The World as it Should Be

The Lunar Festival in Moonglade was very tense this year. The Horde and the Alliance had once again allied to defeat the demon Omen, but they did so grudgingly, and as soon as it was done most of the participants paid their respects and left. Those that did stay stuck with their own faction and avoiding mixing as much as possible. The druids professed some concern over this, but not surprise.



Tensions were on the rise again, especially after the disaster at the Wrathgate and then in Ironcrown, and also King Varian's return along with Hellscream's provocations. It seemed that even in the face of a great threat, the Horde and the Alliance were ready to destroy each other. Nobody was in the mood for partying, particularly with people they might be at war with at any moment.



Sitting on the edge of lake, Treris was enjoying a drink with some dwarves, who were playing some obscure game that involved drinking every so often, and occasionally getting up and singing lewd songs. Apparently she had disqualified herself early, and still wasn't sure why, so now she was looking around at some of the others. Nearby, there were a group of trolls, having what appeared to be a dance contest that also seemed overly complex. Further into the glade, she could make out some other night elves doing a rather sophisticated set of dance moves that contrasted with the chaotic moves of the trolls.



She sighed, becoming bored with the whole thing, and got up to take a walk in the forests of the Moonglade. The tranquility of the woods were in stark contrast to the party going on in the main clearing and she found herself relaxing again, becoming lost in her own thoughts and wandering aimlessly. If it hadn't been for the exclamation of surprise, she would have walked right into them.



“Do you mind?!”



It was a shriek, and to her shock, Treris realized that she had walked right into a rather intimate scene. A pair of blood elves were on the ground and the woman who had been on top, was staring at Treris wide eyed in anger and humiliation. The Night Elf instantly averted her eyes and turned bright red, knowing that she had already seen to much.



“Oh, uh, I'm so sorry, I was-ah, I'll just um...” she waved her hands emphatically behind her to indicate that she was going to leave and had turned when something stopped her.



“Treris?”



She stopped, turned and stared at the naked blood elf sitting on the ground before her.



“Deydis don't tell me you know this woman?” his partner said while she crouched behind him and tried to get her dress on. She looked annoyed, if not unsurprised. Deydis half turned his head to her, while keeping his eyes locked with Treris' and looked like he was trying to come up with an answer.



He was saved by a troll who crashed into the clearing, his dagger at the ready. He stopped and stared at the tableau before him, and then looked to Deydis, seemingly looking for a hint as to what was going on. Deydis gave him a quick look before sliding back into his smooth ways.



“Talok, just the man for an emergency,” he got up and took the other elf by the hand, “this is an extremely awkward situation, it turns out that I've over scheduled myself again.”



“What?” the elf woman said, looking supremely miffed, “I picked you up you Centaur's cock!”



“Right,” he said giving her a winning smile, “and in my thorough enjoyment I completely forgot that I was meeting my friend here, she's one of my contacts in the alliance, very hush hush, and I'm afraid it can't wait, but I would hate to leave you without full satisfaction.”



His partner had her hands on her hips and gave him a harsh look.



“I wasn't born yesterday you know, but since you ah,” she said giving a wry smile down to his now deflated member, “have lost your resolve, I think we're done here.” She stalked over to the troll and took him by the hand, leading him back out of the clearing. Talok gave Deydis one last confused look before following her out, leaving Deydis alone with Treris.



Treris had been silent during this entire exchange, but by now her initial shock had worn off and she was looking at him with her arms crossed over her chest and a bemused smile on her face.



“You didn't have to send her off, not on my account,” she said.



“Well,” he said, casually sidling up to her, “I don't know if it would be appropriate to propose a threesome.”



“Since when has what's appropriate bothered you?” she asked with faux outrage.



“I'll have you know,” he said, sliding his arms around her waist, “I am always concerned with my lady's comfort and well being.”



“Do you even know her name?”



“Not a clue,” he said with a smile.



She snorted with laughter and rested her forehead against his, wrapping her arms around his neck, and taking a moment to take him in again.



“I didn't get a chance to thank you,” she said after a moment.



“There was no need,” he answered quietly, but with a slight smile.



“Yes, there was, I don't know how you pulled it off, but you got justice for Vishina and saved Sejova.”



“You saved her,” he said, “I saw you talk her down. And I just told Javis what I knew, he pulled the rest together. He even found the paladin-” he cut short, seeing the sudden pain in Treris' eyes, “Did something happen after we left?”



Treris shook her head sadly, but two tears dropped down her cheeks. Deydis brushed them off gently and then pulled her into an embrace. Some more tears flowed out and she suddenly felt wobbly, so she sat down on the soft earth. Deydis sat next to her and wrapped his arm around her, waiting for her to explain.



“Nothing...nothing really happened. Sejova, she tried to talk to...to the Death Knight and she....she was so cold. She-she wouldn't let her come near, told her that Vishina was dead and she didn't care about Sejova anymore. Then she just left. When the sentinals took Sejova away she just...stood there.”



“I'm sorry,” he said quietly, “I was afraid that bringing her would be hard on your sister, but Javis felt it was necessary to scare Tarn.”



She nodded, wiping her eyes again, “no, its all right. She didn't eat or talk for awhile, but after a week or so she started eating again. The Priestesses put her to work in their gardens as a penitent and I think its been good for her. But she's still not talking much.”



“Tarn confessed everything,” Deydis said, “there wasn't even a trial, he has been dishonored among the Tauren and is serving in one of their prisons. Thrall I'm told had recompense sent to the families of Vishina and her party. But that was before all the stuff in Northrend started to go down.”



She nodded, and rested against his shoulder, wondering if she should ask what was also on her mind. Finally she said, “Jenarra never actually wrote a letter did she?”



He looked down on her, somewhat surprised, and said, “as far the orcs are concerned she salvaged her honor by doing so, and so officially, yes she did.”



Treris nodded, understanding. After all, what was one more lie? But she was tired of lies and games. Since returning home she had found herself enjoying it more than ever before. She stayed mostly in Darnassus, visiting regularly with her sister, who needed her support. Also, she had become reacquainted with the people she had left behind, including Kaela, who had welcomed her back enthusiastically. The life of an adventurer was exciting, but wearing she realized.



She looked at Deydis and smiled warmly at him, before getting up, and saying, “Thank you...for everything. I won't forget you.”



He looked intrigued and said, “That sounds like you plan to never see me again.”



“Well, who knows? But I think I am done with adventure for now. And...” she twisted in her mind, searching for the right words, “what we had before, its in the past. I can't be with you like that anymore.”



“Ah,” he said, looking down, “I suppose it is a little awkward, what with Hellscream and Varian waving sabers at each other now.”



“Its more than that,” she said, “the life you lead, the life my sister led...I couldn't stand being in the dark all the time, I couldn't take all the lies. I also couldn't stand to change someone from who they are. So...” she stepped forward and left a lingering kiss on his cheek. He turned his head and kissed her on the lips, his hands running through her hair gently. After a moment she stepped back and smiled, before turning and leaving the clearing.



Deydis watched her go, smiling only slightly. After a moment he regarded the lock of purple hair he had sneakily cut off, and tied it in a knot.



“Now,” he said, looking around, “where in the nether are my pants?”



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Ahhh, the joy of ending a story. This one started out as a vague idea, and really took shape as I wrote it. I'm glad to see that so many people enjoyed reading it as well. I may have to write more stuff with Deydis. >_>