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.
"Who moved the bridge?"
"I don't know." The quiet reply came from somewhere underneath her. Realizing what it was she was laying atop of, Baeliana rolled off to the side quickly, laying beside Arotar and turning towards him with a sheepish smile.
She looked over him slowly, starting from his feet and working along his body to his eyes. He was dressed casually, a simple black vest of what appeared to be mageweave fitting over his chest loosely along with a pair of rugged leather slacks. She met his eyes as he studied her in return, smiling again as the expected question came forth. "Why do you always wear your armour... even in the city?"
Her gaze dropped instinctively, surveying her own attire. She was dressed in her full suit of Terrorblade battle gear as he had just said. Covered from head to toe in thick leather -- almost as a second skin. She gave a shrug, watching Arotar as he stood, reaching down to help her to her feet once more.
"I'm comfortable in it," Baeliana answered as he pulled her up to stand again, "and I like to be ready... for anything."
A simple nod and another smile came from Arotar as he kept hold of her, guiding her slowly over the bridge towards the trade district. Walking silently again as they made their way to the inn.
The Gilded Rose was the typical inn to stay at while in Stormwind. Arotar wondered if in fact it was the only inn within the city limits as he passed through the doorway, leading Baeliana slowly ahead of him. The layout was simple, the bottom floor being a single common, chairs and tables in groups laid out for the residents. It was near deserted -- as expected for the late hour -- the only exception being a single dwarf paladin at a table in the corner chatting up a gnome in cloth raiment. The rooms were upstairs, as normal for a building of the type. Arotar nodded politely to the innkeeper as she descended from the floor above; acknowledging her presence and bidding her wait a moment while he directed Baeliana to a nearby seat.
With a quiet "I'll be right back" once she was seated, Arotar turned to walk over to the innkeeper, speaking in hushed tones with her. Baeliana twisted in her seat as she peered around the room, her eyes coming to rest upon the dwarf and gnome in the corner -- studying them more closely and eventually determining that they seemed to be flirting about with one another. Nothing else within the room caught Baeliana's gaze as she turned full circle, coming to look upon Arotar once again as she caught whispers of their conversation.
"...I realize it's late," he said.
"No need to apologize... Gilded Rose is always open...," Innkeeper Allison replied back.
"...A single room for the night..."
A single room? Baeliana pondered. She watched as Arotar handed over the payment, and signed the registry. She found herself shaking her head at his foolishness; was he expecting her to pay for her own room of course?
"Something wrong," Arotar asked, suddenly standing in front of her again.
