Gifts of Affection

Vaen’s chest heaved as he surveyed the destruction. He could feel the adrenaline slowly seeping away as time seemed to hasten again. The large chamber was illuminated by the still-burning shadowflame, clinging to the stone and debris. The entire room glowed an orange hue, shadows flickering on the wall as the flames danced.



Senna placed her hand on his shoulder. He turned his head to look at her; she cradled the felhound in her arm. For all of the mayhem, the creature seemed to be the most uninjured. Vaen felt a sharp ache in his abdomen as he looked down. Blood trickled down his armor, crumpled from the impact.



“Hold still…” Her voice softened as she lay her hand over his wound. Vaen hissed as he felt his flesh slowly mending, like a cold breeze against his skin. The sharp pain was replaced by only a dull ache.



“I’m sorry.” She spoke apologetically. “I’m not a priestess yet. I’m not even a full novice…”



He grabbed her hand, trying to force a smile on his lips. “It’s alright. We still have to get out of here.” He looked to the felhound in her arm. “Can you get rid of that thing until we need it?” He looked uneasy.



Senna flashed a rare grin, pulling out the small demonic figurine from her robe. Closing her eyes in concentration, she sealed the demon back into the doll, before clasping the figurine around her neck. The two red eyes glowed eerily as it rested on her pale neckline. “Now let’s get out of here.” She suggested.



He looked to the far wall of the chamber, where an errant shadowbolt had blasted an opening in the wall. “Yes, let’s.” He walked a step, but felt an odd tug. He paused, looking at the blood elf girl holding his hand.



“What’s wrong?” She inquired. She looked nearly as confused as he was; she was eager to leave this forsaken place.



Vaen could feel the tug again. He looked around. The tug came from the dead creature’s massive corpse. Odd, he thought to himself.



“That thing wasn’t a demon. I’ve heard stories that servants of the Old Gods have resurfaced, ever since the Cataclysm.” He walked back to the corpse as he looked down at the twisted mass of muscle and sinew. His eye caught something. A glint.



“Leave it alone, Vaen…” She tugged on his arm, trying to pull him away. “We can tell someone about it. I don’t want to be near this thing…”



Wordlessly, he crouched to his knees. Nestled against the creature’s massive husk was a black-bound book. Neatly arranged, its cover free of any dust. “…Hmm?”



Never before had he held any fascination with history or books. He had no talent for the arcane. And yet, that bound tome drew him. Vaen slowly drew out his hand, a finger towards the cover…



He touched it. No sparks, no enchanted trap. He grabbed the book, looking it over front and back. This seems like an odd thing for a hellish creature to carry.



“Vaen, put that down!” She was forcefully tugging on his arm now. “I don’t want to be here any longer!” She frowned.



He forcefully shoved her aside, shooting her a scowl. “Don’t forget who’s in charge here, girl.” He immediately softened his expression as he saw the way she reacted to his face. She lay in a heap. He didn’t think he shoved her that hard. Perhaps he looked angrier than he meant to.



“Besides, maybe this is important. We can show it to someone.” He tried to open the book, but it seemed as if the cover and pages were glued together. No amount of force he applied could pry the book apart. Odd, he thought to himself.



He walked over to the blood elf, grabbing her hand, pulling her up. “Sorry.” He muttered. “Let’s go.” He led her through the opening in the wall into the refreshing moonlight and cool, night air.



=-=



They walked through the night in silence. The moon was high above them, illuminating their path in the faint white light. Senna watched him silently, allowing herself to be led through the grassy plains. He was headed for neither the human encampment nor the Shattered Sun town. She dared not ask. They walked for what seemed like hours until they reached a small thicket. She knew it was a part of the island that few ever ventured to. Vaen led her into a small clearing, the sides surrounded by thick trees. There wasn’t a single light on the horizon.



Vaen finally broke the silence. “We’ll camp here.” He sighed as he looked at her. She stared down at the ground, uncomfortably shifting away from him ever so slowly. It was almost imperceptible, but he could tell. It was late in the evening, and he had led them in the woods, alone. He knew what her fear was.



“Come here.”



She lifted her head up, looking at him fearfully, as if she knew what would happen next.



“…Senna.” He tried to calm his voice.



She slowly scooted towards him, silently sitting down beside him. He could see her small body shivering. From the cold, or from fear, he didn’t know.



“Senna…” He took her hand in his, his blue eyes looking searchingly into her emerald pupils. “…If I let you go, how will I know you won’t report me?”



Her head instantly turned, looking back into his eyes. She thought for a moment, before reaching with her free hand into her robes. She slid out a long, ornamental kris, placing it in his hand. The jagged edge glistened in the moonlight, the blade forged from gold and adorned with emeralds and rubies.



“This is my honor dagger. All Sin’dorei in my family carry one.” She pressed it into his hands as she looked into his eyes hopefully. “Please let me go, and you have my word I won’t tell a soul!”



He felt his stomach turn as he looked at the dagger. All this time, he had been on top of her, on top of her robes…



He mulled it over as his eyes looked at the dagger, then her eyes, and back to the dagger. Finally, he spoke. “I feel like I can trust you, Senna.” He could see her eyes lighting up, the apprehensive green eyes replaced with pupils ready to burst with joy. He took the kris from her hands. “You are a rare thing, so pure of heart… I just wanted you to be mine.” Vaen sighed. “You can go in the morning. Get some rest, first.”



The blood elf leaped on top of him, her arms wrapped around his neck. “Thank you!” Her voice was filled with glee as she beamed a radiant smile at him, hugging him tight. She nestled her head against his chest, tears running down her face. “Thank you thank you thank you!” She looked up into his eyes. “You are a good man, too, Vaen.” She laughed quietly, breathing a sigh of relief. “You had me scared… I didn’t know what you had planned for me.”



He ran his fingers through her long hair, returning her smile. He leaned up against the tree trunk, idly grazing his hand down her body. She cuddled up against the side of his body, resting her head up against his neck as she hugged him tight. They lay still for long moments, watching the moon together. It seemed like forever, but he wanted it to last for all eternity. “When I go, maybe we can still be friends. You’ll still come by for melon juice, right?” She whispered sleepily.



He could only nod in reply. The ache in his body reminded him how exhausted he was as he slowly drifted to sleep, the beautiful Sin’dorei wrapped in his arms. As slumber took him, he thought of how amazing it felt to hold her. If only it had been…