Arotar. His name drifted into her thoughts automatically as she looked upon him, followed by flickering memories of their first meeting two months ago. She enjoyed studying him -- his long reddish-blonde hair flowing loosely to his shoulders, down his back; his rough stubble and the friendly smile upon his lips greeted her as she smiled in return. The moment passed as suddenly as it had arrived; closing her eyes she leaned back into her chair heavily.
The paladin raised the goblet of wine in his hand -- only the second he had poured from the single bottle upon the table -- and slowly finished the remains of his drink as he laughed and joked with his friends. Her eyes fixated on his lips as she remembered giving him mouth to mouth when he pushed her out of the way of a naga, being drug under the tide in her stead. She traced her fingers around her lips as she remembered the sensation. Falling back in a slump as she reached for her drink, he turned to see her in the chair across the tavern. Excusing himself from his company, he slowly stood, navigating himself through the busy pub of card players and patrons to walk up to her table.
He looked down at her, her silken blonde hair tied back in a ponytail and disappearing behind her back, stray wisps of hair framing her face. Her eyes were closed as she laid her head back. Delicate breaths came from between her slightly parted lips with each slight rise and fall of her chest. He smiled again as he extended his hand towards her, speaking her name quietly as he did, "Baeliana...?"
Baeliana opened her eyes at the quiet utterance of her name, first spotting the hand being held towards her, then looking past it to Arotar's face as he looked down upon her. She smiled involuntarily at his gaze, tilting her head slightly and fixing Arotar with questioning look. "I think it's time I got you to a bed." She shook her head, realizing how bad an idea that was as the room blurred and she swayed unsteadily again. She held onto the table once more -- until the room stopped spinning around her -- before looking up to him and taking his offered hand. He pulled her to her feet, then held her a moment while she seemed to gain her footing. Removing his hands slowly -- but ready to catch her again if the need arose.
"Think you can manage to walk?"
"I'm fine... only had a couple" Baeliana attempted another dismissive hand wave, wobbling precariously as she did.
"Only a couple, huh?" Arotar smiled as he led her towards the door of the Blue Recluse. "I think you've had a bit more than that."
Baeliana staggered forward with Arotar, leaning against him as she allowed herself to be led from the tavern.
They stepped out into the stillness of the night. The area was lit gently by the glow of the full moon above. They paused just outside the door as she turned to him. "Where're we going?"
"Just to the Gilded Rose. It's the closest inn."
Baeliana stepped away from him with a single nod of her head -- moving towards the Trade District. She didn't need to be led, and she didn't need Arotar to be so close.
Her movements were slow but, for the most part, steady as she made her way through the tunnel out of the Mage Quarter. Walking along the canal's edge her steps managed to falter at the wrong moment, the ground lurched beneath her and she missed the bridge across the water.
She teetered on the edge of the canal, peering into the water before she toppled backwards heavily, and landing in a sprawling heap on top of Arotar as he grabbed hold of her and pulled her back.
